Sheshafi (implied)
Caving In
A dead wife who can’ speak… an unfait’ful Mate… an’ a dead child… Joo can’ do anyting right, can joo?
Faraji stared with baleful intensity at the wreckage of his cave.
Dey come tah joor rescue, shah. Dey pull joo outtah deh rubble. But foah wha’? What’s lef’ o’ joo tah save, eh?
Splinters of cut wood protruded at all angles, painted and treated remains of what had once been the outer hut, leading into the mouth of the actual cave. It’d been well lit with lamps, thatched roof, and dry; a pleasant entry for the cool and dark confines of his home. It was meant to deceive, meant to hide the depth of the winding cavern he dug with his bare hands. It was destroyed as well.
It wahms joo haht dat she screamin’ joor name. Dat she realize joo gone. An’ yet… joo let hah wandah off wit’ anoddah male. Dah faddah o’ hah child. Dah child joo wah supposed tah give hah.
Excessive Force
Some time ago…
The lynxes were restless. So, too, were the men. Like the lynxes, they were crouched upon a hilltop overlooking a troll village, a new settlement erected boldly close to the Farstrider Enclave. Such insolence could not stand. Etienne glanced at the line of rangers assembled under his command. The predawn light was just enough to allow him to clearly see each face. He was lucky to have eight. Surveillance showed roughly triple that number, mostly women and children, were slumbering in the huts below. “Arrogant pests,” Etienne muttered. He wished the Quel’dorei had never agreed to aid the Alliance. The conflict intensifying in the south drew away more of their rangers than originally promised. Thanks to the so-called Second War, those who remained to protect Quel’Thalas were spread too thin. It meant they had to be creative. It also meant they could not afford any weakness. Of the eight elves poised to attack, only one looked nervous. Private Thelryn looked even more nervous when Etienne ordered him to switch places with Corporal Vaneth, putting the raw recruit right next to his commander. Etienne threw an arm around him, a gesture that was only superficially friendly and reassuring.
“You can do this, can’t you, Private?” He whispered.
