Carving Foot Steps

Chapter 1


Chimes, winds, and the ambiance of nature surrounded me. I was surrounded by a lush forest that was lighted by distant wisps and fire flies that still could not outshine the
brightness of the stars with the fading of the purplish sky.

My feet began to move on their own as they took me to a small river that flowed rapidly, the land of Darnassuss is absolute beauty beyond the expression of any words that can
ever be formed. I sat down at the edge of the river and smiled as the wind gently caressed my face as I gazed upon the large field of flowers that surrounded the whole area
into a ethereal glow. A great sight to behold a place would I always want to be still here in this moment forever in peace around such beauty.


An image reflected into the water where I thought it was my very own image until I stared at it concluding it was not my own as soon as a dark figure loomed over it quickly.
I looked across and there stood a fully armored in dark blue armor staring at me with dead blue glowing eyes through a tusked helmet and within in their hand was a wretched
form of a sword with odd colored markings etched into it pulsating in a eerie glow in its own pattern. I rose up and stared down the trespasser and it returned the same gesture.

It broke the silence first by hefting the large bony sword pointing in a gesture towards me before speaking in a harsh haughty voice.

"Those you hold dear...those whom you think are your friends....those that aid you...are all but lies, they use you for their own purposes and once the business is settled
they cast you aside like some old toy only to be used when deemed necessary. You think your guild can replace what you have lost? Do you think they care for your well being?
Do you honestly hope to find some sort of warmth from those that surround you? Or....do you expect love yes? After all you are so lonely and must want a companion yes?
You must abandon all this sense of trash and adopt a new method! Where when opportunity approaches for what you desire then all you have to do is take it at your own leisure
no one can stop you....none can stop us!"

It ended with a screeching laughter that echoed through the forest like a plague which in fact started to dim the area around me as the land itself slowly started becoming
warped and dead like.

"What are you!? How do you know me? My friends and my guild, how do you know of them? What business have you monster?!"

Like a idiot I drabbled randomly to whatever could occur to my mind to this being which to no end still bothers me.

I was only greeted with more cynical laughter.


"I know everything about you the false sense of light and justice you follow but in your heart lies a true darkness you have partially embraced
but deny to any connection to it. All you feelings of hate, anger, sadness, loneliness, all of your dark emotions that you have kept building inside of you just waiting to
lash out to reap the true rewards of your labor! In a way...I am you...your true self!"

My eyes grew wide at its accusations but none the less I couldn’t help but feel he was right...he IS right!
Then again...

"I deny it! I deny such a thing that is completely false! You are nothing like me or even close. I am not a creature of the dark like you I stand by my own beliefs and the
ways of true justice and follow the ways of the light away from the turmoil and the darkness of such vermin like you!

My dark self stared at me and I swore I could feel as though he was smiling.

"Believe what you want but in due time you shall get what you want but sooner or later you will see that it’s all a lie and but a damn dream. Much like this one but with the
exception that it is really much real...you will fall and end up to your true self like you are meant to be You cannot escape from your fate.....time to wake up."


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Being dragged to reality from the dream world leaves a odd feeling afterwards making you well....in my case very sick. In a flash I got up and dashed out of my tent to
regurgitate a few yards away or so from the camp site into a bush. I took a long distance away from the camp because I didn't want to wake any of my guild mates from their
slumber.

After all there was a large celebration with the successful raid into Zul Gurub where we pushed our way through the area eliminating any obstacles in our path with the only
one causing problems was the insane voodoo troll Jin Do and finally the Soul flayer Hakkar.
The celebration was wild and out of control everyone was drinking to excess having games or bets of how much one could drink before they would keel over and drop dead, music
was played with some of the guildies having been former musicians still kept their instruments where they played or sung songs of victory and happiness. Besides that there
were also guild "hook ups" going around where guildies either straight or gay or who knows what since everyone was so drunk that many make out session occurred and couples
going to their own private spaces to even further celebrate the raids success and of course a fine way to turn in for the night with a nice romp with a companion.

All said for me and some others who took care of the wounded and prayed for the dead. Sadly I was always the odd man out yes I would drink and dance like many of the guildies
but I was and still felt alone since I have yet to find a companion of my own.

I hate being alone...


I can't deny it that even though I have company with me I always feel alone. I want a companion to ease my loneliness... someone to talk to spend time with and have
nice nights of raw passion. Then again I would just really want to use a person to settle down my loneliness cause in truth no one wants to be alone. Love? Well
I'm no fan of it really I won't deny that it exists and works but I don't even know if I want it or want to look for it at all. Who knows what happens will happen.
Still....I haven’t gotten laid in a long ass time...I've barely had any woman in my life but damn. By the light I hope my time will come soon I can't stand such frustration.
It’s just too annoying for a fellow like me. After all...I’m a guy with raging hormones at the age of 21.

Suddenly a feeling of nausea courses through me as I vomit once more onto the earth spilling out the vestiges of the food and alcohol that I had consumed.

God I feel like shit.

Breathing heavily I squat down as I felt that I was going to vomit once more. A soft light touch crawled on my back and smoothed me gently up and down my back soothing as I
continued to empty the last remains from my stomach.

"Looks like you had a bit too much to drink little brother."

"And food...but it was worth it after all we did manage to conquer over Zul Gurub. Those Gurubashi axe throwers were pretty tough; they knew how to use their weapons to its
full potential. Wouldn't you say so sister?"

I began to spit out some more remaining vomit. A bad after taste and I still tried to use my saliva to get the rest out. I needed water.

A water skin was pressed against the side of my face and grabbed it with my right hand.

"Thanks"

She responded by continuing to rub my back smoothly. I didn’t have to look back at her, her faint glowing eyes could see better in the dark then I ever could...and she did
know me the best out of anyone in the world.

"True those crazed trolls would have gotten me if it weren't for your intervention against one of their attacks."

I took a long out of the water skin and drank down letting the cool refreshment ease me.

"No worries it’s my duty to protect you hehe..."

I let out a small chuckle and felt my left arm twitch in irritation letting loose a grunt at the same time. The axe thrower had launched two axes at my sister one I managed
to carefully block away but the other almost nearly took off my left arm if I had worn plate for armor. After the fight my arm was quickly bandaged and a small healing spell
was casted on me to subdue the pain and let me regain focus to the task that was at hand. I wasn't fully and properly treated yet but, the thought slipped past my mind.

She removed one of her hands on my back to the bandaged bicep and felt onto the wound gently.

"Who healed you?"

"Isiel."

"Why haven't you been patched up properly?"

I had a bad feeling that I was going to get her mad.

"Well...we were in the midst of a fight so they quickly gave me first aid while you was at the front healing Ergif from a Berserker. So they bandaged me and Isiel had given
me a faint flash heal on my wound."

"Why didn't you come to me?"

I couldn't help but feel unease at her voice and that her eyes narrowed at me.

"I forgot to? There was also the celebration so it didn't register in my mind at all till now."

She gave a heavy sigh and began casting a large healing spell into the palm of her hand.

"That priest is a horrible healer...no wonder she is set on raid healing she can't take care of healing just one person. I wonder why we keep her around."

"Because she’s fucking one of the officers? Ow!"

She slapped the healing spell into my arm both feeling good but more so painful at the small attack.

"Don't say that out loud! And...sorry, but who is she sleeping with?"

"Well from the judge of things and spending time with some of the guys during our stay at taverns, it seems to be Ranthus."

"The hunter?"

"Yup. Why ya ask?"

Ranthus is a night elf just like Isiel and my sister, I had a hunch that she too has feelings for Ranthus but now, Isiel had beaten her to the punch.

"Nothing."

"Sorry...you had feelings for him didn't you?"

I heard a slight gasp followed by a low chuckle.

"Yes I did. Now I don't really since he has already been claimed."

"Doesn't mean you’re still not Ailana."

I rose up to my full height and turned to her and looked into her faint purple glowing eyes, the only source of light that I can see.

Ailana is my surrogate sister and had raised and took care of me when I was a baby. I would always look up to her since she would safeguard me away from bullies and prejudice
from others, yet despite our differences she accepted me for who I am...a human.

She wore her regular battle attire composed of blackened leather and white fur made from the panthers of Stranglethorn. The armor encompassed most of her body save her arms
where she wore bracers that were enchanted with a small blue glow. Her hair was long spread over the top of her shoulders and back with small streaks of purple. On her left
cheek she had a half crescent moon marked just below her eye of her smooth delicate violet skin.

To me she is the epitome of grace and beauty and the light and comfort that would drag me out in my moments of the dark.

Ailana gave a soft smile.

"I know...it’s something I can't help feel...bad about." Her last words she smoke barely above a whisper.

I dropped the water skin and went to embrace her.

Small droplets fell onto me, as she buried her face into my chest lightly sobbing. I laid the side of my head on top of hers lightly smoothing out the small of her back while
telling her everything’s alright...even though it’s not but, that what a man is supposed to do.


We both stayed like that.

Enjoying the close intimacy and comfort of our bodies pressed together.
Sadly it had to end.

Ailana pulled away from me slowly and gazed at me as she cupped my left cheek, I turned into her touch using my own hand to keep hers against the side of my face
as I lightly nuzzled it. She gave me a soft giggle that warmed my heart to know that I eased her out of her depressed state.

"You know me so well little brother and you know just the right things to say and do to cheer me up. Now that I think of it you’re no longer little in a sense."

She lightly laughed at me which I returned with a annoyed look.

"Ahem...pardon me but last time I checked I was a grown man." I said with a chuckle.

"That you are...and in all these years since I first found you...you have grown quite well and are becoming such a fine man. Mother and father would be proud of you.
Of course so am I."

"I have you to thank for that sister...you’ve helped raised me...and sheltered me form those who would do me harm, guided me on a path of my own choosing and even more...
you are always there for me, for that I have you to thank for to help me be the man I am today."

I couldn't help but feel my chest tighten up. There was more I wanted to say but the words wouldn't come out.

"I should be thanking you for also helping me through hard times there were many things I couldn't do by myself without your help."

Ailana closes the distance between us and pecks my cheek affectionately while looking happily into my eyes.

"Well talk and spend some time together later brother. Now go rest, your wounds will heal before morning arises and we have to travel to Booty Bay so get some sleep
we have traveling to do."

I nodded solemnly and at loss for words.

She dettached herself off of me and went in the general direction of her tent.

I looked at her back watching the moonlight shine upon her frame as the sway of her hips and the movement of her hair entranced me until my eyes could no longer
see out into the dark. I could not deny my feelings of longing for her, she truly is a beautiful woman.

She will never be able to be with me I sadly thought to myself.

Picking up the water skin I look out onto the lake that we had set up camp by.

I took out a long swig of water and turn to the area where I slept.

"I need some rum..." I said aloud to no one.


End First Chapter +++