#basilshaimav

[housebladerunner]

Business as Usual

   The sands of Tanaris always reminded Zyyran of the past. It reminded him of his years of exile. The years he spent in Kalimdor. Where he had been force to forsake marble and gold for dirt and stone. Nights of drink by the fire for ones he spent huddled in the least damp cave of a hard spring storm. But this made Zyyran different from other elves, different from his family that had cast him out. He had become more wild, more seasoned. Fighting to stay alive conditions one more than any lesson or book found in Quel’thalas. It was this land he knew best, because it was the land that shaped his scars for almost twenty years.

    As he followed the directions he was given, his eyes came upon a home perched on a high dune, an opening to some sort of gave near the bottom. He saw a figure enter there, so he would click his tongue while tugging the reins on his wyvern, causing the beast to dip low and fast. He seemed to land in time to watch two women leaving the somewhat impromptu basement. He unmounted and walked over to meet them.. his job was to make sure a person of interest was alive and well. Zyyraxx had not mentioned another.. so he regarded the woman’s ward as a new addition. That was something curious. But after speaking to the two, more the woman he had came to see than the other, he would deem the mission complete. Though something felt wrong.. something always felt wrong when dealing with Felena, or any issues that she has caused. Zyyran would leave them in peace, taking back to his mount and into the air. When he would be a safe distance away, he would land and give an odd whistle.. one that was high for only a moment, then very low. In a few moments the sand would part toward his direction.. a large basalisk coming up from its burrowing. Unlike those of the area.. each of the six eyes it possessed would blink at Zyyran. 

   “You are to stay here.. keep an eye on the women in the home to the south. Come to me if anything is.. odd.” 

He reached down and pat Atlas on his big head.. the giant beast digging back down into the sand and trailing off. It was then that Zyyran headed home, taking the long route through Stranglethorn. The boat gave him time to think on this all, and he enjoyed the wilds on the way from there. He might catch something to eat on his way home.

   Zyyran ascended the hill as he did so many times, to gaze at down at Stillwhisper Pond for a few moments before he found a nice spot to lay down for a while. His eyes couldn’t help but look at the steps made in the stone. A set of footprints. He wondered how long his brother stood in that exact spot every day.. how many times he stepped down there to think, or whatever it was that he did.. One thing he agreed on is that it was a nice view. Zyyran had only been home for five years.. everything was the same, but to him it felt different. He was still as much of a man for his people as he ever was.. but his people had changed much, and he had a hard time dealing with that. No one remembers the ways of old, the order, the manners and respect. To him, Quel’thalas was as dirty as the Undercity, and as bloated as Orgrimmar.. If he was to stay close because of his duty to his family and people, then he would much rather sleep under one of these trees than crossing the threshold into the city.

[housebladerunner]

A Night of Winter Veil

         Gandrell stood up on the high mezzanine of the Estate, watching the servants below scramble to make preparations. He saw Girrard there barking orders at the newer help.. Winter Veil had become a tradition in House Bladerunner. Gandrell slowly descended the stairs.. looking at the pictures on the walls, the decorations adorning them like garnish on a drink. As he came down to the grand fireplace, three portraits hung above it. There was the portrait of the house founder, Ko’jiro. Along side his portrait were the two more influential people in the family.. Maedren Bladerunner, and his son, Zyyraxx Bladerunner. As Gandrell lay eyes on his father, he realized that soon.. his portrait would take place of Maedren’s. In the short time he was head of house, he had brought more glory to the old family name than possible, fighting the Old Gods and re-establishing the Fel Ravens. His hands were brought behind him as he walked past the lovely tree they had in the main hall.. every bit as lovely as the tree in Silvermoon.

     Gandrell would come into the dining room, watching as Zyyran partook in the wines.. He had appointed his uncle to make sure everything tasted right, being the oldest of the family. He walked by gently, but would be stopped.

  “Everything seems it should, young lord.. Are you all right?” Zyyran would ask, setting down his glass of the last wine to check. 

  “Things are fine.. I am going to get something to drink from the Kitchen.. carry on.” Gandrell responded, nodding to the man and the servants that attended. Zyyraxx had not come.. and by now, that means that he would not be coming. A solemn nod was taken as he entered the kitchen. It was nearly time to bring the food to the table.. Taccion had adorned normal clothing for once, helping direct traffic of the servants in and out of the room. Taccion saw Gandrell and gave him a smile and nod.. recieved and returned by the young master as he would take one of the glasses of wine from the server’s platters. He returned to the dining room, and ironically when he took his chair, it was time to eat. All sat at the table.. on the end, even the troll Trek’tah had come to join the feast.. being late on account of her own “decorating.” There were three places set at the table.. nearest to Gandrell. No one had asked about them, no one had tried to take any of the silverware or the chairs to accommodate others, there was plenty of space... They were left alone upon glancing at the place cards. One was for Zyyraxx, the one he had wished that could join them.. but the other two were for his fallen mother and sister. Over all the months he had been Head of House, he had always set places for them by hand. As he watched the others begin to eat and talk, he sipped at his wine.. Silvermoon Port, just liked his father liked. As he watched his uncle and cousin.. the rest of his family mingle.. he looked to the side of his chair.. The head of the table always had room for two.. yet the places he set were to the sides. A soft, solemn smile came to his lips as he listened to the others speak and eat, enjoying themselves.. a small gap between him and those he cared for.

[housebladerunner]

Restless Cold

    It was a cold night in Booty Bay. Reports of the locals stated when they awoke, fresh fallen snow and ice had formed on the docs and near the homes of the people, but the rest of Stranglethorn seemed untouched. This was because the night before.. one of the residents had a hard night.

    It was nearly two in the morning as Zyyraxx laid awake, his fiance sleeping soundly at his side.. He looked to her now and then to make sure she was undisturbed and that she was safe.. It had been almost two weeks since the revealing that his age old enemy had been slain by someone who he had never even heard of... That the satisfaction of his revenge and his families revenge was taken from him. Upon the dresser in the corner of the room sat the box with the crushed heart, He kept it close in-case it ever started to beat again... and even though it had been there that whole time.. not a single peep was heard from the wooden chest of horror. Zyyraxx got out of bed as sneaky as he could.. being as big as he was and not nearly as graceful as he used to be, he did the old slowly go to the floor trick. Once he was clear from his sleeping beauty, he took the box outside with him onto the balcony.. to reflect over the bay, and the moonlight that it reflected.

    It had been almost ten years since he had first clashed with Felena, in the snow of Eversong. He was still alive then.. still wielding bow and arrow, still following the Huntress herself. She had taught him well to prepare him for his battle, but against one such as Felena, he may have had better time throwing rocks and hiding from the woman. Arrow pocked trees and burning branches made a trail of the battle, finally leading them to the once glorious Ghostlands.. Where Zyyraxx managed to lead her into one of the old Quel’dorei towers still standing there. Upon the cold platform of one of it’s pillars, the two would find an ending.. though how short it was. It was there he discovered her powers to take the bodies of others.. that the body she inhabited was none other than his grandmother.. Shu’reia Bladerunner. It was then that the man meant to sacrifice himself in his rage, taking the woman to the ground below in a grip that he would only ever try to replicate. Because of the woman’s demonic interference and summoning her wings at the last moment.. the both of them would have surely died and did not. Felena left the beaten and near broken elf to the devices of the deadly lands he was in.. her cruel laugh hanging on his mind. He found himself looking at the moon that night too.

    It was then Zyyraxx awoke from what seemed like a trance.. the land and the moon of his mind had become reality. He stood on the same hill he had crawled up to that night, to call for aid and to hopefully make his last view a pleasing one. His armor was on.. his weapon hanging loosely in hand.. in front of him was the broken and drained form of one of the lost.. the elves that had died in these lands only to haunt them with their broken second lives. It was a woman elf from what he could see.. but in truth all he saw was his failures.. The failures to save his family. The regrets of losing those he had loved over all this time.. his hand would grip his weapon tightly, causing the body before him to erupt in gore, slowly being drained out of the landscape as well.. He turned from that place and headed home.. hopefully to never return again.

[housebladerunner]

A Needed Return (OOC Note.)

Hello everyone, I know it has been a while since I posted anything, so if you are still following me or know who I am I do appreciate you. Over the last few months I went through some hardship and wasnt able to keep up onmy blog or a lot of things really, and for that I apologize. It has hurt my relationship with some of you and others and I plan on fixing the situation. Over the next month I will be restructuring things on the profile before hopefully posting twice a week, with either updates about things that happened in game, or little parts of the story from my own mind, out of game. I hope all of my friends and fellow RPers out there have a great holiday.

[housebladerunner]

Thori’din Zaram. (Fury of the Blade)

   It was a damp, cold morning in Shattrath. It had rained through the day, and the night.. Things were soggy all around. Gandrell awoke like any other, going to wash and then putting on his clothes and armor. He stepped out onto one of the balconies of the Scyer’s Tier. A note was in his hand. 

 “Son. I have received urgent news from Acherus, I must go and report to Darion. I will be back in less than a days time. Do your best to be careful.

                            Your Father, Zyyraxx Bladerunner.”

    The man would grit his teeth slightly. It had not been the first time his father would leave him, nor the last, but he didn’t think it would be too bad by himself. He knew that Erlei would also be coming soon, so he would take the elevator down to the Lower City. He made good friends with the fruit vendor there, and would have a decently fresh breakfast this morning. Gandrell did not make it to her. When he took the ramp down he was unaware of what was to come.. A shrill cry was heard in the air, followed by that dark laugh he had heard before. 

   “The young pup Bladerunner, all alone in a rough city!” Felena would scream, The demon would crash down into his back, knocking him off balance and tearing at the shield that was there. An alarm was raised as she dropped to the ground, being surrounded by the defenders of the city. Gandrell would stand up and draw arms, taking his stance behind that door of a shield. 

   “You won’t escape this time, demon. You made a crucial mistake attacking me in broad day light. Seize her!” Gandrell would cry, “Anar'alah belore!” Shattrath’s defenders would lunge at the woman to try and detain her, but the few that tried were would be sundered by her talons. She would only smile, drawing her staff. In moments the rest would descend on her to kill, swinging with blades, shooting arrows.. It was all ended with the slam of her staff into the ground, black fire and green lightning exploding out from her. They had all been launched back, except for one. Gandrell peeked out from behind the somewhat smouldering face of his shield. 

   “Try again, you demon filth.” He said with the same grin his father would take. This would alight Felena in rage, lunging towards him, claw and staff at the ready, the two would clash over and over, his shield meeting almost every blow. Gandrell would meet her in force. “You will never prevail as long as I live! As long as the Bladerunners live!” They would crash their weapons together in a power struggle, looking into each other’s eyes.. “Not as long as the Fel Ravens live.” He slammed his forehead into the woman’s, sending her reeling back into the dirt. When he jumped for his final blow, she sprung from the ground like a frog, tackling him and flying to the north. She would laugh, slow and soft at first as Gandrell tried to fight his way free, slamming his hands into her back, his shield. He went to stab her before he felt the claws in his back, throwing him at the mountain top. In desperation, he would call on his power over the light, allowing him to summon a pair of wings for only one beat. It would at least be enough to allow him to miss the mountain, but have to bring his shield down to break the fall. His shield would hit hard like a sled, being torn apart by the terrain in moments, mangling his arm afterwards. Gandrell would tumble and roll untill he moved no longer, spitting out blood onto the ground. He struggled to get up.. his right arm was useless, and the rest of his body was broken.. He couldn’t even focus enough to lay all of his light into his body. He rolled onto his back, coughing blood and pulling his broken armor open to make sure there was no punctures.. “Shit..” He looked up at the demoness.. She was holding a massive ball of fel fire into the air.. Ready to strike the final blow.

  “You should have known this would happen, boy. You are strong, but out here in the Outlands? I have access to my full power.. I have access to a unlimited source of power! Now die, Die like your father will, your uncle, your whole wretched family!” Felena would cackle as she threw the ball down at its target. Gandrell couldn’t do anything.. he couldn’t lift his arm to even try to defend himself. He cursed again and closed his eyes. He had failed his family. He failed his city. He failed Erlei.. This would be it.

  The next thing he felt was being lifted off the ground in a split moment, he watched as the ball crashed into the mountain side and caused so much destruction. That could have been him. He looked to his saviors.. it was Taccion and Zyyran. They had made it in time. He could barely hear them between the sound of the explosion, and his delirium from blood loss.. He nodded his head at what he was sure was “Everything will be all right.” Everything he knew faded into black. 

                                    Three Month’s Later.

   “How is he?” A concerned voice would ask.. He only stirred.

   “We have done all we can.. we are concerned he will not fully heal because of the Fel taint in his wounds. What should I do, Sir?” A formal, older voice would answer.

   “Take him to the Crimson Pool.. I will not lose my son.” He was being carried away now.. He knew that in that room, in that well, he was in his father’s care. By the morning, his eyes had opened for the first time in so long. He looked to his father, sitting on his bed and looking at him. Zyyraxx would smile softly. “You are lucky to be alive... I am sorry that I had left your side, my son..” He hung his head with guilt. Gandrell laughed weakly.

    “Father.. it is okay.. You saved me. I have been asleep for a long time, haven’t I?” Gandrell said, reaching out to his father.

    “We both have, my dear boy.. It will not happen again.” He took his son’s hand. “We will find that demon.. We will kill her once and for all. For now, There are some things I want you to do. One, you will recover in safety. My magic will heal your wounds faster than you think, but you need rest. Two, you will bolster the Ravens.” He nodded at his father in understanding. “Three. You will enjoy yourself.. Allow me to take care of things. And your Uncle too. He will do fine. I have to go to Roe now and tell her the news. Do you think you will be okay for the night?” Gandrell would nod his head. Zyy stood up and would head for the door before he heard his son.

   “Father.. Wait. Have him tell the Ravens.. That I have returned. That we will destroy this demoness when the time comes.” He gave a grunt as the pain stung him. 

 Zyyraxx would narrow his eyes seeing his son in such pain. “We will. We will show her the Fury of the Blade.”

[roelstra-a-minosh]

It’s the little things...Pt 2

Roelstra knew Ausric felt bad for her coming along, on what she only surmised was a simple reconnaissance, all too glad to help. The huntress was oblivious to his need for vengeance on a friend of the company.  She’d been in Draenor for reasons of duty and safety, so she felt as if she’d been rather useless in this whole Faceless to-do, knowing next to nothing. “ Oh, come off it, I need to be of -some- assistance, at least.”, she’d insisted. Approaching the tower, her Gilnean mastiff Wheatley padding along beside her, she’d eyeball the structure with mild interest, the massive rifle sliding from her shoulder into her gloved hands. Her mastiff took to sniffing the perimeter at the queue provided by a couple firm pats to his rump. Ausric seemed lost in thought even after they approached their destination and he lit the brazier he’d left in the tower, frowning as she hesitantly called for his attention.

“Boss?”

Looking up, his gaze met hers and holding it before replying, “ I’m ready, don’t you worry.” Removing a knife from his belt and making a small cut in his forearm, he’d call as if speaking to an invisible figure, “Come, send a Champion.  You did promise I’d regret defying you after all.” Next, he’d turn to her as he sheathed the blade, “For no reason are you to enter this tower, Roe. No reason. At all. Understood?” Her own auburn crown dipped into a nod, as she turned to scan the surrounding area outside of the doorway. “ Yes sir, I hear you.”, Gilnean accent softened with mild distraction as she kept her senses on peak. A small number in the Company knew her to be worgen, not just a Gilnean citizen who’d survived the fallout from the curse years before. Ausric was not one of those few, yet. Should they survive, she’d finally open up to the rest of that lot. She hadn’t been with the Kokalt Company for more than a couple months, give or take, but they’d earned enough of her trust that she could reveal her nature without great fear of repercussion.

Sauntering within twenty yards of the tower, she’d take care to lay down a few traps meant to slow any ill meaning would-be attackers. Mainly traps of ice or frost. Wheatley had taken to rotating around a perimeter of the same distance from the tower, only going the opposite direction and meeting up with his master after the last trap was laid. Well trained as he was, it was easy to avoid her traps. That training also allowed him to pick up on a lone approaching figure, turning his wrinkled muzzle in that general direction, sniffing loudly. Hopefully, Ausric’s preparations were finished, as Wheatley’s friendly if not dopey manner changed on a dime. Lowering and spreading his front paws in a defensive stance, his sharp teeth revealed as his maw parts in a deep bass growl. His ears pinned back towards his skull as she followed his line of sight, pulse fluttering. His steps were the only ones heard thus far, so with confidence she’d shoulder her weapon, staring down it’s scope to better view this individual. All she saw was black, clothing and armor and weaponry. Nostrils flared, scenting him on the wind and she understood why Wheatley was on the alert now. This bloke had to be who Ausric was worried about.

“Oi! Name yourself!”, she’d call when he was within shouting distance.

She couldn’t see it, but behind his mask, he smirked. “ That’s of no consequence, really, as you won’t need it once I’m through with your commander.”

Snorting, she’d pull the rifle’s hammer back with an ominous click, leveling her sights on his brow. “ Iffn’ you get past me and my hound. I’m not askin’ you again.”  

It wouldn’t be more than a couple heartbeats before the stranger would advance, and that’d be all the reason she’d need to act. Squeezing her trigger finger, the recoil would be felt slamming against her shoulder before the BOOM would resonate over the immediate area, no doubt heard by Ausric within the tower. The shot managed to hit the shield on his left arm, but missed penetrating the armor or flesh. Wheatley sprang with a snarl, intent on slowing the attacker with well placed shoulder butts or bites to his lower extremities. Teeth met their mark on the man’s right arm, but not before an armored foot connected with the hound’s rib cage in a sickening thud. The yelp was the result of the pain shooting through Wheatley and ribs cracking. Stumbling, he’d let go and the attention was now on the huntress herself.

Reloading a shot with haste, she’d level her rifle again, but aim for the gut this time around. BOOM, the rifle sounded again, and caught his side and cloak. Marking and altered trajectory, but no penetration worth noting. What in the hell kind of armor did this man possess that’d take a load of buckshot and prevent -any- penetration of flesh? At the very least, he should be bleeding, if not have the wind knocked from him. He just kept coming! And so did her faithful Wheatley, snarling as best he could and sending the man staggering with a bite to his thigh. For his efforts, the mastiff was decked aside with a forceful backhand to the jaw, a second and louder yelp signalling his defeat.

“Wheatley!!”, she’d cry, lowering her rifle from her shoulder. Colliding with her as he moved past her, sending her spinning.

“Enough of this. I’ve business with your commander. And with you, once I’m through with the whelp…” And like that, he essentially disappeared into the tower, at Ausric’s mercy here on out.

Shaking her head to clear it, she’d check briefly for any injuries or marks left behind, finding herself unscathed. Somehow. Wheatley, however, not so much. The poor boy was laying on his side, laboring for a breath and whimpering softly when he could manage. Jogging over to him and falling to her knees, her heart ached for him, frowning deeply. “ Wheatley. Oh, my poor baby...what did he do to you?” Fingertips delicately probe his side, not seeing any trickles of blood, lifting her hand when he yelps at the pressure. She did not like the way his side looked at all. “ Possibly broken ribs...hopefully no internal bleeding. “ Biting her lower lip, she looked between the tower and her faithful companion. She couldn’t leave Ausric like this, even if it tore at her that the mastiff she raised from an eight week old pup needed medical attention and quickly.

One large brown eye fixed on her, silently pleading, trying to get back on all fours. A hand rested on his shoulder, the other stroking his massive head. “ Shhh, no no, Wheatley. You need to lie still. Help will come shortly.” He tried one last time, weakly, before giving up. The animal was in a good deal of agony, scared at the inability to draw a full breath. “ I know, I know it hurts.  Just...hold on, sweetheart, you’re gonna be okay.” She hoped. Doing her best to keep him calm and still, she’d sit with him, staring at the stone tower where a battle raged on more brutal than she’d know. Jaw clenched, swallowing a wolfish growl. If Ausric didn’t kill the fucker, she would. Her companion was hearty, but he was the closest thing she had to a child currently, and everyone knew a mother’s stance on what happened to those that harmed her children.

@castleoftherose @ausricmorson @dantenrhinehart @basilshaimav @housebladerunner @chorusofcontention

[roelstra-a-minosh]

It’s the little things...Pt 1

The message over the comms crackled a bit with static, but what words could be made out were clear enough; meet up at Basil’s for (potentially) one last time. Prepping, goodbyes, et cetera. A half hour’s ride later, Roelstra would be landing her grinning reaver on the edge of the property raised on a small plateau. Danten Rhinehart, Ausric’s second in command and Dr. Alice Rosewood stood around in a half circle outside the small cabin, apparently surrounded by a herd of Basil’s family’s sheep herd.

Basil herself was pacing in the grass, her armor still laid out. “Hey Roe.”, greeting gruffly and puffing on her pipe nervously, earning a nod from the huntress in return. Nice view of the city, but the irony of the herd of sheep surrounding them was not lost on her.

“Glad t’see ya’ll could make it.”

After sending her reaver off to nibble on whatever plant life reavers liked, she’d shoulder her rifle and approach her fellows, “ What sort of prepping did you have in mind, Basil? Ammo? Bandaging?” Bleating off to her right had her brow raising again. Damn, that’s a lot of sheep for such a small plot. Again, that irony. Danten she knew to be worgen like her, Basil and Alice were questionable.

Before she could, Danten spoke her mind, “ Okay...you took the wolf among sheep bit a little too literally.”, gruffly to Basil.

Basil indicated the cabin with a hand, “ There’s supplies in the house, food too. Dunno what ya’ll will be takin’ with ya. And hey, they dunno I fur and fang up. Yet.” Roelstra eyed Danten for that statement, mouth kept shut for the moment. So, Basil -was- like her and Danten. Interesting. Good to know her nose wasn’t far off.

Taking a pull from her pipe, Basil folded her arms. “ Figure this might be th’last time we’re gonna be seein’ each other fer a while.”

“If I die, get my research to Phisa.” Again, with that cynicism she’d called him out for over the comms. But, the possibility of death for any of them was inescapable. Basil grit her jaw, but bobs her head. “ I dunno if yer bein’ sarcastic like, but I’ll do it.”

“Research?” So, that’s what kept that old wolf busy. Danten idly fingers the place his journal usually hangs on his belt. “ I left it all in Ironforge for this one. The Old Gods have taken many friends from me...they might finally take me this time. I know it’s a bit morose, but…”

Flopping down in the grass, Basil ran her fingers through the soft green blades. “ Told my dad what the Kokalt Company is actually doin’.”, confessing as she laid there.

“You mean he didn’t know?”, emerald eyes swerved down to Basil’s prone figure.

“I’m nineteen.”, stating that as if the answer was obvious. At that age, Roelstra’s parents already knew full well how she spent her time, whether they liked it or not, so this mindset Basil had was a bit forgein to her. “ He thought I was just sellin’ furs.”

“...Did he believe you?”, Danten queried, seeming to take a similar stance to Roe. The huntress sighed - youngin’s.

“ Trust me, Basil...keeping secrets from family doesn’t work out well.” She could practically feel Danten’s gaze boring into her for that one. It’d be a matter of time before he called her out, damn him.

Basil shook her head, frowning.” If somethin’ happens t’me..jus’ let my pop know. He worked with Ausric in the military. S’how he recognized stuff.”

Shifting her weight, Roelstra would elaborate. “ What I mean is, is that I had a secret drawn out and my sister didn’t take it well at first.”, slanting a look back at Danten in return. She still called him a jerk for his move, challenging her to a chase to see if she’d reveal her nature to him and Meghan-Rae. No, not just a jerk. Crafty jerk.

“That’s the pot calling the kettle furry.” Goddamnit. Knew it.

Frown intensified, snorting. “ I know, Danten, I know...which is why I have a confession to make to you two, Alice and Basil.” The former had been silent thus far, which almost concerned her.

“And they don’t know about the curse. Don’t tell em.”, this coming from the still-prone Basil. Danten was right, though. Roe didn’t have a leg to stand on when it came to that subject.

“That’s okay. My sister thinks I’m a porter at the Stormwind docks.”, Danten added almost casually.

To Roe, Basil raised a brow, whereas Dr. Rosewood finally piped up. “ A confession? Dare I ask?”

The answer to the good doctor’s question was a deep breath before limbs contorted and stretched, spine lengthening and joints changing to a digigrade rotation. Fur and claws sprout, soon standing before them was a dark furred, chartreuse eyed worden. Anticipating some sort of outrage, she’d stand there silent, looking at Basil and Alice for any sort of reaction.

Basil blinked a few times, “...Kay, that’s new.” Alice’s reaction was one she couldn’t read off hand. “ That’s not easy to keep secret, dear…” looking over to Danten, smirking a bit. “ How long did I go without telling anyone?” Ah. So, that was a look of knowing. Another of her kind confirmed in the same night.

“No. It wasn’t. But, it would seem some are more perceptive than others.” If Danten picked up on her proverbial daggers sent in his direction, he seemed to not mind so much.

“I am an archaeologist. It comes from the job.”

Roelstra tapped her muzzle, attempting to extend the understanding in return, “ And you didn’t need to say anything, Alice. “ I hadn’t said anything, so I was in no position to out anyone. I figured you were either close to one of us, or you were one yourself.”

Basil shrugs, “ I ain’t ever had much’a need until t’night t’use the fangs...or claws. Can’t hold a gun well with ‘em. But, t’each their own.”

Roelstra pats her rifle with her free hand, “ I’m more of a bow hunter myself, but I can’t deny this beauty Lasaira was kind enough to craft.” It certainly did its job.

Basil wrung her hands nervously, hugging herself as a forlorn expression crosses her face. “ Look...if anythin’ happens t’me t’night...I ain’t gonna deny that workin’ with ya’ll has been the best time. I know I can be frustratin’, but that’s cause I ain’t good at gettin’ my point across. But, if anythin’ happens...this was the best job I ever signed on fer.”

“You lot aren’t as skilled as my last team, but you sure as hell lived a lot longer. It was a pleasure.”, Danten added.

“Aw, hush Danten. We know ya like us.”, Basil retorted in her usual flippant manner. Alice crossed her arms and sighed, “ Danten, wasn’t it you that said before our journey into Draenor, that ‘It was just another day for the Kokalt Company’? I still believe that. This isn’t the last of us.” Alice fully believed it, whereas Roe merely hoped for it. At least they had one optimist amongst them.

Looking between the three, her muzzle would crinkle in a soft smile. “ I’d be lyin’ if i said meeting you lot hasn’t been a blessing. I was able to reunite with my little sister...and meet some very special people.” One other in particular came to mind, her smile widening into a mixed expression. She hoped she and Aus made it out tonight. Speaking of which…

“Oh, if something should happen to me and Aus tonight, could any of you that survive make sure Zyyraxx gets this?”, pulling a sealed envelope from her belt.

Alice nodded and reached a hand out towards the envelope. “ Right, I’ll take it to him, or I can deliver it to Sai. She’ll know where he is.”

Releasing the already bent envelope, shoulders relaxed just a tad. “ Thank you, Alice. I’m fairly confident I’ll be fine, but I didn’t wanna jinx myself, eh?”

This point apparently resonated with Alice, as she paused for a moment. “ I’ll hand it to Sai, then. In case something happens to me. But, after all this, I’m going back to Pandaria for a while. Finish up some work for the Lorewalkers.”

“Either way, I’m going to disappear for a little while. Or, you know, forever.”, Danten pondered. “ Have some classified work to do.”

“Better not be forever..I’m still your assistant after all.”, this from Alice with a small amount of play threat.

“Oh, you’ll be getting work to do.”, Danten assured Alice while managing to sound manner of fact at the same time.

“I’m debatin’ takin’ a break, headin’ t’Dalaran t’be with my family. Pop believes when I say, but he says I got a lot of explain’ t’do. S’ only cause he trusts Ausric’s word.”, Basil explained, but it seemed Danten and Alice were also making their own plans as well, should they live this night.   

“Hey, maybe if you tell me where you’re heading off to, I’ll change my plans and tag along to help.”, Alice offered.

“We’ll discuss that later, alone. If I can get you clearance.”

Alice nodded her agreement, frowning for a moment. “..Anna’s insisting on going. I’m worried about her.”

“I’m with her team, don’t worry. I’ve had a lot of experience with fighting the Faceless.”,  Danten stated soberly.

“Look after her, but take care of yourself too.”

The mention of this Anna apparently prompted Basil to react, making Roe curious. “Look. If the noble lady wants t’fight, then she can fight. She’s senser than me with basic security, so les’ hope she’s better at fightin’.” The tone suggested Basil may not have thought very highly of this character.

“Anna? Who’s that?”

“Lady Blackwood might be a noble, but at least she knows what the fel she’s talking about when it comes to the Titans. Riahanna Blackwood, she’s our lead researcher on the Titans.”, Danten elaborated.

“Aha, so that’s where ye’d been, Danten.” The male had been scarce by the huntress’ reckoning, but she’d also been bound by her own duties of late.

“Then let her do the book work”, Basil grumbled.

“ Riahanna Blackwood is a leader on the Alliance side of this. I’ve been monitoring her, cause she wasn’t taking good care of herself. And I had to care of her again because she recently was attacked.”

Hm. Usually nobles were good when it came to security detail, so Roelstra was compelled to ask further, “ Was she offered any kind of security or reconn from our people?”

Alice’s head shook, “ She wouldn’t take anything we offered.”

“ I see…”, frowning deeply, clearly disapproving of the noble woman’s apparent naivete, but keeping her mouth shut.

Whereas she was quiet, Danten proved to be the opposite. “ She ignored advice, and got burned. Now, she’s deciding to listen to me.”

“Called it!”, and that made two for the tactless route.

Sighing, Roelstra shifted her rifle from one shoulder to the other, “ Some poeple are like that. They need to learn the hard way.”

“Told ya me and Drahs should’a trapped some stuff. That anti-riot device would’a been perfect, but nooo.”

“I wouldn’t say that around Aus, though. I don’t know if he’d take that kind of gabbin’ so well. Still gettin’ to know him, m’self.”, Roe warned Basil, considering the recent events leading to Ausric’s calling a trial on the woman.

“He ain’t too bad of a fella. Short’a tazin’ me an’ tyin’ me up.”

“Ausric knows it, hes’ been burned too. Harder than most of us.”, Danten reminded them, probably one of those who knew enough about the man to make that observation.

This presented an opportunity to change the subject just a hair, Roe’s attention shifting to the male“ I’m getting the inkling he’s got his own scars to carry, if that wild goose chase he took us on in Southshore a while ago was any indication.”

“I still don’t know what that was about.”, Danten agreed as Roe shrugged.

“Burned like...burned in fire? or burned from a bad deal?”, Basil asked with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“ Metaphorically, Basil.”, Danten clarified the same time as Roe, “ Figuratively speaking.”

“Ah. Any word from th’Fearless Leader?”

“I’m supposed to be going to help him out, actually, after I leave here.”

“Last I heard, his team was preparing to assault some tower.”, Danten added to Roelstra’s last statement, and she needed an affirmation.

“Good.”, the acknowledgement from Basil.

“He’s given me coordinates, and I’m to meet him there with Wheatley.” Roe cleared her throat, waiting until the others had finished speaking, pointing a clawed finger at Danten. “ Better not be disappearing forever, mate. But, I’ll be moving between here and Draenor as needed. So, I won’t be too hard to get a hold of.” Alice and Basil were regarded next, “ I mean it. Keep in touch, should we all make it.” With that farewell and a smile to the three, she’d begin to turn as she heard Danten make his own exit.

“Whelp, I think that’s all that needs to be said. I think I’m going to pack up my armor, and head out out to the Highlands. You know how long it takes a worgen my size to be fitted into platemail?”

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