Thursday, December 17, 2009

"Not Every Belf"



Not every belf is into buttsecks o.O

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Origins

The abyssal fell past Sorrowdusk, down into the maw of nothingness that gaped up at Outland. The same fate awaited Dusk, if it weren't for the fingernail-length grip he held on the blessed spike of rock jutting out from the broken landmass's side. He couldn't hold on forever. The others would sense him, they would smell him, they would lower a rope and he would be back on his feet, continuing his training. They would. He heard footsteps, directing his eyeless head up hopefully.
A night elf looked down at him, teeming with fel energies. He watched Dusk for a moment.
Dirt fell from above to Dusk, landing on his clenched teeth. He spit it out, face contorting in rage. "Damnit, help me UP!"
The night elf seemed to watch a bit longer, then passed out of view. Dusk did his best to re-grip the spike of rock, straining his muscles. He had gained a lot of weight during training; None of it was fat, of course, but instead dense muscle, seen as a strength. Currently, it was his greatest hindrance. His arms were only meant to be part of his arsenal. He was never to rely on one aspect of himself, never. But now he learned a greater lesson: Never does not exist.
The night elf returned.
"Initiate!"
Dusk gritted his jaw first. "Instructor! Lower a rope!"
The night elf laughed. "Your powers fail you when you must cry like a child for help!"
More of Shadowmoon Valley's dry, coarse dirt fell onto Dusk's face. He coughed to his shoulder, looking up again. "Instructor?!"
The night elf had left. Dusk tensed, giving all the attention not needed for gripping the spike to his ears. Footsteps faded slowly away, further and further. Further...
Gone.
He was alone. He was not expected to live, obviously. He wasn't to begin with. They had pitted him against an abyssal, the hotter, heavier, and far more vicious cousin of the infernal. It had thrown him around a couple times, but he had stayed on his toes. The worst it had done was put him into his current situation. But what a situation...
The battle had been won. The abyssal had been defeated via endless free-fall. But at such a cost...
He clung to the spike of rock. It seemed sturdy enough, not giving away any hints of cracking. But the spike could cling to land forever. Dusk could not.
Think, damnit... Think... Your life depends on it...
Dusk attempted removing one hand from the spike and held on with his stronger arm. Yes, he could do it. He reached for his dagger, emblazoned with the symbol of the Farstriders. He whipped it off his belt, then pushed it along the rock face like a shovel. It could work... Hopefully it would work. If he had been thrown into this situation at full power, sure, he could just melt the rock with fel fire and wait for it to cool, then climb up the ripples of hardened rock. But he was nearly exhausted. Surely no night elf could have accomplished this training. No, it was easy to tell. Illidan wanted his demon hunters to be the best, to be worthy, to be deadly. To be indestructable.
If indestructible is what he wants... Indestructible is what he'll damn well GET.
For hours, Dusk chipped away at the rock. It was rock that gave way like an abused lover; Gul'dan's terrible reign on the planet had proven beneficial for once. The rock's will to hold together was gone. Perhaps the planet's last piece felt that if it helped Dusk return to the surface, he would somehow redeem it. Dusk snorted at the thought. He wasn't here to save anyone or anything. Outland was a difficult training ground, and the reason it was rewarding to train here at all was because of its hostility to life. Endless chasms, scarce water and food, floes of lava, these threats and more assaulted anyone who dared live on the shattered limb of Draenor.
Dusk held his dagger's blade to his mouth, clenching it in his teeth. His fingers felt into the groove in the rock he had made, finding it deep enough and sturdy enough to lift himself up on. Pulling himself up slowly, his muscles pleaded with him to simply let go, to end their suffering. He was not in the mood to listen. He lifted himself further, pushing out from the spike slightly as to pull up and over it, straddling it. He panted, resting against the rock face for a moment's respite. He took the dagger from his teeth and began again, sitting this time as he created another hand groove. It was a long way up...

He continued chipping. The rock continued giving way. Another groove was made. Dusk reached up further with the blade, starting again. He realized he needed to make them deeper and taller to be able to fit his feet into them. Not his whole feet, of course. He'd starve if he put that much work into them.
The air was thin. It was difficult to breathe. Frequent breaks were necessary. Often, the chips of rock were tiny, and flung from the wall with great speed, lodging themselves in his face and bare chest. But while any other time he would probably have taken a second to squeeze the chips out, he ignored the pain.
Chipping. Scraping. Digging. Testing the grip. The nerves in his face and chest became severed slowly from slivers burrowing in his skin, and his fingertips became almost stone-like in durability, already calloused and dry from training. Heh, I probably look like some sort of deep-earth miner, he thought with a smirk. But a bath would fix most of it. Eh, what do I care.
Dusk reached higher, hours passing as he scratched out each hand hold. He tried spacing them about a foot's length apart from each other, not particularly interested in creating a perfect or very accessable ladder. Besides, who else would be using it? This was his survival. His, for the glory of himself and the Sin'dorei. Illidan saw the potential of blood elves; They were not so resistant to fel magic as night elves were, and night elves were the traditional candidates for this line of expertise. Dusk frowned. Night elves were bigger, though, too. But size didn't matter. He had seen Illidan, of course. And while he was bigger because of his own power, he still was much smaller than the powerful enemies he had destroyed with ease. Pit lords, doomguards, wrathbringers, even some unusually massive felguards had fallen to him. Size didn't mean anything. Perhaps it made for shorter attacks, less force needing to be put into them for arriving at your assault's destination.
Destination... What was Dusk's? Would he simply strut back to the temple and expect them to open the door? To simply welcome him back, congratulate him on his victory, and move on with training? No... It was obvious, for the fact that they hadn't bothered coming back for him that he was not necessary, not wanted, and not particularly of interest at all. But Outland was Illidan's domain. Dusk had seen three areas of it: Hellfire Peninsula, Terokkar Forest, and Shadowmoon Valley. He knew there was more, but it had never been of much interest. Kael'thas had gone to Netherstorm, setting up his own operations in that region. Dusk hadn't seen it, but it sounded promising. There was much power to harvest in Outland, both from demons and the Twisting Nether surrounding it.
Dusk shook his head. Destination, that was what he would figure out as he mindlessly picked away at the rock face. Where would he go... The Dark Portal was closed. He knew that. Guess I'll just find some other area on this piece of rock to live on. Life. It had changed so much. First the Scourge, wiping out his people's source of... everything. Their way of life, shattered by the corruption of the Sunwell. Then, Kael'thas and his flight to Outland. He had taken his finest forces with him, leaving Lor'themar in command of the kingdom. What was left of it, that is. Southern Quel'thalas was lost, known as the Ghostlands. And even further south, the Scourge had bases set up to supply more death, decay, and destruction. Nothing much was left in Quel'thalas. But maybe he would be welcome there, if he found a way to return. After all, he was already close to becoming a fine demon hunter. He was powerful, there was no doubt, and his talents at draining and diverting magical energy were impressive. That had become a business all its own for the Sin'dorei.
He thought back to what he had amounted to before training: a Farstrider. He was a scout of areas outside Quel'thalas, and lived a life of avoiding the less understanding humans to the south. They weren't dangerous, by any means, but he did tire of the fun they would poke at long ears and lithe forms. He knew he could outrun any of them, leap through trees and leave them in the metaphorical dust, shoot with more skill, and was probably smarter than the majority of them. But they would always return to the ears. Jealousy, of course. But still irritating. But because he avoided other civilizations to such an extent, he had become lonely. So he requested a partner, someone to stand guard while he slept. The Farstriders had rewarded him with a lovely partner: Anwin, golden-haired, fair-skinned, beautifully shaped, and intelligent. That was what he loved most. She wasn't just good at what she did, she was smart about it, too. It wasn't usually too much to ask for, though. Elves were educated, even their more feral night elf cousins were somewhat well-versed. But... Common sense, that's what it was. She didn't make many mistakes, kept her gear in good shape, cleaned her blades often, and most of all, didn't bother Dusk when he didn't want her opinion.
Dusk smiled to himself. They had been partners for the sake of standing guard over each other, providing more efficient gathering of information. But slowly, they had slipped from guarding each other's rest to resting together... They had fallen for each other. They just... They just understood each other so well. They never had to explain anything to each other. All they had to do was bathe in each others' presence, soaking up each emotion they shared. Dusk had been angry often, but with Anwin with him, he was able to simply shrug off any bothersome thoughts, refocus his attention on her, and be happy. Dusk sighed, lips parting ever so slightly.
A sliver of rock flew into his mouth, cutting into his tongue. Waking abruptly from his reverie, Dusk gripped one of the finished grooves tightly, saving himself from falling off the spike. He pinched his tongue between his teeth and squeezed out the sliver, spitting it to the side. The taste of hot iron filled his mouth and he grimaced. His past life couldn't distract him. It had been a pleasant escape, but not one he could afford right now.
Dusk tried reaching higher, after making two more grooves in the rock. He realized quickly that he couldn't reach past what he had already done, and would need to stand on the spike of rock. He set his dagger in his teeth, grasping groove after groove, his hands climbing to the highest groove. Arms completely stretched, he pulled himself up. His feet gingerly tapped the spike of rock, finding the best position on it.
Then, the groove his hands held gave way. Dusk let out a yell, feet slipping from the spike, twisting himself around barely in time to catch onto the spike again. He growled. All that work! For nothing! No, not for nothing. He could pull himself up again, he could deepen the groove. The weathered face was probably just weak! Yes, that was it. It had been assaulted by so much nether energy floating about that it--
The spike felt unusually strained.
Dusk clenched his jaw. No... NO!!
His heart pounded. No, it will NOT end like this! I refuse... I REFUSE!!
But he couldn't argue with the rock. It had supported him for a while, but it was tired of him. He couldn't convince it otherwise. His decision lay before him: Wait for the rock to break or let go himself. His arms were tired, so tired. They ached in ways he had never felt before. No amount of training had strained him this much.
Anwin. He would never see her again. Quel'thalas. It might as well not even exist. His breath stammered as dirt from above drizzled down onto his mouth. This was it... His last--
Wait.
Dirt?
He looked up.
Another fel-ridden form glowed above him. Dusk raised his brows. Something was coming towards him from above, of which brushed against his hardened knuckles gripping the spike. Something bristly, fibrous... A rope! He grabbed on, one hand after another. The rope held, and was drawn up slowly. His foot nudged the spike on his way up. The spike fell soundlessly from the rock face, the only sign of its passing being a slight waft of air against the hem of Dusk's leather kilt.
After what seemed like hours, the rope was pulled completely to the top of the rock face. Dusk climbed over the edge, collapsing on the ground.
A swift kick struck his head. He growled, snapping to his feet. His arms were tired, but his legs were ready for action. He stared at his opponent; Like any other form he saw with his spectral sight, this being looked like nothing more than a silhouette comprised of the magics within it. In this case, fel energy was the majority. But there was so much... And shadow, too, he could see. A demon hunter, no doubt, containing either an eredar or a nathrezim. Dusk sniffed the air a bit. Yes, a nathrezim. There were two demon hunter trainees who had been infused with nathrezim: Varedis, a rather exceptional trainee, and--
"...Leotheras?"
Leotheras was slightly taller than Dusk, but his shoulders slumped slightly. "Yes, yes... Leothe--RAS!!" He gripped his head tightly, staggering. Dusk watched as the shadow energy in the trainee began overtaking his form. Dusk frowned. He growled in warning. Leotheras breathed in strained draws, slower and slower until he returned to a normal pace of breath. He straightened up. "...They got RID of me."
Dusk raised his brow. "What? Why?"
Leotheras grinned wide, letting out a laugh. "Hah! They say I don't maintain control well enough. Heheh." Leotheras let the rope fall to the ground, striding off. Dusk frowned, glancing at the edge of rock again, then followed quickly behind his comrade.
"So I'm guessing they've given up on me, eh?"
Leotheras snorted. "You're dead to them. You're a failure." He whipped around quickly, grabbing Dusk's shoulders and getting forehead-to-forehead with him. "We can be FAILURES together, eh?!" He turned back around, striding and cackling. Dusk furrowed his brow. At least I can see why they don't want him around...

The two trainees strode across the wastes of Shadowmoon Valley for the rest of that "day." Outland really had no sun left, the planet having been torn apart by the foul energies Gul'dan had released there, subsequently flung from its proper place. "Day" depended on when an individual had woken up, and "night" by the same token.
Shadowmoon Valley was bleak to the eyes of many. Tracts of land, nothing more than blackened dirt, dry and compacted with ridges of black stone rising. In the center of the area, a volcano had risen, spewing lava, green with the fel taint that permeated the valley. But to the two hunters, their eyes permanently replaced with spectral sight, the valley was much like Quel'thalas: full of magic. There was magic everywhere, of course. But Quel'thalas was drenched, just like this place. And to the hunters, who saw only in magic wavelengths, it was as if their eyes had never left them. Plus, they could see where other magical beings had been, identifiable by mana residue in the air and on the ground. But the hunters' senses were nowhere near the same. While they both could see magic, hear acutely, and smell far better than even a trained ranger, their demons decided their talents. Many demon hunters chose a nathrezim, due to the power, comparable to an eredar, and being slightly easier to control than an eredar. That had been Leotheras' choice: power above all else. But Dusk was slightly nostalgic to his Farstrider days, so he had picked a felhunter. Felhunters were the trackers of the Burning Legion, demonic hounds that had the nasty ability to drain their targets dry of mana. They were strong physically, as well, but not very strong-willed. Dusk's constantly bothered him to drain mana, which he was fine with doing, but the begging grew tiresome. Still, the hound had become more complacent, almost loyal to him. It resented being controlled, being tapped for power, but Dusk felt it was beginning to see him as its master.
Dusk glanced over at Leotheras. He had been strangely quiet their whole trek, though they didn't have that much to talk about. They were outcasts, they were stuck on a very limited piece of leftover planet, and they both held dark forces on leashes within them. Dusk frowned.
"Leotheras."
"Eh?"
"Where exactly are we going?"
They stopped. Leotheras rubbed his chin. "...Excellent question. Terokkar, I guess."
Dusk snorted. "Why there?"
Leotheras growled, undoubtedly glaring at Dusk. "Food, you idiot."
"But there are boars here. I know usually no one eats them, but we should--"
"Bah! Fel orcs can't stomach them, what makes you think we can?!"
Dusk sniffed the air. Chimaera, boars, some shaleskin... whatever they are. He sighed. "Yeah. Guess you're right. Terokkar has worgs, at least." He looked back to Leotheras. He was holding his head again, slumped over. Dusk snapped his fingers at him. "Oye. Tell him you're the master, we need to keep going."
Leotheras raised a hand quickly to smack Dusk's shoulder, growling. "Give me a moment, you fool! Not all of us chose the easy route of binding with a damned puppy!"
Dusk snorted. He was too tired to fight, too thirsty. "Bah. To hell with you, Leotheras." He walked on, following the slight scent of greenery they had been led by thus far.
Leotheras stumbled behind Dusk, regaining his footing with each step.

The trip through Shadowmoon Valley was rather uneventful. The trainees were able to simply walk past Fel Orc encampments as well as Illidari outposts. Doubt they would bother ordering us to be killed, Dusk thought. Not that I'm disappointed, exactly. The air smelled more and more of the forest ahead: moist dirt, bark, leaves, animals, and most importantly, water. The trainees passed another Illidari outpost. The forest's scent grew stronger. Their ears tensed. The sound of flowing water! They broke into a run, feet sinking into the dirt as it moistened nearing the river, falling to their knees to cup their hands and dip them into the water. They drank for the value of what seemed like days' worth of dehydration, dried lips moistened. The chill of the cool water branched out from their throats, cooling their bodies, worn from the arid atmosphere and flaring temperatures of the Valley. Dusk splashed some of the water onto his chest and face, soothing the aching nerves under his skin. They remained at the riverside for a while, uncaring of the mud soaking their kilts. Water. That's all that mattered. There was water here, and they had it to drink.
Leotheras straightened up from the stream, wiping his mouth. He let out a held-in breath, looking across the stream. Terokkar lay ahead, a thick forest full of life and conflict.
Kill him.
He raised his brows. No... What? No.
Kill him, you weakling.
No.
KILL.
He grasped his head tightly, falling to his elbows. "NO!!"
Dusk snapped his attention to Leotheras. He frowned, nudging his shoulder. "You alright?"
Leotheras smacked Dusk's arm roughly, mud flinging from his own arm. He stood up quickly, staggering as he caught his balance. "We... We need to keep moving. Come on!" Leotheras leapt across the stream, jumping at a tree and climbing it quickly, the rough bark providing easy hand and footholds. Dusk smirked, following quickly after him. Woodcraft was something he missed dearly from his Farstrider days, so he had no qualms with returning to the trees.

The hunters leapt from branch to branch through the thick forest, passing over shattered settlements and a fel orc encampment on their way. They had no clue where they were going; Neither of them had even been in Terokkar. But there was a strong source of magic in this forest, full of life. If it were some sort of elven base, there was a good chance they would be welcomed. After all, if the Illidari demons hadn't attacked them and the fel orcs had paid them no mind, why would their own people?
They drew closer to the source of magic, flying through the trees. Occasionally, a bird's nest was found, and the eggs provided them a small protein snack. They did not stop for much rest, though. The anticipation and excitement brought on by finding their own fates had reached them. There were no more instructors, no more tests. They once again returned to controlling their destinies. Besides, they had learned plenty during training. They were even near the end of training before they left. Dusk's only concern was Leotheras, who faltered during their flight across the forest several times. He would miss a branch, cling tightly to whichever he had last held, and take a moment to retain control. Dusk would then help him up, and they would continue on their way. He didn't mind, really. He still had to figure out what he would do with his life. He felt a moment to pick up a straggler would not put too much of a dent in his time.
The hunters neared the source of magic. The faint, light yellow glow on their horizons, peeking from behind the trees before them soon filled their view. The settlement was drab to normal eyes, beaten and weathered with past struggles and conflicts. But to the hunters' eyes, it was full of light. There were lines leading from it, soaring into the air, signs of portals within the settlement. So many portals... This was quite a hub. And life; Its soothing green light glowed from the curved architecture in the settlement, hinting that it was covered in some sort of thick moss or vines. People milled about, sat around, wandering the settlement. This could not have been a Sin'dorei settlement, though... There was so little arcane energy to be seen. Dusk leaned over to Leotheras. "Who do you think this is? It can't be our people, can it?"
Leotheras shook his head, still gazing at the city. "No... There's so much light here... You know, the energy." Dusk nodded. Leotheras frowned. "Wait... Light... That would be the draenei, right?"
Dusk tilted his head. "Not friendly, then. We should keep moving."
"Fall into formation!"
The hunters looked up. Writhing, nether-ridden forms soared above them, gathering into an organized formation before diving at the hunters.
Dusk frowned. "Time to go?"
Leotheras nodded. "Time to go!"
The hunters leapt down into deeper branches of the trees, following the canopy away from the settlement. Their pursuers followed, firing rifles. The hunters winced, avoiding the shots, but nearly becoming stunned by the ear-shattering sounds. They followed the canopy down, leaping across gaps in foliage to more trees, climbing up and twisting around the tree trunks for protection from the gunshot. No one was better at woodcraft than an elf, and they aimed to keep their advantage as long as they could.
Another gap. They leapt. A smaller tree was ahead. And past that... Damnit! I know neither of us can jump that far, Dusk thought. The hunters looked at each other. "Weave to the other trees," Leotheras said. Dusk nodded, following him to the ground. They landed carefully, bending their knees to spring from the ground back into a run, weaving from side to side of each other and whipping around the tree to climb up it with temporary protection from the now nearly constant gunfire. Their pursuers quickly caught up, firing at them on the other side of the tree. Too late, however, to catch them before the hunters simply leapt up onto branches, continuing the flight. Trees to the side. Around the trunk. Up ahead. Slightly to the right.
Dead end. The trees had ended abruptly. The hunters dropped to the ground, feet sinking into mud. Leotheras growled, quickly yanking himself out of the mud and into shallow water.
KILL HIM.
"NO!" he yelled, grabbing his head. An arm reached out to yank him to the other side of the shallow pool of water. Dusk was not in the mood for Leotheras to be out of commission. And though it wouldn't have affected him to just leave the ailing hunter behind, well... He smirked. If this idiot dies, then we won't be failures together anymore. Hah.
Pillars rose from the ground in this new area, giving the hunters more space to run around, avoiding the gunshots. And running was now necessary; Dusk didn't have time to help Leotheras up from branches. At least he could run while holding his head, while regaining himself. Ditches of water slowed them down only slightly. Dusk growled, unable to see as well in this area. The land wasn't as saturated with magic. The most he could see were slight glows from the living columns around him, and a slight taint in the water of arcane. Other than that, he really did feel blind for once.
The pursuers grinned to themselves. "Alright, let's finish off this Illidari scum! Last one to drop 'em buys us all drinks!"
Dusk stumbled, his feet landing on wooden planks. Leotheras began to regain himself, running with stronger, steadier steps. Dusk let go of his arm slowly, running at full speed again. Leotheras began inching ahead of him. Dusk smirked. If this was what they'd end up doing the rest of the day, they might as well make a race out of it. The two stayed neck-in-neck for the most part. Leotheras was able to stay ahead longer, but Dusk would burst in front of him with a jolt of speed. The wooden planks fell into stiff, packed down dirt, then returned to planks for a while. The planks abruptly ended again, and the hunters looked ahead. There was another settlement... This one contained much more arcane energy.
Figures raced towards them. Figures without legs. And they were hissing.
"Drive them back!" Frost energy charged in their hands, firing at the hunters' pursuers. The hunters kept going, leaping up to one of the columns. Underneath was a billowy mass of what felt almost like flesh. Rubbery, moist, and soft, but there was no pulse. The hunters clung to the mass as their pursuers were shot down with bolts of ice, falling to the ground and into the water. It ended quickly.
Dusk looked over at Leotheras, hanging onto the mass next to him. The two grinned, both catching their breath. Dusk nodded to him. "You alright now? Do I have to keep picking you up off the ground?"
Leotheras let go with one of his hands, smacking Dusk's ribs. "Heh. Shut the hell up."
Dusk laughed, dropping from the mass. Leotheras dropped as well, landing slightly harder. The hunters' rescuers slithered over. It was clear, now that the hunters were able to get a good look at them, that their rescuers had been naga. The naga bore a strong similarity to night elves from the waist up, but below, they were serpentine. One of them came forward further, looking up at Dusk. She was an obvious female; No male naga would be leading a group of spellcasters, not a chance. Plus, Dusk could see the curve of her waist. She nodded to him. "Welcome, demon hunters. You bring word from our lord Illidan, correct?"
Dusk's brow twitched. Of course, they would expect as such. He nodded. "Indeed. He... wishes to know of your progress here." Wherever "here" is, he thought.
She looked him over, slithering around him while Leotheras hung back. "You carry no weapons... Tell me, does Illidan simply send unarmed students as a test all itself?" The group of naga laughed, their leader wearing an entertained smirk.
Dusk tilted his ears back slightly. "We need no weapons." He grinned. "But I am flattered you noticed."
The leading naga eyed Dusk a moment, eventually nodding slightly. "Hm." She turned back to her kin. "Ready a portal. They are to meet with our matron." The other naga slid away, heading to the nearest stream of water and diving in. Dusk watched their departure, then looked back to the leader. She reached a hand up to tilt his chin up slightly, turning his head from side to side, inspecting. "A runt of a demon hunter. How disappointing." She pulled her hand back. "I am Thespia. You will address me as Hydromancer. Understood?"
Dusk snorted. "The Illidari do not take orders from their lower allies."
She smirked, slithering away on the land towards the settlement. Dusk watched her leave for a moment, looking back to Leotheras. Leotheras stared at him. "You realize we will be found out, yes?" he asked in a low tone. "Vashj keeps up with Illidan."
Dusk glanced back to the Thespia, milling back into the settlement. He frowned. "We won't meet need to worry about it..." He looked back to Leotheras. "Think about it. We didn't even see Illidan after the first few days. You remember Nuaris and Al'dran?"
Leotheras nodded. "The two the pit lord overcame?"
"Yeah... Illidan probably doesn't even know we're gone. I get the feeling the instructors try avoiding his wrath just as much as any other servant of his..."
Leotheras raised a brow. "You have a point..."
Dusk nodded towards the settlement. The hunters strode towards the naga encampment.

The naga provided a generous meal for the hunters, composed of fish and some sort of kelp substance. It was interesting to see; The naga arranged their meals and ate them the same way night elves did. The night elves the two hunters had seen, at least. And even then, they were night elves who were exiled from society for following Illidan. But naga were not night elves, of course. Fish was eaten whole. Dusk was used to it, really. As a scout living in the wilds, he would cast a line, catch a couple fish, spear them by a fire for a while, and then go ahead with his meal. Leotheras, however, was not used to such eating habits. He stared at the plate of food for a moment upon receiving it. Dusk nudged him. "Oye, you aren't hungry?"
Leotheras sighed, picking at the kelp dish. "This fish is whole."
"Yeah, it is."
"I'll eat a bone."
Dusk snorted. "Only if you bite into one like an idiot."
Leotheras growled, smacking Dusk's shoulder. Dusk grinned. "Just bite into the sides of it or chew on the tail or something."
Leotheras looked back down at his plate, frowning. He slid his fork under the kelp substance, lifting it to his mouth.
After their meal, the hunters were approached by Thespia again. "Filled to the brim, demon hunters?" She smirked.
Leotheras snorted. "Give me something edible and maybe--" Dusk cut him off with a smack to his gut. "We are, actually. And we would request a night's rest before continuing on."
Thespia raised a scaly brow. "You do not wish to meet with our matron at once?"
He shook his head. "No. There are some things to still take care of. Discussions to be had. The like."
She nodded. "Fine. Take your eve of rest. Tomorrow, we will form the portal again." She directed the two to a hut to rest in, a curtain surrounding it for privacy. The hunters settled into the hut, untying their hair. A demon hunter's hair was typically held back so as to not tangle as they fought. Dusk's hair was generally less groomed and cared for. Leotheras, however, was adamant. His was to be kept in a topknot, containing one half of his hair. The rest was to be allowed to flow down his back and over his shoulders. Dusk smirked, watching Leotheras carefully dismantle his hair. He shook his head, laying down on the thin piece of cloth below them.
"So, Leotheras. I've had a question that I've been meaning to ask."
Leotheras looked over at Dusk, attaching his hair ties to each other. "What's that?"
Dusk frowned. "Well," he lowered his voice, aware that the curtains of the hut were not very thick. "Why did you save me?"
Leotheras paused. "Well... At first, I was just curious to see if you had survived. But..." He shrugged. "I don't know." He growled. "Why? Hoping I thought you were skilled and shouldn't die? Because I don't."
Dusk lowered his brow. "Bah. Thanks, I guess, then."
Leotheras smirked. "I ought not to have done it. Thespia is right. You are a runt. You're lackluster. Hell, you didn't even get power when you had the chance." He laid down on his side, smirking. "So tell me, why the felhunter? Why not a stronger demon?" He laughed. "Heh, were you afraid?"
Dusk sighed. "At least I've got control of mine."
Leotheras sat up, swiftly bringing a hand down on Dusk's neck. He gripped his neck tightly, growling. "Listen to me," he rumbled. "You will not speak of this while I draw breath. Don't make me regret saving you. I may reconsider taking pity on a helpless child like you." He let go of Dusk's neck, laying down on his side facing away from his comrade. Dusk coughed, rubbing his neck. There would be no discussion, obviously. Dusk watched Leotheras warily, but it was clear his outburst was over. He rubbed his neck a bit more, beckoning sleep. He laced his fingers, setting them over his scarred eyes.
Leotheras held a hand to his forehead, listening to his comrade's breathing slow, the veil of sleep enshrouding him. This was the time he would speak to his demon, when he would make his demands. Reasoning was out of the question, but he felt as though this was the time he could feel most in control.
You fail to kill him. Explain yourself.
I don't want to... There is nothing to be gained.
Liar. You are fearful. Fearful of yourself, of me.
Leotheras clenched his jaw. I fear nothing...
Liar. You lie to yourself, elf. And you fail to realize the truth...
There is no truth to be unknown.
Is there not? Do you not see him for what he is?
Explain yourself...
He is a traitor. Surely you sense it as well.
Leotheras paused. ...No. That isn't possible. How can you assume such a thing?
Heheheh... Think about it. He lost favor with the Illidari. And he did so by escaping them, by proving himself a "failure." Is it not strange that his life was saved by a spike of rock precisely where he would need one?
The hunter raised his brows. You're... You're right.
He obviously views you as a pawn. You allow him to use you. Did you know he has been draining me of power? I have begun feeling weaker.
Leotheras gasped. No... It can't be! You've been stronger than ever, I know you have! You keep trying to take control!
Only in order to destroy the one causing me harm.
The hunter rolled onto his back, looking to his side. Dusk's sleeping form lay beside him, a more subdued green glow as he slept. The energies settled during sleep, of course.
Look at him, elf. See how he is so comfortable? So assured you will not attack him? He is a traitor... He is a traitor to the Illidari and a traitor to you if you do not act.
Leotheras slowly nodded. I...
Traitor. He will kill you. He does not care for your safety as you have for his.
The hunter sighed heavily, rubbing his head. He... He could have killed me before, though. There were so many chances. At the river. He could have drowned me. Or in the trees, he could have thrown me to my death.
Would he allow himself to bear the guilt?
Leotheras frowned... I... I will think about it. I-I am the master, not you. You answer to me.
The nathrezim's laugh echoed in his mind. Very well. I do trust you shall make a well-advised decision.
Leotheras

Introduction

(Hey, Moon Guard fags. Isn't demon hunter so cliché? Everyone hates it. It's never done right. But it's so cool, everyone wants to.

I want my fucking cursed vision.)