((Co-written with @kidcatgemini. Follows her story here. ))
Step by step, large-yet-nimble footsteps ascended the stairway. Grakkar traveled light, and quick, making his way towards the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. He’d only heard of it, but everyone told him it was a beautiful and serene place. A place for relaxation. For lovers to connect on a deeper level. A place he had intended to bring Sinafay… All this only upset him more, when he found out where she was. She’d come here - not alone, but with Argonas. The father of the child she carried… and the one who stole her away from him.
Tracking them wasn’t easy, admittedly - especially across continents. But the orc had sniffed out more elusive prey than a pair of Draenei Vindicators many times before. It saddened him to leave Kronk behind on such and adventure; he wanted to take him, too, to the wondrous Pandaria of which he’d heard so many times. But the big lug would only slow him down, and time was of the essence. Leaving him in Aelissah’s care, as he had many times before, made sense. She didn’t have a connection with the beast, but he trusted her to take good care of him in his absence.
The stairs led to a path. The path led to a river. And the river led into a tunnel. It seemed to be the only way to get to Kun-Lai from here. And from Kun-Lai, he could get to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. To Sinafay.
The orc followed the river as it ran deeper into the cavern. His eyes twinkled in the low light - he had no issues seeing, even in darkness. Navigating the cavern would be a breeze--
He ducked down behind a rock, hearing steps from up ahead. Slowly and silently, he pulled the axe from his back. Breathing controlled and quiet, yet his heart raced. He wouldn’t say aloud, but a fear came over him - he knew not exactly what dangers lurked in Pandaria. And in dark places like this, the most dangerous of creatures tended to dwell… Fear, yes. Fear and excitement. He peered around the rock subtly, to try and catch a glimpse of what approached…
Hoofsteps echoed through the tunnel. Sinafay’s elven guide had left her at the entrance with a few confusing directions, before using some form of arcane teleportation device. It seemed the rogue had other business to attend to...
Unfortunately, Sinafay didn’t have the best sense of direction. As far as she could tell, the path hadn’t split yet. Her glowing golden gaze looked around the cave warily as she made her way along the path. She didn’t know the area; didn’t know what dangers lurked.
She’d left the Vale with only the clothes on her back; a lovely white maternity shirt and purple gold trimmed pants. She’d left her armor and weapon behind. It would have made Argonas question where she was going, and she couldn’t have him following her to Grakkar. Despite this, she didn’t show fear, determined to talk her Orc lover out of this crazy mak’gora idea.
“--Sina!”
Grakkar gasped, rising from behind his cover immediately. He’d recognize that divine form anywhere! … even if it was a little more bloated than last he laid eyes on it. Nonetheless, her shimmering Light-rune tattoos along her arms, and those matching illuminated eyes… the silhouette of her horns and hair… and as she grew close enough, he recognized her divine face! Oh, it had been too long! He was surprised he didn’t recognize her by the cadence of her steps, to be honest - but pregnancy altered her gait as well.
“Sina! I was coming to find you!” he declared, as he approached
Conveniently leaving out the other reason he’d come this far.
Sinafay’s reaction was anything but planned. She’d been set on getting straight to the subject, but the sight of him changed all that. The old Orc hadn’t changed at all. Grey mohawk hair tied back, leathered tattooed and scarred skin, muscular frame showed off by what little armor he wore beneath that tabard…
She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him tightly, choking back a sob.
“Grakkar!” Happy tears ran down her cheeks as she embraced him, “Light! I… I missed you so much!”
The subject of the mak’gora could wait. She’d intercepted him from getting to Argonas and that was all that mattered for the moment. Her anger and sadness melted away in his arms.
She pulled back only to gaze lovingly into his eyes, bringing a gentle hand to rest against his cheek.
“How are you?”
“Hmph! Foolish!” he grumbled in response, lips curled downwards at the corners. “So foolish to run from this. From you!”
Grakkar pulled Sinafay in for another intimate hug. He had wasted so much time thanks to his brash overreaction. Moments he’d never get back. It was all he could do to take them as he could, in interactions like this. He buried his face in her neck, humming contently at being back in her arms once more. Her scent filled him with bliss. He took his fill of it before releasing the second embrace, and looking upon her once again - that regret and sorrow still evident in his eyes.
“Forgive me, my love. I was… angry. Upset!” he explained. “You had it right; I told you I would never leave you… and I don’t intend to ever again. I…”
He brought a hand up to cup the Vindicator’s face, only now managing to smile as his eyes got lost in hers.
“I love you so much.”
“Oh, Grakkar! I love you too!”
She sealed the words with a kiss, rekindling that fire they’d shared over their many years together. Her heart soared, so happy to hear the words he spoke. She could see the regret in his eyes. His words were sincere. How many times had she dreamed of him returning to her like this, admitting to the mistake he made in his upset and shocked state.
A swift kick from the baby in her belly served as a proper reminder at what she was dealing with. Argonas would most certainly come looking for her once he’d realized she’d run off. She had to get Grakkar away from here. She reluctantly broke the kiss, taking Grakkar’s hand in hers and attempting to lead him back the way they came.
“Come, My Love. Let us leave this place.”
Grakkar didn’t budge, despite being tugged at. His smiling face turned to a frown once more - this time, steely and determined.
“... No.” he grunted. “Not yet.”
His eyes turned forward in the tunnel, towards Kun-Lai. Finding Sinafay here was fortunate. But he knew she didn’t come alone. He knew Argonas was around here somewhere, too. Exhaling a growl of a sigh, he looked to Sinafay once more.
“I came here for another reason, Sina.” he stated, plainly. “To challenge the father of that child you carry. To challenge Argonas to mak’gora.”
Sinafay’s hands immediately reached for his arm, grabbing and holding on tightly.
“You don’t need to do that,” she frowned, now that the subject could no longer be avoided, “You have nothing to prove. To me. To anyone! I am your mate, now and forever. This baby will not change that. A mak’gora won’t solve anything!”
“--Of course it will!” he grunted back. “A fight to the death is the only way!”
He wasn’t surprised; as much as Sinafay had done for the orcish people, there were aspects of the culture he felt she didn’t fully understand. The mak’gora was one of them. The Draenei had nothing with which it could compare… no duels of honor, no fighting to the death. Some called such practices barbaric, but they failed to realize the significance of the time-honored ceremony. Once again, his hand reached up to cup Sinafay’s face. His eyes met hers, stern and finite.
“You didn’t want this child with him, right? You trusted him to be honorable… and he broke that trust with his carelessness! He has to answer for that.” he declared. “You don’t love him, right? If you don’t love him… you shouldn’t be opposed to me killing him, so we can be together - free entirely from his influence.”
Sinafay huffed, bringing a hand up to slap him across the face.
“Like Fel it is!” She cried, “I do not love him, but he is one of the VERY few friends that I have on this world!”
Hands balled into fists as her anger swelled. In truth, she understood well the significance of the mak’gora in Orcish culture. But she couldn’t understand why it was required in this situation. Argonas didn’t even love her! It was an unnecessary bloodshed!
“This child was my mistake! Not his! I go with you willingly, but you leave him be!”
The slap earned a snarl from Grakkar. He took hold of Sinafay’s arms, holding tight to keep her from lashing out at him again. Clearly, she was upset. He expected that she might be, given the circumstances - but that didn’t make the slap any more surprising in the moment!
“Listen to me! I know he’s your friend; clearly! But what makes you think he won’t come after you? After the child? Especially if you keep him as a friend?” he pressed, frowning deeply. “There’s only one way to be sure he--”
“UNHAND HER!”
A deep, commanding voice echoed through the tunnel. The heavy hoofsteps of another Draenei coming down from Kun-Lai resonated in steady marching cadence. It was an imposing figure; Grakkar knew Argonas was a Vindicator, like Sinafay… but he didn’t quite expect him to be so large. He released Sinafay, and interposed between the two of them.
“You must be Argonas.” he snarled, speaking in Draenic. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Argonas narrowed his gaze - who was this Orc? How did he know his name? He looked to Sinafay, as if for an explanation; confused further as she hadn’t turned to flee from the assailant, or bash him over the head when he turned his back to her.
“... What is this?” he growled. “Sina?”
She opened her mouth to say something… anything! But nothing came to mind. Her eyes were wide, panic evident as she looked from Argonas to Grakkar and back. She hadn’t expected Argonas to discover her disappearance so soon!
While Grakkar was fully aware of Argonas and Sinafay’s relationship, it wasn’t the case the other way around. Sinafay had told Argonas nothing of her Orc lover, out of fear of losing his friendship.
“Argo! You have to leave, now! Please!” was all she could utter.
Her eyes pleaded to him, an obvious fear behind her golden gaze. She reached forward, grabbing hold of the Orc’s arm tightly, her desperate tone still evident as she switched to Orcish.
“Grakkar! Don’t!”
Something wasn’t right. Argonas didn’t know what it was… but this Orc was clearly exerting some kind of sway over Sinafay. A mind control spell? Then why would she oppose him? Blackmail, perhaps? What could he possibly have that would influence her so? His brow furrowed all the deeper at the wave of questions pouring through his mind.
Grakkar, inversely, felt no confusion at all. Only determination. He shrugged Sinafay off, seemingly deaf to her pleas for him to back off, and stepped forward. The initial intimidation began to wane, as his adrenaline increased. A true challenge! A towering Draenei to oppose, to fight and kill - all for Sinafay! This was the stuff of Orcish legends!
“Vindicator Argonas!” he called him out. “I challenge you to mak’gora! A duel to the death! Muster what honor you have to meet this challenge, or flee with your tail between your legs like a cowardly, sniveling pup!”
Argonas scoffed! He knew of the Orcish tradition of mak’gora. An uncivilized and brutish practice, from all he’d heard about it. He didn’t know why this Orc was challenging him to such a thing. He was definitely not an Orc! He glanced once more to Sinafay, hoping for any manner of clarification… but all he could read was that odd panic in her expression. She shook her head, wanted him to run… to defer to this Orc for whatever reason. Grakkar didn’t look like much to Argonas. Strong, sure. But aged. Then again, few Orcs reached such a stage of life without good reason.
Did she really think this Orc was a threat to him?
He shook his head - that didn’t matter. Clearly she was in duress of some kind. Whatever it was this Orc was lording over her, he couldn’t abide it a moment longer!
“Hmph! You chose your opponent poorly this day, you filthy Orc!” he shouted back. “Come forth and be judged by the Light!”
Sinafay closed her eyes, and her shoulders slumped; defeated. She could see she couldn’t stop this now. Without another word from anyone - not counting battle cries and aggressive shouts - Grakkar and Argonas charged at one another!
Argonas’ hoofsteps echoed loudly and sharply as they struck the stone beneath them, each leaving behind a crescent of burning Light in their wake. The Light itself propelled him forth towards his foe! Grakkar didn’t slow a bit - his steps much softer than Argonas’, but no less nimble! He dipped his shoulder low to take the Vindicator down on impact! Instead, the Draenei turned at the last second to meet the Orc’s collision. The two slammed together, both grunting. Grakkar was much more solid than Argonas had expected… but not by much! He reached out to grab the Orc’s shoulder, reeling back his fist to deliver a punch!
CRACK!
The blow landed unexpectedly, square to Grakkar’s face. He stumbled back… as far as he could still being held by the shoulder. Argonas didn’t relent, either - immediately he reeled his arm back to throw another punch. Grakkar snapped back to quickly enough to bring his own arms up across one another to meet the would-be blow before his face took any more punishment. It was like being smashed in the face with a rock - nothing he was in any hurry to feel again! As he blocked the second punch, his hands turned quickly to grip the Vindicator’s arm. He tugged it firmly, bringing his knee up to slam into Argonas’ gut as a retaliation! He would’ve landed it too, if Draenei didn’t have tails! He cursed under his breath - he should’ve expected it, given all his time ‘familiarizing’ himself with Sinafay’s Draenic anatomy… Argonas’ tail swung in between Grakkar’s knee and his abdomen, slowing and buffering the blow to little more than a nudge. The Draenei scoffed, ripping his arm from Grakkar’s grip and dropping an elbow to smash the Orc a second time.
“--Oof!” Grakkar yelped, staggering back again.
The stagger went further than planned, as Argonas not only released his grip, but shoved the Orc away from him. He snarled.
“Pathetic!” he boasted! “You seem to know me, Orc! Not well enough to realize you are grossly outmatched! Too bad, for you!”
Grakkar stabilized, keeping upright despite the beating he’d taken. He wiped the blood from his lips and nose using his forearm, furious gaze keeping affixed to Argonas. He growled, baring his teeth like a rabid wolf.
“I know you well enough, alright.” he spit a glob of blood from his mouth. “A warrior, dedicated to protecting his people. Admirable… admirable enough to catch the interest and affections of my beloved Sinafay.”
“Grakkar! ENOUGH!” Sinafay screamed from the sidelines, hands balled into fists.
Argonas’ prideful grin vanished in an instant - did he say ‘beloved’? His luminous eyes shot wide, in more confusion… and horror. He looked to Sinafay again, praying silently this was some manner of joke, or that perhaps he’d misheard. This encounter grew more and more strange by the second.
“And yet you reward her friendship with betrayal!” Grakkar continued, snarling. “She sought comfort with you. And you repaid her with an unwanted burden! Your baby!”
He pointed back - vaguely - at where Sinafay stood, emphasizing his point as he berated Argonas. He was getting worked up further - adrenaline pumping through his veins quickly and aggressively. The taste of blood in his mouth fueled it further… and calling Argonas out on taking more than he was offered drove it to a raging peak. He let loose a roar that shook the cavern, before charging for Argonas once more!
Argonas scoffed - he readied himself once more for the impact of Grakkar slamming into him as before. At least, what minor impact it was. Stronger than expected, certainly. But Argonas was unmoved before… and expected he’d be unmoved again. But such pride comes before the fall; As Argonas braced himself for the collision, Grakkar threw his shoulder back, and his legs forward. He shifted into a slide, iron-trimmed boots clashing into Argonas’ forward shin and knee joint with a sickening sound! Argonas toppled forward, still poised to resist ahead on impact. He howled in pain; there was no way that cracking sound wasn’t his bone breaking from the force of the blow!
Grakkar kept set on the Vindicator, rolling over and hopping up nimbly while Argonas writhed. He leapt up, and dropped in on his prey, driving an elbow into the Draenei’s back. He straddled his target, gripping his head to slam his face into the stone ground. Once. Twice. Three times, each leaving Argonas’ face more bloodied than the last. Argonas reached back to try and take hold of the Orc and throw him off - to no avail. He took a fourth and fifth face slam as Grakkar continued his assault!
Sinafay began to pace as she watched the fight intensely. She wanted to interfere, wanted to stop this senseless battle. But the two warriors were locked in, and she knew she wouldn’t be forgiven if she were to interfere. Tears of frustration stung her eyes. Despite being the one they were fighting over, she’d never felt more invisible!
Finally, Argonas brought his arms beneath him, and thrusted upwards. He half-spun mid-air to bring himself over Grakkar, who held tightly to the Draenei - a poor choice. Grakkar was stunned, sandwiched between Argonas’ muscular back and the cold unforgiving ground. He held firm, throwing an arm around the Vindicator’s front. His forearm tucked up against Argonas’ throat. He tugged hard, gripping his wrist with his free hand to pull even harder in an attempt to choke out his opponent!
Argonas’ luminous eyes began to roll back, light within them dimming as the Orc strained beneath him. He could feel the oxygen deprivation causing his mind to slow. Vision blurred, heart rate skyrocketing. He tugged at the Orc’s arm to try and pry it free from his neck, to no avail. His tail writhed, legs flailing - the latter was met with excruciating pain as he made the break in his joint worse with every kick. That sharp pain was so stark and sobering, it kept him from going out completely, at least. Much to Grakkar’s dismay. He should’ve passed out by now! It wasn’t easy to strain keeping the stranglehold while resisting being crushed beneath the flailing Draenei. Ancestors, he was dense! If he didn’t know any better, Grakkar would think he was made of stone!
“STOP!”
This looked like the end! Sinafay took a few running steps in-- but then stopped as Argonas threw his head forward - then back - slamming the back of his head into Grakkar’s face! The Orc’s grip loosened, as Argonas flung himself over and off of him. The Vindicator gasped, drawing in air after what felt like hours. Grakkar held his face, stemming the blood which now poured out of his nose. He sat up quickly to keep from drowning in his own nosebleed. It resulted in a brief pause in the fighting, while the two recuperated. But the pause didn’t last long.
Grakkar rose to go after Argonas once more - opening by throwing a handful of loose rocks in the Vindicator’s eyes! Blinded for the moment, Argonas could do little to resist as Grakkar gripped his crest and slammed his knee into the Draenei’s face. A second landed as well, before Argonas reached forth to take hold of the Orc’s leg to intercept the third attempt. Still unable to see, however, it was all he could to do throw the Orc off of him. Grakkar stumbled back, but kept his footing. Argonas took the moment to stand - as well as he could, leg damaged as it was. He wrapped his tail tightly about his knee joint to keep pressure on the fracture, enabling him to stand for the moment. He glared at Grakkar… runic scars on his body illuminating.
“--Hmph!” Grakkar scoffed! “Further proof of your lack of honor! You call on your Light powers to help you win this mak’gora? Pathetic!”
“I could not care less for your barbaric customs, Orc!” Argonas shot back - the runes on his body fading nonetheless. “But I need not waste the Naaru’s gift in defeating you!”
The Orc let out another roar, before rushing at Argonas again. He threw a punch as soon as he came close enough, slamming his fist into the Draenei’s chest. Argonas retaliated with a hook of his own, smashing into Grakkar’s side. They traded blows, one after the other in an impromptu boxing match. It was a series of body blows, with an occasional swing at the face. Most of them were dodged or blocked, once the two combatants began to read one another’s moves better. Finally, Argonas clipped Grakkar’s jaw, sending him staggering back once more. The Draenei pressed, diving into the Orc to tackle him to the ground… and pin him.
The Orc continued swinging, throwing closed fists into Argonas’ sides to try and pummel the Draenei off from atop him. He hit a few against the Draenei’s injured leg, making Argonas howl in agony every time. But enough was enough. The Vindicator would end this now. One hand gripped the Orc’s throat tightly, the other clutching the side of Grakkar’s head. He slammed Grakkar’s head back, snarling.
“Go meet your ancestors, Orc filth! And tell them who sent you!”
Argonas’ hands clenched tighter - crushing Grakkar’s throat closed, as a thumb gouged into his eye. Grakkar couldn’t even scream with his windpipe closed off, despite the agonizing pain shooting through his body! He clawed at Argonas, fingernails scraping lightly - harmlessly - along Argonas’ arms and sides. Heels shuffled against the cold ground as he kicked helplessly.
“--S-S-Sina…” he managed to wheeze, with what should’ve been his final breath.
“NO!”
A blinding flash of Light shot out and struck Argonas in the shoulder, knocking him clear off of Grakkar. Sinafay ran in as Grakkar coughed, wheezing as he drew air back into his lungs. She placed herself between the two, wrapping her arms protectively around the Orc. Light still danced around her form, further stimulated by her tempestuous emotions.
“He saved my life,” she finally explained, “He rescued me from Draenor!”
She turned her head to look at Argonas, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks.
“The fight is over… you’ve won,” she managed, “But I won’t let you kill him.”
Argonas stared in awe - shocked, and further confounded by everything that had happened. He had won… he thought. The fight should’ve ended with the satisfying crunch of another Orc’s skull in his hands… and instead it ended with Sinafay - his friend, his confidant - cradling the filthy creature like a child!
His mind raced, questions upon questions flooding his thoughts - too many to speak at once. So many, the pain in his leg was forgotten for the moment. Just as well; he made no effort to stand. Instead, he simply stared. Hurt, confused, angry. The pieces slowly began to fall into place, once by one, as this bizarre and frustrating exchange played out again in his mind’s eye. “He saved my life…” “my beloved Sinafay…” It was too terrible to believe, yet nothing spoke contrary to it.
“N-No…” Grakkar wheezed, finally catching his breath.
His eye was bruised, swollen shut. His neck, too, had already started to swell. Coughing was hoarse and violent, but he managed to sit up. His arm wrapped around Sinafay, holding her for support. He shook his head, frowning deeply.
“He… has to finish it.” he whispered. “The mak’gora… does not end until one of us is dead.”
“To the Nether with your backwards customs!” Argonas shouted, seething in anger - it was easier to lash out at the Orc than Sinafay for now, it seemed. “Be grateful she stopped me when she did, lest I would have uglied you up beyond what even another Orc would recognize!”
He spit derisively, a globule of blue blood. Disgusted. Disgusted with this Orc, this situation… and Sinafay, too. He wore it on his face, visible well enough even beneath the bruising and discoloration. With a strained grunt, he brought his legs back underneath him, hurriedly standing. A groan as pressure set on his busted leg. Wrapping his tail around the joint as before staved off some of it, bracing it to operate semi-functionally. But even that hurt less than this devastating revelation.
“Tell me I am mistaken, Sinafay.” he huffed, allotting a final chance - a hope - he was reading this all entirely wrong. “Tell me this is not your lover. Your Orcish lover!”
She was silent for a moment. Only the words were missing, really; the way she looked at Grakkar, the way her hand cupped the side of his bruised and bloodied face, the way her tail curved in around him. There was nothing platonic about it.
Sinafay had feared this moment. Dreaded it, even. She looked at Argonas, his disgust conveying exactly the reaction she’d expected. In a way, she felt justified, knowing he would have never understood, even if she had told him from the beginning. But in another, she was disappointed and hurt. Part of her had hoped… foolishly, that he’d be able to accept the fact that things happened differently in her timeline.
“We’ve been mates for years on Draenor,” she admitted, “And we still are.”
Despite Argonas’ obvious disgust and anger at her, she spoke the words clearly, unapologetic. He’d already figured it out. There was nothing left to hide. She met his gaze steadily.
“I love him.”
It wasn’t nearly as shocking for him to hear as Argonas expected. Then again, he knew it was true. He had expected those words to pour forth from her mouth, now that he’d come to learn it all for himself. He glanced between her and the Orc - the disgusting creature that had somehow earned her love - with a gnarled, furrowed brow.
“... So be it.”
There was little else to say. Little else to do. Carefully he turned, and began to pace away. He winced audibly with every step of his broken leg, clearly favoring it as he left the two behind him. He didn’t bother looking back.
Grakkar coughed again, violent and coarse, as he clutched Sinafay. He, too, frowned, as he peered at Argonas through his remaining good eye. He shook his head.
“Th-The… mak’gora…” he wheezed.
It was far too late for that, now. He collapsed back in resignation, turning his eye to Sinafay.
“I’m… sorry.”
“Idiot.”
Sinafay sighed, turning her full attention to Grakkar now that Argonas has left. There had been no point in calling to him. She brought a hand through his hair, the Light energy that surrounded her dying down considerably as she calmed down.
“It is what it is,” she said, “But you get to let me heal you for that one.”
Despite his hatred towards the Light, he was in terrible shape. She kept one arm around him as the other began to glow. She started over his throat, to ease the worst of the damage Argonas’ hand had caused, then helped the swelling around his eye.
“I know I should not have interrupted,” she admitted as she began scanning his body for further damage, “But I refuse to live in a world that you are not part of. You are not allowed to die. Not like this.”
Grakkar’s frown softened. Due in part to the swelling reducing as the Light Sinafay channeled through him soothed his bruises. But also at her words; he knew the sentiment well. He’d felt it before, when he was first whisked away to Azeroth, leaving her behind. Living here meant nothing without her at his side. His hand reached up atop hers, despite how it glowed with the Light. He didn’t care. That didn’t matter now. Only she did.
“You broke tradition to save me before.” he smiled, lightly. “I can break it now, to stay with you.”
“I do not need tradition. All I need is you.”
She rested her crest gently against his forehead, closing her eyes as her hand hovered over his rib cage. There were a number of broken ribs due to the crushing treatment he’d received. Her Light mending couldn’t heal him completely, but it served well to accelerate the progress and dull the worst of the pain. Overall, she expected Grakkar would recover well enough. Her channeling finally ceased, and she allowed herself to relax.
Sinafay was sad about Argonas. She had never meant for him to be hurt, and she feared losing his friendship completely over this. Telling him earlier would have been preferable, but with the faction war only now coming to an end, exposing her relationship with Grakkar was a risk she hadn’t been able to take.
She looked over her shoulder, where the Vindicator had limped off, wishing she’d had a chance to mend his wounds as well. The baby stirred in her belly, a reminder that she still carried his child. She’d have to go check on him later, once he’d had a bit of time to process and brood. Hopefully, he’d be receptive, despite all this.
For now, though, Sinafay turned her full attention to Grakkar.
“The Vale is beautiful. I cannot think of a better place for you to recover. Once you are well, we will begin looking for a place to live together, yes?”
Despite the dramatic and upsetting altercation, she couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of excitement. After all the years of waiting and suffering, they could finally openly be together.
She tilted her head and pressed her lips to his.
“I love you.”
“I know,” he whispered, smiling. “And I love you too.”
It wasn’t the start he’d envisioned for their vacation to Pandaria together… but he definitely needed some rest and relaxation now.
I followed along with this tutorial and painted a quick scene of the Kun-Lai mountains for my guild’s backstory RP! Starting in grayscale actually does help. I’m not proud of the sky here, but that takes some more learning...
A Child of Xuen is a Pandaren born and raised in the cold and harsh mountains of Kun-Lai. They are larger and fluffier than other Pandaren. They usually have long, fluffy tails, even the males. A lot of them find the most comfort in Xuen then the other Celestials and they more often than not become Shado-Pan because they are already accustomed to overcoming hardships.
