Marital Status: Mated to Grakkar Gorefang ( @grakkar-gorefangā )
Stubborn, passionate and honorable, Sinafay will always fight for what she feels is right. Standing up against tyranny, she didnāt hesitate to put her life on the line on Alternate Draenor, escaping to Azeroth with her Magāhar mate in an attempt to live a peaceful life together. Uses an illusionary device to appear as a Magāhar Orc in necessary situations.
Current Situation: Ā Living in Kun-Lai with her husband and child.
The sun had begun setting, painting the sky a vibrant orange. Admittedly, heād missed the day and night cycle of mortal realms. He watched overhead as a handful of birds began to fly in the direction he was headed. Vultures, native to the region. Up ahead, he could see a few of them circling, beside a plume of dark smokeā seeming to come from his farmstead. His brow creased, concernedly. Was Sinafay trying to cook again? Noā¦ the smoke looked like it came from a much larger fire! Anxiously, he picked up the pace and started running the rest of the way home.
The old Orcās heart jumped up into his throat, his footfalls slowing to a halt at the precipice of his farmstead. Destroyedā¦ the barn was up in smoke. The house had been sacked; doors and windows broken in, chunks of the siding smashed or chipped away. Vultures dove down into the barren fields, picking away at carcasses of cows, sheepā¦ and Alliance Soldiers!
Grakkarās eyes narrowed, spying the telltale blue and gold tabard still clothing one of the dead soldiersā chests. He moved in quickly to investigate, spooking the carrion birds up into a scatter. He knelt down beside the bodyā Light burns, and a crushed skull? He lost a fight with a Vindicator. Sinafay. He growled. What cause would Alliance soldiers find to attack her? He could think only of oneā¦ Neelah! Would they really go so far to persecute her over their half-breed daughter?
āLook! Thereās one!ā
A voice rang out behind him. Another human, mounted on Horseback. Two, after his call pierced the air. They drew their weapons and spurred their steeds towards the Orc! Quickly, Grakkar rose to his feet, and pulled his axe from its sheath. His low growling erupted into a battle roar!
āWHERE ARE THEY!?ā He shouted, in Common.
After returning to Azeroth after a year long stay in the Shadowlands, Grakkar is eager to return home to Sinafay and Neelah at their farmstead in the Arathi Highlands. But when he gets back, he finds things are not at all how he left themā¦
Finally back to writing after a long hiaitus! Please enjoy this short story over on my Patreon, the Observerās Archives. This story, and many others, are all available to read for anyoneā and if you decide to support me as a patron, you could get access to a lot more! Including all of my moreĀ āadultā themed storiesā¦
[[ Co-written with @kidcatgemini, player of @sinafay1 and @sinafay-the-defiant ]]
~*~
The Kyrianās duties in Korthia were primarily as scouts. Their air superiority gave them a distinct advantage in surveying the area. But even for a wingless Kyrian adherent like Grakkar, scouting was the best way he could contribute to the joint efforts of Deathās Advance. An eye in the sky was one thing, but without getting a sense of things on the ground, it didnāt count for much.
The orc hefted his axe over his shoulder, relaxing his stride as he stepped out onto the open road. Heād trudged and crawled through the thickets, underbrush, and cliffsides of this unforgiving land enough for one day, and now returned to the Keeperās Respite up the hill. Todayās report wasnāt much different than yesterdayās-- fighting here happened quickly and spontaneously, and ended equally so. It made it hard to predict when and where the Mawsworn would strike. But they werenāt amassing anywhere out of the usual. For now.
Grakkar stopped, eyes shooting wide as he entered the encampment. His heart skipped a beat, swelling up in his chest! It was a face heād know anywhere-- Sinafayās! What was she doing here? And why was her skin so much more blue than before? Her eyes, too were--
ā... Oh.ā
It dawned on him, heart beating back normally againā¦ though feeling excessively heavier now, as a result. It was Sinafay. But not his Sinafay. His wall of a Soulbind by her side confirmed it, as the two spoke indistinctly across the camp. Shared a kissā¦ then Argonas stepped away, approaching the Kyrian forward commanders. Likely to report in. Heād been scarce lately, but Grakkar understood why. After the Battle for Ardenweald, he finally attained what he came here for in the first place. Sinafay.
Andā¦ there she was. Standing alone now, watching her mate from afar. That same hopeful, jovial expression as she looked at Argonas that her Lightbound self back home would give Grakkar when he was around. It made him miss her all the more, seeing this facsimile here and now.
Before he knew it, his legs took off without him, closing the distance between him and Sinafay. By the time he was within talking distance of her, he realized he had no idea what to say!
āNice body.ā was his knee-jerk reaction.
He could almost taste his foot as he shoved it in his mouth.
ā--Uhh, I meanā¦ Iām glad you restored it. Your body, I mean.ā he tried to correct. āBecause, you knowā¦ last I saw you were a soul.ā
An attempt at a save. Not a good one, but an attempt!
Sinafay visibly bristled at the voice. She recognized the gruff Orcish accent easily enough. Her eyes narrowed as she snapped an ice cold glare at Grakkar. Her tail twitched, clearly demonstrating her annoyance as he fumbled his words out.
She hadnāt yet had a chance to discuss with Argonas how heād ended up with an Orc as a Soulbind. Either way, she at least attempted not to be immediately hostile towards him, if anything because she wasnāt aware of the specifics of how the connection worked.
āThank youā¦ā she replied, though it appeared to take great effort on her part, āIt has served me well thus far.ā
She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her hip, brows knit as she looked him over. Oldā¦ very old. No doubt a good fighter to have reached that age. She wondered how many Draenei deaths he was responsible forā¦
There was an awkward silence as they both just stood there eyeing each other. She wasnāt certain why Grakkar wasnāt leavingā¦ was he attempting to befriend her because of the link with Argonas, she wondered? Sinafay looked over towards where her husband had gone, hoping to catch his gaze and indicate he should come back, but he appeared to be in a deep conversation about the mission report. She let out a heavy sigh before returning her attention to the Orc.
āYou and Argonas areā¦ Soulbinds, yes?ā she figured she might as well attempt to gather information, āWhat exactly does that entail?ā
āItās, uhā¦ complicated.ā he sputtered out, not entirely sure how to answer that. āThe Kyrian do this ritual to connect people, so they can draw on one anotherās strengths. Argonas and I share a link of sorts. Memories. Emotions. Those kinds of things we can glean from one anotherās pasts.ā
It was honestly about all he knew about it, for having undergone a Soulbinding ritual personally. The rest of it feltā¦ innate. Unable to be put into words, just understood through the experience. He found a lot of shamanistic rituals were like that, too.
ā--Ah! Youāre a shaman, right?ā he brightened, smiling as he remembered that fact! āI remember Argonas mentioning that. Orā¦ reading it from his memories. Either way, thatās impressive! Where I come from, not a lot of Draenei have the tenacity or commitment for such a sacred calling.ā
He smiled a bit. Relaxing. This was going wellā¦ he thought. He hoped.
āIā¦ am, yes,ā she replied, tail flickering behind her. She wasnāt about to mention that having a new body made it so that she had to reconnect with the elements once again. It was one of the main reasons she wanted to accompany Argonas to Korthia, what better place to reconnect than on the field of battle itself?
The idea of him gleaning memories and emotions from Argonas wasā¦ disturbing, to say the least. Especially considering she and her mate had spent the past few months doing nothing but celebrating her return in very physical ways! She couldnāt help but wonder how much of that heād picked up. Perhaps it was the reason he was so relaxed around her. Her nose scrunched up in disgust. It was uncomfortable to say the least. This Orc already seemed to know so much about her, yet she knew next to nothing about him.
For the moment, she pushed aside the memory and emotions issue to concentrate on the other things Grakkar had divulged.
āWhat do you mean āwhere you are from?āā She couldnāt help but ask, noting his skin color and tattoos, āYou speak of Nagrand?ā
"Heh, good eye. You know your clans, it seems." he nodded.
Grakkar then spread his arms and turned slightly to further show off his Warsong clan markings. He was impressed; this Sinafay seemed as interested in Orcish culture as his was!
"I'm from a different timeline than you are, though-- the one you Azerothians returned to and saved from the Legion's devastation." he clarified, straightening up once more. "After you all left, the Orcish clans and the Draenei empire lived in peaceā¦ for a time. Before the Lightbound Crusade."
A frown crossed his features, diminishing the polite and friendly smile he had tried to maintain in her presence. Even now, the sudden betrayal of the Draenei weighed heavily on his heart. He lost so many people he cared about to that zealous treachery. Including Neelah.
"Butā¦ that isn't a very pleasant story." he shook his head, shrugging the negative memories away for now. "Regardless, it's impressive to see a Draenei cultivate an affinity to the elements."
Sinafay simply blinked as a pack of new information came rolling out of the Orcās mouth. Draenor? Draenei and Orcs living in peace?! Lightbound Crusade? She shook her head as she tried to digest it allā¦ except none of it made any sense!
āWait wait wait,ā her arms finally uncrossed from over her chest, to bring her fingers to rub at her temples, āYou are saying that the portals to Draenor are OPEN again?! Since when?! What the fuck is a Lightbound?! What crusade?!ā
So many questions filled her head. She looked towards Argonas once more. He hadnāt mentioned anything of the sort!
Fuck, she needed a drink!
Grakkar's eyes widened, brow raising. His lips grew narrow, as he began to recognize the familiar signs or panic and confused anger in this Sinafay he had learned from the true one back home. He had definitely upset her.
"--Oh, uhā¦ no, no. The portals aren't open again. They were briefly so we could escape the Lightbound Crusade." he tried to explain simply and quickly as possible. "The, uh, the Lightbound were what the Draenei in my timeline became after the Azerothians left. Their leader grew zealous and broke the peace to try and force the Light onto us. They killed anyone who resisted, soā¦ uhā¦"
Only after he expounded on the terrible incident did he realizeā¦ knowing more probably wouldn't calm this Sinafay down. Just like the feeling of shame and anger he felt learning the Orcs of the Azerothian timeline had succumbed to the Fel, he suspected this particular Sinafay might not be pleased to hear her people had become oppressors.
Whoops.
"I, uhā¦ I'll let Argonas fill you in on the rest of that. Where'd he get off to, anywayā¦?"
He joined Sinafay in looking for his Soulbindā¦ but the crowd had grown. Argonas was nowhere in sight!
She took the opportunity to get up in his face. Hands grabbing his tabard and tugging his attention back to her as she growled at him. He was right, she was upset. Tail flicked erratically behind her, and despite having not fully reconnected to the elements, static electricity and sparks of lightning became evident at her growing sour mood.
āDetails, Orc,ā she practically barked out the command, āNow.ā
His lips almost curled into a smile. Almost. Sinafay was so sexy when she was angry and aggressiveā¦ even this Azerothian variant! It took significant willpower to keep his hands at his side, rather than grabbing at and groping the Draenei like he would do back home in a situation like this. He had to remind himself this wasnāt his Sinafay.
Hopefully she didnāt notice his erection-- the damn thing clearly couldnāt tell the difference.
āThe, uhā¦ the clans were thinned, and forced to merge into one clan and unite against the Lightbound. But even that didnāt stop them, after their empire had grown so powerful. The last of us escaped through the portal to Azeroth, right after the Ogres succumbed.ā he elaborated, at her insistence. āLight drove them to madness, same as an excess of any magic would. I know things worked out differently in your timeline, so this must be hard to hear, Sina. Butā¦ your people on Draenor turned into zealots.ā
He brought his hand up to gently push hers off of him. His arousal abated, after recounting the awful tragedy that ended his life on Draenor. That, and Sinafayās rage was far less sexy when he couldnāt fight back, as it turned out...
ā--Look, donāt get mad at me, alright? I didnāt raise my weapon to any Draenei who werenāt trying to kill me. After the peace, anywayā¦ā he attempted to quell her anger further. āNo, during the Lightbound Crusades, I even worked with a Draenei; the real Sinafay, actually! And later after that, Sinafay and Iā¦ wellā¦ she became my mate.ā
He smiled. That wouldāve surely cheered her up, to learn that her true self wasnāt one of the oppressive out-of-control Lightbound that conquered his people!
āWe even had a child together-- but thatās more recent, once we got here to Azeroth. Argonas thought it was his at first, and we had a big fight over it. I won, easily, but it was still a sore point in our relationship.ā he continued, filling Sinafay in on the more recent details. āBut weāre past it now, and are working together! One more point of proof, if you need it, that Iām most definitely a friend of the Draenei! Married one, have one as a child-- and if I can work well with Argonas, what more proof do you need?ā
With a hearty laugh, Grakkar brought his hand firmly down on Sinafayās shoulder! He was so glad they were getting along now!
Sinafayās head spun. She remained in front of Grakkar, hands still up in front of her, balled into fists as he recounted all the details to her. Her eyes widened as he explained the path her kin on Draenor had taken. Surely, the Orcs must have provoked them somehow! But then, sheād seen for herself how the Naaru and the Light could corrupt back on Argus. It turned her stomach that such a corrupted path had been the one Yrel had takenā¦
She shook her head slowly, face visibly paled and brows drawn together as she tried to make sense of it. Surely, Rurik wouldnāt have stood for something like that nor would her mother orā
āThe news of her Draenor counterpart took her completely by surprise. She blinked as Grakkar updated her on her alternate self. She stared at the Orc in shock and disbelief. Part of her was pleased that the other Sinafay had both fought against and survived the crusade. It seemed their will to do what was right and their survival skills were similar.
Apparently, though, that was where their similarities ended. Her counterpart was mated AND had birthed Grakkarās child?! And why would Argonas think the child wasā¦
Wait.
He would only think the child was his ifā¦
Anger returned to the forefront of her mind as she realized two things. One: her alternate self had managed to cross over and was now living on Azeroth. Two: Argonas was sleeping with her again.
The hand on her shoulder was the breaking point. Baring her fangs, Sinafay grabbed Grakkarās upper arms and moved forward as she raised her knee, swiftly connecting hard into the Orcās testicles.
āFuck that bitch and fuck YOU!ā
She was furious! Her eyes flared as lightning sparked around her form. Shoving Grakkar aside, she stomped off into the wilds of Korthia, tail swinging aggressively behind her.
She needed air.
~*~
Grakkar wasnāt sure how long he was on the ground. His eyes fluttered open to see his Soulbind Argonas, scowling down at him. Slowly, sound returned to him. Muffled mumblings at first, but growing more clear as his senses returned to him.
ā... ere is she? Where is Sinafay?ā Argonas asked, demandingly.
Thatās when it started rushing back to the Orc. The memories and the pain, both. He winced, feeling the intense pain in his groin all at once.
ā--A-Ancestorsā¦ā he whimpered.
Argonas, too, grimaced-- their Soulbinding translating that physical pain in Grakkar into sympathetic pain for the Vindicator. He glanced down, and briefly brushed his hand overtop the Orcās battered bundle. A flash of Light, and the pain was suppressed. For now.
ā--Hnnghā¦ Thank youā¦ā Grakkar managed to speak, no longer straining from the intensity of the pain. āSheā¦ kicks really hardā¦ I didnāt expect it-- we were getting along so well!ā
āClearly not as well as you think!ā Argonas resumed scolding.
He pulled Grakkar up, whether he wanted to sit up or not, and crossed his arms before him.
āI will ask again; where is she? You were with her last, and clearly upset her!ā
āIā¦ I donāt know. We were talking about Shamanism, then about Draenorā¦ā Grakkar replied, as the memories started lining up again. āThen about the Lightbound, and the real Sinaā¦ then our child, and--ā
ā--Wait, you told her about the other Sinafay?ā Argonas interrupted, frowning. āWhat exactly did you say?ā
āThat she and I had a child together. I told her how we fought over it, when you thought it was yours, but only to indicate that we had moved past that, yeah?ā the Orc replied, grunting as he slowly stood up. āI was trying to show her Iām not like most of the Orcs you and she have encountered in your timeline. That Iām a friend. I thought thatād be best, given our circumstances.ā
Argonas had stopped listening after the part about the baby. His eyes widened, skin growing a paler shade of blue. He turned, staring at the ground as a million thoughts raced through his mind. None of them good.
ā... She knows, then. And she is not happy about it.ā
āAbout what?ā
āAbout the other Sinafay. And how we--ā
He gasped, turning to Grakkar. He didnāt have to say it-- their soulbind link conveyed it well enough in the moment. Argonas was not supposed to have rekindled things with the Sinafay from Draenor. Grakkar could tell immediately.
ā... Itās alright, big guy. Look, you just explain to her that you thought she was gone for good, yeah? Sheāll forgive you!ā
āDoes she seem like a forgiving person to you!?ā Argonas snapped back, brow furrowed. āThey hated each other! Light, I should have warned you, but I did not expect you would speak of that in your first ever encounter with her!ā
ā... Second, technically.ā the Orc mumbled to himself. āIā¦ Iām sorry. I didnāt know.ā
The silence lingered between the two of them for a moment. Both feeling the complexity and awkwardness of the situation through their soulbind. Finally, Grakkar shrugged.
āIām gonna go.ā
āI think that would be best, yes.ā Argonas nodded. āLay low for now. I will sort this out so it does not interfere with our duties to the Kyrian.ā
ā--No, Argonasā¦ Iām gonna go home.ā
Argonas raised his brow, as he looked at Grakkar. The Orc nodded resolutely, as he hefted his axe back over his shoulder. Aside from a pair of bruised berries, his encounter with Sinafay had left him with one thing; homesickness. As much as he wanted to help, he was starting to realize what this time apart from his mate and daughter was really costing him. He had been able to push his feelings down until now. But seeing Sinafay? Even a copy of her? Those feelings were too much to ignore.
He didnāt have to say it, though-- Argonas could feel it. And honestly, were he in the same position, he couldnāt say for sure that heād continue to squash the feelings for the good of the mission. It was time for his Soulbind to return to Azeroth.
ā... Mm. So be it.ā he replied, nodding.
He stepped forward, and extended a hand. A gesture of goodwill-- the first heād ever made towards an Orc! Grakkar smirked, taking Argonasā hand in his and squeezing it firmly. They grinned to one another.
āHonor and glory to you, Argonas.ā
āAnd Lightās blessings upon you and yours, Grakkar.ā
Grakkar nodded one final time, before turning to depart. He paused, calling back as he approached the portal.
ā--And good luck with all that!ā
His chuckle echoed across the Sanctuary, before fading away with his physical form back to Oribos.
Completed commission of @thefugitivemango ās Mag'har Orc, Grakkar Gorefang ( @grakkar-gorefang )! Thank you SO much for all of you patience as I worked on this piece. 2021 was a rough year, to say the least. Be sure to follow Grakkarās adventures here!
~*~*~
Drawn and colored with Wacom Cintiq tablet and Clip Studio Paint!
It was such an amazing experience to watch this one progress! Grakkarās for sure one of my favourite characters, and I love how this portrait turned out! Thanks so much to my amazing bff @kidcatgemini / @kidcatgeminiart! ^^
The daffodil symbolizes Ā rebirth and new beginnings. It became associated with new beginnings (and the coming of spring) because it is one of the first perennials to Ā bloom after the winter frost.
~*~*~
Despite the many years Grakkar ( @grakkar-gorefang ) and Sinafay ( @sinafay-the-defiant ) have spent as lovers, only recently have the two been able to live as a couple. Opposing the High Exarchās fanatical movement, Sinafay worked as an informant to the Mag'har, meeting Grakkar in secret to exchange information and help sabotage the Draeneiās plans. Through the turmoils of escaping Alternate Draenorās perils and the faction war on Azeroth, the two were finally able to reunite and build a new life together.
Grakkar Gorefang belongs to @thefugitivemango ! Check out their writing here!
[[ It should come as no surprise that Shadowlands has consumed a lot of both my gaming time, but also my creative contemplations. Iāve been so excited to weave my characters into the Shadowlands storylines, especially with how diverse the story is this expansion! So akin to the Shadowlands āAfterlivesā videos, I decided to introduce my own characters and their relations to the various Covenants in-game! This will be a four-part project, and Iām pleased to share the first one here!
For the most part, Iāll be posting all of my stories there, releasing them early for my supporters. The exception is, of course, NSFW stories which only supporters can see. Iāll be shifting my tumblr pages more for asks and reblogs and the days to come, but Iāll also try to remember to link stories like this as theyāre posted and made public. For now, please enjoy! ^^ ]]
Personal Question for Sinafay (the alive one) - Do you regret the time you spent with Argonas?
Brows knit and the corners of her lips turn down into a snarl, āYes... and no.ā Sheās silent for a moment, tail twitching, āThe time spent all those years ago on Draenor, when he mentored me and set me on my path towards becoming a Vindicator. That, I have no regrets. However... I regret every moment we spent together since my arrival on Azeroth. It was a mistake to let my guard down and count him as a friend.ā
((Story co-written with @grakkar-gorefang / @thefugitivemango . @argonasā and @avehi-the-adamant for character mention))
~*~*~
So small, so preciousā¦Ā
Grakkar was always in amazement when he held little Neelah in his arms. Sheād grown quite a bit, but the orc could still hold her (mostly) in one hand. He cradled the sleeping little one close, palming the back of her head while her body rested along his forearm. She slept so peacefullyā¦ blissfully unaware of anything that had happened these past few weeks. --Wellā¦ not entirely. She got fussy around Sinafay, seeming to sense her tension. That didnāt make things any easier, Grakkar knew. A part of him was sure that it was his mateās need for help that helped him heal as fast as he didā¦ which still took time, of course. Heād died, after all. And he wasnāt the young, sturdy orc he was on Draenorā¦
Still, now that he could, he helped as much as he was able. Tending to Neelah wasnāt much of a chore for him anyway, but a reprieve from the constant attention she demanded was a boon to Sinafay. Grakkar didnāt mind. She was a gift, in every sense of the word. He never thought heād have a child of his own; less so with a Draenei! He thought he was infertile, and knew Draenei pregnancies were a rarity. And yet here she was, a beautiful mix of her mother and him-- fortunately, a bit more of her mother-- sleeping soundly in his arms. Even coming back from the dead was only the third-luckiest event in his life. The second, meeting Sinafay. The first, Neelah.Ā
ā... Grakkarā¦ā
Grakkar winced, and grunted. Another nameless whisper echoed from the back of his mind. A voice he didnāt recognize, calling out his name. He heard them clearly more often his dreams, butā¦ sometimes, throughout the waking day, heād hear them. It wasnāt always the same voice, and they didnāt always call out his name. All of this starting after he came back from that placeā¦ from the Maw. In truth, a part of him didnāt believe Sinafay when sheād told him what her Ebon Knight friend had said. It had seemed so outlandish a claim. But seeing it for himselfā¦ it was now undeniable. Countless souls trapped in such a terrible, desolate place! He wonderedā¦ were they the voices he was hearing? According to clan shamans, near-death experiences often awoke a spiritual connection between a person and the afterlife.
And Grakkar had come as close to death as anyone could get.
For now, he pushed the concerns from his mind. He wasnāt going to let these strange voices dampen his appreciation for lasting to another sunset with his daughter. Gently, he put Neelah down in her bassinet, and swaddled her in a warm blanket.Ā
āSleep in peace, my little one.ā he smiled, leaning in to plant a gentle kiss on her hardening forehead. āKnow that I love you, now and always.ā
Sinafay smiled from the doorway as she watched her mate put their daughter to bed. Sheād never imagined herself as a mother, but having a child with Grakkar was by far the best thing that had ever happened to her. She hadnāt been able to cherish these moments as of late, too tired and stressed to appreciate them after Argonasā sudden attack. Sheād been far too on edge, suspicious of every odd noise and movement on the farm.Ā
Avehiās arrival was a relief in more than one way. Not only did it bring her precious information on what was going on after that horrible event, but it gave her a much needed rest from her exhausting vigil. With the Ebon Knight and her drake guarding the farm, Sinafay was able to get a bath and some much needed sleep. She wasnāt certain how many hours sheād been out for, but sheād woken up on time to see the touching display between her mate and their daughter.
āYouāre going to spoil her, arenāt you?ā She teased, with only a light Draenei accent in her Orcish now. She kept her voice low, as to not wake the sleeping infant.
Tail swaying, she walked over and wrapped her arms around Grakkarās torso from behind, pressing her naked chest to his back as she hugged him tightly.
āFatherhood suits you well,ā she purred.
āOnly paired with your motherhood.ā Grakkar replied, hands closing over his mateās.
He exhaled a sigh; gazing down at his daughter, feeling his wifeās warm embraceā¦ this was perfect. A paradise he never knew he wanted. A dream from which he never wanted to wake.
ā... help usā¦ā
The moment passed, spoiled by yet another voice calling from the back of his mind. The messages were usually similar. āHelp up, save usā¦ā most disconcerting. He wished he knew where they were coming from. Ratherā¦ knew for sure. He parted Sinafayās hands from around his waist to turn in her embrace.
āCome, speak with me.ā he bid her, before passing her by on his way out of the room.
Sinafay tilted her head curiously. Speaking hadnāt exactly been what sheād been looking for, but at this point, any alone time with Grakkar was a good time. It certainly beat her standing guard over the farm alone. She -did- often wonder what was on his mind since his return to the living. He didnāt enjoy speaking of what he saw, the memories disturbing, so she didnāt like to push. Perhaps he was ready to speak on it now?
She followed him out of Neelahās room and into their own. The bed was simple, but large and sturdy, covered in pelts from the various creatures Grakkar had managed to hunt down and bring home. The Draenei sat on the bed, tail curling around her form as she took Grakkarās hands in hers.
āWhatās on your mind, My Love?ā
Grakkar was silent for a moment, simply holding Sinafayās hands as he stood before her. Thumbs traced over the backs, then along the sides of her thumbs. He stared off at her chest-- not so much āatā as āthroughā, contemplatively. Slowly, he organized his thoughts, piece by piece, before his gaze met his Mateās. A natural smile formed over his lips; a reflex, feeling the warmth of her golden globes shining into his. He couldnāt help it, even in spite of the heavy topic weighing on his mind.
āI, uhā¦ā he began, already seeming to lose his focus in her shimmering gaze. āIā¦ think often about our villageās shaman, back on Draenor. Otrok.ā
He cleared his throat, before sitting down beside Sinafay on their bed. It creaked, as it always seemed to when they both occupied it. Heād have to reinforce it again, for the second time this season. But that could wait. One hand kept hold of hers, the other resting in his lap as he continued.
āOtrok was a pup, when the Ancestors called on him. We used to tease him for it-- the youngest shaman we ever knew.ā the Orc let out a jovial huff at the memory. āHis mentor and predecessor, Meshi, sheād whack us on the knuckles or zap us with lightning when we did. Defensive of little pup Otrok, that one. Sheād tell us that it was nothing we should tease him for. That āthe Ancestorās call can come at any time. At any age.ā And weād, of course, nod along as we took the lecture.ā
Gently, he gave Sinafayās hand a squeeze.
ā... I think they call to me, now.ā
āCalling -how-?ā Sinafay couldnāt help but ask, tilting her head in confusion.
She didnāt understand at all how shamanism worked, had never bothered to look into it. Sheād been averse to the very idea of it due to her alternate self being so immersed. Even now, the thought of Grakkar showing interest in it irked her. Leftover jealousyā¦
At least -she- wasnāt alive anymore.
For now, she pushed those negative feelings back. Even if her mate became interested in that path, she had nothing but support for him. Especially this late in his lifetime, she wanted whatever would be soothing to his soul. On that note, there was a more pressing question.
āWhat are you supposed to do when they call on you?ā
"Answer."
A logical enough answer, predictable as it was. Grakkar nodded slowly, searching Sinafay's face forā¦ anything. A reaction. A showing of how she felt about the revelation. She understood, right?
She somehow managed not to twitch...
"The Ancestors, theyā¦ they mean much to my kind. You know this, I know, butā¦" he sighed, brow furrowing. "It is an honor, but also a responsibility. They call with a purpose, and to ignore them is to dishonor them. Sinaā¦ I need to answer. I need to learn how. And for that, I need to seek out a shaman."Ā
Sinafay frowned heavily, baring her fangs in displeasure as she turned her head to the side, avoiding eye contact. There was no question. She hated the thought, no matter how supportive she was trying to be.
āWe fought so hard to finally be together,ā she couldnāt help but voice, āAfter everything that happened a few weeks ago, you cannot be serious about leaving. There must be some other wayā¦ā
She took his hand and brought it to her face, pressing her lips to his finger tips.
āHow about you ask a shaman to come teach you here. Neelah needs you,ā she took a moment to suckle on his index finger a bit more before adding in a sensual tone, ā-I- need you.ā
Grakkarās hand moved to cup Sinafayās face, fingertips idly massaging the back of her head as his thumb brushed along her cheek. He smiled, unable to help but chuckle at his mateāsā¦ forwardness. It was endearing-- and she had a point. Theyād worked so hard to be together. Suffered through all manner of pain and anguish. He didnāt want to leave. But he didnāt want to ignore the call, either. He exhaled a sigh.ā
āI have to find one, first. One who would travel out hereā¦ and wouldnāt get upset at seeing how we live.ā he explained, brow furrowing a bit. āThat will be a challenge. And either way, Iād still have to leave.ā
The Draeneiās frown deepened. Sheād never been good at hiding her emotions. Her tail had gone from swaying to twitching, arms crossing over her chest as she worried her bottom lip. She was upset. Angry. Not with her mate, specifically, but at the situation, as a whole. She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek deeper into his palm.
She hated this. But she knew better than to try and stop him. Orcs were stubborn creatures.
āNot right away. I need a bit of time, my Love. Time with you, before you go on your journey,ā she still couldnāt bring herself to look at him as her eyes fluttered open once more, āAnd you visit weekly when you -do- go.ā
āHopefully more, if I can manage it.ā he replied. āI donāt want to be too far from you and Neelah. Whatever the Ancestors have in store for meā¦ it will include us all. I only need to leave to find out what that is, first.ā
He tilted Sinafayās head up, leveling his gaze with hers. Stern as his expression was, his eyes conveyed a deep affection for his mate, and a genuine concern for her well-being. Heād given this a lot of thought already.
āYou and Neelah are everything to me. You know that, right?ā he smiled, weakly. āThe Ancestors must know it, too. This callingā¦ whatever it is, itās as much for you and her as it is for me.ā
She gave a nod, meeting his gaze now, but couldnāt quite shake her anxiety over the situation. Theyād barely begun to recover from Argonasā attack, and now thisā¦ Leaning forward, she gently pressed her crest against his forehead.
It was all Argonas could see or sense as he floated formlessly in the afterlife. For a moment, anyway. Suddenly, he felt himself coalesce, the fragmented essence of his soul recombining in a realm beyond. It took a moment for his surroundings to register. They felt far too harsh and horrible to be realā¦ but the consistency they presented were too potent to ignore. He gaspedā or would, if he had a body still, as he beheld a hellish nightmarescape open up before him. Anguished cries and horrendous roars echoed through the desolate plains. The harshness of this place sank into all his senses, even ones he didnāt have in his mortal form.
This couldnāt be right! This was not the Light he was to join with upon death! This place was terrible, in every sense of the word! He didnāt belong here! Heād been a faithful servant of the holy Light for most of his life! To the very end, heād done everything he felt the Light required of him! Even his gambit to deliver justice to Sinafay the Defiant was all in effort to stop Avehi from defiling bodies with the curse of undeath. No, if the Light had the power to, it would deliver him from this place.Ā
And if it couldnātā¦ it meant something was wrong. He backed up against an outcropping of stone, the realizations setting in and setting in hard. Undeniably, this was the Maw. And him being here meant that Avehi was right. Death was broken. And he had been too arrogant to believe her.
āāArgoā¦āĀ
Sinafay froze as she looked at the form in front of her. White eyes were wide, mouth hung open,Ā and brows knit into a confused expression. Her garments were ripped and tattered, and the weapons she held were obviously handcrafted. Sheād clearly been fighting for a while, yet her stance was strong, reminiscent of the resilience sheād shown in life.Ā
She almost dropped her weapons at the shock of seeing him. It couldnāt beā¦. and yet there he was. The shaman took a few hoof steps back, unable to help but be weary. Was it a trick? The Maw had thrown all manner of horrible creatures and tricks her way since her arrival. But this was the first sheād seen of her husbandā¦ actually SEEN himā¦ since their adventures on Draenor. Avehi had told her that Argonas was alive, stillā¦ How could he be here? Unlessā¦ he held the essence of a fresh soul. And his expressionā¦ the horror and confusion in his gaze as he beheld where he wasā¦Ā
āā¦Is it you?ā she all but whispered, unable to keep a plethora of emotions from rising to the surface.
āS-Sina!ā Argonas replied, wasting no time in rushing to her. āMy Sinafay! Oh Light, it is you!ā
Heād recognize her anywhere, in any form! Jarring as it was to behold a soul-essence, seeing her without a blindfold and both horns intact, he could feel that this was, indeed, his Beloved Sinafay! A beacon of hope in this horrid place!
And yet, her presence here was, itself, horrible! Further proof that Avehi was right, and her soul had been imprisoned here in the Maw, unable to join with the Light, same as his. It made his heart sink; to know sheād been down in such a place the whole time, since Argus? He had refused to believe it before, when the Death Knight had told him so. Perhapsā¦ he simply couldnāt. But now, there was no denying it. She was trapped here, and now he was, too.Ā
Sinafayās weapons hit the ground as she opened her arms up for Argonas, holding him close in a tight hug. She knew the dangers that would come from her heart soaring in this moment, but she didnāt care. Sheād missed him SO much!Ā
āSinaā¦ I am so sorry. I was to die with you, butā¦ the Light spared me, somehow.ā he explained, as best he could. āI should have been with you. Here, in this place. Together! Andā¦ now I am.ā
āOh, Argoā¦ā she sighed, hugging him tight and looking up to meet his gaze.She was both elated and saddened that he was here with her, āMy Loveā¦ I am so happy the Light protected you from this place. Iām happy you did not have to suffer here all of this time, as I did. Neither one of us belongs here. Your presence here is proof enough of Avehiās words. She will find a way, I am certainā¦ A way to get us out. Until then, we fight together, as we always have, yes?ā
āAvehiā¦ Light, I did not believe her. I could not!ā he lamented, shoulders slumping as he held his Sinafay close. āI fought against her soā¦ vehemently! I refused to believe her when sheāā
He stopped, suddenly feeling the strange sensation of becoming undone once again. Pain, and yetā¦ numbness. His form began to dissipate, flaking away into fragments in Sinafayās arms.
āāSina! What is this? Iā¦ā he exclaimed. āI feel I amā¦ returning?ā
It was fresh enough a sensation in his mind to recognize it happening yet again. It was like dying all over, when his soul left his body. He could feel it drawn upwards again, from where heād come. How was it possible?
Sinafayās heart sank as she realized what was happening. Sheād seen it before. Souls being thrown into the Maw, only to be pulled back out in a resurrectionā¦ Her sorrowful gaze met Argonasā. She felt so torn! Wanting him to stay, yet feeling relieved he wouldnāt have to experience the Mawās tortures first hand.Ā
āItās alright,ā she nodded, reassuring herself along with him, āA second chanceā¦ Use it, My Love. Find a way to free us of this place once and for all.ā She swallowed hard, āI love you!ā
āI will! I promise, Sina! I will return! I will find you again! And I will free you!ā he called, while he still could. āI love you! I love you so māā
The last of his form dispersed, fragments floating away in a steady stream out of the darkness.
~*~*~
Argonas gasped, his body seizing as he came back to life. He coughed violently feeling air return into his once-damaged lungs. His eyes were slow to focus, but they finally settled upon the stern, disappointed face of Khanaros. He groaned, both from the trauma of resurrection, and anticipating the terrible lecture he was about to receive.
Though Khanarosā voice wasnāt the first he heard, as he returned.
As the scream echoed out, a heavy, light charged hand axe struck the Vindicator in the chest, exploding on contact. The force knocked him back, cracking his armor. A second one followed in succession, the force of the second blow shattering the armor and lodging into the flesh beneath it.
Sinafay stood at the doorway of the workshop, eyes alight with righteous fury. An aura of Light surrounded her form, power crackling and arcing in tune with her volatile emotions. Bright, light-born wings sprouted from her back as she took hold of a third weapon, a battle axe, before charging in. Argonas barely had time to bring up a shield of Light to block the blow, but the force still caused him to move back. Heād expended a lot of energy taking out Grakkar, and hadnāt expected his former student to recover so quickly.
āI never should haveĀ trusted you!ā She raged as she swung again and again, unrelenting! āYouāre no better than Yrel and her army of blinded zealots! You failed as a teacher! Failed as a mentor! Failed as a friend!ā
Angry tears stung her eyes and she choked back a sob. Argonas had gone and taken away one of the most precious things in her lifeā¦ and sheād kill him before allowing him to touch a hair on her daughterās head.
āFuck you! You should have let us be!ā
Gripping the battle axe with one hand, she swung again, only to bring her other hand up to fire a light blast into his face, blinding him temporarily as she jumped up and landed a vicious headbutt into his nose. Once again, her tail wrapped around his leg. She tugged as she spun around, his disorientation causing him to fall flat onto his back.Ā
āJustice be served!ā
She brought the battle axe up with both hands, bright Light radiating off of her and the weapon, ready to bring in down onto the Vindicator in a brutally deadly blow.
But Argonas was not as easily killed! He swung his tail out to trip Sinafay, as she had done to him mere seconds prior, enough to disrupt the would-be coup de grace. Following up with a swift kick, he managed to knock her back and away from him!Ā
āYou know nothing of justice!ā he cried out.
He rose quickly, intent on retaliating immediately, but even the Vindicator had his limits. The axes sheād thrown had cut him deeply, his blue blood now gushing from his chest beneath the plate. His nose, too, dribbled with blood from the headbutt.Ā Bringing his hand up to the deep wound, he called upon the Light to stunt the bleeding. He stabilizedā¦ but not well. He felt his strength waning, his vision blurring as his head felt light.Ā
This couldnāt be it! This couldnāt be all the Light had spared him for! Justice would be done! It had to be! He narrowed his eyes, blurred vision notwithstanding, and began to trudge towards Sinafay once again. He wasnāt sure heād be able to claim victory over his former studentā¦ but he had to try.
āIā¦ am the Lightās justice!ā he declared, between labored breaths. āThe Lightās VENGEANCE!ā
Sinafay chuckled darkly as she got back up and picked up the battleaxe, standing tall as she gripped the handle with both hands.
āTake your vengeance to the Maw.ā
She didnāt pause this time, charging up the battleaxe and meeting him in his advance. A couple of swings was all it took, one to knock him off his guard, and the other into the barely stabilized wound in his chest, the searing Light tearing deep into the tissue as it made its way through his chest and out his back.
The Light faded from his form. He stared at Sinafay, a mixture of shock and anger on his final expression. It hurt more than he thought it would, dying by her hand. One heād cared about once. One he helped to cultivate into a warrior. One who betrayed her peopleā¦ betrayed him! This was not a just death. This couldnāt be the end of the path the Light had for him. He collapsed to his knees, body growing cold as blood oozed out from both wounds.
ā... Iā¦ only didā¦ what I thought...Ā wasā¦ā
With that, Argonas fell onto his back, the clamoring of his plated armor serving as his death knell. Sinafay didnāt move, standing and staring until she saw the Light fade from his eyes completely.
She panted as the adrenaline died down. Only then did she finally drop the battle axe and allowed tears to flow freely down her face. Her shoulders shook as she choked out a sob. Sheād taken no pleasure in executing Argonas. It didnāt take away her anger, her rage or her sadness. It didnāt bring back Grakkar ; bring her husband and Neelahās father back. She brought a hand up over her mouth to cover up more sobs, turning her blurry gaze to her mateās lifeless body.
She made her way over and let herself fall to her knees next to him, ignoring the blood as she leaned over the body, cupping his cold face in her hands. Heād died fighting with honor; the way any Warsong Orc would have wanted. But she knewā¦ oh she knewā¦ he hadnāt gone to join his ancestors.Ā
Grakkar was in the Maw.
āLight, pleaseā¦ā, she begged in a trembling voice, āGive me the strength...ā
She was exhausted, but she had to try. Heād done the impossible for her; had found his way through space and time on a crazy suicide mission, to rescue her from the torturous prison sheād been sentenced to on Draenor. Their love had prevailed back then, and it had only grown stronger since then.Ā
Sinafay closed her eyes and calmed herself with some deep breathing. She brought her hands over the gaping hole in his chest. Everything she had left, she poured into him, her love, her passion, her hope, her faithā¦ she channeled it all through the Light. For a second time, golden wings sprouted from her back as she poured healing energy into her mateās fallen body. The sound of cracking bones could be heard as his rib cage snapped back into place and tissue repaired itselfā¦ the worst of it anyway...
āGrakkar,ā she whispered, urging the Light to call his soul back, āPleaseā¦ hear me... and come back home.ā
The Orcās body shook, the Light energies jarring his corpse untilā¦ it wasnāt so lifeless! Grakkarās eyes shot open as he suddenly inhaled a long, labored gasp. Then a hoarse cough! His body tensed and writhed under the latent pain from his death. His chest slowly began rising and falling again, though felt sore and tight. Unsurprisingly, considering. His hands came up from his sides to grip at it, finding instead another hand already in place. He looked up, eyes finding difficulty adjusting to the brilliant Light before him.
ā... Theā¦ ancestorsā¦?ā
Sinafayās golden eyes were wide in surprise. Her face was streaked in blood and tearsā¦. And more tears joined them as she realized sheād succeeded! The Light surrounding her diminished as the task was completed. Exhaustion set in, but she forced herself to stay awake.
āGrakkarā¦ā she managed, voice strained and weak, āMy Loveā¦ Thank the Light!ā
She leaned in over his body again, this time bringing her arms around him in a gentle embrace. Fresh sobs took her over, this time in relief. She couldnāt remember the last time sheād been so afraid! Even the torture the Draenei had inflicted upon her didnāt compare to the sorrow of losing Grakkar so suddenly; of Neelah losing her father before being old enough to form any coherent memory of him. But once more, through the powers of the Light, their love overcame the worst of obstacles. She was so grateful!
āS-Sina! Iā¦ Wait, whatā¦?ā Grakkar wheezed, still seeming rather incoherent.
ā--Sina!ā
Another voice rang out. A familiar one. A pair of heavy hoof beats drew closer, armor plating clanking as they drew near. Avehi surveyed the scene with a heavy scowl. Sheād done her best to come as soon as sheād received Raetosā warning, but it had been slow going in convincing the Grand Vindicator. She looked over Sinafay and Grakkar first. Then, her lichfire eyes were drawn to the freshly-slain corpse.Ā
Accompanying her came an aged Lightforged, adorned in brilliant armor. He carried himself with a nameless-yet-pronounced dignity, exuding a commanding presence. He, too, looked over the scene with a furrowed brow, before kneeling down beside Sinafay and Grakkar. His brow raised, pausing a moment as he examined the freshly revived Orc in the Draeneiās arms. Curious, indeed.
It took Sinafay a moment to register the new arrivals, refusing to look up from her huddled position over Grakkar. Her body still trembled from the emotional distress of the event, and the exhaustion the resurrection had taken on her body. Even her wounds had re-opened, though thankfully werenāt fatal. Still, hearing Grakkar speak, hearing his heartbeat, feeling the warmth return to his bodyā¦ It brought her much needed comfort.
She didnāt move until she felt a gentle yet heavy hand on her shoulder. Only then did she lift her head and brought her tired gaze toā¦ a ghost?
ā... What happened here, Sister?ā he asked, voice grizzled, yet soothing.
āKhan-Khanaros? Butā¦ howā¦ā
It took a moment to register, she had never even thought to discover what had happened to the Khanaros in this time stream. The High Vindicator in her timeline had met a mysterious death early on in Yrelās rule, back on Draenor. She had never gotten the chance to meet him, but had been inspired by his words back then, before the end. His presence here brought relief. A familiar face she recognized as good.
ā--Hmph! Isnāt it obvious, Khanaros?ā Avehi scoffed-- nearly snarling. āHe actually did it. Argonas had gone completely zealous! Just like I said he would! Light-blind foolā¦ā
She grunted, approaching Argonasā lifeless corpse. Staring in disdain, she pressed her hoof up against his plated pauldron, and ground it in as an offensive gesture. She couldnāt deny the sick satisfaction she got from seeing him dead.
āHe got what he fucking deserved for it, too.ā
Sinafay heard Avehiās words, but didnāt have the strength to turn and look at her friend. How she wished theyād arrived only a few moments earlier...
āHeā¦ came to execute usā¦ā she answered in a half drawl, āKilled Grakkarā¦ but Iā¦ the Lightā¦ it returned himā¦ to me.ā
Khanaros nodded slowly, looking from Sinafay to Grakkar, and back. He felt a tinge of awkwardness-- yet another Vindicator he didnāt seem to recall. Heād trained so many, he wasnāt sure when this one rolled through. But he didnāt dwell on it, instead nodding with reassurance to her.
āThe Light is a powerful force of redemption. It seems it was not yet this Orcās time. Through you, it saw this poor creatureās return--ā
ā--Thatās her mate, Khanaros.ā Avehi piped up, still staring at Argonasā corpse.
The High Vindicator blinked as Sinafay frowned at him. He was somewhat stunned by the revelation. Few things surprised him anymore, butā¦
ā... I see. Well, Grakkar, you said? The Light redeemed him through you, Sister. You must have a strong connection to it.ā he went on, before looking to Grakkar. āAndā¦ to him, as well.ā
Grakkar seemed even more lost now, since the arrival of the two Draenei. He recognized Avehi, at least. But this older one wasā¦ somewhat unsettling. He grunted, trying to sit up.
āWho is this, Sina?ā he asked, voice gradually returning to normal.
āThat can wait.ā Avehi interjected again, sternly. āWe need to get them appropriate care. And determine what weāre going to do with this piece of shit.ā
Her gauntlets tensed, crackling with icy blue lichflame. A dread energy filled the air, emanating a nearly-visible weight of darkness around the Death Knight and the corpse. She grit her teeth, as she held her hand out over Argonasā body.
āI think deathās too good for him, personally. He could use an undeadās perspective.ā
ā--Avehi, no.ā Khanaros replied, sternly.Ā
He rose from Sinafayās side, and paced over to the Death Knight. The exhausted Vindicator returned her attention to her mate, clearly caring about nothing else at that particular moment.
Avehi huffed, lowering her hand and stepping back from Argonas as the High Vindicator approached. Sheād figured he wouldnāt go for thatā¦
āHmph. Fine. Suffering in the Maw works just as well. When we save the othersā¦ perhaps weāll save him last, yes?ā
Khanaros approached Argonasā body, and looked it over appraisingly. He noted the wound-- easily identified with the axe still lodged in it. With a weary sigh, he closed his eyes, and leaned his head back to face the sky. Slowly, he exhaled once more, pensively.Ā
ā... No. He cannot atone, with his soul imprisoned.ā he said, looking down to his fallen student. āIt is not yet his time, either.ā
Kneeling down, Khanaros pulled the axe from Argonasā chest, quickly covering the wound with his plated hand. The Light wrapped around his form as he channeled its potent power into the fallen Vindicatorās body. As with Sinafay, when sheād revived her mate, brilliant wings born of Light emerged forth from the High Vindicatorās back. Slowly, Argonasā wounds began to close, as the connection between his body and soul slowly pulled back together.Ā
Avehi took a step back, the concentration of Light energy more than a little uncomfortable for her. She grimaced, backing away beside Sinafay and Grakkar. Her eyes kept focused on Khanaros as he worked, however. She felt a bitter disgruntlement set in; a far better treatment than Argonas had earned, in her opinion!
[[ Co-written with @kidcatgeminiā / @sinafay-the-defiantā ]]
Evening had descended by the time Argonas set hoof on the small Arathi farmstead. Quaint and simple, the Vindicator could barely believe this is where his wayward student Sinafay had settled down. No measure of justice was served from such a simple life. But then, he knew sheād abandoned such duties in favor of her abhorrent and deviant lifestyle. His fists clenched as he paced up the hill from the fields proper, towards the small cottage overlooking the land. Smoke billowing from the chimney served as a sure sign someone was home. Sinafayā¦ Grakkarā¦ that abomination they called a childā¦ he expected to find all three inside. Disgusting and unnatural as it was, that wasnāt even why Argonas was here. No, Sinafayās transgressions far exceeded that, now.
Despite Raetosā unwillingness to do what was necessary, and his efforts to convince the Vindicator of such, Argonas knew otherwise. Anyone who abided such evils as Avehi raising the dead were just as culpable as she was! By harboring and abetting the Death Knight, Sinafay had made her choice. And the Light demanded its justice. It almost hurt to consider; he really had taken pride in training young Sinafay in the ways of the Light, helping to nurture and cultivate her talents into a beacon of strength for their people. Such a wasteā¦
His heavy hand banged against the wooden door - so fragile, he worried it might break if he hit it too hard. Still, the firm knocks echoed through the farmstead, as the Vindicator made his presence known.
āSinafay!ā he called out. āSinafay the Defiant!ā
[[ Co-written with @kidcatgeminiā / @raetosā ]]
Argonas couldnāt sleep. It had been a few days since he had. Anger, guilt, and frustration all tormented him as of late. He felt stuck; unable to make headway on anything, be it finding closure following the loss of his wife, or serving justice to that arrogant defiler, Avehi. He had too few people he could talk to about it. Few people he trusted.Ā
Sylaess was still nowhere to be found. He worried she had died. Again. Orā¦ worse. Had the Old Gods consumed her soul? Had her final succumbing proved to be the end of his old friend? He couldnāt say. He couldnāt seek her counsel or even rely upon it if she were there to offer it. Her mind was lostā¦ if not her, entirely.
Sinafayā¦ wasnāt an option. Not anymore. He felt a sickening tickle in his throat whenever he thought of that pale and shallow reflection of his beloved wife. And her orc partner. Disgusting! As much as he wished to have someone to talk to about all thisā¦ he had written her off.Ā
Khanaros, his mentor, still couldnāt see reason. Mierne had her hooks deep, it seemed, and the High Vindicator was beyond help. Argonas tried to speak with him again a day earlierā¦ but nothing changed. He told Argonas that Avehiās outlandish claims - that death was ābrokenā - were verified by the Auchenai. For all the reverence he felt for the Orderā¦ he didnāt trust them one bit. Not after what had become of Exarch Maladaar. And Khanaros? He had lost his mind just as much, so ready to believe such foolishness.
And Mierne herself? She sought to manipulate Argonas, too! How long would it have been before she enthralled him, as she had Khanaros? He thought he could trust her. Confide in her. Their time together was a boon, following his loss on Argus. But noā¦ she had shown her hand, even if no one else saw it. He did; he knew the games she sought to play to protect her precious friend.
That only left Raetos; a somewhat naive Lightforged, but pure and uncorrupted. Argonas felt he could rely on him, and seek his counsel on some of what it was he struggled with. But he was worried; it had been a while since the Scout reported in. Troubling thoughts that Avehi may have found and killed him started to set in. Had he sent the Scout to his death? He prayed such wasnāt the caseā¦ but considered venturing out to find him and make sure.
For now, however, Argonas tried to relax. He soaked in the soothing springs in the Crystal Halls, hoping to be rid of the soreness in his muscles and the fatigue in his mind.
Is your muse attracted to any features in particular? (Grakkar)
Grakkar has caught Draenei Fever! Since his relationship with Sinafay began, he's developed a taste for her unique anatomy. Things Orcs lack, such as tails and horns and tendrils, all are very enticing to Grakjar now. There's a foreign, alien beauty to these features that's drawn him in all the more. And Sinafay knows well how to use those enticing parts of her body to drive the Orc absolutely wild!
Thanks for the ask, @kidcatgemini! @sinafay-the-defiant for mention!
For Sinafay (the still alive one) - What is one area they could use improvement in during sex?
Pacing herself. Left to her own devices, Sinafay isnāt very big on foreplay. Sheās quick at pinning her partner down to get what she needs. While she makes certain her partner gets off as well, it all happens very quickly, leaving little time to savor the moment. This, of course, leaves her wanting more. Quantity over quality, which usually isnāt preferred.
