“Oh, for the love of-“ Shastarian fumed, watching her Felhunter run through the fire, and then bolt out the door, grunting excitedly. “That stupid demon is going to find himself banished to the Twisted Nether tonight!”

“Why do you even have your pet out at a party like this?” Shasmo asked, gulping down her Darkmoon Ale. “I mean, it’s not like the Horde are gonna storm the joint, not with all those morons outside dueling and yelling names at each other. Trix!” she turned and looked at her other friend, Trixiana, who was ogling at a fellow Draenai tearing up the dance floor. “Have you brought out your elemental tonight?”

“What? My Water Elemental? Pfft, no way. Why would I? He’s more useless than tits on a tauren!” Trixiana scoffed, turning back to the dance floor, taking long sips of her drink.

“Look, I’ll take him back to Mum’s place and banish him there.” Shastarian said, setting her mug down on the bar. “You know what he’s like when he gets excited. Magical resistances through the roof. I’d have a better time trying to banish Malchezzar.” She stood up, brushing the wrinkles from her robe and slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, don’t hook up with any cuties ‘til I get back, OK?”

“Yeah, sure, Shas” Shasmo said, looking at the crowd with disdain. “I’ll have to get verrrrry drunk to think these bozos are cute. Obviously you don’t, though.”

“You’re such a bitch,” Shastarian said, flicking Shasmo’s hair on her way past. “I’ll see you girls later. GET OUT OF MY WAY, CREEP!” she roared at the bartender, who had stood in her way to ‘accidentally’ grope her on her way past. She shot him a look that almost singed the hair on his head, and he gulped, turned and practically ran back to the safety of the kitchen.

Shasmo laughed as she poured herself another mug from the pitcher. “She’s such a card, isn’t she? Tough to everyone else, but still is all girly and stuff with her friends.” She leaned over and sniffed Trixiana’s drink. “Oh God, Trix, what the hell are you drinking? It smells like that Bloodspire crap!”

“Huh?” Trix muttered, not taking her attention away from the dancing hunter. “Yeah, I’ll have another, thanks.”

“You’re hopeless.” Shasmo drained her mug in one swallow, and slammed it down on the bar. My Sweet Elune, she thought, looking over at the crowd. Not a single guy in the place worth looking at. Why do we even come here anymore, I mean, I know it’s Midsummer Festival, but still. I think we stand a better chance of finding a dwarven lady who doesn’t shave her face than a decent guy in here tonight. She chuckled to herself at that, and leaned over to tell Trixiana when …

“Oh … My… God” Shasmo’s heart stuttered in her chest, not unlike her first time facing down Moroes. “Trix, do you see that, or am I hallucinating again?”

“Oh Jeez, are you serious? I’m not paying for repairs this time-“ Trixiana was cut short as she turned to look at what Shasmo was transfixed by. “Oh, you have got to be joking. That guy that just walked in? Oh, you are sick, Shasmo!”

“Why? He’s cute!” Shasmo said, unable to stop herself from staring at the newcomer.>

“Cute?! He looks like he ran into a rock a couple hundred times. Deliberately!” Trixiana turned back to her drink and the hunter. “But, if you’re that drunk, go for it. Pray you don’t go all SBOT* again.”

(* – SBOT or’ Sudden Bear On Top’ is an affliction that affects most Female Feral Druids. The loss of control in the throes of passion has caused more than one unfortunate … mauling and subsequent funeral service.)

“Get lost!” Shasmo retorted, finally turning away from the door, about to give Trixiana a piece of her mind. “Listen here, you little-“

“Hey, girls, look who I found outside!” Shastarian said excitedly as she rushed over to them, dragging with her the new arrival who had caught Shasmo’s eye. “It’s my old friend, LeGhost! He’s a rogue, and is just in town for tonight. I saw him riding out from Stormwind on my way back. LeGhost, this is Trixiana-“

“Hey” Trixiana muttered uninterestedly.

“- and this is Sh-“

“Shasmo Sorrens. It’s a pleasure to meet you” LeGhost interrupted, taking one of Shasmo’s hand in his and lifting it to his lips, his deep voice rumbling like a thunderstorm on the plains. “I have heard many great things about you.”

Shasmo was used to guys trying all sorts of lines to pick her up, but none had the same effect on her as LeGhost. She decided to play a little bit hard to get. “Oh yeah? What sort of things?” she said nonchalantly, turning around to pick up her drink …

… that suddenly wasn’t on the bar where she had left it. She swung back around to see it being held out to her, already refilled, by LeGhost. His eyes were twinkling as he stared into hers.

“Many things. You have quite a reputation, m’lady”

Shasmo wasn’t sure how to take that. “Listen, people talk, and not all of what they say are true, y’know.” She grabbed her drink from his hand and took a big swallow. “Wh- what have they said? Good things?”

LeGhost sat down into the chair next to Shasmo, discreetly nudging Shastarian away. “Oh yes. Very good things. But I don’t normally trust in what people say. I have to find out for myself.” A drink quickly appeared on the bar next to his elbow, and he flipped a silver coin to the bartender without taking his eyes away from Shasmo.

Shastarian looked from LeGhost to Shasmo, back to LeGhost, then back at Shasmo before finally getting it. She muttered some excuse and went to stand next to Trixiana, who was trying to work up the courage to go and talk to the limber Hunter on the dance floor. Trixiana glanced at her sideways, and said “Are you alright?”

“What, me? Oh yeah,” Shastarian mumbled. “It’s all good.”

“Are you sure? You seem upset. Do you like him or something?” Trixiana pressed.

“Nah, it’s just I’ve known him for so long, and …” Shastarian paused. “Look, I might go for a walk, ok?”

“Did you want some company, Shas?”

“Nah, I’ll be right. Besides, that hunter is looking at you.” Shastarian pointed at the dance floor. Trixiana turned her head and saw the hunter quickly look down. “You better go talk to him, or you’ll miss out.” With that, Shastarian turned and walked out of the inn. Trixiana watched her walk out, then turned back and looked at Shasmo and LeGhost, heads together, talking softly. She sighed, and walked down to the dance floor, pushing past the other dancers to get to the hunter.

———————————————–

Shastarian kicked at the pebbles on the road, sighing to herself. How silly, she though gruffly. It’s not like we’ve gotten all romantic before or anything. We’re just friends, that’s all. She sighed again, trying to feel the way her head was telling her to feel, but her heart just wasn’t co-operating.

“Give in…..”

Shastarian turned quickly, looking for whoever whispered behind her, but not seeing anyone. She quickly resummoned her Felhunter, who wasn’t burning anymore but was still abit excited. She made him give her Paranoia, and she looked around for any stealthy types who might have mischief on their minds. Not seeing anything, she resumed walking, making her felhunter stay two steps behind her. Just in case.

“Give in to the haaaaaate …” the voice came from behind her again. She quickly turned, ready to cast her spells at anything she could see, which was: nothing. She peered intently into the twilight, searching for movement.

“Haaaaate maaaaakes you stroooong…..” There it was again! She whirled around, but again saw nothing but the forest. Her felhunter wasn’t concerned, sitting down, grunting to himself as he licked his back. If he’s not worried, she thought, then I shouldn’t be either. But still…

She started walking again, turning and looking around her as she went. She began thinking against about LeGhost and Shasmo, and her thoughts turned dark. That little bitch knew I liked him, she thought. That slut knows what she was doing, and she did it anyway, just to spite me! I’ll kill her! I’ll kill her and everyone she loves! I hate her! I haaaaaaate h-!

She stopped suddenly, gasping with horror. What had she been thinking? She didn’t wish ill-will on her best friend at all! She dropped to her knees, all the strength leaving her legs. That was peculiar, she thought, it was like someone was in my head, speaking those thoughts into my mind.

“Aroogh! Aroogha!” Her felhunter grunted, jumping up into a defensive position. “Arooooogha!” Shastarian turned in the direction he was facing, looking into the gloom. She quickly buffed herself, getting ready for a fight, not knowing what was out there but sensing something rushing towards her at great speed. She thought briefly of running back to the safety of the Inn, but decided to stay her ground.

“COME ON!” she bellowed into the night. “Come try and take this warlock down!” Her felhunter was barking loudly now as the … whatever it was came closer and she felt she should be able to see it now, but everything was still all dark and gloomy and her felhunter was tensing itself beside her as she readied to attack and then oh my god oh my god …