An Awakening (Part 3)

“...and then Tamashi and I got our belly-buttons pierced and I got a tattoo on my thigh and we stripped down to our skivvies and danced on the mailbox in front of the auction house until such a large crowd gathered that Garrosh Hellscream came out of the Hold and yelled at all of us to be quiet.”

Food wandered around his plate, never making it to his mouth.  “Mmhmm...  that's nice, dear.”

A petite blue hand slapped down on the table.  “Daddy, you haven't heard a word I said all evening!  What is going on in that thick skull of yours?”

His eyes focused on the hand, then up at his daughter for the first time since he had arrived home.  “Sorry, Lith.  I'm just...  kind of lost right now.”

“No kidding.”  She sat down beside him, leaning against his arm.  “So what has got my big, bad dad all lost in himself?”

“I'm not sure that you would understand.  Or, you probably would understand, but can't really help.”

“Try me.”

He sighed.  “You know how sometimes you make a hard decision and you think at the time that it is right?  But then, once you have a chance to think about it more, you question yourself and wish you could choose differently?  But by then the... opportunity... is gone.”

“Only all the time.  But there's more to it than that, isn't there?  What's her name?”

“Auryon.”  Then his mouth fell open.  “How did you know?”

“Dad, please.  You've been wandering around here all afternoon like a lost puppy.”  She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.  “Okay, tell me everything.”

He blushed.  “Well, most definitely not everything.”

When he had finished telling the story, she sat quietly, staring into the fire.  Then she giggled.  “You idiot.  You cute, impossible, loveable idiot!”

“Pardon?”

Her face was suddenly serious.  “Dad, when has what others thought, said or did ever stopped you from doing what you thought was right?  Look at me – when you brought me home to Bloodhoof Village, there were a few in town that were mad enough to spit.  Tamashi told me that her uncle Arlo actually tried to have us evicted.  But that wasn't enough; you then decided to allow me...  no, insist that I be allowed to enter druid training.  Me, a troll orphan from the slums of Orgrimmar!  It was fine when I was just a family member, they could ignore that.  But having me enter training – that brought us both to the attention of everyone in Mulgore, for good or bad.  If Gennia hadn't agreed with you to allow me to begin training, we could have been outcast completely.”

She paused for thought, then continued.  “You were right, the two of you won't be welcome in Orgrimmar or Stormwind anytime soon.  But I think she was more right – the two of you could find your own place in the world, together.  Daddy, you've been alone for as long as I've known you.”  She saw his glance, and held up her hand.  “You know what I mean – alone alone.  For once in your life, do something that is just for you, consequences be damned.  You'll at least have me on your side.  I'm sure Tamashi and Bookh would agree too.”

He stared at her for a long moment, his mouth open.  Then he shook his head in amazement.  “Thank you, Lith.  You're right – I'm an idiot.”  His eyes twinkled at her, then he continued soberly.  “But now I have a different problem – how will I find her again, and how will I win her back even if I do?  The last I saw, she was in tears on a boat to Booty Bay.  A short flight from there to Stormwind, and she could be anywhere in the world now, probably hating me with everything she's got.”

“Finding her might be the hard part.  Girls usually like flowers and poetry.  You're the best herbalist I know – you should have that part covered easily.  How's your skill at crafting verse?”

“You mean, something like:

Roses are red,

My daughter is blue

Violets aren't violet

But my girlfriend's blue too”

She snorted.  “Corny.  That wasn't exactly what I had in mind.  No, the point of poetry is to show that you've actually thought about her – that you can't get her off your mind.”

“For a young'un you sure seem to know about courting, or think you do.”

A voice from the doorway chimed in, “And yet, you'd do well to listen to her – she has a lot more wisdom than we did at that age.”

He turned toward the troll who stood there.  “Bookh!  How much of this have you overheard?”

“Enough to know that you're an idiot, and that you're wasting time sitting here talkin' when you should be out there lookin'.”  Her eyes twinkled back at him.

“Fel!  Why is it that all the women in my life are blue!?”  He stomped from the room.

She stalks the jungle

Of my heart

On hooves of light

Arrow on the string

Seeking a target

Blue arches surround

Her head in a

Crown of glory

Cat prowls beside her

Ready for the attack

Her tail engages in

A Dance of exquisite

Balance and grace

Her prey stands enthralled

By her fierce beauty

Horns, tail, hooves, heart -

Are we really so different

After all?

She fires!

I am pierced

An Awakening (Part 2)

Author's note:  This is the continuation of a story that I did not publish on this blog, nor do I intend to do so.  It is published at FanFiction.net in the Warcraft section (or search under my pen name - it is the same as my main male character), and is rated M.  Nothing graphic, but it does deal with "adult situations", some of which will spill over into this story.

As noted on the first half of the story, this arc takes place some 8 years after the Shattering.  This places it somewhat outside the normal flow of the story.

-----

The cabin was silent as the boat slipped past the large sloops of the Southsea pirates, bobbing at anchor along the channel to the sea.  Both inhabitants sat quietly, arms around one another as they watched out the windows for any sign of notice or pursuit.  But the ships lay dark in the quiet night, and no signal appeared.  He broke the silence as the small boat turned north toward Ratchet.

"So, when we return to civilization, it is back to 'business as usual' between us?"

She rested her head on his shoulder before replying.  "And just what 'business' would that be?"

"You know, being Alliance vs. Horde and all that.  Under most circumstances and in most places, our presence together would raise a few eyebrows, at the very least.  Some areas, it would raise a lot more than that."

"In other words, you'll act like you want to kill me, and I act like I want to kill you.  Sounds like a typical relationship."

"C'mon, Aur, be serious."

"I am.  I don't understand why this has to be such a secret.  There are plenty of organizations that recruit from both Alliance and Horde - Earthen Ring, the Cenarion Circle, the Argent Dawn.  Maybe we could join up with one of them.  What about a neutral town, or a diplomatic mission?  I'm not saying we need to get married, settle down and have fat furry children.  But you're talking as though we can never see each other again."

"It could come to that, yes."  He turned to look at her.  "Do you have any idea how difficult it would be, unable to live near our other friends and family?  I'm not sure that children are even a possibility, but even if they were, would you want them to hear the whispers and cruel jokes of others?  Life would be constant struggle against closed minds and closed doors.  I would rather not be with you and prevent the harm that might come, than to intentionally put you in harm's way.  Ultimately, I would rather have a small hurt now over a much larger hurt later."

Tears welled up in her eyes.  She buried her face in his shoulder to hide them, but the sobs were not so easy to mask.  After a moment, she gained enough composure to reply.  "You're right.  It kills me, but you're right. Still, I wish there were another way."  She pulled her arm away and turned her back to him.  "So I guess this is goodbye, then?"

He hesitated for a moment, then placed a large hand on her shoulder.  "Auryon, it is the only way.  It hurts me to part this way, too.  If we find one another again, so be it.  But it will destroy both of us if we try to push this, now, here."

She shrugged him off and stalked to the other side of the cabin.  He sat and watched her go - wanting to run to her, to hold and comfort her.  Then suddenly she turned, a look of delight on her face.  "I know!"

"Unidentified craft, halt and stand by for boarding!"  The loud voice from outside startled both of them.  Forgetting whatever solution she had been about to report, she grabbed him and pushed him toward a nearby doorway.

"This is my boat, and we're in Theramore waters.  If they find you here, they will kill you!"

"I'm a druid, remember?  I specialize in getting out of these sticky situations."

"Well, you better get to it, then.  I need to show that we're complying with their instructions before they blow us out of the water."

He shifted into cat form and stealthed, which made her eyes widen even further.  He whispered, "I'm still here.  I won't go anywhere.  Remain calm, and I won't kill anyone unless I have to."

She raced to the tiller, threw the throttle down to idle and waited impatiently as the boat coasted to a stop, bobbing on the sea waves.  A moment later, the pursuit ship came to a stop a short distance away.  The darkness and torchlight on the decks made it virtually impossible to see details.  Then a dazzling light was turned toward their boat, washing out their view of the ship entirely.  After a moment the voice returned.

"This is a routine inspection.  Don't try anything foolish.  What is your business here?"

Auryon stepped from the cabin and shouted back toward the ship.  "I am carrying no cargo or passengers.  My business is my own.  Lady Jaina Proudmoore has personally authorized me to pilot these waters.  What have I done that deserves this treatment?"

Her words met with laughter from the men gathered along the rails.  There was a pause, then the voice replied.  "We will need to verify your claims.  The ship's boat will join you shortly."

Auryon remained on deck as she waited.  She brought out her weapons and laid them in plain sight - she did not want anyone to assume a hostile intent.  After a few moments, she heard the squeak of oarlocks and the grunting of the rowers.  As they drew up to the boat, the spotlight went dark.  She found herself unable to see much more than vague shapes, while the recent brightness caused phantom spots and shapes to appear before her eyes.  She waited as the men clambered aboard the boat, then stepped forward.

"As you can see, this is a small boat.  I can't carry much anyway, and I'm empty on this run."

The men fanned out around the boat, making a cursory inspection.  The leader stepped forward to Auryon.  He was tall for a human, nearly her equal in height.  He appeared to have light hair, and he wore a cap with a strange insignia on it.

"You mentioned that you carry papers from Ms. Proudmoore.  May I see them?"

"Of course.  They are here in the cabin."  She opened the door and allowed him to step through.  He glanced around the room quickly, then motioned for her to step inside.

Across the small deck, Mato watched from behind a ladder.  He had shielded his eyes from the spotlight.  When combined with his catlike senses, he was able to see and hear the actions and conversations of the four men now scattered around the deck.

He noted that, if their job was to inspect the boat, they certainly did not show much interest in doing so.  Two of them carried small packs of some sort, and all were armed.  Each of the men carrying the packs was paired with another who appeared to be his guard.  One pair approached his hiding place, and he squeezed further into the shadows.

"Hope this doesn't take too long - I was in the middle of a poker game with Garret.  Winning, too."

The other chuckled evilly.  "I don't know - did you get a look at the boat's owner?  I suspect the lieutenant will take his time enjoying that one before he slits her throat.  Fine piece of tail like that doesn't come along every day."

"'Tail' is right.  That just ain't natural, no matter how fine she looks."

"Well, just get the charges in place and we'll be ready to blow and go soon enough."

The first snickered.  "Think you got that backward.  I don't want to be anywhere near when these things blow."

He opened the pack and began wiring a strange device to the bulkhead.  The other man watched for a moment, then was distracted by something nearby.  "I'll be right back - think I heard something in this other storage room."  He walked through the doorway beneath the stairs.

After a moment, a pan clattered to the floor.  The explosives expert glanced toward the doorway and called softly, "Everything okay in there?"

There was no response for a moment, then a voice called from the darkness, "Can you give me a hand with this?  The lieutenant will want to see it."

He grumbled as he set down his tools, and stepped into the dark doorway.  As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he found himself face-to-face with the bared teeth of a large cat.  He barely had time to register the random thought that the cat had horns before it clawed him across the face and all went dark for good.

Mato stuffed both of the bodies into nearby storage lockers, then prowled out onto the deck.  The other two men were standing at the cabin window, watching whatever was going on inside.  His pounce knocked out the first, and momentum carried him into the other.  The man took a deep breath to shout a warning, but Mato drove a paw into his larynx.  Mato flipped him over the railing, where he floundered briefly.  Suddenly a massive surge of water surrounded the man; he gurgled and sank quickly out of sight.  Mato immediately grabbed the stunned man and tossed him to the same fate.

He moved to the window where the men had been watching, and quickly took in the situation.  Auryon was alive and unharmed so far.  Judging from the wicked blade in the lieutenant's hand and the murderous glare in his eyes, that would not last long.  For her part, Auryon had been holding her own - the lieutenant appeared to have a bloody nose and a black eye.  He also favored his left arm slightly.

Mato opened the door to hear the lieutenant swearing as he lunged toward Auryon.  "You little blue...  I'll cut you into so many pieces, we can feed ten crocs for a week!"

Auryon saw the door open from the corner of her eye, and a brief view of Mato before he stealthed again.  The lieutenant was so intent on his prize that he failed to notice the open door.  The first sign of the uninvited guest came when pain slashed across his chest.  The cat's body hit his legs, the knife clattered away, and his head hit the floor with a ripe thump.

When his eyes were able to focus again, a large horned cat sat on his chest, teeth bared.  The Draenei woman had retrieved his knife and now held it to his throat.

"Careful with that," he gurgled.  "I keep it really sharp.  You don't want to hurt yourself."

She chuckled scornfully.  Then she glanced up at the cat.  "You want to do it, or should I?"

To the man's surprise, the cat replied.  "I have a better idea."

It only took them a few minutes to lash the man to the front of the boat.  They installed and armed the explosive devices, trailing the remote detonators to the rowboat.  Working as quietly as she could, Auryon repositioned the boat so that it pointed directly at the nearby ship.  They retrieved what minor goods they could - Auryon lamented to learn that the men had destroyed her valuable bow.  Mato climbed into the rowboat to keep it steady, while Auryon gunned the boat's engines and then leaped into the rowboat.

On the front of the boat, the lieutenant's eyes bulged as he watched the side planks of the ship rush toward him.  With a sickening crunch, the boat plowed into the larger vessel.  At the same moment, Mato triggered the explosive devices.  A wave of heat and light washed over them.  As the ship burned, they could see crocs and sharks thrashing around it, finishing off the dying men.  Then, they drifted in the rowboat, lying quietly in one another's arms.

Eventually, the tiny boat struck solid ground as the sun was rising.  According to Mato's estimate they had bypassed Theramore, drifting north to the boundary between the Barrens and Dustwallow Marsh.  They worked their way north, avoiding all contact with others.  Around midday they finally arrived in the tiny town of Ratchet.

Auryon turned stiffly to Mato.  "Well, Tauren, I suppose this is the end," she said in a formal tone, though the tremble in her voice gave away her true emotions.  "Your help has been much appreciated - not sure I would have made it through without you."

Mato smiled, then held up a hand.  "One moment!  There is something in my vault that I want you to have."  He walked over to the nearby bank and returned a moment later carrying a large bow.  "A hunter's weapon is her most treasured possession.  Use this often, and think of me."

Her eyes overflowed with tears as she inspected the beautiful bow.  It appeared to be made of bone, and was quite old.  She started to speak, but he laid his finger on her mouth.  "I know.  But the boat is here, and you need to go."

He stood on the top of the hill and waved until the sail was out of sight.

An Unexpected Transformation

Most amazing of all, to me, was that I had information that even Daddy did not know. I watched his eyes widen in astonishment.

"A troll?" he gasped. "Wait, say that again - Bookh is... he's a troll?"

"Well, he's also not he anymore either."

"A female troll?" He sat down heavily. "What happened?"

"Tamashi wasn't clear on the details. Apparently their family just found out too - he, I mean, she just showed up in the doorway as a female troll."

"I imagine that was quite a shock."

"Yes. She said that the Greatmother already seemed to know something about it, or expected something unusual to happen. I'm not sure if Bookh stayed around very long - apparently Bookh's uncle took it quite hard. According to Tamashi he's always been a bit racist, especially toward trolls."

"But how did it happen?"

"All that Tamashi could tell me was that somehow his - her - apprentice badly bungled some sort of healing or resurrection spell and ended up reconstructing Bookh in her own image. She was a troll."

He was silent for a moment, hunched over with his face in his hands. I heard him whisper, "oh, Bookh!" as his shoulders started to shake. I rested my hand on his shoulder.

"I know that he was a good friend of yours."

I realized my mistaken assumption immediately. As his head came up, a massive guffaw burst from his lips. He wasn't crying - he was laughing! He rolled back and forth, roaring with laughter until I was certain that a neighbor would come see what was the matter.

"Bookh - Bookh... turned into a... female troll!" he blurted between gasps.

Finally he stopped long enough to wipe away the tears. "Sorry, dear. I'm sure you don't find it nearly as funny."

I gave him a wounded look. "Daddy, in case you haven't noticed, I am a troll. And a female."

"Well, yes," he continued, "but... Bookh!" He descended into another fit of giggles.

I stalked from the room, at least pretending to be hurt - if not for my sake, then for Bookh.

"I'm sorry, Lith. I'll try to stop." He breathed in gasps for a moment. "Well, now I know another troll druid. They're just coming out of the woodwork. Of course, you realize the true lesson in all this?"

"Don't let your apprentice practice resurrection spells on you?"

"Maybe. I was thinking that, for you at least, you need to know just how critical it is to know what you are doing. Gennia is training you well, but don't be lazy just because she is a kind, laid-back person. Bookh could just as easily have been killed - or worse - by that spell."

"What would be worse than being killed?"

He turned to look into my eyes, suddenly quiet and serious. "Believe me, kiddo - you don't want to know." His eyes wandered off in a new direction. Then he giggled again.

"Well, because of this, maybe people around here will accept you more readily. You don't happen to know where Bookh went, do you?"

"I'm not sure. Tam mentioned the Moonglade - maybe she was going to consult with the archdruids?"

"Maybe. I heard that there are some strange goings-on up on Mount Hyjal - I intend to go up that way myself soon. Perhaps I will meet hi... her... there."

"How about some fishing before dinner?"

A Joyous Homecoming

"Daddy! Daddydaddydaddy! Guess what? Guess what happened today?"

"Hello, kiddo." His travel-weary look vanished as he smiled at my excited welcome. He tousled my hair. "Slow down, take a deep breath and then tell me."

"But it's just so exciting I think I might burst!"

"That is entirely different. If you're going to burst, we'd better go outside so you don't make a mess in the house."

"Daddy!" I faked a pout for a moment. "So, are you ready to hear it?"

He nodded, his eyes crinkling in the corners as he tried not to show how much he enjoyed tormenting me.

"Tamashi told her cousin, Bookh, about me and he sent me a lovely letter! He's a druid like you. Well, not exactly like you because he is focused on the moonkin form. That is called 'balance', right?"

"Yes. And I know Bookh. He is the druid from Tamashi's family that I mentioned before. I believe he has been training an apprentice, as well."

"Tamashi is excited because Bookh is coming to visit soon! Next week, maybe? Apparently he has been in Northrend for a long time. But that is not the really exciting news."

"Okay, so what is the really exciting news?"

"Tamashi and I both have mounts now! I have a green raptor just like yours, and Tamashi has a Sunwalker kodo."

"That is wonderful news. Did you have to go to Sen'jin for your raptor?"

"Yes, daddy." I felt my voice quiver for a moment, but I swallowed hard and continued. "It was hard, but not as difficult as I expected. I tried to remind myself that you would be proud and delighted to hear about my raptor. Tamashi encouraged me, too, by talking about how much more fun we would have together with mounts instead of running everywhere on foot. I did not stay around the village - I didn't want to bring up any more bad memories."

"You are growing up so fast. I am proud of you, raptor or not. One of these days you'll be out living your own life - making even more big decisions on your own. And I am glad that you and Tamashi are such good friends. Speaking of which, your friendship isn't getting in the way of your studies?"

"No, daddy. It seems like most days my brain is crammed full. I have been learning new forms and spells, and Gen... Ms. Runetotem says that someday very soon it will be time for me to visit the Moonglade. And Tamashi and I usually spend our time together practicing our new skills. The armor you gave me has really helped - I outgrew my first set so quickly."

"How wonderful - I'm glad that you have been able to use them. Now, how about you get your new raptor out, and we can ride up to Thunder Bluff. I hear there will be a special show in the square in front of Baine Bloodhoof's tent this evening."

"That sounds like fun. I'm so glad you're home - I don't like it when you travel so much. I'd rather just spend my time with you. And with Tamashi, of course. Do you think we could invite her to come along?"

"Absolutely."

-----

Bookh is the "main" character for the guild member that started Tamashi. Similar constraints apply - unless the two of us collaborate, neither of these characters will appear directly in the story line.

A Long Walk Back

Author's note: Chronologically, this story falls before the previous two, since it describes events that occurred very shortly after Mato and Lith arrived in Thunder Bluff.  If this bothers you, think of it as a flashback.

He glanced up sharply as screams invaded his thoughts.  Ahead on the path, he saw a group of Tauren women and children coming toward him, down the slope from the Barrens.  As they drew closer, he recognized some of the women.  Not that he really knew them personally, but he knew their faces and recognized that they were from the Southern Barrens town of Camp Taurajo.

"What is going on?"

One of the older women replied.

"Alliance at Camp Taurajo!  They attacked without warning."  She paused and looked troubled.  "I gathered the women and children, and we ran for Mulgore.  The men stayed behind to fight off the attackers."  Her face pinched as she struggled not to cry in front of the children.

Matosawitko whistled for his ravasaur and swung into the saddle.  He pointed down the trail.

"As you no doubt know, Bloodhoof Village is just a little way down this road.  Use caution, but I don't think anything will bother you.  You will probably meet guards near the town.  Tell them what has happened, and they will gather help for you.  Also, please ask Gennia Runetotem to inform my daughter of where I am.  Gennia will know best how to handle it."

"But I don't know your..."

"She will know."  He smiled grimly.  "She'll know."

-----

The battle clearly had not lasted long.  Faced with overwhelming force, most of the defenders had been cut down where they stood.  Now smoke rose from the burning husks of buildings as Alliance looters shuffled through the paltry materials and resources left behind.  Even in its heyday Taurajo had not been a large or rich town; most of its inhabitants lived simple but poor lives.

A white blur from his left knocked Mato out of the saddle and sprawled on his back in the dirt.  He squinted up to find a ghostly white cat sitting on his chest, its fangs and claws inches from his throat.  Then, a vaguely familiar voice spoke in Common, her words dripping with irony.

"I definitely did not expect to see you here."

He rolled his eyes to the left, not daring to move as the cat held position too near his jugular.  Then she motioned with a sharp word in Draenei.  He flinched, but instead of attacking, the cat leaped from his chest and paced back to sit at its master's side.

"A new pet, I see.  Is this one better at protecting you from elementals?"

She glared at him.  "I'm a hunter.  Hunters have pets for any occasion."

"So this is your 'attack an out-of-the-way, harmless village for no apparent reason' pet, is it?"

Another glare, then she spit.  "I was in Southshore.  You know this.  You 'saved' my life just in time for the entire might of the Horde to fall on the town and wipe it out.  Many of those who once proudly served the Alliance now shuffle to war under the Forsaken banner.  It was only good fortune that I am not among them.  Thanks for the warning, by the way."

She paused at the look of shock on his face.  "So, you did not know, then?  I suppose that is marginally better."  Then her face hardened again.  "But you are Horde.  You are allies with the blood elves, who have tried to decimate my people, and the Forsaken, who would just as willingly decimate all life.  Even the orcs have a rather bitter history with the Alliance."

"I am not a blood elf, an orc or undead.  I did not know, nor would I have approved.  Not that my approval or disapproval means anything.  But how did you survive?  And how does that result in you now attacking a defenseless town half a world away?"

She had the decency to look embarrassed.  "Wrong place at the wrong time.  I was asleep in the inn when the Horde...  excuse me, the Forsaken, attacked Southshore.  I awakened to muddled shouting; a guard burst into the room and carried me out of town to the graveyard.  Morbid, but apparently that was where they took people to get them out of harm's way.  He rushed back into the town to save more, but then the plague bombs started falling and the next time I saw him he had risen as a Forsaken."  She shook her head.  "Only a few of us got out alive."

"After that, I wandered around in confusion for a bit.  I steered clear of the Forsaken, of course.  I wasn't sure where to turn.  Even the peasant village up the road from Southshore was turned into a festering pit of undeath.  Animals and humans, all..."

"Corpsified and gross?  I've seen it before.  The word 'Wrathgate' probably doesn't mean anything to you?  Except that was a breakaway faction within the Forsaken.  Lady Sylvanas was opposed..."  After a moment of troubled thought, he continued.  "So, you survived Southshore.  What happened then?"

"After a few hours the few remaining survivors gathered together and ran for the Arathi Highlands.  We didn't know if it was in any better shape, but we had to go somewhere and from all appearances that was the only way out.  We eventually made it to Refuge Pointe.  A few decided to stay there, while others wasted no time seeking out the flight master.  I flew across the bay to Menethil Harbor, where I was conscripted to join a small force that came to Theremore Isle."

"And that's how you came to be attacking Taurajo?  Vengeance upon the uninvolved, for an attack that you survived?"

"How you do go on about that!"  She scowled.  "I actually got here after the battle - it was a long ride from Theramore, through unfamiliar territory.  This was not at all what I expected.  We were told that this place was a training camp for Horde warriors - that this would be a decisive stroke against the Horde's ability to make war.  Instead, we find poor people scratching out a meager life from what they can gather or hunt.  Those quillboar are more dangerous than the people who lived here.  However, we were at least told to let those go who chose not to fight back.  So as long as you aren't going to struggle, I guess you can go."

"I'm fine, by the way.  Thanks for asking.  No thanks to your little kitty."  He rubbed the small of his back where he had fallen.  "I'm sure this won't be the end of the story for Camp Taurajo."

"Perhaps not; it's not up to me.  However, next time I might not call off my pet.  You had better return to your people."

"This will at least make an interesting story to tell my daughter.  All about the big bad Draenei hunter who..."  He noted her hand twitch toward her bow.  "Okay, okay.  I was just leaving.  However, there will probably be other members of the Horde swarming this area soon.  You might want to be scarce by then."

"I'll keep that in mind.  Now scram."