A note for 'Blaze' Whiteclaw

[Guest Amboro]

((Guess Amboro will have to make himself seen now before he lose the both of you to the chase and the Orcs.))

A low growl escaped the Paladin when he saw the pair speed up and heard the call of the battle horns of the local Orc tribe. It was annoying trying to by pass them once let alone twice. The first encounter Amboro had with them was on his way to Wet Lands, they were crawling every where attacking traveler and merchant trains alike. The paladin had been paid to guide a pair of Priestesses through the hills, and lucky for them he had come otherwise they would have been killed in a ambush at the mouth of the first tunnel.

Speaking the first tunnel approached ahead of him. Pulling the wicked axe from his back he held it out to his side as he heeled his mount to move faster. For such a large horse it was amazingly quick with all the armor and the Paladin on it's back.

Entering the tunnel there was darkness, then the sounds of shouts and metal meeting metal and the sound of deaths as Amboro bounded out to the tunnel with a bloody axe and armor. He was quite glad he had only seen have of what was done inside their. That's when the Draenei caught sight of the two Night Elves again.

The sound of hoof on stone rang through the air as Amboro tried to catch up with the pair. When coming further into view the Paladin noticed the shaft sticking out of the Huntress's tight and snarled cursing the other Night Elf for making her go with him and the orc for shooting her.

With a renewed sense of anger Amboro heeled his steed harder to catch up.

[Blaze]

((Perfect timing actually I would say!))

Blaze was doing her best to keep focused despite the pain and blood loss. The howl of the orcs made her growl. Nodding to Rook she rocked ahead in her saddle urging her mount to go. The panther lurched forward with little encouragement wanting to put as much distance as it could between it and the pursuing orcs and noise behind it.

Gritting her teeth Blaze hung on as she rode ahead, though the further into the tunnel she got to the other end there was less and less light for her it seemed.

Sure enough the dwarves met her when she cleared the tunnel, and heard her croaked words, "Orcs chase." enough for them to grab their weapons and pour down into the tunnel to meet the challenge.

The darkness that had been looming in on her then claimed her and Blaze slowly slumped forward and fell off her mount. Her body hit the ground hard in a garbled thump of metal and flesh against the stoney path. In the cloud of misty smoke that signaled the dismissal of the Sui'ali, Mushal reappeared with a frenzied snarl. He had instantly smelt his mistress' blood and soon as he had gained full form he was standing over her, hackles raised and teeth fully bared ready to rip anything or anyone apart that got too close to her.

[valrae]

Rook gave Blaze a four second head start before he charged after her, pausing only once to fire over his shoulder. He could swear he heard the ringing of hooves over the din of the shouting orcs and running cats... Was someone else running the gauntlet behind them? For a split instant he weighed the thought of dashing back to help whoever it was... But a glance back to Blaze as she wobbled in the saddle told him whoever it was would have to fend for his or her self. He slapped Neva's neck to urge her faster.

The passage was suddenly filled with shouting dwarves, and he threaded Neva through them to emerge into the open air, grateful that now they had someone covering their flank. They had the time now to stop and see just how bad Blaze wa-

His heart climbed up into his throat when he saw her sprawled out on the cobbles. He reigned the cat up sharply, clear of the saddle before Arineva had a chance to break her stride, ducking a shoulder and rolling and skipping over the stones to slide to a halt a few yards away. "Eburi'nei!"

Mushal's growl brought him up immediately. The tiger looked ready to tear open anything that even thought about getting close. Rook swore.

"I have to get her out of the road." He said to the Tiger, knowing it wouldn't understand. He swore again.

"Blaze! Blaze, can you hear me? You've got to get up, Sunshine. You've got to get up or I'll have to come over and help you, and I think I'm gonna get hurt really, really bad."

[Guest Amboro]

((Then pally heals away!))

Seeing the Dwarfs rushing out of the second tunnel Amboro's anger only rose not knowing what condition the Huntress was in. "Faster! Faster!" he urged his horse as it leaped over the line of dwarfs and into the dark tunnel as Amboro pulled back on the reigns to slow it down once he saw a collapsed Night Elf on the ground with her tiger guarding it's master. Sliding his axe back onto his back he quickly dismounted and approached the tiger slowly with his hands raised to show he meant no harm. "Easy now boy you remember me..." Amboro spoke to the tiger as he tried stepping closer to it's master.

The paladin tried as best he could to not shoot a cold glance up at the other Elf know as Rook. Amboro had heard enough to catch his name but still not enough to catch the Huntress's. "I'm hear to heal her friend, something we both want. We both want her to get better." He said still trying to get closer as he got down to eye level with the tiger and tried to move a bit lower to the ground to show that the tiger was still in control.

Amboro remembered ready that showing neck to a wolf was showing a sign of submissiveness. So barring his neck to the beast he hoped it would work as he tried to get to the Huntress to heal her.

[Blaze]

Mushal was coiled and ready to strike. He had a large paw planted on either side of Blaze's legs, his body diagonal from her top half so that together they might look like the letter 'Y'. He bared his saber like teeth at Rook, nose wrinkled up impossibly tight. When Rook spoke his ears twitched and a small amount of understanding flashed in his eyes, yet he refused to move.

Upon seeing the paladin, Mushal's shoulders rose up even higher if that was possible. The closer the Draenei got the more agitated he became, and soon as Amboro got almost within connecting distance Mushal roared and spat, claws digging into the ground before he took a pawful of earth and tossed it at the males. A low growl rumbled deep in his throat as he lowered his chest even closer to his Mistress.

Blaze's helm had gotten knocked off on impact, her shaggy hair fluffed over her face covering her eyes. It seemed she heard Mushal's roar, her fingers twitched and she slowly began to pull her arms underneath herself as if to push up.

Sensing her movement Mushal turned his head to look back at her and uttered a plaintive mewling sound, then looked right back at the males and hissed again.

[valrae]

Rook blinked at the arrival of the armored draenei, who he at first thought was a random passer-by, but from his words it quickly became apparent that he and Blaze had met before. Rook's eyes narrowed. Had Blaze arranged for him to follow them to their destination, as a precaution? It was something he'd considered.

He watched carefully as the draenei inched closer to Blaze and Mushal, noticing the animal's violent reaction. He decided that when it began mauling the newcomer, he would try to pull Blaze out of the way...

Just then he noticed the huntress' movements. "Blaze!" He edged forward a few feet, crouching to try and get a better view of her under Mushal. "Listen to me. We'll help you but you've got to call back your pet before he eats both of us."

[Guest Amboro]

Now the Paladin had a name to go with her face finally. Blaze. Like the flame of passion inside her heart that burned with the intensity of a thousand suns. Taking a deep breath Amboro ducked back quickly to avoid the paw and most of the dirt. Slowly he tried to move forward once more but stopped dead in his tracks as he saw Blaze finally stir as her tiger hissed at them once more.

Carefully he took a few steps back and went back to standing to full height once more. his own steed snorted and stomped the ground impatiently, it was nervous being around so many large cats. But the Paladin paid the horse no attention as he watch Blaze try to push herself to her feet.

[Blaze]

Blaze's head was swimming, everyones voice was so far away. Slowly she sat up sliding out from under Mushal. She wondered vaguely why he was here and where her mount had gone.

"Mushal." she whispered quietly her Darnassian thick, "Mushal..." Her hand reached out and flailed in the air until she gripped the tiger's tail and pulled. The animal gave both men a hateful look before be turned around and sat on the other side of the huntress. Gratefully she wrapped her arms about his neck and used him for support.

Looking down to her leg she growled, and raised her eyes to Rook first. Was he really worried? Probably more so worried about becoming lunch then her condition. "Rook, the orcs?"

Her vision began to clear and finally the realization hit they were not alone. As she stiffened Mushal growled again. Her eyes went to the paladin and she bared her teeth. "You go away!" She picked up the nearest rock she could. It fit neatly into her palm. She threw it at the paladin weakly. Her vision was still a little blurry so it lobbed harmlessly off to Amboro's side and rolled down the tunnel.

[valrae]

"Rook, the orcs?"

The night elf stood and looked down the tunnel. The progress of the fight between Dwarf and Orc was impossible to make out in the dimness, but from the sound of things they were heavily engaged. Dwarven shouting and laughter seemed to be dominating the noise however, and that was a good sign.

"We'll be fine." He crouched down again and slid closer. "How bad it it? Can you move?"

He blinked in surprise as she picked up a stone and hurled at the draenei. Were they not friends, then? He sighed inwardly and turned on his haunches to face him. If Blaze was against him he'd have to be treated as a possible threat. Rook didn't make a move towards any of his weapons, but watched the newcomer's movements carefully, backing slowly towards Blaze.

"Who's he?" he asked, in Darnassian.

[Blaze]

Mushal growled again at Rook, but this time Blaze gave him a sharp tap on the nose. He blinked in surprise then snorted and resorted to taking turns glaring at Rook and Amboro.

Blaze hissed and pulled against Mushal to sit up more, then she turned at the hip and slid her hand down her hip to her thigh where the arrow protruded. "Leg is stiff." She pulled off her glove with her teeth and allowed it to fall to the ground with a dull clinking sound, then her hand curled purposefully around the shaft of the arrow as close to her leg as she could manage.

Grimacing she glanced toward the paladin again and spat out through her pain, "Met that in Elwynn by lake. It does nothing but lick the ground and challenge. Annoying creature."

She focused on the arrow again and with one sharp movement she pulled it out. Her cry was a forced muffled grunt, and Mushal went to snap at Rook on reflex. However the tigers attention was diverted from the bite when his mistress blacked out again slumping over him, and then sliding down his back.

[valrae]

((Waitin' fer Amboro. ^^

In the meantime:

i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg297/AK9779/rook1.jpg

...In case anyone was wondering.

Edit: Added for extra credit. Hooray for slow work days.

i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg297/AK9779/mercilessblaze.jpg

))

[Guest Amboro]

((Had classes all day, what do ya suspect!))

Amboro snorted loudly at being called an 'It'. Curling one hand into a fist it shook lightly as he tried to suppress his rage chanting his holy vows over and over in his head trying not yell or raise his voice. Clenching his fist he drew in a deep breath as he went calm once more. Clearing his tongue he spoke in their own tongue just because he knew she hated. "My name is Amboro and you know it well enough. I am still honor bound to serve." He said in his deep calm voice, his accent good but not the best.

Rubbing his large forehead with his plated hand he took a few steps closer to Blaze and stopped. "If you at least give me a chance to heal your wounds I will remain quite." The Paladin said trying to bargain with her. He would not leave her but he would hold his tongue.

[valrae]

Rook knew what Blaze was going to do the moment she put her hand on the arrow. "You know I have anesthetic, you could at least-" He hissed in sympathy when she yanked it out anyway.

He jerked back in reflex as the tiger turned to snap at him, but then slid in closer as both he and the animal noticed Blaze had lost consciousness again. He picked up the discarded arrow and held the tip under his nose. It smelled of iron and steel. Steel for the arrowhead. Iron for the night elf's blood. But no poison. At least not a kind that could be smelled. He set the arrow down again. Shock hit everyone differently, and that had been a deep wound. It could be just that. Still, he could make some antivenom if it looked like the symptoms were anything other than natu-

He heard the... Paladin, he must be, for his talk of healing... step closer and turned.

"She's out again." He said, thinking. She didn't seem to like this draenei, but it looked like he was their best chance at getting the wound mended quickly and cleanly. He was going on like he owed her something, so it didn't seem like he would hurt her, but...

"It's fine by me if you'd like to play healer, but leave your weapon by your feet, or you'll have trouble from me. When you're finished, move back away, or, again, you'll have trouble from me. If the tiger wants to tear you up, that's between you and him. But do as I ask and we needn't have a quarrel on our hands..."

[Guest Amboro]

Amboro turned to Rook slowly, his glare one that would do the tiger proud as he slowly stalked forward toward him staring down at him easily towering over the Elf. His good eye bored into the man's skull as he didn't touch his axe. "I already have trouble with you Rogue..." Amboro's deep voice said hate and anger slowly bubbling to the top as a single armored fist grabbed him by the front of his leathers and mail pulling him up to the Draenei's own eye level.

His good right eye was aflame. "I take orders from her only since I am honor bound to serve her in anyway she may need. And from what I have gained by listening you have become a large thorn in her side. And I have a good mind to pluck you out..." Amboro said as he raised the Elf even further into the air his gripe tightening into a choking hold.

[Blaze]

"You harm...One hair on his head," Blaze began very quietly, "I will see to it with my last breath, your entrails will be strewn from here to Ironforge."

Blaze was sitting up again slowly, gripping Mushals scruff and using him as a pillar of support. The large tiger tolerated the rough handling without a twitch of protest. When she was sitting up again her teeth were bared and she was looking up at the paladin hatefully, "I had told you to go. Not order enough? I order you to disappear!"

Her eyes went to Rook to make sure he was ok before glancing back to the Draenei.

[Guest Amboro]

((Mr. 1000! Woot!))

Amboro snorted loudly at th other male and dropped him to the ground still anger within his own eye as he turned to Blaze the same hatred yet gentleness. "Bleed to death for all i care then..." He muttered coldly in Draenic as as with a whirl of his cloak he went back to his mount.

Placing a single hoof into the stir-up he pulled himself up with ease as he turned the great horse around and sniffed loudly at the male Night Elf as he went back into the tunnel they had all come through hiding within the darkness of the damp tunnel. All he had to do was disappear.He would still be close at hand and able to continue to follow them.

[valrae]

Rook grunted in surprise and wrapped both hands around the Draenei's wrist as he lifted him up. More people grabbing hold of him... Either he needed to learn or they did. He stared into the Paladin's one good eye as he held them face-to-face. It took only a moment to work out his plan.

He'd start by spitting in the Paladin's eye, then curl his body, using the muscles in his abdomen and legs to propel both bootheels as hard as he could into the big draenei's chin. With luck it would blind and stun him, or at least get him to release his grip...

He was a split-second away from putting his plan into action when he heard Blaze speak. He hesitated, wondering if her threats would work... And a moment later felt himself fall out of the Paladin's grip.

He landed on both feet and returned the Draenei's unpleasant glare as he stalked off.

When the paladin was safely away, Rook turned and moved carefully as close to Blaze as Mushal would let him.

"Thank you." He murmured, glancing over his shoulder.

"I have some things in my pack that will take care of the pain. And later I can mix something that'll help you heal. For now let's stop the bleeding and see if you can move..."

[Blaze]

Blaze blinked slowly her jaw tense with the pain in her leg, "Don't thank me. If not for my father I wouldn't care one way or another about you, or your box."

"I have some things in my pack that will take care of the pain." She was already forcing herself to stand, using Mushal as a crutch. "And later I can mix something that'll help you heal. For now let's stop the bleeding and see if you can move.."

Taking a deep breath she refocused and tried to suppress the pain. Her leg was throbbing but for the most part numb. "This is nothing," she began as she undid her belt and slipped it off. "Once when younger I was gored by a boar, another time almost shredded by a raptor and-" Her voice trailed off and she pressed her lips together. Talk talk talk. Nothing he needed to know. "I will be fine." She said shortly and proceeded to wrap the belt around her thigh above the wound notching it as tight as she could.

She ruffled Mushal's ears and stood on one leg as she pointed to her helm. The tiger fetched it for her then bunted his head against her thigh setting her a little off balance so that she stumbled a bit against Rook. With a sour look she ignored the rogue and pulled out the stone to call her mount.

"When reach camp, will see to healing."

Her eyes peered down the tunnel a bit trying to make sure the draenei creature had disappeared. Nodding once she summoned Sui'ali and pressed her helm back down onto her head.

"We go now."

[valrae]

"Don't thank me. If not for my father I wouldn't care one way or another about you, or your box."

He chuckled. "It's a chest, Sunshine. And it's my life."

He nodded and clucked his tongue, calling Neva from where she lurked nearby.

"And I believe you just answered your own question about why I did what I did. You wouldn't have helped me otherwise, would you have?"

He smiled and settled into the saber's saddle.

"But, I guess neither of us is perfect. All the same, thank you for helping me. Camp's not far. Follow along, I'll sing a song."

He turned Arineva and followed the road for another quarter mile before turning off onto what looked like an animal trail. The winding dirt path led throught sparse trees and ended abruptly at a clearing before the edge of the loch.

The clearing was perhaps fifty feet side to side, and carpeted with thick, soft grass. A dug-out fire pit with a ring of stones sat roughly in the center, for the looks of it unused in some time.

The Loch glimmered at the bottom of a rocky ten foot drop, The waters turning from orange to silver as the dim afternoon light gave way to starshine. A narrow and winding footpath made it's way down to the shore and a slim strip of pebbly beach at the bottom. Across the waters the stonewrought dam stood the distance.

Rook slung himself out of the saddle and let his pack drop to the ground, along with Neva's saddlebags.

"Here we are. I have to get a fire started. Need light to work."

[Blaze]

Blaze said nothing the rest of the way, fighting to keep her head about her. She was still feeling dizzy but the wound had stopped its river of blood to random trickles. The fresh air was a welcome smell, away from the rotting air of the marsh and she breathed deeply. Listening, she heard birds twitter at them, and random squirrels yell at their approach as their mounts' large paws crackled along in the pine-cones and pine needles.

The camp area didn't look too bad and she almost smiled at the sight of it. Rest would be welcome. It had been a very long day. Usually the huntress spent a good part of the night hunting for another prey occasionally to sate a more basic hunger. But not tonight. There was too much at stake to worry about loosing sight of that Rook for even a moment. Her eyes bored into his broad back again and she tilted her head as the thought striked her she may be able to take care of two birds with one stone...

"Bwaahh," she muttered angrily at herself. No chance. He was a rogue with a running tongue and her father as a bargaining chip.

Blaze knew she had to see to her wound soon as possible, and soon spied the footpath that was slinking away as the light began to fade. It was too narrow to trust her large panther to walk safely. Reining her mount over to the edge of the ledge and looked down and pondered. Quietly she paced her mount back and fourth along the edge to the furthest point, then dismounted. Mushal was there instantly bracing himself against her side and looking around to see where she had brought him this time.

With a bright smile she winked at Mushal and began to strip off her armor starting with her helm, her spaulders, gloves and so on until she was very carefully peeling off her chain pants. Soon all of her clothing was in a careless pile and she was standing naked at the ledge leaning against her tiger. Her body was lean and toned, legs and arms unusually large for a huntress, though still not as bulky as a warriors, her chest a modest size and round. She murmured a few words to Mushal, as she limped away from the edge a couple feet.

The tiger's tail swished with excitement as the woman straddled his back carefully and laid down atop him gripping the scruff on his neck. With a joyous squeal parting her lips Mushal's claws dug into the grassy earth as he bolted ahead in full run sending them both out over the side of the cliff. Moments later a loud splash was heard.