Cherly Hawthorne

The roar of battle filled Darkshore as the Alliance and Horde were at each others’ throats, all for the sake of dominance over Kalimdor. Steel clashing against one another as blood spilt onto the grass to paint it. Who shot first this time? That was her first thought when she had reached the shore with Shadrelar at her side. It hadn’t even been that long ago since they had defeated the Legion and now this? All of this because of something that sprouted from the ground that drove anyone that touched it into a frenzy. Neither one was a stranger to war at this point, but this was just another massacre waiting to happen.  And it only had just begun from the look of it.

Wading through the forces, it almost seemed like a lost cause when all Cherly could see was red dominating the field. Her stormy hues peering up to Shadrelar for any form of guidance, but even he was at a loss. It wasn’t long before they would be put to work. Shadrelar helping those escape through portals he and others maintained as his petite lover ran off into the fray. The last he had seen of her would be her form fading into the shadows of the darkened forest. 

‘Stay alive.. Survive.. I better no’ see yer body under a cloth.’

Her brother’s words rang clear for her, they had been for as long as she could remember. How long had it been since she had seen him? Was he even still alive for that matter? Gods she hoped he was.. For now, she had to put it out of her mind and focus on the task at hand. Lucky she didn’t dwell that long as she saw an orc run past going after a Kaldorei that was in his path. Unsheathing each blade, she springs after and plunges each dagger she had to her hip into the opening of his collar as the armor left it exposed. The orc soon flailing about and constantly trying to grab at the tiny Gilnean on his back. Though with a twist of her blades and tearing them out, he stopped. His life spilling out onto her and the grass before falling. The Kaldorei looked appalled by human’s actions before making her retreat further.

“Prude..” her mutters behind her mask. Her eyes shifting to the right as another tried to sneak up from behind only to have the human shapeshift in a quick flash of green to a feline form. Her motions swift and quick as lightning as she whipped around and latched onto the other orc’s windpipe. Bitter..the taste of blood was bitter and she didn’t miss it at all. Her jaws soon snapping shut to crush it entirely. She sprang back off the female’s chest to land on all fours, spitting out what she could. Her fangs bared for any others that tried to approach and just a few yards more came for her. The sudden clap of thunder drawing her attention away, but it wasn’t. No..it was something distant and the smell of burning wood and salt water permeated the field. A bright yellow and orange glow brightening the area. Everyone, not just her stood still.

Her knees gave out, for the first time in what seemed like years her heart plummeted in her chest. Her eyes burning not only from the ash that was falling into the corners, but tears now sitting in them. 

‘No..’

Clean up detail.. Something she loathed whenever it came to times of war. Just to ensure that every last demon was off of Azeroth aside from Illidari or contracted ones by warlocks. She wasn't out and about as much as say a few months back, but still dread having to deal with them. It was a fight with daggers or her own fangs when using a different form. Luckily she had breaks between them and had her tall blue lover beside her most times unless it was something small. Which taking care of these little jobs was fine enough to bring in extra coin. 

It wasn’t so much they needed it, but the fact that she was itching for some form of excitement. Though Sha’drelar had told her that she needed to relax while she could, it was hard to sit still. It always had been for as long as she could remember. She wasn’t alone in that mindset either. Her brother was just as guilty of it as she was, guess it ran in the family. 

“Ya’ sure Shad’s alright with bein’ house bitch while you’re out?” her brother smirked while peering over the edge of a cliff; the two had decided to check on Azsuna this time. 

“He gets t’sit on ‘is ass all day in meetings. Said ‘e’d want t’, but I think ‘e enjoy cookin’ too much and doin’ wotever when I finally get ‘ome.” She runs her thumb over the dagger’s edge that she held in her hand. Even if it was night, the moon’s light was enough with her own trained eyes to check her equipment. “Worse case scenario ‘e keeps me ‘ome fer a week o’ two. Nothin’ wron’ with that. Got nothin’ better t’do aside from waitin’ fer the next thin’ t’pop it’s ugly ‘ead.”

“Think he’s goin’ to get fat from everythin’ he makes?”

“Nah, ya’ give us shit fer it, but we keep ourselves pretty active,” she smirks toward her brother.

“I don’t need to hear about ya’ two fuckin’ til all hours of the night. I can smell it just comin’ up the stairs. Not to mention ya’ two leavin’ the place a bloody mess I have to keep up whenever I do stay.”

“You’re just jealous ya’ ain’t gettin’ any. I know ‘ow that works with ya’.” She pokes his cheek which he promptly turns his head to bite at it. “When was the last time ya’ got laid anyways?”

“Nunya..”

She snorts. “Alright then..”

Time blurred since the decision was made to join the rest of Azeroth in the fight on Argus. Easily weeks had passed and even the notion of keeping track almost seemed impossible. If not for the need for rest and regeneration, the two would have stayed on the scarred planet with the rest. Sha'drelar had the duties of teleporting forces back to the Vindicaar for healing if not burning every last demon he came across. Cherly, if not hiding in the shadows, rend and tore through the opposition with ease. However, that wouldn’t mean they would come out unscathed. Both their armor and attire had been dwindled down to nearly ribbons each time they ventured out, replacing them on a weekly basis if possible.

“Get down!”

A storm of felfire cascaded down on the squadron, screaming of agony pierced the ears of those around, life itself being snuffed out. Soldiers everywhere in a panic as they sought any form of relief until collapsing from the pain of their flesh being melted from the bone. Sulfur and burnt flesh permeated through their nostrils. The only saving grace was the barrier a priestess had erected before impact. Those that were outside, now obliterated. The assault would not cease after the bombardment, no, fel guards and hounds met the remaining forces with swords ready to cut them down.

“Hold it steady. Just need them a little closer,” the kaldorei mage barked as flames licked at his palms. His eyes flicker wide as he released the contained flames toward the demons in one immense explosion.

“More!” The command was met with other magi following suit as more released a torrent of magical properties. A chaotic storm of fire, arcane, and frost assaulted the demons. “That’s it we have-”

A lance coated in corruption prevailed through the storm, shattering the barrier in one blow, making it’s mark along Sha'drelar’s right shoulder. The bite easily slices through the metal and fabric woven together down to the bone. His cries struck Cherly’s ear. The second her eyes set on him, a wave of panic came over her. Her chest heaving violently, she knew what was coming, but had to keep it down. She shoved her way through the fray to make it over to his side as she rips off a piece of her leather to press into the spot. “Hold on, gods please, Shad d-don’t.” She looks over to the priestess and snapped right at her. “Fer fuck’s sake ‘elp 'im!” Even the bit of restorative magic she could muster would pale in comparison to an actual healer. That all too familiar ache in her bones returning after so long, bones willing to break on demand and reform.

Sha'drelar clutches onto Cherly’s arm with his left hand, staring her dead in the eye. “Don’t. Breathe for me. Focus on taking them out.”

Cherly brought her right hand across to place on top of his, her grip tightening around it as she lowers her head. Just as he said, she tried to calm herself just enough to regain fully control. The priestess continued to mend, the Light honing in on the wound, and a soft hymn coming from her lips to empower it further.

A male in plate stumbles back, his hold constricting the hilt of his blade. “They’re..they’re still standing! They have their own protection! How can we defeat them at this rate?!”

The warrior was right, there once the smoke cleared, stood the fel guards with a pylon radiating a shield of their own. It had taken damage, but still standing. Now the hounds drew in toward the platoon, jaws snapping and salivating for their next meal. A bellowing roar came from the guards to command their minions to persue and so the creatures charged. The male in plate cut away at least two, but more had lunged at the rest of the group. One locking onto the throat of a mage, the second raking away at another before receiving a maw full of frost as they perished.

Cherly reeled upwards toward her feet, her hands grasping at the hilts of her daggers to for a quick draw to slice into the belly of a hound. However, it wouldn’t stop there. She quickly lunged at the injured beast and thoroughly eviscerated its innards to splay on the ground. A second hound would jump toward her to knocked her down. A growl resonating in her throat as she sneered up at it, struggling to keep it at bay. Her face contorts into an expression of pain and rage, her fangs peeking through her lips. The sound of her heartbeating rang in her ears blocking out everything else around her. The seconds continue to tick as the worst thoughts assaulted her mind, losing one of two people she held dear and perishing here by a demon’s jaws. Woth both of her feet, she pushed up into the fel hounds stomach and kicked it off. Rolling to her feet, her body quakes from the inner struggle. 'He’s not dead. He’s still here..focus…FOCUS!’

That focus of hers broke the second the hound bounded toward the priestess and Sha'drelar. Others preoccupied with the hounds and the guards that cleaved back and forth against those in plate. Everything else faded around her, it tunneled on the two, and led her feet to jump into action. She had discarded her daggers as both set of fingers were now tipped with sharpened claws that dug into its back when she landed. It bucked and reared about with an ear piercing howl of pain. Its blood like acid as it burned her skin, but she was far from letting go. “Get..'im out o’ 'ere!” She wouldn’t have to tell the priestess twice as she helped Sha'drelar to his feet. The hound falling onto its back with Cherly under it. The weight of it knocking the air out of her, but she still clung on.

The mage gently pushed the priestess away from. His wound far from fully mended, but enough to at least keep fighting. “You’re not doing this alone you stubborn woman.”

“But sir your shoulder I-”

Sha'drelar looked down to the priestess. “I thank you for your assistance, but I’m not leaving. Help the others.” Before the female was able to protest, he pulled his blade from his hip and rushed to help Cherly. Upon reaching her, he sunk the blade right into the underbelly of the fam hound and cut upwards. It writhed on top of the druidess just long enough until she kicked it off. The druidess rolled onto her stomach and coughed trying to caught her breath. As she looked up, her chin was caught by his hand. “Calm yourself, I’m here with you. Don’t let it consume you.” Though there was a look of pain to his eyes, he tried his best to suppress for her sake.

That small gesture gave her the moment of clarity she desperately needed. 'Everythin’ Will be fine.. We’ll make it home.’

The Broken Shore was only the tip of the iceberg of this ongoing chaos. Reports began to flood in from throughout the Isles in regard to the Legion’s incursion. All forces now being set to final front, as some had come to know it. The notion of not going back looming in their thoughts while others were content in self sacrifice to ensure the safety of Azeroth. To Argus, to put an end to this invasion and seemingly endless nightmare. Even the Emerald Nightmare itself seemed more like child’s play compared to the destruction that the demons brought with them in their wake. For Cherly, this was more severe than it had in recent times. More parties involved meant more to lose. Sha'drelar..Malthaius..the only two she held close now. A major expedition with chances of losing those she cares for if they fail. The last time she had gone, she lost half of what she had come to love. By her own negligence? Somewhat.. But now was not the time to dwell on a matter she had worked so hard to move past.

Cherly stirred at the morning’s light as it crept through the curtains of the den. Her form naked and sprawled under the covers while her lover slept beside her. These last few months had been sheer bliss for the two. Between their love-making, strolls along the Isles, and fighting what demons were around, they were inseparable. She hadn’t felt such happiness in what seemed ages now until having this kaldorei show up at her doorstep, naked and drugged thanks to her brother. Her half-lidded gaze focusing on the looming planet she could make out through the fabric. Turning on her side, she brought the covers up to keep the warmth of the bed for just a bit longer.

“An eye sore isn’t it?” Sha'drelar shifts behind Cherly, his tone still groggy to say the least. His left arm sliding under her form as his right drapes over her hip, both constricting around her.

“Ain’t tha’ the understatement of the year,” she grumbles. Her right hand ran along his arm until setting on his wrist. “Hopin’ Malth’s not up there by ‘imself.”

“Considering the sort your brother is, I doubt he would have issue in surviving out there. He hasn’t been one to get carried away, unlike his feisty sister,” he teased and chuckles as Cherly squirmed, proving his point.

“Either way i’ goes,” she pauses to turn over to face him. Her grey orbs fixing on his glowing gaze. “It won’t be lon’ before we have t’ head there ourselves.” She sighs as she brings a hand up to run her fingers through his silver locks. “We should ge’ goin’.”

Sha'drelar stretches his long legs under the covers, a grunt escaping him in the process. “I suppose you’re right. Though I am in no rush to plummet head first into those fel trenches.”