Deception (a World of Warcraft Fanfic)

Reunion

(Anduin)

In the years I had studied the light with the Draenei, I had learned patience was of the essence. A skill I was born with, I was often cool and collected, no matter how long the wait may be. But this!

How dare she keep a prince waiting like this? It has been about three weeks, assuming I hadn't lost track of days, and not a word from her. "I'll be back soon." Ha! Soon... she humors me!

The days were slow and long. After the sha takeover at the temple, the remaining disciplines and I were forced to Crane Wing Refuge, where I had spent most of my time while Sarah was away.

She sure would be useful right now. She would be coming back in from a hunt right now, something to cook slung over her shoulder. She would toss her chestnut locks out of her face and her green eyes would glimmer in the sunset as she cracked some wise remark.

But she wasn't here, so here I sat, alone, helping with dinner. I could hear her now, reminding me of how I jumped over a little snake, and now sat here, chopping up serpents.

The disciplines would not harm any of the surrounding animals, especially the sacred cranes that wandered about. The only meat we were aloud to eat came from whatever unwary animal thought it could prove itself superior to us. In the past days, only serpents dared to attack the refuge, so that is what we ate.

I looked rugged, like a cutpurse hanging outside of Stormwind, waiting for an unwary traveler. My apparel was ripped and dirt caked, with blood stains all over my sleeve. Sweat dropped from my furrowed brow. I remember how Jaina had always told me not to make such pouty faces, or I might just get stuck like that. We used to joke about it happening to my father, but now, I was well on the road to his menacing permafrown.

I heard a rustling in the bushes and whipped around, knife in hand. Mogu were out here, and this would not be their fist assault.

Though my time was short in the temple, I did learn much about the stone creatures. Created by the titians, they were the ones who rose to kill the old god Ya'shaarj. They later were afflicted by the curse of flesh, causing them to lose what mad them use their powers for what was right. Lead by the thunder king, they took over Pandaria and enslaved it's people. But, like all who lead with violence, their rein came to an end.

I could only hope my nerves did not show on the outside. I held the knife like I had seen my father hold his sword, hoping looks enough would scare off whatever stalked me.

A shadowy figure charged at me, nearly knocked me over. I whipped around to see a large, black cat sinking it's teeth into one of the serpents, who I just now noticed was still alive. It could have bit me...

The cat lifted her head and looked straight into my eyes, she lit up in remembrance. She was clearly tamed, considering she had not made dinner out of me yet.

Wait, I know this huntress. Now, where is the master of the beast?

An arrow hummed the answer.

"Funny, thought you preferred arcane."

"Yeah, but arrows are for show, occasions."

"That's nice." I replied coldly, returning to my pile of serpents.

She stood there for a moment, taken aback by my reaction. After a period of silence she sat at my side. I reached into my boot and handed her her skinning knife. She shrugged and began to help me.

"Are you mad?"

I sighed turning my back to her. Not even an apology, had she not seen the temple, taken over by the sha of despair?