#kelrythis

[glyllena]

Off the Wagon

"Lena, where's Kelrythis?" Xaphias called to the mage as she meandered around the garrison with Aussie in her arms. At the strain of panic in Xaph's voice, Lena looked up, alarmed. "She's not in the barracks?" The barman shook his head as he approached, "And I checked the forge, the pond, the bunker, she's not here." He stopped short and set his jaw, looking at the mud on the stones of the garrison walkways. "And... I'm missing a few bottles." Lena swore, then winced and covered Aussie's ears - a moment too late. She shoved the child into Xaph's arms and hiked up her robes, running in the direction of her house. A few moments after slamming the door shut, she reemerged, fully outfitted in her armor, staff in hand. She was shoving a sheathed dagger into its place on her belt as she returned to Xaph's side, out of breath. "Stay here. If she comes back, hold her here. Put other guards on her if necessary. She is not falling off the wagon that easy." Xaph nodded wordlessly, cradling Aussie, as Lena roughly yanked her communicator from her shoulder and disappeared, teleporting out of the garrison. -- Meanwhile, on a rise in Tanaan, Kel ripped off her helmet and threw it down, her sweaty hair clinging to her flushed face. Her ponytail gave a limp swing as she wiped her forehead, the leather on the palm of her gloves pulling at her damp skin. The adrenaline was fading, the thrill of the fight was slowly ebbing away. The human priest in the pointy hat next to her pulled his gloves from his hands, very conversationally commenting on her performance. A group of them had just downed a pit lord. She had sneaked out of the garrison, managing to duck the guards, even in her clinking armor. She met up with a ragtag group who boasted about slaying a pit lord every night. For the first time in months, Kel's face lit up with excitement. She needed it. The fight, the energy, the feel of slicing something evil open with her sword and letting it bleed out on the ground at her hooves. The priest carefully folded his gloves, tucking them into his belt and dispassionately continued, "Lesser healers would have had a hard time keeping you alive, draenei." Kel scowled at the body of the pit lord, knowing he was right and simultaneously thinking he was a pompous son of a bitch. Bending at the waist, she yanked the flask from her boot once more, as she had before the fight, and drained it in one long drink. Fuck, that's good, she thought. The switch had been flipped. She was back on the booze. "It's been a long time since I've been allowed out," she growled, shoving the now empty flask into her boot once more. "Forgive me for not being up on the most recent enhancements." The priest looked bored. "Nevertheless. Should you wish to improve yourself, here is my token. My colleagues and I would be willing to help." He pressed a coin-like talisman into her gloved hand, turned on the spot, and activated his hearthstone. Kel stared at the talisman, for some reason fighting the urge to hurl it in the direction of where the priest disappeared. She snorted, but groped inside her armor for the tiny pocket she held necessities like potions and bandages, and yes, another flask. Making an awkward looking exchange, she left the token and pulled out the tiny flask, uncorking it and draining half of it immediately. She nudged a mage who was opening a portal to the Lion's Den in Tanaan, and, incensed, the woman allowed her through. Landing off balance in Lion's Den, Kel stumbled and took a quick look around, already feeling the whisky work its way through her system. She wouldn't stay here too long. She threw a handful of coins at the flight master, and he helped her drunkenly clamor up onto a hippogryph, destined for Fort Wrynn, her sword and shield clanging annoyingly on her back. -- Lena landed softly in Embaari. It was unlikely that she'd be here, but if Kel was looking for alcohol again, a short stumble down the road from the garrison might not be a bad place to start. She pressed a button on her communicator, revealing a hologram of Kelrythis to show to the villagers. None had seen the warrior. The same at Karabor, and all over Shadowmoon Valley. At the tiny shacks and settlements along the way to Shattrath, where Lena knew that Kelrythis had once lived. At the Alliance inn in Spires. All over the continent she teleported, finding no one who recognized Kel. Not even, in a moment of desperation, when she showed the hologram to the portal watchers in Stormshield. If she was on Azeroth again... Kelrythis was gone.

(tallgeezwow​ // @mongoose-and  this is all your fault! Not the falling off the wagon part, but the I HAVE TO WRITE THIS part!)

[glyllena]

Kelrythis stood at the gate of the garrison, staring straight ahead into Shadowmoon Valley. Kicking the dirt with a hoof she muttered under her breath, "I can't fucking believe I'm here." She rolled her shoulders under the plate armor, crossing her arms and leaning against the stone pillar. Her jaw hardened as she stared into the light fog that had settled over the region in the twilight. I can't fucking believe I'm here, she repeated, to herself.

Closing her eyes, scenes from a century ago flashed across her vision. Laughing in the tavern in Shattrath. Walking slowly in the moonlight toward the house. Swimming in the lakes of Nagrand. Racing along the trails in Talador. The woman at her side in each scene smiling serenely, as if she'd swallowed a secret that only Kelrythis knew.

The scenes grew dark, and their tone changed. The woman laying in a bed, Kelrythis kneeling on the floor beside her. A bloodstained handkerchief pulled away from her face. Her hair a tangled mess as she slept, still looking like she held a secret just inside her hollowed cheeks, though her face was lined with pain, shining with sweat. Running through the streets of Shattrath to find a healer in the dead of night. The dead of night. Kelrythis turned that phrase over in her head for a long moment.

Nayali. An unbidden tear leaked from the corner of Kel's eye. Lifting a fist, she swiped angrily at it, then pushed herself upright. With sudden force, she whirled on the pillar and shoved her fist violently against it. The pain radiated from the fist up her arm, finally settling in her chest, where she drew a sharp breath - finally remembering how to breathe. I could have saved her.

Kel turned her back on the road leading into the valley, her hooves clipping along the stones, armor clinking against itself as she made her way back toward the barracks. At the last second, she felt her hooves veer off the path, toward the makeshift bar the man named Xaphias had apparently set up. Moving on autopilot, she rummaged for a moment before she found a bottle of liquor, pried out the cork, and drank deeply. When she came up for air, her eyes swept across the garrison, pausing on the barracks, where the transient usually stayed. Where Kelrythis usually stayed, permanently. She flexed the fingers on her right hand. For punching a solid stone pillar, they were in alright shape. We had an apartment in Shattrath. I was fine with her. Now what?

Kel closed her eyes again, swaying indecisively. If she went to the barracks with booze or drunk, someone would surely rat her out. If she curled up in some forgotten corner - which, let's face it, at this point, she preferred - she risked being late for duty. Lena had wasted no time handing Kel over to Kudrelke, the guy in charge of garrison security. What an uptight dick he was, Kel thought. Her impulsive first impression of him. She had glowered at the Archon, then at Kudrelke, then nodded, submissively. Agreeably. Supposedly, this was a second chance.

Kelrythis tucked the bottle into her elbow and weaved her way to a corner behind the barn, tugging a bale of hay with her, miraculously never spilling a drop. She flopped on top of it, completely lacking the grace she sometimes possessed in battle, and continued to work her way through the bottle.

Second chances. Kelrythis was beginning to think they were overrated.

[glyllena]

(Probably a belated Music Monday, but wevs.  My iTunes popped this song out and I forgot how pretty it was.)

Kelrythis lay in the dark of her tent, staring up at the moonlight reflecting through the sheer fabric she used in the summertime.  The tent seemed to spin, she was so drunk.  But it was worse when she closed her eyes.  It had been a hell of a party. She hadn't brought anyone back to her tent this time.  She had been getting sloppy, letting them see where she spent her nights.  She usually went with them, stayed at an inn, whatever.  Kel stationed herself in Pandaria, because, well, those Pandaren enjoyed their booze.  And she couldn't be around Shadows that much.  They all seemed to have their shit together.  She preferred to fraternize away from them, with free agents, as it were.  Kel blinked and swallowed hard.  Her hands were folded over her churning stomach, hardened muscle from untold years of practice and training.  Unwillingly, thoughts turned to her, and Kel's hands started to wander, one slipping below the waist of the soft cloth pants that Gyllandre had given her, hoping to get the warrior out of her armor once in a while.  But as she touched herself, a face appeared in her mind, and guilt came crashing back.  With a frustrated sob, Kel withdrew her hand, forming a fist and punching the ground beside her.  It was supposed to be easier when she was drunk.  Kel sat up, leaning her head in her hands, elbows on her knees, breathing hard as the world spun around her.  But it wasn't working anymore.  Had it ever?  Sarina's face kept coming to her, unbidden, and unwelcome.  The woman, her mate, she had left behind when Shattrath fell.  Kel had let Sarina be taken.  Her own stupidity got in the way, forcing Kelrythis to run, dodging hastily made swords and a sea of green orcs that never seemed to stop coming.  She always told herself she was running to get help, help for her sick mate, bedridden and dying of something unknown, help to move her, to escape the oncoming attack.  That was the lie she told herself, and everyone else, so often that it almost became fact.  In reality, she had run because she was afraid.  And stupid.  Kelrythis crawled out of her tent on her hands and knees, and just in time.  Tears pricked at her eyes as she was sick, trying to move away from the entrance of the tent, before collapsing and covering her head with an arm, curling up to stifle her crying.  She didn't move again until the sun of the late morning made her sweat.

[glyllena]

Impounded

Kelrythis yanked the helmet from her head and chucked it towards the main building of headquarters, sneering as it cracked loudly against the ancient stone, nearly shattering. She pulled her aching and battered body from the bike and jabbed a plated boot at the kickstand and propped the machine against the wall. She was in a helluva mood. None of the missions Maeorra sent her on panned out, nothing got done out in the field, and... she wrecked the bike again. "Lena!" Kel bellowed in the general direction of the HQ offices. "Lena, the fuck did you do to this damn bike last time?" She pulled her flask out of a saddlebag and drained it, then reached for the spare flask in the other side.Damn, that's empty, too. She tipped the flask on its end and frowned when it came up dry. Lena, meanwhile, poked her head out the doorway of HQ and frowned disapprovingly at Kelrythis over the rims of her glasses. Kel frowned back, hating that look. Lena was a fairly attractive woman - maybe a little old for her tastes, but whatever - but those glasses had to go. Narrowing her own eyes, Kel looked again at the mage, who was clutching a book to her chest as she stepped out the doorway. Then again, she does kind of have a sexy librarian thing going on, Kel smirked to herself, suddenly jealous of Krastos. Lena noticed the flask in Kel's hand and marched over, ripping it from the warrior's hand. "Hey!" Kel protested, too surprised to react well. "Dammit, Kelrythis. I told you I refuse to fix that motorcycle if you continue to drink and ride." Lena stared hard at the younger woman, dropping the flask on the ground and crunching it under a hoof. "Aw, c'mon, Lena. I swear I wasn't, this time." Lena simply shook her head, pushed her glasses up on her nose, and marched back into the offices. "Wait -" Kel cried, lurching after her, "I gotta report to Mae. Where is she?" Lena ignored her, and Kel followed doggedly into HQ. -- Lena set the book down on the desk where she was working beside Maeorra, filing paperwork and getting things in the office organized. She spoke in Maeorra's mind, quietly, Kel's ripped again. What mission did you send her on this time? Mae visibly jumped and looked up at the mage, "Lena, you know I hate when you do that." She sighed and put down her pen. "At least, you know, ask, before you get in my head." Lena smirked and shrugged, then jerked a thumb over her shoulder at the bloodied and dirty warrior making her way into HQ. "Mission? She was only supposed to patrol. What the fel happened?" The Watcher rose and rubbed at her temples, waiting for Kelrythis to explain herself. -- "Honest, I wasn't even going that fast!" Kel exclaimed as she recounted the tale of technical difficulties and how her bike supposedly got away from her. This time. Mae was giving her a proper dressing down for a failed mission as she sat slouched on a particularly uncomfortable chair in the infirmary. Buran was giving her a once-over, supposedly making sure Kel didn't hurt herself in the process of getting thrown around a bit by an opposing Horde patrol and crashing the bike. Kel scowled and grumbled, mostly because Buran was giving her a look that she interpreted to be pity. "Ten days in the infirmary here," Kel looked up as Mae's words registered. "No booze." Kel's jaw dropped. It wasn't like she was an alcoholic or anything. This is bullshit! "Every day, you will come assist me in the office and around the barracks. We've got a lot of heavy lifting to do, and I want you in my line of sight. If I run out of things for you to do, Barthallis would be happy to be your personal trainer for a week." Lena hovered somewhere right inside the curtain of the infirmary, and crossed her arms over her chest, "I looked at the bike, Kel." The warrior's gaze cut to her, glaring, "And?" Lena fidgeted with her grease-laden hands and looked at Maeorra, "I've been ordered to impound it for the duration of your... stay here." Kel nearly knocked Buran to the floor as she clamored to her hooves, "You have got to be kidding me!" She shouted and started to take a swing at Maeorra, but the ebon merely dodged the ill-aimed punch and pushed the other woman back down into the chair, jabbing a finger into her plated chest, "I am not fucking around, Kelrythis. This is your last chance." The Watcher looked over to Lena, who had rushed to assist Buran, before locking her furious gaze back on the warrior. "This shit you pull is beyond the pale. Any other order would have kicked you out on your ass a long time ago. Hell, if Arloth were here, he'd do it himself, and he'd beat you to a pulp doing it." The death knight grabbed her by the tabard and pulled her up again, pulling Kel's face close and glaring with her ethereally dead eyes. "Last. Chance. Take it or leave it. Kel scowled, but let her arms fall limply to her sides. It really was her last chance. After a long moment, she looked up at Maeorra and nodded once.

[glyllena]

Kelrythis II

Kelrythis lowered her sword, her eyes narrowing as she tried to regain her normal breathing.  She was dusty, dirty, sweating like a pig, her plate armor starting to chafe her ashen skin. Removing a gauntlet, she swiped a wrist across her brow and muttered a free flowing stream of curses as she stepped over and lightly kicked her opponent, who was laying in an unceremonious pile of dinged armor on the ground.  "Get up," she growled, offering her bare hand, "I didn't even hit'cha that hard."  She shook her head, stark white ponytail swinging behind her as she looked down with scorn. Wrapping her fingers around her sparring partner's wrist, she hauled the body upright.  After ensuring steadiness, she rapped her knuckles against the helmet, shaking her head with a snort, "You puss.  It's a good thing you're not out there in the world with moves like that.  You'd be a fel beasts's dinner in no time." The other warrior windmilled arms, pushing Kel away and pulling off the helmet, face flushed and sweaty.  Her own pigtails bounced limply as she shook her head and glared at Kel.  "Well sor-reeeee.  Some of us weren't born with halberds in our hands," her lilting voice accused and whined. Kel shook her head, giving the other girl another smack upside her head and retreating to pick up her gauntlet.  She was young, the girl.  Kel tucked her glove under her arm and took a long swallow of water from the wineskin in her bags.  She had a long way to go, if she were to ever lead a group of fighters into the fray.  Putting her gauntlet back on, she picked up her swords, eyes glinting as she held them properly, smiling at their perfect balance.  She had made them quite well, and was thoroughly proud of her craft. Whirling around to the younger warrior, she adopted an attack stance, glaring and sighing impatiently as she waited for her to affix her shield, pick up her sword.  "Faster," Kel growled, lunging forward and purposely bringing her left sword down hard against the shield.  "If I wasn't looking out for your well-being, you'd be dead right now.  And then your entire party would be trampled.  You are point.  You have to be more prepared than the others."  She stepped back and lunged again, this time sweeping her right sword close to the girl's hooves, making her leap backwards, her eyes wide.  "You have to be better than that.  Fearless.  Angry."  Kel's eyes narrowed, remembering fights gone by. The other warrior hadn't put her helmet back on and watched Kel with shining eyes.  Was that admiration that Kel detected?  She swallowed hard and shook her head, trying to shake it away.  She didn't need a complication now.  Training.  This girl needed training. The girl's sword lowered slowly, eyeing Kel tentatively.  Gently.  Interested.  Attractive.  She really was, despite her shit fighting skills, with her hair in those long black pigtails.  Kel's hands worked hard, gripping and grinding the handles.  She set her jaw and growled again, whirling fast and throwing her right hand sword with a loud grunt, impaling a training dummy across the way. Kelrythis stalked away, leaving her sword and bags where they were, eyes furious as she left the young warrior standing there, shield lowered, mouth agape, watching her go.  Her eyes were hurt.  Kel could feel them boring into her skull as she rounded a corner and started to sprint.

[glyllena]

Kelrythis

(Another non-Lena character sketch) Kelrythis spat in the dirt and exhaled her cigar smoke in the waning light of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.  The rolling plains seemed to wobble before her eyes, but that was probably just the liquor.  Forcing a yawn, she lifted a hand to her jaw, checking, as always, for broken bones or dislocations, luckily finding none.  She'd be bruised tomorrow, but, she thought, it was almost worth it.  Her plate boots were heavy when she started trudging back up the long stairway.  That temper of hers was really going to get her in trouble someday.  If it wasn't the temper, it would be... well, everything else.

Approaching the door of the Golden Lantern, she wonder what on Azeroth she was doing in Pandaria.  She had no agenda here, but Shadows had all but relocated.  Personally, she'd rather be settled into her usual barstool in the Blue Recluse.  Or maybe even spectating in the new Brawler's Pub.  She was sure she could do better than some of the 'talent' she'd seen there. She leaned against the doorjamb and let her eyes follow the paths of those milling around inside the tavern.  One thing she did like about Pandaria was the readily available supply of good beer.  Those Pandaren might be odd creatures that were a little too touchy-feely for her, but the knew their booze, and they were happy to share.

Kel took a restorative breath and dove back in, swiping a pint from a passing barmaid and taking a large gulp as she kept her eyes on the destination.  Along the far wall, a figure sat alone at a table for two, hands clasped around a pint.  Such a pretty little thing, Kel thought to herself.  She shouldn't be alone.  Her lips curled in a wicked smile as she took another gulp, draining the mug, and reached for another.

The rotund Pandaren bartender gave her a sharp, disapproving look as he wiped down the counters and sorted glasses and mugs, but didn't intervene this time.  She'd done her time, taken her time out, and now she was rightfully back in the bar.  All she had to show for her troubles was a bruised cheek.

Her eyes darted around, landing on various women, and her eyes shone.  Pandaria, at least, brought out the beautiful people.  She started making her way through the crowded space toward the lonely girl at the table, but a very intoxicated Kaldorei woman caught her arm.  Kel didn't mind the night elves - they had their moments.  Many of them could be quite attractive, if you were into that... pale... bouncy... thing they did.  But Kel's eyes were on the prize tonight - the girl at the table was a draenei, like herself.  Some might call her xenophobic, but growing up and growing old in a body like hers for all these millennia, really made her want to observe another draenei woman's figure.  See how she moved, watch her hips sway, tease her tail - even downright silly things, like play with her hair.  Kel's lip curled at the pang of femininity she expressed to herself, quickly squashing it, drowning it in another deep drink of her beer.

Mostly, she just loved watching them.  But feeling them move under her, at the touch of her fingers or her lips was also a pretty good feeling.

Shadows ranks consisted of so many women, but Kel knew better than to shit where she ate, and besides, most of them didn't really know, or want to know, about her predilections for women.  The men would leer and drool inappropriately, and the women would probably avoid her, so she didn't talk about it.  It wasn't unusual for draenei to remain single for long periods.  Who wanted to settle down for eternity when there were so many options, so many new ones every day?  Kel toasted herself at that thought and downed another beer.

Kel sauntered close to the table, attempting to swing her hips to the music the Pandaren band was playing and be casual, surreptitiously glancing at the girl, who was staring into her mug.  She didn't look sad, necessarily, just a little lost.  Uncomfortable.  There was a story there, and Kel intended to find out.  Plopping down in the chair across from her, Kel sat down her mug with a heavy hand, the girl raising her eyes, startled.

"Hell of a night, isn't it?"  Kel gave the girl a grin, baring her teeth.  Probably a little over-exuberant, she thought, as the girl leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.  Sometimes, you can tell.  Sometimes, the fun part is finding out.  You never know what you might find out if you go for it.

And Kel was going for it.