As morning came, the chattering of the city folk seemed a little busier than normal. There were rumors of some sort of dark agent making its way through Azeroth. Then again there was always talk of something, the people are easily scared into one thing or another. After a stretch and gathering gear, it was time to speak with Telonis again and practice the new patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Fuzzy neared the leather and tailor shops, a voice called out “Sergeant!” A voice not heard in quite some time. A voice so familiar and strong. A voice that was friendly and weathered. A voice that.. \u201cHey, Fuzzy! I\u2019d recognize that ass anywhere! What, are you doing some kind of internal monologue and can\u2019t turn to see an old friend?!\u201d, the voice shouted. Fuzzy knew exactly who it was. That melodious voice was of his dear friend Anthonius, a Paladin that he had served with for so many years during the early wars. He turned to see a plate clad battle-hardened soldier wearing pink goggles and wielding a spiked shield that could cook six critters at once over a hot flame. \u201cAnth? It\u2019s been so long! How have you been? How is Opalily?\u201d Anth smiled and embraced his long lost Hunter friend. \u201cYou old purple bastard! Everyone is doing great! I had no idea you would be here! Why didn\u2019t you call?!?\u201d, Anth clammored. \u201cHey, only one of us is the engineer, here. If you can figure out how to make a communicator out of leather scraps then I\u2019ll stay in touch a bit better.\u201d Anth laughed and the two old friends caught each other up on tales of children, burned dinners, poor attempts at new professions, and regaled of their past adventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The old friends talked for hours until it was mid-day. \u201cThere is talk of something dark coming back to Azeroth\u201d, Anth began. \u201cJoin me, join us! Help us protect this world from the danger that is brewing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, I left all of that behind me. It has been so long. I\u2019m not sure this old body can even remember how to fight, let alone command a beast. I released all of my pets years ago and you know how much of a pain in the ass it is to tame one\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh I remember. It\u2019s one of the reasons I became a Paladin. The smell of wet dog, or cat, or the foul stench of a bat just following you around got to be too much\u201d, said Anth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you would prefer to smell it at melee distance during a battle while I stand back and shout commands to my pet from a distance?\u201d Fuzzy chuckled at the thought. The pets didn\u2019t really smell that bad, but maybe he was used to the smell of wet fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe could use a hunter with your long….history\u201d. Anth always was a cunning linguist and jokester. Fuzzy sheepishly grinned at the joke, half heartedly thinking about the root question. Was it time to go back? How could he leave his family? How could he ensure they would be safe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure what I would do if I knew the girls were ever in harms way, I couldn\u2019t leave them unprotected\u201d, Fuzzy explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDumbass, you have access to an entire garrison. They would be perfectly safe there.\u201d Anth was right. The garrison was the perfect place for them to be while he was away fighting for their world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me think about it. I\u2019ll have to talk things over with Erinia first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell don\u2019t wait too long. This new battalion is pretty big. The Platoon I\u2019m part of is a rag tag bunch of misfits with a great sense of humor, but also one of the best fighting outfits I\u2019ve ever been part of.\u201d Anth was grinning ear to ear as he described the group. \u201cIf you change your mind, come to the Inn at Boralus. The Innkeeper there can find us. Tell them you\u2019re looking for the Humpday Heroes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe WHAT? Surely you\u2019re joking. They let you in?!? Do they even know about that time you were in Orgrimmar on the mailbox?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe, uh, we don\u2019t talk about that. If I recall there was someone else there with me. I think you made 500 gold that day\u201d, Anth slyly retorted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYea, maybe that memory is best left to the abyss.\u201d Fuzzy looked past Anth and saw an eerie orange glow in the distance, growing brighter. He nodded for Anth to turn around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat the hell is that?\u201d Anth asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure. It sort of smells like something is on fire. Something big.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSmells? I don\u2019t smell anything on fire. How could you smell something that far away?\u201d Anth looked at his friend suspiciously. \u201cHave you encountered any…friends…that your fellow night elves may have brought to town?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow does everyone figure this out? Is there a sign on my back or something? I\u2019m taking a potion, it\u2019s fine.\u201d Fuzzy wasn\u2019t sure how everyone knew his affliction, but it was slightly unnerving. How many others knew? Did Erinia secretly know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anth reached out his hand toward his dear friend. \u201cWell, I better get going. I\u2019m expected back in the harbor to train in the war games\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlways a pleasure to see you, my friend. Maybe I\u2019ll look you up in Boralus\u201d. Fuzzy took his friends hand and pulled in for an embrace. It was great to see such a good friend again. The conversation had already began to weigh heavy, and Fuzzy could feel the fire of battle begin to spark in his soul. Maybe it was time. But no decision could be made without discussion. There was so much more to think of, and care for, now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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