Grit still burned her eyes and the acrid smell of smoke lingered in Ithrene’s clothing and armor. Wearily she ambled from the gryphon master to her small apartment in Dwarven District. She’d spent the last several days working in the Searing Gorge and felt every ache, burn and bruise as she moved. KaeAskavi seemed as tired as she and dragged along beside her, his head hung low as he walked. At the moment she wanted nothing more than a long, hot soak at the bathhouse and an even longer nap. She felt like she could sleep for days. She patted Kae and watched puffs of soot come out of his once white fur and shook her head. He needed a bath too. And a good brushing. Patting her pouch and feeling the extra coin she’d earned while in the gorge she decided to pay the stable to handle it. Kae deserved some extra pampering and they would do an excellent job.

She thumped up the stairs to her second story room anxious to drop off her small pack and pick up her towel and a change of clothing. She stepped in to find a red haired dwarven woman turn away from the window and rake her with her gaze.

“Well woul’ ye look wha’ th’ cat dragged in.” The woman crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “Ye look like ‘ell.”

Ithrene felt her face burn and her hands begin to shake. “Wha’ are YE doin’ ‘ere. In my room!”

The woman looked around and wrinkled her nose. “So is tha’ wha’ ye call it? Looks like a slum t’ me. Y’r lucky ye ain’ got fleas from it yet.”

Ithrene grit her teeth and clenched her hands. She absolutely refused to admit to her sister that this place was all she could afford at the time. “Say y’r piece, Arlene then be on y’r way. Ah got thin’s t’ do.”

Arlene sighed dramatically giving the room one last slashing look. “Pap sent me t’ check on ye. Nobody ‘cept Evelene ‘as ‘eard from ye an’ Evvie said th’ las’ time she saw ye, ye showt up on ‘er stoop black an’ blue.”

“Well ye c’n see Ah’m fine,” she planted her hands on her hips and squared her feet as if preparing for a fight. She felt like she was, which was a familiar feeling when she conversed with her older sister. “Ye c’n go back an’ report an’ leave me be.”

“Fine? Oh, aye. Y’r fine a’righ’. Livin’ inna fleabag, comin’ in scorched an’ smellin’ o’ Dark Irons, an’ tumblin’ onto y’r sister’s stoop black an’ blue an’ barely able t’ stan’. Aye, y’r fine, Ah’m sure! Ah though’ tha’ mongrel there was goin’ t’ be some sort o’ guard.” She waved a dismissive hand at KaeAskavi who stood just outside the doorway fidgeting.

“Kae’s no mongrel!” Ithrene advanced on Arlene, fists clenched at her sides. “An’ ye go’ no righ’ comin’ in here an’ insultin’ ‘im like tha’!”

Arlene stared at her a moment wide-eyed before putting up her hands. “Y’r righ’. Ah’m sorry. Ah shoulna’ said tha’. Ah’m sure ‘e’s a good bear.”

Ithrene sighed, still shaking but her anger quickly turning to shame and frustration. “Ye knoo’ how Ah’m doin’ now. Ye bes’ go.”

“Nae wit’oot ye.” Arlene picked up a pack from the floor and stomped toward the door. Ithrene heard her armor jingling beneath her tabard. “Ah promised pap Ah’d make sure ye were takin’ care o’ an’ Ah’d rather face y’r wrath than Pap’s! C’mon.”

“Wha’ ye mean ‘c’mon’,” Ithrene snarled as Arlene pushed her way out the door and past Kae. “This is m’ room an’ ah’m goin’ t’ go get a bath an’ take me a nap!”

Arlene laughed, her hearty voice carrying back through the open doorway. “Ain’ y’r room nae more. Pap sen’ coin an’ Ah used it t’ get us a decent place oot’ in Canal Distric’. Room f’r both o’ us an’ y’r bear. Ah already had y’r stuff moved.”

The sound of her heavy boots clomping down the rickety stairs sounded so final to Ithrene. She felt her heart sink as will deflated and she meekly followed her older sister out of the building. Kae sensing his mistress’ mood plodded as close to her as he could, rumbling comforting sounds. All she ever wanted was her own life. She thought she had achieved that finally and now, once more, her eldest sister was dragging her around by the ear telling her what to do. She sighed. It seemed some things couldn’t be gotten away from as easily as she thought.

(( I was going to save this until Monday but I spent so much time giggling over it myself I couldn’t wait. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did! -Nau

PS- click the pictures to see them full size! ))

Soot buildup on the warped and bubbled glass of the window couldn’t completely obscure the view of the Boomstick Tavern. Ithrene leaned against the window frame of the small room she rented in the Dwarven District of Stormwind watching the street and the pub idly. Traffic was light today and there was none coming in and out of the tavern this early. It would pick up later. The light from lanterns would shine out the windows into pools on the street, the sound of hearty laughter and music would creep from the building touching those within hearing distance. She was pretty sure she’d be able to hear it from her small room.

KaeAskavi, the huge white bear that followed her and was her closest companion, ambled over and leaned heavily against her. She absently dug her fingers into his ruff to scratch him. He growled in pleasure and let his eyes drift shut. The room seemed considerably smaller with both him and Cubby, Kae’s offspring, there but she wouldn’t make them sleep out in the street. It wasn’t right. And Cubby was still too young to understand danger. He might just amble off after the first weirdo he saw and she’d never see him again. She missed the big room she’d had at the manor but there were so few others there anymore. Many of the rooms had dust covers draped over the furniture, the windows shuttered and locked. It just seemed…. Abandoned. Sad. Even the Lady had left. Gone off to become a Warmage.

Perhaps that was part of what contributed to Ithrene’s loneliness lately. A home that used to bustle with friends and family, used to be filled with laughter and friendly voices, now just echoed. Some of the staff still remained and were friendly enough, but never seemed to warm up completely with those who fought. Their reverence always made Ithrene nervous though the Lady seemed to take it in stride.

Then she met the Boomsticks. She had known Fjuinen for some time already. And the sound of his voice always sent a curious little shiver down her spine. When he mentioned the Boomsticks tavern she thought that might be a good place to catch sight of him more often. Though she couldn’t bring herself to talk to him for very long. She always got so nervous and ended up rambling on about Kae.

But when she arrived that first time at the pub she realized quickly that she didn’t just feel comfortable among them, but welcome as well. They treated her with respect despite her youth and were quite friendly. She found herself returning less often to see Fjuinen and more just to enjoy the company of all of the Boomsticks. They even put up with Kae and his nasty bear odors.

Then something happened that completely knocked the wind out of her. She heard the Boomsticks were gathering someplace called Shadowmoon Valley. She had contacts in Shattrath City already through some creative work with a mage and knew it was on Draenor so she set out to join them. Not entirely sure she would be able to, due to her lack of experience. However she did manage to get close enough and when Fjuinen found out she was coming, rushed out to pick her up on his mammoth and carry her to Wildhammer Stronghold. Her heart still fluttered a little about that!

A few of the Boomsticks seemed surprised that she actually made it there in one piece and after seeing some of the things that wandered that dark, acrid valley, Ithrene was a bit surprised herself. However with a laugh, Corise handed her a mug when she arrived and said, “Gal your age willin’ to come all the way out to Shadowmoon Valley for the sake o’ boozin’ it up with us… ya got a standin’ invitation to the Boomsticks any time ya want, far’s I’m concerned.”

It was all she could do to keep from asking for a tabard right then and there. She spent the rest of the evening feeling like she was floating. Later as she thought about it she wondered how serious Corise had been though. After all Ithrene was young, unskilled and Corise had been drinking pretty heavily. But Ithrene clung to that feeling of belonging letting it warm her heart for days afterward.

Even after they invited her to listen in to their channel on the buzzbox, she began to doubt the sincerity of the offer. What would they want with her? She had nothing to offer. Maybe after they learned more about her or after she gained more skills and experience she could be one of them. Perhaps Corise just meant that she could apply when she had gained more skills. That made a great deal more sense to Ithrene.

Until Homrend firmly reiterated the same message over the buzzbox channel. The leader of the Boomsticks himself said that! She felt giddy all over. But still she wondered what she could offer. There were so many who were so much more skilled than she. So much stronger and tougher.

Of course she never let her lack of experience stand in the way of other things. That was precisely what happened the night she ended up stumbling to her sister’s doorstep looking for a place to sleep. During a gathering at the pub a box that had been left there was opened and found to contain a bloody and tattered Boomstick tabard. After some discussion and a determination of whom it belonged to, a group decided to head out to Light’s Hope Chapel to look for Salakayin. She immediately volunteered. She couldn’t, in good conscience, stand aside when one of the Boomsticks was in trouble.

Perhaps volunteering for such a mission hadn’t been the wisest thing she’d ever done. She didn’t fully understand half of what went on except that a Boomstick was hurt and some human female “paladin” seemed to be the cause. Though she’d never seen a human strong enough to toss around so many Boomsticks before. Foolishly (her Pap would say) Ithrene jumped into the fray and found herself thrown aside like nothing so much as a cheap rag doll. She liked to think she at least provided a distraction so someone else could take her down.

Unlikely, but a little daydreaming never hurt. However she had gotten pretty battered in the process. Her mail armor wasn’t up to that kind of beating. The healers had clucked and fussed at her when they found out the story and she’d growled at them until they let her leave after they bandaged up the worst of it. She should have known she would get the same treatment from her sister.

What shocked her most were Homrend’s parting words to her as she clutched her hearthstone to depart. “Lass, y’r now an honorary Boomstick f’r what ye done tonight.”

Ithrene wiped at moisture creeping from her eyes as she continued to stare out the window at the Boomstick Tavern. She could never tell him how much those words meant to her. These Boomsticks were becoming as important to her as family. Maybe she really did belong with them. Maybe it wasn’t all about what she could do for them, but how she fit with them. And how much she cared. She knew she would do anything for the Boomsticks. Maybe that’s all that was needed.

She smiled as she wrapped one arm around Kae and hugged his huge head close. He rumbled affectionately and nuzzled his mistress. “Ah thin’ Ah foun’ us a new family, Kae. Ah really thin’ Ah have.”

Ithrene woke to a cold nose on her neck and the sound of someone in the room. She carefully moved her hand to where her rifle should be and started when all she felt was the smooth cotton sheet. KaeAskavi huffed in curiosity sensing her sudden tension and she realized he wouldn’t be so calm if there was truly a threat to either of them.

“So y’r finally awake, eh?” She turned her aching head slowly to the sound of her sister’s voice as she approached the bed. Evelene shook her head and set a steaming mug on the table beside the bed. “Damned healer n’er shoul’ ha’ let ye leave th’ temple las’ nigh’. Ah’m still worried ‘bout tha’ lump on y’r noggin.”

Ithrene rubbed at her crusty eyes and slowly sat up, using the gesture to hide her grimace of pain. Normally she would stay in bed and rest off the beating she’d taken the day before but she didn’t really want her older sister fussing over her today. “Ah’m fine. T’weren’ tha’ bad, really.”

“Nae tha’ bad??!!” Evvie rounded on her and pointed an accusing finger at her. “Y’r eye is still swollen an’ y’r lucky ye din’ lose it! Ye coulnae har’ly stan’ when ye showed up a’ m’door an’ tha’ was AFTER they was done healin’ ye! An’ ye spen’ all nigh’ hollerin’ ‘bout demons an’ undead an’ th’ like, thrashin’ aboot in y’r sleep!”

With a shrug, Ithrene reached for the steaming mug and sipped at the soothing brew within. “Happens sometimes,” she muttered.

Evvie snorted. “Seems t’ be happenin’ t’ ye a lot lately.”

“Ye dun knoo’ wha’ its like oot’ there, Evvie,” she said after several moments and drinking down most of the brew. “There’s battles t’ be fough’ and folks t’ figh’ f’r an’ protect.”

“Ye dun thin’ Ah understan’ tha’?” She replied very quietly, her face drawing up angrily. “Ah unnerstan’ quite well. Me own Hamdel taugh’ me tha’ an’ Ah los’ ‘im t’ them same battles. Like Ah’m afraid Ah’m goin’ t’ lose ye. Ye take too many chances, Ith. Ye shoulda stayed at the temple. Learned wha—“

“Dun ye start!” Ithrene leapt to her feet so fast her head swam for a moment but her hand on Kae’s shoulder steadied her. “Ah din’ belon’ a’ th’ temple. Ah’m nae Arlene an’ will ne’er be! Ye shoul’ knoo’ better’n annaeone th’ need t’ fin’ y’r own place! Y’r a bloody ACCOUNTANT f’r Light’s sake! An’ Ah remember th’ ragin’ fit Pap had o’er tha’ so dun ye start tellin’ me wha’ Ah shoul’ha done!” She snatched up her cloak and stomped toward the door of Evvie’s small apartment in Stormwind. Kae followed close behind her, rumbling and growling in confusion and concern.

“Ith! Damn y’r eyes! Ah jes’ worry tha’ y’r bitin’ off more’n ye can chew! Ith!!”

Ithrene ignored her sister’s calls as she climbed onto the back of her ram, Billy and charged through the streets of Stormwind.

(This was originally supposed to post on July 7th but it got eated too.  -Nau)

One of my great joys on returning to game was to discover that the RPA channel was still alive and well on Alliance side. Since then there have been some great IC conversations going on there but so far this one has been the most spectacularly explosive. Sometimes a simple misunderstood phrase can lead to some hilarious interaction. Enjoy!  -Nau

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I found this tiny gem while going through my logs. While it was happening I was deep in whispers with three other people and missed it in game. I am truly remorseful that I missed reacting to it! Though after so long being gone, it is good to know Kyraine still has her stew bucket! -Nau

Kyraine rummages through her pack

Kyraine gets out the pot

Kyraine tosses in some Salted Yeti Cheese, Frost Lotus, Savory Snowplum

Kyraine adds some Magic Eater for good measure, and some Split Hoof

Kyraine grabs a bowl, sits down on the dead Nerubian, and starts eating

So this is another ficlet response to Too Many Annas’ ficlet challenge. After writing about Megaly, Gentlewind told me she was too hot also!

Too Hot!

The normally soothing breeze blowing though the grasses of Mulgore today carried nothing but more of the oppressive heat. Even the grasses themselves seemed to wilt under the unrelenting summer sun. Gentlewind lay among those grasses next to the small creek near her village, her fur still wet from rolling in that same creek. It didn’t help. She wanted to fuss and whine but mother would tell her that whining accomplished nothing. Gentlewind knew from experience the only thing it accomplished was a scolding!

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Too Many Annas suggested a Friday Five-Hundred Ficlet addressing how our characters would deal with the heat. Living where I am I know well how miserable it can be when a hot and humid heat wave hits. Then Megaly immediately began complaining about being too hot. Here is my result.

Thanks for the inspiration, Anna!

Too Hot!

Meg woke with her mouth feeling nearly as sticky as her bare skin. The stuffiness of the room and the thick, sticky air told her what kind of day it was going to be; hot and miserable. Again. The temperature during the night had dropped to almost pleasant but with the coming of dawn she could feel the heat and humidity rising to envelope Stormwind.

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A pop and hiss drew Garilos’ attention back to the fire burning in the fireplace. Garilos was glad to be indoors next to the fire. Outside a cold front had moved in bringing a freezing rain and sleet with it. The wind whipped the rain into stinging needles of ice and threw it around trees and rocks at anyone foolish enough to believe they could hide from the storm’s malice. The only good to come from the storm was that it cleared Valgarde of the smell of burning dung, if only for a short time.

Rearranging the burning logs with an iron poker, Garilos stared absentmindedly at the dancing flames. Although there were others in the inn, he was the only one sitting near the fireplace. There was plenty of room in front of the large fireplace. A handful of rough-hewn chairs formed a semi-circle in front of it, one of which had been pulled close to the fireplace and was now occupied by Garilos. Another chair was taken over by his gear and pack.

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Garilos crouched down behind a clump of bushes, looking down upon the worgen. With a look of disdain, he spit upon the ground. “Disgusting creatures,” he muttered to himself as he watched the worgen pace about their camp.

From his vantage point, he could see the scattered huts and fire pits of the small camp. Garilos carefully memorized the location of every hut, boulder, and tree in the camp, creating a map in his head which he rotated and examined as he plotted his course of action. He also made a note of the routes of the worgen guards patrolling the perimeter of the camp.

If any in the village were to look to where he was hidden, they would see nothing but shadows within shadows. Even with the moon out tonight, it would be difficult for any to see Garilos.

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