#howling owl

Breaking and entering, not something new for him but it was the first time he had done so with a client he was bodyguarding. The Howling Owl’s employee apartments were not hard to break into, especially when this one left the balcony door unlocked. With the shadows wrapped tightly around him he snuck in and did a full sweep to make sure the apartment was secure before letting Beaureve sneak inside too. Of course due to the sweep and the small size of the apartment it was easy to tell that noone was home.

It had been a few years since he and Konietzko had last spoken, this was not how he’d have guessed they’d reunite, if at all. It was also not in a place like this that he’d expect to find him. Keeping to the shadows he witnessed as his new client chose not to poke and prod around the apartment much at all but took right to the sofa and curled up. He had not been guarding him for long yet, but he did wonder if this sort of nuance was typical of him. They both waited in silence for the Kaldorei to arrive home and since he was hidden in the shadows himself, there was no conversation between him and his client. He watched as the time passed and Beaureve fell fast asleep on that sofa as if stress and current events in his life had caught up with him.    It was well into the night when the door opened and Kon arrived home, stepping down the hallway and passing by the entryway right into the kitchen without even looking into the living room as why would he? He turned on a light in the kitchen and started a kettle making some tea as he began washing his hands. The shadow in the room witnessed his first look at the Kaldorei after this time without his knowing. He looked tired and a bit fatigued but not due to poor health. If anything his health seemed to have increased greatly since they last met. He must have just returned from some sort of physical activity as he was still a bit dark in the cheeks, chest and ears from a good workout and was tending to blisters on his hand. Interesting.

Beaureve was starting to wake from the sounds in the kitchen as Konietzko put the tea on the stove and started to walk into the living room, stopping dead in his tracks with a double take to the sofa when he saw the moving body of the Shal’dorei waking up from his nap. Stone steadied himself, tucked in the shadows just behind him ready to stop him at a moment’s indication he might try to harm his client. Beyond an understandable startle he didn’t, he just jerked and stared. “Took you long enough.” Beaureve said stifling a small yawn as he rubbed at his eyes. “I mean… welcome home.” 

“Well, I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience!” Kon replied with a mix of humor and shock both  as he looked Beaureve over closely before opting to go to the chair next to the sofa. “Had I known I was playing host I would not have stayed so late practicing my routine. Now tell me…  to what do I owe the honor of this…” He motioned to the balcony. “... break-in?”

With a smirk breaking over his lips, Beaureve just smiled. “You are forgiven. This time.” He said perfectly aware he was in the wrong but calmly combed out his hair as he sat there pleasantly. “Well it’s my lucky day I suppose, you’ve taught me a valuable lesson.” Kon said walking then over to the balcony door and pulling aside the curtains slowly looking outside. He’d close the door then slowly, pursing his lips as if he was looking for something. “I need to invest in better locks, or lock the door at all it would seem.” He said somewhat bemused yet he turned around and looked about the room with a slow gaze of his amber eyes. “Practice? Routine? Mm, so you’re turning your aspirations into reality. That’s rather wonderful to hear.” Beaureve said as he watched. “And in my defense, I did try to knock on the door first. However, after coming all this way with noone to answer? It was in my best interest to see if there was a way to wait inside.” The priest said only telling part of the story but it was enough. “And with how many letters I had to write up in order to actually receive word and meeting arrangements… I preferred a more direct approach.” He smirked. “You don’t mind. We can speak a bit now.” the priest said not leaving this open ended. 

Kon stepped back over to the couch then and would find the chair to sit in as he tried to piece this all together. “Perhaps you came here seeking Talthorn? He is here often lately I’ll admit but not when I’m gone.” He said eyeing the priest a little suspiciously but he was far calmer about it than Talthorn had been. “Did you seek my contact I gave you?” He asked resisting the urge to look around the room once more. “No. I am here to see you.” The priest says bluntly. “Yes. I did.” He replied to the latter question before moving right along. “Now we can officially make arrangements. As promised. When are you available?” 

Kon stared at Beaureve and his audacity with a small smirk. “I suppose I can’t be upset considering how Talthorn did choose to ignore your letters till I found them. As much as I love him dearly he has his reasons for acting as he did. But I am not him.” He pointed out as he thought a moment before responding. “You did?” He redirected the conversation back to the point on the contact. “And did he accept?” Beaureve seemed pleasantly welcome to this information and eager to ask more. “Are these reasons that you are willing to share at all?” he asked before Kon redirected the conversation. “He did. Very interesting man. This contact of yours. We’ve made a good business arrangement. Thank you again for your recommendation. I aspire to have a meeting with my issue whenever he gets my word. In the next few days most likely.” Kon knew who he was talking about with this recent issue. Well he more knew -of- them from what Beaureve and Talthorn both had told him of that incident that left Beaureve wounded and carried to the healer’s ward after Talthorn had saved him. Even the shadow in the room knew the details enough to understand this comment and where it was going. “Talthorn’s secrets are his own to share. I will only say for whatever it’s worth that his… mistrust is a valid one.” Kon looked right to Beaureve then. “Even if you were not the cause for them, just a trigger. But that is all the more I will say. If you want trust or his truths? That’s going to take time Beaureve. Time, and a significant lack of your magic. But in that too I will say no more. I’ve only said this much in the interest of trying to make this easier. For both of you.” Kon explained rubbing at his palms and the ache within them as he sighed and looked to the side. “So, the contract was made. That is good, though forgive me if I wish to make certain.” Kon said oddly as he raised his head then and would stare Beaureve right in the eyes as he spoke out louder. “Show yourself, old friend.”

Beaureve listened closely and drew in a slow breath. He was taking much from these statements but why? Why was there mistrust?! The priest was eager to figure that out. When he realized what Kon had said just then, however, he added in his own command in case his bodyguard was truly as strict as not to do so unless ordered. “Hm? Oh. Of course. Yes, please reveal yourself, Stone.”

No sooner than Beau had given the command, the shadows against the far wall on the other side of the dining room table would start to shift and lift as soon a voice was heard before the body was seen. Where Kon’s voice was deep and full of bass, his was low but more crisp and sharp. “While some things never change, some things… do. It has been a time, Kon.” The bodyguard stood leaning against the wall in full gear head to toe. Blades on his side and no doubt many more hidden throughout his attire. His face was masked, as always and those eyes as cold as winter skies peered right back at Kon’s as they made eye contact across the room.

Valanthriell summoned a micstand with illusions before she walked to take her place on stage. Valanthriell stood before the mic, closing her eyes and taking a slow breath in and out before a snap of her fingers cast the illusion of instruments which were summoned by their first note, appearing to hover about the space around her. 

With a thud an upright bass appeared, playing like a slow but heavy heartbeat, joined by a steady electric bass and the soft patter of a subtle percussion eventually followed by three violins playing a slow melody.

Valanthriell sways to the music as the melody is established, flashing a wink to Ranek. Standing tall, looking about the audience, her smokey voice complementing the melody. “Feel the vibe, feel the terror, feel the pain, It's driving me insane.” Valanthriell's head falls back adding emphasis to the end words. “I can't fake, for God's sake why am I driving in the wrong lane?” Her body felt the music as she sang from her soul.

“Trouble is my middle name, but in the end I'm not too bad. Can someone tell me if it's wrong to be so mad, about you? Mad, about you.” Her voice paused for a breath before continuing slowly. “Mad.” 

The music played on as her hands lowered to tap at her thighs as the second verse came. “Are you the fishy wine that will give me a headache in the morning? Or just a dark blue land mine that will explode without a decent warning?”

“Give me all your true hate and I'll translate it in our bed, into never seen passion, never seen passion. That is why I am so mad, about you. Mad, about you. Mad.” Her hands gently took hold of the mic stand, Valanthriell’s voice conveyed a certain kind of longing as she poured it into her voice, growing more and more powerful with the melody. 

“Trouble is your middle name, but at the end you're not too bad. Can someone tell me if it's wrong to be so mad about you? Mad! About you! Mad! About you! Mad! About you! Mad…”

The violins and electric bass played on followed by the others, building again as Valanthriell joins, growing more and more powerful with the emotion in her voice. 

“Give me all your true hate and I'll translate it in our bed, into never seen passion. That is why I am so mad! About you! Mad! About you! Mad! About you! Mad! About you…. Mad, about…”

Valanthriell‘s head hangs as the instruments slowly fade out of existence with the final note before her dazzling smile returns and she bobbed a half curtsey.

Come join The Howling Owl for our 2nd Annual Owl Fest! It’s a faction neutral, cross server* music and arts festival that will feature vendors, performances, raffles and more! The vendors will include anything arts or music related, from paintings to writers, jewelcrafters, tailors and more! Performances will include musicians and dancers of all sorts.  There will also be games for chances to win prizes as well as raffles to enter on both days! Closing out each night will be a dance party with DJs from Club Night Owl!

You won’t have to worry about traveling home after because the festival grounds will have plenty of room to set up tents after you’re done dancing and partying the night away!

*- we will have anchors for every day of the festival so check out our discord server to find one.

When: September 24th-26th, 5 pm WrA server time(Day 1, September 24th open to performers/vendors only)

Where: The Shrine of Fellowship, Jade Forest, Pandaria (Coords. 34, 34)

New this year: We are welcoming wandering vendors.  Please check in to our discord server to sign up and what the guidelines are to claiming one.

Schedule:

Friday, Day 1: 5-6 Random Performances 6- 7:30 8PM Booths 8:30PM Raffle drawings!  9PM(Or immediately after raffles end) Dance party with DJ Tiny Dancer 

Saturday, Day 2:  5-6 Random Performances 6- 7:30 Booths  8 - 9PM Performances from The Howling Owl and raffle drawings 9PM(Or immediately after performances end) Dance party with DJ Silmari

!! RAFFLE !!

Raffle info:   There are 2 separate raffles per day.  1 paid raffle. 1 free raffle.  The paid raffle will be 500g a ticket, limit 20 tickets per person.  The free raffle will be a separate raffle with entries via a google form. Each night after performances, winners will be called. You must be present to win or a new winner will be picked. Open to both Horde and Alliance, on WrA only though!

Friday paid raffle prizes:

- 1 headshot commission from Lucky-Psy

- 1 Rare in game mount

- 1 Store Mount

Free Friday raffle prizes:

-Choice of various pets, toys, mounts!

Saturday paid raffle prizes:

- 1 headshot commission from Nehku

- 1 Rare in game mount

- 1 Store Mount

Free Saturday raffle prizes:

-Choice of various pets, toys, mounts!

Join our Discord server here! Join our festival Discord server here! Give our regular blog a follow too!

A note can be found folded into Leon’s Pack, sealed with the Dragoon wax seal, extra insurance that he wouldn’t miss it or discard it by accident. 

My Beloved Crow,

It’s easier to collect my thoughts in writing, as you are painfully aware, so I apologize for getting the last word in far after we said our goodbyes. I want you to know I believe in what you’re doing. I am... frustrated that I cannot go with you, as I am going to miss you terribly. This is important though, and will help you, maybe in more ways than we can know at this point.

As you settle in, I know it’s going to be hard on you too. So a parting gift to get you through the hard nights. I wanted to put into words just how much you mean to me.

As I reflect on my life, I realize I spent so much of it in the pursuit of acknowledgement and appreciation. Even with my loving parents, I didn’t live with other gnomes in the depths of the city, we lived on the surface, with the other exterior technicians. Isolated, sometimes buried in snow. My parents were my entire world, and I couldn’t help but feel like a disappointment. I excelled at nothing, I was no tinker or even a good student, I didn’t show much aptitude in a trade. I lost myself in books and reveled in that shared interest I had with my father, for stories.

When I lost my parents, I lost my world. I was truly, utterly, alone. And... well... everything about me meant that I was more likely to be overlooked by anyone. I decided to “become a hero”, but I know what that was. Hope. That people would look at me and see something.

I found my place in the military. People saw I was competent and took a chance on me. I felt I had a place, still feel that way. I had my new family, and at least I was content to be seen by them. But... I didn’t believe I mattered, not generally, not to the world. I resented myself, who I was, my body, my intelligence. I had one place where I belonged and everywhere else was just... drifting.

I was frustrated, I was drowning.

And then you pulled me up and let me breathe.

At first, I thought of you as just a kind soul who saw beauty in things that most did not. But with every time you proudly introduced me to others, unashamed, unfettered affection, you chipped away at that wall I built for all this time. You didn’t let me be content to know you found me worthy of love, you convinced me that I was. 

I don’t know if you can comprehend how profound a change that has made to my life. I dont even know that I do, yet, I’m still picking up the pieces of the that demolished wall.

I walk into rooms with confidence, I speak more, insist on being heard. I notice people noticing me. I found Summy and she found me.  I don’t shy away from things that in the past I would have been too afraid to risk. Last night speaks for itself, in that regard.

All of this, because a handsome Gilnean found me at the moment I hit rock bottom, and offered me a pastry. How different my life would have been?

Thank you, Crow

Not a single regret,

Your Feisty Hellcat.

AAAAAAAAAAAAA

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE FOLKS AT @howlingowl-wra for this beautiful mount! I’ve wanted it for a good long while <3! Surprised I won the raffle XD! I never win anything.

When days dwindle down to enough hours for two hands, When the bite of bitter breezes blows through to the bone, When silent shadows stretch sideways across the laden orchards, Hold fast to what you can, friends and kin alike, For none now know what the future carries with it. Autumn is the time of grace and gratitude, For we see what we have wrought, We reap what we have sown, We must bear what the Winter must bring. Count up what you have stored, In home, harvest, hand, and heart; For by the time of the thaw, It may be gone with the ice and snow. There's no telling for any tomorrow.