#skamato

Brugran was just a pup during the many wars. He’d only heard of the tales of Varok Saurfang’s great battles. He was here to honor a hero but the look in Bear’s eyes said this affected her more than him. His steel blue eyes searched hers as she looked at him. A tear rolling down her pale creamy fur. She didn’t wince as the salty tear spilled into an angry wound on her cheek.

“Not as personal as Thrall…” She said looking up at Jaina. It was odd, to say the least, seeing the Alliance within Orgrimmar. But their show of respect gave her hope. “I served under him in Northrend. In the Borean Tundra… Fighting those damn bugs… His son was a fine warrior too…” Silence fell a moment between them. “Never thought I’d see the boy king in person. Let alone in Orgrimmar.” Bru’s voice lifted in a light chuckle.

Bear smiled. “I imagined him to be shorter to be honest.” She mused. Brugran scoffed a chuckle. “I bet if you asked him nicely, he’d bring you some dwarven ale.” She added. Bru laughed at this. Happy for a fleeting moment that her humor was not lost on this somber day. But Bear didn’t let this last long. “One person tore down everything I nearly died for… What he died for… The Horde is all but… Shattered…”

Deep sorrow laced the old warrior tauren’s voice. Anger shaded her eyes as tears welled from them. “Mama Bear don’t you start talkin’ like this.”  Brugran replied laying a heavy hand on Bear’s arm. “The pieces are still there. I know… I’m still a young pup and… I’ve not seen what you have… but I know we’re tough as kodo hide. The Horde is tough... “ She looked at him, almost as if the great tauren had given up hope.

“Look I’m not very good at this sorta thing. The whole comforting thing. But… Well look.” He motioned to both Horde leaders and Alliance conversing with one another. “That’s something right? We will rebuild. We will survive. We’ll take those shattered pieces and mold something new.” He thumped his heavy fist against his chest. “Lok’tar, Mother Bear. Lift that cloud of dark thoughts because young pups like me are looking to old veterans like you… For guidance and strength.”

Bear smiled, which caused more tears to well from her eyes. Before Brugran could protest she untucked her lame left arm from its sling and tugged the young orc into a hug. “Oh. no, no. This-This did not warrant a hug… Please stop… Bear… You’re embarrassing me…” but she ignored his pleas and hugged him tight. “Owachi, little lion cub.” Bru’s cheeked flushed with embarrassment at the childhood name his own mother called him. “Please don’t… call me that... I’m dying inside... Let me go…” Brugran was visibly distraught but only fought against her mothering gently. 

Makketo heaved and tugged but the liquid filled barrel was heavy. The pandaren of course didn’t offer to help, only watched laughing as the little highmountain tried to drag the heavy thing. She heaved as she looked up, seeing Bear with a towel, sitting against the wall drying herself off on a mat. Keto tried again to drag it but her hooves just slid on the wood and she fell on her rump rather embarrassingly.

“What are you doing?” Bear’s voiced called to the sheepish tauren.  “Stop standing there like an ass and help her.” She chided the pandaren, whom was laughing loudly at the antics of the young one. He finally picked it up and brought it to Bear, with Makketo sheepishly in tow. Bear didn’t know what to say to the girl. Makketo just scratched her brow and chuckled. “S-sorry…”

“Don’t be sorry. Your strength is in magic, not braun. You can summon roots to entangle your foes and call Mu’sha’s power from the heavens. I can’t do that. It’s impressive.” She patted the girl as she set the large keg beside her and poured herself a mug. Makketo smiled to the compliment and sat on a pillow beside Bear.

Bear was silent for a long moment. Chugging one mug and starting on the second before pausing long enough to lean her head against the back wall. She sighed and gave a painful smile. “Ruch would have loved to know he was right…” Makketo remained quiet. “Ruch Bonelash.” She toasted her mug then laughed. “Oh Ruch and Jukk used to get into it all the time.” She laughed.

“Then you explain where it came from! It’s not dwarven ale or orcish! And it’s got some strange markings on it and-”

“Oh boyo. MON. AIN’T NO TALK’ BURR BE MAKIN’ ALE. Ja dun hit’ya head! Pandabutt.” The yellow hair darkspear mocked the young orc. “PANDAREN. AND THEY’RE REAL!” He bellowed as he stepped threateningly towards the troll. But he jumped up the rigging of the Zepplin before the orc could get close. “Ah onleh know one talkin’ burr.” He cooed as like a monkey he clambered over to the pale pelted blonde also leaning against the rigging. Reaching a lanky hand through the ropes to tussle the tauren’s hair.

Bear just gave a deadpan smile as her lavender eyes looked up. “When you fall to your death, we’ll be the ones laughing.” A grizzled old orc said as he read a book quietly in the corner. The deck of the Zepplin had many patrons as it headed to Northrend. Each either excited, nervous, anxious and trying in their own way to keep calm.

This was no pleasure trip, nor a ski vacation. No the Lich King declared war and was sending his undead minions to the cities. Causing chaos and death as he tried to expand his empire. Now the Horde and Alliance sent their armies to Northrend to face the threat head on. Some sought glory while others sought vengeance.

They’d been flying for a almost a week now and a cold wind had started to blow, though no land could yet be seen. The airship was massive. Carrying not only Bear and her companions but steeds, siege vehicles, war supplies, weapons, and provisions. The goblins steering the ship were everywhere although they smartly stayed out of the way of the Horde Army that filled the ship.

“Bear, tell him pandaren are real.” Bear smirked. “Do you mean furbolgs?” but the young orc shook his head. Jukk wiggled his head through the large holes in the net and laid his head atop Bear’s like a cat. His arms listly laying beside her neck on either side. Her left arm curled around the rigging while the right lay on her hip. It was clear he was using the massive tauren as a safety wall between him and the rage filled orc. “No! I was reading about them and they’re NOT FURBOLGS.” He growled.

“Ju gonna end up like Ukral ova dere iffen ya keep readin.” His mocking comment roused a glare from the elder orc overtop his glasses. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He growled in his grizzled tone. “Old an’ borin’.” He chuckled. Bear just shook her head. A tauren calf walked up on deck, looking as though he were entering his preteen years. Though he stood almost as tall as an elf or forsaken. He frowned at Jukk and his mother.

“He’s like a multicolored cat, Ohan.” The young one looked unamused. “He’s weird.” The young tauren said opting to sit next to Ukral. Ruch guffawed loudly, pointing at Jukk. “And he smells weird.” Ukral added, to which young Ohan chuckled at. “Das jus’ mean, mon.” Jukk pouted but it was clear his expression wasn’t all that serious.

Her boys. All four in her head were ‘her boys’. Sergeant Ukral Bloodsnarl was an old kindred soul. He often teased Bear saying she was an orc in another life and she didn’t deny it. For all she knew it could have been true. The old warrior has red eyes, a hint of his demonic oppressed past. His black hair was nearly fully grey and neatly tied back in a bun though enough was lose for her to know it was shoulder length.  His grizzled beard was also well kept and he was surprisingly well read. Enjoyed his books, good beer and a fine fight. Which was made obvious by his well worn plate armor and heavy war axe and shield.

Grunt Ruch Bonelash was your typical youth trying to prove his worth in a sea of war veterans. He was brash, loud, and aggressive but he also enjoyed books. Which is how his friendship with Ukral started. His skin was a lighter shade of green and his brown eyes suggested someone born here on Azeroth. Though the corruption that poisoned his parents turned his skin green, he didn’t have the lingering effects like the red eyes. His dark brown hair was tied back into a ponytail and braided with leather. His unmarked armor was a sign of disappointment for him as was his unbloodied two-handed sword. Northrend was his proving ground and his seriousness prove that.

Grunt Jukk of the Darkspear. If ever there was a man so worry free and care-free and like a cat, it was this troll. Everything was a joke and he took nothing serious. He enjoyed getting a rise out of the orcs but had the agility to get out of the way should he need to. If Bear hadn’t seen it herself, she would have thought him worth nothing more than a laugh. But she’d honestly never seen a better archer and spearman rolled into one furry goof ball. He was formidable. When he finally got serious. He was even more lion like with the wild mane of yellow hair that he seemed to have little control over. His pale blue fur was tattooed with tigers and trollish letters.

Last was her own flesh and blood. Her baby boy, Ohanzee Sunstone. Although Ohan wasn’t a little calf anymore. He was twelve now and able to join her on her journey. Honestly it was something she was constantly challenged on but her choice to bring her son was her own. She wasn’t going to leave her boy behind.

“Ju gotta lemme fulfill a goal, Mama.” He said folding his arms across her head and horns. “Oh?” She said quizzically. “I wanna ride ya shouldas in’ta battle.” Bear couldn’t stop the loud laugh that escaped her lips. Ruch sneered and Ukral shook his head with a sigh. Ohan however chuckled a little. “I serious! C’mon mama! We be badass team. Ju chargin’ta battle an’ me firin’ arrows wit’ Shiva runnin’ at our side!”

“And what of our brothers?” She motioned to the two orcs. “Oh. Pandabutt ‘ere be screamin’ in’ta battle on hims worg and Ukkie… be like… readin’ a book. NO! No! He detailin’ our combat.” Ruch groaned and walked away. “So… He’s a bard now? Ukral would you sing as we went into battle?”