(Yea, yea, it's a day late. I know. :P)
______________
"I made you somethin' for Win'erveil."
Rheugan's initial reaction- to correct Shaur's grammar yet again- was halted once her words registered. "You made something for me?" She nodded, beaming as she held out a small object, just a shade smaller than her hand.
Rheugan took it hesitantly, holding it in one hand as he examined it. It was a wooden disk, carved on both sides. On the side he was currently staring at, a remarkable likeness of the cat's head looked back at him. The carving was rough, but the detail in the cat's expression, and the fur etched into the wood, threatened to take his breath away. He looked up at her again. "So this is what you've been hiding from me. I didn't know you carved. This is excellent."
Shaurria beamed even more at his praise. "S'more on th' back. Turn it over," she urged, and he did, then froze when he saw the other side.
Carved into the other side of the disk was a wolf's head. The detail was as fine as the cat's, but while Rheugan knew it was him in his worgen form, there was none of the savageness he would have expected to see. It looked alert, yet calm.... peaceful - like he himself had never felt while under its sway.
He momentarily forgot about Shaurria as he studied it, lost in conflicting emotions, until her fingers gently brushed his cheek. He jumped and looked up at her, startled, and she gave him a shy smile as she showed him the tear she had wiped away. "D'you like it?" she asked, with a trace of uncertainty. "I.. I wasn't too sure on what t' put on it..."
He shook his head, returning to his study of the carving. "It's beautiful. I can't believe you got it looking this accurate when you've only seen the wolf once."
"Got a good mem'ry," she said. "An'da 'n Arvoss both say so, anyway." Still shy, she reached out and took his hand. "So y'like it?"
Rheugan nodded, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "It's perfect. Best present I've ever gotten."
"Liar." She grinned at him mischievously, then joined in when he started chuckling.
* * * * * *
It was ridiculously late. Lark knew she should have gone to bed ages ago, but Pitch didn't spend as much time with his siblings as he really should, and she hated pulling him away from the "party" early. By the time they got back to their little house, the moon was well up, the streets quiet.
Pitch was grinning as they climbed the stairs to the bedroom. Lark knew he had something up his sleeve, but knew better than to ask him about it before he was ready to tell. She didn't have to wait long, anyway, as he gently pushed her toward the bed before going to the dresser and rummaging in a drawer.
By the time he located whatever he was looking for she had settled herself in bed, and he wasted no more time in joining her. The grin on his face was, if anything, even bigger as he showed her the small bottle he had found. She quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Are you going to tell me what that is, or do I have to guess?" she asked him dryly. He answered by popping the top off the bottle, and she caught a whiff of something herbal as he poured a small amount into his palm. "Massage oil," he announced. "Happy Winter Veil, my love. Would you mind moving the sheet?"
She complied with a grin to match his own, then settled back comfortably as he started gently rubbing the oil onto the growing swell of her belly. "But I didn't get you anything," she said after a few minutes, a touch of drowsiness in her voice. Pitch glanced at her, then stopped rubbing for a moment, his hand resting over their unborn baby. "This is enough," he told her, then leaned over for a kiss before resuming the massage. Silence, broken only by Tuah's sleepy rumble from across the room, descended again for several minutes.
Lark had almost fallen asleep when he stopped suddenly with a grunt of surprise. She opened one eye to look at him, then grinned as he gaped at her. "Was that...?"
"Yes Pitch," she told him. "Guess he got tired of hiding from you... or maybe he's ticklish." She gave a grunt of her own as the baby kicked again, but Pitch's wondering expression more than made up for any discomfort. The massage forgotten, he turned cat and curled up beside her with his head resting on her belly. She finally fell asleep with her fingers buried in his fur, listening to his steady purr.
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I kinda want to do a picture of Pitch and Lark now, but that would more than likely be NSFW, soooo... >.>
..... Maybe I'll do it anyway, we'll see. *Ahem* Happy Holidays, and Happy Hunting!
Showing posts with label IC:Shaurria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IC:Shaurria. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Touch
Shaurria watched the shaggy black cat pace through the grass around her with a tolerant expression. For his part, the cat seemed to be ignoring her, though his ears- the whole right ear and the tattered nub of the left- gave him away as they twitched in her direction every so often. She hid her amusement behind an exasperated sigh.
"Rheuuuugan," she called to him, although she knew he wouldn't answer to that name, not now at least. His only response was a low growl. Shaurria giggled quietly to herself as he glanced at her, then turned to a nearby tree and began sharpening his claws on it. Finished with that, he finally turned to look at her.
Shaur said nothing this time, only raising her hand and holding it out to him- a request only, not an order. His ear twitched again and he grumbled low in his throat, but his eyes remained on her. After a long interval, in which she waited patiently, unmoving, he finally dropped his eyes and took a step toward her.
She fought back her grin as he sauntered toward her, pausing to sniff a patch of grass here or swat at an imaginary bug there. With a slow deliberateness that said more clearly than words he was only doing it because he wanted to, he made his way over to the outstretched hand. He stopped again to sniff at it distantly, his suspicious eyes watching her for any trick. She held motionless even now, and once his suspicions were satisfied, he finally took the last step and nudged his nose into her hand. Shaurria smiled to herself as she ran her hand over the short fur of his head, to pet around his ears.
"Good kitty." The cat chuffed at her.
"Rheuuuugan," she called to him, although she knew he wouldn't answer to that name, not now at least. His only response was a low growl. Shaurria giggled quietly to herself as he glanced at her, then turned to a nearby tree and began sharpening his claws on it. Finished with that, he finally turned to look at her.
Shaur said nothing this time, only raising her hand and holding it out to him- a request only, not an order. His ear twitched again and he grumbled low in his throat, but his eyes remained on her. After a long interval, in which she waited patiently, unmoving, he finally dropped his eyes and took a step toward her.
She fought back her grin as he sauntered toward her, pausing to sniff a patch of grass here or swat at an imaginary bug there. With a slow deliberateness that said more clearly than words he was only doing it because he wanted to, he made his way over to the outstretched hand. He stopped again to sniff at it distantly, his suspicious eyes watching her for any trick. She held motionless even now, and once his suspicions were satisfied, he finally took the last step and nudged his nose into her hand. Shaurria smiled to herself as she ran her hand over the short fur of his head, to pet around his ears.
"Good kitty." The cat chuffed at her.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Rheugan: Moonglade
Vacation post is still inc, sorry- I promise I'll write something up soon. I do have a couple new pets to show off so it will be done. Meanwhile, have some Rheugan story-development.
Poor Rheu has finally been "talking" to me a bit, and I'm pretty sure we've agreed on how to fix him up. This will take a while, but I will be posting this in installments as it happens in-game. This is the start of it all.
Shaurria convinced Rheugan to go with her to Moonglade and visit her "friend", but it didn't turn out how anyone would have guessed.
____________________
Moonglade was.... peaceful. Rheugan blinked the haze left from the teleport spell out of his eyes, then noticed Shaurria trotting off already and hurried to catch up. She gave him a kitty-grin, then led him off past the Barrow-Dens. They passed through without incident, though the first time Rheugan spotted one of the guards it startled him. He let Shaur go on ahead as they rounded a particularly giant tree, pausing to take in the clearing and its occupant.
Shaurria trotted up to the huge cat spirit with a happy mrow, rubbing up against it like an over-sized housecat, then flopping down a few paces away to roll in the grass. The spirit watched her for a moment, then turned to face Rheugan as he approached.
What do you want here? Rheugan stopped, surprised as much by the voice sounding in his head as by the challenge in the Cat’s voice and stance. “P- parrdon?” he stammered, not sure if he’d understood the spirit. You heard me right, it replied. Tell me why I should waste my time with you.
Rheugan blinked, belatedly realizing that his own cat had gone very, very quiet. “I-.. I don’t understa-” he started, but the Cat interrupted him. Your cat, it said with thinly veiled impatience. It doesn’t listen to you, does it? Has it ever occurred to you to wonder why? Rheugan blinked again as the Cat went on without giving him a chance to answer. And why should it? What have you done to earn its cooperation, human? You have been stumbling like a cub first learning to walk, convinced it can outrun its elders.
Rheugan could think of nothing to say, and just stood there, stunned. He looked helplessly at Shaurria, who was now standing and watching them, looking almost as stunned as he felt. She took a step toward them with a questioning mew, but stopped as the Cat’s head turned to face her. Rheugan got a sense of words passing between them, and she sank down on her belly in the grass, mewling quietly in distress.
The Cat turned back to Rheugan. You need to work with your cat, it said. Go. Come back when you can call yourself a druid. With that it turned its back to him, moving off lazily across the clearing.
Shaurria stood and came over to him, unshifting to kneel at his side. “Wh- what was that about?” she whispered. Rheugan just shook his head, then without a word he turned, ducking away from her outstretched hand, and trotted back along the path.
* * * * * *
Shaur found him in his usual spot by the lake the following day. She said nothing as she sat down nearby, watching as he skipped a rock across the water. “My cat is ignoring me,” he finally said with a touch of incredulity. “It’s like it’s not even there. Pitch isn’t sure about what to do, either.”
She just watched him, her expression unreadable. “D’ you know what you’re gonna do yet?” He shrugged as he picked up another rock. “I have to find out what it wants, I suppose, and see if I can’t get it to work with me again,” he answered after a moment. “Although how I’ll do that...” He shrugged again.
The rock followed its fellow across the lake surface, disappearing after five skips. Rheugan glanced at Shaur, not quite meeting her eyes. “I may need to go away for awhile,” he said reluctantly. “I.. I think I need to be away from people for this.”
She gave him a small, sad smile. “I know.” She watched him fumble through the grass for a bit, looking for another rock. “D’ you know where you’ll go?”
Rheugan gave up his search for a stone and settled his hands in his lap. “Pitch suggested either Outland or Northrend. Both places are rather sparsely populated now, and both have plenty of things to fight. I’m leaning toward Northrend.” He stared fixedly across the lake, carefully avoiding looking at her. “If... if the worst happens, I’d rather be in Azeroth, not some Light-forsaken other world.”
Shaur’s expression quickly turned stern, and she leaned over to lightly rap his head with her knuckles. “Yer not gonna die out there,” she told him firmly. “Quit thinkin’ like that.”
He eyed her in bemusement. “I don’t intend to,” he said quietly. “I plan on coming back here as soon as I can. I just don’t know how long it will take.”
Neither said anything after that for several minutes. They watched a small group come through the portal from Tol Barad, apparently celebrating some victory there over the Horde, but the fuss soon died down as the group made their way into the city proper.
Shaurria broke the silence after they left. “We should go fishin’ before y’go.” Rheugan looked over at her with a small grin, one eyebrow raised. He chuckled, and after a moment she joined in.
Poor Rheu has finally been "talking" to me a bit, and I'm pretty sure we've agreed on how to fix him up. This will take a while, but I will be posting this in installments as it happens in-game. This is the start of it all.
Shaurria convinced Rheugan to go with her to Moonglade and visit her "friend", but it didn't turn out how anyone would have guessed.
____________________
Moonglade was.... peaceful. Rheugan blinked the haze left from the teleport spell out of his eyes, then noticed Shaurria trotting off already and hurried to catch up. She gave him a kitty-grin, then led him off past the Barrow-Dens. They passed through without incident, though the first time Rheugan spotted one of the guards it startled him. He let Shaur go on ahead as they rounded a particularly giant tree, pausing to take in the clearing and its occupant.
Shaurria trotted up to the huge cat spirit with a happy mrow, rubbing up against it like an over-sized housecat, then flopping down a few paces away to roll in the grass. The spirit watched her for a moment, then turned to face Rheugan as he approached.
What do you want here? Rheugan stopped, surprised as much by the voice sounding in his head as by the challenge in the Cat’s voice and stance. “P- parrdon?” he stammered, not sure if he’d understood the spirit. You heard me right, it replied. Tell me why I should waste my time with you.
Rheugan blinked, belatedly realizing that his own cat had gone very, very quiet. “I-.. I don’t understa-” he started, but the Cat interrupted him. Your cat, it said with thinly veiled impatience. It doesn’t listen to you, does it? Has it ever occurred to you to wonder why? Rheugan blinked again as the Cat went on without giving him a chance to answer. And why should it? What have you done to earn its cooperation, human? You have been stumbling like a cub first learning to walk, convinced it can outrun its elders.
Rheugan could think of nothing to say, and just stood there, stunned. He looked helplessly at Shaurria, who was now standing and watching them, looking almost as stunned as he felt. She took a step toward them with a questioning mew, but stopped as the Cat’s head turned to face her. Rheugan got a sense of words passing between them, and she sank down on her belly in the grass, mewling quietly in distress.
The Cat turned back to Rheugan. You need to work with your cat, it said. Go. Come back when you can call yourself a druid. With that it turned its back to him, moving off lazily across the clearing.
Shaurria stood and came over to him, unshifting to kneel at his side. “Wh- what was that about?” she whispered. Rheugan just shook his head, then without a word he turned, ducking away from her outstretched hand, and trotted back along the path.
* * * * * *
Shaur found him in his usual spot by the lake the following day. She said nothing as she sat down nearby, watching as he skipped a rock across the water. “My cat is ignoring me,” he finally said with a touch of incredulity. “It’s like it’s not even there. Pitch isn’t sure about what to do, either.”
She just watched him, her expression unreadable. “D’ you know what you’re gonna do yet?” He shrugged as he picked up another rock. “I have to find out what it wants, I suppose, and see if I can’t get it to work with me again,” he answered after a moment. “Although how I’ll do that...” He shrugged again.
The rock followed its fellow across the lake surface, disappearing after five skips. Rheugan glanced at Shaur, not quite meeting her eyes. “I may need to go away for awhile,” he said reluctantly. “I.. I think I need to be away from people for this.”
She gave him a small, sad smile. “I know.” She watched him fumble through the grass for a bit, looking for another rock. “D’ you know where you’ll go?”
Rheugan gave up his search for a stone and settled his hands in his lap. “Pitch suggested either Outland or Northrend. Both places are rather sparsely populated now, and both have plenty of things to fight. I’m leaning toward Northrend.” He stared fixedly across the lake, carefully avoiding looking at her. “If... if the worst happens, I’d rather be in Azeroth, not some Light-forsaken other world.”
Shaur’s expression quickly turned stern, and she leaned over to lightly rap his head with her knuckles. “Yer not gonna die out there,” she told him firmly. “Quit thinkin’ like that.”
He eyed her in bemusement. “I don’t intend to,” he said quietly. “I plan on coming back here as soon as I can. I just don’t know how long it will take.”
Neither said anything after that for several minutes. They watched a small group come through the portal from Tol Barad, apparently celebrating some victory there over the Horde, but the fuss soon died down as the group made their way into the city proper.
Shaurria broke the silence after they left. “We should go fishin’ before y’go.” Rheugan looked over at her with a small grin, one eyebrow raised. He chuckled, and after a moment she joined in.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Pitch: Lost
I really don't know where this came from.Well, okay, maybe I do, but it's a long story. *Deep breath*
I never really intended for Lark and Pitch to be anything other than just friends. Just goes to show how little control I really have over my characters, right? The main thing is actually Pitch. He simply never does anything by halves- he'd rather go all the way. This wasn't a problem when he was chasing after Skyborne, but when Sky kind of took herself out of the picture, there was only Pitch and Lark left.
Really, I should have known it was coming.
Lark loves Pitch, really, but she's already lost so many people she's loved that it's become old stuff for her. If Pitch dies, she'll mourn for him (and hard), but then she will simply pick up what's left and get on with her life. But then I started thinking.... what if the opposite happens?
Lark is Pitch's first love. Oh, he's had a mate before (long story that I have no intention of writing, sorry), but that relationship didn't have much to do with love. With Lark, though, every now and then he will surprise me with how deep his feelings really are. She is his mate, his partner, and his love. He gives her everything he's got.
More simply, he's not going by halves.
So if anything ever happened to Lark, I really wasn't sure what he'd do. Go crazy? Go feral? Or maybe just deal with it and move on, like Lark herself would do. I apparently was in a morbid mood today (let's kill off one of my main characters and see what the other one does, muahaha- kidding), and I did eventually finish the whole story.
Which was fairly awesome, because I've been in such a slump lately. >_<
So what would Pitch do if Lark died? Read on and find out.
***Disclaimer***
I AM NOT KILLING OFF ANY OF MY TOONS.
So don't worry about that. This is strictly a "what-if".
That being said, I will warn you that I had to make myself stop thinking about it a few times, because I was about ready to break down bawling in the middle of the aisle at work. You might want to grab a kleenex.
__________________
It was a beautiful day. The air was rain-washed and clean, the worst of the storm having passed. A few threatening-looking clouds still hung in the sky, but above them the sky was clear and blue. Pitch circled around Lark's gryphon, then did a few flips. He followed them up with an attempt at a backwards flip, but wound up having to catch himself after nearly falling out of the air. Lark laughed at him from her gryphon's saddle, and he laughed with her, unable to be angry or upset on such a perfect day.
The wind picked up, scudding a few of the clouds across the sky. Lark's grin dropped. "Maybe we should head back," she said doubtfully. Pitch did a bird-shrug. "Race you," he offered, then took off, his wings sweeping him along furiously. He barely heard her indignant "Hey!" as she sent her mount after him. Grinning to himself, he looked back over his shoulder.
The lightning came out of nowhere, the accompanying thunder crashing around them. For one brief, horrible instant Lark and her mount were lit up like a Winter Veil tree. Then, as Pitch watched, frozen with shock, they plummeted out of the sky. One of Lark's hands lifted as she fell, as if she were reaching for him. Her expression had no fear or pain, only a terrible surprise. Pitch abruptly found both his voice and his will to move. "No! LARK!!" he screamed, then folded his wings and dove after them.
It took him a couple minutes to find where they landed. Finally he spotted the gold-and-white mound of blowing feathers and fur and came winging over to the fallen gryphon. Lark lay near her mount. Pitch unshifted a few feet short of the ground and fell, scrambling to her side once he hit the ground. She lay motionless, the surprised expression still frozen on her face. "Lark," he whispered in disbelief, gently touching her shoulder. Then, as the full realization of what had happened dawned on him, he grabbed her and shook her, hard. "Lark, no!" There was no response. Feeling like the world had suddenly decided to crush him like a bug, Pitch gently cradled her head in both hands, then bent over her body and began sobbing.
Hours later, dry as the desert and worn as an old rag, he changed to cat and curled himself around her. As night fell and the rain started again, gentler this time, his mind mercifully fled down into darkness.
* * * * * *
She came to him in the darkness, smiling, but with a touch of sadness. He couldn't think of why she should be sad. Before he could say a word, she was kneeling at his side. "I'm so sorry, Pitch," she said softly. "I was so sure you would be the first one taken. I never wanted to leave you alone."
He reached up to touch her face. "Alone?" he asked, slightly confused. Some part of his mind was trying to tell him that this was all wrong, that she wasn't really here, but he refused to listen. "But-"
"Pitch," she interrupted gently. "I want you to promise me something, babe." She waited for his nod before continuing. "Promise me you'll go on. Don't let yourself pine away just because of me."
He blinked at her. "Lark, I-"
She interrupted him again, this time with a finger on his lips. "We're here, and we're alone," she said softly. "Let's enjoy this night together, hey?" She kissed him then, and he let himself forget everything else. There was only her.
* * * * * *
Waking was a cruelty beyond imagining.
Pitch sat and stared at his dead mate, the morning breeze ruffling his muddy fur. His mind and body felt numb. He couldn't make himself think beyond each particular moment. He didn't want to live without her.
Finally he stood and began walking. After a few dozen steps the walk turned into a run. He didn't look back.
* * * * * *
Alanon knelt next to Lark's body, closing her eyes as he offered a brief prayer to Elune. He scanned the ground, finally spotting the tracks of a large cat heading off into the distance. He sighed, suddenly feeling every one of his ten-thousand-something years.
The air shimmered in front of him, and suddenly Komah was standing there. Alanon blinked in surprise. The spirit-cat was several times larger now, his eyes and markings glowing fiercely. The druid suddenly understood what was happening and bowed his head to the loa-creature.
He heard a faint chuckle in his mind. None of that, please. Alanon raised his head to look the cat in the eyes. "So this is it, then," he stated, rather than asked.
Komah nodded. She was good to me, and I'll remember her always, but my mate's debt is paid and my time with her is now over, he said simply.
Alanon quirked an eyebrow. "That's it? No grief, no tears?"
The cat gave him a look of mild reproach. I am not a person. We don't do things the same as you. I will mourn her in my own way. Do not think to judge me, druid.
Alanon bowed his head again in apology. Then he looked up, a new thought crossing his mind. "And Pitch? Do you know where he's gone?"
The loa blinked at him slowly. Finally, He said he was going home. With that, Komah turned away from the druid and faded away.
Alanon sat where he was for a little longer. Then he levered himself to his feet and changed to a bird, heading back towards Stormwind. The rest needed to hear what had happened before he set off after Pitch.
* * * * * *
His sisters and Windstar took the news about how he had expected. Shaurria, of course, was the hardest hit. She dissolved into sniffles, sitting back a little away from the group. Loren was no better. The young druid simply sat in shock, eyes wide but unseeing. Windstar and Jahira sat on either side of him, trying to provide reassurance.
Kel was the first to speak. "Now what do we do?" she asked her brother.
Alanon sighed. "I have to go after him, there's no question of that. But I have to go alone." He looked at the others firmly. "We have no idea what he's feeling like right now, and I want to take no chances."
The others agreed, Kel grudgingly, and he turned to go. He hadn't gone far when he became aware of Shaur dogging his heels. He looked at her sternly and opened his mouth, but she gave him a look of mute appeal, and what he had intended to say died in his throat. He turned and went on, permitting her to follow.
* * * * * *
Ashenvale was much changed from its "glory days," as the humans liked to call it, but it was still home. Alanon kept his hope buried deep as they approached the weathered house. Pitch may have moved on by now, or he could be in no shape for them to be safe around him, but he was Alanon's brother. He had to try to do something.
There was no sign of the druid around the house, and Alanon felt his heart sinking when he finally spotted a dark shape at the edge of the clearing. Pitch was sitting still and silent, his tail curled around his feet, looking out into the trees. Shaur gave a wordless cry and launched herself at him before Alanon could stop her, but all Pitch did was turn to nuzzle her as she threw her arms around him. Alanon approached more slowly.
"Shaur," he said quietly. "I know how you feel, but I need to have a word with him, okay? In private." The little druid nodded as she wiped her face, then turned cat and trotted back to the house. Alanon sat down next to Pitch.
Pitch spoke up softly before Alanon could say a word. "I see her in my dreams. I can still feel her next to me." He turned to look at him briefly before returning his attention to the forest. "How do you deal with it?"
Alanon was glad that he still spoke clearly, and he at least sounded sane. He answered slowly. "You remember the good parts. The bad parts will come as well, but they will stop eventually. And then... the good parts won't hurt as much, and you'll know you're on the way to healing."
Pitch took a deep, shuddering breath. "Do me a favor, brother," he said softly. "Take care of Loren for me. And don't come looking for me, or let anyone else try. If I'm able, I will come find you."
Alanon didn't like the sound of what he was saying. "If you're able? Pitch..."
Pitch turned to look at him again, and Alanon felt his heart fall at the sight. Pitch's eyes were empty of everything but pain, balancing barely on this side of madness. Then Alanon saw something else, and his blood turned cold. Something else looked at him through Pitch's eyes, something feral and wild. He realized that Pitch had released the cat.
"Pitch, no," he whispered. "Don't do this."
Whatever sanity was left in Pitch's eyes was slipping away, even as he watched. "I don't really care, Alanon," he replied. "I don't want to live anymore, not without her. Maybe with time that will change, but for now this is the only way."
"Pitch, please," Alanon said desperately. "You know what they'll do if they-"
Pitch stood up abruptly, cutting off the rest of the sentence. "Goodbye, Alanon," he said. "Gods willing, I will see you again someday." He started trotting, heading into the deep woods.
Alanon watched him go. "Goodbye, little brother," he whispered, although he was no longer sure if it was his brother he was speaking to. "Elune guide your path." He felt Shaurria come up to stand beside him, and they both watched the big black cat as he disappeared into the trees.
Shaurria broke the silence. "Should we go after him?"
Alanon was silent for a long minute. Finally he shook his head. "We can't help him, little one," he told her. "He needs to do this himself." He put one arm around her and started guiding her back to the house. "Come, let's go home."
* * * * * *
The cat was free- really, truly free- for the first time in its existence. It hunted when it was hungry, slept or wandered when it was not. It guarded the territory it had staked out, driving out the rival predators it found. Sometimes, rarely, it remembered the elf it had once been. But the elf had been hurt badly, and had gone into hiding to wait for healing. He rarely bothered the cat, so it was able to do as it wished.
Everything was not perfect, of course. On occasion invaders came to the cat's realm, sometimes stopping to hunt and sometimes simply passing straight through. Not animals, though- people. The cat would watch them, angry at the intrusion. It wanted to attack them, to drive them off or kill them, but something held it back each time, so it only watched until they left.
And sometimes the cat had dreams of another elf, a female with a pretty face and laughing eyes. But the dreams were... painful, so the cat shied away from them.
Someday, maybe, the dreams wouldn't hurt so much, and then things would change. The elf might return, and then they would go back. But such things were beyond the cat's comprehension, so overall, it was fairly happy. It hunted, and slept, and wandered, throughout the Ashenvale forest.
_______________
For anyone wondering, Loren is Pitch and Lark's son. Yes, I know she's supposed to be barren, but there is actually some RP starting soon (I hope) that may change that. So since this would be in the unspecified future anyway, I figured that it would have worked. Hence Loren.
And naturally he would be a druid. His father and half his aunts/uncles are all druids, so why not?
I never really intended for Lark and Pitch to be anything other than just friends. Just goes to show how little control I really have over my characters, right? The main thing is actually Pitch. He simply never does anything by halves- he'd rather go all the way. This wasn't a problem when he was chasing after Skyborne, but when Sky kind of took herself out of the picture, there was only Pitch and Lark left.
Really, I should have known it was coming.
Lark loves Pitch, really, but she's already lost so many people she's loved that it's become old stuff for her. If Pitch dies, she'll mourn for him (and hard), but then she will simply pick up what's left and get on with her life. But then I started thinking.... what if the opposite happens?
Lark is Pitch's first love. Oh, he's had a mate before (long story that I have no intention of writing, sorry), but that relationship didn't have much to do with love. With Lark, though, every now and then he will surprise me with how deep his feelings really are. She is his mate, his partner, and his love. He gives her everything he's got.
More simply, he's not going by halves.
So if anything ever happened to Lark, I really wasn't sure what he'd do. Go crazy? Go feral? Or maybe just deal with it and move on, like Lark herself would do. I apparently was in a morbid mood today (let's kill off one of my main characters and see what the other one does, muahaha- kidding), and I did eventually finish the whole story.
Which was fairly awesome, because I've been in such a slump lately. >_<
So what would Pitch do if Lark died? Read on and find out.
***Disclaimer***
I AM NOT KILLING OFF ANY OF MY TOONS.
So don't worry about that. This is strictly a "what-if".
That being said, I will warn you that I had to make myself stop thinking about it a few times, because I was about ready to break down bawling in the middle of the aisle at work. You might want to grab a kleenex.
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It was a beautiful day. The air was rain-washed and clean, the worst of the storm having passed. A few threatening-looking clouds still hung in the sky, but above them the sky was clear and blue. Pitch circled around Lark's gryphon, then did a few flips. He followed them up with an attempt at a backwards flip, but wound up having to catch himself after nearly falling out of the air. Lark laughed at him from her gryphon's saddle, and he laughed with her, unable to be angry or upset on such a perfect day.
The wind picked up, scudding a few of the clouds across the sky. Lark's grin dropped. "Maybe we should head back," she said doubtfully. Pitch did a bird-shrug. "Race you," he offered, then took off, his wings sweeping him along furiously. He barely heard her indignant "Hey!" as she sent her mount after him. Grinning to himself, he looked back over his shoulder.
The lightning came out of nowhere, the accompanying thunder crashing around them. For one brief, horrible instant Lark and her mount were lit up like a Winter Veil tree. Then, as Pitch watched, frozen with shock, they plummeted out of the sky. One of Lark's hands lifted as she fell, as if she were reaching for him. Her expression had no fear or pain, only a terrible surprise. Pitch abruptly found both his voice and his will to move. "No! LARK!!" he screamed, then folded his wings and dove after them.
It took him a couple minutes to find where they landed. Finally he spotted the gold-and-white mound of blowing feathers and fur and came winging over to the fallen gryphon. Lark lay near her mount. Pitch unshifted a few feet short of the ground and fell, scrambling to her side once he hit the ground. She lay motionless, the surprised expression still frozen on her face. "Lark," he whispered in disbelief, gently touching her shoulder. Then, as the full realization of what had happened dawned on him, he grabbed her and shook her, hard. "Lark, no!" There was no response. Feeling like the world had suddenly decided to crush him like a bug, Pitch gently cradled her head in both hands, then bent over her body and began sobbing.
Hours later, dry as the desert and worn as an old rag, he changed to cat and curled himself around her. As night fell and the rain started again, gentler this time, his mind mercifully fled down into darkness.
* * * * * *
She came to him in the darkness, smiling, but with a touch of sadness. He couldn't think of why she should be sad. Before he could say a word, she was kneeling at his side. "I'm so sorry, Pitch," she said softly. "I was so sure you would be the first one taken. I never wanted to leave you alone."
He reached up to touch her face. "Alone?" he asked, slightly confused. Some part of his mind was trying to tell him that this was all wrong, that she wasn't really here, but he refused to listen. "But-"
"Pitch," she interrupted gently. "I want you to promise me something, babe." She waited for his nod before continuing. "Promise me you'll go on. Don't let yourself pine away just because of me."
He blinked at her. "Lark, I-"
She interrupted him again, this time with a finger on his lips. "We're here, and we're alone," she said softly. "Let's enjoy this night together, hey?" She kissed him then, and he let himself forget everything else. There was only her.
* * * * * *
Waking was a cruelty beyond imagining.
Pitch sat and stared at his dead mate, the morning breeze ruffling his muddy fur. His mind and body felt numb. He couldn't make himself think beyond each particular moment. He didn't want to live without her.
Finally he stood and began walking. After a few dozen steps the walk turned into a run. He didn't look back.
* * * * * *
Alanon knelt next to Lark's body, closing her eyes as he offered a brief prayer to Elune. He scanned the ground, finally spotting the tracks of a large cat heading off into the distance. He sighed, suddenly feeling every one of his ten-thousand-something years.
The air shimmered in front of him, and suddenly Komah was standing there. Alanon blinked in surprise. The spirit-cat was several times larger now, his eyes and markings glowing fiercely. The druid suddenly understood what was happening and bowed his head to the loa-creature.
He heard a faint chuckle in his mind. None of that, please. Alanon raised his head to look the cat in the eyes. "So this is it, then," he stated, rather than asked.
Komah nodded. She was good to me, and I'll remember her always, but my mate's debt is paid and my time with her is now over, he said simply.
Alanon quirked an eyebrow. "That's it? No grief, no tears?"
The cat gave him a look of mild reproach. I am not a person. We don't do things the same as you. I will mourn her in my own way. Do not think to judge me, druid.
Alanon bowed his head again in apology. Then he looked up, a new thought crossing his mind. "And Pitch? Do you know where he's gone?"
The loa blinked at him slowly. Finally, He said he was going home. With that, Komah turned away from the druid and faded away.
Alanon sat where he was for a little longer. Then he levered himself to his feet and changed to a bird, heading back towards Stormwind. The rest needed to hear what had happened before he set off after Pitch.
* * * * * *
His sisters and Windstar took the news about how he had expected. Shaurria, of course, was the hardest hit. She dissolved into sniffles, sitting back a little away from the group. Loren was no better. The young druid simply sat in shock, eyes wide but unseeing. Windstar and Jahira sat on either side of him, trying to provide reassurance.
Kel was the first to speak. "Now what do we do?" she asked her brother.
Alanon sighed. "I have to go after him, there's no question of that. But I have to go alone." He looked at the others firmly. "We have no idea what he's feeling like right now, and I want to take no chances."
The others agreed, Kel grudgingly, and he turned to go. He hadn't gone far when he became aware of Shaur dogging his heels. He looked at her sternly and opened his mouth, but she gave him a look of mute appeal, and what he had intended to say died in his throat. He turned and went on, permitting her to follow.
* * * * * *
Ashenvale was much changed from its "glory days," as the humans liked to call it, but it was still home. Alanon kept his hope buried deep as they approached the weathered house. Pitch may have moved on by now, or he could be in no shape for them to be safe around him, but he was Alanon's brother. He had to try to do something.
There was no sign of the druid around the house, and Alanon felt his heart sinking when he finally spotted a dark shape at the edge of the clearing. Pitch was sitting still and silent, his tail curled around his feet, looking out into the trees. Shaur gave a wordless cry and launched herself at him before Alanon could stop her, but all Pitch did was turn to nuzzle her as she threw her arms around him. Alanon approached more slowly.
"Shaur," he said quietly. "I know how you feel, but I need to have a word with him, okay? In private." The little druid nodded as she wiped her face, then turned cat and trotted back to the house. Alanon sat down next to Pitch.
Pitch spoke up softly before Alanon could say a word. "I see her in my dreams. I can still feel her next to me." He turned to look at him briefly before returning his attention to the forest. "How do you deal with it?"
Alanon was glad that he still spoke clearly, and he at least sounded sane. He answered slowly. "You remember the good parts. The bad parts will come as well, but they will stop eventually. And then... the good parts won't hurt as much, and you'll know you're on the way to healing."
Pitch took a deep, shuddering breath. "Do me a favor, brother," he said softly. "Take care of Loren for me. And don't come looking for me, or let anyone else try. If I'm able, I will come find you."
Alanon didn't like the sound of what he was saying. "If you're able? Pitch..."
Pitch turned to look at him again, and Alanon felt his heart fall at the sight. Pitch's eyes were empty of everything but pain, balancing barely on this side of madness. Then Alanon saw something else, and his blood turned cold. Something else looked at him through Pitch's eyes, something feral and wild. He realized that Pitch had released the cat.
"Pitch, no," he whispered. "Don't do this."
Whatever sanity was left in Pitch's eyes was slipping away, even as he watched. "I don't really care, Alanon," he replied. "I don't want to live anymore, not without her. Maybe with time that will change, but for now this is the only way."
"Pitch, please," Alanon said desperately. "You know what they'll do if they-"
Pitch stood up abruptly, cutting off the rest of the sentence. "Goodbye, Alanon," he said. "Gods willing, I will see you again someday." He started trotting, heading into the deep woods.
Alanon watched him go. "Goodbye, little brother," he whispered, although he was no longer sure if it was his brother he was speaking to. "Elune guide your path." He felt Shaurria come up to stand beside him, and they both watched the big black cat as he disappeared into the trees.
Shaurria broke the silence. "Should we go after him?"
Alanon was silent for a long minute. Finally he shook his head. "We can't help him, little one," he told her. "He needs to do this himself." He put one arm around her and started guiding her back to the house. "Come, let's go home."
* * * * * *
The cat was free- really, truly free- for the first time in its existence. It hunted when it was hungry, slept or wandered when it was not. It guarded the territory it had staked out, driving out the rival predators it found. Sometimes, rarely, it remembered the elf it had once been. But the elf had been hurt badly, and had gone into hiding to wait for healing. He rarely bothered the cat, so it was able to do as it wished.
Everything was not perfect, of course. On occasion invaders came to the cat's realm, sometimes stopping to hunt and sometimes simply passing straight through. Not animals, though- people. The cat would watch them, angry at the intrusion. It wanted to attack them, to drive them off or kill them, but something held it back each time, so it only watched until they left.
And sometimes the cat had dreams of another elf, a female with a pretty face and laughing eyes. But the dreams were... painful, so the cat shied away from them.
Someday, maybe, the dreams wouldn't hurt so much, and then things would change. The elf might return, and then they would go back. But such things were beyond the cat's comprehension, so overall, it was fairly happy. It hunted, and slept, and wandered, throughout the Ashenvale forest.
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For anyone wondering, Loren is Pitch and Lark's son. Yes, I know she's supposed to be barren, but there is actually some RP starting soon (I hope) that may change that. So since this would be in the unspecified future anyway, I figured that it would have worked. Hence Loren.
And naturally he would be a druid. His father and half his aunts/uncles are all druids, so why not?
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Tuah
Shaurria was bored and lonely. Lark could sympathize, since everyone the youngster normally spent time with was gone- Pitch and Rheugan had left for Nagrand that morning, and Alanon was back in Hyjal. But after nearly tripping over the little druid for the third time, Lark had had enough. "Alright," she addressed the druid, and Shaur sat down to look at her alertly. "Do you want to go do something, anywhere? I'm not getting much done like this, and I've got some time off due anyway."
Shauria's forehead crinkled in thought, then she unshifted and looked up. "Uldum?" she asked tentatively. "Pitch took me there once and I liked it. But I haven't gotten t' go back since."
Lark nodded. "Uldum it is. Just let me tell Kal and get Wynd."
Kal didn't even look up when Lark popped her head in to say she was leaving, she just waved one hand distractedly. With that taken care of, Lark headed out to fetch her gryphon. In no time they were through the Earthen Ring's portal and flapping their way out into the desert.
Lark let Shaurria lead the way, and the little druid headed down the river toward the Delta. She finally flapped down to a landing just outside the Tol'vir city there, shifting to a cat as she did, and started playing in the water at the river's edge. Lark settled Wynd, then came over to sit a little ways away, outside of splashing range. Shaurria was apparently in a kittenish mood, and amused herself for a good while pouncing through the rushes after frogs and snakes. Lark had just started to doze off when the druid-cat suddenly went still, head up and ears pricked, looking over to the far bank.
Lark noticed and roused herself. "What is it, kitten?" she called, but Shaur only twitched one ear in her direction. Then abruptly she was bounding into the water, in the direction she had been facing.
Lark cursed to herself and hurried after her, whistling for Wynd. The gryphon came running, pausing just long enough for Lark to throw herself in the saddle before hopping into the air, to cross the river in an easy glide. Lark slid off her mount and waited, arms crossed, while Shaur reached the bank and pulled herself out, panting. "All right, little one," she said shortly. "What was that about?"
Shaurria unshifted to look at her incredulously. "Y'mean ya couldn't hear it?" she asked. Lark blinked at her. "Hear what?" She was answered, not by Shaur, but by a low chuffing moan from nearby. Shaur's eyes widened, and in a blink she had shifted again to go after the noise. Lark stopped her with a hand held in front of her nose. "Not so fast," she told the druid firmly. "We'll check it out together."
The two Night elves headed up the bank cautiously, into the brush surrounding the city walls. Lark kept one worried eye on the city itself- if anything came out after them, they were in a world of trouble. Everything seemed quiet, however, except for whatever animal was making those noises.
Lark smelled the blood just as Shaurria came to a stop, ears pricked and nose twitching. She unshifted again to point at a bush. "S'in there," she whispered, and Lark peered in. "I don't.." she started to say, then stopped as she realized that the splash of orange she could make out wasn't a plant- it was the biggest tiger she had ever seen. Lark grabbed for Shaur's arm, ready to beat it out of there, when she saw the cat's near hind leg. She stopped and stared, realizing that the tiger wasn't a danger after all.
It looked rather like the tiger's leg just above the hock had been pushed through a meat grinder. The grass it was lying on was stained with blood, and Lark could see flecks of shattered bone poking out of the meat. The tiger lay quietly, eyes almost shut, every now and again giving another of those rasping moans.
Shaurria pulled Lark out of her shock by tugging on her arm. "We have t' help him," she said softly. Lark swallowed and nodded, then carefully approached the tiger. Its eyes opened, glowing a strange purple color, but it simply watched her, eyes dull with pain. Lark crept up to within touching range, took a deep breath, and placed one hand on the cat's haunch.
The skin under her hand twitched, but otherwise it didn't move. Lark wasn't sure if that was a good sign- that the animal was used to being handled- or a bad one- that the injury was so severe it just didn't care anymore. She peered at the wound as closely as she dared, taking note of the tooth marks in the cat's leg. Shaur hovered anxiously just over her shoulder as she gently probed the leg. Finally she straightened up again.
"It's broken, and he's missing a good-sized chunk of that leg. Looks like a croc got him. He'll heal if he gets care, but he'll be crippled in that leg." Shaur looked at her, round-eyed, then peered at the cat. "S'what'll we do with 'im?" she asked. Lark sighed, mostly at the inevitability of it all. "We'll take him home and find him a healer," she told the younger elf. "And hope he survives the trip. It's a long way back, and he's lost a lot of blood."
She stood and went to get Wynd. The gryphon was used to carrying animal passengers, and the tiger was too far gone anyway to put up much of a struggle. She had only taken a step when Shaur's hand on her arm stopped her. She looked back irritably. "What now, kitten?"
Shaur just gave her a knowing grin. "We don' have t' move 'im hurt," she said. "I c'n heal 'im." Lark blinked, thinking with some chagrin that she had been with Pitch for too long. The thought hadn't even occurred to her.
The tiger gave another painful rasp. Lark nodded to the druid. "Go ahead, babe. See what you can do."
Before too much longer Lark had unrolled the pad behind Wynd's saddle and coaxed the cat up onto it. Wynd was used to ferrying her pets around and stood steady. The tiger was using his injured leg, albeit stiffly, and the remaining damage didn't look too bad. Shaur had done a good job.
The tiger was surprisingly placid. Lark didn't know if he was still sick or injured, if he really was used to being handled, or if he simply trusted the elves that much. She was worried it was the first, and kicked Wynd up into the air as soon as he was settled on the pad. Shaurria flapped along behind her, keeping watch in case the big cat slipped, but he clung to the pad as if he had been doing it all his life, and by the time they crossed the Uldum border Lark had stopped worrying. Mostly.
She was relieved when they finally arrived back in Stormwind. The tiger and Wynd both were worn out, so she wasted little time in directing the gryphon toward the University and getting him to the ground. She left the tiger in Shaur's care while she stabled Wynd, then they both coaxed the tiger into her room. Lark was a bit worried about her own pets, but Komah knew to stay well out of the way, and Quiloe seemed to take her cue from him, although the wolf watched them with wide eyes. The tiger ignored them both, limping over to the sleeping pad and dropping onto it with a sigh.
Shaurria knelt by the cat and began gently petting his head. "Are you gonna keep 'im?" she asked.
Lark sighed. "Probably," she answered. "Nether knows I don't need another pet, but they seem to keep forcing themselves on me anyway."
Shaur grinned at the attempted joke. "Whatcha gonna call 'im?"
Lark considered the big tiger for a moment. "I think he'll be Tuah," she said, and the cat's eyes opened to stare into hers. Behind that strange glow, Lark thought that he looked content.
Shauria's forehead crinkled in thought, then she unshifted and looked up. "Uldum?" she asked tentatively. "Pitch took me there once and I liked it. But I haven't gotten t' go back since."
Lark nodded. "Uldum it is. Just let me tell Kal and get Wynd."
Kal didn't even look up when Lark popped her head in to say she was leaving, she just waved one hand distractedly. With that taken care of, Lark headed out to fetch her gryphon. In no time they were through the Earthen Ring's portal and flapping their way out into the desert.
Lark let Shaurria lead the way, and the little druid headed down the river toward the Delta. She finally flapped down to a landing just outside the Tol'vir city there, shifting to a cat as she did, and started playing in the water at the river's edge. Lark settled Wynd, then came over to sit a little ways away, outside of splashing range. Shaurria was apparently in a kittenish mood, and amused herself for a good while pouncing through the rushes after frogs and snakes. Lark had just started to doze off when the druid-cat suddenly went still, head up and ears pricked, looking over to the far bank.
Lark noticed and roused herself. "What is it, kitten?" she called, but Shaur only twitched one ear in her direction. Then abruptly she was bounding into the water, in the direction she had been facing.
Lark cursed to herself and hurried after her, whistling for Wynd. The gryphon came running, pausing just long enough for Lark to throw herself in the saddle before hopping into the air, to cross the river in an easy glide. Lark slid off her mount and waited, arms crossed, while Shaur reached the bank and pulled herself out, panting. "All right, little one," she said shortly. "What was that about?"
Shaurria unshifted to look at her incredulously. "Y'mean ya couldn't hear it?" she asked. Lark blinked at her. "Hear what?" She was answered, not by Shaur, but by a low chuffing moan from nearby. Shaur's eyes widened, and in a blink she had shifted again to go after the noise. Lark stopped her with a hand held in front of her nose. "Not so fast," she told the druid firmly. "We'll check it out together."
The two Night elves headed up the bank cautiously, into the brush surrounding the city walls. Lark kept one worried eye on the city itself- if anything came out after them, they were in a world of trouble. Everything seemed quiet, however, except for whatever animal was making those noises.
Lark smelled the blood just as Shaurria came to a stop, ears pricked and nose twitching. She unshifted again to point at a bush. "S'in there," she whispered, and Lark peered in. "I don't.." she started to say, then stopped as she realized that the splash of orange she could make out wasn't a plant- it was the biggest tiger she had ever seen. Lark grabbed for Shaur's arm, ready to beat it out of there, when she saw the cat's near hind leg. She stopped and stared, realizing that the tiger wasn't a danger after all.
It looked rather like the tiger's leg just above the hock had been pushed through a meat grinder. The grass it was lying on was stained with blood, and Lark could see flecks of shattered bone poking out of the meat. The tiger lay quietly, eyes almost shut, every now and again giving another of those rasping moans.
Shaurria pulled Lark out of her shock by tugging on her arm. "We have t' help him," she said softly. Lark swallowed and nodded, then carefully approached the tiger. Its eyes opened, glowing a strange purple color, but it simply watched her, eyes dull with pain. Lark crept up to within touching range, took a deep breath, and placed one hand on the cat's haunch.
The skin under her hand twitched, but otherwise it didn't move. Lark wasn't sure if that was a good sign- that the animal was used to being handled- or a bad one- that the injury was so severe it just didn't care anymore. She peered at the wound as closely as she dared, taking note of the tooth marks in the cat's leg. Shaur hovered anxiously just over her shoulder as she gently probed the leg. Finally she straightened up again.
"It's broken, and he's missing a good-sized chunk of that leg. Looks like a croc got him. He'll heal if he gets care, but he'll be crippled in that leg." Shaur looked at her, round-eyed, then peered at the cat. "S'what'll we do with 'im?" she asked. Lark sighed, mostly at the inevitability of it all. "We'll take him home and find him a healer," she told the younger elf. "And hope he survives the trip. It's a long way back, and he's lost a lot of blood."
She stood and went to get Wynd. The gryphon was used to carrying animal passengers, and the tiger was too far gone anyway to put up much of a struggle. She had only taken a step when Shaur's hand on her arm stopped her. She looked back irritably. "What now, kitten?"
Shaur just gave her a knowing grin. "We don' have t' move 'im hurt," she said. "I c'n heal 'im." Lark blinked, thinking with some chagrin that she had been with Pitch for too long. The thought hadn't even occurred to her.
The tiger gave another painful rasp. Lark nodded to the druid. "Go ahead, babe. See what you can do."
Before too much longer Lark had unrolled the pad behind Wynd's saddle and coaxed the cat up onto it. Wynd was used to ferrying her pets around and stood steady. The tiger was using his injured leg, albeit stiffly, and the remaining damage didn't look too bad. Shaur had done a good job.
The tiger was surprisingly placid. Lark didn't know if he was still sick or injured, if he really was used to being handled, or if he simply trusted the elves that much. She was worried it was the first, and kicked Wynd up into the air as soon as he was settled on the pad. Shaurria flapped along behind her, keeping watch in case the big cat slipped, but he clung to the pad as if he had been doing it all his life, and by the time they crossed the Uldum border Lark had stopped worrying. Mostly.
She was relieved when they finally arrived back in Stormwind. The tiger and Wynd both were worn out, so she wasted little time in directing the gryphon toward the University and getting him to the ground. She left the tiger in Shaur's care while she stabled Wynd, then they both coaxed the tiger into her room. Lark was a bit worried about her own pets, but Komah knew to stay well out of the way, and Quiloe seemed to take her cue from him, although the wolf watched them with wide eyes. The tiger ignored them both, limping over to the sleeping pad and dropping onto it with a sigh.
Shaurria knelt by the cat and began gently petting his head. "Are you gonna keep 'im?" she asked.
Lark sighed. "Probably," she answered. "Nether knows I don't need another pet, but they seem to keep forcing themselves on me anyway."
Shaur grinned at the attempted joke. "Whatcha gonna call 'im?"
Lark considered the big tiger for a moment. "I think he'll be Tuah," she said, and the cat's eyes opened to stare into hers. Behind that strange glow, Lark thought that he looked content.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Rheugan: Someone To Talk To
This was irritatingly hard to get done- mostly because I'm back in the phase of "get home from work, sit in front of computer fighting to stay awake for hours." It's not fun, especially when I have stuff I'd like to write but don't even have the energy to sit down and type it up. Blah.
Anyways, here it is. Rheugan and Shaur have met ICly before, which left Rheugan feeling a little bit like O_o. Shaur can be... interesting if you don't know her, heh. But he did like her well enough, and I thought maybe he could use an impartial ear again, given what's been going through his head lately.
I have no idea what Shaurria is doing here, by the way. I think Alanon is rubbing off on her.
Enjoy!
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Shaurria was back in Stormwind.
Rheugan found her on the lake shore, watching people move in and out of the portals at the Earthshrine. He hesitated, then left his cat form and approached as a human. She heard or sensed him somehow and looked up, giving him a welcoming smile and patting the ground beside her. "How've ya been?" she asked as he sat down. "I'm well," he replied. "You?" She nodded as she turned back toward the Earthshrine. "M'good. Did you have any more stories?"
Rheugan chuckled, more amused now than surprised at her directness. "Actually, I thought maybe you'd have some to tell." She looked back at him in surprise. "Me?" He just nodded, waiting patiently.
Shaur frowned in mild confusion. "Like what?" He shrugged. "How about something from when you were younger?" She looked at him doubtfully, so he tried again. "Well, what have you been doing recently, then?"
She brightened at that, sitting up straighter. "Alanon took me to Hyjal!" she told him. "He showed me the Ancients, and Goldrinn let me ride on his back. I wanted to ask Tortolla too, but Alanon said it wouldn't be polite." Rheugan found himself chuckling again, and she gave him a crooked grin. "So what have you been doing?" she asked him.
Rheugan's good humor vanished, as he wondered exactly how much he could tell her. They sat in silence for several minutes, until Shaur finally spoke. "Rheugan?" He looked up to find her studying him with concern. "S'there anything wrong?"
He hesitated a moment more. "There have been... incidents of people, ahh, expressing their dislike of my kind," he said slowly. Shaur's eyebrow went up. He continued, "Some folk think that we're a curse, a blight, and we should be.. dealt with. There's been some violence." He stopped, hoping he hadn't said too much.
Shaurria stared at him thoughtfully. "They've been mean to you?" she finally asked, and he shook his head. "No, to a friend." She frowned. "And it's just 'cause ya can turn inta a wolf?" "Worgen," he corrected automatically. "Not quite a wolf." She snorted dismissively. "Same thing." He chuckled, giving up the argument, and she grinned briefly, then grew serious. "Rheugan?" she said hesitantly. "Can I.. can I see ya in your wolf shape?"
He stared at her for several long seconds, then sighed and closed his eyes. Calling the wolf took only a moment. He grunted as the change took him, then heard Shaur's muffled gasp and opened his eyes, bracing himself for the worst.
She wasn't huddled in fear, like he expected. Instead, she was studying him in fascination. Finally she met his eyes and smiled. "S'not so bad," she said, then lifted a hand and reached toward his muzzle. He sat perfectly still as her fingers brushed the short, coarse fur, then the hand withdrew. "Yer not so bad. I like it."
Rheugan blinked, not knowing what to think. After a bit he changed back, the wolf reluctant to leave but going without a fight. Shaur simply watched him, not speaking, and they sat in silence again until Rheugan finally broke it. "I wish everyone shared your opinion of it," he said quietly. She shrugged, her attention going back across the lake. "Pitch'n Alanon don't care either," she said absently. "Y'can't make everyone happy, so why bother with it? Just so long as no one's hurtin' ya." Rheugan could only shake his head.
Shaurria glanced at him crosswise. "What kinda teaching did y'get?" she asked him suddenly. He blinked at her in confusion. "Pardon?" "Your druid teaching," she explained patiently. "How much have y'had?" He paused to think. "I've had some teaching when I was younger, although I didn't know at the time it was druid magic I was learning," he said slowly. "Since then, all I was taught was the shape-shifting, and the feral combat that Pitch has been helping with."
Shaurria nodded, then she turned in her place so that she faced him squarely. "Druids are about balance," she told him, her voice taking on the tone of a teacher instructing a student. "We're connected to the earth, which is connected to all living things. When everything's balanced, the grass and the trees grow up healthy, and they feed th' animals which in turn feed th' people. If something's out of whack, then stuff goes out of balance, and it's th' druid's job to find out what's gone wrong and fix it. That's what we do." She paused, then shrugged. "That's what Alanon says, anyway. He does it better than me."
Rheugan was bemused. "That's very interesting, but I'm not sure how much it applies to me," he told her. She shrugged again. "Maybe you're just out of balance," she said, surprising him. "Maybe that's why you're having problems, why y'aren't happy any more. Maybe... maybe you just need to find it in yourself." Rheugan blinked at her in amazement- she suddenly seemed much older than the elf-girl he had thought he'd been speaking with. "Maybe," he finally said, softly. "I only wish I knew how." Shaur gave him a small, sad smile, then reached over and patted his hand. "You'll get it, s'why Pitch is helping ya isn't it?" "I suppose," he replied slowly.
They sat in silence for a long time after that, Shaurria going back to her people-watching and Rheugan lost in his own thoughts. As the sun started to drop below the horizon, Shaur finally began telling him more of the Ancients, and they were still sitting there chatting when Pitch found them.
* * * * * *
The shaggy black cat most often referred to as Rheugan stretched out on the railing and idly watched the others, only half-paying attention to the conversation going on around the main table. When Alanon entered, he noticed immediately, his one ear pricking up as he watched the older druid approach him. "Rheugan," Alanon said when he reached the druid-cat's side. "Can I have a word with you? Should just be a moment." He paused and glanced at the main table. "Upstairs, perhaps?" Rheugan eyed him curiously. "All rright," he rumbled, then slipped off the railing and followed the Night elf upstairs to a table.
Alanon took a seat and waited as the younger druid shifted to a human and did the same. "Shaur told me she spoke with you earlier," he said once Rheugan was settled. "She said you spent quite a bit of time together." Rheugan raised an eyebrow. "Yes," he replied. "And? What of it?" "You do know that she is still very young, by our terms, right?" Alanon asked, waiting for the other's nod before continuing. "I was just wondering what your feelings are toward her."
Rheugan blinked, suddenly uncomfortably aware of where this was probably going. "She is... a friend," he said. "That's allowed, isn't it?" "And that's all she is?" Alanon pressed. "Yes," he answered, then paused as a thought struck him. "Surely you don't think I'd do anything to her," he said, staring at the elder druid in surprise. "I didn't, but I had to make sure," Alanon said, rather gently. "Shaur is young, and can be rather... impressionable."
Rheugan frowned. "I'd never do anything like that," he protested. "I wouldn't hurt her for anything." "And that's why I won't ask you to stay away from her," came Alanon's response. Rheugan blinked again. The Night elf went on, "She is my ward, and I will do whatever I have to to protect her. You understand that, correct?" "Yes..." he said slowly. "I just... it's nice to have someone to talk to, that's all." The Kal'dorei eyed him curiously.. "You can talk to Pitch, you know that." "I know," he replied. "It's not the same, though."
Alanon sat back in his chair and studied Rheugan as understanding suddenly dawned. "It's because she accepts you," he said quietly. Rheugan nodded, studying the tabletop with entirely too much concentration. He hoped the other druid really did understand as well as he thought, as he wasn't even sure if he could explain it to another.
Alanon studied him thoughtfully for a while. "Just be careful, Rheugan," he finally said, softly. "She's too young right now for that kind of relationship, and by the time she would be old enough, you'd be an old man." "You think I haven't realized that?" Rheugan cut in, a little more sharply than he had intended. "I don't want her like that. She's a friend, and that's all I'm looking for." Alanon studied Rheugan closely, then nodded. "Then I will trust your judgment. Just.. remember what I've said." Rheugan resumed staring at the table. "I will."
Seemingly satisfied, Alanon stood. "I'll see you later, Rheugan," he said, and Rheugan nodded without raising his eyes. He listened as the druid left, then at last he got up and went back to his cat shape and the railing. With a quiet sigh, he wondered if his life would ever be simple again.
Anyways, here it is. Rheugan and Shaur have met ICly before, which left Rheugan feeling a little bit like O_o. Shaur can be... interesting if you don't know her, heh. But he did like her well enough, and I thought maybe he could use an impartial ear again, given what's been going through his head lately.
I have no idea what Shaurria is doing here, by the way. I think Alanon is rubbing off on her.
Enjoy!
__________________
Shaurria was back in Stormwind.
Rheugan found her on the lake shore, watching people move in and out of the portals at the Earthshrine. He hesitated, then left his cat form and approached as a human. She heard or sensed him somehow and looked up, giving him a welcoming smile and patting the ground beside her. "How've ya been?" she asked as he sat down. "I'm well," he replied. "You?" She nodded as she turned back toward the Earthshrine. "M'good. Did you have any more stories?"
Rheugan chuckled, more amused now than surprised at her directness. "Actually, I thought maybe you'd have some to tell." She looked back at him in surprise. "Me?" He just nodded, waiting patiently.
Shaur frowned in mild confusion. "Like what?" He shrugged. "How about something from when you were younger?" She looked at him doubtfully, so he tried again. "Well, what have you been doing recently, then?"
She brightened at that, sitting up straighter. "Alanon took me to Hyjal!" she told him. "He showed me the Ancients, and Goldrinn let me ride on his back. I wanted to ask Tortolla too, but Alanon said it wouldn't be polite." Rheugan found himself chuckling again, and she gave him a crooked grin. "So what have you been doing?" she asked him.
Rheugan's good humor vanished, as he wondered exactly how much he could tell her. They sat in silence for several minutes, until Shaur finally spoke. "Rheugan?" He looked up to find her studying him with concern. "S'there anything wrong?"
He hesitated a moment more. "There have been... incidents of people, ahh, expressing their dislike of my kind," he said slowly. Shaur's eyebrow went up. He continued, "Some folk think that we're a curse, a blight, and we should be.. dealt with. There's been some violence." He stopped, hoping he hadn't said too much.
Shaurria stared at him thoughtfully. "They've been mean to you?" she finally asked, and he shook his head. "No, to a friend." She frowned. "And it's just 'cause ya can turn inta a wolf?" "Worgen," he corrected automatically. "Not quite a wolf." She snorted dismissively. "Same thing." He chuckled, giving up the argument, and she grinned briefly, then grew serious. "Rheugan?" she said hesitantly. "Can I.. can I see ya in your wolf shape?"
He stared at her for several long seconds, then sighed and closed his eyes. Calling the wolf took only a moment. He grunted as the change took him, then heard Shaur's muffled gasp and opened his eyes, bracing himself for the worst.
She wasn't huddled in fear, like he expected. Instead, she was studying him in fascination. Finally she met his eyes and smiled. "S'not so bad," she said, then lifted a hand and reached toward his muzzle. He sat perfectly still as her fingers brushed the short, coarse fur, then the hand withdrew. "Yer not so bad. I like it."
Rheugan blinked, not knowing what to think. After a bit he changed back, the wolf reluctant to leave but going without a fight. Shaur simply watched him, not speaking, and they sat in silence again until Rheugan finally broke it. "I wish everyone shared your opinion of it," he said quietly. She shrugged, her attention going back across the lake. "Pitch'n Alanon don't care either," she said absently. "Y'can't make everyone happy, so why bother with it? Just so long as no one's hurtin' ya." Rheugan could only shake his head.
Shaurria glanced at him crosswise. "What kinda teaching did y'get?" she asked him suddenly. He blinked at her in confusion. "Pardon?" "Your druid teaching," she explained patiently. "How much have y'had?" He paused to think. "I've had some teaching when I was younger, although I didn't know at the time it was druid magic I was learning," he said slowly. "Since then, all I was taught was the shape-shifting, and the feral combat that Pitch has been helping with."
Shaurria nodded, then she turned in her place so that she faced him squarely. "Druids are about balance," she told him, her voice taking on the tone of a teacher instructing a student. "We're connected to the earth, which is connected to all living things. When everything's balanced, the grass and the trees grow up healthy, and they feed th' animals which in turn feed th' people. If something's out of whack, then stuff goes out of balance, and it's th' druid's job to find out what's gone wrong and fix it. That's what we do." She paused, then shrugged. "That's what Alanon says, anyway. He does it better than me."
Rheugan was bemused. "That's very interesting, but I'm not sure how much it applies to me," he told her. She shrugged again. "Maybe you're just out of balance," she said, surprising him. "Maybe that's why you're having problems, why y'aren't happy any more. Maybe... maybe you just need to find it in yourself." Rheugan blinked at her in amazement- she suddenly seemed much older than the elf-girl he had thought he'd been speaking with. "Maybe," he finally said, softly. "I only wish I knew how." Shaur gave him a small, sad smile, then reached over and patted his hand. "You'll get it, s'why Pitch is helping ya isn't it?" "I suppose," he replied slowly.
They sat in silence for a long time after that, Shaurria going back to her people-watching and Rheugan lost in his own thoughts. As the sun started to drop below the horizon, Shaur finally began telling him more of the Ancients, and they were still sitting there chatting when Pitch found them.
* * * * * *
The shaggy black cat most often referred to as Rheugan stretched out on the railing and idly watched the others, only half-paying attention to the conversation going on around the main table. When Alanon entered, he noticed immediately, his one ear pricking up as he watched the older druid approach him. "Rheugan," Alanon said when he reached the druid-cat's side. "Can I have a word with you? Should just be a moment." He paused and glanced at the main table. "Upstairs, perhaps?" Rheugan eyed him curiously. "All rright," he rumbled, then slipped off the railing and followed the Night elf upstairs to a table.
Alanon took a seat and waited as the younger druid shifted to a human and did the same. "Shaur told me she spoke with you earlier," he said once Rheugan was settled. "She said you spent quite a bit of time together." Rheugan raised an eyebrow. "Yes," he replied. "And? What of it?" "You do know that she is still very young, by our terms, right?" Alanon asked, waiting for the other's nod before continuing. "I was just wondering what your feelings are toward her."
Rheugan blinked, suddenly uncomfortably aware of where this was probably going. "She is... a friend," he said. "That's allowed, isn't it?" "And that's all she is?" Alanon pressed. "Yes," he answered, then paused as a thought struck him. "Surely you don't think I'd do anything to her," he said, staring at the elder druid in surprise. "I didn't, but I had to make sure," Alanon said, rather gently. "Shaur is young, and can be rather... impressionable."
Rheugan frowned. "I'd never do anything like that," he protested. "I wouldn't hurt her for anything." "And that's why I won't ask you to stay away from her," came Alanon's response. Rheugan blinked again. The Night elf went on, "She is my ward, and I will do whatever I have to to protect her. You understand that, correct?" "Yes..." he said slowly. "I just... it's nice to have someone to talk to, that's all." The Kal'dorei eyed him curiously.. "You can talk to Pitch, you know that." "I know," he replied. "It's not the same, though."
Alanon sat back in his chair and studied Rheugan as understanding suddenly dawned. "It's because she accepts you," he said quietly. Rheugan nodded, studying the tabletop with entirely too much concentration. He hoped the other druid really did understand as well as he thought, as he wasn't even sure if he could explain it to another.
Alanon studied him thoughtfully for a while. "Just be careful, Rheugan," he finally said, softly. "She's too young right now for that kind of relationship, and by the time she would be old enough, you'd be an old man." "You think I haven't realized that?" Rheugan cut in, a little more sharply than he had intended. "I don't want her like that. She's a friend, and that's all I'm looking for." Alanon studied Rheugan closely, then nodded. "Then I will trust your judgment. Just.. remember what I've said." Rheugan resumed staring at the table. "I will."
Seemingly satisfied, Alanon stood. "I'll see you later, Rheugan," he said, and Rheugan nodded without raising his eyes. He listened as the druid left, then at last he got up and went back to his cat shape and the railing. With a quiet sigh, he wondered if his life would ever be simple again.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Shaurria: Goodbyes
I started thinking this one up, and then I wondered when it would actually occur. Then it hit me- I don't know what might happen with Teldrassil in Cataclysm, so it might be better to do this sooner rather than later. So, when Lark mentioned that Pitch was out of town a couple nights ago? This is what he was doing.
And Shaurria really needed the closure from this anyway. Poor baby.
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Alanon looked up with some surprise as Shaurria came up to where he sat, kneeling in the grass beside him. "C-could we go on a trip?" she asked hesitantly. "We could," he replied, raising a questioning eyebrow at her. "Where would we be going?" Her answer was a whisper, just loud enough to hear. "T-Teldrassil?" Alanon blinked, then set down his notebook and the herb he had been examining. "Shaur," he said gently. "Why do you want to go to Teldrassil?"
She wouldn't meet his eyes; her voice was still soft. "Cause I used t' live there. In Starbreeze." Alanon reached over and gently tilted her chin up, making her finally look at him. "What is it?" he asked her simply. Shaur took a deep breath, seeming to find some courage in the process. Her voice steadied, and she met his eyes squarely. "Long time ago Arvoss asked me if I wanted t' go back home'n say goodbye," she said. "I-.. I think 'm ready." He looked back at her searchingly, then nodded. "I'll get Pitch," he said, then stood up. Shaur reached out to touch his arm. "Just us three," she whispered, and he nodded again.
Pitch met them at the boat to Auberdine. The trip was accomplished in silence, for the most part. Shaurria assumed that Alanon had told Pitch where they were going and why, because the normally garrulous druid didn't say a word. Soon enough they were facing the path that would take them to Starbreeze. They left their mounts there- Shaurria had been adamant about taking Finnall; the white saber could only offer her so much comfort, but he was a comfort all the same.
Shaur stood and stared down the path toward the village for a long time before starting off. A small part of her couldn't believe that she was here, that she was even thinking of going back to her old home, but the rest of her held steady. Thanks to Pitch and his furbolg friends, she no longer thought of the furbolgs as monsters. She knew now that they were simply sick, corrupted, and not truly evil. She still felt a bit surprised each time she realized that she wasn't afraid of them anymore.
Alanon, who was also in his cat form now, touched her shoulder with his nose. Shaur shook herself out of her reverie and started down the path.
She led the way to her old house unerringly, only stopping to make sure the furbolgs were a safe distance away before slipping through the door. Pitch and Alanon waited outside, guarding the door and also giving her some privacy if she needed it.The smallish blue-gray cat stepped through the doorway- and the Night elf entered the house.
She paused to look around. There were no bodies, at least- apparently the local Night elves had found time to clean the village up, although they hadn't done much to chase away the furbolgs. The interior was still a mess, with wrecked furniture, torn books, and broken dishes littering the floor. Suddenly unsure of what to do, Shaur hesitated, then went to the hearth and knelt down.
It had been so long, with so much happening since she had last been here, that she had trouble remembering what the house had looked like while she had lived here. While her parents had been alive. Now there were just dim flickers, half-remembered visions of a happy home with people who loved her.
Finally she just shrugged to herself and started talking, saying whatever came to mind. "I don't know if you can hear me," she began hesitantly. "But I just wanted t' let you know that I'm okay. I... I have people to look out for me now. I'm not alone, so y'don't need to worry about me.
"You'd probably like Pitch and Alanon, and Arvoss, even if he is a death knight. But I guess you wouldn't know what that is, would you? He.. He's real nice. He still looks out for me, even though I live mostly with Alanon now. He's taught me t' be a druid. A real druid, with healing skills'n stuff. He says I'm pretty good at it, though I'll always be a feral first, whatever that means.
"I... I miss you both." Now the tears started, falling fast and thick. She went on with hardly a tremor, though, determined to say what she had to. "I love you, and I'll never, ever forget you. I guess that's what I was afraid of- that if I said m'goodbyes, I'd just forget about you, and I don't want t' do that. But.. You're a part of me, right? So you're always with me in a way. That's how Alanon described it, anyway, and I think he's right.
"I don't know if I'll ever see you again. No one seems t' know what happens when we Night elves die. Th' humans think that they go to be with their "Light", whatever that is, but I don't know if it's th' same for us, or if we just kinda... disappear? But I wanted you t' know that I'm fine, and that I l-love y-you..." Now she finally broke down, burying her face in her arms and sobbing brokenheartedly.
A gentle touch on her shoulder told her she was no longer alone, and she turned to lean into Alanon's arms. He simply held her, making quiet shhing sounds and rocking her gently.
After what seemed like hours, though it was really less than one, Shaur's sobs quieted. She sat up straight, sniffling and rubbing at her nose. Alanon gave her a few minutes more, then lightly squeezed her shoulder. "All done here?" he asked her, and she nodded. They left the house to find Pitch still on guard, and all three druids made their way back to their mounts.
Shaurria was silent as she pulled herself up on Finn's back, then nudged him down the road. Pitch watched her with concern, finally breaking the silence. "You alright, Fuzzy?" It was Alanon who answered. "Yes, little brother," he said quietly. "She's all right." And Shaurria, feeling truly peaceful for the first time in a long, long time, saw no reason to disagree.
And Shaurria really needed the closure from this anyway. Poor baby.
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Alanon looked up with some surprise as Shaurria came up to where he sat, kneeling in the grass beside him. "C-could we go on a trip?" she asked hesitantly. "We could," he replied, raising a questioning eyebrow at her. "Where would we be going?" Her answer was a whisper, just loud enough to hear. "T-Teldrassil?" Alanon blinked, then set down his notebook and the herb he had been examining. "Shaur," he said gently. "Why do you want to go to Teldrassil?"
She wouldn't meet his eyes; her voice was still soft. "Cause I used t' live there. In Starbreeze." Alanon reached over and gently tilted her chin up, making her finally look at him. "What is it?" he asked her simply. Shaur took a deep breath, seeming to find some courage in the process. Her voice steadied, and she met his eyes squarely. "Long time ago Arvoss asked me if I wanted t' go back home'n say goodbye," she said. "I-.. I think 'm ready." He looked back at her searchingly, then nodded. "I'll get Pitch," he said, then stood up. Shaur reached out to touch his arm. "Just us three," she whispered, and he nodded again.
Pitch met them at the boat to Auberdine. The trip was accomplished in silence, for the most part. Shaurria assumed that Alanon had told Pitch where they were going and why, because the normally garrulous druid didn't say a word. Soon enough they were facing the path that would take them to Starbreeze. They left their mounts there- Shaurria had been adamant about taking Finnall; the white saber could only offer her so much comfort, but he was a comfort all the same.
Shaur stood and stared down the path toward the village for a long time before starting off. A small part of her couldn't believe that she was here, that she was even thinking of going back to her old home, but the rest of her held steady. Thanks to Pitch and his furbolg friends, she no longer thought of the furbolgs as monsters. She knew now that they were simply sick, corrupted, and not truly evil. She still felt a bit surprised each time she realized that she wasn't afraid of them anymore.
Alanon, who was also in his cat form now, touched her shoulder with his nose. Shaur shook herself out of her reverie and started down the path.
She led the way to her old house unerringly, only stopping to make sure the furbolgs were a safe distance away before slipping through the door. Pitch and Alanon waited outside, guarding the door and also giving her some privacy if she needed it.The smallish blue-gray cat stepped through the doorway- and the Night elf entered the house.
She paused to look around. There were no bodies, at least- apparently the local Night elves had found time to clean the village up, although they hadn't done much to chase away the furbolgs. The interior was still a mess, with wrecked furniture, torn books, and broken dishes littering the floor. Suddenly unsure of what to do, Shaur hesitated, then went to the hearth and knelt down.
It had been so long, with so much happening since she had last been here, that she had trouble remembering what the house had looked like while she had lived here. While her parents had been alive. Now there were just dim flickers, half-remembered visions of a happy home with people who loved her.
Finally she just shrugged to herself and started talking, saying whatever came to mind. "I don't know if you can hear me," she began hesitantly. "But I just wanted t' let you know that I'm okay. I... I have people to look out for me now. I'm not alone, so y'don't need to worry about me.
"You'd probably like Pitch and Alanon, and Arvoss, even if he is a death knight. But I guess you wouldn't know what that is, would you? He.. He's real nice. He still looks out for me, even though I live mostly with Alanon now. He's taught me t' be a druid. A real druid, with healing skills'n stuff. He says I'm pretty good at it, though I'll always be a feral first, whatever that means.
"I... I miss you both." Now the tears started, falling fast and thick. She went on with hardly a tremor, though, determined to say what she had to. "I love you, and I'll never, ever forget you. I guess that's what I was afraid of- that if I said m'goodbyes, I'd just forget about you, and I don't want t' do that. But.. You're a part of me, right? So you're always with me in a way. That's how Alanon described it, anyway, and I think he's right.
"I don't know if I'll ever see you again. No one seems t' know what happens when we Night elves die. Th' humans think that they go to be with their "Light", whatever that is, but I don't know if it's th' same for us, or if we just kinda... disappear? But I wanted you t' know that I'm fine, and that I l-love y-you..." Now she finally broke down, burying her face in her arms and sobbing brokenheartedly.
A gentle touch on her shoulder told her she was no longer alone, and she turned to lean into Alanon's arms. He simply held her, making quiet shhing sounds and rocking her gently.
After what seemed like hours, though it was really less than one, Shaur's sobs quieted. She sat up straight, sniffling and rubbing at her nose. Alanon gave her a few minutes more, then lightly squeezed her shoulder. "All done here?" he asked her, and she nodded. They left the house to find Pitch still on guard, and all three druids made their way back to their mounts.
Shaurria was silent as she pulled herself up on Finn's back, then nudged him down the road. Pitch watched her with concern, finally breaking the silence. "You alright, Fuzzy?" It was Alanon who answered. "Yes, little brother," he said quietly. "She's all right." And Shaurria, feeling truly peaceful for the first time in a long, long time, saw no reason to disagree.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Facing Fears
A casual observer would see nothing out of the ordinary about the trio of druid-cats clustering together in the Park. From her perch on the edge of the moonwell, however, Lark could see the tension in the smallest cat as the two on either side of her spoke quietly. Lark stayed put, keeping out of it until she might be needed.
* * *
Shaurria looked utterly miserable. Pitch felt sorry for her, but Alanon insisted that this was important, so he went along with it. His brother was silent, having already said his piece, and simply sat next to her, providing reassurance and the occasional ear-washing.
"They've been my friends for, well, centuries, Shaur," Pitch told her. "They're perfectly safe, I swear it. Tailfeathers, you already met one of them, didn't you? At a distance at least." Shaur still wouldn't look at him, but she did give a small nod. "And we'll be right there with you," he went on. "Nothing bad will happen with the two of us guarding you, right?" A slight shudder running through her entire body was her only response. Pitch looked back up to his brother, seeing his own concern mirrored in the elder druid's eyes, but Alanon only nodded, encouraging him on. Pitch suppressed a sigh. He was beginning to dislike this almost as much as Shaur.
He cajoled her for the next several minutes, and while at first she remained huddled on the ground with her eyes squeezed shut, at last Pitch noticed that she seemed to be relaxing. Alanon stretched out next to her, and when Pitch finally ran out of things to say, the older druid gently nuzzled her cheek. "Shaur," he said, quietly. "Have I even once asked you to do something you weren't capable of?" She finally opened her eyes to look at him, then shook her head. "Do you trust me?" he asked her, and she frowned a bit, then nodded. "I know you are frightened, but please trust me again. Will you do it?"
Shaurria looked away, then shuddered again. Then she abruptly unshifted, slipping both arms around Alanon's neck and burying her face in his scruff. Her muffled voice was just able to be heard. "All right."
_____________________
Hoping the next part won't be so delayed. Sorry!
* * *
Shaurria looked utterly miserable. Pitch felt sorry for her, but Alanon insisted that this was important, so he went along with it. His brother was silent, having already said his piece, and simply sat next to her, providing reassurance and the occasional ear-washing.
"They've been my friends for, well, centuries, Shaur," Pitch told her. "They're perfectly safe, I swear it. Tailfeathers, you already met one of them, didn't you? At a distance at least." Shaur still wouldn't look at him, but she did give a small nod. "And we'll be right there with you," he went on. "Nothing bad will happen with the two of us guarding you, right?" A slight shudder running through her entire body was her only response. Pitch looked back up to his brother, seeing his own concern mirrored in the elder druid's eyes, but Alanon only nodded, encouraging him on. Pitch suppressed a sigh. He was beginning to dislike this almost as much as Shaur.
He cajoled her for the next several minutes, and while at first she remained huddled on the ground with her eyes squeezed shut, at last Pitch noticed that she seemed to be relaxing. Alanon stretched out next to her, and when Pitch finally ran out of things to say, the older druid gently nuzzled her cheek. "Shaur," he said, quietly. "Have I even once asked you to do something you weren't capable of?" She finally opened her eyes to look at him, then shook her head. "Do you trust me?" he asked her, and she frowned a bit, then nodded. "I know you are frightened, but please trust me again. Will you do it?"
Shaurria looked away, then shuddered again. Then she abruptly unshifted, slipping both arms around Alanon's neck and burying her face in his scruff. Her muffled voice was just able to be heard. "All right."
_____________________
Hoping the next part won't be so delayed. Sorry!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Pitch and Shaurria: Some Trouble in Borean
The rime-coated walls surrounding the Nerubian temple of En'kilah loomed above the tundra. Overhead, the ziggurat of Naxxanar floated, keeping an ominous watch over things below. Leading up to the gateway in the wall was a trail of mangled corpses and scattered body parts. Inside the wall, the Scourge went about their business, unaware of the fact they were being invaded.
Pitch knew that the undead they had killed would only stay dead for so long before they were raised again, or before others would take their place. Still, this place was good practice, and there were no truly powerful Scourge there, so it was relatively safe. He stood back and watched as Shaurria methodically took apart a ghoul, the now-armless thing standing and staring at her before she knocked it down and tore its legs off at the knees. She left it lying helpless in the filthy snow and came to stand beside Pitch, breathing heavily but easily. He nudged her shoulder with his nose. "Good job. You're still using more brute force than really necessary, but you're a lot better," he told her in his Teacher Voice. She purred happily, then looked at him expectantly; it was his turn now.
Pitch surveyed their surroundings, then fastened his attention on an abomination wandering nearby. He hadn't let Shaur tackle one of them yet, they were too dangerous still, and he had been putting them down himself. Besides, he was showing Shaur his hook-riding trick. Target selected, he moved into the shadows and homed in on the abom. Shaur followed closely enough to watch, but not so close as to draw attention.
Pitch waited until the huge mass of stitched-together parts paused in its patrol, then he unshifted- hands were better for this than paws- and looked around carefully. No other Scourge in sight, perfect. He stepped around the broken-down Scourge-wagon and waited for the abomination to notice him.
The ugly hulk looked up in short order and spotted the Night elf standing there, a cocky expression on his face. It roared, then one arm hefted back and threw, flinging its scourgehook straight at Pitch. That was what the druid had been waiting for, and he watched the hook flying towards him carefully, then reached out and grabbed it with both hands before it hit him. The rotting behemoth at the other end pulled hard, and Pitch let the yank send him flying through the air, straight at the abom. Letting go at just the right time, Pitch changed to cat as he sailed right into the undead's face.
He had done this many, many times and considered himself a pro at it. This time, however, something was off, and he didn't realize it until the abom had snatched him right out of the air. Pitch snarled savagely and set to mauling the arm holding him, but the abom only made a noise that might have been laughter, then clubbed him with its other arm. Pitch's head rang, but he held onto consciousness. Therefore, he was still aware when he saw the ground come rushing up to meet him, at a speed that appeared to be extremely unhealthy. This will hurt in the morning, he thought briefly, then the abom smashed him into the ground and his world exploded into pain, then blackness.
* * * * * *
The world was shaking. Pitch wished it would stop. he felt like he would be sick shortly. Then he gradually realized that the only thing shaking was his torso, and there was a familiar, tear-filled voice urgently calling his name.
"Pitch, wake up please. Don't be dead, I healed ya th' best I could. Please, Pitch, open yer eyes an' look at me." He was able to crack one eye open, but the stab of pain that the daylight sent through his head made him groan. The shaking stopped, and then his face was being held by two warm hands. "Pitch? Are y'alright?" Shaurria asked anxiously. He groaned again, then opened his eye again and managed to keep it open. "Wha happened?" he mumbled. The dark shape above him, which slowly resolved itself into Shaur, gestured to the side. "Th' abom flung ya t' the ground, an' I killed it," she said matter-of-factly, and he turned his head to see the rotted heap lying not very far away. "Smashed ya up somethin' fierce, though. I healed what I could, but..." She trailed off, looking at him fearfully. "Are y'alright?" Pitch grunted. "Think so, or at least I will be." He tried to sit up, and his ribs creaked ominously. "Maybe."
Shaurria helped him up, wincing at every gasp of pain he made. He was finally standing, unsteadily maybe, but on his own feet. "It's alright, kitty," he said. "Let's get back to town, then I'll have my brother look at me. You did fine, though, don't worry." He managed a grin at her, she just frowned worriedly, taking his arm and tugging gently. "Let's go," she said. "Th' cats're over here."
Ursoc seemed to know something was wrong with his master, because he moved out as smoothly as he could. Shaurria's Finnall kept even with the bigger saber as they headed for Valiance Keep and the boat to Stormwind. Pitch just hoped Alanon hadn't gone back to Icecrown yet.
Pitch knew that the undead they had killed would only stay dead for so long before they were raised again, or before others would take their place. Still, this place was good practice, and there were no truly powerful Scourge there, so it was relatively safe. He stood back and watched as Shaurria methodically took apart a ghoul, the now-armless thing standing and staring at her before she knocked it down and tore its legs off at the knees. She left it lying helpless in the filthy snow and came to stand beside Pitch, breathing heavily but easily. He nudged her shoulder with his nose. "Good job. You're still using more brute force than really necessary, but you're a lot better," he told her in his Teacher Voice. She purred happily, then looked at him expectantly; it was his turn now.
Pitch surveyed their surroundings, then fastened his attention on an abomination wandering nearby. He hadn't let Shaur tackle one of them yet, they were too dangerous still, and he had been putting them down himself. Besides, he was showing Shaur his hook-riding trick. Target selected, he moved into the shadows and homed in on the abom. Shaur followed closely enough to watch, but not so close as to draw attention.
Pitch waited until the huge mass of stitched-together parts paused in its patrol, then he unshifted- hands were better for this than paws- and looked around carefully. No other Scourge in sight, perfect. He stepped around the broken-down Scourge-wagon and waited for the abomination to notice him.
The ugly hulk looked up in short order and spotted the Night elf standing there, a cocky expression on his face. It roared, then one arm hefted back and threw, flinging its scourgehook straight at Pitch. That was what the druid had been waiting for, and he watched the hook flying towards him carefully, then reached out and grabbed it with both hands before it hit him. The rotting behemoth at the other end pulled hard, and Pitch let the yank send him flying through the air, straight at the abom. Letting go at just the right time, Pitch changed to cat as he sailed right into the undead's face.
He had done this many, many times and considered himself a pro at it. This time, however, something was off, and he didn't realize it until the abom had snatched him right out of the air. Pitch snarled savagely and set to mauling the arm holding him, but the abom only made a noise that might have been laughter, then clubbed him with its other arm. Pitch's head rang, but he held onto consciousness. Therefore, he was still aware when he saw the ground come rushing up to meet him, at a speed that appeared to be extremely unhealthy. This will hurt in the morning, he thought briefly, then the abom smashed him into the ground and his world exploded into pain, then blackness.
* * * * * *
The world was shaking. Pitch wished it would stop. he felt like he would be sick shortly. Then he gradually realized that the only thing shaking was his torso, and there was a familiar, tear-filled voice urgently calling his name.
"Pitch, wake up please. Don't be dead, I healed ya th' best I could. Please, Pitch, open yer eyes an' look at me." He was able to crack one eye open, but the stab of pain that the daylight sent through his head made him groan. The shaking stopped, and then his face was being held by two warm hands. "Pitch? Are y'alright?" Shaurria asked anxiously. He groaned again, then opened his eye again and managed to keep it open. "Wha happened?" he mumbled. The dark shape above him, which slowly resolved itself into Shaur, gestured to the side. "Th' abom flung ya t' the ground, an' I killed it," she said matter-of-factly, and he turned his head to see the rotted heap lying not very far away. "Smashed ya up somethin' fierce, though. I healed what I could, but..." She trailed off, looking at him fearfully. "Are y'alright?" Pitch grunted. "Think so, or at least I will be." He tried to sit up, and his ribs creaked ominously. "Maybe."
Shaurria helped him up, wincing at every gasp of pain he made. He was finally standing, unsteadily maybe, but on his own feet. "It's alright, kitty," he said. "Let's get back to town, then I'll have my brother look at me. You did fine, though, don't worry." He managed a grin at her, she just frowned worriedly, taking his arm and tugging gently. "Let's go," she said. "Th' cats're over here."
Ursoc seemed to know something was wrong with his master, because he moved out as smoothly as he could. Shaurria's Finnall kept even with the bigger saber as they headed for Valiance Keep and the boat to Stormwind. Pitch just hoped Alanon hadn't gone back to Icecrown yet.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Shaurria meets D.E.H.T.A.
"Where we going now, Pitch?"
"Gonna have you meet some other druids."
"Okay!"
"These guys are a little odd, so just remember one thing."
"'Kay, what's that?"
"Whatever they say, just smile and nod."
"What's 'humane treatment of animals'?"
"It means not hurting them."
"... so we're not supposed to hunt them?"
"Nah, hunting's fine. Just kill them quickly."
"... Okay!"
"Why are we trapping the trappers again?"
"Uh, because they told us too?"
".... Y'don't really know why, do you?"
"Not a clue, kitty."
"Okay, so it's wrong to cut parts off of animals?"
"Apparently yes."
"... then why do they want me to bring them ears?"
"....."
"Why did we kill the guy on the rhino?"
"Uh, because you aren't supposed to ride rhinos?"
".... I don't think we should tell them about Ursoc and Finn then."
"Pitch?"
"Mhmm?"
"Those druids are weird."
*chuckles* "Like me?"
"No, you're just weird. They were weird."
".... Nice clarification there, Shaur."
"Gonna have you meet some other druids."
"Okay!"
"These guys are a little odd, so just remember one thing."
"'Kay, what's that?"
"Whatever they say, just smile and nod."
"What's 'humane treatment of animals'?"
"It means not hurting them."
"... so we're not supposed to hunt them?"
"Nah, hunting's fine. Just kill them quickly."
"... Okay!"
"Why are we trapping the trappers again?"
"Uh, because they told us too?"
".... Y'don't really know why, do you?"
"Not a clue, kitty."
"Okay, so it's wrong to cut parts off of animals?"
"Apparently yes."
"... then why do they want me to bring them ears?"
"....."
"Why did we kill the guy on the rhino?"
"Uh, because you aren't supposed to ride rhinos?"
".... I don't think we should tell them about Ursoc and Finn then."
"Pitch?"
"Mhmm?"
"Those druids are weird."
*chuckles* "Like me?"
"No, you're just weird. They were weird."
".... Nice clarification there, Shaur."
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Arvoss and Shaurria: Worries (part 2)
This would have been last Tuesday, so it's over a week late. >.< Sorry!
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He found her in the Park, her druid friend close by. Pitch eyed him warily as he approached, so Arvoss tried to keep his expression friendly. "Kitten," he said, and she looked up quickly, a huge grin spreading across her face."Can Ah talk t' ye a bit?" She nodded, patting the ground next to her. Arvoss paused before sitting down, giving Pitch a look, and the druid-cat stood up. "I think I have something I need to do, and I should go do it before I forget again," he told Shaur, then he padded off. She watched him go, then turned back as Arvoss settled down on the grass next to her. "Sorry Ah've nae been around much, lass," he said. She just shrugged as she snuggled in for a hug. "S'fine," she said, then sat back and looked at him expectantly. "What did you want to talk about?"
Arvoss looked at her, sitting there and watching him brightly, and found he couldn't say it. "Ahhh, 'ow's yer trainin' comin'?" he asked instead. "Ye kill anneh more cleft'oofs?" She grinned. "Nah, we're up to ogres," she said, then frowned. "They smell alot worse, though." He chuckled despite himself. "Aye, tha' they do." Shaur suddenly sobered and looked at him searchingly. "Arvoss? Is... something wrong?"
There was his opening, if he decided to take it. He looked back at her, studying her for a few minutes. She just waited, her expression serious. Finally he took a deep breath. "Ye ken tha' we're nearly knockin' oan Arthas' door, aye?" he asked her. "Yea," she answered, voice quiet. "Aely an' the others've said as much." He nodded, choosing his next words carefully. "None o' us ken wha'll 'appen when 'e falls," he said. "Some o' th' Ebons're worried. Feared tha' may'ap we'll be lost again. Ah dinnae think tha'll 'appen," he added quickly. "But ye kennit naow, if ye 'ear annehthin'." She nodded, and he went on. "S'another thing, when 'e falls th' Scourge willnae 'ave a leader. Some say they migh' jes' run wild then. Ye'll be safe enou' 'ere, lass, but th' rest o' us..." He paused, seeing the worry creep into her eyes. "...we'll be righ' in th' thick o' it," he finished.
Shaurria simply stared at him for a long while. When she finally spoke, it was in a whisper barely loud enough to be heard. "You think you're gonna die." He shifted uncomfortably. "Ah dinnae ken, lass. Jes'.... wanted t' prepare ye fer th' possibility." She shook her head in denial. "You're just worried 'cause of the fightin'. Nothing's gonna happen, you'll see. Th' war's gonna end, and you'll come back home." Arvoss reached over and put an arm around her, pulling her into a hug. "Ah 'ope sae, kitten," he said. "Ah really do." She pulled back, just a bit, and tapped his head with her knuckles. "Don't hope," she told him, her voice full of determination. "Know." Then she hugged him back fiercely.
He held her for a few minutes, then gently nudged her. "Ah've go' t' be gettin' back, kitten," he told her, and she nodded as she let him go. Arvoss stood up, a little stiffly, then paused. "Ye be good, eh lass? Take care o' yerself, an' listen t' tha' Pitch feller." Another pause, then he cleared his throat roughly. "Ah love ye, lass," he said softly. "Wha'eveh else comes, remembah tha'." Then he left, walking back toward the harbor.
Shaur watched him go, not taking her eyes off him. Even when he passed out of sight, she still stared in the direction he had gone. She heard Pitch come back, but still didn't move until he said quietly, "Shaur? Is something wrong?" She finally pulled her gaze away from where Arvoss had gone, looking at Pitch for a few minutes before answering. "No. S'fine." He looked at her curiously, then moved closer and sat down. Shaur reached over to dig her fingers through his ruff, her eyes wandering back to the last spot she had seen Arvoss.
After a bit Shaur scooted to Pitch's side, burying her face in his scruff as she hugged him tightly. Pitch sat still, saying nothing. A low, soothing purr started up deep in his chest.
__________________
He found her in the Park, her druid friend close by. Pitch eyed him warily as he approached, so Arvoss tried to keep his expression friendly. "Kitten," he said, and she looked up quickly, a huge grin spreading across her face."Can Ah talk t' ye a bit?" She nodded, patting the ground next to her. Arvoss paused before sitting down, giving Pitch a look, and the druid-cat stood up. "I think I have something I need to do, and I should go do it before I forget again," he told Shaur, then he padded off. She watched him go, then turned back as Arvoss settled down on the grass next to her. "Sorry Ah've nae been around much, lass," he said. She just shrugged as she snuggled in for a hug. "S'fine," she said, then sat back and looked at him expectantly. "What did you want to talk about?"
Arvoss looked at her, sitting there and watching him brightly, and found he couldn't say it. "Ahhh, 'ow's yer trainin' comin'?" he asked instead. "Ye kill anneh more cleft'oofs?" She grinned. "Nah, we're up to ogres," she said, then frowned. "They smell alot worse, though." He chuckled despite himself. "Aye, tha' they do." Shaur suddenly sobered and looked at him searchingly. "Arvoss? Is... something wrong?"
There was his opening, if he decided to take it. He looked back at her, studying her for a few minutes. She just waited, her expression serious. Finally he took a deep breath. "Ye ken tha' we're nearly knockin' oan Arthas' door, aye?" he asked her. "Yea," she answered, voice quiet. "Aely an' the others've said as much." He nodded, choosing his next words carefully. "None o' us ken wha'll 'appen when 'e falls," he said. "Some o' th' Ebons're worried. Feared tha' may'ap we'll be lost again. Ah dinnae think tha'll 'appen," he added quickly. "But ye kennit naow, if ye 'ear annehthin'." She nodded, and he went on. "S'another thing, when 'e falls th' Scourge willnae 'ave a leader. Some say they migh' jes' run wild then. Ye'll be safe enou' 'ere, lass, but th' rest o' us..." He paused, seeing the worry creep into her eyes. "...we'll be righ' in th' thick o' it," he finished.
Shaurria simply stared at him for a long while. When she finally spoke, it was in a whisper barely loud enough to be heard. "You think you're gonna die." He shifted uncomfortably. "Ah dinnae ken, lass. Jes'.... wanted t' prepare ye fer th' possibility." She shook her head in denial. "You're just worried 'cause of the fightin'. Nothing's gonna happen, you'll see. Th' war's gonna end, and you'll come back home." Arvoss reached over and put an arm around her, pulling her into a hug. "Ah 'ope sae, kitten," he said. "Ah really do." She pulled back, just a bit, and tapped his head with her knuckles. "Don't hope," she told him, her voice full of determination. "Know." Then she hugged him back fiercely.
He held her for a few minutes, then gently nudged her. "Ah've go' t' be gettin' back, kitten," he told her, and she nodded as she let him go. Arvoss stood up, a little stiffly, then paused. "Ye be good, eh lass? Take care o' yerself, an' listen t' tha' Pitch feller." Another pause, then he cleared his throat roughly. "Ah love ye, lass," he said softly. "Wha'eveh else comes, remembah tha'." Then he left, walking back toward the harbor.
Shaur watched him go, not taking her eyes off him. Even when he passed out of sight, she still stared in the direction he had gone. She heard Pitch come back, but still didn't move until he said quietly, "Shaur? Is something wrong?" She finally pulled her gaze away from where Arvoss had gone, looking at Pitch for a few minutes before answering. "No. S'fine." He looked at her curiously, then moved closer and sat down. Shaur reached over to dig her fingers through his ruff, her eyes wandering back to the last spot she had seen Arvoss.
After a bit Shaur scooted to Pitch's side, burying her face in his scruff as she hugged him tightly. Pitch sat still, saying nothing. A low, soothing purr started up deep in his chest.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Riots
This would have happened last week, I believe, on Wednesday night. Brief background: There was a human named Uthas who decided that regarding Arthas, the best way to fight fire was with fire. In short, he plagued a LOT of people in an attempt to create his own undead army. He died (or was killed, not sure of the details), and came back as a death knight, then more recently he returned to Stormwind and gave himself up to the authorities. He had a trial, in which everyone was sure he would be sentenced to death. The story of the trial's conclusion can be found here.
So yea, he was released and all charges dropped. This touched off a riot in Stormwind, as all the civilians who wanted to see him dead kinda went crazy. There is a forum thread about how this has affected other people here, and now here is my contribution. Enjoy!
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Shaurria had gone to the back rooms to sleep, but Pitch felt restless. He heard the Cathedral bells toll the hour as he sat alone in the common room, then his ears perked as something else came to them. Distant shouts, screams, and then a gunshot. He stared at the door for a minute, then abruptly stood and went to the back. In the dark he could just see the furry dark huddle of a sleeping Shaur on one of the bunks. Satisfied, he grabbed his cloak and spear, and left the tavern.
* * * * * *
Shaurria woke suddenly, listening to the commotion coming from outside. A soft "mreow?" brought no answer, and she shifted out of her cat form. "Pitch?" she called as she crept out to the common room. No one was there, and she stopped to listen again. Whatever was going on, it didn't sound like it was near the Pig. Yet. She shivered, then abruptly made her decision. Changing back into cat, she snuck out of the Pig, keeping to the shadows, and followed Pitch's faint scent-trail.
She nearly panicked when she reached the Trade District and saw the rioters for the first time. Skirting the edges, staying in shadows, she managed to get away without being seen. She reached the edge of the canal and glanced toward the Cathedral, then she froze. The Cathedral was in flames.
A group of guardsmen coming around the corner startled her out of her shock, and she fled up the canal. She had lost Pitch's trail. Where was he? The Mage District had all kinds of explosions and lights flashing from it, giving her more than enough reason to stay away. Finally, and in an almost blind panic, she headed for the one spot in Stormwind besides the Pig where she felt safe: the Park.
Crossing the canal, Shaur ran across Pitch's scent and felt a rush of relief. She unshifted when she reached the entrance, so she could call for him, but froze again as a human male came out of the darkness. "Oi," he called. "What's a pretty lass doin' out 'ere on 'er own?" She moved away from his vicious, leering grin, then changed back to cat and turned to run- and came face-to-face with the wall. She was trapped. Mewling in fear, she turned back to the human, whose grin had become downright evil now that he knew he had her. He took another step toward her.... and a huge black shape leaped from the darkness, crashing into him with a savage growl and carrying him out of Shaur's sight. His scream ended abruptly in a wet gurgle, then suddenly Pitch stepped into view, eyes wild and blood dripping from his chin. Shaur squeaked, and he looked at her blankly for a moment, then his eyes cleared and he quickly trotted over to stand above her protectively.
"What are you doing here, kitty?" he asked as he began sniffing her over for injuries. She unshifted again, pushing his head away. "M'not hurt. Woke up and heard a fuss, and nobody was there," she explained. "I didn't know where you went, so I just came here." She shuddered. "Town's gone all crazy." "Well, I'm not sending you back through that mess," he said. "There's a lot of... unpleasant stuff going on here, kitty. Stay close to me and out of sight. We'll see if we can find a bolt-hole til it all blows over."
The two druid-cats headed deeper into the Park, hoping to find a safe place amid the madness.
So yea, he was released and all charges dropped. This touched off a riot in Stormwind, as all the civilians who wanted to see him dead kinda went crazy. There is a forum thread about how this has affected other people here, and now here is my contribution. Enjoy!
_____________________
Shaurria had gone to the back rooms to sleep, but Pitch felt restless. He heard the Cathedral bells toll the hour as he sat alone in the common room, then his ears perked as something else came to them. Distant shouts, screams, and then a gunshot. He stared at the door for a minute, then abruptly stood and went to the back. In the dark he could just see the furry dark huddle of a sleeping Shaur on one of the bunks. Satisfied, he grabbed his cloak and spear, and left the tavern.
* * * * * *
Shaurria woke suddenly, listening to the commotion coming from outside. A soft "mreow?" brought no answer, and she shifted out of her cat form. "Pitch?" she called as she crept out to the common room. No one was there, and she stopped to listen again. Whatever was going on, it didn't sound like it was near the Pig. Yet. She shivered, then abruptly made her decision. Changing back into cat, she snuck out of the Pig, keeping to the shadows, and followed Pitch's faint scent-trail.
She nearly panicked when she reached the Trade District and saw the rioters for the first time. Skirting the edges, staying in shadows, she managed to get away without being seen. She reached the edge of the canal and glanced toward the Cathedral, then she froze. The Cathedral was in flames.
A group of guardsmen coming around the corner startled her out of her shock, and she fled up the canal. She had lost Pitch's trail. Where was he? The Mage District had all kinds of explosions and lights flashing from it, giving her more than enough reason to stay away. Finally, and in an almost blind panic, she headed for the one spot in Stormwind besides the Pig where she felt safe: the Park.
Crossing the canal, Shaur ran across Pitch's scent and felt a rush of relief. She unshifted when she reached the entrance, so she could call for him, but froze again as a human male came out of the darkness. "Oi," he called. "What's a pretty lass doin' out 'ere on 'er own?" She moved away from his vicious, leering grin, then changed back to cat and turned to run- and came face-to-face with the wall. She was trapped. Mewling in fear, she turned back to the human, whose grin had become downright evil now that he knew he had her. He took another step toward her.... and a huge black shape leaped from the darkness, crashing into him with a savage growl and carrying him out of Shaur's sight. His scream ended abruptly in a wet gurgle, then suddenly Pitch stepped into view, eyes wild and blood dripping from his chin. Shaur squeaked, and he looked at her blankly for a moment, then his eyes cleared and he quickly trotted over to stand above her protectively.
"What are you doing here, kitty?" he asked as he began sniffing her over for injuries. She unshifted again, pushing his head away. "M'not hurt. Woke up and heard a fuss, and nobody was there," she explained. "I didn't know where you went, so I just came here." She shuddered. "Town's gone all crazy." "Well, I'm not sending you back through that mess," he said. "There's a lot of... unpleasant stuff going on here, kitty. Stay close to me and out of sight. We'll see if we can find a bolt-hole til it all blows over."
The two druid-cats headed deeper into the Park, hoping to find a safe place amid the madness.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Pitch and Shaur Talk
Last night at the Pig & Whistle.
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The Pig was full but not crowded, with comfortingly familiar people. Shaurria was trying to divide her time between everyone equally, until she was distracted by Pitch getting into a discussion with Arrens, one that seemed to involve a lot of big words. Finally Pitch turned away, and came over to her. "Kitty?" he asked her. "Umm, come here for a second, kay?" She looked at him curiously, then got up and followed as he went back to the corner under the stairs.
Once there, he unshifted and sat, then looked at her. "Can you elf for me?" he asked. She blinked at him, then left her cat form and sat next to him. He hesitated, then leaned closer, speaking softly enough to not be overheard. "Shaur, umm, you have a thing for me, don't you?" She blinked again, then blushed as she nodded. He continued, "I like you too, kitty. But, well, I have to tell you something, okay?" She nodded again, a sinking feeling starting somewhere in her stomach.
"Shaur, you're still very young, and I'm not sure if you're really ready for this. Do you... understand?" She bit her lip, looking at him uncertainly as he reached over and gently rubbed her shoulder. "I'm sorry, but we can't be anything more than friends right now."
Shaur blinked again, then whispered back, "Is it cause y'like Sky?" Pitch blinked back at her. "Sky and I are friends, kitty. I don't know if it's ever going to be more than that." Shaur dropped her gaze and stared at her knees. Pitch rubbed at her back, gently. "I'm still your friend too, okay? I can still teach you. I just... can't do more than that right now, okay?" She gave a slight nod, still not looking up. "It's-.. it's just cause I'm little, isn't it?" "I'm sorry, kitty," he said softly. "If you were older then maybe, but, well, you still have some growing to do. And that includes up here." He gently touched her forehead.
He hesitated. "Do you want me to keep teaching you?" he asked. "If it's gonna be too hard on you..." Shaur shook her head. "No, it'll be fine. I- I don't want you to go." He nodded, slowly, then took her hand and squeezed it. Shaur suddenly looked up at him. "W- we are still friends, though. Right?" He grinned. "Course." She gave him a faint smile. "Okay."
Pitch wrapped an arm around her and gave her a brotherly hug, which she returned. "Okay," he said. "Back out there now?" She nodded, and both druids changed to their cat forms. Shaur followed Pitch out from under the stairs, then hesitated. Finally she went to lay between Aely and Arrens' chairs, and just listened while everyone talked. When the two of them got up to leave, she did too. "M'gonna go find Arvoss t'night," she said, not quite looking at Pitch. She felt his eyes on her, but all he said was, "Okay." She hugged Windstar, then changed to cat and followed the other two out the door. Once outside, she started running, and didn't stop until she reached the familiar room in the Rose, where Arvoss was reading a book by lamplight. "'Eya, kitten," he said when he saw her. "Ye gonna sleep 'ere t'nigh'?" She simply nodded, then curled up in her favorite corner. She was blessedly asleep before very long, and left her troubled thoughts behind.
Back at the Pig, Pitch just sat and let the others' conversation flow around him. He felt somewhat helpless, and hated it. First the mess with Shaur, and now it appeared that Sky could use some help, but he had no idea what to do. Elly gave him a glass of juice as she passed at some point, but it sat on the table in front of him, untouched. Finally he stood. "Gonna go sleep," he announced to the room. "Night all." Then he shifted to cat and went downstairs to the spare rooms, where he curled up in a corner and tried to forget his problems in sleep.
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The Pig was full but not crowded, with comfortingly familiar people. Shaurria was trying to divide her time between everyone equally, until she was distracted by Pitch getting into a discussion with Arrens, one that seemed to involve a lot of big words. Finally Pitch turned away, and came over to her. "Kitty?" he asked her. "Umm, come here for a second, kay?" She looked at him curiously, then got up and followed as he went back to the corner under the stairs.
Once there, he unshifted and sat, then looked at her. "Can you elf for me?" he asked. She blinked at him, then left her cat form and sat next to him. He hesitated, then leaned closer, speaking softly enough to not be overheard. "Shaur, umm, you have a thing for me, don't you?" She blinked again, then blushed as she nodded. He continued, "I like you too, kitty. But, well, I have to tell you something, okay?" She nodded again, a sinking feeling starting somewhere in her stomach.
"Shaur, you're still very young, and I'm not sure if you're really ready for this. Do you... understand?" She bit her lip, looking at him uncertainly as he reached over and gently rubbed her shoulder. "I'm sorry, but we can't be anything more than friends right now."
Shaur blinked again, then whispered back, "Is it cause y'like Sky?" Pitch blinked back at her. "Sky and I are friends, kitty. I don't know if it's ever going to be more than that." Shaur dropped her gaze and stared at her knees. Pitch rubbed at her back, gently. "I'm still your friend too, okay? I can still teach you. I just... can't do more than that right now, okay?" She gave a slight nod, still not looking up. "It's-.. it's just cause I'm little, isn't it?" "I'm sorry, kitty," he said softly. "If you were older then maybe, but, well, you still have some growing to do. And that includes up here." He gently touched her forehead.
He hesitated. "Do you want me to keep teaching you?" he asked. "If it's gonna be too hard on you..." Shaur shook her head. "No, it'll be fine. I- I don't want you to go." He nodded, slowly, then took her hand and squeezed it. Shaur suddenly looked up at him. "W- we are still friends, though. Right?" He grinned. "Course." She gave him a faint smile. "Okay."
Pitch wrapped an arm around her and gave her a brotherly hug, which she returned. "Okay," he said. "Back out there now?" She nodded, and both druids changed to their cat forms. Shaur followed Pitch out from under the stairs, then hesitated. Finally she went to lay between Aely and Arrens' chairs, and just listened while everyone talked. When the two of them got up to leave, she did too. "M'gonna go find Arvoss t'night," she said, not quite looking at Pitch. She felt his eyes on her, but all he said was, "Okay." She hugged Windstar, then changed to cat and followed the other two out the door. Once outside, she started running, and didn't stop until she reached the familiar room in the Rose, where Arvoss was reading a book by lamplight. "'Eya, kitten," he said when he saw her. "Ye gonna sleep 'ere t'nigh'?" She simply nodded, then curled up in her favorite corner. She was blessedly asleep before very long, and left her troubled thoughts behind.
Back at the Pig, Pitch just sat and let the others' conversation flow around him. He felt somewhat helpless, and hated it. First the mess with Shaur, and now it appeared that Sky could use some help, but he had no idea what to do. Elly gave him a glass of juice as she passed at some point, but it sat on the table in front of him, untouched. Finally he stood. "Gonna go sleep," he announced to the room. "Night all." Then he shifted to cat and went downstairs to the spare rooms, where he curled up in a corner and tried to forget his problems in sleep.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Pitch and Arvoss
Pitch was woken by Shaurria's paw poking him repeatedly in his side. He followed her, yawning, up to the kitchen, where they found David Langston already up. They got their breakfast, then went outside into the early morning sun.
Pitch was mildly surprised when Shaur suddenly mrrowled, then trotted forward. He looked up to see her death knight, Arvoss, standing in the street just in front of the Pig. Shaur went up to him and headbutted, then shifted out of cat. "I killed a clefthoof!" she told him, her excitement undimmed by the night's sleep. "And a mammoth! Pitch 'n Sky helped." "Tha's great, kitten," Arvoss replied. "Did ye get yer breakfast?" She nodded, shifting back to cat as she did, and he grinned at her. "A'righ', ye mind runnin' ahead a bit? Ah'd like t' talk t' th' young fella 'ere." Shaur nodded again, looking a little confused now, and headed up the street.
Pitch watched her go, then looked back to Arvoss and gave a bit of a start. The death knight's friendliness had dropped, and he was staring at Pitch like he was thinking of how to get his hide off. Pitch swallowed, hard. "A'righ' lad, ye wan' t' give me one reason t' nae 'ave ye gelded oan th' spot?" Arvoss asked him, face looking like it was carved from stone. Or ice, Pitch thought, as the temperature seemed to have dropped by a degree or two. He gulped again. "Uh, I'm not sure what you've heard, but I didn't touch her," he replied. "Not like that." Arvoss' glare didn't soften one bit. "Then wha' in th' bloody Laigh' did ye think ye were doin'?" he spat. "Nae word bout where ye were goin', jes' off by yerselves fer naeone could ken 'ow long?"
Pitch took a second to make sure he understood the death knight- some humans had the strangest accents!- then sat down and looked at him, expression slightly offended. "It was a hunt," he said. "A rite of passage, you could call it. She earned it, and it was past time for it anyway." Arvoss blinked. "A wha'?" Pitch sighed. "She's a Druid of the Claw," he patiently explained. "We hunt, fight. And one of our tests is to find the biggest opponent we can, and try to beat it in a fair fight. There are several such animals in Nagrand, and I took Shaur there to see how she would do."
Arvoss' glare returned in full, and it was all Pitch could do to keep from wilting as he started in again. "She's still young, an' ye 'ad nae righ' t' decide tha' fer 'er," he began. Pitch's temper, which was rather strained from the last several days, finally frayed. "Oh, are you a druid?" he interrupted. "Do you have the experience to make her choices for her? How long would you have her cooped up here, bored and lonely, before you decided she was strong enough for something like this? Like I said, she earned it, and she was ready. The fact that she passed proves it. She's now a full Claw." He sat back, glaring back at the human.
Arvoss blinked again, then opened his mouth. No words came out, however, and after a few seconds he shut it again. "Hrmmph," he grunted, looking at the druid with surprise and something resembling respect. "Sae she killed a cleft'oof by 'erself, eh?" Pitch grinned. "A huge one. The dominant bull of the whole area. And she did it by herself, too; I didn't even have to leave my bird-shape." He paused, and the grin faded. "I, uh, didn't have anything to do with the mammoth, though. That was Sky's idea."
Arvoss actually chuckled a bit. "Ah can believe tha', she's a bit o' a crazy one." He peered at Pitch closely; the druid shifted a bit under the scrutiny, wondering if there was something else he had done wrong. "If ye dinnae mind mah askin'," Arvoss said, still studying him. "Wha' exactly d'ye wan' wi' Shaur? She's too young yet t' be lookin' fer a fella, an' Ah dinnae 'ave t' be an elf t' ken tha' much."
Pitch blinked. "Umm, what? Oh." He thought for a bit; Arvoss waited patiently, but his arms were crossed over his chest. Finally Pitch took a deep breath. "I'm not trying to mate with her," he said firmly. "But, she needs a mentor, or something. There's no other druids around here regularly except Windstar, and she's not much older than Shaur. I may still be young myself, but I know enough to teach her." He stared back steadily as Arvoss continued to study him, then the death knight nodded. Pitch managed to hold back his sigh of relief as he said, "A'righ', then. Ah willnae tell ye t' keep away fra 'er. Jes', if ye're goin' t' do sommat like this again, tell folks wha' ye're doin' 'stead o' runnin' off, ye 'ear?" Pitch nodded, and Arvoss seemed satisfied. He nodded back and walked off after Shaurria.
Pitch watched him go, then he sighed. He thought for a bit before following. Shaur would be alright, since it seemed that Arvoss would be hanging around for a while, and he really didn't want to face the death knight any more than he had to. With a silent request for forgiveness to Shaur, he headed for the Northrend boat. There was still that worgen cult in Grizzly Hills to take care of.
Pitch was mildly surprised when Shaur suddenly mrrowled, then trotted forward. He looked up to see her death knight, Arvoss, standing in the street just in front of the Pig. Shaur went up to him and headbutted, then shifted out of cat. "I killed a clefthoof!" she told him, her excitement undimmed by the night's sleep. "And a mammoth! Pitch 'n Sky helped." "Tha's great, kitten," Arvoss replied. "Did ye get yer breakfast?" She nodded, shifting back to cat as she did, and he grinned at her. "A'righ', ye mind runnin' ahead a bit? Ah'd like t' talk t' th' young fella 'ere." Shaur nodded again, looking a little confused now, and headed up the street.
Pitch watched her go, then looked back to Arvoss and gave a bit of a start. The death knight's friendliness had dropped, and he was staring at Pitch like he was thinking of how to get his hide off. Pitch swallowed, hard. "A'righ' lad, ye wan' t' give me one reason t' nae 'ave ye gelded oan th' spot?" Arvoss asked him, face looking like it was carved from stone. Or ice, Pitch thought, as the temperature seemed to have dropped by a degree or two. He gulped again. "Uh, I'm not sure what you've heard, but I didn't touch her," he replied. "Not like that." Arvoss' glare didn't soften one bit. "Then wha' in th' bloody Laigh' did ye think ye were doin'?" he spat. "Nae word bout where ye were goin', jes' off by yerselves fer naeone could ken 'ow long?"
Pitch took a second to make sure he understood the death knight- some humans had the strangest accents!- then sat down and looked at him, expression slightly offended. "It was a hunt," he said. "A rite of passage, you could call it. She earned it, and it was past time for it anyway." Arvoss blinked. "A wha'?" Pitch sighed. "She's a Druid of the Claw," he patiently explained. "We hunt, fight. And one of our tests is to find the biggest opponent we can, and try to beat it in a fair fight. There are several such animals in Nagrand, and I took Shaur there to see how she would do."
Arvoss' glare returned in full, and it was all Pitch could do to keep from wilting as he started in again. "She's still young, an' ye 'ad nae righ' t' decide tha' fer 'er," he began. Pitch's temper, which was rather strained from the last several days, finally frayed. "Oh, are you a druid?" he interrupted. "Do you have the experience to make her choices for her? How long would you have her cooped up here, bored and lonely, before you decided she was strong enough for something like this? Like I said, she earned it, and she was ready. The fact that she passed proves it. She's now a full Claw." He sat back, glaring back at the human.
Arvoss blinked again, then opened his mouth. No words came out, however, and after a few seconds he shut it again. "Hrmmph," he grunted, looking at the druid with surprise and something resembling respect. "Sae she killed a cleft'oof by 'erself, eh?" Pitch grinned. "A huge one. The dominant bull of the whole area. And she did it by herself, too; I didn't even have to leave my bird-shape." He paused, and the grin faded. "I, uh, didn't have anything to do with the mammoth, though. That was Sky's idea."
Arvoss actually chuckled a bit. "Ah can believe tha', she's a bit o' a crazy one." He peered at Pitch closely; the druid shifted a bit under the scrutiny, wondering if there was something else he had done wrong. "If ye dinnae mind mah askin'," Arvoss said, still studying him. "Wha' exactly d'ye wan' wi' Shaur? She's too young yet t' be lookin' fer a fella, an' Ah dinnae 'ave t' be an elf t' ken tha' much."
Pitch blinked. "Umm, what? Oh." He thought for a bit; Arvoss waited patiently, but his arms were crossed over his chest. Finally Pitch took a deep breath. "I'm not trying to mate with her," he said firmly. "But, she needs a mentor, or something. There's no other druids around here regularly except Windstar, and she's not much older than Shaur. I may still be young myself, but I know enough to teach her." He stared back steadily as Arvoss continued to study him, then the death knight nodded. Pitch managed to hold back his sigh of relief as he said, "A'righ', then. Ah willnae tell ye t' keep away fra 'er. Jes', if ye're goin' t' do sommat like this again, tell folks wha' ye're doin' 'stead o' runnin' off, ye 'ear?" Pitch nodded, and Arvoss seemed satisfied. He nodded back and walked off after Shaurria.
Pitch watched him go, then he sighed. He thought for a bit before following. Shaur would be alright, since it seemed that Arvoss would be hanging around for a while, and he really didn't want to face the death knight any more than he had to. With a silent request for forgiveness to Shaur, he headed for the Northrend boat. There was still that worgen cult in Grizzly Hills to take care of.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Pitch: Chasing Rumors
"I think I'll be going away for a bit soon."
Shaurria eyed Pitch, curiosity and worry both evident on her face. "Why?" He screwed up his face, thinking. "Umm, before I went into the Emerald Dream, I heard some rumors. And I was going to go check up on them, but I was called back. I think it's time I went back to that." "How long will you be gone?" Shaur asked him. "I don't know," he said, frowning slightly. "Depends on how quickly I can find any info."
Shaur looked at him searchingly. "Info on what?" "Umm, remember when I told you about Ursoc?" he asked her, and she nodded. "The rumors I heard were that he was alive again, somewhere in the Grizzly Hills." She blinked as he looked at her earnestly. "I... I have to go see," he said. "If he's alive..." He trailed off.
After a bit Shaur asked hesitantly, "Y- you'll be back after, right?" Pitch grinned at her. "Why, are you gonna miss me?" Blushing, Shaur turned to Windstar and started scratching her ruff.
* * * * * *
The evening passed uneventfully, despite Bartleby trying to start a couple barfights. Soon it was empty except for the three druids. Shaur had moved closer and was now leaning against Pitch, when Windstar suddenly got up and headed out of the bar. "I'm gonna take a walk, or something," she said on her way out. Shaur watched her go, startled, while Pitch's expression was more thoughtful. After she left, he looked down at the little druid. "What are you up to, kitty?" he asked, and she blushed faintly. "Nothin'." He didn't press it, and after a moment he eased his arm up around her shoulders. "Better?" She nodded, blushing more.
"When I get back," he said softly. "I'm going to take you places in Outland and show you stuff." She quirked an eyebrow at him curiously. "Like what?" she asked. "Umm, don't know yet," he replied. "But I'll think about it." Shaur nodded, then leaned her head on his shoulder, yawning quietly.
They sat in silence for several minutes before Pitch realized she was falling asleep. He gently shrugged the shoulder she was leaning on. "Kitty?" "Mmmf?" was her only response. "Think it's bedtime," he said, nudging her again. "Can you make it to the back room?" She just gave another sleepy grunt, so he got up carefully, keeping her from falling over, then bent down and lifted her up. She roused enough, as he carried her to the bunkroom in the back, to climb into a bed on her own, then she curled up and was asleep again.
When she woke the next morning, he was gone.
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Woohoo for holidays, amirite? Didn't mean to neglect the blog this long, but being sick has killed any writing before it even got started, so...
Pitch has gone through the Wrathgate chain now, he is toon #5 to do it and is now level 74. I'm taking him to Grizzly Hills to do the Ursoc chain next, which will be awesome. He's doing it 100% in character, and I'll be trying to write the whole thing.
He's also been working on his epic flight form chain. Yes I know he's got the form but the questline is still awesome, and it's been a good source of xp while he went through it. He's now almost ready to face Anzu, the only thing stopping him is... the lack of an Auchindoun heroic key. See, this is why you still do the BC rep grinds. >.<
Arvoss is finally done with the entire Hodir chain, and Taurros (who is now 78!) is almost done with it, then he'll be heading to Zul'drak and Har'koa. If I don't go back to Sholazar first, he still isn't done there. Hmm, decisions...
And yea, in case you didn't get it from the story, Shaur is starting to realize that she likes Pitch. We'll see what happens as far as that goes.
That's about it. I'll be working on Pitch-stuff over the next few days, and also want to get Arvoss back into the heroic grind so he can get dps gear. Til next time, Happy Hunting!
(And last thing... Skyborne totally kissed Pitch on New Years. He liked it.)
Shaurria eyed Pitch, curiosity and worry both evident on her face. "Why?" He screwed up his face, thinking. "Umm, before I went into the Emerald Dream, I heard some rumors. And I was going to go check up on them, but I was called back. I think it's time I went back to that." "How long will you be gone?" Shaur asked him. "I don't know," he said, frowning slightly. "Depends on how quickly I can find any info."
Shaur looked at him searchingly. "Info on what?" "Umm, remember when I told you about Ursoc?" he asked her, and she nodded. "The rumors I heard were that he was alive again, somewhere in the Grizzly Hills." She blinked as he looked at her earnestly. "I... I have to go see," he said. "If he's alive..." He trailed off.
After a bit Shaur asked hesitantly, "Y- you'll be back after, right?" Pitch grinned at her. "Why, are you gonna miss me?" Blushing, Shaur turned to Windstar and started scratching her ruff.
* * * * * *
The evening passed uneventfully, despite Bartleby trying to start a couple barfights. Soon it was empty except for the three druids. Shaur had moved closer and was now leaning against Pitch, when Windstar suddenly got up and headed out of the bar. "I'm gonna take a walk, or something," she said on her way out. Shaur watched her go, startled, while Pitch's expression was more thoughtful. After she left, he looked down at the little druid. "What are you up to, kitty?" he asked, and she blushed faintly. "Nothin'." He didn't press it, and after a moment he eased his arm up around her shoulders. "Better?" She nodded, blushing more.
"When I get back," he said softly. "I'm going to take you places in Outland and show you stuff." She quirked an eyebrow at him curiously. "Like what?" she asked. "Umm, don't know yet," he replied. "But I'll think about it." Shaur nodded, then leaned her head on his shoulder, yawning quietly.
They sat in silence for several minutes before Pitch realized she was falling asleep. He gently shrugged the shoulder she was leaning on. "Kitty?" "Mmmf?" was her only response. "Think it's bedtime," he said, nudging her again. "Can you make it to the back room?" She just gave another sleepy grunt, so he got up carefully, keeping her from falling over, then bent down and lifted her up. She roused enough, as he carried her to the bunkroom in the back, to climb into a bed on her own, then she curled up and was asleep again.
When she woke the next morning, he was gone.
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Woohoo for holidays, amirite? Didn't mean to neglect the blog this long, but being sick has killed any writing before it even got started, so...
Pitch has gone through the Wrathgate chain now, he is toon #5 to do it and is now level 74. I'm taking him to Grizzly Hills to do the Ursoc chain next, which will be awesome. He's doing it 100% in character, and I'll be trying to write the whole thing.
He's also been working on his epic flight form chain. Yes I know he's got the form but the questline is still awesome, and it's been a good source of xp while he went through it. He's now almost ready to face Anzu, the only thing stopping him is... the lack of an Auchindoun heroic key. See, this is why you still do the BC rep grinds. >.<
Arvoss is finally done with the entire Hodir chain, and Taurros (who is now 78!) is almost done with it, then he'll be heading to Zul'drak and Har'koa. If I don't go back to Sholazar first, he still isn't done there. Hmm, decisions...
And yea, in case you didn't get it from the story, Shaur is starting to realize that she likes Pitch. We'll see what happens as far as that goes.
That's about it. I'll be working on Pitch-stuff over the next few days, and also want to get Arvoss back into the heroic grind so he can get dps gear. Til next time, Happy Hunting!
(And last thing... Skyborne totally kissed Pitch on New Years. He liked it.)
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Twas the night before Winter Veil...
What have your characters been doing tonight? >.>
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Alanon gave Arien a hand up onto the crenelation overlooking Stormwind's harbor. "I like the view from up here," he explained as they sat down, making themselves comfortable. Arien snuggled close, leaning her head on his shoulder, and he put an arm around her. "Mhmm," she answered. "It's quieter up here, too." They sat and watched the boat for a while, as it ferried people to and from Northrend. There were a fair number of people, even for the late hour and the fact that Winter Veil was the next day.
They had been sitting for several minutes when Alanon broke the silence. "They say it will be months still before we face Arthas," he said thoughtfully. "I wonder what he could get up to in that time." Arien looked at him, eyebrow quirked. "Would, uh, it be bad of me to say I'm glad?" she asked, and he chuckled, then admitted, "I think Barraccus is more eager than I am." She frowned slightly; she had heard the death knight's story, or enough of it. "He would be, he has enough reasons." "Yes, he does," Alanon replied. "Although I think he is waiting until Quae is strong enough to join him. She's pushing herself hard." Arien nodded. "Good, she'll watch his back and keep him from getting in over his head." He gave a half-grin. "Usually seems to be the other way around, but we can hope." She snickered, cuddling closer as he gently squeezed her.
After a moment he continued. "It's both encouraging and sad to see everyone rushing to get on the boats, ready to get to Northrend. I think we'll have the numbers when it's time to assault Icecrown, but at the same time I wonder how many of them will be coming back." Arien said nothing. Alanon idly pulled something from his pocket and began playing with it in his hand. Arien tried to see what it was, but he kept it from view, so casually that she knew he did it on purpose.
"How about some happier thoughts?" he said suddenly. "Anything in particular you're hoping to get for Winter's Veil?" "Hmm...," Arien thought out loud. "Honestly, I'll just be happy to get some free time. I haven't gotten to do much with Kal for a while." Alanon nodded. "Funny thing, my family has never put much thought into the holiday," he told her. "It's, no offense, too much of a human thing." Arien shrugged slightly. "It's the truth." He glanced at her sidelong and went on, "But there are a few parts that I'm growing to like." She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Like what?" He gave her a small, mischievous grin. "Like this." He held up what he had in his hand. It was a sprig of mistletoe, which he proceeded to hold up above her head. Arien barely had time to recognize what it was before she was quite thoroughly distracted by a kiss.
She finally pulled back, grinning, and flicked his nose gently with a finger. "That was cheating," she said, not sounding convincing at all. He grinned back. "I checked the rules. Surprise is fair play." "Hmmph," was her only response, and he chuckled as he pulled her closer. They went back to cuddling, while the boat below sounded it's horn as it pulled away from the docks.
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Shaurria sat on the Ironforge bank steps with one arm around Pitch's neck, trying to avoid getting stepped on as people crowded by. "So that's the tree that everyone's so excited about?" she asked him, and he nodded. "In the morning that fellow there will allow us to pick out presents, and we'll get to open them," he explained, nodding toward the odd-looking dwarf sitting next to the tree. "People usually give gifts to each other as well. It's a very... active holiday." Shaur just stared at the gaily-decorated tree. "I don't get it," she finally said, and he chuckled. "Neither do I," he admitted. "I don't always come to town during the holiday because it's so crowded. People are too busy rushing around to notice a cat underfoot, even one as big as me. Easy to get stepped on." "Hmmph." She eyed him, then started scratching through his ruff, grinning when he started purring. After a bit a rather large dwarf almost tripped over them, cursing as he caught himself and moved on. Shaur frowned. "Can we go someplace else now?" she asked. "Yeah," he said. "Let's head back to Stormwind."
They were soon back in the Park, where Pitch sat next to the moonwell and watched as Shaur poked among the trees. "What are you doing?" he called to her, but she just waved a hand at him. She suddenly bent, picking up a fallen branch, and made her way back to him. He eyed it, then her. "What's that for?" Shaur frowned a little as she studied the branch. "M'gonna make somethin' for Arvoss," she said, then fumbled her little knife out of her belt pouch and started carving at it. Pitch watched in fascination for awhile, but soon grew bored and curled up at her feet, falling asleep to the sound of her whittling.
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Was going to do bits for more characters, but it's abominably late and I need sleep. Merry Christmas everyone!
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Alanon gave Arien a hand up onto the crenelation overlooking Stormwind's harbor. "I like the view from up here," he explained as they sat down, making themselves comfortable. Arien snuggled close, leaning her head on his shoulder, and he put an arm around her. "Mhmm," she answered. "It's quieter up here, too." They sat and watched the boat for a while, as it ferried people to and from Northrend. There were a fair number of people, even for the late hour and the fact that Winter Veil was the next day.
They had been sitting for several minutes when Alanon broke the silence. "They say it will be months still before we face Arthas," he said thoughtfully. "I wonder what he could get up to in that time." Arien looked at him, eyebrow quirked. "Would, uh, it be bad of me to say I'm glad?" she asked, and he chuckled, then admitted, "I think Barraccus is more eager than I am." She frowned slightly; she had heard the death knight's story, or enough of it. "He would be, he has enough reasons." "Yes, he does," Alanon replied. "Although I think he is waiting until Quae is strong enough to join him. She's pushing herself hard." Arien nodded. "Good, she'll watch his back and keep him from getting in over his head." He gave a half-grin. "Usually seems to be the other way around, but we can hope." She snickered, cuddling closer as he gently squeezed her.
After a moment he continued. "It's both encouraging and sad to see everyone rushing to get on the boats, ready to get to Northrend. I think we'll have the numbers when it's time to assault Icecrown, but at the same time I wonder how many of them will be coming back." Arien said nothing. Alanon idly pulled something from his pocket and began playing with it in his hand. Arien tried to see what it was, but he kept it from view, so casually that she knew he did it on purpose.
"How about some happier thoughts?" he said suddenly. "Anything in particular you're hoping to get for Winter's Veil?" "Hmm...," Arien thought out loud. "Honestly, I'll just be happy to get some free time. I haven't gotten to do much with Kal for a while." Alanon nodded. "Funny thing, my family has never put much thought into the holiday," he told her. "It's, no offense, too much of a human thing." Arien shrugged slightly. "It's the truth." He glanced at her sidelong and went on, "But there are a few parts that I'm growing to like." She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Like what?" He gave her a small, mischievous grin. "Like this." He held up what he had in his hand. It was a sprig of mistletoe, which he proceeded to hold up above her head. Arien barely had time to recognize what it was before she was quite thoroughly distracted by a kiss.
She finally pulled back, grinning, and flicked his nose gently with a finger. "That was cheating," she said, not sounding convincing at all. He grinned back. "I checked the rules. Surprise is fair play." "Hmmph," was her only response, and he chuckled as he pulled her closer. They went back to cuddling, while the boat below sounded it's horn as it pulled away from the docks.
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Shaurria sat on the Ironforge bank steps with one arm around Pitch's neck, trying to avoid getting stepped on as people crowded by. "So that's the tree that everyone's so excited about?" she asked him, and he nodded. "In the morning that fellow there will allow us to pick out presents, and we'll get to open them," he explained, nodding toward the odd-looking dwarf sitting next to the tree. "People usually give gifts to each other as well. It's a very... active holiday." Shaur just stared at the gaily-decorated tree. "I don't get it," she finally said, and he chuckled. "Neither do I," he admitted. "I don't always come to town during the holiday because it's so crowded. People are too busy rushing around to notice a cat underfoot, even one as big as me. Easy to get stepped on." "Hmmph." She eyed him, then started scratching through his ruff, grinning when he started purring. After a bit a rather large dwarf almost tripped over them, cursing as he caught himself and moved on. Shaur frowned. "Can we go someplace else now?" she asked. "Yeah," he said. "Let's head back to Stormwind."
They were soon back in the Park, where Pitch sat next to the moonwell and watched as Shaur poked among the trees. "What are you doing?" he called to her, but she just waved a hand at him. She suddenly bent, picking up a fallen branch, and made her way back to him. He eyed it, then her. "What's that for?" Shaur frowned a little as she studied the branch. "M'gonna make somethin' for Arvoss," she said, then fumbled her little knife out of her belt pouch and started carving at it. Pitch watched in fascination for awhile, but soon grew bored and curled up at her feet, falling asleep to the sound of her whittling.
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Was going to do bits for more characters, but it's abominably late and I need sleep. Merry Christmas everyone!
Pitch and Shaurria: Stars
Random ficlet is random.
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Shaurria stared upward in awe. "I never thought they looked like that," she whispered, and heard Pitch chuckle beside her. "It's hard to really see them in Stormwind," he said. "Too many lights, they hide them." Shaur didn't answer, too captivated by the vast night sky above.
The two druids lay on their backs, side-by-side, in an open field. Faint lights could be seen from the scattered Westfall farms in the distance; other than that, they could have been the only people in existence. The stars shone above them, their light undimmed even by the moon, which was hiding this night.
For a long while the only sound to be heard was the chirping of crickets, until Pitch broke the silence between them. "Shaur?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Have you ever thought about what you want to do with your life?" She turned her head to look at him, but he was still staring up at the stars. "Is this another trade-off?" she asked him, and he chuckled. "It can be. You give your answer first, then I'll tell you mine." She looked back at the sky, thinking.
The silence stretched out between them until finally Pitch looked over. "Well?" Shaur frowned. "Well, it's hard," she said. "I never thought about it before." She thought for another minute or two before answering. "I- I guess I'd like to help out up North if I can," she said slowly. "I want to learn more about healing. I... I'm happy right now livin' with Arvoss, but I guess someday I'd like t' settle with someone and have a family." She glanced over at him shyly. "That's about it. How about you?"
Pitch had been watching her with a half-amused expression while she spoke. Now he gave her a broad grin. "That's a good answer. Most of those are what I used to want as well," he told her. She blushed, then peered at him curiously. "Used to?" she asked. "Y'mean you don't anymore?" He shrugged without speaking; after a moment he sat up. Shaur mimicked him as he wrapped his arms around his knees.
"Hyjal changed a lot of things," he said. "The loss of the World Tree, the demonic taint spreading through the land, not to mention the fact that we're not immortal anymore. It... changes how you think." He looked over, grinning again when he saw how she had copied his pose. "Now I'm no longer sure of what I want. I suppose I'd still like to find a mate, have kids and all that, but really? If I can just do something to help make the world a little better than it was before, I'll be happy."
Shaurria sat still for several minutes, digesting what he had said. Finally she looked up and smiled shyly, then scooted a little closer. "That's a good answer too," she said quietly, and he gave her an answering grin. "You're a good kid," he told her, and she blushed again. Pitch then started chatting about little, unimportant things, and they sat and talked while the stars shone down overhead.
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I've been working on this for a while now and finally finished it. Now I'm off to do holiday-type stuff with my folks, see ya all later.
Merry Christmas!
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Shaurria stared upward in awe. "I never thought they looked like that," she whispered, and heard Pitch chuckle beside her. "It's hard to really see them in Stormwind," he said. "Too many lights, they hide them." Shaur didn't answer, too captivated by the vast night sky above.
The two druids lay on their backs, side-by-side, in an open field. Faint lights could be seen from the scattered Westfall farms in the distance; other than that, they could have been the only people in existence. The stars shone above them, their light undimmed even by the moon, which was hiding this night.
For a long while the only sound to be heard was the chirping of crickets, until Pitch broke the silence between them. "Shaur?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Have you ever thought about what you want to do with your life?" She turned her head to look at him, but he was still staring up at the stars. "Is this another trade-off?" she asked him, and he chuckled. "It can be. You give your answer first, then I'll tell you mine." She looked back at the sky, thinking.
The silence stretched out between them until finally Pitch looked over. "Well?" Shaur frowned. "Well, it's hard," she said. "I never thought about it before." She thought for another minute or two before answering. "I- I guess I'd like to help out up North if I can," she said slowly. "I want to learn more about healing. I... I'm happy right now livin' with Arvoss, but I guess someday I'd like t' settle with someone and have a family." She glanced over at him shyly. "That's about it. How about you?"
Pitch had been watching her with a half-amused expression while she spoke. Now he gave her a broad grin. "That's a good answer. Most of those are what I used to want as well," he told her. She blushed, then peered at him curiously. "Used to?" she asked. "Y'mean you don't anymore?" He shrugged without speaking; after a moment he sat up. Shaur mimicked him as he wrapped his arms around his knees.
"Hyjal changed a lot of things," he said. "The loss of the World Tree, the demonic taint spreading through the land, not to mention the fact that we're not immortal anymore. It... changes how you think." He looked over, grinning again when he saw how she had copied his pose. "Now I'm no longer sure of what I want. I suppose I'd still like to find a mate, have kids and all that, but really? If I can just do something to help make the world a little better than it was before, I'll be happy."
Shaurria sat still for several minutes, digesting what he had said. Finally she looked up and smiled shyly, then scooted a little closer. "That's a good answer too," she said quietly, and he gave her an answering grin. "You're a good kid," he told her, and she blushed again. Pitch then started chatting about little, unimportant things, and they sat and talked while the stars shone down overhead.
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I've been working on this for a while now and finally finished it. Now I'm off to do holiday-type stuff with my folks, see ya all later.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Shaurria and Arvoss: Eastern Plaguelands
Arvoss pulled Shade up, looking around, then swung down from his saddle. "'Ere we are, lass," he said as Shaurria rode up on Finnall. She slipped off her saber and peered around at the ruined buildings. "Is this it?" "Aye, lass," he told her, then spit on the ground. "Filthy Scourge." Shaur only half-listened to him, changing to cat and sniffing around the remains of the farmhouse. Arvoss kept his gaze half on her and half on their surroundings, watching for any approaching Scourge. "Ye can go explore, kitten, but dinnae go out o' sight." She murred an answer and padded off.
She grew bored and returned shortly, and Arvoss led her and their mounts off to a comparatively clear, grassy area. Dropping Shade's reins, he found a spot and sat. Shaur tethered Finn before joining him; the saber wasn't as well-trained as the deathcharger, and would probably find trouble if left to himself. Finished, the druid sat next to the death knight, watching him curiously.
Arvoss suddenly chuckled, which brought a raised eyebrow from Shaur. "Ye ken, Ah 'ad a righ' pretty speech planned out, an' naow Ah cannae remember anneh o' it," he said, still chuckling. Shaur just became more confused. "A speech?" she asked him. Arvoss looked over at her, sobering. "Lass, d'ye still nae wan' t' go back t' yer auld 'ome?" She looked down at her hands in her lap. "Not really," she replied. Arvoss nodded to himself, then looked back to the remains of the farm. "Ah didnae wan' t' come back 'ere either, th' first tahm," he said after a pause. Shaur looked at him, surprised. "You didn't? But why did you, then?" Arvoss glanced at her. "Was mos'ly 'cause o' ye, lass," he said, and she looked at him with surprise. "Me?" Arvoss nodded.
"Ah dinnae ken if ye can undehstand it, lass, but Ah realized even back then tha' if Ah was goin' t' take care o' ye, well, Ah needed t' fix mahself first," he told her. "Ah spent too much tahm in th' past, thinkin' oan wha' Ah'd lost. Ah couldnae care fer ye proper like tha'." Shaur rested her chin on her hand, elbow propped on her knee as she looked at him. "I don't really understand, Arvoss," she confessed. He patted her on the shoulder. "Ah'm tryin' t' explain, lass. Jes'... tryin' t' find th' words." He stared into space, thinking. "Ah didnae ken wha' it was Ah wanted t' find 'ere lass," he continued hesitantly. "No' at first, annehroad." He paused, struggling to find the right words. Finally he gave a helpless chuckle. "Bloody Laigh', they willnae come," he said, voice tinged with frustration. "Lemme start ovah, lass." Shaur said nothing, just raising an eyebrow as she waited for him to finish.
He was silent for a bit longer, then finally spoke again. "Ah ken tha' yer 'urtin', lass," he said. "Even afteh all this tahm. An' there's nothin' wrong wi' tha', but ye'll 'ave t' let it go sometahm. Comin' back 'ere, it 'elped me." He paused and looked at her searchingly. "D'ye ken why?" Shaurria shook her head no. "Cause Ah could let it go finally," he told her gently. "It's nae 'ard t' come back 'ere naow, cause it's nae mah 'ome annehmore. Mah 'ome's wi' th' livin', wi' ye an' Star an' Tad. Ye undehstand tha', kitten?" "I... I think so," she answered, and he patted her shoulder again. "Ah will nae force ye t' go back if ye dinnae wan' t'," he said. "Jes', dinnae say ye willnae go wi'out thinkin' it ovah, eh? May'ap, one day, ye'll wan' t'." His eyes crinkled a bit at the corners as he grinned at her.
Shaur shrugged. "I dunno," she said as they both stood. "Aely said kinda the same thing," she added as they walked back to their mounts. Arvoss looked at her, surprised. "Ye spoke t' 'er about it?" Shaur nodded. "She used to live around here too, said her place is called Terrordale now." "Ahhh," he replied, as they reached their mounts. He paused before swinging up into Shade's saddle. "Ye ready t' 'ead back?" he asked her. "Or did ye wan' t' see more?" "Let's go home," was Shaur's quick reply. "A'righ'," Arvoss chuckled, pulling himself up to Shade's back. Shaur was already on Finn, and together they headed back to Light's Hope.
She grew bored and returned shortly, and Arvoss led her and their mounts off to a comparatively clear, grassy area. Dropping Shade's reins, he found a spot and sat. Shaur tethered Finn before joining him; the saber wasn't as well-trained as the deathcharger, and would probably find trouble if left to himself. Finished, the druid sat next to the death knight, watching him curiously.
Arvoss suddenly chuckled, which brought a raised eyebrow from Shaur. "Ye ken, Ah 'ad a righ' pretty speech planned out, an' naow Ah cannae remember anneh o' it," he said, still chuckling. Shaur just became more confused. "A speech?" she asked him. Arvoss looked over at her, sobering. "Lass, d'ye still nae wan' t' go back t' yer auld 'ome?" She looked down at her hands in her lap. "Not really," she replied. Arvoss nodded to himself, then looked back to the remains of the farm. "Ah didnae wan' t' come back 'ere either, th' first tahm," he said after a pause. Shaur looked at him, surprised. "You didn't? But why did you, then?" Arvoss glanced at her. "Was mos'ly 'cause o' ye, lass," he said, and she looked at him with surprise. "Me?" Arvoss nodded.
"Ah dinnae ken if ye can undehstand it, lass, but Ah realized even back then tha' if Ah was goin' t' take care o' ye, well, Ah needed t' fix mahself first," he told her. "Ah spent too much tahm in th' past, thinkin' oan wha' Ah'd lost. Ah couldnae care fer ye proper like tha'." Shaur rested her chin on her hand, elbow propped on her knee as she looked at him. "I don't really understand, Arvoss," she confessed. He patted her on the shoulder. "Ah'm tryin' t' explain, lass. Jes'... tryin' t' find th' words." He stared into space, thinking. "Ah didnae ken wha' it was Ah wanted t' find 'ere lass," he continued hesitantly. "No' at first, annehroad." He paused, struggling to find the right words. Finally he gave a helpless chuckle. "Bloody Laigh', they willnae come," he said, voice tinged with frustration. "Lemme start ovah, lass." Shaur said nothing, just raising an eyebrow as she waited for him to finish.
He was silent for a bit longer, then finally spoke again. "Ah ken tha' yer 'urtin', lass," he said. "Even afteh all this tahm. An' there's nothin' wrong wi' tha', but ye'll 'ave t' let it go sometahm. Comin' back 'ere, it 'elped me." He paused and looked at her searchingly. "D'ye ken why?" Shaurria shook her head no. "Cause Ah could let it go finally," he told her gently. "It's nae 'ard t' come back 'ere naow, cause it's nae mah 'ome annehmore. Mah 'ome's wi' th' livin', wi' ye an' Star an' Tad. Ye undehstand tha', kitten?" "I... I think so," she answered, and he patted her shoulder again. "Ah will nae force ye t' go back if ye dinnae wan' t'," he said. "Jes', dinnae say ye willnae go wi'out thinkin' it ovah, eh? May'ap, one day, ye'll wan' t'." His eyes crinkled a bit at the corners as he grinned at her.
Shaur shrugged. "I dunno," she said as they both stood. "Aely said kinda the same thing," she added as they walked back to their mounts. Arvoss looked at her, surprised. "Ye spoke t' 'er about it?" Shaur nodded. "She used to live around here too, said her place is called Terrordale now." "Ahhh," he replied, as they reached their mounts. He paused before swinging up into Shade's saddle. "Ye ready t' 'ead back?" he asked her. "Or did ye wan' t' see more?" "Let's go home," was Shaur's quick reply. "A'righ'," Arvoss chuckled, pulling himself up to Shade's back. Shaur was already on Finn, and together they headed back to Light's Hope.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Pitch makes up with Shaurria
Shaurria padded out into the Park, then stopped when she saw the now-familiar black shape. She started to turn back, but then she saw his ear twitch, and knew it was too late. "I see you," Pitch sang out. Shaur rolled her eyes and sauntered over, passing by the other druid to sit in her favorite sunny spot. As she expected, Pitch followed her and sat nearby.
"How are you today?" he asked politely. Shaur thought about ignoring him, but knew now that it wouldn't work; he would keep pestering until she answered. With a sigh she shifted out. "Why are you always so cheerful?" she asked him irritably. He shrugged. "We're both alive and well, and this is a perfectly gorgeous day for winter," he replied. "What is there to be grumpy about?" She stared at him. "You're weird," she said finally. "I think you established that as fact yesterday," he immediately countered, and she couldn't help giggling a little. "D'ya always use big words like that?" He cocked his head to the side. "Sometimes. If I want to get a point across, people usually listen to big words. As if the words mean that I actually know what I'm saying." He smirked, and she laughed again.
Three ran up to her at that moment, meowing loudly. She picked him up and started petting, then glanced back at Pitch. He had unshifted when she looked away, and was now sitting cross-legged, watching her. "You really don't like me much, do you?" he asked suddenly. She blinked at him, then started to say, "No." She stopped herself though, and thought for a second. Finally she shrugged. "Not much." "Why?" he responded. "Well... you act funny. People think you're rude. I don't even know what you're talking about half the time." "Mmhmmm," was all he said.
Shaur looked down at her kitten, who was rolling in her lap and batting at her hands. "Why do ya act like that?" she asked without looking up. "All... weird 'n stuff?" He didn't answer for a bit; she guessed he was thinking it through. "You're a cat most of the time," he finally said, and she looked up in surprise. "Why is that?" She narrowed her eyes. "Don't want t' tell you," she said. "S'private." "But it's a part of you, right? It's who you are." "I s'pose so," she said, more thoughtful now. Pitch nodded. "This is who I am," he said simply. "I couldn't be any different and still be true to myself, any more than you could give up your catshape." Shaur blinked at him, considering, then nodded back. "S'pose that makes enough sense," she said, and he beamed at her.
Shaur looked down at Three again, then hesitantly she asked, "That stuff you were talking bout last night, was it all true?" Now he blinked at her. "Uh, what part?" "Y'know, about the demons 'n stuff." "Hyjal?" he asked. "That was all true, yes." "But did the demons really mess everything up?" she pressed. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "Yes, the fel taint spread out and caused a lot of the damage. Some of the damage is caused by the creatures corrupted by the taint, though." Shaur gripped Three a little too tightly at his words, and the orange cat mrewed and struggled free, dashing across the grass and into a bush. Both druids watched him go, then Pitch looked back at Shaurria, his gaze sharpening for an instant. Shaur didn't notice, still watching after her cat. "What... what was it like?" she asked softly. Pitch didn't answer, and she finally looked over. He was studying her intently. She frowned. "What?"
Finally he spoke. "You weren't at the battle, correct?" She shook her head. "Was too little. M-my mom took me off safe, and... and my d-dad stayed and helped with th' healin'." "So you've never seen a real battle." She shook her head again, and he nodded slightly. "You're still young, little cub, and some things can wait til you're a bit older, yea? Suffice to say that it was a horrible experience, and one I'd like to not see repeated." She frowned at him, but let it drop.
Pitch abruptly changed back to his cat form and stood, stretching. He padded over and flopped at her side. "Now if you're done asking questions, perhaps you'd like to scratch my back again? You do a good job." She tried to keep a grin off her face, only partly succeeding. "I ought to, I get enough of it," she quipped, then started scratching down his spine. "Ooooooh, that's the spot," Pitch practically purred. His hind leg started twitching. Shaur grinned and scratched harder, fingers digging through his thick coat.
She scratched for a minute or two, then stopped, giggling to herself. Pitch looked back at her, faintly disappointed, then stood up and shook himself. "Okay, my turn," he announced, and she peered at him, suddenly wary. He stepped away, then turned back and dropped to a crouch, tail lashing. "Better look out," he said mischievously, then charged at her. Shaur yelped, changing to cat in an eyeblink and racing away. Her yowls and his laughter echoed through the Park.
"How are you today?" he asked politely. Shaur thought about ignoring him, but knew now that it wouldn't work; he would keep pestering until she answered. With a sigh she shifted out. "Why are you always so cheerful?" she asked him irritably. He shrugged. "We're both alive and well, and this is a perfectly gorgeous day for winter," he replied. "What is there to be grumpy about?" She stared at him. "You're weird," she said finally. "I think you established that as fact yesterday," he immediately countered, and she couldn't help giggling a little. "D'ya always use big words like that?" He cocked his head to the side. "Sometimes. If I want to get a point across, people usually listen to big words. As if the words mean that I actually know what I'm saying." He smirked, and she laughed again.
Three ran up to her at that moment, meowing loudly. She picked him up and started petting, then glanced back at Pitch. He had unshifted when she looked away, and was now sitting cross-legged, watching her. "You really don't like me much, do you?" he asked suddenly. She blinked at him, then started to say, "No." She stopped herself though, and thought for a second. Finally she shrugged. "Not much." "Why?" he responded. "Well... you act funny. People think you're rude. I don't even know what you're talking about half the time." "Mmhmmm," was all he said.
Shaur looked down at her kitten, who was rolling in her lap and batting at her hands. "Why do ya act like that?" she asked without looking up. "All... weird 'n stuff?" He didn't answer for a bit; she guessed he was thinking it through. "You're a cat most of the time," he finally said, and she looked up in surprise. "Why is that?" She narrowed her eyes. "Don't want t' tell you," she said. "S'private." "But it's a part of you, right? It's who you are." "I s'pose so," she said, more thoughtful now. Pitch nodded. "This is who I am," he said simply. "I couldn't be any different and still be true to myself, any more than you could give up your catshape." Shaur blinked at him, considering, then nodded back. "S'pose that makes enough sense," she said, and he beamed at her.
Shaur looked down at Three again, then hesitantly she asked, "That stuff you were talking bout last night, was it all true?" Now he blinked at her. "Uh, what part?" "Y'know, about the demons 'n stuff." "Hyjal?" he asked. "That was all true, yes." "But did the demons really mess everything up?" she pressed. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "Yes, the fel taint spread out and caused a lot of the damage. Some of the damage is caused by the creatures corrupted by the taint, though." Shaur gripped Three a little too tightly at his words, and the orange cat mrewed and struggled free, dashing across the grass and into a bush. Both druids watched him go, then Pitch looked back at Shaurria, his gaze sharpening for an instant. Shaur didn't notice, still watching after her cat. "What... what was it like?" she asked softly. Pitch didn't answer, and she finally looked over. He was studying her intently. She frowned. "What?"
Finally he spoke. "You weren't at the battle, correct?" She shook her head. "Was too little. M-my mom took me off safe, and... and my d-dad stayed and helped with th' healin'." "So you've never seen a real battle." She shook her head again, and he nodded slightly. "You're still young, little cub, and some things can wait til you're a bit older, yea? Suffice to say that it was a horrible experience, and one I'd like to not see repeated." She frowned at him, but let it drop.
Pitch abruptly changed back to his cat form and stood, stretching. He padded over and flopped at her side. "Now if you're done asking questions, perhaps you'd like to scratch my back again? You do a good job." She tried to keep a grin off her face, only partly succeeding. "I ought to, I get enough of it," she quipped, then started scratching down his spine. "Ooooooh, that's the spot," Pitch practically purred. His hind leg started twitching. Shaur grinned and scratched harder, fingers digging through his thick coat.
She scratched for a minute or two, then stopped, giggling to herself. Pitch looked back at her, faintly disappointed, then stood up and shook himself. "Okay, my turn," he announced, and she peered at him, suddenly wary. He stepped away, then turned back and dropped to a crouch, tail lashing. "Better look out," he said mischievously, then charged at her. Shaur yelped, changing to cat in an eyeblink and racing away. Her yowls and his laughter echoed through the Park.
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