The campfire flickered lightly as those around it sat in stone silence, even the two who had heard the story before. Remnaar had actually heard it a few times, but it never failed to shock him, no matter how many times he head it. He knew what Ulric might have felt; lost in the world, no home or anybody to be helped by. Though, Remnaar figured, he hadn't language on his tongue; Ulric had blood on his hands.
"When I think about," Ulric cocked a grin, holding his arm over his upturned leg, "When I really consider it, with or without semantic argument, I haven't ever killed a man. Only beasts. And even then, only two beasts I've killed without a proper fights, and of those, only one in cowardice."
His grin faded into a frown, "So when you all talk behind my back about me being…one of those."
Shadowmoon jerked slightly.
"It doesn't faze me," he concluded, "I've often thought the same, myself. My mother would go, once a week, to the gates, seeking news that never came. Obviously, she must have contracted it there, and undoubtedly, my father forced himself onto her one night, contracting it himself."
He laughed, only slightly, "In that bitter irony, I suppose. I encountered no such situation, however, so as far as I know, no, I'm no worgen."
Pausing for a moment to feel the general air from the others, he sighed, reaching his arms up in a stretch, "Well, sorry for taking so much of your time."
"N-Not at all," Parvaen answered quietly, "I, uh, appreciate your openness."
"Hey, you were open first," Ulric chuckled, noting, "Any objection to us heading down to Valiance Keep tomorrow?"
Remnaar shook his head, "Not at all. There are some wares dwarves would never sell that humans often indulge themselves in selling. Who knows what we could find from the traveling merchants, as well."
With his own input, Tandkota spoke up, "I've never seen the fjord myself."
Ulric smiled, "Alright. Shadowmoon? Parvaen?"
The blood elf nodded readily, though it was Shadowmoon who seemed disillusioned as she remained there with her head low. The group watched her as she hadn't answered, though they all shifted toward Ulric as he stood up with a sigh.
"Shadowmoon. A word?"
She remained seated there, but ultimately acquiesced as she rose to her feet, following along behind Ulric as they made their way out of earshot from the others. Shadowmoon lifted her head, allowing the hood of her pelt to fall back onto her shoulders, before they, too, dipped, the whole of her coat slipping off behind her, her hand catching it as she dragged it along behind her leader, Ulric jumping in surprise when he finally turned around to face her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, non-committally, watching her expression carefully.
She sighed, "Yeah, I just… Sorry."
He watched her inquisitively, which she seemed to notice, as she went on, "I didn't mean to talk about you behind your back or anything."
Ulric shrugged, wearing a childish grin, "Really? Come on; its no big deal. I'm just kind of- You know, I've had people whispering about me for years. I'm used to it, right? The only thing that peeves me a bit is that people only talk behind my back because that's where I leave their asses, but I don't need- hell, I don't want any of you behind me like that."
He left room far a pause, thinking, "I guess I should have explained it earlier, but it tends to make newcomers slightly worried, even scared. Obviously, I know that doesn't apply to you- I do t think I've ever seen you scared, but still. My bad, alright?"
He looked off toward the distant campfire, his voice coming out softer now, "You know, I wouldn't pull half of the things I pull if I didn't trust you."
"Trust me to save you, you mean," Shadowmoon clarified, but Ulric only laughed.
He turned back toward her, "Well, yeah, but just in general. You're very dependable; that's why we all love having you around."
He smiled as he reached over, patting her shoulder, "Keep it up, okay? As long as you're happy here, that's all I need to know."
His hand slid off as he started to turn back around, beginning the walk back toward the fire as Shadowmoon suddenly spoke up, "Why I came to Northrend …"
He paused, slowly turning back toward her, curiously, as her lips twisted in conflict, as if not knowing whether or not it was a good idea to go on. She was very much on the fence, but after his previous revelation, she figured she might as well. For all the trust he had, apparently, put in her, she'd learned long ago to trust him as well.
"I came because of you. Well, among other things- and you wipe that smirk off your face."
Ulric chuckled as his lips wrapped inward, trying to conceal his laughter, "Sorry. Go on."
Shadowmoon rolled her eyes, "Well, my sister was always I'll, so everybody was around her 24/7, right? They never had time for me, but I realized early on that nature, creatures of the wild- they did have time for me. Time for me to doze off into a nap, or hunt, or find a good tree trunk to just sit and wonder."
"My oldest brother took me to Darnassus one day, though, sticking me in a commoner area while he worked. I overheard these two Arathi dwarves talking about some story about the guy up north who was "more beast than man"; a great hunter who only traveled with the best."
She shrugged, "Maybe I felt the need to prove something, if not to my family, than to this man who so conquered nature."
Ulric nodded sarcastically, "And when you actually met me?"
"You've conquered nothing," Shadowmoon snickered, "But still, I admire you and your abilities. And I get to hunt all day; that's the greatest feeling, to be so free. I can't say I regret anything."
Smiling as he did, Ulric nodded, "That's all I need to know. Life's too short to-…"
He quickly remembered the life -span of the woman before him as he shoved his hands into his pockets, "Well, my life's too short to have regrets. You elves… Do you often feel the same?"
"About the importance of not having regrets?" Shadowmoon clarified, thinking, "I suppose it depends on the severity. If it's something small, we have plenty of time to get over it. If its something big, like, say, an action of yours resulting in a loved-one's death… Elves have gone mad over such things. "
Ulric nodded, "So in the grand scheme of things… Like, okay, I've had my share of lovers in my day. Considering my life in something like eighty years, those months are really magnified at the end of the day. So for you, your life spans over thousands of years; would a months-long long thing, or something like this group- does it really even stand out as anything of significance after all is said and done, considering its just a speck in your life?"
Shadowmoon looked away, thinking, "It depends on how much importance we lend to it, I suppose. If we're still talking about regrets, if this were all a waste of time, I'll admit there wouldn't be much of anything to regret when it comes to where that little bit of time went. But I enjoy doing this, and you're all important to me. In that case, were it to end because of me, yeah, I suppose I'd regret it."
"So, one night," Ulric muttered, slowly, as if hoping she would follow, "That would barely be worth remembering then."
Shadowmoon eyed him seriously, though she did ultimately answer, albeit quietly, "That's why so many elves follow monogamous lives, simply to keep from accumulating an endless stream of worthless night. Some of us, it doesn't matter; we just allow time to dictate how we react to or remember these things."
She watched him cautiously, "If you're making a pass at me, I can assure you, I most likely wouldn't allow you to take me to bed."
Ulric laughed silently, staring down at the ground nervously, shaking his head for a moment before raising up again, watching her, "What if I were to ask you to take me?"
Something within Shadowmoon flipped something of a switch at those words, though she barely flinched as her eyes blinked emotionlessly, crossing her arms, "I'd say you'd be pretty fucking far in left field."
Ulric laughed, not revealing an ounce of nervousness as he leaned back, hands held in his pockets, keeping him looking vulnerable, "What if it wasn't even a question and I just took you for myself?"
To that, Shadowmoon didn't answer, or rather, she wasn't able to. The pit of her stomach quivered, far below the redness that began to stretch across her face, though Ulric didn't bother pointing it out. He only grinned as her mind was forced to reset, a shiver crawling up her spine.
"I-I'd still say you were-"
Ulric smirked, "Because I think nothing excited you more than that very phrase- somebody who was "more beast than man". I do t think you came here specifically for such a reason, but we've known each other long enough, I suppose. Maybe it began as a nagging thing at the back of your mind, but sooner or later translated into the way your fingers grab at your body in your private moments."
He still hadn't moved an inch, remaining there, confidently, while Shadowmoon's nerves caused her insides to shiver, though she tried her best to remain still, her lips just barely moving as she replied, coolly, "This is some more of that bullshit I was talking about."
Lowering his head to head another devilish turn of his mouth, Ulric shrugged, "Perhaps."
Shadowmoon found the strength in her legs, finally, to move them, slowly stepping toward Ulric in order to make her way back to the campfire. Within arms-length of him, she passed him, now free and clear, when his hand quickly shot backward, grasping her wrist, firmly, a cold sweat suddenly running down her face.
"Of course I know you won't mention this to the others," Ulric chuckled, lightly, "I know you don't want Remnaar bringing it up at even the slightest appropriate moment."
"And how do you know I won't speak up just so they know the kind of person you are?"
Ulric grinned, "Because I trust you. as I said."
His taught grip around her wrist loosened as his hand fell from her, allowing her to continue. She thought about retorting in some way, but by this point, her insides had already run around in circles enough times, leaving her rather frightened. She often prided herself on not allowing such things to happen- it's what made her such an invaluable hunter. She simply walked off back toward camp, wrapping her pelt around her body as she walked.
"We leave for Valgarde in the morning," he reminded as she exited from earshot.
Ulric didn't turn to watch her leave, simply staring down at his hand that had taken her wrist. Despite his even, cool demeanor, he finally released a sigh, happy that it all was over, a faint sting of rejection lingering around his chest.