She shivered in the chill breeze that clawed its way over the broken ground right into the unsheltered stone passageways of the Hellfire Ramparts. Arisia pulled her cloak tighter, wanting nothing more than to go back to Thrallmar where her brother was to meet her, Caylon having returned to their home city of Silvermoon for some training. Rissa had meant to spend the time alone resting, repairing her armor and trying once more to train the angry Ironhide Devilsaur she had attempted to make her own, but her dreams had been interrupted night after night by a calling that reached to her soul.
Something was out there, needing her, reaching for her, calling over and over until finally, even her days were filled with that threadlike pull at the back of her every thought. It had finally brought her here, high on this chill stony platform, not knowing what lay through the gate ahead. Knowing herself outclassed, she had begged the aid of a gracious Troll Shaman, powerful and well able to make this exercise easier. She was waiting now for the woman, and hoped she could back the other woman up adequately.
Rissa looked up at Malachite, the devilsaur looking around suspiciously. Rissa had to admit, this was not a good taming; he had never really gelled with her, and was always unhappy. She promised him his freedom, and began the elaborate spell that would send him back to his home, wiping his mind of having been with her so that he could return to being the majestic creature she had wanted to make her own.
The spell began its work, but it would take some time, and during that it was best to keep Malachite close so no one else could try and steal him, or worse, slay him since their bond was so thin. She soothed the devilsaur, tossing a treat to the beast, and slowly he calmed.
A lovely windkitty landed on the rampart, and let the rider off before roaring affectionately and taking off to wait for his mistress. Ruiki smiled at Arisia, eyes sparkling. She had been in this place many times during her own early years as an adventurer, and thought she knew what Arisia had claimed to have calling to her. She was always happy to help those still learning, and so had offered her help.
Arisia stood tall, and bowed, and the pair went into the gatehouse. Ruiki called to the Earthmother and summoned mighty totems, and moving like a great spirit herself, tore through the guards who threatened the pair. Arisia, a bit frightened by all she was seeing for the first time soon gathered herself and she sent in her pet, helping the shaman as best she could.
They soon crossed the shaky hanging bridge and Ruiki paused, turning to Rissa. “That which you seek is right ahead; I will take care of the guards, and another, you simply call to the other who calls to you.” She pointed to a patrol marching with a pair of huge ebony war wolves, both heavily armored, their eyes glowing like blue stars in the jet fur. Rissa’s jaw dropped, but as one saw her, she felt filled with the joy it sent to her. No longer frightened, she nodded back at Ruiki.
A soft warble came from Malachite, and the final part of the spell to release him activated. Like smoke, the devilsaur shimmered away. Rissa felt the joy he felt as he reappeared in the Un’Goro Crater he adored, the last touch of their minds before he once again ran free. Ruiki smiled again, nodding her approval at this, her own spirit having felt the fierce creatures sorrow at being paired with the hunter. Rissa looked again at the war wolves and carefully used her Gift as a hunter to draw the Hunter’s Mark on the one who reached to her again and again in her thoughts.
“I will take the one on the left; he needs to come to me.”
She chuckled, but the shaman nodded, pleased. Every time one of the Earthmother left slavery and came to the light, the world became a better place. She summoned totems anew and pulling lightning from the sky, began taking out the guards.
Even though he yearned for her, the war wolf was still mind chained by the handler and so he attacked Rissa, his mighty jaws slashing at her, the only thing saving her the mail armor she wore and the healing totem Ruiki summoned to aid Arisia.
The fight to free the wolf was harder than anything Rissa had done before, but she felt the terrible pain the wolf was suffering, how he yearned to run with her and how he was trying to break the control he was under. Together, the battle, though fierce, had the ending both needed. Like the ringing of a bell, the control broke and the war wolf raced eagerly to stand beside his new mistress.
Rissa dropped to one knee, burying her face in the thick ebony fur, hugging him tightly, the wolf whimpering in joy, tail wagging wildly, trying to lick her again and again. Ruiki laughed when the wolf raced to her and offered his thanks to the Shaman as well. Rissa joined her new friend, hugging the troll tightly.
“You have no idea how much this means to me, Ruiki!”
Smiling, the shaman rubbed the feathery soft fur on the war wolf’s ears, then patting Rissa on the cheek. “The Earthmother smiled on you both; go—run and be one. Let me know what you name this one.” Giddy with joy, Arisia nodded and as the Windkitty swooped in and took Ruiki back to her guildhome, the new pair of hunter and wolf raced off into the plains of Outland.
