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Hell Cavern	By : Koori Category: +S through Z > World of Warcraft Views: 3541 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
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- 12
Chapter Eleven
A soft tickling sensation down his arm woke Falcon. His eyes fluttered open and he was surprised to find Rain sleeping snuggled up beside him. As the fog cleared from his mind he look up to see a smiling Crystal kneeling nearby, her fingers still on his arm.
"I'm sorry to wake you beloved, but there are matters that need your attention." She said quietly, her grin wavering.
Nodding Falcon carefully untangled himself for the still napping Sin'dorei. He replaced his warmth with heavy fur blankets, so chill wouldn't wake him. Taking a moment to pull Rain's still damp hair off his bare back, Falcon sighed remembering a short time ago the fair skin had been a maze of cuts and blood thanks to his hand. Tucking the blanket over him, Falcon followed his wife out of the hut, realizing he was still dirty from the mines and his own clothes were damp from the river.
The clan was gathered around the fire pit, Falcon could tell something was amiss. Glancing at the lights he assumed his impromptu nap had been a couple hours long.
"You look well rested after a toss in the sheets," Sly said with venom in his tone.
Falcon blinked at the tone of words. The jolly elf rarely lost his wit and humor. "No tossing involved," he said. "We were both still clothed. I guess I just gave into exhaustion."
The rogue shrugged as he flipped and twirled a dagger around his fingers. The tension around the campfire was thick enough to be cut by that blade.
"All right, someone better start talking," Falcon said. "Who is working on dinner or did I miss it? Are our walls secured?"
"Nay the meal hasn't been served, our dinner ration was smaller than expected for the amount of work we did. A few scrawny hares and a game bird, was all the voucher bought. Though a quick survey from the other two clans showed they didn't fair much better," Sid said pointing to a couple of wrapped bundles lying in the coals of the fire. "They are cooking now, along with some potatoes in the foil."
"And the walls?" Falcon said, still waiting for the reason for the foul mood in the air to be explained.
"We found a small section where the barbs on top of the wall had been chiseled away; they did it in such a method it couldn't be seen from the ground." Crystal explained. "We replaced the jagged pieces of metal as well as added another row a bit lower on the wall."
"Chiseled? Wouldn't that make some noise? We'll have to be more alert on our watches." Falcon said. Then he sighed, "All right is someone going to explain the mood tonight?"
"The Quartermaster wouldn't sell us any wood," Shar said.
"What do you mean?" Falcon asked with a frown. "Was he out?"
"Nay, he had a big stack of logs behind him but said they weren't for sale to the Earthhunter Clan." Shar replied.
"What the hell? Since when is our coin any less valuable than the others …?"
"Since we've gained the unwelcome attention of our keepers," Star shouted. "Damn it, why didn't you just let him die at the river … it would have been over for him and our life would have returned to normal ..."
A yelp escaped Star as Red turned around and slapped her hard. The hunter made some quick hand signs.
"The lass is right," Sid said. "Rain might have saved her life today. And we paid him back by beating the hell out of him." The dwarf shook his head. "Sad day for the Earthhunter Clan, the lad doesn't deserve our ire."
As the others fell quiet, Crystal smiled from where she sat on the ground and opened her arms. Glancing over his shoulder Falcon saw the subject of their discussion timidly return the smile and walked over to Crystal letting her pull him into her embrace. She wrapped her arms around his bare chest, trying to drive away the chill in the air.
"All right, I'm going to talk to the Quartermaster and see what I can do," Falcon said standing. "Sly and Rarvo need you to do that rogue thing you do and visit the other two clans unnoticed. Buy a day's worth of wood from each if they have it to spare. Not enough so the demons will notice their supplies diminishing."
Sly was staring at Crystal and Rain; an unreadable expression on his face. "Will do," he said walking toward the gate with Rarvo on his heels.
Standing Falcon bent down and kissed his wife, gently rubbing the top of Rain's head as he did. "I'll be back shortly."
"Be safe," Crystal said.
Grabbing some coins from the coffer Falcon headed out of the gate. He hadn't gotten far when he heard Crystal cry out, "Rain … no!"
Turning around he saw the Sin'dorei running out of the encampment toward him. He paused letting him catch up. Rain was speaking in a rush in his birth tongue, Falcon smiled and reached over brushing the pale cheek of the other. "Go back home, Rain, I'll be okay."
Crystal caught up and grabbed Rain's hand, she pulled him back toward the camp. Rain struggled trying to free himself. "No … no … no …"
"Release him beloved, he can come with me if he wants." Falcon said with a shrug.
"Is that wise?" she asked letting Rain go. The dark haired elf moved back over by Falcon.
"Wise, probably not, but better than causing a scene. I'll protect him." Falcon started heading down the road toward the giant iron doors. Beside them was where they would find Quartermaster Ortug, in a small cave. Rain followed a step behind him, his emerald eyes darting around the giant cavern. Falcon had to wonder what the Sin'dorei was thinking.
There was a small line at the Quartermaster; Falcon took his place at the back. A member of the Forsaken Clan, Stonecat, was collecting their rations. There was a gasp from Rain as he stared at the skeleton figure with a look of horror. Could it be Rain had never seen one of the living dead before?
"Akire?" Rain's fear was evident.
"It's okay, Adran." He replied calmly hoping his feelings would carry over.
The Sin'dorei moved closer to him and kept his gaze downward except for an occasional glance over at the Forsaken as it walked back to its encampment.
There was a loud snort behind them and Falcon glanced over his shoulder at a large Tauren. The other said something in a foreign tongue and the trembling elf at his side replied. The Tauren nodded, glancing at Falcon it snorted again and crossed his arms as they waited their turn.
After a few minutes Falcon was able to approach the Quartermaster. "Earthhunter already received their dinner rations," Ortug grunted.
"Yes we're going to enjoy our three rats, that isn't why I am here. I came to see why our coins are no longer worth anything." Falcon said. "The Clan has always pulled their weight and then some, why are we denied wood for our fire?"
"Because I said so," the demon said, with a wicked smile. The demon's eyes moved to Rain. "Your slut seems to be missing his jewelry."
"The shackles are no longer needed," Falcon said, trying his best to stay calm. "I'll pay twice what the other clans do for firewood, please … Master. Without it not only do we lose our ability to cook food, heat water … light's out will put us at a disadvantage to protect our home. We also use the flames in our lanterns to work the mine, where we dig …"
"You speak like I care," Quartermaster Ortug said dismissing them. "I suggest you leave now or I may forget to feed your clan tomorrow."
"Damn it!" A gentle hand on his shoulder startled him and he glanced over at Rain. The pale elf shook his head and took his hand, pulling on it.
"It's okay, Akire."
Falcon wrapped his fingers around the others. "Forgive me Master; will my Clan be able to buy firewood tomorrow?"
"Maybe … maybe not," the demon turned his attention to the Tauren behind them.
Without releasing Rain's hand Falcon turned back toward the camp. He was quiet on the way back, keeping their pace quick. As they entered the camp he waved off the greetings and walked into his hut shutting the door behind them. Turning to face Rain he tried to keep his face expressionless, a pair of confused emerald eyes watched him.
Gently running callused fingers down the soft cheek of the other, Falcon sighed and picking up the comb resting on the table he handed it to Rain. "Work on that mess called your hair, we probably should cut or braided it." He walked toward the door motioning Rain shouldn't follow.
"No luck I assume, lad?" Sid asked as he stepped outside shutting the door behind him.
"No," Falcon replied. He glanced over at the rogues sitting at the table enjoying mugs of ale. "Hopefully you two had better luck?"
"Aye," Rarvo said. "We both got a bundle of wood from Silverhelm and Ironsong. If you would like I could steal into one of the horde encampments and …"
"No," Falcon cut him off. "We are in enough trouble as it is; we don't need any extra attention drawn to us. As long as we can keep buying wood from the others without our keepers noticing we'll be fine. Though as much as I don't like the idea we should probably let the fire burn out overnight and relight in the morning."
"But us dwarves can't see in the dark," Sid said.
"I know … the five of us Kaldorei will have to take care of the night patrols for a bit." Falcon said.
"Great," Star said rolling her eyes.
"You're on first watch tonight," Falcon said. He was getting tired of her attitude. The excuse of youth only went so far. "Is everyone here?" He glanced around and counted ten heads. "All right, I've been very selfish when it came to Rain. I did spend my own coins to buy him but there is no denying having him in the encampment is affecting everyone. Because of that I want to have a vote."
"What are we voting on?" Crystal asked.
"If Rain continues to live with us or dies tonight," Falcon said not meeting his wife's eyes. "If we choose life, just let it be known I will not shackle or cage him anymore. Nor is ANYONE to raise their hand to him, if you have a problem take it up with me. What we … I did today is unforgivable. There is a good chance he saved Red's life and I repaid him by …" Falcon sighed.
"If we're just going to kill him, why did you save him down at the river?" There was no emotion in Sly's question.
"Because I didn't want the choice made under those circumstances." Falcon said.
"You mean because you weren't the one to make the choice," Sly replied with a slight edge to his voice. "Rain decided to end his life and you took that from him."
Sid waved a hand silencing them both. "All right so we know what is expected if he lives to see tomorrow. If we choose … that the lad won't see any more tomorrows how do you plan to go about it?"
"Hemlock," Falcon said simply.
"Would he be in pain?" Star asked, for the first time without the sharp tongue.
"I don't believe so; he'll get cold as his body starts shutting down."
"Will he know what we did?" she asked.
"Yes," Falcon said. He walked over to a small hutch and opening the doors pulled out a bowl. Within were two dozen stones, half white and half black. Dumping them out he went around the table handing everyone one of each color. Leaving the extras on the table he walked over to sink area and setting the bowl down covered the top with a towel. He put another towel over a nearby mug.
"All right, one at time we'll cast our vote. White is life, black is death; it's a blind vote, so follow your own heart." Falcon said.
"Before I cast my vote, may I ask something?" Shar said. Falcon nodded. "Why? Why did you bring him into the Clan in the first place?"
"At first, it was simply to appease Crystal. I assumed I'd bring him into the encampment just long enough to end his life humanly. But as my wife pointed out, Rain has a tender soul. I wasn't able to carry through. We all ended up in this Cavern because of choices we made, all of us chose to come to the Outlands. No one forced us too. I don't believe Rain had that choice, from what little I know of his history someone has been in control of his life for a long time."
"So this isn't anything new for him then," Crystal said with a sigh. "Another hand other than his own is once again deciding his fate."
Falcon didn't answer his wife. "Majority rules, as always. Okay Star lead us off, one stone into the bowl. Discard the other stone into the mug. Please keep the towels covering both to keep the tally a secret."
One by one the clan members cast their vote. Falcon was the last one; he walked up … his stomach felt cold. He dropped the white rock in his hand into the bowl discarding the black one. Without uncovering the bowl he walked back over to the clan and spilled the stones onto the table.
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Hell Cavern