Roelstra knew Ausric felt bad for her coming along, on what she only surmised was a simple reconnaissance, all too glad to help. The huntress was oblivious to his need for vengeance on a friend of the company.  She’d been in Draenor for reasons of duty and safety, so she felt as if she’d been rather useless in this whole Faceless to-do, knowing next to nothing. “ Oh, come off it, I need to be of -some- assistance, at least.”, she’d insisted. Approaching the tower, her Gilnean mastiff Wheatley padding along beside her, she’d eyeball the structure with mild interest, the massive rifle sliding from her shoulder into her gloved hands. Her mastiff took to sniffing the perimeter at the queue provided by a couple firm pats to his rump. Ausric seemed lost in thought even after they approached their destination and he lit the brazier he’d left in the tower, frowning as she hesitantly called for his attention.

“Boss?”

Looking up, his gaze met hers and holding it before replying, “ I’m ready, don’t you worry.” Removing a knife from his belt and making a small cut in his forearm, he’d call as if speaking to an invisible figure, “Come, send a Champion.  You did promise I’d regret defying you after all.” Next, he’d turn to her as he sheathed the blade, “For no reason are you to enter this tower, Roe. No reason. At all. Understood?” Her own auburn crown dipped into a nod, as she turned to scan the surrounding area outside of the doorway. “ Yes sir, I hear you.”, Gilnean accent softened with mild distraction as she kept her senses on peak. A small number in the Company knew her to be worgen, not just a Gilnean citizen who’d survived the fallout from the curse years before. Ausric was not one of those few, yet. Should they survive, she’d finally open up to the rest of that lot. She hadn’t been with the Kokalt Company for more than a couple months, give or take, but they’d earned enough of her trust that she could reveal her nature without great fear of repercussion.

Sauntering within twenty yards of the tower, she’d take care to lay down a few traps meant to slow any ill meaning would-be attackers. Mainly traps of ice or frost. Wheatley had taken to rotating around a perimeter of the same distance from the tower, only going the opposite direction and meeting up with his master after the last trap was laid. Well trained as he was, it was easy to avoid her traps. That training also allowed him to pick up on a lone approaching figure, turning his wrinkled muzzle in that general direction, sniffing loudly. Hopefully, Ausric’s preparations were finished, as Wheatley’s friendly if not dopey manner changed on a dime. Lowering and spreading his front paws in a defensive stance, his sharp teeth revealed as his maw parts in a deep bass growl. His ears pinned back towards his skull as she followed his line of sight, pulse fluttering. His steps were the only ones heard thus far, so with confidence she’d shoulder her weapon, staring down it’s scope to better view this individual. All she saw was black, clothing and armor and weaponry. Nostrils flared, scenting him on the wind and she understood why Wheatley was on the alert now. This bloke had to be who Ausric was worried about.

“Oi! Name yourself!”, she’d call when he was within shouting distance.

She couldn’t see it, but behind his mask, he smirked. “ That’s of no consequence, really, as you won’t need it once I’m through with your commander.”

Snorting, she’d pull the rifle’s hammer back with an ominous click, leveling her sights on his brow. “ Iffn’ you get past me and my hound. I’m not askin’ you again.”  

It wouldn’t be more than a couple heartbeats before the stranger would advance, and that’d be all the reason she’d need to act. Squeezing her trigger finger, the recoil would be felt slamming against her shoulder before the BOOM would resonate over the immediate area, no doubt heard by Ausric within the tower. The shot managed to hit the shield on his left arm, but missed penetrating the armor or flesh. Wheatley sprang with a snarl, intent on slowing the attacker with well placed shoulder butts or bites to his lower extremities. Teeth met their mark on the man’s right arm, but not before an armored foot connected with the hound’s rib cage in a sickening thud. The yelp was the result of the pain shooting through Wheatley and ribs cracking. Stumbling, he’d let go and the attention was now on the huntress herself.

Reloading a shot with haste, she’d level her rifle again, but aim for the gut this time around. BOOM, the rifle sounded again, and caught his side and cloak. Marking and altered trajectory, but no penetration worth noting. What in the hell kind of armor did this man possess that’d take a load of buckshot and prevent -any- penetration of flesh? At the very least, he should be bleeding, if not have the wind knocked from him. He just kept coming! And so did her faithful Wheatley, snarling as best he could and sending the man staggering with a bite to his thigh. For his efforts, the mastiff was decked aside with a forceful backhand to the jaw, a second and louder yelp signalling his defeat.

“Wheatley!!”, she’d cry, lowering her rifle from her shoulder. Colliding with her as he moved past her, sending her spinning.

“Enough of this. I’ve business with your commander. And with you, once I’m through with the whelp…” And like that, he essentially disappeared into the tower, at Ausric’s mercy here on out.

Shaking her head to clear it, she’d check briefly for any injuries or marks left behind, finding herself unscathed. Somehow. Wheatley, however, not so much. The poor boy was laying on his side, laboring for a breath and whimpering softly when he could manage. Jogging over to him and falling to her knees, her heart ached for him, frowning deeply. “ Wheatley. Oh, my poor baby...what did he do to you?” Fingertips delicately probe his side, not seeing any trickles of blood, lifting her hand when he yelps at the pressure. She did not like the way his side looked at all. “ Possibly broken ribs...hopefully no internal bleeding. “ Biting her lower lip, she looked between the tower and her faithful companion. She couldn’t leave Ausric like this, even if it tore at her that the mastiff she raised from an eight week old pup needed medical attention and quickly.

One large brown eye fixed on her, silently pleading, trying to get back on all fours. A hand rested on his shoulder, the other stroking his massive head. “ Shhh, no no, Wheatley. You need to lie still. Help will come shortly.” He tried one last time, weakly, before giving up. The animal was in a good deal of agony, scared at the inability to draw a full breath. “ I know, I know it hurts.  Just...hold on, sweetheart, you’re gonna be okay.” She hoped. Doing her best to keep him calm and still, she’d sit with him, staring at the stone tower where a battle raged on more brutal than she’d know. Jaw clenched, swallowing a wolfish growl. If Ausric didn’t kill the fucker, she would. Her companion was hearty, but he was the closest thing she had to a child currently, and everyone knew a mother’s stance on what happened to those that harmed her children.

The message over the comms crackled a bit with static, but what words could be made out were clear enough; meet up at Basil’s for (potentially) one last time. Prepping, goodbyes, et cetera. A half hour’s ride later, Roelstra would be landing her grinning reaver on the edge of the property raised on a small plateau. Danten Rhinehart, Ausric’s second in command and Dr. Alice Rosewood stood around in a half circle outside the small cabin, apparently surrounded by a herd of Basil’s family’s sheep herd.

Basil herself was pacing in the grass, her armor still laid out. “Hey Roe.”, greeting gruffly and puffing on her pipe nervously, earning a nod from the huntress in return. Nice view of the city, but the irony of the herd of sheep surrounding them was not lost on her.

“Glad t’see ya’ll could make it.”

After sending her reaver off to nibble on whatever plant life reavers liked, she’d shoulder her rifle and approach her fellows, “ What sort of prepping did you have in mind, Basil? Ammo? Bandaging?” Bleating off to her right had her brow raising again. Damn, that’s a lot of sheep for such a small plot. Again, that irony. Danten she knew to be worgen like her, Basil and Alice were questionable.

Before she could, Danten spoke her mind, “ Okay...you took the wolf among sheep bit a little too literally.”, gruffly to Basil.

Basil indicated the cabin with a hand, “ There’s supplies in the house, food too. Dunno what ya’ll will be takin’ with ya. And hey, they dunno I fur and fang up. Yet.” Roelstra eyed Danten for that statement, mouth kept shut for the moment. So, Basil -was- like her and Danten. Interesting. Good to know her nose wasn’t far off.

Taking a pull from her pipe, Basil folded her arms. “ Figure this might be th’last time we’re gonna be seein’ each other fer a while.”

“If I die, get my research to Phisa.” Again, with that cynicism she’d called him out for over the comms. But, the possibility of death for any of them was inescapable. Basil grit her jaw, but bobs her head. “ I dunno if yer bein’ sarcastic like, but I’ll do it.”

“Research?” So, that’s what kept that old wolf busy. Danten idly fingers the place his journal usually hangs on his belt. “ I left it all in Ironforge for this one. The Old Gods have taken many friends from me...they might finally take me this time. I know it’s a bit morose, but…”

Flopping down in the grass, Basil ran her fingers through the soft green blades. “ Told my dad what the Kokalt Company is actually doin’.”, confessing as she laid there.

“You mean he didn’t know?”, emerald eyes swerved down to Basil’s prone figure.

“I’m nineteen.”, stating that as if the answer was obvious. At that age, Roelstra’s parents already knew full well how she spent her time, whether they liked it or not, so this mindset Basil had was a bit forgein to her. “ He thought I was just sellin’ furs.”

“...Did he believe you?”, Danten queried, seeming to take a similar stance to Roe. The huntress sighed - youngin’s.

“ Trust me, Basil...keeping secrets from family doesn’t work out well.” She could practically feel Danten’s gaze boring into her for that one. It’d be a matter of time before he called her out, damn him.

Basil shook her head, frowning.” If somethin’ happens t’me..jus’ let my pop know. He worked with Ausric in the military. S’how he recognized stuff.”

Shifting her weight, Roelstra would elaborate. “ What I mean is, is that I had a secret drawn out and my sister didn’t take it well at first.”, slanting a look back at Danten in return. She still called him a jerk for his move, challenging her to a chase to see if she’d reveal her nature to him and Meghan-Rae. No, not just a jerk. Crafty jerk.

“That’s the pot calling the kettle furry.” Goddamnit. Knew it.

Frown intensified, snorting. “ I know, Danten, I know...which is why I have a confession to make to you two, Alice and Basil.” The former had been silent thus far, which almost concerned her.

“And they don’t know about the curse. Don’t tell em.”, this coming from the still-prone Basil. Danten was right, though. Roe didn’t have a leg to stand on when it came to that subject.

“That’s okay. My sister thinks I’m a porter at the Stormwind docks.”, Danten added almost casually.

To Roe, Basil raised a brow, whereas Dr. Rosewood finally piped up. “ A confession? Dare I ask?”

The answer to the good doctor’s question was a deep breath before limbs contorted and stretched, spine lengthening and joints changing to a digigrade rotation. Fur and claws sprout, soon standing before them was a dark furred, chartreuse eyed worden. Anticipating some sort of outrage, she’d stand there silent, looking at Basil and Alice for any sort of reaction.

Basil blinked a few times, “...Kay, that’s new.” Alice’s reaction was one she couldn’t read off hand. “ That’s not easy to keep secret, dear…” looking over to Danten, smirking a bit. “ How long did I go without telling anyone?” Ah. So, that was a look of knowing. Another of her kind confirmed in the same night.

“No. It wasn’t. But, it would seem some are more perceptive than others.” If Danten picked up on her proverbial daggers sent in his direction, he seemed to not mind so much.

“I am an archaeologist. It comes from the job.”

Roelstra tapped her muzzle, attempting to extend the understanding in return, “ And you didn’t need to say anything, Alice. “ I hadn’t said anything, so I was in no position to out anyone. I figured you were either close to one of us, or you were one yourself.”

Basil shrugs, “ I ain’t ever had much’a need until t’night t’use the fangs...or claws. Can’t hold a gun well with ‘em. But, t’each their own.”

Roelstra pats her rifle with her free hand, “ I’m more of a bow hunter myself, but I can’t deny this beauty Lasaira was kind enough to craft.” It certainly did its job.

Basil wrung her hands nervously, hugging herself as a forlorn expression crosses her face. “ Look...if anythin’ happens t’me t’night...I ain’t gonna deny that workin’ with ya’ll has been the best time. I know I can be frustratin’, but that’s cause I ain’t good at gettin’ my point across. But, if anythin’ happens...this was the best job I ever signed on fer.”

“You lot aren’t as skilled as my last team, but you sure as hell lived a lot longer. It was a pleasure.”, Danten added.

“Aw, hush Danten. We know ya like us.”, Basil retorted in her usual flippant manner. Alice crossed her arms and sighed, “ Danten, wasn’t it you that said before our journey into Draenor, that ‘It was just another day for the Kokalt Company’? I still believe that. This isn’t the last of us.” Alice fully believed it, whereas Roe merely hoped for it. At least they had one optimist amongst them.

Looking between the three, her muzzle would crinkle in a soft smile. “ I’d be lyin’ if i said meeting you lot hasn’t been a blessing. I was able to reunite with my little sister...and meet some very special people.” One other in particular came to mind, her smile widening into a mixed expression. She hoped she and Aus made it out tonight. Speaking of which…

“Oh, if something should happen to me and Aus tonight, could any of you that survive make sure Zyyraxx gets this?”, pulling a sealed envelope from her belt.

Alice nodded and reached a hand out towards the envelope. “ Right, I’ll take it to him, or I can deliver it to Sai. She’ll know where he is.”

Releasing the already bent envelope, shoulders relaxed just a tad. “ Thank you, Alice. I’m fairly confident I’ll be fine, but I didn’t wanna jinx myself, eh?”

This point apparently resonated with Alice, as she paused for a moment. “ I’ll hand it to Sai, then. In case something happens to me. But, after all this, I’m going back to Pandaria for a while. Finish up some work for the Lorewalkers.”

“Either way, I’m going to disappear for a little while. Or, you know, forever.”, Danten pondered. “ Have some classified work to do.”

“Better not be forever..I’m still your assistant after all.”, this from Alice with a small amount of play threat.

“Oh, you’ll be getting work to do.”, Danten assured Alice while managing to sound manner of fact at the same time.

“I’m debatin’ takin’ a break, headin’ t’Dalaran t’be with my family. Pop believes when I say, but he says I got a lot of explain’ t’do. S’ only cause he trusts Ausric’s word.”, Basil explained, but it seemed Danten and Alice were also making their own plans as well, should they live this night.   

“Hey, maybe if you tell me where you’re heading off to, I’ll change my plans and tag along to help.”, Alice offered.

“We’ll discuss that later, alone. If I can get you clearance.”

Alice nodded her agreement, frowning for a moment. “..Anna’s insisting on going. I’m worried about her.”

“I’m with her team, don’t worry. I’ve had a lot of experience with fighting the Faceless.”,  Danten stated soberly.

“Look after her, but take care of yourself too.”

The mention of this Anna apparently prompted Basil to react, making Roe curious. “Look. If the noble lady wants t’fight, then she can fight. She’s senser than me with basic security, so les’ hope she’s better at fightin’.” The tone suggested Basil may not have thought very highly of this character.

“Anna? Who’s that?”

“Lady Blackwood might be a noble, but at least she knows what the fel she’s talking about when it comes to the Titans. Riahanna Blackwood, she’s our lead researcher on the Titans.”, Danten elaborated.

“Aha, so that’s where ye’d been, Danten.” The male had been scarce by the huntress’ reckoning, but she’d also been bound by her own duties of late.

“Then let her do the book work”, Basil grumbled.

“ Riahanna Blackwood is a leader on the Alliance side of this. I’ve been monitoring her, cause she wasn’t taking good care of herself. And I had to care of her again because she recently was attacked.”

Hm. Usually nobles were good when it came to security detail, so Roelstra was compelled to ask further, “ Was she offered any kind of security or reconn from our people?”

Alice’s head shook, “ She wouldn’t take anything we offered.”

“ I see…”, frowning deeply, clearly disapproving of the noble woman’s apparent naivete, but keeping her mouth shut.

Whereas she was quiet, Danten proved to be the opposite. “ She ignored advice, and got burned. Now, she’s deciding to listen to me.”

“Called it!”, and that made two for the tactless route.

Sighing, Roelstra shifted her rifle from one shoulder to the other, “ Some poeple are like that. They need to learn the hard way.”

“Told ya me and Drahs should’a trapped some stuff. That anti-riot device would’a been perfect, but nooo.”

“I wouldn’t say that around Aus, though. I don’t know if he’d take that kind of gabbin’ so well. Still gettin’ to know him, m’self.”, Roe warned Basil, considering the recent events leading to Ausric’s calling a trial on the woman.

“He ain’t too bad of a fella. Short’a tazin’ me an’ tyin’ me up.”

“Ausric knows it, hes’ been burned too. Harder than most of us.”, Danten reminded them, probably one of those who knew enough about the man to make that observation.

This presented an opportunity to change the subject just a hair, Roe’s attention shifting to the male“ I’m getting the inkling he’s got his own scars to carry, if that wild goose chase he took us on in Southshore a while ago was any indication.”

“I still don’t know what that was about.”, Danten agreed as Roe shrugged.

“Burned like...burned in fire? or burned from a bad deal?”, Basil asked with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“ Metaphorically, Basil.”, Danten clarified the same time as Roe, “ Figuratively speaking.”

“Ah. Any word from th’Fearless Leader?”

“I’m supposed to be going to help him out, actually, after I leave here.”

“Last I heard, his team was preparing to assault some tower.”, Danten added to Roelstra’s last statement, and she needed an affirmation.

“Good.”, the acknowledgement from Basil.

“He’s given me coordinates, and I’m to meet him there with Wheatley.” Roe cleared her throat, waiting until the others had finished speaking, pointing a clawed finger at Danten. “ Better not be disappearing forever, mate. But, I’ll be moving between here and Draenor as needed. So, I won’t be too hard to get a hold of.” Alice and Basil were regarded next, “ I mean it. Keep in touch, should we all make it.” With that farewell and a smile to the three, she’d begin to turn as she heard Danten make his own exit.

“Whelp, I think that’s all that needs to be said. I think I’m going to pack up my armor, and head out out to the Highlands. You know how long it takes a worgen my size to be fitted into platemail?”