A Relationship Develops

[Amahli]

((Okay, okay, I forgot to post part two. But I had to change it because the first version I wrote didn't seem to click.))

If there was one thing Amahli hated, it was being talked down to. She wasn't a child and she was fully capable of looking out for herself. Afterall, she was Amahli Windrunner; Warmonger of the mighty Clan Skullcrusher! And she did not need a pompous, arrogant, rude, chovanistic pig acting like some prince riding in on his white horse, coming to 'rescue' her.

Amahli snorted at the thought of her as a damsel in distress. Saddling her large war wolf, and waving a farewell to Garadar's stable master, the druid headed west, steering off the path and skirting the large clefthoof beasts whose leather was so highly valued. Today, however, her aim was on the ogres of the north and one in particular: Cho'war. Dangerous and deadly - especially by smell, she heard - there was quite a bounty on his head.

And it'll all be mine, she grinned, thinking of the reward money. when she came upon the large mountain rumored to be home to the ogre clan, Amahli hopped off her wolf, and took to her wings. She flew the rest of the way to the upper part of the mountain, knowing where the leader would be. Landing in a small outcropping, she moved swiftly to her cat form, staying low and in the brushes and tall grass. Sneaking stealthily around the big, dumb brutes, Amahli came upon a cave entrance. This time, the druid stuck to the shadows. She did not want to be discovered until she was well away with proof of the leader's death.

Passing by warlocks as swiftly as possible, she made her way to the top levels of the cave. This should be where he was located. She rounded the corner and stopped. Dead bodies, she could smell. Fresh. Ogres.. She sniffed at the air. Someone had been through here very recently. At least.. six dead ogres. no wait, 5. And fresh blood. A tauren? Hurriedly, she dashed down the stretch of the tunnel path, and could hear sounds of a battle up ahead.

A canine's high yelp of pain rang out, and from behind a corner up ahead, a black-furred wolf body skidded across the dirt. As Amahli swung around this last bend, she saw Cho'war, in all his ugliness, squared off against a black Tauren, fur matted with blood. The vicious brute swung a mace at the tauren, knocking his bow aside and sending him back against the wall. Blood fell from several wounds, and the protector in Amahli flared up. Starting with a low growl and then a ferocious roar, Amahli the lion coiled up and launched herself up at the ogre, landing on his back. As no creature could tolerate the weight of a large cat clinging to its back, Cho'war hollered and tried to dislodge her. Shredding at him with her hind claws, her front claws dug into the ogre's shoulder for grip. Before she could grip her teeth around the vital lifeline in his neck, Cho'war flung himself backwards against the cave wall, smashing her between him and it. Not to be deterred, though her head rang furiously, she clung on desperately.

Angrily, Cho'war spun around, unable to fling the cat off of him, who kept ripping into his flesh. Seizing an oppurtunity, Amahli sank her teeth into the thickness of his neck, jaws clenching tightly. Slowly, she inched her jaws closer and closer to his throbbing jugular vein. With a popping feeling, blood sprayed across her face as she reached her goal, and with a gurgle the giant ogre fell, Amahli sliding off before the dead body could crush her.

Shaking herself off, Amahli panted for air. She shifted out of her cat form and wiped her face off, drawing upon the Earth Mother's magic to replenish and heal herself. Walking over tot he fallen wolf, the druid nudged it with a hoof. When it didn't move, she frowned and laid a hand on it, concentrating until she could hear the wolf draw a ragged breath.

Satisfied, she then walked over to the wolf's master - Tabe, she recognized. How ironic, that she should save him after his supposed 'rescue' of her. Pressing two finger against his neck, she rolled her eyes. Great. His pulse was slow, which meant he couldn't move himself. She looked at the wolf, who seemed to be recovering quickly. "Yer gonna be helpin' me get him outta here," she told it sternly.

Bagging thehead of Cho'war, she thrust it at the wolf. "Instead, you carry this." And Amahli set about dragging Tabe towards the cave's entrance, where she could call her Windrider to carry them both to safety.

This stupid hunter was more trouble than he was worth.

*****************************************

((this part is more from Tabe's PoV))

Tabe awoke to the heat of a fire closeby. Nighttime; how long had he been out of it? He jerked upright, then groaned at the sudden movement.

"Ya really shouldn't be so quick ta move. Helluva state you were in y'know," came an amused voice from across the fire. He looked over to see the tauren he'd saved the other day, fending off the wild mountain Gron. She looked scratched, but not overly damaged, he noted as he inspected her by the fire's light. Over to her side, his black wolf, Tarka, munched happily on a bone, seemingly content.

Turning his look back to the tauren - Amahli was her name, now he remembered - he smiled. "Suppose I have you to thank for the valiant rescue?"

Setting her shoulders back and puffing up proudly, Amahli replied smugly, "Damn right ya do. Were gettin' yer ass handed to ya, figured ah'd step in and stop the carnage." She picked up a rag sitting nearby and began polishing her armor. "Mah debt to ya's been paid, and ah profit with the reward for Cho'war's death." She motioned to a bag near her packs bulging with coin.

Tabe raised as eyebrow. "Well hold on there, kitten," he started, and chuckled internally as she narrowed her eyes at the nickname. "T'be fair, part of that should go to me."

Amahli snorted. "And what for? Ah coulda letcha die juss as easily, and be free and clear of this mess without ever having worried about keepin' you alive."

Tabe grinned slowly and leaned forward, eyeing the other tauren over the fire. "You worried about me? Honestly, I'm touched!"

Ear laid back and eyes set in a more feline glare, Amahli snapped back, "Touched in the head, fer sure! Wouldn't uh even carried you off if ah didn't owe ya!" With that, the druid stood up with crossed arms. "And a fat lotta gratitude ah'm gettin' for that!" She stomped off, muttering under her breath, heading for her tent a few yards away.

He watched her walk into her tent and smiled. Somehow Tabe doubted that the druid would have let him die. She seemed to be a pain, definitely a handful, but honor seemed to rule her. He lay back onto te ground, staring up at the night sky. And she could be vicious, that much he saw while half-unconcious in the battle. Even her tauren shape echoed a feline grace; wiry muscles flexing wonderfully in every balanced step. She was wild and beautiful and untamed.

The hunter shut his eyes with a grin. One thing he was taught in training was that every beast could be tamed.

Edited April 8, 2007 by Amahli

[Jadeynn]

oooooooOOOOOOooooo!!

More! more!

[Maube]

::grins:: No sappy stories for Kittybear!

[Rhoach]

He still seems like a dick

[Jadeynn]

*bonks Rhoach* hush you!

[Jadeynn]

so uhh..... Amahli.. don't leave us hanging! how does it all end?

[Rhoach]

And then Amahli went moonkin and she was all like 'pew pew' and the other guy said "let's make babies" and they did and their children were owlcats.

The end yay!