Dependancy

[Vhakti]

Vhakti refused to be dependant on any man.

A trolless of no small ammount of strength, she was a warrior of formidable skill and had always been taught to be stronger than the rest. Growing up with five brothers will do that to a girl. Despite her bright pink hair and a budding femenine nature, Vhakti was a force to be reckoned with, and she refused to let that change.

Even if she was married, now.

Married life hadn't changed her too much. That is to say, yes she lived with her husband, yes she loved him and thought of him often and allowed him the honor of laying a hand on her without having it be cut off.. but besides all that, she was still her old self. Even when she fought in Alterac Valley for the glory of the Horde, and took orders as a respectable soldier, there was a look of sheer willingness to fight. The blood on her axe and armor helped, too. Of course, that didn't stop the male soldiers from looking at her form through her armor the way they always did.

"Gah!! Hellscream's beard, that bitch almost severed my hand!" Yelled one of the hunters who made the mistake of grabbing her rear end while she wasn't looking.

Vhakti turned and pointed her axe at his face, her own covered by a plate helm. "Annidi nex' tahm, mebbe ah'll take di odda one ta!"

The other soldiers chuckled as they all returned to Orgrimmar, and Vhakti found a little peace in the bustling city. It felt nice to be out of the battlefield, and she longed to be home again. Her new home, in Nagrand, with a very silly troll that called himself her husband. For now, she wandered in Ogrimmar, browsing through shops while she awaited the call to return to the battlegrounds.

[Tabi]

Tabi sat broodingly in the shadows, his dagger dug deep into the wood work of the roof he was on as he stared at the series of marks that he had carved. Kimiji was gone.

Tabi's eyes moved to his right hand. The layer of fur that all trolls had grown longer and darkened on his hand and his nails were turning claw like. He gritted his teeth and slipped his glove back on before picking his dagger from the roof and jumping into the air over the crowded streets and disappearing from sight.

The shadows slithered and coiled like snakes as he reappeared on a roof on the opposite side of the way his eyes, yellow in the shadows stared down at the streets. He watched the crowds pass, he felt distant from the bright colors. He didn't feel left out but, he felt lonely. The shadows coiled and twisted around his body pulling him further into the darkness as he curled tighter into his sitting position.

Tabi's eyes jumped as he saw a brightness in the crowd, he blinked and his clawing hand gripped the side of the roof as he looked down at the familiar pink color. It was Vhakti, she was a nice troll. She was friendly to him.

The shadows slithered past Tabi's ears whispering endlessly to him and Tabi's hand gripped tighter into the roof as his eyes narrowed to peer closer at her form.

Tabi's eyes twitched and he turned sharply sending the shadows scattering for a moment before they began to recoil slowly around him once more.

"No..." Tabi said quietly but, his eyes couldn't help but to wander back to the street and his limbs began to move on their own as he slowly faded from sight, following his brother's wife.

[Vhakti]

"Pink!" She said out loud. Her favorite color, but hard to come by unless it was a pair of frilly panties from Silvermoon. Fortunately this time, it came in the form of a quivver that had been dyed a bright pink. Vhakti gasped when she saw it, her bright yellow eyes wide with joy. "Ah neva seen a quivva dis collah befo'!"

The shopkeep, a rather formidable looking orc male, grunted something unintelligable behind the counter. He folded his arms, looking her up and down. "Leave it to a woman.." he grumbled.

Vhakti turned her gaze on the orc, her once happy eyes narrowing as she slammed the quivver on his countertop. "Yah, da's righ' ah be a woman, an' dis quivva be matchin' mah hai. Ha much ya wan' fo' at?"

"Heh.. ten gold," he replied with a grin.

"Ah'll giva ya ta," she retorted, her own smirk growing.

The orc frowned. "That's less than half it's value."

Without a moment's warning, Vhakti prodded the orc's gut with the end of her axe. "So be ya, di momen' ah remove ya livvah, am ah righ'?"

"...five."

"Deal!"

Vhakti cheerilly removed some gold from her pocket, smiling giddily before slamming it down beside the quivver that she quickly put on her back. The orc grit his teeth in furstration and shook his head as Vhakti left, humming, and very pleased with herself.

"Hah, das such a nahce collah, ta... hm?"

Pausing in the street, she caught a glimpse of something worth thinking about. A shadow that had no origin.

"..what was dat?"

[Tabi]

Tabi paused as she glimpsed up to him and his heart began to race in his ears. No one had noticed him before... maybe she hadn't. He continued to follow her slowly, watching her intently to see if she was checking to see if he was still there.

The shadows coiled and slithered around him continuing to whisper thoughts and feelings to him. The 'snakes' were soft and caring hands to Tabi but, he closed his eyes tightly before shaking his head. Sending a few of the snakes away.

"She's Jemmalass' bride..." He murumured silently to himself but his limbs kept moving along above her, slowly. His eyes fought as he stared upward but failed as they moved back to the pink figure below. His heart beginning to thud faster and harder in his ears mixing and amplifying the shadow's whispers.

[Vhakti]

She hated this feeling. This feeling of someone watching her, persuing her. Vhakti had experience with this sort of thing in the battlegrounds, when rogues or hunters would stalk her.. but not in Orgrimmar. Not in her people's own city. What was happening here?

Picking up her pace, she entered the Drag. It was dark enough here that if someone wanted to attack her, they'd have their chance, and so would she.

"..ya can come out nah," she growled, a hand reaching for her axe.

[Tabi]

Tabi froze as she called out for him and he licked his lips slowly. Staring down at the trolless before he slowly circled around so that he was infront of her but he remained hidden.

Tabi blinked as the shadows formed around him looking downward as they slithered and tightened around him. They began to press against him and he quickly began to feel like he was soffucating. He opened his mouth to cry out but was drowned as the multiplying shadows forced their way into the opening.

"You have very good eyes." A feminine voice spoke out slowly as two large yellow eyes appeared out of a pitch black shade on the rooftop before her.

[Vhakti]

Vhakti let out a sigh of releif. A woman was easier to handle than a man, at least most of the time. Shaking her head from the paranoid feeling that she'd been radiating, the trolless took a more relaxed stance.

"Nah mah eyes dat be seein' ya, i's instinct," she replied, resting her axe against her shoulder. "Who ya be, anyway? Wah ya followin' meh?"

[Tabi]

"hmm... My name?" The eyes peer at her for a minute before smiling. "You may call me Beth... and as to why I am following. I enjoyed the way you handled yourself in that shop. Not many strong women in the city now a days. We've been over run with those... elves." The eyes twitch and a low growl is released from the shadows before the eyes turn back to look at Vhakti.

"Also... I have something for you. I made it but... it's not my taste." A pink hankerchief slowly floats out of the shadows and lands at Vhakti's feet. Sending dirt, dust, and shadows scattering for a moment as it lands.

[Vhakti]

Vhakti rose an eyebrow in confusion. She looked down at the hankerchief and smiled slightly. "Well.. da's nice of ya. Mah t'anks."

Bending over to pick it up, she kept her eyes on the other yellow eyes that watched her. A hand still on her axe, she stood up, holding the pink piece of cloth in front of her curiously.

"I's pretteh, mah t'anks again."

[Tabi]

"You are welcome." The eyes smile. "Sorry if I startled you. I did not expect you to see me. I am naturally curious, you see. Ofcourse, I am naturally odd as well. It's not easy being one of the few female horde druids." There is a large sigh from the shadows.

[Vhakti]

"A druid? Oh, ah undastan'," Vhakti replied casually. "Ah spen' allo mah tahm wit' soldia's, beleive meh, ah kno' what it be lahk feelin' outta place.. but de'e be maneh druids ova' in Mulgo'e, 'specially in Thunda' Bluff. Dat whe'e ya come from? Mulgo'e?"

She walked over towards Beth, her gait friendly.

[Tabi]

"Ah.. well.. you see.." Beth steps out of the shadow to reveal a black panther. "..I don't look like a normal tauren druid... I look like a night elf... Orgrimmar has many more shades and shadows... I like them. Makes me feel comfortable when I can rest at ease and just watch. There's no room to do that in Mulgore or Thunderbluff."

The panther continues to keep it's distance from Vhakti, moving along the the roof top. Making short hops as she makes her way down to the street slowly as she continues to keep her large yellow eyes on the trolless.

[Vhakti]

"Ya lwook lahk a night e'f..?" She asked slowly, studying the panther. It certainly was odd to see one at this distance and not have her try to rip out her throat. Vhakti cleared it and cocked her head to one side, watching the large cat as it moved down to the street level.

"Da's interestin'. Ah neva seen no tauren druid dat lwook lahk dat befo'.. well, it be a pleasu'e ta meetcha, Bet'. Ah be Vhakti. Vhakti Rhadaka, warria fo' di Ho'de."

[Sulajin]

Gom'zal was curious. And observant. His Scaley Uncle would have decried him for it, would have cried out blasphemies upon Gom'zal's head, but still the hunter traced the path of the butterfly before him.

He was well aware of the people around him, parting and giving him strange glances. It didn't matter. Pretty Kitty was by his side and ready to keep him safe. She was a good friend. All softness and claws.

Word had been spreading about the odd Troll that climbed on buildings and giggled to himself. People thought he was crazy. Gom'zal didn't mind. People whispered that he wasn't the sharpest knife. And Gom'zal giggled. The dull knife is the knife most likely to cut you.

Still he strolled through the town. Butterfly wandering off. But froze when he heard a familiar voice that brought a wide smile to his face. Soon he hoisted himself up on to a few rocks from where one of those protruding logs the orcs, and Gom'zal, loved so much. And there she was below him. His Pink Friend was back.

Gom'zal couldn't help but giggle at that.

[Tabi]

"Pleasure to meet you, Vhakti." The panther pauses and draws a paw back and up slightly. "...I'm sure my apperance distracts you."

The panther keeps her distance from the trolless, her yellow eyes glancing up towards their observer for a moment before quickly moving back to Vhakti.

"I hope we can be friends because of my appereance no one reallly wants to talk to me." The panther sighs, disappearing into a shadow leaving only her eyes remaining from the darkness as they lower. Giving the impression of her laying down.

"ah.. that's better." Beth sighs once again hidden in the shadows.

[Vhakti]

"Ah'll be ya frien'," Vhakti said cheerfully, until she heard something familliar. Something disturbing that made her skin crawl. Giggling?

Looking behind her, she jumped with surprise at the sight of Gomzal. She remembered him vaguely, and there was something about his smell that made her terribly uncomfortable. With a slight frown, she tightened her grip around her axe handle.

"..whaddaya wan'?"

[Sulajin]

Gom'zal grinned and waved down at his friends.

"Pink Friend, hi! Why the axe? Was told joo bein in town, came ta see ya!" His mind was racing, the smells of her waking up memories and desires he would not name. "Wanted ta mebb'ye be goin wrestlin? Hnhnhnhnhnhnhn... have some fun."

He dropped down and dangled from one of the protruberences of the buildings, still giggling at her. "Haven' seen ya in a long time. Missed joo. Why hide from Gom'zal?"

[Tabi]

The eyes shrank a bit more into the shadows.

"...Who is... this annoying troll?" the Panther said hushly towards Vhakti as the eyes continued to back further into the shadows. Now staying locked on Gom'zal.

[Vhakti]

Vhakti's upper lip curled. She didn't like the way Gom'zal was looking at her, and didn't hide her disgust in the slightest.

"Ah dwon' hide from nobodeh," she stated proudly, raising her head slightly. "Ah been wit' mah 'usban' in Nagran', if ya mus' know."

Gom'zal was so familliar, but she couldn't place where she'd met him. Something about his giggle made her flesh crawl, accompanied by his eyes and the way they roved over her body.. she wanted desperately to knock his block off.

"..an ah dwon' wrestle wit' stranga's."

[Sulajin]

Gom'zal's face fell. He pouted at her, still dangling from the rooftop. "Aww... joo don' rememba me?" He let himself drop to the ground, slowly drawing himself back up.

"Joo were wrestlin' wit' de Scaley Uncle! He d'in' want t'ya be wrestlin an' ranned off. So we be wrestlin' a little bit. Gom'zal don' be too strange, right? Hnhnhnhnhnhnhnnnn... afta all, Gom'zal jus' wants ta spend some time wit' his Pink Friend. Joo don' like ta wrestle wit' joo friends?"

[Vhakti]

Wrestling with a scaly..

Vhakti swallowed hard. She remembered tidbits of her time in heat, a few months ago. Her skin broke out into a nervous sweat at the thought of what type of wrestling she had done with this troll. It was no wonder he looked at her this way, as if he were hungry for something.

Licking her lips nervously, she took a shaky step away from him.

"Ah was nah in mah raght mahnd, Gom'zal," she said slowly, finally acknowledging his name. "Ah wasn' feelin' well. Ah did t'ings ah wou'dnah usualleh da. Ah'm sorreh."

[Tabi]

"If you weren't in your right mind you shouldn't be apologizing." the panther said hushly. "He should be the one apologizing for stalking you to... wrestle."

The large yellow eyes looked up towards Vhakti slowly.

"You are married, then?" The eyes looked back towards Gom'zal. "You don't seem the type to get married so young." The eyes continue smiling lightly but remaining far back into the shadows.

[Vhakti]

Vhakti slowy turned from Gom'zal, back to the panther. She couldn't help but feel slightly put off by her statement.

"Well.. ah neva relleh conside'ed it, 'till ah met Jemma," she said quietly, thinking of her fellow warrior. "He an' ah jus' hit it off sa well, sa when 'e say 'e wanted ta get married, ah t'ought mebbe it was nah such a bad idea. We been verreh 'appeh tagedda."

She smiled at that. Yes, they had been happy together, regardless of the fact that he wanted to settle down and she wanted a little more time to be free.

"An' ah'm nah so young. Ah'm almos' twenteh."

[Sulajin]

Gom'zal giggled and took a step towards her.

"Joo wrestled good! Had a lot of pract'yice! Who else joo be wrestlin, hmmm? Hnhnhnhnhn... don' try to be hid'yin' t'ings from Gom'zal! I'll know when you do."

She was backing up. Retreating. Gom'zal had an advantage, and he would press it. "Gom'zal just wants ta be sp'yendin' some time wit' his Pink Friend! She got a pretty new quiver."

[Tabi]

The panther's eyes smiled towards Vhakti.

"So if you and your husband are happy together you shouldn't have anything to worry about and if you're not so young..." The panther's eyes flashed open a bit. "Why are you shrinking away from this tiny troll like a little girl."

The panther giggled lightly.

"You didn't let the shopkeep scare you or push you around. Why are you going to let this one be any different?"

[Vhakti]

Vhakti frowned slightly, at both the panther and Gom'zal.

"Ah'd just radda nah deal wit' 'em," she muttered.

Gom'zal was getting closer. She could smell that familliar smell on him, one that resembled maleness and the wild. The fact that she recognized his smell shamed her deeply.. how could she have let her hormones command her so easilly, that day??

[Sulajin]

Gom'zal giggled and closed the gap between them.

"Joo be comin' wit' Gom'zal? Gom'zal has strawberry juice..."

And the small leather bag he pulled from his pouch did indeed smell like strawberries. He wouldn't share it with just anyone.

[Tabi]

Tabi felt like he was under water. He heard voices around him but could not hear them clearly as his heart pounded in his ears. He felt his mouth moving but couldn't understand what he was saying. His limp limbs were pushed and pulled by the shadows around him. He knew someone inside of him that he could free himself but, he wouldnt' go against her.

The panther walked slowly behind Vhakti her tail whipped side to side lightly and prushed against Vhakti's side as the large black cat curled around her back and emerged from the shadows.

"Excuse me but, you are bothering my friend. Could you please take your giggling else where?" The black panther purred as her large yellow eyes stared towards Gom'zal's.

[Vhakti]

Vhakti almost tripped over the cat as she emerged behind her, so startled was she by the voice. Looking from Beth to Gom'zal, she cleared her throat and tried to look stern.

"Sorreh, Gom'zal. No t'anks."

[Sulajin]

Quick as a flash Gom'zal's arm shot out to whap the panther on the nose.

"Bad kitty! Very, very bad kitty! Go away! Gom'zal be talkin' ta his Pink Friend."

He pulled his hand back and looked to Vhakti again, eyes full of hope and wonder. Then he took a swig of the strawberry juice. "Is good! Strawberries!"

[Tabi]

The panther's nose wrinkeled against the bop and she hissed at him her eyes glaring before she hopped up onto a building, fur ruffled as she sunk into a shadow. Her eyes continue to remain locked on Gom'zal as she continues to release a low growl.

[Vhakti]

Vhakti looked at Gom'zal wide-eyed.

"Gom'zal, dwon' hit dat cat! Ya dwo dat again, an' ah'll cut ya han' off, ya hea' meh?"

Suddenly she felt very much like her father, when one of her brothers misbehaved. She released a heavy sigh and tried to come up with a way to escape.

[Niethan]

Niethan didn't climb the rooftops in Orgrimmar often if he could help it, but today he'd seen a butterfly wander upwards, and he had followed, batting and staring at the bright spot of color. He'd finally wrenched his attention away when the scent of his time-displaced godson had reached his nose, along with uneasy voices. After watching the exchange and growing increasingly angry at Gom'zal's wishes, he decided to interfere before the young troll did something Niethan would regret.

A coil, then a jump, and Niethan landed just shy of where Vhakti and Gom'zal were conversing, his tail making a sharp slap to the dusty earth. He stood up, eyeing Gom'zal and letting his frown speak for his anger.

[Sulajin]

"Aww... kitties fine. Don' worry. Joo come wit' Gom'zal! We go have a fun time, mebbe wrestle? No more hitt'yin the kitty."

Gom'zal waved at Niethan, smiling widely. "Hi! Scaley Uncle remembers the Pink Friend, yes? Hnhnhnhnhnhnhn... we goin ta go out an' have fun! Wrestle maybe, or have strawberrie juice!"

[Vhakti]

"Nah, nah wrestlin' Gom'zal!" She said more sternly. "Ah dwon let no man touch meh but mah 'usban', so ya betta keep dat in min'."

She glanced over at Niethan, blush rising in her cheeks. She had a few other memories of that day...

"Ah.. 'ey de'e.. Niet'an."

[Sulajin]

"Let him be touchin joo. An' ya let Gom'zal be touchin joo. Tasted good, too. Hnhnhnhnhnhn..."

Gom'zal reached out, one long finger extended for her forhead. "Hnhn. Hnhnh. Tooooouuuuuuuch...."

[Vhakti]

Vhakti grit her teeth and swung her axe towards Gom'zal's arm, attempting to sever it.

"Ah said dwon' touch meh!!"

[Niethan]

A scowling Niethan was just reaching to intercept Gom'zal's hand when the axe started moving. He bit on a curse shoved forward, knocking his godson's limb out of the path of ruin in exchange for his own.

[Tabi]

"mrrrawr!" The panther growled as it pounced at Gom'zal but, missed as he was shoved out of the way, landing smack into Niethan. The axe landing into her hind leg and causing her to spiral to the side landing with a light thud on the ground.

She panted roughly as she dragged herself into a near by shadow.

[Vhakti]

"Ahhya, nah!"

Vhakti put her axe back on her back, rushing towards the panther.

"Beth! Ah'm sa sorreh, is ya alrigh'??"

[Niethan]

He'd been spared the axe, but being allowed to keep his arm did not actually improve Niethan's mood.

He whirled on his godson, clamping his claws down over the younger troll's wrist before he slithered away. With Gom'zal secure, Niethan craned his neck about to search for Grom'ja, Gom'zal's pet and one of Sigrun's brood.

He made sure to keep a tight grip on the hunter's wrist. Not -quite- tight enough to bruise, but he couldn't supress the smug certainty that Gom'zal could feel his wrath in the heat of Niethan's scales.

[Sulajin]

Gom'zal flexed his wrist, tensing his arm and testing the strength of Niethan's grip. His Scaley Uncle had him well. Free arm came up and the warm smoothness slid, Gom'zal's arm felt hollow for a moment.

Gom'zal giggled at his Pink Friend and tapped the blade he kept in a pocket of his arm against a tusk before sliding it back beneath his skin in a bizzare parody of a piercing.

The Pretty Kitty was watching, still. She crouched low on the rooftops and stared with large cat eyes at the scene beneath. Whiskers tense, ears forward, eyes half narrowed.

[Tabi]

The panther drugged it's leg for a moment before limping a bit further into the shadows and then uneasily laying down.

"I... I'm fine." Beth spoke slowly before swallowing. "I've taken much graver hits in the Battlegrounds. I'll be back on all four feet in no time.. but thank you for caring." She pants painfully before releasing a small giggle. "I'm sorry I made you miss that horrible little troll... I couldn't help myself after what he did to me... really.. it's so disgracful to be called a.. 'kitty"

[Vhakti]

"Ya poo' t'in'.. 'e'e, lemme 'elp ya."

Vhakti went for her bag and pulled out some bandages. First aid certainly came in handy in these situations, especially when she was the one to have hurt the poor creature. Wandering back over to Beth, she knelt down and held out the bandages.

That's when she noticed something terribly strange about Beth.

Beth was a... male?

[Tabi]

The panther limped a bit further away.

"Please... I'm fine." The panther continued, turning and backing slowly away from Vhakti. "I'll just be a waste of your bandage."

[Vhakti]

Vhakti furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Something was definately not right, here.

"Ah insist. Ples, let meh 'elp ya. It was mah fault ya got hu't in di fi'st plece," she insisted, again approaching Beth. "Besi'es, ya dwon' wanta be bleedin' all ova di place. Sa unless ya wanta tu'n back inta ya Tau'en fo'm ta heal yase'f, ah t'ink it'd be wahs if ah bandaged ya ap."

[Tabi]

The panther continued to hobble sideways until it was backed into a corner. Beth slowly pushed it's back against the wall, looking from Vhakti to the corner.

"...I can't..." The panther finallly said defeated. "Now.. please... leave me alone." It's ears folded down, as it laid down on the ground with no escape.

[Vhakti]

Vhakti knelt down in front of the panther, her yellow eyes narrowed somewhat. Something was definately wrong here.

"..who a'e ya? Relleh?"

[Tabi]

The panther turned and slowly curled into a tight ball. It's back now facing Vhakti.

"No one of interest... now please... leave me be." the panther closed it's large eyes and attempted a faux sleep.

[Vhakti]

"Hm... fahn.. ah'll leave ya alone," Vhakti said as she stood, shaking her head. "Ah been 'avin' ta much wei'dness taday anyway.."

She grudgingly left the panther where she lie, walking out of the drag and back into the more populated streets of Orgrimmar.

[Tabi]

The panther turned and waited for Vhakti to disappear before lifting onto all for legs. The large cat closed it's eyes it's fur began to shed away into the darkness making the patch of shade turn to pitch black.

Tabi suddenly felt himself thrown forward and began coughing roughly as his cheek landing against the dirt floor of the drag. His fingers clung to the floor for a moment as the world spun around him before he rolled onto his back gasping for air.

Tabi attempted to stand and cursed as he fell onto his back looking towards his bloody leg. He slowly pulled out a spare bandage and began to unskillfully fix himself up before he stood and began to limp away. The darkness clung to him for a moment as he left the shade before seeming to disappear.

[Niethan]

Niethan stared after Vhakti, mildly wondering why her hair wasn't on fire from the force of his gaze. Tried to cut his godson, and not even an acknowledgement? There was going to be hell to pay, oh yes.

But in the meantime...

"Gom'zal. You and I need to have a little talk, and I will not take No for an answer. Call for Grom'ja, or I will. I'll not have her following that woman around and let you be distracted."

With that he tugged on his godson's wrist, leading him away towards the less populated Vally of Honor.

[Sulajin]

Gom'zal giggled at Niethan and shrugged. THe Pretty Kitty was around. And would probably follow him over the Pink Friend.

Pretty Kitty was never very fond of the Pink Friend. And Gom'zal was thinking that maybe Pretty Kitty was right, and he should have a talk to her. Someplace private. Where Scaley Uncle wouldn't be around to interfere.

Gom'zal let himself be lead off, giggling.

[Niethan]

Niethan took Gom'zal towards the Vally of Honor, finding an out of the way place from the main path and stopping. He turned to face his godson, anger writ on his features. He had an inkling of exactly what Gom'zal had been planning, and the knife in his grasp hadn't escaped the older hunter's eyes. Gom'zal had been wrong in his advances, but Vhakti was wrong in the force of her response, and...

Niethan's ears wilted, his hand releasing Gom'zal's wrist. And somewhere, Niethan had gone wrong in teaching his godson, and today the both of them had nearly gotten hurt from it. Niethan took a shuddering breath, and exchanged his grip on his godson's wrist for a tight hug.