Of Love and Culture

Part 1: Ruin and the Sorrow of a Heart

Chapter 1:
Never Forgotten

---

It was Sai’s big day, the day that he had been nervously awaiting for seven years now. A day he was wishing had never come about for today was the day that Sai returned to Stormwind. Today was the day that he returned home.

His chest was tight with anticipation, fear, hope, regret and a little bit of nausea. The young Night Elf raised a hand and adjusted the strap of his bag slung across his shoulder nervously, for the tenth time. He stood there, waiting, watching and fearing.

Finally he took a deep breath and stepped forward proudly, finally having mustered the courage to enter the city when his foot caught the small rise where the dirt gave in to the cobblestone paths leading into the city. He made a strange sound and flopped face first onto the ground in a rather ungraceful manner.

From either side of him he could hear the guards trying not to laugh. He pushed himself up slowly, groaning quietly as he stood back up and patted the dust from his tunic. Casting a glare to the not-so-stoic guards he huffed and forced himself to start walking into the city.

Unlike himself, the city had not changed much since his absence. This was, of course, a relief. He scanned the cobble entryway and each of the ornate stone sentential figures leading his way in and smiled. It was good to be home, he thought. It felt good to be where he was, and where he felt he belonged again.

Where the city remained the same, little Sai had changed quite a bit. Still very small in size and physique, the young druid had built some muscle on those once stick-like arms, lost all of the baby fat from his face and now bore the eyes of a man who had experienced some of the adventures that the world had to offer. His dark blue hair was once short, now stretched down to his calves and was pulled into a long, thin braid behind him. He did not possess the same powerful stature of the rest of the male night elves of his kind, but his body was streamlined and cat like.

As he neared the tunnel through the gates that led into the prestigious capitol, he shifted himself onto the balls of his feet. A common nervous habit he had when he was uncomfortable.

A small part of the man was hoping that he would be recognized, but as his keen golden eyes scanned the people bustling by he found too many new faces to discern from the old. It had been seven years he had to remind himself… Seven years was a long time in their world…

He found himself standing rather dumbly in the center of the Trader’s Square, being bumped and jostled by the ongoing crowd that had no knowledge of his existence. Finally he turned and made his way towards the Mage Quarter, where the crowd thinned considerably and gave the male a chance to breathe.

Some of the city children ran by, playing some game and three of them stopped. Sai turned to look at them as they did the same, and smiles broke out on their faces. “Sai!” they exclaimed and bounced up and down as they threw themselves at the young man.

Sai laughed and dropped to his knees, hugging each of the children, “My goodness look at how you have all grown. I can hardly believe it…”

The tallest of the boys, a heavily freckled young blonde laughed softly, “You’ve grown too, Sai. The others will be so happy to hear that you’re back… You are back, right? You’re staying?” His eyes pleaded with the elf who just smiled back at him.

“Of course, friends. I have returned, tell everyone. I want to reacquaint myself with all of you!” The children all seemed happy to hear this, making the elf smile brighter. He looked back to the blonde, “Tell me, have you seen Altrun about?”

The boy pondered a moment, “Check the Recluse. If he’s not out on a mission, he’s there. Hey, I have to go catch up to the others before they get in trouble. I’ll tell everyone you’re back Sai!” He turned and led the others, running off across the canal and towards the cathedral.

Sai stood and turned, more confident now in his return. He made his way through the gardens of the Mage Quarter and up to the tower, looking around. The scene still hadn’t changed much, students sitting and chatting and scattered patrons across the scene. Many of them Sai did not recognize, but he made his way into the old well-known bar he had always visited years ago.

There were a sparse collection of patrons inside of the bar today, of course it would pick up later. Sai padded down the steps and up to the bad, tapping the counter so that a familiar bartender turned around and stopped dead, blinking at the sight. For a moment he just stood there, mouth agape, then he began to laugh, “WELL! Look at who has come back a man!” The bartender reached out and hugged Sai over the counter, and the little druid hugged back with a laugh, “You look fantastic Sai. That training really did a lot for you. You’re a man.”

He puffed out his chest proudly.

“Have you seen Altrun?” he asked, his voice hesitant and hopeful in the same beat.

The ma’s eyes turned solemn for a moment. He sighed and reached out for a rag and a glass, busying himself with cleaning the already clean object. “Not yet…he went out on a short mission earlier today, should be back soon though. But uh, Sai?”

“Yeah?”

He sighed heavily. “She’s…she’s gone kid… Altrun isn’t the same man he was when you left. Really tore ‘em up you know?”

Sai’s long ears fluttered down and his heart hammered in his chest. He knew it was going to happen at some point, everyone did. “I see…thank you. Hopefully an old friend’s return will do a bit to cheer him up though, right?”

The man’s pained chuckle was enough to answer the elf’s question. He nodded to the tender and turned to leave.

In his time speaking with the bartender, another Night Elf entered the recluse. His presence was rather noticeable to Sai, more-so than the other patrons whose presence did not have the same…aggressive tone. He stared up and into the most fearsome eyes he’d ever seen, the most wild looking druid he’d ever come across.

This male was large and powerful, silver hair down to his chest that was unkempt, and Sai was so overcome with the desire to lower his ears and drop to his knees. Of course, he would naturally feel that in such a territorial display.

Sai was too locked onto those wild eyes to notice much else around him, although he was aware of the deep, feral growl the reverberated through the room and echoed in his chest, the baring of fangs…

Finally Sai forced his eyes to the ground, his ears flickered low and he fled out of the building with all of his energy. Deeply disturbed and terrified by such an unexpected act of aggression, the little pacifist was unsure of what he could possibly do. The druids no longer acted upon territories, they no longer fought for dominance aside from small and select outland clans.

Once outside he jumped off of the stone rise and allowed his body the freedom of a shape shift. He was so attuned to his feline forms, that the flesh he was born with seemed less natural than the soft yet wiry fur that now covered his frame. Paws took over hands and feet, and by the time he landed on the grass the spotted feline bolted out of the Mage Quarter and away from the Recluse. He would return later, when he was sure that the aggressive male was gone and his long-lost friend was there to greet him…

---

I know the scent as soon as the faintest traces touch my senses. Returning from Goldshire, the soft scent touches the summer air and my ears flick straight up as I lift my head and scent the air. I now ignore the baker with whom I had been in mid-conversation with to pay full attention to what the Mother was telling me.

My suffering is over…

This idea rings in my head, and in the next breath I take my fangs extend and a light coating of white fur bristles along my flesh. A growl filled the air, and the baker steps back in intimidation as the elf who had, moments before, been so normal in appearance and in conversation turned so frighteningly feral before her eyes.

I waste no time, and turn towards the direction of the scent that now plagues me so indefinitely. I start running, and throw myself into an aggressive transformation, feline with powdery white fur that tore down the dirt roadway leading into the city.

When the wind dies, so does the scent. But I know where to begin looking. Though Stormwind is a big place, the scent that I am after is so potent and discernable that I know I will have no trouble finding its source. Stopping at the entry gates I thrust my nose down to the dirt and scent it, pleased when I found a mild amount of that same dusty scent from just moments before. For a moment I let it fill me, I allow myself to let hope kindle somewhere deep in my soul where I have long since let go the notion of His return. Joy overwhelms me, and I want to cry.

I growl in triumph, and waste no time in following that scent into the city. Once inside of the Trade District the scent becomes indomitably difficult to track. There was too much going on around me, too many people so that I cannot focus, too many scents to sift through. But despite all of this, there is the undercurrent of that scent that slowly beckons me. I have never challenged my instincts before, and today will be no different as I slowly make my way towards the mage district.

As I round my way in the arch leading out to the canals I stop dead and simply stare in utter disbelief.

My heart hammers in my chest and my body quivers in joy and sheer disbelief as I look upon the decidedly different yet still similar frame of the young druid who, to this day, still haunts my dreams. My mate… My beloved… Sai had returned, and judging by the scent that graces the air around him, he has matured a great deal! I almost lose my control right then and there, my alpha and my own desires raging inside of me. I do not wish to fight this, but I must. If only for a short amount of time, I must.

It was here that I realized I was at risk of being caught, and so I slip into the shadows, hidden from the naked eye and I slink towards the elf who was stooped and speaking with some of the city orphans. The male was so distracted that he was oblivious to my presence, his guard fully down. His nearness, his simple presence brings me so close to the edge of my control that I cannot stand it.

Sai’s awareness to danger has obviously not changed, and I still wonder how Sai had lived to be the age that he was with that innocent smile and careless attitude. Were I not always there to protect him, would he have lasted so long?

I am suddenly glad, though. All of that patience had paid off, and in such a satisfying way, I decide as my eyes shamelessly rove Sai’s delicate body with the deepest hunger he had ever felt. My mate is matured, mentally and sexually to a point of where I can finally act. I can finally come out to my beloved and ravish him in every— no, I can finally come out and show him I love him. Then ravish him. Yes, that order works better.

It is time.

Still oblivious to the dangerous creature scant inches away from him I lean in and take a deep, silent breath of Sai’s scent. It floors me how powerful it is now, and suddenly that full breath of him I had taken seven years ago pales in comparison to this straight shot of ecstasy to my brain now. I wonder if I were to pin him down and just take a deep breath of him, would my heart simply burst? It already feels as if it wants to do so now, and in my bliss I release the softest growl of pure pleasure. I freeze instantly, watching to make sure I had not alerted him to my presence…

But of course, Sai is still perfectly oblivious.

I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing… Admittedly, I like being so close without his knowledge.

I lick my lips and let my eyes continue over that frame, noting every change both minor and major. Little Sai has indeed grown up, and what a fine figure he has assumed! So delicious…

Suddenly the children run off and Sai stands and turns to make way for the Mage Quarter. I know where he is going already, and follow in the shadows silently.

I follow Sai through the doors into the Blue Recluse and watch him walk up to the bar. He smiles. Like the children, the man behind the counter is so happy to see little Sai return, and it fills my heart with pride to know that my mate was respected and well liked; that he had other guardians (even though I know that I am the boy’s only true guardian).

As he converses with the bartender I slip out of my feral form and into my elfin frame, only now do I realize how disheveled I look. The boy’s scent fills the air of the confined tavern make my wildest and basest instincts kick in. I take a deep breath, and when I release the boy has turned around just in time to hear the deep, feral growl echo through the room.

…shit…

Sai froze at the sight of me. I must seem far more dangerous than I actually am…sort of…

He locks eyes with me and the instinctual needs far outweigh any social parameters by which I would otherwise follow. With the scent of my matured mate, and his presence so close I have to get a submissive reaction from the boy. I have to hear that same submissive whimper from seven years ago, I have to see those eyes (which I note have gone from the soft blue of his youth to the cool gold of maturity) beg me. He has to.

Although, I do not expect the level of fear in his eyes now. Have I startled him that deeply? His eyes lower from my own, breaking my demand for domination before he begins…running? Never before have I seen a mate act in such a manner as to flee from their alpha. This act is both painful and confusing and my stomach turns uncomfortably. I will not let him get away though, for he has finally seen me.

I turn and throw myself into my feline form, racing after Sai desperately. I already know where he’s going, and I catch only catch glimpses of his tail as I pursue him through the Mage Quarter. Of course, being more feline than elf anymore this chase is thrilling, and only serves to deepen my desire to catch him and truly make him mine. To claim this scent, to make it mine. The sweet scent…

He rushes into the park as I know he will, of course, closing the gap between us more and more every second. When I know that I’m close enough I pounce, leaping onto his smaller feline which causes us to roll across the soft grass for a moment before I manage to pin him down beneath me.

He squirm as he tries to free himself, the act of which I cannot deny rubs his little backside against me and sends such pure pleasant shudders up and down my spine. I can no doubt feel myself becoming aroused; I cannot help this. In his panic he loses shape and I shift with him, wrestling him until he is pinned beneath me with my hands holding down his arms.

The look in his eyes is one of sheer terror and he pants uncontrollably. Seeing him like this, trapped like a field mouse, after this exhilarating chase is making my instincts run wild. He cannot run now, and this time he is forced to look directly into my eyes.

His breathing slows to a regular beat and we remain like this, eyes locked for a long, breathless moment. Finally, it happens…his ears lower, his eyelids flutter and he utters the softest, smallest whimper of submitting. Submitting to me. My mate, my darling and beloved is finally submitting to me! I cannot let this moment go by, and without breaking eye contact I slowly lower myself down. At first my intent is to capture his lips, but the alpha within me rages and I finally break from his eyes and lower my path down to his exposed neck. His breathing picks up again, not in pleasure but once more in fear. He writhes against me as I press my nose to his flesh and take a deep, long inhale. Yes, indeed a straight shot of ecstasy straight to the fucking brain, and what was left over pooled right in my groin which is, admittedly, feeling pretty fucking good right now.

Yes, his scent was incredible, and without thinking my tongue slips out and traces along his pulse. The sound of his surprised gasp and the feel of his spine arching at this light touch enthralls me and a deep growl fills the air. If I thought his scent was potent then his taste alone is enough to make me lose all control.

Two strong hands wrap around my ears, and in the split second it takes for me to realize that Sai’s arms are still pinned and thus cannot be his I’m being wrenched up onto my feet by my ears and pulled back. I whimper and growl, struggling against my captor as I watch Sai snap out of his little trance and sit up with a gasp, wriggling around uncomfortably as the haze that I have induced upon him fades away.

Sai’s face flushes pink with embarrassment, the sight of which makes me whimper heatedly. I know that I have pushed myself into a short-term heat with all of this excitement and I am not ashamed of this in the least. Being intimate with my mate is my right, and whoever continues to hang me by my now very sore ears is going to pay for denying me this right.

“A-Altrun!”

“I am pleased to see you well my friend.” I listen to Altrun’s soft voice from behind me. How dare the bastard sound so nonchalant, how dare he of all people stop me. I growl and bare my fangs, “And I see that you have met my brother.” He continues on, his voice a soft muse that makes me tense in the desire to maim him.

He blushes so deeply now that my anger dissipates and I let out a soft begging whimper. I watch Sai slowly shift his legs, placing his hands down between them in an attempt to hide the obvious pleasure that I brought him. I want so desperately to say that he should not be ashamed of what I have brought onto him, that he should be proud.

“I-I guess so…” he breathes.

Altrun finally releases my ears and I slump to the ground and massage my aching appendages. Although, I have to say I believe his intentions were to get my erection to go away (which he succeeded in) and make me a little less frazzled. But I like frazzled.

Little Sai is just blushing on the ground, trying to hide what he thinks is shameful. Or perhaps he’s still just frightened.

“Brother, go take a walk.” Altrun’s voice is powerful, and my skin crawls with his demand. I open my mouth to argue, but his eyes show me no mercy. He is, of course, wiser to the needs of social interaction. This I will admit, but with Sai sitting so close the thought of leaving his here makes me bare my fangs in rejection.

Thoughts of him disappearing again flash across my mind, but before I can move closer to my mate, Altrun is already in my way.

“Go.” his voice is stronger now.

With a final look to Sai I come to realize that perhaps I have gone too far. This thought is painful, and I see now why I had to be patient for so long all of those years ago. Yet now, I let my desires get the best of me, and fear possible irreparable damages to future relations between he and I.

My heart is heavy as I try to give my little Sai a smile, but the pain is evident within me. With a growl of defeat I turn and walk away. I cannot return to the clan to meditate, for I know I must remain close lest I truly lose my mind, but someplace quiet to regain myself. Perhaps then I will have an actual conversation with my mate, for it dawns on me now that he is confused and definitely very spooked from my rash actions. Yes, I need someplace quiet to calm myself…

---

Trembling lightly, Sai was trying his best not to seem completely weak after the druid’s ruthless assault. Had it not been for Altrun’s sudden heroic entrance then Sai was sure that the beast was going to kill him there on the spot. He was hungry for the boy, this he knew, those eyes were so desperate and cold and there was not a moment where the beast did not try to struggle free of Altrun’s hold to return to his meal.

Though Sai could not repress the shame and humiliation he felt from the tiniest sparks of what he thought was pleasure when the man assaulted him. This thought just made him feel disgusting and wrong…

“Please, do excuse his actions.” Altrun’s soft voice cut through Sai’s reverie, and the young druid looked up, startled. He took a moment to take in his old mentor’s appearance, the deep violet flesh and wise golden eyes, forest green hair that appeared mussed from whatever the days events had brought. Still strong in appearance, just as he remembered, he showed signs of aging over the years with deep wrinkles along the corners of his eyes. Still, Sai could only smile as he stood and threw himself into the man’s embrace happily.

Despite his most recent episode with the violent druid, all he could think of were all the questions he’d been dying to ask since he started his trek back home. He stood back and looked up into his old friend’s face, giving him a sincere smile that made Altrun’s heart happy at just the sight, “I…heard about Miss Senna.” he whispered.

Altrun’s eyes turned dark for a moment, lingering on a memory still sore in his mind. “She may be gone, but our family is alive and strong.” He murmurs, and Sai’s face lights up, “Both of our children live strong and happy lives. You will meet them later, they are at the Cathedral right now, being taught the ways of the Light for the sake of understanding the humans of Stormwind.”

Sai nodded and hugged his old friend again.

“I do hope that Bane did not frighten you too badly. He got a little too excited I can see.” He rumbled softly to the boy as he slowly strode to sit on the stone ledge of the Moon Well.

Blushing deeply, little Sai just looked to the ground, “I didn’t mean to offend him.” He whispered.

“Oh trust me, it was not you who offended him.” He chuckled here, as if to some inside joke that Sai was left out on… “You’ve been gone so long, he and I both thought you were dead. Your return to Stormwind means so much more to he than myself.”

This thought made the little druid frown. Had Altrun really not missed him that much? Enough so that a complete stranger who wanted to kill him missed him more than his old mentor?

Sensing his mistake in the pained look in Sai’s eyes, Altrun quickly shook his head, “He didn’t get a chance to tell you, did he?” The man asked, and when Sai made no response he continued on, “Did you not see it in his eyes?”

The confused little druid shook his head, “I saw hunger, and pain. His eyes were hollow, like a monster’s. I don’t know why he preyed on me, but…my heart ached when I looked into those eyes.”

Altrun was glad to know that Bane was not spying on them to hear those words. They cut even him deep into the soul, “Sai…his eyes are hollow because…for seven years he believed you to be dead.” This only served to further the confused look in the boy’s eyes, “Before, he had gone for so many years guarding you in silence, waiting patiently.”

There was more confused silence on the boy’s behalf, and Altrun knew nothing else to say except…

“He is your mate.”

---

(( AN: Woo! This chapter has been done for a while, but it’s been my lack of desire to proof read it that has so much delayed this chapter… For this, I apologize greatly. Chapter 2 is almost done, that’s when we get into some fun times and understanding of the plot. This story was originally supposed to be primarily about Sai, but I’m actually finding myself more and more developing Bane’s character and it’s interesting for me to tell this story in his eyes. Anyway! Anyone who desires to beta (since the one person who offered I couldn’t really get ahold of…) drop me an e-mail: athura.aeo@gmail.com so we can collaborate. ))