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The morning sun was rising high over the sea and a short goblin waddled through the deck, observing that the men and women were busy doing their jobs. “Ain’t the cap’n gonna get out here? It be morning and he be sleeping.” The dwarf growled out his words as only a pirate can while the goblin glared at him.
“The Captain is busy as we speak, which is more than I can say about your lazy ass. Quit yer bitchin’ and get back to work!” As the dwarf grumbled, the goblin, Ziggly, marched straight to the cabin’s door and knocked, “Yo, Wolf, you better get out here. These scumbags are being pussies.”
Within the darkness of the cabin, Cristianno rustled in his bed, holding a warm figure beside him. He held her close and kissed her head, before mumbling, “Be right there.” The figure moved a little, but remained near him, as if never to wanting to leave his side. Cris smiled and whispered, “Morning, precious.” He nuzzled her head and whispered again, “I wish you didn’t have to go, but this is for the best.” He sighed and nuzzled her again, “There’s….someone new in my life. Don’t get jealous, you’re still my only girl, but she’s…just amazing.” He felt her body push against him and he chuckled. “I said don’t get jealous.” He kissed her head once more and sat up. “Now, where’s my kiss?”
He leaned toward her and closed his eyes, smiling widely as a large, wet tongue lapped across his face. “Atta girl.” His bedmate, a white furred wolf, sat up on the bed and stretched before shaking herself out. “You remember her, right? The cute girl in Booty Bay? She’s the one. Besides, you liked her.” The wolf nuzzled her snout against his leg and he laughed. “Yup, that’s her.” Cris sighed and genuinely smiled. It was a smile that bore all his emotions right on his face. A smile he dared not wear outside of his cabin. The wolf rose on the bed and trampled over Cris as she jumped off. After shaking out her fur, she looked at him longingly. “Alright, one biscuit and no more. I don’t need you getting sea sick.” He jumped out of bed and removed a biscuit from a small bag. “There you go, girl.” As the wolf chewed on the biscuit, Cris’ eyes began to water slightly. Soon, she would no longer be onboard.
“Crissy! RUN!”
The young elves ran as fast as they could through Elwynn Forest as the wolf chased them. The little girl continued to run, tears flying off her face, while her brother laughed behind her.
“Keep going, Emii!” His burst of laughter echoed through the forest. He looked like a slim version of a nine year old human child, but his long, slender ears gave him away, as well as his sister, who looked about seven. The elves jumped over roots and rocks, passed cows and trees, but the wolf continued to run behind them. They ran into a rather large boulder and turned around, watching the wolf get closer.
“Crissy!”
The boy turned around and waved his arms frantically, but the wolf, who was now stalking toward them, simply growled. “Here, wolfy…nice wolfy.”
“Crissy, he’s going to eat you!”
“Sh…” The boy walked toward the wolf, “Come here. We ain’t gonna hurt you.” The wolf slowly lowered its head and began to reach out toward the boy when a pebble flew out from behind him, hitting the wolf on the head. The wolf growled and focused on the girl, who held on to a few more pebbles in her little hand. “Emii! Don’t! Stop!” The girl screamed as the wolf walked toward her. He had to do something quick, so he took a deep breath and ran toward the wolf, hitting its side and throwing it off balance. The wolf quickly turned its head and charged at the boy, snapping its jaws at him, but missing. The boy laughed and charged at the wolf once more. Slowly, their battle became a game and once both of them were tired, the wolf was on the ground, panting and the boy lay beside it. The girl walked toward them both.
“Crissy?” She dangled her stuffed animal on his face for a moment before the boy opened his sea-green eyes.
“I’m taking him with me!”
“What?”
The boy rolled over and hugged the wolf, who licked his face. “I’m taking him with me! To Stormwind.”
That evening, the human Marcus D’Avros walked into Stormwind holding a slender elf’s hand, his new wife Maerin, and followed by her son, Cristianno, who held on to a rope that loosely settled around the wolf’s neck. Maerin didn’t want to have any complications, so she refused the wolf, but Marcus, attempting to please his new son, agreed.
“It will teach him responsibility, dear,” Marcus said, petting the wolf.
“I’m starting to believe that you want this wolf just as much as Cris.” He knelt beside the wolf, her long auburn hair shrouding her slender body, as she touched the soft fur. “It’s just a baby, Cris.”
Cristianno smiled, “I’m gonna call him Rothgar!”
“Uh, Cris, it’s a girl,” Marcus chuckled. Cris looked at the wolf, who stared at him upside down while the hands rubbed her belly.
“Oh…”
Maerin moved her son’s hair out of his face and held to his chin tenderly, “How about Misae, little one?” Cris’ eyes lit up and nodded. The wolf rolled over and pounced Cris, licking his face. “And she likes it!” The three laughed.
“You’re gonna be my best friend, Misae!” Cris said, hugging the wolf tightly.
“Joo be doin’ da right ting, Cris.”
“I suppose so, Tia.” Cristianno sighed and saw the wolf running around with his friend Laerchel. “I just can’t remember a time without her.”
“Joo keepin’ ‘er safe from da monsta onboard.” The troll witch looked at the crew standing around the beach, laughing and fighting on the sand. “Do dey no what joo have on the boat?”
Cris shook his head. “No. I think they’d freak if they knew the danger they’re in.” Tia’Zula let out a boisterous cackle and shook her head while Cris laughed along with her. “As soon as I get a chance I’ll tell them.” He looked at Misae and whistled for her. The wolf obediently ran toward Cris and rested her head against his thigh. “You’ll take care of her, right Tia?”
“Ya, mon.”
“And that includes no voodoo…”
“Cris…”
“And no sacrifices…”
“…Cris..”
“And no wolf dinners.”
“Cristianno!” The troll glared at the elf. “Joo insul’ me. Trust Tia’Zula.”
Cris laughed and nodded, “She’s the world to me, Tia.”
The troll looked at the wolf and patted her leg. Misae looked up at Cris, waiting for a sign. Cris whispered “go” and the wolf walked to Tia, who petted her soft fur. “She be ‘ere waitin’ for ya, Cris. I promise.”
“Alright, then Tia.” He walked toward the wolf and knelt before her. “Misae, you’re going to stay here with Tia for a while. I will come back and get you, I promise, but right now, the ship isn’t safe for you and I don’t want to worry about you. Tia will feed you and play with you.” His voice started to crack a little, but he held it together. “You be a good girl. And remember, you’ll always be my favorite girl.” He kissed the wolf’s head over and over and hugged her tightly. The wolf simply stared at him, but her eyes contained an overwhelming sense of sadness, as if she knew exactly what was going on.
“Joo betta go nao. It be ‘arder latah.” Cris nodded and rose, petting the wolf one more time. “ ‘ow the soul collectin’ goin’?”
A soft sigh from his lips said more than his mere words, “It’s going.”
“Remembah, stay true to jooself. Only den will joo remain Cristianno.” Cris nodded and taking a deep breath, he turned around, giving both Tia and Misae his back. “Goodbye.” It wasn’t directed at anyone in particular. He began to walk toward the ship. The crew quickly assembled and ran onboard while Ziggly walked up to him.
“Ready, Wolf?”
“Ay. Let’s go.” Once aboard the ship, Cris looked back only to see the wolf chasing the ship along the shore. He lowered his head, allowing his orange-red hair to cover his grief-stricken eyes.
“Hey, Capt’n? Something just growled at us below deck, in that big crate we brought aboard this morning, and, uh, I think Gus is missing.” Cris blinked away tears as he chuckled at the elf who bore him the bad news.
“Shit.” He lifted his head.
“Gather the crew. We need to talk.”
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