New Heights

"...What do I think of the Grimtotem?" Roshanar rumbled. The tall, lanky troll facing him nodded. Roshanar snarled, sending the troll back a few paces.
"Hey now, Roshanah, joo na need t' be angry 'r nothin'. Was jus' a question." Vodral held up his hands, trying to pacify the angry tauren.
"They're traitors! They'll use any method at their disposal to harm the Horde." The warrior punctuated his point, slamming a fist into a palm.
"Hmm, dat be interestin'... so, dey be havin' no problem strikin' from de shadows. Maybeh I betta...eh?" The bloodscalp looked up as a young tauren girl walked up, waving to Roshanar.
Visibly calming, the large tauren turned, and offered a smile to the newcomer. "Ah, 'Honi. How has..." Roshanar frowned as he noticed the tears gathering in the corners of his sister's eyes. "What's wrong?"
Ihoni looked away, avoiding his eyes. "Nothing." She poked at the dirt with her hoof, and stole a glance at her brother. It transferred to the Bloodscalp, embarassed.
Vodral coughed. "Joo wan' me t' leave joo alone?"
"No!" Ihoni said loudly, and then flushed. Roshanar's raised eyebrow was an obvious unspoken question. Her face crumpled. "I can't do it! They want me to get the pendant, but I can't! It's so high, and it shakes! And I don't want to fall into the Maelstrom!" Wailing, she threw herself into Roshanar's arms.
"What are you... oh." Roshanar nodded to himself as he held the sobbing druid. "Vodral, would you excuse me?" The troll nodded, and walked off towards the bank. Sighing, Roshanar hugged Ihoni tightly, and then let her go. "Come on, let's walk back to the tent and talk." Sniffling, the younger Skychaser nodded.
When they reached the tent, Roshanar set his sword in the corner, and started unbuckling his armor. Rubbing his neck, he sat down, glad to be off his feet. "It's the Zeppelin, isn't it?" he asked his sister.
Ihoni nodded. "It's so high! And you said... you said that they sometimes crash! They want me to go to across the sea, but I just can't! I tried... really, Shan, I did!"
Roshanar sighed, reaching out to hug his sister as he saw tears starting to form again. "...'Honi, I said they've crashed before, but I've never seen it happen. There are countless flights each day, with no problems. The goblins know what they're doing."
Smothering herself in her brother's embrace, Ihoni bawled, her face pressed into Roshanar's chest. "I'm such a coward... I can't do it! And now your friend thinks I'm just a big... big calf. I'm sorry..."
Placing his hands firmly on Ihoni's shoulders, Roshanar pushed her gently away from him, so he could look her in the eyes. His smile was welcoming, and slightly amused. "Ihoni Skychaser, you are not a little calf. You're brave! Didn't you face those cultists down? Try telling them that you're a coward."
Ihoni smiled slightly, but then winced. "But I can't ride the zeppelin. Everyone else can do it, why can't I?"
"Well." Roshanar stood up, picking up his sword and slinging it over his shoulder. "Maybe you just need some company. Would you like to try with me?"
She flinched, looking down at the ground and her tightly-clasped fingers. Finally, she nodded.
"Come on, I'll ride it with you." He gave his sister a reassuring smile.
Ihoni sniffled a little, but nodded again.
As the pair approached the Zeppelin tower, Ihoni held back. Her smile was tremulous. Roshanar sighed, nudging her forward. "Come on, 'Honi, you can do this. I'm right here with you." The younger tauren swallowed hard, nodded, and stepped forward.
As they topped the tower, the Zeppelin was preparing to leave. "Come on, 'Honi, it's ready! Don't think about it, just do it!" Roshanar smiled reassuringly at his sister, and stepped onto the deck. Ihoni froze ont he platform, her face pale. The goblin in charge of departures cast an impatient glare at the pair. Roshanar ignored him. "Don't worry, 'Honi. I'm right here with you. Nothing's going to happen, I promise. The goblins make this run all the time, they know what they're doing." Still Ihoni made no move towards the vibrating hull of the airship. The goblin rolled his eyes and gave the signal to the pilot. The airship began pulling away from the deck. Roshanar sighed, and jumped back onto the tower. Ihoni's eyes began to tear up again, and she walked unsteadily over to a mooring. She collapsed against it, burying her face in her hands.
Roshanar sat down next to his sister and wrapped an arm around her. "It's okay, 'Honi. We'll get this. Let's just sit here for a while, maybe watching the Zeppelins come and go will help." Ihoni just sniffled in reply.
Together, the two sat for a good while, Roshanar talking about a variety of subjects. Ihoni rested against him, much more subdued than usual. They watched the Zeppelin come and go, a motley assortment of passengers taking the journey between the contintents.
After a while, Roshanar sighed and patted the young druid. "Come on, let's try again." Ihoni nodded somberly, reluctantly getting to her feet. They approached the waiting airship, Roshanar stepping onto its deck. Ihoni looked at the humming deckboards and swallowed hard. Closing her eyes, she took a step. The floor vibrated against her hooves. Roshanar smiled proudly. "You see, 'Honi? I knew you could do it!" Ihoni nodded nervously, standing at his side.
Then, the zeppelin lurched into motion. Ihoni screamed, and jumped back onto the docking tower. As the airship pulled away, Roshanar ran to the side and bellowed, "Ihoni!"
A wailed "I'm sorry!" floated back to him, just above the din of the engines.
Much later, the zeppelin pulled up to the docking tower once more, having completed its trip to the Eastern Kingdoms. Roshanar stepped off and slowly walked up to Ihoni, who was huddled up against the mooring, her knees pulled up against her face. He didn't say anything, just sat down and put his arm around his sister. She began to sob. "I can't do it, Shan! I'm just a coward! They're so unnatural, with the shaking and the flying... it just feels wrong! I just... I can't..." Her voice broke, and she began sobbing harder, unable to speak.
Roshanar hugged her tightly, "shhh"ing her gently. "It's alright, Ihoni. You're not a coward, we all have things we're afraid of."
"N-not you," she said damply against his shoulder. "You're not afraid of anything. Especially not a stupid Zeppelin."
"Maybe if you just try, just do it. You can walk with me, I'll stay right beside you." He sighed as she shook her head. "You have to try."
She brushed at her cheeks. "I did! I tried."
"No one's ever seen a zeppelin crash, 'Honi," Roshanar tried again.
Her smile was wan as she clambered to her feet. "A sword is sharp. Just because it doesn't cut you doesn't mean it didn't cut someone else."
Again, he sighed. "Are you going to stay here on Kalimdor forever?"
"If that's what it takes." Her jaw set, mulish now. He knew that look. It was the look that said he wasn't going to win any arguments at the moment. He got to his feet and tried one last time. "The sister I knew wouldn't let a zeppelin scare her away."
But he didn't get the rise he expected. Instead, Ihoni shook her head, sadly and resigned, and said, "Maybe I'm not the sister you knew." Her smile went lopsided, and she turned back to the winding ramp.
He hurried to catch up with her. "Come on," he finally said, and his voice was gentle. "Let's go home." The large warrior shadowed the smaller Tauren, and as she nodded, they walked quietly back towards town.
Category: Horde Stories
Category: Stories