Reunited

Vantha woke up groggy and sore from the day, and night, before. She sat up expelling a short cry as pain shot down her leg. Her companion was no where to be found, however, two of his satchels remained next to hers. Knowing he would be back, she pulled some eggs and smoked deer meat from her bag, placed a small metal plate over the hot coals in the fire pit and started breakfast. After putting on all her armor, sans the pauldrons and helm, she rolled up their beddings and placed them with the other bags.

“Well, good morning.”
Vantha felt her a flutter in her chest upon hearing the Elf speak. “Good morning to you too. I hope you are hungry.” She nodded towards the fire pit. “There is enough for both of us.”
“Thank you.” Aerden squatted by the fire to check the eggs and grabbed a piece of meat.
“Where did you go?”
Aerden cleared his throat. “Just went out to check on some things.” He then looked around the area before making eye contact with her. Vantha felt he wasn’t telling her everything, however, she didn’t press the issue as he had no obligation to answer to her. While they were eating, Vantha noticed that Aerden was acting strange. He was quiet and had a worrisome look on his face. She began to blame herself, wondering if what they had done the night before weighed on his mind.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” She smiled at him, hoping he would relax and maybe hint to what’s bothering him.
“Yeah.” Aerden never looked up at her when he answered, still concentrating on his meal.
They both ate without speaking a word to one another. Suddenly, the silence was broken by an awful howl in the distance that sent a shiver up Vantha’s spine. She looked to Aerden for an answer, but only received a vexing stare. He stood up, reaching out his hand to her. “We have to go. Now.” His voice calm, yet stern. “Grab your bags and hurry.” Before her eyes, he turned into a beautiful, violaceous catlike creature. She in turn morphed into her ghost wolf form and took off after Aerden towards the path. It seemed they were running for miles when they finally came to an area that seemed safe. There was a small, shallow cave like formation where they took up shelter. Relieved to be away from danger, Vantha began to feel slightly agitated with her friend.
“Ok, Aerden. I didn’t want to pry, but I feel there are things you aren’t telling me.” Vantha was still panting from their travel. “At first, I thought maybe you were ashamed of the intimacy we shared last eve, but…”
Aerden left out a loud outburst of laughter, rivaling the howl that sent them running for their lives. “Ashamed?” He was still laughing. “Not at all, in fact, I’m looking forward to tonight.” He took a serious tone once more. "“Vantha, I told you about the one reason I am here in Stonetalon, but I didn’t tell you the other. I was sent down here by Furion himself to check on the progess of the deforestation. The fear of my people is that the logging company is encroaching on the borders of Ashenvale.”
"Are they?"
"They're close, but I don't think they are close enough to call for more Sentinels to be placed at the border. Just the fact that they are close is weighing on my mind. I'm not sure how to describe it to Furion."
Vantha nodded. "Ashenvale is so pretty, I would hate to see the land ruined. So, tell me then, what the hell were we just running from? That didn't sound like the scream of a crazed logger.”
“That guttural scream we heard was that of an Orc.”
Vantha’s eyes narrowed, her upper lip began to shake. “The bastards who almost brought my race to extinction. I have yet to bump into one in the flesh, and when I do…”
“You’ll probably be killed.” Aerden was very stern.
“Why didn’t we seek the fucking thing out and kill it! Two of us against one..!”
“They rarely travel alone.”
A look of concern came over Vantha’s delicate face. Aerden continued. “You are young and you are naïve. You have what it takes to be a great shaman someday, but you’re still learning.” Aerden turned his head towards the cave opening, and sighed. “When you come of age, you will be a fierce opponent to any Orc, save Thrall, who crosses your path. But for now, you must bide your time.”
“I value your companionship, Aerden, and I trust your opinion. Thank you for saving me today. Had I been alone, my curiosity may have gotten the best of me.”
“I’m honored by your words and the feeling is mutual.” Aerden moved closer to her and pulled her face to his, kissing her softly. She put her hand around his waist.
“What would your brethren think about your fling with a Draenei?”
“To refer to what we have as a ‘fling’ sounds cheap. Is that really how you feel?”
Vantha realized her insecurity was beginning to show. She thought for a second. Who cares if that’s all it is? “I don’t know. I’ve only ever been with one other, and that was definitely a fling. I never saw him again. Never really wanted to.”
“I see. I’ve been there myself.” Aerden sighed. “After this week is through, would you ever want to see me again?”
Vantha raised her eyebrows at him and smiled shyly, nodding her head. “Yes. Yes, I would.”

Aerden's ears suddenly twitched, "Did you hear something?" he whispered towards Vantha.
She shook her head. "No?"

Before either one could budge, a long dark shadow cast itself over them.
"I thought I smelled the foul scent of an Elf!" The gruff, heavily accented words stabbed at their eardrums like daggers. Both felt sheer terror in their hearts, finding themselves in the midst of an Orc. He was alone, and judging by his armor, this warrior didn't need back up. "My name is Motlik of the Pinetalon clan and you are trespassing in our territory!" He grabbed his axe and stepped forward. Both Vantha and Aerden stood up to face the green beast.
"We have no mal intentions, Motlik." Aerden's voice trembled. "Let us be on our way." The Elf stepped forward, abruptly halted by Motlik's axe.
"Do you think I have made my name by letting your kind go?" Motlik spat into Aerden's face as he spoke. "And you!" He turned to Vantha. "Draenei scum! You dishonor me just by being in my clan's territory!"
Vantha held back as long as she could, but no more. "You slimy, filthy creatures are the real disgrace! I've heard of all the stories of what your kind did to my people, and what for? It was all lies! All you have going for you is muscle and brawn, nothing up here." Vantha pointed her finger to her head. "You follow your leaders like mindless sheep!" The sharp words flew from the Draenei's mouth before Aerden could stop her. Vantha had already cast her lightening shield while verbally assaulting the Orc. Motlik stepped towards her, his face almost pressing into hers.
"You dare challenge me, Scum?" His breath was like that of a days old elekk in the hot Nagrand sun.
"How honorable is it to slay such an unexperienced opponent, you foul bastard!?" Her face deep burgundy with anger, she drew her mace and called upon her totems.
Motlik laughed. "Prepare to die, bitch!" Axe raised, his battlecry pierced through the air. Vantha began to extend her mace, closing her eyes not before glimpsing a violet blur diving between them. She watched in horror as the axe came down on Aerden's feline body, hitting him broadside. The fierce cat was able to knock the Orc to the ground and claw his face. Vantha began casting lightening bolts, frost bolts, anything that she was able to cast at the moment. If her spells wouldn't come, she attacked the Orc with her mace. Just when things were looking favorable for the pair, the Orc sprung to his feet, causing Aerden's body to fly against the cave wall. Vantha stepped back, dropping her mana totem while assessing the situation before her. Please tell me I remembered my ankh! The Orc's chest heaved, blood running down his face, eyes red with anger.
In very broken Kal'dorei, Vantha told Aerden he meant a lot to her and hoped they would escape this altercation with their lives in tact. He looked into her eyes and roared, ending in a loud purr.
Once again, Aerden sprung on top of the Orc, this time he didn't even stumble at the weight of the cat hitting him. Vantha cast a few lightening bolts before noticing Aerden's strength weakening. She called upon her healing spells, though not as strong as her damage spells, and Aerden kept fighting. Before long, her mana was gone as was half her health. Aerden's body lay still on the cavern floor and though she was ready to give up, seeing him lay there gave her a sudden burst of strength. She ran up to the Orc, connecting her mace as hard as she could to the side of his face. He roared at her, brandishing his axe near her head. She ducked, striking him again in the side.
"You dirty, rotten piece of Horde shit!" Vantha mindlessly yelled whatever obscenity came to mind at the Orc warrior. Before long, her body had had enough as well and she fell to her knees. Looking the Orc in the eye one more time, she cursed him, her mind losing focus.
"May the Naaru see to it that you die a most unhonorable death. May you be eaten by a deranged kodo, only to have your remains shit out all over the Barrens."
The look on Motlik's face was that of confusion mixed with astonishment. "Killing us was below you, Motlik. You coward." Vantha's narrowed eyes closed and she fell to the ground with a loud thud.