#tasezak

[tasezak]

Three little words

“Where ya goin’?”

[tasezak]

three little words

“Go fuck yerself.”

[tasezak]

Leaning back from the writing desk where she worked in their third floor rooms of the great hall, the trolless stretched, flexing out her fingers and cracking her neck by tilting her head from side to side.  Though Cael and Palehorn mostly dealt with the people these days, she still kept up with as much of the paperwork as possible.  She’d just signed an agreement to allow another merchant to open a stall in the market at the center of the compound, and the last on the stack of work she’d assigned herself for the day.

Before she completed her stretching, or even got a moment to relax, one ear perked - catching that slight intake of breath from the bassinet beside her.  Moving swiftly, the trolless scooped up the little bundle inside before he could start crying for attention, cradling him in the crook of her arm and cooing down at the child.  “Little” was only in comparison to her own size, for though he’d been born early - Teso’dah was growing like a weed.  Part of his genetic structure, she assumed, and certainly not from her side.

“Yes, just like your father, aren’t you?”  She tickled his stomach lightly with a finger, getting the baby to squirm a little and make small gurgling sounds.  “Hungry?  Or did you just want attention, mm?”  As soon as she said the word hungry, there was a rustle of sound and a clacking of many claws on wood.  The wolves that lived with them suddenly had her surrounded, heads tilted up with the most attentive faces.

She laughed, and shook her head lightly.  “You lot.  You know your dinner isn’t for awhile yet.”  She glanced out to the double doors leading to the balcony to check the light to see if she was correct.  “Sorry, your dinner is soon - I got caught up.  I’ll feed you after I get this one settled.”

Setting Teso down in the bassinet once more, she watched for a moment as he wiggled until he could cuddle against the toy wolf nestled in with him.  Once she was sure he was comfortable and content for the time being, the trolless padded to the kitchen, pulling out the fresh meat from the chilled box to prepare supper for the canines, removing the smaller bones to prevent choking.

As she worked, she hummed, smiling softly to herself.  If you had asked her a little over a year ago if she’d ever thought she’d be away from the front lines of a war - she would’ve laughed and asked if you were crazy.  Conflict had been her life, her reason to get up in the morning.  Now, now however, she could never imagine going back.  With a mate who adored her, a child to dote upon and a thriving trade business, she had no reason to thirst for blood and battle any longer.

[tasezak]

One eye slitted open and took in the light of the room, blearily judging the time of day before she felt a nudge against her back.  A shadow crossed into the dim light of the moon filtering in through the windows and mumbled words came to her ear.  Not that she understood them, but she guessed the meaning.  

“’m awake...”  Wriggling out from under the sheet and that looming shadow, she stumbled over to the small woven basket near the bed.  Inside was what woke the trolless before she even realized how she’d been awoken.  For being born three months too soon, at least according to everyone’s estimations, the newborn male had a healthy set of lungs on him.

It’d been an exhaustive two and a half days thus far, the birth being the worst - startled into it by trying to protect herself from a pride of raptors trying to protect their own young.  She’d tried to stop it, but the contractions had kept coming...and the babe, her son, had simply been too large bodied for her small frame to deliver naturally even early.  At least he appeared to have gotten most of his genetic traits from his father.

Reaching in, she pulled the writhing little pinkish bundle into her arms, cradling his head and baring a breast.  Feeding time.  He hunted around for a moment, the flopped over ears wiggling as his jaw moved, and finally latched on.  Tasezak settled into the large rocking chair that had been placed near the bassinet for just such an occasion and breathed out a small sigh of relief.

“Just how long is it going to be before those are mine again?”  The growling grumble came from the bed, though she could catch the threads of pride running in it, even with sleep deprivation.  She didn’t even bother to look to the elf who’d moved onto her side to watch, propping his head up on his hand.

“As long as it takes, hunter.  Go back to sleep.  I’ll be back soon.”

Rather than follow orders, Caeluith slid out of the bed - his bare feet padding softly on the wooden floor and slid in behind the rocker to set it gently swaying, peering down at mate and son.  A large, scarred and calloused hand came down to gently stroke one of the floppy ears and she could hear the wonder in his voice even still.

“You, are going to be a selfish little thing, aren’t you Teso’dah?  Stealing your mother away from me like this.”  He chuckled, low and deep, and bent to kiss the trolless’s mussed hair.  “I supposed I can share for now.”

@thewardensquiver, @aidenrasvanae (because you would kill me if I didn’t let you know)

[tasezak]

A warm sea breeze, scented with salt, blew in through the open doors to the balcony, stirring the trolless from sleep.  Just the day before, leaving the window open would have plummeted the temperature to fatal freezing levels.  Now, however, they had finally completed the move.  Months in planning and work, more money than she wanted to even comprehend, and a lasting contract that would eat into their profits by way of paying for the privilege to live and do business on the land.

But it was worth it.

With some maneuvering, she managed to haul herself out of the bed... and carefully steadied herself to not resort to waddling towards the double doors.  The hunter had already been up and awake for awhile, the scents of eggs and bacon drifting in from the kitchen.  Her smaller frame was doling out the punishment due to the size of the child growing within, and made her anxious for the birth - still months away.  

On the balcony, a small wooden table with two chairs sat, overlooking the new outpost for the Blood Hearth trading company.  Rohk, the grey striped tabby, lounged on the stone floor sunning himself while her husband sat sprawled in one of the chairs, enjoying the view from the tower that housed their home.  The elf caught sight of his mate and smiled, beckoning her to the table and starting to pile up a plate.

Easing herself into the chair, she stared out towards the ocean in the mid-morning haze of Stranglethorn Vale for a brief moment, then turned a warm smile upon her husband as he set the plate in front of her.  Four hungry wolves seeking scraps crowded out onto the balcony as well, sticking their noses in the trolless’s lap and giving her big eyes.  She gently pushed them away with a chuckle.

“Patience paid off, did it?”  Cael had a smug, satisfied look upon his face across the table from her.  The outpost began to come to life below, voices ringing out as merchants opened their small shops for business.  “You haven’t even seen all of it and you’re already purring.  I can hear you from here.”

“Giving you design decisions over our home was probably one of the best choices I ever made.  It’s perfect.”  Occupying the entire top floor of the tower that served as the new great hall, they would have plenty of room for themselves and their growing family.  The elf had remembered how she had decorated their apartment in Silvermoon, and took elements from it to create their new home.  The trolless cocked her head.  “Are you sure you’re not going to miss it though?”

He knew immediately what she spoke of, the war - the constant conflict.  He had been fierce in his role as Field Commander over the forces they’d employed in the name of the Horde and to protect their assets.  She worried that now, in a more peaceful region, he’d grow bored.  He shook his head and chuckled lightly.

Reaching across the table, he took her hands and squeezed them lightly, smiling and staring into her eyes. “No, riva’dim.  I won’t miss it.  Today starts a new chapter for us, for our family...in all senses of the term.”

[tasezak]

What if Tase woke up and found herself handcuffed to Aiden, how would she react? :P

It was one of those rare times these days that Caeluith wasn’t lingering close to the trolless, out on a mission in the waters of the bay to help train with the naval troops of the Hearth.  The hunter was due to be gone at sea for several days, and the little scum sucking weasel beside her must have figured it out.  At least, that’s what she surmised later.

As she woke, it wasn’t her vision that came to light first, eyes still closed.  No, it was the odd scent in her bed.  Something akin to musty clothing and nightshade.  Definitely not right.  She cracked her eyes open slowly, feeling a presence beside her by the way the bed dipped.  There was a faint smirk that seemed permanently etched in the male’s face as he caught her stirring.

“Good morning Tase....-y.”  He held a heartbeat before adding the “e” to the end of her name.  “You seem to sleep like a log!”

Her ears flicked back and she went to move, but felt an odd pressure at her wrist.  Eyes flicking down, she noticed the restraint locking their wrists together.  It was snug enough and made of metal, so shifting would likely only cause her harm.  Instead, she made a small growling sound through clenched teeth and not a moment later, there was a large white wolf on the bed, straddling Aiden and snarling down at him, spittle flying in his face.

“Key, o’ lose yer abilitah ta breat’, Aiden.”  

There was a pout from the rogue, and he swiftly held out a key from under the mass of white fur, fangs and muscles.  “You’re no fun when you first wake up.”

“Damned straigh’ I no’ be, especiallah when I be wakin’ up ta a shadah bastard like yahself in mah bed.”  She plucked the key from his fingers and unlocked the metal cuff about her wrist.  “Now ge’ ou’, afore I let Silvahbol’ ‘ave ya fer breakfast.”

The rogue faded from sight right out from under the wolf, but reappeared in the doorway with another pout.  “I am not shady!”

[tasezak]

The trolless paced in front of the large window over looking the Hearth’s grounds, the snow still coming down hard.  It hadn’t stopped for days now, on and off and the people were having a rough time trudging through it now.  She’d have to have a word with one of the shaman to see if they could get the weather to take a break long enough to clear some paths.  

The pack that had nestled down in front of the blazing hearth in a large canine pile of fur watched her closely, having taken over the job of being bodyguards when the hunter wasn’t around.  Tufted ears perked when she paused and leaned against the window sill, tilting her head though she knew she was unable to see the harbor down beneath the cliffs.  She’d spent most of her days there, overseeing the ships being loaded and sent off with supplies and whatever bodies they could afford to spare.  

Too much time, it seemed.  Even the steaming bath she’d taken a little while before her pacing had failed to chase the chill from her bones.  Jungle trolls just weren’t cut out for prolonged exposure to cold environments like this, but she suffered through.  While not fully active in the war, the Hearth was still expected to provide what they could at the drop of a hat.  She’d tried arguing with the Warchief’s messenger, but failed to even budge the man.

Times had changed drastically in such a short span for the trolless.  She moved back from the window and eased off the pelt she’d grabbed from the bed to cover herself with, looking down at her growing belly.  If she had realized just how much her life would be turned on it’s head by the addition of the child, she may have waited...or tried to figure a way to explain to the hunter she wasn’t a fragile thing now.  Perhaps beating it into his skull repeatedly might work.

Teal tinted ears pinned back, running a hand over her slightly distended belly.  To anyone who wasn’t aware, it would only look as if she started to put on some weight.  But as soon as Caeluith has begun to notice, he’d begun to avoid any true intimate moments between them.  She could physically feel his growing tension and anxiety, pricking along her skin as if someone was sticking her with a thousand tiny needles.  

By nature of their odd relationship, she’d finally relented in her territorial nature and given the hunter a free pass.  He’d more than earned it after letting her indulge repeatedly.  It didn’t mean she didn’t worry and wonder in the irrational, overly emotional portion of her mind if he would return to her or find something...better at the brothel on the grounds aptly named Sin’s Corner.  Which is why she returned to the window after pulling the pelt about her again, staring down at the path that led back into the cave systems where the grotto and the Corner were located.

She would watch the path all evening, until she finally saw his form coming home.  Then she would climb into the bed, curl up and pretend to be mostly asleep, to avoid his worried expression or giving him any sort of guilty conscience.  The rational part of her mind was making angry sounds, but she pushed it away, the emotional side overwhelming it.  When he came home, she’d pretend to wake, pretend everything was fine, smile at him..and hope he couldn’t see through the lies.

[tasezak]

Another sleepless night, another day filled with frustration, coming to a close as the sun began to set in the early evenings of Frostfire Ridge.  Not that the druid saw the sun set, closed up in her little alcove set into the quietest corner of the Great Hall.  Not a single one of her usual contacts had been able to assist in gathering the needed items to create a cure for the concoction Nightsworn had inflicted upon Caeluith.  Ears wilted, the trolless slumped in the chair, resting an arm over her slowly swelling stomach.

Staring down at the gentle bulge, she drummed her finger tips lightly against the cloth of the heavy robe she wore to ward off the chill, right on top of it, hoping irrationally to see some sign of life beyond the extra weight, yet knowing it was far too soon.  At least, if she had felt something besides ill...there would have been some validation to the past few days.

“Nothing hmm?”  A heavy sigh followed the murmured question, head falling back against the high back of the chair.  “Didn’t think so.”

Not for the first time, she pondered on the wisdom of staying, of keeping the business going.  True, they were at least turning profits, but the attacks from both Iron Horde and the Nightsworn company were taking their toll, at least upon the upper echelons.  The elite guard moved uneasily, as if expecting to be ambushed within their own walls at any moment.  It wasn’t without justification, of course, as hearing rumors of their Operational Commander having just that happen to him filled their ears in muttered conversations passed in between patrolling men.

Ears pinning back, the trolless scolded herself.  Many now depended upon this place for their livelihoods.  Sulking about because of some...aggressive competition was going to do her, nor them any favors.  Shifting to the left, the hand that had rested on her stomach slid into the pouch at her hip, removing the ingredient list and instructions for brewing the cure, copied down from the tome where she and Siet’sul had found it.  With it, however, tumbled out an earring, a blood red stone set in tarnished silver.  She frowned, and dug the piece of jewelry out before it could get stuck in the cushion of the chair.

It had been such a casual thing to be handed a communication device from the pirate, enabling her to contact the nebulous entity known as the Lotus at will.  All she’d ever heard or seen pointed to a darker mentality, even from those members she considered friends.  Turning it over in her fingers and letting the earring fall to her palm, her tongue flicked anxiously against the back of her left tusk.  Promises to him, promises to their unborn child...to try to stay on the lighter shades of the moral spectrum had her hesitating.

An irritated growl from her own throat threw that all out the window.  First, she would make whatever deals needed to be made to cure her lok’dim before the short term remedy she had set in place ran out.  Then, she would bring down hell upon Nightsworn.