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“Is someting the matter, boss?”
The air in Stranglethorne Vale was quiet. It was warm, and it was humid, but it was surprisingly quiet. Things right now felt… normal, even if the troll knew what he was about to get himself into. They were about half an hour away from their destination, riding along roads that were in the midst of being reclaimed by bush and untamed wilds.
“Aye…” The main one in the formation spoke, holding up one of his three-digited hands amidst the warm winds that blew. “There be a darkness in the air… noting that we can do about it.” There were five of them in total, all of them mounted up on the scaled raptors of their tribe. “If ye feel uneasy about tis, you’d better let me know.”
“We’re wit you here until da very end, boss.” There were four sounds of fist hitting armor that then turned into a salute. “You ain’t goin’ anywhere witout us.” There was a gentle nod as the sound of reins being flicked filled the air. The lead resumed along the path they were travelling, going back to the pace that they were travelling at before.
There was a heavy weight in the lead’s heart for being here. The one up front was Vol’Jin; leader of the Darkspear tribe and one of the highest-ranking officials within the Horde. Being back here near Zul’Gurub, after the events that had happened the last time he had seen the jungles of Stranglethorne… it was an uneasiness unlike any other. All he could do though was push onward; moving forward strictly because it was too late to turn back now.
At least this was better than being by the side of the new Warchief. Garrosh’s voice, his anger, his nearsightedness… it was something that would have never happened under the previous Warchief, Thrall. Thrall and him felt closer than ever, but that closeness was nowhere to be found with Garrosh. At least he wasn’t the only one that felt this way, with Cairne also voicing his uncertainties and displeasure with how the Horde was being run now. Cairne was motivated enough to fight and die for it, and Vol’jin remembered that sacrifice every day. The Horde was falling by the wayside
As the footsteps of his raptor echoed out, his thoughts were lost within the sounds of jingling saddlebags alongside the noise of his armour that came from adjusting his stance. Garrosh wasn’t going to get involved with this; he had no reason to. This was a matter between the Darkspear and Gurubashi; nothing more. The Horde would be business left back in Orgrimmar and Durotar- they had no power here.
They continued along until they had started to see the signs of civilization. Tall buildings built around taller trees, alongside smaller, individual ones that stretched far and wide. There were a pair outside that were clad in armour and with weapons of various makes; guards. Vol’jin approached and dismounted, leaving his raptor behind as he walked. With each step, the nerves resumed. An awkward mingling of anxiety for the future and the uncertainty of what would happen, as well as if the Gurubashi would actually play nice this time.
“Greetings.” Vol’jin spoke as he raised an arm in a wave. “How are you two dis fine day?” The two Gurubashi trolls exchanged a look before they nodded.
“Welcome, Vol’jin.” They spoke before the leftmost one continued. “Da High Priestess will be waitin for you witin de center of da city. Feel free to ride through and take in de sights.” Vol’jin nodded at the both while saying nothing back; instead returning to his mount and mounted up. A gentle flick of the reins brought them forward at a slow walk.
The city of Zul’Gurub was big, though not quite comparable in size or infrastructure compared to Orgrimmar. Vol’jin and his four followers moved throughout the city, seeing what had happened since his last visit here. There were still signs of damage; broken pillars and the shreds of splintered wood. The trolls that were out and about within the city all glared at Vol’jin and his four with a mix of distrust and fear. There was a reason he had only brought four of his Atal-Mhuto alongside him- four would be enough to make sure that anything bad happening would be snuffed out in a moment while also not intimidating those who were still fearful of them.
They needed to do this on friendly terms- a unification of the Darkspear and Gurubashi couldn’t be made from fear or loathing. Rather, they both needed to trust each other, and this was a way to do so. The five of them continued along their walk into the main center of the city, seeing that things hadn’t quite changed with the residents of this place.
There were hunters all about, and the air was rich with the scents of fresh meat and tanned hide. There was also the smell of medicines being prepared; poultices and potions that gave off a bouquet of smells and sounds. Witchbane smoke was distant, but still noticeable at the back of the palette.
“It’s almost like we back home, boss.” One of Vol’jin’s followers spoke. As much as he may not have liked to admit it, it was true. The jungle trolls of the Gurubashi weren’t much different from the Darkspear, and moments like this helped remind Vol’jin of that.
“Ghurk!” Then again…
There was a sound of leather tearing that preluded metal tearing through skin. Blood splattered out as one of the trolls had stabbed another in the stomach. Vol’jin blankly stared at the body of another troll, this one armed with a wicked, curved dagger that was dripping with blood.
“Feh! What a waste. You bring shame to ya name.” The living troll drew back the knife and wiped the blood on the leathers of the dead one.
“Hey, dere.” Vol’jin remarked from atop his mount. “Ya mind tellin me what he did to ya to deserve such a fate?” The troll looked at Vol’jin and gave a shocked gasp, saying nothing and running off without any sort of reaction. One of the Atal-Mhuto with Vol’jin moved to follow, but Vol’jin raised his hand to stop.
Even if they felt like this place wasn’t unlike their home in the Echo Isles, it still very much was…
The five Darkspear trolls made their way into the heart of Zul’Gurub; The Coil. As they did, they had begun to see the influence of who Vol’jin was to meet. There were clusters of spider webs that were rather freshly spun, decorating the area all around the path to The Coil. There were a few looks exchanged between the five; a mutual uneasiness that came from seeing the signs of such creatures.
“Does she just let dose dings have de run of de place?” One of the Atal-Mhuto asked aloud and Vol’jin shook his head in disdain. “You’d best be careful now…” Vol’jin sighed and rolled his eyes, letting one of his hands run through his spiked-up red mohawk. She was the High Priestess of Shandra the spider loa, so it wasn’t that surprising.
“Tell her that directly, see how well dat goes for ya.” As they reached The Coil proper, they found the person that they were after. She stood with one hand on her hips and the other along the neck of her staff. Her sanguine-red hair was let down and she was dressed in a white scaled top with a leather belt and scaled greaves that extended to her lower thigh. She wore thickly-furred bracers and boots, and her lips had curled into a smile upon the arrival of Vol’jin and his men.
“Ahhh, de guests of honor!” She remarked, clapping her hands together. “Good to see you, boy!”
“Heh.” Vol’jin dismounted and took a moment to properly stretch out. It had been a long time on the mount and he felt now was the time to take a moment to temporarily relax. Because, now with her being here, things were going to get much more difficult. “Good to see you too, High Priestess Mar’li.” There were a few laughs exchanged between the two of them, with Mar’li certainly being more affable and light-hearted of the two. “You be letting the loas have de run of the place?”
“Hey, enough with da titles! You ain’t back in the big cities up north now, you down here wit us! Take dat stick out from up ya ass!” Mar’li laughed and placed one of her hands on Vol’jin’s shoulder, patting it twice. “Be warned now- dis is how I’m going ta be wit ya once we’ve joined!” Vol’jin gave a nod, smiling despite the bubbling pit of anxiety within him being put to proper boil now.
Perhaps he was wondering if all of this was truly and properly worth it.
It had been some time since the two of them had last met. When they did, it was in the battleground that Zul’Gurub had become- Vol’jin having laid siege to it alongside others of his Darkspear tribe. Mar’li was defeated then, but the forces weren’t routed. In the dead of night after that battle, the two had met together in an isolated hut.
“Dat is the plan?” Vol’jin asked, doubt prevalent in his voice. “Do ya tink this is actually going to work?”
“If ya’ve got anoter, I’m all ears to it!” Mar’li countered without any hesitation. She was right, whether exactly he wanted to admit it or not. The unification of all the troll tribes into one would be a difficult undertaking. Mar’li, the freshly-appointed leader of the Gurubashi tribe, knew this as well did Vol’jin. The problem that came with that territory though was that in addition to them, so did the Zandalari tribe.
The Zandalari were not the worst, but they were far stronger and more numerous compared to the Gurubashi. Allowing the Zandalari to consolidate more power and be closer to being the leading tribe of the hypothetical unified trolls was not something Vol’jin or Mar’li wanted to have happen.
“…Someting about this just don’t sit right wit me.” Vol’jin muttered and shook his head while Mar’li looked on at him with a disapproving shake of her head.
“It’s your idea to bring de Gurubashi into the Horde! What’s wrong wit the way to do it?” Mar’li was shorter than Vol’jin was, but the taller troll was brought to the edge of the tent while she pointed an accusatory finger at him. “It’d be the quickest and easiest way to do it, ya know. Plus, marriages to solidify allegiances are so common! Don’t you up in de north do them all da time?”
“I-I…” Vol’jin was forced into silence while Mar’li folded her arms against her chest.
“What’s da matta!?” She snapped. “Dis whole ting was your idea, ya know? If you don’t want to commit, I’ll find someone else ta do so!” The scars from the fighting today were fresh all over her body, a thin red line that ran down her stomach and highlighted the shape of it. On top of it, there was some bruising on her thighs that helped show off the delicate shape of them, and her sapphire-blue skin contrasted with the dark, ruby-red of blood.
“Okay, okay!” He slowly exhaled. “It’s for da best, I agree.”
“Don’t be like dis, now!” Mar’li spoke. “Don’t go draggin ya feet if ya don’t want to. If ya want da Gurubashi in wit da Horde as well, dis is the best way to do it.” Vol’jin blinked twice and brought his hands up to his temples. He had a headache coming on; the stress of knowing that she was right and that he had no compelling arguments to try and stop her or disagree with her plan.
“…Alright.” He remarked bitterly. “It be da best way to unify our tribe. We will have a joining ceremony to wed da two of us.” Mar’li nodded, and there was a brief moment for Vol’jin that certainly made it seem like she had enjoyed getting one up on him.
“What time is da ceremony today, den?” Vol’jin and Mar’li were still together, alongside the rest of Vol’jin’s men. They had found a place to stable their mounts for the time here in Zul’Gurub, and Mar’li was now leading them all to a guest dwelling that they could stay in until the ceremony properly began.
“When de sun goes down tonight, we will have our ceremony. Then we shall feast and drink to celebrate dis union of ours.” Vol’jin nodded as they approached a rather large building not that far from the main area of the city. “You’d best be prepared, boys. When de Gurubashi party, we can party all day and night.” Mar’li had handed Vol’jin a key to the building before them; one that looked to be a repurposed cottage of some kind. “Feel free to have a look around and get yourself comfortable before the proceedings tonight, okay?” As she said that, she moved to where Vol’jin was and playfully elbowed him in the ribs. “Be seein’ you boys later…”
Mar’li walked off without saying another word, leaving the five of them standing outside the door to their abode. Vol’jin sighed and walked over to the door, unlocking it and letting it swing open wide. To his surprise, it was a rather large, clean and lavishly furnished. A seemingly-endless bowl of jungle fruit was waiting for them, as well as other beverages and other snacks as well. Vol’jin gave a confused look while the other Atal-Mhuto walked into the cottage.
“It’s a nice place, boss.” One of them spoke. He doffed his helmet to take a bite of one of the jungle fruits, using the point of one of his tusks beforehand to pierce the skin and expose the edible flesh and juice underneath. “Ay, and de food be good, too! Ye can’t get dis any fresher.”
“…Odd.” Another of the Atal-Mhuto gave his boss a confused look.
“What did you tink you were going to get? We’re here for a joining- a ceremony of de highest order? Did ya think we would be put in a jail cell and fed rotten fruit? It’d be a bad look for dem!” Vol’jin sighed and walked into the abode proper, taking a piece of the fruit from the bowl. He could see salted meat, fresh biscuits, alongside some cheese and other delicacies.
The troll took one of the pieces of fruit and pierced it with his tusk. A sweet scent filled his nose while he took in the taste of the fruit. Juicy, sweet and with a tang to it at the back… delicious, indeed. “Dis be good.” He remarked before there was the sound of someone clapping. “Eh?”
“Ay, boss! Looks like I found whatchu gonna be wearin tonight.” There was a second floor to the building they were in, but the only thing that was here on it was a bed and a dresser. And on that bed, expertly folded were clothes. Vol’jin looked at it and tried his best to suppress a grimace.
It was a set of black robes with white trim alongside a white belt. They were light and of very fine material; not unlike something that mages or priests would wear as adventuring gear. But these were just normal, formal robes. Vol’jin sighed and held them in his hands. “At least dere comfortable, eh?”
“…Right, let’s see what de damage is.” Vol’jin had begun the slow process of taking off his armour, stripping down until he was only in a plain, cloth-white undershirt and tight-fitting black shorts. He donned the robes and tightened the belt, finding them to be rather plush and formal looking.
“Looking mighty fine, boss.” Vol’jin gave an exasperated sigh. “You look as ready as ever for a joining.” He said nothing, yet took a few steps in them. The garments were rather easy to move in and breathe in, and the light make of the material would be nice for the warm night that tonight would be. The jungles of Stranglethron were eternally warm, and just because the sun went down at night was no exception.
“I suppose it could be worse.” He muttered, returning downstairs just as there was a knock on the door. Vol’jin walked over and opened it, finding one of the Gurubashi that had a decently-sized tailoring kit in her arms. “Yes?”
“Ah, Vol’jin!” The tailor clapped twice and set her belongings down. “How you doin? I see you tried on de joining robes. How do dey fit?” The seamstress took a step back and properly examined the man of the hour. “Mmm… not bad, but we can adjust it in de sides if you’re thinking.
“It’s fine, really.”
“Ah, it’ll take no time at all. Come here- we can adjust your evening wear as well at de same time.” Vol’jin raised a curious eyebrow.
“Evening wear?” He repeated and the seamstress nodded.
“Well, we can’t have you partyin and enjoying ya new live stuck in dose stuffy clothes!” She mused, already getting to work. As she spoke to Vol’jin, she was taking his measurements and examining the fit of the clothes on him. “A joining ain’t just stuffy ceremony and a union of two souls- it’s a feast! A party dat’ll unify us trolls in harmony together!” Vol’jin sighed, yet allowed the seamstress to continue her work. After a few adjustments made to both his sleeves and the chest, she took a step back and examined her work. “How do ya feel?”
“I… I feel fine, I guess.” He remarked with a shrug. The seamstress gave a sigh before walking away, with her pack once again in her arms.
“If ya have any trouble, just send word for me. You can take a look at your feast attire and see if that works for you as well.” After a wave, the seamstress had made her exit and left Vol’jin with the Atal-Mhuto.
“Where is dis ‘feast attire’ dey keep mentioning?” As Vol’jin made his way back to the stairs, he soon found that there was another outfit in the wardrobe. The good news was that it wasn’t as formal looking, even if consisted mostly an open black vest and long black pants. If anything, it was actually better than what he was wearing now.
The only problem is the when of he would have to wear it…
The five of them had spent several hours in the guest house. With them having arrived just before noon and the ceremony to begin at dusk, things were rather quiet up until that point. Vol’jin was not the only one to receive the formal attire. His Atal-Mhuto had also gotten formal robes and casual outfits for the ceremony tonight, though the white trim of their robes were replaced with a dark, navy-blue.
The silence within the house had been interrupted by another knock at the door. Vol’jin approached it, dressed in his robes and answered the door. On the other side was another of the Gurubashi, this one looking to be one of the cloth; a priest?
“How ya doin?” He greeted, speaking rather casually despite his formal attire of fresh white cloth. “How’s ya heart? Excited?” Vol’jin grimaced, but he tried his best to pass it off with a smile and a nod.
“You could say dat.” He replied to the other troll. The priest gave a few chuckles and patted Vol’jin on his back.
“Ah, you’re not de first to be nervous, and you aren’t going to be da last. Don’t you worry; I’ve been performing joining ceremonies like dis for almost all my life.” Vol’jin gave a laugh; something told him that if the priest knew the true reasoning for this joining, there may have been some discrepancies with that statement. “In a few minutes, we’ll have da two of you meet and gather in de center. Mar’li will arrive after some time, and da two of you will read from da scripture of de Loa.” Vol’jin nodded.
“Is dat all?” He asked. The priest nodded.
“Well, at least for today. But one of da tings about a joining that dey don’t tell ya is dat a joining doesn’t just stop after da ceremony. You and Mar’li will be joined togetha for de rest of your lives, now.” If his words were meant to inspire or bring confidence to the other troll, they weren’t.
“Eh… y-yeah.” Vol’jin nodded and patted the priest on his shoulder. “Tanks for de words of confidence.” The priest gave a few laughs and walked over to the door of the house.
“Whenever you and your guests are ready, we’ll be on da way. Until den, I’ll be waiting outside for ya.” The door to the house was closed and Vol’jin was left with his men. To the troll leader, no part of this was anything he actually wanted to do. It was a bitter necessity to ensure not just the future and survivability of the Horde, but the future and survivability of all trolls. If he ever stood a chance at unifying all the tribes, it was going to start here.
“Well, boss?” Vol’jin turned and heard the sound of one of his men. “You came all dis way here for dis- you can’t quit now.”
“No, I can’t.” He nodded grimly and properly stretched out, feeling his back crack with relief. “Well, I don’t tink dis will be da worst ting I’ve ever done. Let’s go.” After a few silent nods to act as their final rally, Vol’jin opened the door and his trolls followed out single-file behind him.
The air within Stranglethorn, even at night, was nice and calming. It was never an unbearable heat, but there were always both dampness and humidity in the air; one that would always suggest or threaten a potential drizzle, but never actually deliver. The priest gave a shocked look to see Vol’jin out so quickly.
“Dat was fast!” He mused. “You must be quite excited for dis ceremony.” Vol’jin tried his best to hide his disdain for what was about to happen through a nod and a warm smile, and it seemed to convince the holy troll in front of him. “Right, I’ll send de word to make sure Mar’li is also ready. Let us depart for da time bein.” They all walked along the path that led back into Zul’Gurub, more than likely in a rather centralized area. As they walked along, they caught the stares of other members of the Gurubashi, though things seemed less hostile compared to when they had arrived.
“Tings seem more peaceful now.” One of the Atal-Mhuto mused. “They don’t seem to be as suspicious of us.”
“Well, look at how we’re dressed, mon!” Another one remarked, punching the first one to speak in the shoulder. “We’re here for a joining, not to cause any trouble.” As they travelled along the path that Mar’li had originally led them down during their first trek from The Coil, they were now diverting to the west and down a small incline. As they did, they saw that there was a small, covered structure next to an altar and where there were already several people gathered already.
Vol’jin narrowed his eyes to get a better look, and judging by the shape of their shadows and their size, they were probably what was left of the Gurubashi elders. It made sense that they were the ones to oversee the joining ceremony. There were a few others as well, but as they all drew closer to the structure, Vol’jin saw that it wasn’t just that.
It was a multi-level structure, and there were multiple tiers of seating around it like they were seating in a colosseum or something. It was as if the whole Gurubashi tribe would have a seat to watch this ceremony. As the priest and Vol’jin arrived, there was a clap from another troll priest.
“Welcome, welcome!” He called out. “So good to see everyone today.”
“I’ve brought da groom and his guests.” The other priest spoke.
“That you have, yes.” The second priest approached the Darkspear trolls; this one much more aged in his looks and voice. “We’ll get you all into da positions you need to be before Mar’li arrives.” He was Gurubashi, much like the other priest. Despite their intensity and savagery, the Gurubashi still put a lot into their ceremonies and respected the nature of tradition. Vol’jin respected that- the Darkspear were not slaves to their past or their traditions, but knowing that they respected the ways of the past as well was something that filled him with a sense of comfort and serenity for the future.
More and more of the audience had begun to gather around as one of the priests began to play a simple rhythm on a set of drums. It was gentle and relaxing, far different than if they were backing a war chant or marching orders to battle. It was a simple melody that played, trolls from all over gathering around and taking their seats. Vol’jin’s eyes kept darting around, seeing more and more of the Gurubashi convene.
By the time the drums had stopped, every seat was filled. No one else had joined him up at the covered area, though one of the priests had now donned a black and white wooden mask. The masked one began to prepare a full apothecary’s worth of oils, serums and salves while there was a shrill horn that rung out from the top of the same hill that Vol’jin was led down.
From here, he could see the shape of Mar’li, though she was too far away for him to get a good look at what exactly she was wearing. Judging from what he wore, he had to assume that it was something similar to his own in make and colour. She was on the back of one of the Gurubashi raptors, the raptor being led along at a slow walk. The drums had resumed once again, playing that same melody albeit slower alongside an accompaniment of gentle string music joining it.
Eventually, the music stopped and Mar’li had made it to the raised area. The troll that had been leading the raptor along set the lead down and took Mar’li’s hand, helping her off the raptor. She then walked up alone, eventually taking her spot next to Vol’jin. She was in an elegant white dress, one with black trim along the waist and sleeves that was accented by black buttons. Her face was decorated with streaks of red along her cheeks alongside one that started at her forehead and ran down the middle of her face until her nose.
A crown of White Steelbloom flowers rested atop of her, braided together by the flowers of their stems. She looked at the troll that was next to her and gently elbowed him in the ribs.
“Look at you. You clean up nice.”
“Tanks. So… so do you.” The whispering that came about from their audience came to a shush as one of the elders got up from his seat, hobbling over to the center of the area once he handed a bound scroll. He unbound it and, after taking a few moments to squint at it, he began to read from it.
“In dese days, in troublesome times like the ones we find ourselves in today, we can often find ourselves needin some help. A friendly face and the comfort dat comes with trust is something that can be very often forgotten, even here. Da Gurubashi and da Darkspear will soon embrace dat trust today wit dis joining. Because, if we cannot trust even another troll, what is da point in even trusting at all?” There were claps from the elders and claps from the audience, Vol’jin stiffening in stance and Mar’li giving a soft laugh.
The masked priest had then stepped forward once the elder had hobbled back to his seat. He brought forth a brass pitcher, a warm, odorless oil presented to the pair. “Turn to ya partner, and anoint dem wit dis sacred oil.” Vol’jin was the first to move, dipping one of his fingers in the oil and rubbing it along two of his fingertips. The oil itself was slick and warm to the touch, but there was nothing adverse about it. He then turned to Mar’li and made several lines with that fingertip atop her forehead. Mar’li soon did the same, mimicking his motions.
After that, the oil was returned and there was the sound of a flame being lit. Twin sticks of incense were lit, and waved in the air, a bouquet of scents now filling the air around them. The masked priest returned to both Vol’jin and Mar’li, a tome in his hands. He opened it and flipped through the pages, finding a page and offering it to the two of them.
“Now, recite da verse on your left, together.” The two looked at one another before they began to speak in unison.
“Though we were born of separate, we will join now together. In da brightest of days and in da darkest of nights, we will never forget dis moment. A promise made to one another, and a promise dat will see us through until de end of our days. May da Loa bless us and offer our guidance as we continue now, two souls joined together.” They finished their reading and the priest closed the book.
It was at this point that both Vol’jin and Mar’li were given matching bracelts that were each placed around their left wrist. The bracelets were of simple make, but they were both inlaid with various jewels both along the length of it and resting within a divot in the center. Vol’jin’s center gem was a red, star-shaped ruby while Mar’li’s was a blue, circular sapphire.
“Da joining is complete!” One of the priests called out. “Let us celebrate dis matter with a feast unlike any other!” Cheers and yells of excitement filled the air, effectively killing the silence that was once between them. Vol’jin looked down at the ring on his finger and blinked twice.
It wasn’t particularly painful or excruciating to deal with. If anything, it was a simple ceremony that was straightforward and inoffensive. But the ring that was on his hand now was proof of it all; there was no turning back at this point.
Him and Mar’li were now officially joined; both as members of the Horde and as husband and wife. He gave a slow sigh while Mar’li walked over to him and cupped his cheek.
“Ay, we’re togetha now! Don’t be lookin so glum, okay? You did agree to dis, after all…”
“…Yeah.
The peace and quiet that he was rewarded now felt like the only he was going to get for quite some time.
After the ceremony had been completed, Vol’jin and Mar’li were escorted back to the places where they got ready. Vol’jin’s Atal-Mhuto also came back with him with it now being time to dress down. The ceremonial robes of the joining were now set aside and the feast attire of the vest and pant combo were now donned. The outfit was light and breathable and didn’t even need to be altered. It fit him perfectly.
The night was now upon them fully; no clouds hanging above to obscure the view of a dark, star-filled sky. It was comfortable warm and things seemed like it was going to be a good night. The sounds of the feast ongoing had begun, distant despite it being so close to him. There was music, laughter and a general good time being had by the Gurubashi and his guests.
And yet… he was nowhere near it. If he was, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be able to enjoy it properly. Thankfully, his disappearance from these festivities had either gone unnoticed or they were simply apathetic to it. Rather, he sat alone in the bed on the second floor of the guest house, lounging and sampling more of the jungle fruit.
It was nothing compared to the full feast they were having, but right now, it was his. Things were quiet and uneventful; a tranquil peace that helped him deal with everything that was going around within his mind. He was wed now- joined with another troll. Never once did he think that would ever happen to him, but here he was.
After indulging in another jungle fruit and a sip of refreshing spring water, there was a knock at the door. Vol’jin’s body stiffened and he gave a slow sigh. It was really only a matter of time before he got found out- he couldn’t hide in Zul’Gurub forever. He rose from his spot and approached the door, opening it to see that Mar’li was waiting on the other side. She had also swapped out her formal dress for something more casual as well.
It was still a dress, but it was form-fitting and contoured along the natural curves of her body. It was white evening gown held up with straps upon her shoulders that extended down to her ankles. Vol’jin could see that it was made from a blend of silk and mageweave.
Mar’li braced herself against the doorframe, folding her arms and looking at Vol’jin’s form. “Ay, not bad! You look pretty good.” Vol’jin did the exact same, though he at least wasn’t as up front about eyeing up her as she was with him.
“You look nice, too.” He remarked. “What are ya doin out here? Shouldn’t you be at da feast?” Mar’li laughed twice.
“Shouldn’t you?” Her counter was swift and imminent, and one that Vol’jin should have been expecting. “It wasn’t just me dat read from da tome and anointed with da oil. You did just as much as I did, don’t go trying to pin dis all on me!” He nodded and a silence fell over the pair. “Ay- da weather’s nice. Come wit me for a walk, ya?” Vol’jin gave a shrug- it wasn’t like he was doing anything else out here right now.
“Where we goin?” He remarked, walking over to where Mar’li was. “Dis ain’t your way of getting me to dat party, right?” Mar’li shook her head.
“No, no! I was tinking dat da two of us can go somewhere a little more… private, yeah? Let dem have dere celebrations and feasting.” Vol’jin gave a nod and the two began to set out. However, they didn’t get far before Mar’li had taken one of her companion’s arms for her own. There was a shocked gasp from Vol’jin while Mar’li gave a friendly laugh.
“Eh?”
“Ah, come on!” She teased. “Did ya really tink you wouldn’t have to try and look de part afta da joining? It ain’t dat simple! You and I are togetha now, now we’ve got to try and sell it!” Vol’jin said nothing, but he didn’t do anything to push her away or break their embrace. Realistically, she was right. If they wanted to keep this up, the façade couldn’t be dropped.
The pair of them walked together until they had come to a stop. They were in the outskirts of Zul’Gurub, south of The Coil and far from anything that was going on in the main area. The sounds of the feast could still be heard, but they were nowhere near it.
“Here.” Mar’li called out. “Why don’t we stop and relax for a little bit?” The area that they were in was somewhat similar to the raised area where the joining was, and it was just as well-kept and maintained as that one. There was also an altar- one that was the exact same in make and design from the one used in their joining.
The two took a seat on a bench, Mar’li pulling Vol’jin in close and putting her head on his shoulder. “It’s a nice night out, ya?” She asked and he nodded absentmindedly. His eyes were on both of their wrists, the matching bracelets still adorning their wrists.
“Ya.” He whispered back to her. “I forget dat sometimes, you can have nights like dis here in da jungle.”
“You’ve been out of da jungle for too long, Vol’jin.” Mar’li mused. “You spend more time out here, you’ll start ta see the natural beauty dat exists only in places like dis.” It seemed like her words were an invitation of sorts. A gentle wind blew past them and Mar’li placed a hand on Vol’jin’s thigh. The male troll looked at the female one with confusion while she wore a smile.
“Is someting de matter?” He asked.
“You know… dere’s one other part about da joining that they don’t tell you about until after the fact.” Vol’jin gave Mar’li a confused look. “We were bound togetha before da elders and da other trolls, but not yet in de eyes of da Loa.”
“I thought da whole point of doin da joining was to make sure dat we were.” Mar’li rose from her spot on the bench and brought one of her hands behind her back.
“Dere’s still one part dat we still have to do. And, from what I know of men, dis is da part dat you’re going to like da most.” There was the sound of some clasp being undone and before Vol’jin had recognized what was going on, Mar’li was completely nude. Vol’jin let out a shocked gasp at the sight before him, but didn’t look away from the sight.
She was beautiful. Her bust was average-sized and well-defined, her blue nipples starting to get hard. Scars and markings from previous battles and fights had adorned her all over, though they stopped around the point where Vol’jin spotted her blue pussy decorated by a delicately-trimmed strip of red pubic hair that matched her regular colour.
“M-Mar’li…” He gasped out while she laughed. She turned around and showed him her behind as well, jiggling it up and down to try and entice him in.
“Oh, come on now. I was expecting a far better reaction dan dat!” She taunted him, turning once more to show off her front. “You’re capable of more, right?” Vol’jin didn’t say anything right away, but there was a part of him that was starting to be enticed by what he was seeing. And, with a simple look down at his crotch, it was something that was rather impossible for him to hide.
He was hard. The pants he wore were doing an awful job of keeping that fact concealed, but judging by how Mar’li was eyeing that part of him up, it didn’t seem like it was bad timing of any kind. She then beckoned him over to her with a finger, trying to tantalize him by outlining the shape and sights of her body.
“I guess dere’s a part of you dat’s honest, eh?” Mar’li closed the distance between them and began to rub Vol’jin’s erection through the fabric of his pants. He gasped at the sudden touch, but did nothing to stop it. “Yeah, dat’s rite, now. Like dat, don’t ya?” Vol’jin’s breath began to hitch, her hand gentle along his length. “Mmm… you’re eager already.”
“I-I…” He remarked.
“Come on, take it out. Let me see what my new husband is workin wit.” Mar’li swiftly pulled down Vol’jin’s pants and gasped out. She soon came face-to-face with his cock; a hard, swollen member with plenty of girth and a vein running down the dorsal side of his shaft. “Oh! You certainly are packing. Let me…”
Mar’li began to stroke up and down along his length; her hand forming a tight grip along it. She started with some agonizingly slow strokes; a motion that was meant just to tease him and get him in the mood. Vol’jin tried his best to remain silent, but he found it impossible. Even just simple strokes like this of his member was enough to force a moan out from him.
“A-Ah… M’Mar’li…” The female troll was laughing to herself, picking her speed up while also lowering down to give his balls a squeeze. “I-I…”
“Use ya words, you know! Don’t you go telling me now dat the moment a pretty lady has got her hand on ya cock.” She giggled and removed her hand, only to lick it and resume her stroking. “Dis is quite the cock. Not bad. Now get naked so I’m not da only one.” Vol’jin stepped out of his pants and pulled his vest off; exposing his own muscular, scarred chest. “Does it feel good?”
“Yeah…” He sighed. “Keep at it…”
“Okay, but you don’t get ta just stand dere and do nothin, ya know!” It was at this point that the two of them had begin to slowly walk from their spot towards the altar. Mar’li laid down upon it, her legs bent and spread with her feet in the air. Her labia was now on full display for Vol’jin, slightly slick with wetness. “Here. Ya do me, I do you. It’s da only way to stay fair.”
Without saying a word, Vol’jin knew what to do. This wasn’t the first time that he had found himself in this position, so he knew what to do. After mimicking her by licking two of his fingers, Vol’jin moved to Mar’li’s entrance and began to finger her. She was wet and receptive to his touch, getting wetter as he went down to the base of his fingers. She moaned out in approval- gentle at first despite the sound of it being lost due to everyone else being preoccupied.
The two of them moved in tandem, keeping a similar pace to one another as they teased the other. Mar’li was getting wetter and her slit began to glisten with delight while a bead of clear precum began to form on his head. It didn’t last there long, as Mar’li took it in her fingers and used it as lube for her own strokes. Their mutual masturbation lasted for quite some time, speed building up as the lust began to form and grow.
It didn’t last long, though it wasn’t because someone had finished. Rather, it was because they wanted something more. Mar’Ii stopped her strokes and gestured for Vol’jin to stop as well, the troll looking at her with confusion in his eyes.
“Ey? What’s da matter?”
“I want more of ya. I want to taste dis cock dat I’ve been stroking.” She then got up off the altar and patted the stone structure with her hand. “Lie down. If I’m gonna suck you off, I’m gettin someting out of dis as well.” Mar’li then laid on top of Vol’jin, having positioned herself so that her mouth was next to his erection and her crotch was up by his mouth while still being mindful of his tusks. Her crotch was leaking much more than it was previously- a clear, slick liquid that showed how excited she was for this.
This time, Vol’jin was the first one to move. He dug into her eager, dripping cunt with an excitement not felt by him or seen by Mar’li tonight. His tongue dove in and began to lick all over, tasting her and teasing her labia with his lips and tongue. A shocked gasp escaped from Mar’li’s lips, but that didn’t stop her.
“Dat’s da way! A-And here I was, tinking dat you were l-life…!” She didn’t get to finish her sentence; her words lost in a moan that Vol’jin had brought upon her with his motions. She wasn’t about to be outdone by him, especially since he had been hesitating all day up until now! With a hand wrapped around his shaft, she began to lick and suck all along his shaft, head and balls. She kissed the pair of heavy balls before sucking the tip, stroking him as quick as she could while licking and teasing the ridge of his head.
His body stiffened out from under her, but he didn’t stop his work. No, if anything, this shared bliss between them only seemed to inspire them both. Vol’jin became more aggressive and demanding with his tongue, finding her small, blue clitoris and teasing it gently with his tongue. The tremors of pleasure that came from that caused Mar’li to momentarily stop and look back at him. That sneaky…
Mar’li responded to such a gesture from him by taking more of shaft between her lips. She claimed each and every inch until her nose was directly pressed against his crotch and she held it there. His head touched the back of her throat, and she didn’t gag at all from such a deep insertion. She pulled away, letting the cock glisten with her saliva in the moonlight before resuming her work. Muffled moans filled the air, both of them taking in the feeling of being so close with one another.
Despite his rough and tough exterior, he was a gentle lover. He was mindful of her and inviting- a part of her feeling safer than ever so close with him. His muscles were strong and showed off that strength, but they weren’t intimidating. Her blowjob had slowed and a part of her began to drink more of his body in. She continued to still suck and slurp- the sounds of her sloppy blowjob lingering in the air, but she was now… distracted by his body and the pleasure he was giving to her.
Vol’jin soon stopped his work and playfully spanked her ass. “Everyting alright?” Mar’li turned to look back at him and winked.
“I tink it’s funny that you’ve been so quiet and reserved all dis time until the moment your cock is out.” The two of them shared a laugh before Mar’li clapped twice. “Right, dat’s enough of da foreplay. Ya better be ready ta go, because I’m not waitin anymore!” Vol’jin moved to get up, but soon found that there was a hand pinning him atop the altar, preventing him from getting up. He looked at her with intrigue in his eyes before she had adjusted her position, now straddling his hips with being so dangerously close to impaling herself on his cock.
Looking at him now… his frame was something else. The longer she stared at it, the more and more she was actually growing attracted to him. He wasn’t awful-looking before, but having him in such a sensual moment like this… she took great pride in it. Knowing now that he was hers was starting to fill her with a certain kind of joy.
She wasn’t the only one having this revelation, though. Vol’jin was also feeling the exact same way- his eyes were drawn to her body and getting lost in her form. Her beautiful breasts and her tight, lithe form resting upon him… she was beautiful. Why was he only recognizing this now?
Regardless, their union was soon joined together when Mar’li moved her hips up and did exactly that. They were joined together for the second time today, her pussy walls being spread by Vol’jin’s thick, hard member. Mar’li gasped and threw her head back, instantly leaning forward and grabbing onto his shoulders. Vol’jin also let his moans of pleasure be known, the two-person chorus once again lost to the sounds of the celebration that was still ongoing.
This meant they wouldn’t be interrupted. This meant that they would be able to indulge in each other for as long as they wanted. After the initial shock and pleasure of being filled by Vol’jin had left, she began to move. It started slow; gentle rocks in his lap while she still had gripped tightly on his shoulders and refused to let him go. It had been a while for both of them, but all that meant was that the pleasure could have more time to build and fill their bodies.
“Oh, yeah…” Mar’li whispered, arching her back. Oh, right, dat’s the good stuff…” Vol’jin couldn’t stop himself from chuckling, but he laid prone on the altar and with his hands at his sides. Mar’li began to bounce up in his lap, riding him slowly and getting used to the feeling of his fullness inside of her. “Oh, fuck…”
“Been a while?” Vol’jin teasingly remarked only to get a playful slap across his face.
“Oh, you don’t get to talk like dat now all of a sudden! Tinkin you can start teasing me now…”
“Seems only fair ta me.” There was a sarcastic laugh that came from Mar’li, but it was lost when she began to moan. Fortunately, Vol’jin wasn’t that far behind. “U-ugh… fuck.” His voice was a low, guttural growl of strictly primal perversion; indulging in the feeling of her wet tightness snug against his cock. Her grip upon his shoulders had lightened, though now she trailing down his arms and feeling the muscle he had. With him gripping onto her and the tight, tautness of his biceps… he was strong. Protective…
“Ey.” He called out to snap her out of her dreaming. “Ya mind if I have some fun?” Mar’li looked at him with confusion before his hands trailed up along her bare back before situating themselves directly on her breasts. She gave a shocked and sudden gasp as his rough hands began to grope and touch her tits. Her blue nipples were extra-sensitive now, and Vol’jin’s constant teasing and groping of them made it even more intense.
“A-Ah!” She shrieked out. “Oh… so dat’s wat you mean by ‘havin some fun’, I see. Well, two can play at dat game!” Mar’li’s hands moved to Vol’jin’s chest and began to tease his own nipples at the same speed and intensity that he was doing to her. She gave a laugh at his own moans. There was a sudden increase in her bounces, the altar they were atop staying firm and strong to make sure they didn’t end up on the floor or having desecrated an ancient point of prayer for the Gurubashi.
Partially because of this, that meant that Vol’jin was careful of his movements. He couldn’t thrust upward into Mar’li without risking anything, even if the pace of her movements was sufficient. The two of them had stopped playing with the other so that they could instead run through each other’s hair. Things were rather sensual and intimate right now in this embrace they held, and it was compounded by the warm air and the feeling of closeness they had.
Mar’li’s bounces and movements in his lap had begun to slow down, which caused Vol’jin to pause. “You alright?” He asked.
“It feels good…” She spoke. “But I tink it’d be better if I was in your place.” She dismounted Vol’jin and offered him a hand. He got up off the altar and Mar’li laid along the length of it. Her feet hung off the edge of it while she gestured for him to take her once more. She was dripping wet and had coated Vol’jin’s cock in a thick layer of her juices. He stood at the edge of the altar, now completely in control of the embrace. Her hands gripped the other edge of it and she spread her legs for him.
Vol’jin slapped his cock against her lips several times before he inserted it back in. With him in control now, it was a slow process only to start. His hands grabbed both of her ankles and spread them apart, holding tightly onto her while leaning forward and kissing her. His thrusts were rough but his kiss was gentle, locking Mar’li in place while her hands were above her head and gripping to the edge of the altar.
“Vol’jin…” She moaned out in-between kisses. “Oh, Vol’jin!” He put a pause on the kiss so he could properly stare at her like this. With her body now on full display; with nothing to hide it and with only him being able to see it despite their position, it was easy to tell she was beautiful. She was a warrior and wore the scars and marks of combat, but all that meant was that she was perfect. He trailed kisses up and down her body, worshipping it and her beauty.
“I guess I get dis to look forward to from now on, right?” He asked amidst his thrusts. Her wetness was echoing out, filling the air with each tight thrust Vol’jin made into her. His heart was beating louder and faster- the blood within him pumping from taking Mar’li like this. She nodded and smiled.
“Dat makes two of us! I don’t tink I’ll mind getting filled by dis cock whenever I want!” They resumed their kiss while Vol’jin grabbed her by the hips, using them to anchor his intense thrusts. The altar was strong and stoic- motionless despite their intense embrace here. Mar’li’s legs had wrapped around Vol’jin’s waist, preventing him from pulling out fully. They were lost to each other and lost in the pleasure- Vol’jin pulling out so he could rub the head of his cock against her clit.
“Ah!” She gasped. “W-What are you d-doing! A-Ah… if you keep dat up…!”
“What? You’ll cum?” He spoke like he was trying to tease her despite thrusting back into her. “Can’t be havin dat now, can we?” Mar’li’s eyes flashed with a fire within them. In a show of her strength, Mar’li grabbed a hold of him and locked both her legs and arms around him. Now held completely by him, she was able to guide him back to the altar with her atop of him once more while they held each other.
Their eyes were locked upon each other, Mar’li in his lap and kissing all over his neck.
“Aye…” She whispered. “Dis has been fun an all, but it’s time. Release and pour ya seed directly inside of me.” Vol’jin nodded while Mar’li bounced. “Ya don’t have to hold back any more. I’m close too… we can cum togetha!”
Their embrace lasted for several more moments. It was the gentle cooldown to signal the end of their embrace- much like what would come to be after a vigorous training session. In a way, it wasn’t an incorrect comparison…
Regardless, both of them would soon find that their endurances were waning and their release was imminent. Mar’li’s pussy was tightening up while Vol’jin’s cock was starting to throb while his balls began to tighten. Their orgasms were imminent, and it only took Vol’jin teasing her clit with a single fingertip to bring it to a proper finale amongst them.
It was a loud and thunderous climax, one that would ring out all throughout Zul’Gurub if it wasn’t for the feast and celebrations they were not a part of. Despite that, their cries of joy still filled the air as Vol’jin fired directly into Mar’li. Hot, thick ropes of white cum flooded Mar’li while her walls tightened around Vol’jin. The pair of them gasped and held each other tighter than before- clinging to each other like they would be swept out to sea if that grip ever loosened. Within seconds of his orgasm, his seed began to leak out from Mar’li; the overflow falling to the floor in drops. They stayed in this position until their orgasms ended, their eyes cracking open to confirm that the other was still with them.
“Wow…” He remarked, taking several moments to catch his breath. “Dat… dat was incredible.” Mar’li nodded and kissed his cheek, untangling herself from the embrace. As she stood, the cum began to dribble down her thighs. A bead of it was still on Vol’jin’s tip, but it was quickly taken by Mar’li. She then moved to the altar and, after taking more of his seed, ran it along the altar. The white cum began to glow a vibrant green energy and the altar let out a gentle hum before going dormant once more.
“What…?”
“It’s confirmation to da Loa.” She remarked. “After a joining, da seed of da man after he had finished in his woman is offered up so dat not only da Loa know of our consummation, but also so dat dey bless da couple.” She offered more of the overflowing seed by doing the exact same thing; spreading it along the stone with her fingers and watching it glow green as well.
“I suppose we’ll be needin da Loa’s blessings after tonight.” He mused before Mar’li punched him in the shoulder. “Hey!”
“Give yaself some credit!” She sighed as she laid upon the altar once more like she had before. “You ain’t hopeless or stupid, you’ll be fine. You’ve led da Darkspear for as long as you have, don’t worry about it!” Vol’jin gave a nod while she patted the altar as well. “Now, let’s have a nap before we go for anotha round.” Vol’jin laid out on the altar, resting next to Mar’li. She placed her head on his left shoulder and placed one of her hands over his heart. His heartbeat was calm and back to normal.
Even though they were both naked and even though the altar wasn’t the most comfortable thing to sleep on, the two of them decided that it would be fine enough if someone had spotted them. It was a celebration of joining, they were supposed to consummate!
“Hey.” Mar’li spoke as she snuggled up closer. “I’m happy dat you finally agreed ta do dis.”
“Finally?” Vol’jin sarcastically remarked.
“Ya know what I mean! You were so apathetic and indifferent, I was starting ta think ya weren’t going to go through wit it.” Vol’jin shook his head no and wrapped an arm around Mar’li’s waist. They had a beautiful sky full of stars to look at while they were still awake. There were the gentle sounds of insects nearby and a gentle breeze blew to cool them down of the sweat that covered them.
Tomorrow, when they woke up, they would figure out a plan to get the Gurubashi to join the Horde proper. Whether that would be with them moving to Orgrimmar or the Echo Isles, that would be figured out in due time. But when they woke up again tonight… they could ask for the Loa’s protection and guidance again.
After all, it wasn’t like the Loa’s (or Mar’li) would mind…