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.
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.”
