The Problem With Halfbreeds ((open))

[Vilmah]

"Wha'?!"

Khiskiva looked in shock as the shaman trainer in Orgrimmar smiled complacently, and put a hand on the Sandfury's shoulder. "Cha gonna have a baby! Din' choo notice, chil?"

She didn't. It hadn't been more than two days since she and Zasien were together for one night of drunken passion, and she'd already gotten over the fact that he probably didn't ever want to see her again. This complicated things. Khiskiva was well aware that most halfbreed children were killed on the spot, because she was one herself. Her chest bore the scare of that attempted slaying, and if it hadn't been for the interference of her mother and the spirits, she'd have been killed shortly after being born. Frowning dooply, she walked out of the large chambers where Thrall and his fellow shamans usually were.

"Where choo goin'?" The shaman trainer asked, as Khiskiva stormed out.

Her blazing red hair matched the fire of anger building inside of her. She'd have to tell Zasien of course, but then what? How could she keep it? She knew nothing of children, and the fact that she'd have to take a few months out of her training just to carry it was woefully inconvenient. Then there was the halfbreed aspect.. would the Horde be forgiving? She wondered. Not so many were forgiving of her, and she was half Sandfury herself. Not that she looked like a Darkspear.. her only connection to that tribe was her ability to commune with the spirits. She assumed her child would have many of the Sandfury traits that made her so hated in Horde society.

So, she travelled. Taking the Zepplin to the Undercity, where she knew a tavern stood nearby. It was a popular place, and Vilmah had told her before that most of the House of Kai visited there regularly. Perhaps she'd be able to catch Zasien there. The trip itself was long, and annoying. She hadn't noticed it before, but now she could feel the growing spirit within her. A new life was taking shape, and although it was perhaps no bigger than a speck of dust, it was there. It could be felt. Khiskiva gripped her hands tightly, and felt them ignite with her anger.

When finally she arrived in Tirisfal, she made her way towards the Rest Inn Peace. It was a shabby looking building, and seemed to have suffered many disasters. She'd only been there once before, but she remembered it being rather ominous. Walking inside, she looked about at the patrons. She saw an older troll, who although seemed wizened and balding, had an air of wisdom about him. Another troll was strangely thin and gangly looking. Khiskiva thought she could make out a growing moss pattern, struggling to grow on his skin. She shook away her prejeduce against forest trolls, and asked if they had seen a troll named Zasien.

They answered her quickly, and pointed him out. There he was, meditating by the fireplace. He heard her voice, and didn't look pleased. Khiskiva trained to keep her anger, in an effort to block her her sadness.

"Saprahsed ta see meh?" She asked, trying to lighten his mood.

Zasien didn't look at her. "Yes."

She felt her blood boil. The man was infuriating! How dare he be the father of her first child. She tried to calm herself, and continued.

"Choo lahk keeds?" She asked.

Zasien didn't seem to see where this was going. "Actually, I do."

"Good!" she said, releived. "Den dat'll make dis easia."

Again, he voiced his confusion. Khiskiva grabbed his hand, and put it to her stomach. "Choo a shaman. Feel di spirit in der, 'handsome'."

But she could feel the anger in him. There was no joy in his eyes, and Khiskiva had honestly thought he might be happy. After all, didn't men enjoy breeding? Passing on their lineage? Wouldn't he be proud to have a child? Of course, not with her. A Sandfury. Even as they spoke, her mind swam with excuses.

"Is it gold you want? I can give you that."

She looked at him, horrified. "Gold?"

Somewhere, the smaller troll with moss had winced, and voiced dissaproval with Zasien's words. It didn't matter now. She knew of this shaman's true spirit.. and it was far uglier than any Sandfury blood she had. "Ah'm not a whore, you son of a.."

He was bigger than her. He could probably kill her, if she acted on the blind rage that she felt. Khiskiva chose to leave, feeling alone and lost. If even his own father wouldn't accept his existence, what could she hope for the rest of the world? She considered options, while walking back to the zepplin. She didn't have to keep the child..

"Ah'm detta den 'im," she muttered. "Ah'll shwo dat bastad, dat even if 'e dwon wannit, 'is chil' gonna learn di San'fureh weys. Di ol' weys.. an den.."

Khiskiva felt calm again. Hatred swelled in her chest, and buried itself into her heart. She pushed it down, into the place she knew her child was growing.

[Zasein]

Zasien took his hammer to the human's skull, crushing it, spattering blood and brains out on the wall behind it. The warrior he had just killed was killing horde still in training, and he was in one of the worst moods he'd ever found himself in. The human had probably felt a lot of pain before he killed it, both its arms were twisted at odd angles, one of its legs were frozen, and half of its face was burnt away.

He'd been roving through Hillsbrad, killing whatever alliance he'd come across, even avoiding the guards to kill them in the center of their town, Southshore, taking out his anger at himself on them.

He'd thought that he could just learn from his mistake, and move on. He was wrong. Now she was with a child. That was the way things are. The fact was, he would be a father now. It wasn't that the child would be a halfbreed, it didn't bother him, it was the mother. He didn't want to be a father of a child of a woman he didn't love. He couldn't change that now though.

He knew he wouldn't be a father to the child, he couldn't, it wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be fair, not to the child, not to her, when he knew it wouldn't be a loving relationship. He was sorry for how he'd acted, when she told him. He was angry at himself, and shocked, and maybe even scared. He didn't want to accept responsibility for his actions.

Zasien made his way back to Tarren Mill. He had decided to write a letter, apologizing, not that it mattered. He didn't really care if she didn't read it, or if she forgave him, or even if she cared. He arrived in the tavern, and sat down and wrote it, checking it over when he finished, and finding it to be what he wanted to say. It read:

I'm sorry for how I acted when you told me, I know you probably don't give a damn. I am a bastard. I don't really care if your reading this, or if you even care, but know this, I'll always be there, for you and the child, to do whatever is in my power to help. But I won't be able to be its father any more than by blood, no matter how hard I tried.

- Zasien

He put Khiskiva's name on the envelope, and dropped it into the mailbox, knowing that it would be sent to her by arcane means.

[Vilmah]

She hadn't been in Orgrimmar long, before the letter reached her. Khiskiva usually didn't check her mail. Who would send her anything? But she'd made a few purchases at the auction house, and allong with the new pair of leather pants she recieved, there seemed to be a note. From Zasien.

"Sorreh fo' ho ah acted," she murmured aloud. "Alweys be der.. won' beh able tah..."

Truthfully, she'd hoped he would have had a change of heart. She'd taken a liking to his kind nature, his polite way of speaking. Now it was clear that he didn't care for her at all. She'd been used and tossed aside like a tool. At least in Zul'Farrak, a man would have been glad for an heir. Zasien would much rather have his child dead, so he wouldn't have to see her again.

She tore the note in half, and let the pieces litter to the ground. Then she incinerated them. It was then that she caught a glimpse of the obsidian band on her arm, and remembered the one who gave it to her. Sulajin offered to help with her rage and fire. He was also a rival of sorts, to Zasien. Perhaps if she could learn to harness the passionate fire inside...

Khiskiva removed the band from her arm. Holding it in her hands, she felt the magic within it, and thought of Sulajin. He'd been rather friendly, too.

[Sulajin]

The obsidian band shimmered for a moment, then uncoiled from itself. The tiny snake stared up at her for a moment, then nodded it's head. Once more it took it's tail in it's mouth. Then it continued to take more of it's mass until it curled in upon itself and was no more.


Deep in the Burning Steppes Sulajin was at work. He sat calmly in a chair, quietly chipping away at a small amethyst stone. He poked a small hole into the emerging structure and looped a few lengths of thread into it. Upon these threads he proceeded to hang a small weight he had gotten from a fisherman. He nodded at his work in satisfaction.

That was when the obsidian snake bit curled over his arm.

"What's this? She needs my help allready? I suppose I'd best be on my way then, no sense sitting here."

Sulajin walked out of his lair, and slung himself onto the waiting raptor's back. It snarled impatiently as Sulajin opened the path to Orgrimmar.

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva watched the snake dissappear on itself, and would have been startled if her anger hadn't been gripping her nerves. She imagined that Sulajin knew of her want for his help, and decided to stay where she was in case he'd search for her.

Fine, she thought. If Zasien is so eager to forget about me, he won't mind if I learn from Sulajin. I wonder if Sulajin will mind helping me in this condition..

She sighed irritatingly, and leaned against the outside wall of the bank. Several trolls have her menacing looks, all Darkspear by the look of them. She scolwed back, baring her teeth challengingly. Her large tusks looked slightly less menacing, after Zasien healed them slightly.. but they managed to get her point accross. The other trolls left her be, for now, and she settled with her back against the wall, looking sullen.

[Sulajin]

Sulajin arrived in the Valley of Spirits, as usual, immediately setting off to find Khiskivia.

He searched high and low for her, occasionally mistaking a poof of red hair in the crowd for his newfound friend until eventually he came across her.

Sulajin bowed down as he approached her. Quite a beauty, foul of temper and such passion. It was invigorating. Even leaning on the side of a building he could see she wouldn't hesitate to gore anyone who she decided she didn't like.

"So, choo needed my help?"

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva's mood brightened at the sight of Sulajin. Finally.. a troll with some sense. She approached him, her arms folded accross her chest. The expression on her sand-beaten face was a mixture of hope and fury.

"..ah gotta bit o' a prollem, wit' Zasien," she began. The trolless tried to find the words, but instead shook off the lessons of diplomacy the Horde was trying for force on her. Why be polite? He was a real troll. "Dat' uppety shaman ain' swo 'appeh wit' meh, yanno. 'ting is, ah got 'is chil' now."

She shifted her feet uncomfortably, and cursed herself for looking weak. Standing up straight again, she spit on the ground and scowled. "'e 'tinks issa big mistek. ah'd lahk ta gut 'em.." She added fiercely. "But ah figga, wha do dat? If whacha say troo, ah can tek all o' dat angah an' use it."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin hops off of his raptor which immediately bolts to try and rob a young Orc trying to sell his fish.

"Walk wit' me, mon. So... Zasien don' like de idea of a successor? Somet'in probably be wrong wit' him."

Sulajin chuckles.

"An ya, choo can be usin dat anga... if I was choo I'd use it ta gut Zasien first off, but dat's not de point."

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva shook her head, and walked beside Sulajin.

"Guttin' 'im raght now dwon' beh sucha good ahdea. Unfatianatleh, e's a lot strongah den meh, but.." she frowned and shook her head, looking honestly confused. "Ah dwon get dis mon.. whea ah com fram, dey'd be happeh ta 'ave a chil'. Sumptin' ta learn from dem. Ah kno' ah ain' all Dahkspea.. an' 'e prolleh 'etes meh fo' dat, but 'is chil's gonna learn di ol' San'fureh weys wedda 'e lahks it o' not. Speccialleh since 'e won' be aroun' ta teach 'im anytin' else.."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin grins. Now this had potential...

"Sandfury ways? Hmm... I'd like ta say I could help choo wit' dat, but I don' know dem. Be interestin' ta see how choo do t'ings though.

Tell ya what. Why don' choo stay at my place, I can help choo ta use de rage an' de fia, an' choo can teach me some of de ways of de Sandfury when de whelp is born. Whatchoo t'ink?"

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva smiled.

"Dat sounds lahk a good adea, but ah dwono if ah'll be able ta stay wichoo afta 'is born.." She said, thinking out loud. "ah dwono nuttin' 'bout takin' care o' chilrens, ah 'tink ah'd need some 'elp. Dass whah ah went ta Zasien innidi fist plece. 'tought 'ed wanna 'elp raise 'em, di bastad.."

[Sulajin]

"Raising children? How hard can it be? I was raised, an' rememba most of dat. Anyways, choo got some time ta think about it, until den choo be welcome at my house. Betta tell Zasien though."

Sulajin grins wickedly.

The fish selling Orc curses and tries to club Sulajin's raptor.

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva grinned at Sulajin.

"Choo 'tink 'e's gonna ker? 'e said 'e dwon' ker if ah fo'give 'em.." she shrugged. "Ah guess ah shad let 'im kno', jus' in kes. An den.. mebee ah'll come back wicha. Ah got nottin' fo' me, 'ere. Gimme a sec.."

She unstrapped her bag, and rummaged about until she found a piece of old beat up paper. On one side was a short list of things she needed to buy for her leatherworking. Khiskiva tore off a piece big enough, and ignited her fingertip. It burned brightly for a few seconds, until the fire die down, and she used the heat to burn a note into the paper's surface.

I can't forgive you for being a coward. Your child will grow without knowing his father's love, and that sickens me. Fortunately, he has me. My Sandfury ways will be passed down, as well as Sulajin's teachings. We'll be staying with him, now.

Khiskiva

Folding the note several times, she wrote Zasien's name on the front, and dropped it into the mailbox. Then, she picked up her bag, and smiled at Sulajin.

"Aftah choo."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin chuckles.

"One of de reasons choo need ta let Zasien know what gonna happen is ta see him squirm. We don' get along so good, an' it jus' gonna be absolutely hillarious ta watch him have ta deal wit' dat.

Now den, we got a long walk ahead of us, best catch de Zeppelyn ta Stranglet'orn Vale."

Sulajin turns to leave the great city, his raptor left to loot fish and generally enjoy itself.

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva nodded, following behind Sulajin. She doubted that Zasien would squirm at all. He wanted no part in his child's life, why should it matter what she does with him? Her anger towards him got weaker as she considered how kind he was before.. but it returned in full force when she thought of his letter.

[Zasein]

Zasien checked in the mailbox halfheartedly, doing it more out of habit then desire to receive anything. To his surprise, he found a note from Khiskiva. He opened it, and read it. What it said wasn't surprising, except for the Sulajin part, he expected no different. He didn't deserve to be forgiven. The child would probably be happier without him taking part in raising it.

[Sulajin]

((Damnit, Zas! Stop being a pussy and come do stuff! This is supposed to be open RP and it's about to die!))

[Niethan]

((Don't -make- me come in there, Zasien.))

[Vilmah]

((rotflol.. everyone gang up on Zasien for being a bad baby-daddy.))

[Malakim]

((you know how much child support you are gonna have to pay... she will get half your epics man))

[Sulajin]

((hey, since I'm going to be the landlord, her living in my place and all, I'm taking a portion of child support!))

[Malakim]

((Awesome she has epic rent))

[Zasein]

((Feh. You people are so mean. He's gonna disappear for a few days. I'll put up a story tomorrow. Plus, she can't MAKE him do anything. What do you guys expect? Him to say "Okay, I'll be a daddy!" in two days?))

[Vilmah]

((Of course she can't make him do anything.. that's why we're all surprised he's being such a jerk about it. We figured Zasien'd be more of a stand-up kinda guy. Instead he's kind of acting like a deadbeat.. lol))

[Malakim]

((I just couldn't resist and epic loot child support joke come on now, that was mildly entertaining))

[Sulajin]

((Zasien's a worse person then Sul... I'm going to have so much fun with that.

No, we didn't expect you to change your mind all of a sudden, maybe try and stop her from going with Sul, who is undeniably homicidal, and cause something to get other people into the RP with...

As it stands, we're going to have to walk through the Alliance lands, hopefully Nouri or someone will come to do some RP with that..))

[Zasein]

((You'll see. He's just wussing out. He'll come to. I just am tired of playing his flawless, stand-up well-grounded character, so he's gonna act like a deadbeat for a bit. He isn't a bad person, hes just dealing with a lot right now. He just can't deal with it at the moment.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go run over some aliens in a Warthog. I'm tired of WoW, tired of RP, and so, I'll be back tomorrow.))

[Sulajin]

(( :P Sul at least had good intentions.

Anyways, all joking aside, have fun.))

[Malakim]

((Alright I will play :D))


Since his return Malakim had been playing with the children at the orphanage fairly regularly. Today he had a little troll with him that he was walking around town with, he lifted her up upon Kiwi's back and held her little hand as he walked backwards through town trying to point things out to her like an imitation tour guide. He was moving along nicely until he tripped over a distraught fish vendor and fell headlong into Kishkiva.

Rubbing his head he got up and said, "Oh I am sorry I guess I should watch where I am going more often..." He looked up at the face of the person he fell over and thought to himself, wonderful of all the people in town it has to be her...

"Oh, hello again. I um... didn't see you back there I was just uh... walking this little one through town" He pointed back to where the troll was still on kiwi's back. "I don't know what to say, other than..." he sniffed at the air around her taking in something new than last they had met. "Congratulations?"

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva looked awestruck at Malakim. The last time they'd met, he was rude and surly, insulted her and her homeland, and had been a general ass. She noticed the child, and frowned. She would have let him have it with her fist if he hadn't said "congratulations". How in the hell did he know!? She'd only been this way for a little over two days!

The Sandfury grabbed Malakim by the throat and growled into his face. "Gwo tek keh o' choo chil' befo' ah break choo fece."

She then let him go and continued scowling as she walked with Sulajin.

[Malakim]

He got to his feet and thought, well I do suppose that could have gone worse. He laughed a little and walked over to where Kiwi and Kallia, the little troll, were still waiting. Kallia looked up at Malakim and said, "She wasn't very nice to you, is she one of those mean trolls you tell us about?"

Malakim laughed at that and told her, "No she is just a little misguided and thinking of a lot of things right now, which made her angry when I fell on her. You know kind of like when I tell you it's time for dinner and you are playing a game with your friends." This made the little troll laugh a little. The hunter continued on "So what do we do when people act that way?" She looked confused, but then smiled and shyly said, "We help them?"

"That's right kiddo" said the troll with a smile.

Malakim, Kiwi, and Kallia caught up with Kishkiva and her companion and stood in front of her, "Well now aren't you a little angry for an expectant mother? What could be going on to make you so angry, beautiful?" he said with a smile

[Sulajin]

"Ah, choo be a feisty one, don'choo? Any reason ya be so upset wit' him?"

Sulajin grins as he walks.

((So much for Malakim entering the story... press the attack, Mal!))

[Vilmah]

"What could be going on to make you so angry, beautiful?"

Was he.. flirting with her?? In front of a child? She tried to smile as she explained to Sulajin. "Dis' guy 'ere call meh a 'dirt troll' when 'e fist met meh.. an' was angreh 'cuz ah'm a San'fureh. Now..." she looked at Malakim skeptically. "..'es fadda o' de year. Choo kno' pefectleh well wah ah'm angreh wichoo! An' besi's dat, 'ow in di 'ell diju kno' ah'm expectin', anewhe??"

[Malakim]

"Hey now, I apologized for the dirt troll crack, if it makes you feel better you can call me a dirt troll. As for little Kallia here I am not her father, I help out at the orphanage now. These kids make me happy..."

"I don't expect you to be all forgiving or anything, but that kind of anger wasn't all for me there is something else weighing on your mind besides the way I make you feel, I was attempting to be nice and help you out. You know kindness, being nice to others listening to their problems, helping them out." He looked back at Kallia to make sure she could hear him, he felt this was something important for her to know.

"As for knowing how you were with child, it's not that hard you smell different than last time..." He sniffed again, "More... Sparkly I suppose."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin stops to glower at Malakim.

"A dirt Troll? Listen mon, choo want ta watch out fo' dat kid choo best learn ta watch ya mout'."

[Sulajin]

Wait, what?

"Sparkly? She smells sparkly? Does dat even mean any'tin?"

[Malakim]

Turning to her companion Malakim said, "Yes I called her a dirt troll, it wasn't the most wise of all the things I have ever said but being a dirt troll myself it does give me some right to call another the same."

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva's lip twitched. Sparkly? Was this troll inhaling dream dust? She shook the thought out of her head.

"Well 'tanks fo' yo' concen, but di trut is it ain' somptin' ya can 'elp wit'," she said while trying not to let Kallia hear her. "Is somptin' ta do wit' di fadda, if ya can even call 'im dat."

[Malakim]

"Yes she smells sparkly, you know one of those wondeful smells that make you feel better, usually it comes from the children I stay with. However, smelling it on someone older usually means they are carrying a child. Plus I can smell that wise one on her still." Laughing to himself a little. "It's not that hard to put two and two together."

[Sulajin]

"Wise one? I hope choo talkin about me, mon. Because I haven' seen too many wise people lately.

An' I haven' been wit' her."

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva gripped her fists and frowned, ready to rip out Malakim's throat.

"Wahs one?" She growled. "Choo mean Zasien? 'e's about as wahs as dirt. An' a cowah'd twoo."

[Malakim]

"So it has something to do with the wise one huh?" he remembered how their whole last conversation had gone... It wasn't too wonderful but that was back then...

"Well, I see children everyday that have no parents at all, all they have are the older ones that watch after the whole lot of them. It's not the best life for them, that's why I try and take them out when I can." He turned and smiled back at Kallia. "And just having a little contact with one being can make them so much happier, so even if he is being so not understanding at the moment you still have much time to think about what to do. After all most trolls I know don't have their children in a weekend. Even if he is not involved with your young one, you still have the opportunity to make things wonderful for..." He sniffed at the air once more, "Him or her, I can't tell yet."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin grins at Khis' statements.

"I feel like I should hug ya, mon. I jus' be happy ta finally find someone dat sees de trut' about Zasien."

[Malakim]

((Damn it's hard to keep up with both of you))

Malakim turned to Sulajin and laughed. "No, not you I have yet to make an accurate picture of you yet..."

"So I was right he did do something stupid to make you so mad, well then I see you have two options you can either stay mad or you can at least talk to him. I won't tell you what to do about that, it's entirely up to you."

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva sighed and frowned, shaking her head at Malakim. "Dwon' wan' nuttin' ta do wit' 'is chil'.. swo 'e won'. An' yeah, took a whahl, but ah see 'is troo colahs now," she said to Sulajin. "Shoulda 'spected nuttin' less dan a troll dat 'ang wit' dat Zusteakai. House o' Kai.. what was ah tinkin'? Ugh."

[Malakim]

"The important thing is that you learned something from it all..." he scratched his head, "I guess? I don't even know anymore... I do know that there is more to being a father than providing blood, perhaps there is someone else can help you raise your young one?"

[Sulajin]

"Well I agreed ta help her out in dat respect. Gonna give her a place ta stay while she be pregnant, at de very least."

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva did a double take at Sulajin. "Wet, go back a sec.. cho gonna 'elp me out in dat respect? Was das sapposed ta mean?"

[Sulajin]

Sulajin raises an eyebrow.

"It means I gonna be givin choo a place ta stay, an' food an' wata.

Why? Whatchoo t'ink it means?"

He grins at her.

[Malakim]

Malakim grinned at Sulajin, "Well, that is very kind of you to offer her a place." Looking around a confused look took hold on his face, "There are many places around here she could stay if needed, the barracks may smell funny sometimes but there is always room. However, I was referring to when she has this child... what will you do then?"

[Vilmah]

"Dat's what ah was wonderin' ta," she said with a smirk, folding her arms accross her chest.

[Sulajin]

Sulajin smiles and bows down towards Khis.

"Afta choo had ya kid, choo be welcome ta stay at my place as long as ya need. My house is ya's. An' everyt'in dat comes wit' it."

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva chuckled slightly. It sounded like a sharp cackle.

"Dat's sho nice o' ya.. bat whachoo wan' in return, ne? Ah neva hed o' no mon dat be so generous witout wantin' somtin' in return."

[Malakim]

Malakim's puzzled look returns as he goes over to Kallia and lifts her off Kiwi to give him a break and holds her on his back. "So, my question remains then Sulajin, you offer aid to her but what of her young one, you don't seem to interested that."

[Sulajin]

"I jus' want a chance ta see how Zasien takes it mos'ly. Afta dat, I could use an assistant fo' my Juju. We'll give dat a try, hmm?"

[Sulajin]

"De child?" Sulajin shrugs. "She said dat she only need a place ta stay while she be pregnant. Afta dat, though, I don' know. As long as she don' give me a reason ta kick her out, she can be stayin."

[Malakim]

"What!? you merely care to get a rise out of another? and then you would have a child as your assistant, that is not a young ones place. They deserve smiles and happiness, not servitude."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin scowls at Malakim. What did he know of raising children? He merely clung to other's abandoned offspring to make himself feel like a better person.

"I meant dat Khis could be my assistant! An' what's wrong wit' makin children work? Teaches dem how ta stand on dere own when dey don' be children anymo'. No one said anyt'in about servitude."

[Malakim]

"Work teaches them nothing but work" Malakim turned to smile at Kallia again, "These young ones need more than that, they need to have fun they need to be able to play with each other, learn the good things in life first. Work can wait till they are older. They must learn to smile so that they may have the strength to live"

[Zasein]

((/ignore halo, I had teh inspiration.))

Zasien stepped heavily into the second story of the inn at Tarren Mill. He'd noticed it a few minutes ago, he couldn't feel the power of the spirits. He needed to meditate. He'd never actually needed to meditate before, he just did it because it calmed his mind and his soul. He slumped onto a bed, his armor still on, unconsciousness gripping at him. The elements themselves were strangling his thoughts. He fought for consciousness for a few seconds longer, before his eyes closed.

A dreamscape opened before him, devoid of life, absent of everything. The world populated itself, and he stood on a spire, looking down at a land divided equally into four bits, a desert, a swathe of lava, an ocean, and the fourth he could not see the ground, so covered in clouds and mist. He thought he saw green foliage.

A wolf materialized before him, motioning for him to follow with its transparent snout. It ran down a spiraling path to the ground from the top of the spire at amazing speed. He felt himself dragged along, carried with it on a journey through the elements. First it took him to fire. He could feel its heat, without pain, as he walked on the surface of the lava. "Live is like a fire, feed it, and it will burn strong, but without fuel, it will dwindle. Extinguish it, and it will burn no longer." The ghost wolf said, words springing from its inhumaniod muzzle. The fire danced up around him, burning him, extinguishing him. "You are but a life, and you have wrought a life."

He was taken to the water, walking over its placid surface. The calm before the storm. Something told him. It welled up underneath him, heaving, with fury. "Who are you, to abandon a life." The ghost wolf said, sitting calmly on the surface of the water, as he was drug underneath the waves, gasping for breath.

He fell into the sand, drying almost instantly. The ghost wolf was standing in front of him. It fled, out across the endless reaches of earth, free to fly. The sand held him back, keeping him from following, like an unspeakable urge told him to. A booming voice shouted out, "You were strong shaman, stay strong. Be strong. Or you will be destroyed." The sand engulfed him, squeezing at his body, finding its way into his throat and his eyes.

He felt a blast of wind, and the sand was thrown away. He opened his eyes, finding himself suspended in mist. The ghost wolf was there before him, glaring at him, standing on nothing. "You are a storm that abandoned its fury. Feel who you are, and find it again." The currents of air holding him up let him fall, and he plummeted downwards, landing hard back on the spire.

The ghost wolf was here also, staring into his eyes. "Who are you?" He asked.

"I am you. I am your spirit." It answered, unmoving.

"My spirit is within me." He told it, staring at it indignation.

"Not anymore, I hauled my ass out about five years ago." It said harshly.

"What?"

"Oh I stuck around, sorta there, but sorta not. I just got fed up a few minutes ago."

"Fed up?"

"Of course, I got mad at your wussyness. So I decide, let the mind fend for itself, if its gonna be a jackass. See how it likes the spirits then." The ghost wolf sat back on its haunches, feigning indignation.

"Wussyness?!?" He said, angry.

The ghost wolf launched itself at him, planting its front paws on his chest, nose brushing his face. "Yes, you were too scared to accept the truth of your actions."

He tried to fight it off, but he couldn't move, only speak. "What do you mean."

"The damn truth is staring you in the face, and you can't see it. The fact of the matter is, your a father, and the sooner you learn to accept it, the less painful I can make this be." It said, snarling.

He opened his mouth to argue, but shut it again, realizing that the wolf... his spirit was right. "Your right." He managed.

The wolf let him up, "Damn right I am." It said, leaning back on its haunches again. "And your letting a homicidal fire maniac do whatever he wants with your child, idiot. Your letting it be brought up by a crazy Sandfury lady, who happens to be it's mother, but thats beside the point."

"Are you suggesting that I take a child away from its mother?" He demanded, indignant.

"Are you dense? No, I'm just telling you to go be a father." It growled.

"But I don't love her! What kind of family would that be?" He argued.

"You slept with her, didn't you? That was your own damn fault. I suppose your just going to have to learn to love her." The wolf told him.

"But..."

"No buts, this isn't you. You used to be strong, decisive. You used to know what to do. That was because you had me, you had the elements to guide you. And you won't listen." The ghost wolf interrupted, leaping up, placing its paws on his shoulders, and its face in his face. "Be strong, Zasien, or lose who you are."

That was the truth and he knew it. "Your right." He said.

"Are you ready to become yourself again, rather than this shell that you are now!" It said, looking him in the eye dangerously.

"Yes. I am. I'm ready."

"Are you ready to do what is right, with every last bit of breath in your body, to the very end!"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Good, because your yourself again then."

The land around him evaporated as the wolf leaped into his chest. The dream faded into darkness, then he woke up.

He opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling of the tavern, bathed in a cold sweat. He could feel the elements around him again, the dream still fresh in his mind. He called on his ancestors to take him to Orgrimmar, and he stood at its gates a few minutes later. He released the scarab Khiskiva had given him into the air, hoping it would lead him to her. He set out after it, into the gates.

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva looked from Malakim to Sulajin, and back again. They were arguing over the fate of her child, and it was irritating. Finally, she put her foot down.

"If choo bot don' min', ah'm don listenen ta ya two argya. Ah'll raise di chil' as bes ah can, an' tank Sulajin fo' bein' sa kahnd," she said with a nod in his direction. "Ah dwon mah bein' an assistan', long as dats de onleh paymen' ya requar. An' once di chil' is barn.. mebbe we'll tink o' suptin' den, ne?"

[Malakim]

"You may do as you wish I didn't mean to argue, I have just seen a lot of children that have been in bad places, I have seen the sadness that fills their eyes when they first show up."

Malakim turns to Kallia and gives her a little hug before continuing, "I just wanted you to know that there are people who will help, and I just wanted to offer help in anyway that I can. I wish the best for you and your child, just treat the young one well."

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva frowned and looked off into the distance. "O' 'carse ah will.. S'ma chil', afta' all. 'e gonna be ressed jus' lahk aneh odda San'fureh. 'cept mebbe wit' a lil' more," she said with a smirk at Sulajin.

She felt a flutter of wings land on her shoulder. It was a familliar feeling, and she didn't need to look to know that it was a scarab beetle. The trolless was confused for a moment, as to where it came from. Then she remembered who'd she'd given one to, and looked in the direction from where it came.

[Sulajin]

Sulajin smiles back

"It be choo child, mon. I be willin ta help if ya ask it..."

He follows her gaze, seeing her look off into the distance.

[Zasein]

((Have you ever gotten a pep talk from your smart mouthy spirit?))

Zasien came over a rise, following the scarab. There she was, speaking to Sulajin, and that hunter who had confronted her earlier. As soon as he was close enough, he said, his voice steady, ignoring the other two, directly to Khiskiva: "I'm sorry Khiskiva, I was a coward, I was wrong. I thought I couldn't be a father, and I was wrong. I know I don't deserve anything for how I acted, but I hope you can find it in you to forgive me."

[Malakim]

Malakim turned to Kallia, "You see sweetie, sometimes people just need some time to get things through their head's to come to their senses."

He lifted her back onto his shoulders and Kallia reached out to pull on Zasein's mohawk asking the shaman, "Your gonna be a daddy?"

Malakim chuckled a little smiling at the newcomer, awaiting his answer to the innocent question.

[Sulajin]

"If choo don' ditch out again. Dat was a horrible t'ing ya did, Zasien. An' choo say I be a monster? I neva abandoned my child."

[Zasein]

Zasien took the mohawk pull without flinching. He ignored Sulajin's comment, the mage was right. "I hope so." He answered the young troll, waiting for Khiskiva's response.

[Malakim]

Kallia looked puzzled at Zasein, "You hope you are gonna be a daddy? I don't understand, I thought you either were one or you weren't"

Malakim turned to Kallia, "Well look at you trying to be all insightful kiddo" grinning back at Zasein the troll added, "She does have a point though wise one."

[Vilmah]

"Fo'give choo?" She looked at Zasien in disbelief. He'd embarassed her three times. "Choo mehd me feel lahk.. lahk nuttin'. An' choo offad meh gold. Gold! How couldju? Ah dwon kno' if ah.. if ah can even lwook achoo.."

Khiskiva turned away. Her anger had become sadness. Water dripped from her palms.

[Zasein]

"Thats what I'm sorry for." He said, stepping forward. He wanted to comfort her, but considering she was probably angry at him, and justly so.

"I don't think there is anything I could do to deserve your forgiveness. But still I ask."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin scowls and pushes back at Zasien.

"Leave her be, mon. Choo done quite a bit allready."

[Vilmah]

She thought about it, and thought hard. Zasien was asking for forgiveness. He seemed more like the kind and polite person she'd met before this trouble began.. but how could she forget the way he treated her? And Sulajin.. he seemed to genuinely want to help. Sulajin was more like her own kind, like the Sandfury. He was a practicer of the old ways, and it attracted her to him. However.. they had exiled her, and nearly killed her. There was much she could not forget. She wondered if Zasien was telling the truth.

"..ah dwon' need choo gol', if dat's whachoo tink'd 'elp," she said quietly. "An' if choo gonna look at meh lahk ah'm swom kanda crazeh ol' worl' troll, den ah dwon wanchoo neah meh oh dis chil'. 'e dwon desev choo prejeduce. An ah dwon desev choo spaht."

[Zasein]

Zasien blocks the push, catching Sulajin's hand on his bracer. "I don't know what I was thinking then, when I said that. I want to help, in any way a father can." He looks down at his feet for a moment, then back at her, "Have I ever shown you any spite because of who you were born as?"

[Vilmah]

She paused, considering.

"..ah'm no' lahk choo. Ah'm no' lahk de Dahkspea, an' di Hard dwon tehk ta mah kahnd verreh well," she said thoughtfully. "An' 'alfbreed childrens is usually kille'. Ah guess ah tought.. choo maht be lahk di res'. Choo didn' wanna 'ave anneh part in dis befo', but ah'd neva 'ave given 'im up. ..choo relleh wanna be a fadda, den?"

[Sulajin]

Sulajin scowls, watching the goings on.

"How long untill choo change ya mind again, Zasien? Choo betrayed her once, wha' assurance is dere it won' happen again? Choo be askin her ta risk herself, an' de life of her child. How can choo justify dat?"

In the distance, Sulajin's raptor ran off under a hail of stones.

[Zasein]

"Yes. I shouldn't have even considered leaving the child fatherless." He said, nodding. "And again, I'm sorry."

[Vilmah]

Confusion was written all over Khiskiva's face. She looked from Zasien to Sulajin, at a loss for what to say or do. She wished her temper would kick in, at this point. It would have been much easier if she could just stay angry with Zasien. But how could she be angry with him? He was trying to do the right thing. He'd apologized. What more could she ask for?

"..choo gotta prollem wit' me keepin' 'im a San'fureh?"

[Sulajin]

"Probably not now. But if de past is any indication he gonna have a problem wit' it once it starts ta happen.

Dat an' Zasien don' really have a lot of respect fo' de old ways. He allready sold out his own culture once."

[Vilmah]

"Ah can' denah a chil' 'is fadda," Khiskiva mused. "Afta ahl, is' 'is two. But der ehn no wey 'e's gonna grow up wit'out di San'fureh weys innim. Ah dwon mahnd raisin' 'im Dahkspea, but na' all de wey. Der be sam tings 'e can' liv wit'out. An' ah dwon inten' on givin' 'em up."

[Zasein]

"I suppose it depends on what ways you think cannot be done without. I'd rather see the Sandfury's lust for blood and suffering not passed on." Zasien said, pausing briefly, then continuing. "But one cannot forget one's roots."

[Vilmah]

"e can' be ahll dat bad," she said sympathetically. "e offahd ta 'elp when choo didn', an besies, wasswron' wit' a lil' bloodlust? Mo' den 'alf o' owa ceremanies an' celebratins envahlv blood. S'nottin' sa verreh strenge.. give us a connection ta da spirits, anni di Loa."

[Zasein]

((Sorry, edited that out on you. Bad me!))

Zasien sighs, shaking his head. "Bloodlust also causes war and death. Meaningless sacrifice. But I assume there is more to the sandfury ways than that."

He stood up to his full hight, "I'd never abandon you, I promise. I will not make the same mistake again."

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva admired Zasien, from a physical standpoint. He was about as tall and well framed as she'd ever seen, but besides that, he was starting to act responsibly. If only he could stop speaking in that odd orcish way.. but no matter. This problem was being solved.

She nodded in agreeance. "Alrigh' den. Ah guess.. ah'll lecha kno when di runt is bo'n. 'till den ah'll try an' leh low."

[Zasein]

"I could get an officers home here in Orgrimmar, or even a place in Se'jin village if you would prefer." He said.

[Vilmah]

She shook her hand dissmissively. "Dwon worreh 'bout it. Ah ain' 'elpless. Ah got plenteh o' tings ta do 'till ah'm too far in ta do mar. Won' 'afta stop fightin' fo' a coupla mont's anneweh."

[Zasein]

"Alright." He said, nodding. "Its settled then."

He relaxed back into a normal troll hunch. He was going to be a father.

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva saw him relax, and thought this would be a good time to show him some Sandfury culture. She reached up and patted his cheek effectionately, smiling as friendly as she could with her large tusks in the way.

"Good den. Choo bette prepeh choosef fo' di bithin', s'not gona beh pretteh," she said with a smirk.

[Zasein]

"I'm sure I can handle it." He said, managing a smile. She was nice enough, and he knew he had some affection for her, more than he had thought.

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva cackled. "Choo betta be able ta 'andle it, choo gotta be di fist wan 'e see's. Da's 'ow it wo'ks," she said confidently, giving him a firm pat on the face.

[Zasein]

He grinned back, his smile more genuine, "I guess you'll forgive me then?"

[Vilmah]

She nodded, trying hard not to be happy with his grin. He actually seemed pleased. "Ja, ah does ah guess."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin's cheshire grin spreads.

"Well, I guess dat means choo also gonna stop bodderin me about de ways I stick wit'? De ones choo abandoned?"

[Zasein]

"I'll always bother you about your stupidity, Sulajin." He said, laughing sightly.

"I'm glad that you could forgive me, Khiskiva. I guess this is farewell for now?" He continued, grin fading a bit. He found that he did in fact want to see her again, no matter what he may have thought before. Despite what had happened over the last few days, he found happiness in life. There was always the future, to mend the past.

[Vilmah]

Khiskiva nodded. "Ah'll be sho ta contact ya when it's tahm. 'till den.." She shrugged.

[Sulajin]

Sulajin nods curtly to Zasien. He rests his hand on Khis' shoulder to stear her towards the Zeppelyn.

"We'll catch you lata den, Zasien. But we need ta get goin, de Zeppelyn should be leavin soon."

[Vilmah]

She waved goodbye to Zasien, and followed Sulajin's lead. Things seemed to be coming into place a lot better than she exprected. Perhaps bringing new life into the world wouldn't be a burden. It could strengthen her resolve. She would feed the fire of her child as a Sandfury, and with Sulajin's help, he could be even stronger than that..