Once outside, she began searching through the crowds for the sight of her companions. Yet, she couldn't see any sign of them. There was no large brown-furred wolf growling, whining from the delicate fawn, or protest from the rabbit. Even the distant shape of her hippogryph was visible now.
As Kennocha was beginning to worry about the whereabouts of the critters, a loud cry called out like a banshee scream. Fearing the worst, the taureness began running to the source of the scream. Fortunately, it was on the same tier as the she was on, she was able to get there rather quickly.
"What is going on? Are you alright?" Kennocha asked once she found the woman she had assumed to be making the noise. She glared at the taureness with what seemed like annoyance and rage.
She was a tall one, even for one of her people. Loose black fur hung from her figure, smelling of heavy smoke. Besides the strong odour, she was well groomed with her mane practically shining to look like waves of ebon locks. Her hair was tied into two long braids running down her chest down to her waist. She wore a light robe of pale blue linen. Looking at her face, she had dark brown eyes like Kennocha, but they seemed to staring harshly at her. If it wasn't for the look in her eyes and the way her face looked so tired and unforgiving, she would considered quite beautiful.
"Is this yours?" She grunted, pointing to the wolf gnawing at the bottom of the bag she held.
Kennocha nodded. "Indead. I have been looking for Faeren for a while, but I did not expect to find him like this. I am so sorry about this though. Is there anything I can-"
"No." The other taureness answered quickly. "You have done enough damage as it is."
Kennocha remained silent as she bit her bottom lip. She placed her hand on the wolf's back to steady him away from the woman.
"Who even brings a wolf into Thunderbluff?" The ebon taureness continued on, rambling on as the brown-furred taureness stood and listened.
"I am sorry about everything but I must be going now." Kennocha interrupted after a moment of consideration. She began to turn around, listening for what she was sure to be another rude comment. She took one step forward before the taureness finally spoke.
"Oh Bloomcaller, it is a shame to see you like this. I suppose we can't be picky, especially with all that is to come."
The sound of hooves stopping off in the opposing direction followed right after that comment. However, Kennocha had stopped after hearing those words.
The woman had been vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place just where she had seen her. She would have assumed that she might have previously passed her on the road, but the ebon taureness had used her name.
Who is she?
She thought about for a minute, trying to figure out how she could have known about her before snapping back into reality. Looking up, she saw Faeren growling towards the direction the ebon-furred taureness had taken. He was beginning to stride towards her like he would a gazelle on a hunt. This couldn't end well.
"Calm down Faeren. We have to heading back to see Winoa." She said to the wolf, looking around his legs looking for sign of the other two. "Oh deer, why are Nisi and Yadwi?"
Faeren simply eyed the taureness down. Oh no, the taureness thought.
"Alright, let us head back to Winoa and see if she has heard anything." The taureness reasoned. "From there, we can figure something out."
The two began walking towards the small tent. The crowd has begun thinning from those who returned home to rest, making it easier for them to find their way to the familiar leather tent. Standing in front of it was Winoa with some bags lining the outside, turned with her back to Kennocha as she rummaged through the bag looking for something. Overall, it seemed like she had made good progress in organizing her things.
"You know you do not need to take so many bags, Winoa."
Winoa gave a hearty laugh as she continued looking through her bag. "Are you sure about that?"
"Indeed I am. Should I not be?"
She stopped looking through her bags, her hand reaching to her face to cover her mouth as she continued laughing.
"Possibly."
Rapidly, she jumped up and to the right so Kennocha could see the bag. It was simple enough. Tanned brown hides together as a lighter thread skillfully inscribed some words in Taurahe. It seemed normal to the taureness. However, the top was opened wide and seemed to hold nothing inside.
So why did the bag have a large bulge in it? Before she knew it, a small tuft of brown hairs in the corner that she had assumed to be the rabbit's shedding fur had sprung out of the bag. No, it was Yadwi herself hopping out onto Faeren's head much to his displeasure.
Faeren began shaking his head trying to get her off, but she jumped to his back where his saddle was attached. He smirked, irritated by Yadwi's persistance. Allowing the movement of his head to continue throughout his body, the rabbit struggled to keep on top of the wolf. The two taurenesses watched in awe as the two continue to annoy each other with their abilities, waiting to see who would win. Neither of them were going to go down without a fight however,
Inevitably though, one had to fail. Yadwi had leaped rather high, allowing Faeren to move forward enough so that she would land on his tail if she were lucky. She was not though, as her hind legs touched the end of his fur as hit the grass hard. Despite the fall, she shook it off and made her way to Winoa to hop in her arms.
Kennocha and Winoa was giggling as Yadwi hopped into the extended arms of Winoa.
"Ah Yadwi, you are a rabbit of many talents." Winoa praised as she held the rabbit close to her chest.
"Indeed she is." Kennocha bowed her head towards the rabbit as she checked for any injury. None were there, so she turned to rub Faeren's back. "It is good to see Yadwi safe with you, but do you know where Nisi is?"
Winoa shook her head. "Not at all. I was just finishing packing." She turned around to meet Kennocha's soft smile and pointed in the direction of her supplies. "Where do you want my bags?"
Kennocha glanced towards Winoa's bags. There was only two medium sized bags, one with what she thought to be for clothes and herbs and the other for her leatherworking. However, two more open ended bags laid ready for something.
Winoa noticed Kennocha staring at the two empty bags. "Those are for Yadwi and Nisi. I made them on short notice, but it should be better than the cages you have."
The taureness grinned at her friend. "Thank you. What would I ever do without you?"
Winoa shrugged. "You would be traveling with your critters in makeshift cages. I have already made sure that Yadwi is cozy in them, but I am unsure of Nisi."
Kennocha pursed her lips and nodded. "Alright then. Do you still know where Pavati is?" She inquired with a hint of eagerness in her voice.
Winoa suddenly found the ground to be interesting as she looked to her hooves.
"What happened?" Kennocha asked, concern growing in her voice.
"She was a brave one, but she did not survive our last encounter."
Kennocha stared at her friend with concern. "Oh, I am so sorry Winoa." She kneeled down to look her friend in the eye and hold her chin up.
"It is fine." Winoa declared while trying to sound stern. "I can always ride on Faeren or Talshre."
Kennocha pursed her lips together as she thought of how to explain it to Winoa. "Faeren is getting older and more unforgiving to his rider. As for Talshre, he usually disappears like Nisi if not more so."
"Oh." That was all Winoa could muster. "We should be looking for those two then, huh?"
Kennocha nodded. "I suppose so."
The two spent the remaining light of the day looking around Thunderbluff for signs of either hippogryph or fawn. They looked by the pond, walked down to many of the other tents and checking with their inhabitants for information, and even going to the peak of the city to look both below and above. However, they could not find signs of either one of them.
It was only when they went back to the pond for the third time did they see Nisi drinking from the shaded tree. Faeren had already found her by the looks of it, with the way he laid by her side. Yadwi was huddled next to his other side, taking what the two knew would be a short nap.
"There she is!" Kennocha whispered to Winoa as not to wake any of them up. "Although I suppose we are not leaving for a while longer."
"We are going to be late to spare, aren't we?" Winoa asked jokingly.
"We should not be. It does not start until much later. We have to get going soon though, so we will probably end up using the zeppelins."
"I hate those things. I always worry about falling or dying while on one."
"I know, but it is the only way at this point. If nothing else, you have to give the goblins credit for their ingenuity." Kennocha argued.
"I do not have to like it though." She retorted before looking around. "How long should we let them sleep?"
"I cannot let them sleep any longer right now. We have to be leaving."
"What?" Winoa asked rather shocked. "What about Talshre?"
"He will be fine. We will be coming back here soon enough and if he does not want him to find him, then we will not. Besides, the first zeppelin for Orgrimmar leaves soon."
"Fine, but you should wake up Faeren. I can take care of Nisi and Yadwi."
The two nodded at each other and went through with their plans. While Kennocha was waking Faeren and securing all their supplies, Winoa worked on coercing the critters into the small bags she made for them. Both of them refused, and while Winoa tried to encourage her methods on them, it failed. She eventually gave up and allowed them to walk on either side of the taurenesses.
As soon as they were ready, they walked up the center totem to the top tier of the main mesa and crossed the bridge to the site of their departing zepplein.
"Wait for us!" Winoa called out, leading to the swift halt of the zeppelin.
Once they were onboard, Kennocha groomed the wolf while the smaller critters were quickly fed. They soon made to Orgrimmar, transferring zeppelins to the platform due for Stranglethorn.
The zeppelin arrived later than usual, much to the taurenesses's worry. They made it to Stranglethorn quickly though, the humidity and vast lush jungle making the beasts pant with heat.
They walked into the nearby city tavern. Unlike those in the larger cities, it was empty with only local trolls and deployed orcs at the bar enjoying a few drinks. They did not seem to the two coming in, if not for a few comments made their way.
"Wha' are tou woomen like jooselves doin' dere?"
"Look at all the meat on their bones! Between the five of them, we could eat like warlords for weeks!"
"They must be new around here. Maybe tourists or new recruits? Either way they won't last long here."
Winoa rolled her eyes as she choose a nice table near the door where the companions could make their way outside as needed and they wouldn't be close to the others in the tavern.
"Sister, I'll stay here." Winoa spoke uncertainly. "I don't like the way they are looking at Nisi."
Kennocha frowned for a moment as she looked to the others in the tavern. "Are you sure?"
Winoa nodded. "Farewell Sister. Do not be out too long."
The two taurenesses laughed. "I will be back soon enough."
Author's Note-That wasn't as long as I thought, but I'm still not positive about my update schedule. If you have any concerns, comments, or questions, feel free to PM me or review. Thank you all for reading and have a wonderful day!
