~*~ Author's Notes ~*~
I cut this chapter off a bit short to make up for the last chapter and it's epic dream length.
~*~ Chapter 19 ~*~
"You ate it all? All of it. Even licked the pot clean, did you? And the bread too..? And the water!"
The Druid woke grumpily. Her stomach rumbled. Need food now. Stretching, tongue lolling out several inches, relaxed into the warmth of the other cat's body. Yes, she liked him being here.
There was a soft tapping on the door. She growled menacingly. The footsteps retreated hastily. 'Respect the growl, fool.'
There were other voices now. A mans, well cultured. He was in discussion with the Priest who was still bewailing the loss of all his food and drink. "… and I didn't even hear her come in. She ate everything."
His partner in conversation laughed good-heartedly, "Well she is a wee tiny lady. I bet you let Corrosa hold the collar, yes? Even for a moment? Come now, m' Lord, fess up!" He sounded perfectly Human, like the travelers who often came threw her village on the way to Darnassus.
The Druid's stomach grumbled again. Need food now. Moaning in protest, she hauled herself off the bed. Perking up, the panther watched her go towards the door. Realizing she was leaving, he hauled his great self off the bed and followed.
She shifted, half asleep, opened the door, yawed, rubbed her eyes, and shifted back to furry paws. What a set of nightmares she was having lately…
The sight in the living room woke her up with a snap. She stood there looking around, not sure what to do. The wonderful smell in the air was all she could process.
There was an undead man wearing expertly tailored robes in a stylish pattern. He was sitting by the fire, legs crossed, sipping a cup of tea from a finely worked porcelain cup. Over the small fire was a stand with a little metal teapot.
By the formerly busted up table, which was now propped up with odd and end objects, stood a tall Night Elf. He, younger than she by a couple years, was tinkering with something in his hands, bent to his work with a garish pair of goggles on his head. The Priest, in a matching pair of goggles was watching and nodding now and again.
They were both distracted but as soon as the Druid glanced back towards the fire she caught the gaze of the Forsaken man. He had noticed her right off the bat. He smiled, extending the cup of tea to her in invitation.
On his knee was the smallest imp the Druid had ever seen and mustn't weight more than a loaf of bread. She sported a beautifully worked plate gold necklace with a small purple crystal in the middle. A soul shard. She looked to be perfectly content sipping from her smaller cup of tea.
A Warlock. No, thank you, Kayas had her fill of Forsken Warlocks.
She backed up but ran into the panther, which was effectively blocking her retreat. The big cat was sniffing the air, then ground. Left, then right. Finally his brown eyes landed on a pack under the table. There was a quiver full of good quality arrows and a little bow there which what looked like a riffle scope attached to it.
Glancing up at the Night Elf, the panther walked causally over to the bag – snatched it up and ran for the back room! The door slammed behind him. Kayas stood staring at the empty hall and closed door. When she turned back around all three of the rooms occupants were looking at her.
"What is it?" The Night Elf asked in Common.
Before she could even growl out her disapproval, the Warlock beat her too it; "Caspin! Where are your manors? You can see she's a Druid."
The Night Elf, Caspin, looked properly admonished, "But what's wrong with her? I've never seen a Druid with markings that glowed green like that."
'My markings are glowing? And green? Like that filth from the mote?' She glared at the Priest right as he dropped his gaze back to his work, tail lashing and ears laid back. 'You left out a detail, Priest.'
"You've seen a great many thing, youngling, but you've yet to touch the surface of strange things in this world. Finish your lesson and quit staring; it's quite rude."
"Mr. Meows took my bag…"
That wasn't really the panther's name, what it?
"…then go get it." The way he said it was the exact tone Corrosa had used when she suggested Jetadiah blow the locks on the Elfgate towers. Apparently they traveled in the same circles, putting this Warlock on Kayas' 'avoid' list as well.
Speaking of the Warlock, where was she?
"Yes, but… he's still bigger than me." Caspin pouted. They had this same conversation at some prior point it seemed.
Kayas was so confused her head was spinning. Ok, first off there was a Night Elf scout in the house. And a Forsaken Warlock. And the scout… isn't the one who owns the cat? And why is the Priest giving him engineering lessons? And why is he here?
The Warlock's happy whistle was met with a 'roow' sound from the back room. "Bring it back," he called to the panther. "Share some with the other hungry tummies in the room."
Kayas sat down sharply when she realized he meant her. Share food with her. Feed her. Food was just about the only way he'd get his name taken off her 'avoid' list.
A moment latter the other cat emerged from the back room with the bag around his neck and a big steak between his chops. He laid the steak at her feet and nudged it towards her. When she didn't immediately take it, he hopped over her in a graceful arch and put the bag back under the table. He then went and curled up beside the fire at the Warlock's feet. A bony hand reached down to stroke the raven fur.
She sniffed the steak. It was perfectly fine without a trace of fel taint. Must mean the scout caught it. As she ate it, she watched the Priest and scout. The Priest smacked the other elf on the back of the head for staring, twice, before the half-grown child would go back to his work. He still shot her furtive glances, not knowing what to make of a bone thin gray Druid with yellow eyes and garish luminous streaks all over her body.
Kayas had very good hearing as a cat so he didn't miss the scout trying to inquire of her to the Priest, "What happen to her?"
"Why don't you ask her?" the Priest advised, well aware of how good a Druids hearing was.
The scout swallowed hard and glanced at her, decided that would be a bad idea once he realized she had heard him.
"Come, come, my dear, have some tea. It's imported!" The Warlock was holding out a fresh cup towards her. He sat it down on the other side of the hearth, furthest away from him.
Slinking towards it she decided that, as long as it wasn't glowing, it probably wouldn't hurt her. Drawing close, she sniffed it, dipped her tongue into the brew. Not a trace of fel energy. The Warlock could touch stuff and not leave a taint behind? Kayas was impressed.
Smack- "Ow! I wasn't staring!" Sulk. Jetadiah had no problem beating manners into younger males it seemed.