Grim Views

“Fifty gold.”

Jarnsaxa was so shocked by the answer from the goblin, that she actually stood in shock, jaw slack in wonder. “Fiftah gold?!” she asked, looking for the goblin to correct her--no, he said five gold, right?

“Fifty gold.”

The goblin stood there, watching her with a passive gaze. His arm remained draped over a rusted chain cage, fingers tapping rhythmically upon its rooftop. Jarn watched rust particles break off and rain down upon the tiny white furball hidden in the back corner. It looked both terrified and anxious, eager to be freed from the goblin’s captivity.

Leaning down, Jarn sighed and came to an eye level with the siamese kitten. One paw was held over its head, allowing only one blue eye to peer back at her. It trembled and rocked forward, almost as though it was considering crossing the cage to her. Lifting her head, she regarded the goblin once more. He must have recognized the look, as before she could haggle he spoke again.

“I found it tied up in a fishing net, starved. Human children were poking it with a stick and throwing rocks at it.”

With a gasp, Jarn immediately reached into her packs, rummaging for her gold. Tilting his head, the goblin grinned upon catching sight of her hidden money purse.

“Sixty gold; I had to nurse it back to health. And you don’t get the cage!”

Snarling, Jarn forked the gold over to the greedy goblin and opened the cage while he inspected and counted each coin.

“Nice doing business with you,” the goblin said, tipping his head and walking into the crowds of Booty Bay.

The goblin run city irritated Jarn, moreso that her purse was so much lighter. Cupping the kitten in hand, she held it close to her chest and gently rubbed a finger against the top of its head. The kitten stopped trembling and even offered out a soft purr of delight.

The boat back to Ratchet was a smooth ride. No beggars, no one sizing up Jarn for a fight; leaving her able to keep the kitten close and calm. The winds were strong, so she pulled her cloak over one shoulder and sheltered the siamese under it. Once in Ratchet, she reclaimed her raptor and made a slow trek to Orgimmar. The casual stroll was continued through the city, until she reached the city’s housing quarters. Once again her raptor was turned over to a handler, and she made her way through the winding avenue.

Just beyond the door, she could hear the sound of stone sliding against steel; knowing by the sound that Guduk was inside working a chip out of one of his many swords. Making sure the kitten was hidden from sight, she opened the door and stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind her.

“Jarnsaxa,” he said with a smile, looking up at her. The sharpening stone was set onto the table beside him, the blade then carefully laid down as well.

“’Ello dear!” She tried to keep a grin from appearing, as the kitten wiggled against her, trying to see the source of the new voice. Drawing herself into Guduk’s lap, she gave him a kiss and said, “I’ve a suhprise fer ya.”

“Oh?” He angled his head, looking at her curiously.

“Close yer eyes,” she said, watching as he did just that. The kitten was then taken out from under the edge of her cloak, but it gave itself away with a quick ‘mew?’ before she could tell Guduk to open his eyes.

Guduk gave a hearty chuckle and reached out to pet the tiny kitten. It was small enough to nearly fit in just one of Jarn’s hands, miniscule in comparison to Guduk’s. “I did say we should get one.”

“Tha’ ya did!” Setting the kitten on her lap, Jarn blinked as the kitten claws bit through the light pants she wore casually. Before she could so much as yelp, the kitten wiggled and leapt off her lap, moving to inspect the house.

“I suppose we ought to give ... it ...”

“S’girl.”

“... Her a name.”

Jarn nodded and tried to catch sight of the kitten. Thinking it couldn’t get into too much mischief, she rested her head against Guduk’s chest and exhaled a thoughtful sound.

“She ain’ verrah Grim, bu--”

SQUEAK!

Jarn’s words fell silent, and the couple watched as the kitten trotted back into their view with a mouse, not much smaller than the kitten herself, clamped in her mouth. Clearly pleased with herself, the kitten sat and dropped the mouse on the floor, then with one paw, she nudged the dead mouse toward Jarn and Guduk.

“Nevahmind tha’... she’s more Grim den I thought!”

by Guduk

"Killer?"

Guduk was never good at naming things, that wasn't about to change any time soon.
The Siamese was perched on one of Guduk's legs, balancing carefully on its hind feet with forepaws in the air, eyes intent on the large finger Guduk held before it.

Jarnsaxa perched on his other leg, her head resting against his chest as she watched the two play, Guduk moves his finger forward a little and the kitten launches her attack, claws slightly extended in excitement as she bats repeatedly at the finger then chomps down with her small sharp teeth.

Guduk chuckles softly at the hunter antics from the kitten, not feeling the claws or teeth through his naturally thick hide, staring down at the punitive thing as the bright blue eyes look up for approval, her mouth still latched around the finger far to large for her mouth.

Jarnsaxa nudges him in the ribs slightly as she chuckles "S'got ta be betta' then tha'!"

Guduk rumbles in thought as he looks a little harder at the kitten, the little thing had given Guduk's finger a few affectionate licks before deciding she had shown the finger who's boss and unlatched herself from Guduk, she starts washing her paw casually while ignoring the hovering finger for now which Guduk extends again, patting the small head gently.

"Sneaka?" Guduk offers again, not sure if Jarnsaxa should continue giving him the option of naming the little one.

A quiet night, the air barely stirring, still carrying the warmth of the day's sun. The Tauren sighs softly as he lays still on his bed, looking towards the ceiling mostly hidden away by the darkness. Guduk tries once more to sleep as he closes his eyes, listening in the distance of the slow beat of the drums. 4th hour past midnight, Guduk counts and turns his head slowly to look at the sleeping troll beside him. The blankets where too warm this night and barely covered Jarnsaxa as she slept with her back to Guduk, his eyes looking over her slowly breathing form as his mind wandered for a moment, a gentle hand running down her back before Guduk slowly rolls out of the bed, trying not to wake her.

Guduk sighs again as he strolls over to a nearby table, lighting a single candle so he can see the hide sheets laying on the table surface. Even without his armor, the chair creaks as he sits down, his large fingers pulling a piece of hide towards him so he can look closely at the marks on its surface. Maps, most of them fading with time as the dye shows old fighting grounds. this particular map the dye was fresh and showed Vashj's chamber. Crosses, Circles and lines showing where creatures come in and where the Grim stand. Guduk sighs as he tries to understand the fight more clearly, replaying their last encounter in his head while gazing at the hide surface.

"Murrr" A small figure leaps onto the table to pad her way in front of Guduk. He grunts at the siamese cat, which stares right back at him as she marches over to Guduk and butts her head against his nose, stroking her head across his face as she rumbles her pleasure in having a companion awake at this time of night. She circles around a bit on the Hide as she continues to butt and stroke her head against him, he gently attempts to move her aside so he can see the hide, only to have her stroll right back on and demand more attention. Guduk sighs and gives up trying to study tactics any longer and just looks at the cat "Mischievous little thing".

The cat sits down on the hide, content she has done her work an allowing him back to his own, she raises a paw and licks it for a moment before she leaps down onto his lap and begins to find a comfortable spot to rest. Guduk leans forward again, careful not to off balance the siamese on his lap as she continues to circle and settle down, then find her spot not good enough so straighten once more, circle and then settle again. Guduk reads over the hide once more, absently stroking the cat who rumbles her contentment, he will eventually get to understand this battle.