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World of Warcraft

Hearts in the Mist - Part 2

The humid night air clung to the tigress's back as she made her way among the bamboo that had grown throughout the forest. The dense foliage made it difficult to move just as the humidity had made it harder to breath. The humidity didn't faze the tigress like the prey she stalked. She didn't belong in the Jade forest although it reminded her of where she came from, the northern jungles of Stranglethorn. The thoughts were pushed from her mind as she deftly stalked through the underbrush in pursuit of her quarry.

A sudden shadow passed overhead bringing the tigress to a silent halt with an anxious fear. Her ears swiveled listening for any sound that could be an enemy. A scowl formed on her muzzle followed by a low growl. The stale sticky atmosphere prevented any scent from being detectable which was not a good thing but it went both ways without a breeze to blow traces of an enemy downwind.

"Sapphire?" whispered a familiar voice. The tigress relaxed and sighed before calling back as softly.

"I'm here, Xenrigocia. Did you find them?"

"I did. They really don't know how to stay out of trouble, do they? It's no wonder I was able to catch you all so easily. No offense."

"Not like I can argue since I wouldn't have been with Suel if he hadn't taken me away from my home." Sapphire sighed. She didn't like talking about the event in which Suel claimed her before she could be taken by King Bangalash, her betrothed husband. She had been nasty to Suel after that, for a short time, when it became the best thing that had happened to her. She never loved Bangalash but she wanted a family and cubs.

"To think they tried to have us stay home."

"Xen, I at least should have stayed behind to watch my cubs."

Xenrigocia smiled and chuckled. "You know you would have been restless and itching to get back into an adventure, young child."

The dragon aspect was right. As much as Sapphire felt that she should be watching her cubs she longed for a grand adventure. The journey from Stranglethorn to Gilneas had been the highlight of her life. When Huttser and Sambas absconded with her mate she was heartbroken and upset to be left behind. Xenrigocia felt the same way but had been asked to stay behind to watch over the tigress and her cubs. The aspect had agreed, at the time, but he offered her an adventure after the others had gone. In exchange, the aspect had invited a small brood from the last of the red dragon flight.

Xenrigocia's mind wandered amid the haze feeling the same fog rolling in his mind. In the last few months since the fall of the black dragon flight he could feel something different begin to affect him. Back in the pathways hidden amid the mountains between Loch Modan and the Wetlands, the aspect could feel a small pang of fear when his immortality slowly faded from his being. It scared him to be mortal but it had scared him even more to be immortal and in love with a mortal. The Worgen hunter, Huttser, had become his loving husband just after the battle for Gilneas. He felt he had lived long enough that the eternal slumber among the stars would bring peace to his battle worn and weary soul.

"Let's go get our husbands out of trouble." Sapphire sighed and padded into the dense underbrush. "Some heroes they turned out to be. How Huttser and Sambas ever made it through the battle with Deathwing boggles the mind."

Xenrigocia thought he heard Sapphire snicker but with the stale afternoon air thick with the sound of insects and unknown beasts who could tell?

* * *

Huttser slowly came to with his head swimming in a fog as thick as the jungle air. The world around him was blurred at a distance but he could just make out the two familiar forms to either side. His head ached but when he tried to reach his temples he found himself bound at the wrists under a log. His lower half hung off the end. The ground beneath his knees gave some cushion given his inner comfort couldn't match the outer.

Looking to his left Huttser could see Sambas straddling another log with a makeshift muzzle that kept his head strapped down. With a further glance, he could see the lion's tail had been pulled back and bound around the neck with vines. Huttser closed his eyes then turned to his right to see Suel in the same position.

The Worgen tried to call out to his friends but was gripped with fear to realize his own maw had been muzzled like a wild animal. No matter how he tried, the straps kept his mouth shut. The feeling of the strap running to the back of his head confirmed his movements to be fruitless. Giving up any hope of escape he wondered if the rope was tied too tight behind his head. The pounding in his head pulsed with the beat of the drums that filled the air.

A cacophony of shouts and growls cut to silence along with the drums. Huttser looked up the escarpment rimmed with spikes. A lone large feline walked slowly around the edge then down the ramp to the three preys.

"Kung Din," roared one of the creatures. "your special gift awaits."

The tiger sneered then turned away only to stop short. He looked back at the lion still passed out. Din sighed changing direction to stand in front of Sambas. Huttser tried to call out but his muffled cries were drowned out by the fresh jeers from the onlookers calling for a show. The tiger lifted a paw and pulled back slicing the bond. Sambas slipped off the log still bound on one side. Again, the feline slashed at the other bond. He looked up expectantly before slowly walking away to a hidden alcove in the pit. Huttser growled and tried to fight his bonds to get at the creatures that hesitantly dragged his partners' unconscious form into the same alcove.

* * *

Din made himself comfortable on the makeshift bed waiting with disdain at his slingtail captures. He had earned his place under their 'watchful' eyes as a pet who guarded the keys to the slave pens. It didn't help he felt sorry for the other captives but if he wanted to maintain his 'freedom' he would keep up the façade if possible.

The rabble dropped the lion haphazardly on the ground then bolted. While they knew the tiger to be an asset they still feared the beast. None of that would matter now that an ally could be made.

Din waited until he was sure he was alone before moving to the lion's side. He sighed inwardly then nudged the lion gently. The beast stirred groggily but made no attempt to get away. Din leaned down and nipped the muzzle off then licked over the lion's cheek.

"Don't be alarmed, my friend." He whispered soothingly. "I will get you all out of here but I need your help in return."

* * *

Sapphire watched the scene from a perch just above the pit. She could see into the den hidden behind the wall providing privacy to its occupants. While Sambas wasn't her mate she still treated him like family and to see this stranger make his way to her fallen brother made her fur stand on end. Still, she couldn't see what the tiger was doing but she would kill him if he decided he didn't want to 'play nice'.

A growl escaped her lips when the tiger got closer to Sambas. Someone would pay dearly for the cruelty inflicted on the three she sought to save. Her eyes grew wide with narrow pupils when the tiger leaned in over the lion. The only thought that filled her mind was of vengeance forcing out all logic. The muscles beneath her fur tensed and flexed before she made the leap. Unseen she landed on top of her target knocking him away. The feline cowered against the wall surprised by the intruder. He didn't even try to fight back but the tigress didn't care. She wanted to rip his throat out for even touching her adoptive brother.

"Sapphire," Sambas whispered limping to her side. "Please, don't hurt him. He needs our help."

"What?" she asked in surprise looking at Sambas. "He was about to..."

"He asked me to help him escape the... Hozen, I think he said."

Sapphire looked back to the tiger growling again. "What's your angle? Why should we help you?"

"Please," the creature started weakly. "I was taken from my home as a cub. These Hozen are cruel, even to each other."

The tigress couldn't tell if the tiger was lying but she felt there was no other choice. She'd already shown herself to Sambas and he'd surely tell the others she was there following them. It was obvious that the stranger was as scared as a lost cub looking for its mother.

"I'll do what I can to help, Sambas," Sapphire growled. "but you have to do me a favor too. Don't let Suel and Huttser know I'm here. For all you know, you never saw me."

"Why are you..." the lion started to say but was cut off.

"Don't ask questions. I'll create a distraction while you two get the others out of here."

"Where will we go?" the tiger asked worriedly.

"There is a village of fish like people nearby." Sapphire huffed.

"Those are the Jinyu." the tiger offered then laid his head between his paws. "They are no friend to the Hozen but I wouldn't be welcomed there either way."

"We've been given orders to search for the White Pawn near the shore." Sambas replied with some hesitation. The tiger's ears perked and he sat up.

"I've heard of the White Pawn. The other prisoners mentioned that he was alive but when they found him something transpired and he left for the Vale."

Sapphire went to say something when gunfire erupted outside. She moved to the edge of the makeshift den and looked out to see alliance troops engaged in battle with the Hozen.

"We have to get everyone out of here now." She growled then turned back. "You both need to get Huttser and Suel before they get caught in the crossfire."

The tigress turned again to leave but was stopped by Sambas. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to be keeping an eye on the group. When it's time we'll show ourselves."

"We? You mean Xenrigocia is with you too?"

"Now is not the time to discuss things." Sapphire said intensely leaping into the fray.

* * *

Sambas watched the tigress disappear amid the fighting. They needed to move quickly if they wanted to get out alive. Friendly fire was common in the alliance since many didn't care for non-human races. While Worgen had been human, and could shift forms, they were still target of many "accidental" killings.

"Follow me and grab Suel." Sambas ordered. "He's lighter than Huttser."

Din nodded and followed closely to the lion. Sambas guided them to his unconscious compatriots. Their bonds had been cut by an alliance solder that lay dead by them. Each grabbed a body and made it up the escarpment into the thick bamboo forest. Huttser was awake but could barely hold on having been drugged heavily. While he cared for his master his thoughts shifted over to Din. It had saddened him that during the adventure to Gilneas everyone else has found someone who loved them. It was something he hoped would happen to him. The tiger made him smile but it was only a passing thought. He didn't know Din since they only just met yet his heart longed for something more.

The forest opened into a bog. The air was thicker with a haze thick enough to be cut with a blade. The two didn't even look back pushing slowly into the mist unaware of the dangers that lay within. The buzzing of insects let them know they weren't alone. It wasn't a comforting sound with the occasional sting which brought a new sensation. The haze seemed to drift and the world fell out from under them. Huttser and Suel floated off into the sunset leaving the two alone.

Sambas watched in amusement when his attention was called to Din. With a pleasant surprise, the tiger had pushed him onto his back and kissed him. The lion wrapped his paws around Din and pulled him closer.

"I love you Sambas." Din said with a smile standing before him, specifically a vision of himself. "I've loved you since we met."

The couple faded from view leaving Sambas plunged into darkness.

"Where am I?" he called out with no response to ease the growing fear. Instead his response was of bells and the voice of Prince Anduin.

"Do you... take... to be your husband?" offered the familiar voice of Prince Anduin. The reply that came sounded faded and distorted.

"I do."

* * *

It was difficult to distinguish if he was still doped up or if he was dreaming. Huttser looked down at himself in surprise. He was no longer a Worgen but in pure human form. He knew he could transform at will but it never stayed long and he hadn't forced a transformation in some time. Looking up around him he found he was back in Gilneas but everything was as he remembered.

"Huttser!" called a voice from someone thought long dead. The hunter turned to see Prince Liam running to him with that smile that made him weak in the knees. A smile that'd been forever etched into his mind. That day, that day Liam had been killed by Sylvanas made Huttser feel the world had ended. Yet, there he was alive and well standing before him.

"Am I dead?" Huttser asked. A stab of pain reminded him that he'd asked that question once before and felt embarrassed he'd asked it again. On the other hand, seeing Liam made it perfectly appropriate to ask.

"Not that I can tell." Liam smirked. "But if my father found out about us that could be a possibility."

"But, you can't be alive. I watch you die."

Liam's smile faded to sorrow. Huttser reached out to put a hand on the Prince's shoulder.

"You left me." Liam sighed. "Why did you leave me? You told me we'd always be together."

"Liam," The hunter cried as the Prince faded away.

* * *

The wind whipped through Suel's fur. The snow-covered land reminded him of his home in Dragonblight. It wasn't the snow that bothered him so much as the eerie familiarity of where he found himself. The Wolvar hadn't been back to Northrend since he'd been a young cub but he knew the land well enough to know that he was standing amid the snow drifts of his family's village. The wind died down enough to show the wood huts under the dead trees near the sea. Was it all a dream? Was he dead? He felt he had to be and when he looked down he found himself a cub again. Dreaming or dead it didn't matter. He was both happy and upset. Happy to see his home again but upset as he was a cub and couldn't use his druid abilities. Fear clutched him chest with his mind drifting to Sapphire. Would he see her again? Would he be able to kiss those supple lips again or even raise their cubs as a responsible father? So, many questions that found no answers in the cold snow drifts. The Wolvar's ears perked at a soft voice on the winds. He knew that voice all too well and was more than welcome to save him from this... Nightmare? Dream? Heaven? I certainly wasn't hell if he heard her voice.

"Suel, my love, you need to wake up." Sapphire said looking down on the Wolvar cub. "You're hallucinating right now. Wake up and be safe. I'll see you soon."

Sapphire turned to look away in fear then leapt away providing only more questions. As soon as she left a strange Pandaren encompassed his view like a giant blocking out the sun.

"More strangers come to my home today."

* * *

"I... I love you." Din said bashfully to Sambas. "I've loved you since our escape. I saw something that day you were tied up. Someone who would, hopefully, one day take me as a mate."

Sambas stayed quiet with a smile but surprised the tiger by stepping in to steal a kiss that caught Din off guard. It was the feeling he longed for from someone special. Someone to make him feel more than loved. The feeling was short lived when the world around him thrust his consciousness back into the hard reality.

Amid the setting evening sun, the group had been moved into the shade of a bamboo thicket in a garden. Next to the garden was a small cottage housing scrolls of all sizes that the group could see through the open door. Standing above them was the proud form of a Pandaren. His demeanor put them at ease with a friendly smile and kind eyes.

"Welcome, friends, I am Lorewalker Cho."

"What happened?" Huttser tried to say but what he heard came out garbled and distorted. Cho chuckled and answered his question. He'd probably heard the same question asked by those who woke the same way.

"You are in my garden in the swamp. Please rest a little longer. The swamp is full of venomous bugs that will show you hallucinations ranging from nightmarish to prophetic."

Din looked over to Sambas then looked down. Sambas had noticed and crawled over to curl up with the tiger. The tiger tried to smile but instead passed out in the lion's embrace.

* * *

"Were you stung?" Xenrigocia asked looking at Sapphire where she lay. The tigress panted in the humid night clinging to the ground around her.

"Yes, but I'm alright." Sapphire replied in a paranoid tone. "Why are there two of you?"

The dragon aspect laughed and placed his hand on the feline offering some comfort. "You should rest. We have a long day tomorrow and you're in no condition to move right now."

Sapphire nodded slowly then placed her head between her forepaws. It wasn't long before she drifted off into a dream of home and her cubs.