A beast

[Barke]

The boat from Menethil Harbor to Darkshore seemed to take forever. Barke's mind wasn't really on that boat though. His thoughts wandered around to the events that have taken place over th past few months. His trip to Felwood where his people who shared his name attempted to kill him. The night of the party at Booty Bay. The young orc he nearly killed in Duskwood. And then there was Lupa. The troll he held close to his heart. He was still in a foul mood as well. He had been enjoying battle a bit too much again. It was hard to control himself during fights which he learned in Duskwood a few nights ago. He hated himself for that. His brothers were right. He was just some beast running rampant on a battlefield. Of course his brothers were not alive because of the beast.

As they neared Darkshore something caught his eye taking him away from his thoughts. It was a druid cat form but not like the ones he was used to seeing. He watched out of the corner of his eye as it stalked towards him. He knew now what it was. The druid lunged forward as Barke ducked and rolled under the attack. Immediately he was back on his feet with his swords drawn. His eyes were glowing bright and he could feel the rage taking over. The druid transformed into a tauren and started casting some spell. Barke sent his foot into the taurens jaw interrupting the casting. In the same spin he landed three blows on the druid. The tauren backed away obviously not expecting the skill of his prey. Barke was about to go forward when his attention was brought to his side. A orc hidden nearby waiting for his chance to strike. In a cloud of smoke Barke was gone only to reappear seconds later slamming the hilt of his sword into the orcs face knocking him unconscious. He then lunged at the druid going into a deadly spin. Blow after blow landed on the druid as he was forced to back up more. The druid had run out of room. Barke took one step forward before the druid jumped out into the water. They were close enough to shore Barke thought as he jumped out after the druid. The tauren druid was halfway through anothre transformation before Barke landed on his back driving both swords down through the druids skull. They sank a bit before Barke pulled his swords out and started swimming for shore.

He was dripping wet when he made his way onto the docks. Two sentries were dragging the unconscious orc off the boat. They held him for a moment watching Barke approach. They recognized him and both elves glared at him. One started to speak but was cut short as Barke, in one small movement, took the orcs head off its shoulders with Silent Fang. The elves dropped the orc and drew their blades on him.

"Hmph. yer goin' to attack me over the death of that creature. He had it comin'. Attackin' people on the boat...." He waved his hand lazily to dismiss any response and made his way out of Auberdine. He had business to tend to here.

His mind drifted back to him as the fighting was over. He thought back to that troll once more. "I wonder how she is doin'......"

[Barke]

Again he found himself sitting on the steps across from the bank. Rhowen had asked him a line of questions that had set him back on his heels. He had answered but as he said the words they seemed hollow and he still was not sure if they were true. His thoughts drifted through the events of the last few months as he tried to figure it all out.

There he was leaning against a tree in Felwood his warrior brothers axe coming at his head. To think someone sharing his name would be the one to kill him. The axe pased over Barke's taking 2 inches off that left ear. Barke went into a spin slamming his fist into his brothers stomach and twice in his face. Dazed the elf fell backwards to the ground where Barke was on top of him. He slammed punch after punch into the elfs head. By the time he came to his senses the head of his brother was smashed in. He went to the chain around his brothers neck pulling of the obsidian leaf before falling back against the tree and closing his eyes.

Some time passed.....

Again there he was in Felwood. The druid camp. There were dead all around him as he stared at the druid in front of him. This was also his brother. He was going to turn him in to the patrol he had barely escaped from. Before Barke could do anything he was hit with moonfire. He jumped backwards in an attempt to get out of the way but he was in it. He hit the ground hard rolling a bit before coming to a stop. His wounds had opened back up again. He stood up quickly and shot his arm out towards the druid. A throwing knife flew straight into the druids throat. The druid clutched his neck trying to stop the flow of blood as Barke came towards him. The druid was on his knees when Barke got to him. Barke grabbed the knife pulling it out of the druids neck and plunging it four times into the druids face. He searched the body and relieved his brother of the obsidian pendant he had. He did not make it far before he passed out.

Rhowen was the one who found him and got him back to Stormwind.

He thought about it all for a moment. He had killed his own family in self defense but it did not settle with him any better. He knew th truth of it. He was in love with battle and his trip to Felwood had been full of battle. He had loved every minute of it even though he would not admit so out loud. His thoughts drifted further.

He was in Booty Bay. It was that party. The night he met Lupa. He did not even want to be here but Rhowen had convinced him it would be good to get out. Speaking of he did not even know where the warrior was. He let out a sigh and stared at his mug for a moment when Lupa sat down at his table. Something about the troll was keeping his attention. He was not sure what it was but he could not take his eyes off of her. The night ran by and the two ended on a little island wrapped in eachothers arms. He left Booty Bay that night with a heavy heart.

That was the start of a lot of his troubles right there. Falling for a troll. What was he thinking. He has not seen her in weeks. No one says anything. He huffs as he goes over the thoughts. No. It does not work because they did not give it a chance. Barke was willing to risk death just to see her again. He had visited the horde city just to try and find her. His last thought ended that subject. He was an idiot.

"hmph..." He stopped and glanced around hoping he had not caught anyones attention. He nodded once to himself and returned to his thoughts.

The silver haired paladin has moved out of the city. She sent him a letter stating she was staying away to prevent problems. Barke let out a sigh. He had done the insane paladin more wrong than she would know. He did not love her. He could not. No. Ones heart cannot be in more than one place not matter what she had said. She was just a troublemaker. Touching everything she should not. In all honestly Barke was not sad to hear that she was gone.

Then again the doubt about the troll was back in his head. Could he love someone after just one night? He did not know the answer. They cannot speak the same language and he has seen her twice total. He was interrupted from his thoughts by Rhowen. She asked him to come to Zul'Farrak with her to help some people out. He agreed and they headed out.

When he arrived in Tanaris they were waiting for him. He recognized the huntress and the rogue and greeted them. Once inside the evil troll infested place they got started. Barke accepted the beast as he cut through the trolls. It was a dance of death. An hour later they were done and everyone was covered in troll blood. This trip had given Barke more help than he realized. He activated his hearthstone and went back to Stormwind.

He needed a drink. He started walking towards the Pig and Whistle tavern. Once inside he was greeted by the rogue and huntress from before. He joined them at the table and took a quick glance around. He did not recognize many of the people at the table but he just gave a shrug and started his drinking. He listened intently to the stories they told. It was nice to be among people again. He continued drinking until the crowd started to get smaller and then took his leave.

He ended the night on the steps again but he was smiling. The questions Rhowen asked him plagued him all day because he did not know the answers. The truth is Barke loves battle. He lives for a good fight and will die in battle. The beast is a part of him and it keeps him alive. He accepts the beast now as he did when he was younger.

He had his answers......

[Lupa]

(( Oh to be a fly on the wall beside the steps across from the Stormwind Bank! What questions did Rhowen ask? What are the implications? What is around the corner? "Oh what a tangled web we weave....."

I love it! :twisted: ))


Edit: (( The NEXT shindig is going to be a barnstormer I think..))

[Lovely]

((Hehe. Love the writing, Barke! I knew you didn't love Lovely! hehe. Well, she is a troublemaker....))

[Barke]

((Well where would the fun be if everyone knew. And I actually doubt I will be makin' it to the next shindig since I will be going back to work soon. So hopefully I don't miss too much.))

[Barke]

He had to make another trip to Booty Bay. He really was trying to avoid the place so that he might avoid a conflict with the lady paladin but he needed more Cherry Grog. For the past couple night he had joined the Swordwaltzers for drinks. It was an enjoyable experience. They were all very close friends and it was refreshing enough to just here them talk among themselves. His flight ended and he made his way down to the bar. As he was purchasing the grog he over heard the two goblins talking to his right about a troll and a human who have been hanging around eachother here in Booty Bay. Barke's heart sank immediately.

He turned his attention to the closest table. So Lovely and Lupa were together now. He sighed. Well he might as well hang around and enjoy his grog while he waits for them to show up. For him it seemed that Lupa did not feel the same as him anymore and as for the paladin...well he would expect something like this from her. He was running low on friends and as the days pass it seems to get shorter and shorter.

Rhowen..Brardith....his brothers....his old guild...and now these two...

[Barke]

He finished one last mug before he got up from his seat. They were no where around and he could not wait like this. He turned to the counter and asked if the barkeep could pass a message along to Lupa if he saw her. The goblin of course agreed seeing as Barke was one of his best customers these days.

"Tell her if she needs anything from me to just send a letter through you....and tell her that I hope she will always be happy with Lovely as a companion and I will always love her."

He nodded once to himself and started the trip back to Stormwind. He was tired of these games. Maybe alone was not such a bad thing.

[Kurohane]

((Aww... :( Poor Barke. Does he need a hug? Or is he gonna get angsty and wind up making Kuro and Peppy tickle-spam him until he has no choice but to cheer up?))

[Barke]

((Oh he has been in a good mood since you guys have taken him drinking and especially last night with Pepp there. =P

At least before all the commotion started....decided it would be best to duck out at that point >.>

And please no tickle spams....))

[Kurohane]

((*snickers* Tickle-spam FTW.

But yeah, a bit of chaos last night... Things pretty much got settled back down and the last of it should hopefully get ironed out next time that Kaydan's online. >_> Yay for unexpected chaos!))

[Barke]

((Aww so missed more of the fun....shucks. Truthfully I was well into having been awake for 40 hours...was starting to wind down. More than once I fell asleep curled up in my chair.

Speakin' of chair... =P ))

[Kurohane]

((No! NO chairs and NO fountains! hehe))

[Barke]

It was taking forever for the goblin to finish taking his order this time. He was trying to negotiate another shipment of Cherry Grog to go to Stormwind but the goblin was giving him a rough time. Thats when the paladin snuck up on him. He seemed to visibly deflate at that moment. He had been trying to avoid a conflict with her and now it seems as though he was going to have to talk to her. He let out a sigh and they talked.

Barke found a lot of what she told him hard to believe. He knew his own feelings and whether of not the two of them realized it...he was hurt more than they would know. It was during these conversations he wished Lupa would have put an arrow in him. That would hurt far less than what he was hearing. No. How was he supposed to believe what this paladin said? All she did was step in the way. Touching things that do not belong. And now...Lupa had chosen to spend her time with Lovely.

They ended up back at the inn. Barke was really only half in the conversation at that point. He sat there at the table with his head resting in his hands. The paladin across from him had dropped her head into her arms. What a sad sight they must seem. It seems everyone would have been better off had he not made it out of Felwood and never made it to that party. Then at least Lupa would still be happy. She would not have the problems she was having.

He caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He lifted his head to look and his heart jumped into his throat. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. It felt like his heart stopped beating all together. He had forgotten how beautiful she was. He had not actually expected to see her tonight but there she was standing on the bridge.

He finally managed a smile at his dearest Lupa.