The Inferno (RP Transcript)

[Tufak]

The Firelands raged around the hunters, burning mountains of stone, the Furnace at their backs as they kept their steady watch for the beast that they both awaited. It had been said to patrol here, the great feline of stone, and Tahlian had even seen it a few times, but never so fast that he could attempt to touch it, to bring it home. Nearby a scorpid clacked and clattered, walking an endless series of circles near the edge of the flames as it searched for scraps of food left by various people that passed by.

Tiredly, one corner of Tahlian's mouth quirked up, and he tossed the scorpid a bit of jerky with a flick of his wrist. "Hello, Dante," he said as he watched the little animal snatch up the offering.

"Wha'da?" the troll asked curiously, perking a heavily pierced ear toward the other hunter as he watched the small, darkly shaded scorpid. He had seen some of the passers by that joined them at times in their long vigil take pot shots at the beast, though he had never seen the point of doing so himself. It was a small, innocuous creature that scavenged at best, rather than hunting on it's own.

"Dante. He...she...it...has sort of been my buddy up here when I was otherwise alone. He's damn tenacious and brave, I'll give him that for sure."

"Beehn buhg." the troll responded, shrugging one shoulder before looking out over the expanse of crumbling stone once more. "J'ya gohn tehk hohme?"

The young Farstrider's face fell at the question. "I sort of wish I could, really...but I know I can't. He'd probably see Ricky's collection of invertebrates as an all-you-can-eat buffet. That...and I really don't know how to properly care for a scorpid."

"Kaeyis hahve ohne. T'ink gihve meaht dat gohn bahd." Daashi folded strong arms over his chest, eyes moving to the scorpid once more. "Dahnteh?"

"It...it's a name some friends of mine came up with. We had to call him something, and it sort of fits, since he's determined to live at the gates of Hell there," the young elf chuckled, gesturing at the wall of fire that guarded the Furnace just over his shoulder.

Another grunt was given, the recalitrant Farstrider grinding his sharply filed teeth together as he eyed the creature that had returned again to endlessly circling for scraps. "No much t'ing huhn heah."

"There's really not. Hunters take pot-shots at him, he's chased all over...but by damn, that's his home, and he's determined to make a living there. Like I said - tenacious."

Daashi glanced toward the black and red scorpid, speckled with lighter spots where ash had landed on it's carapace and scarred it, working to survive in an inhospitable land. He rubbed at his jaw, feeling the stubble there from the days that he had spent on the stone with the other Farstrider, along with their insect companion.

"I just wish there was something more I could do for the little fellow. I sort of feel like a bad Farstrider...helpless to protect him." Tahlian glanced up at the other elf, one eyebrow rising. "Got any suggestions, maybe?"

"Fihn puhsohn tehk hohme dat no beehn Tah'jahn."

"I suppose that's the only option, really. Certainly can't got all soft like Mylune and set up a "Stop Shooting Dante, Damn It" organization.

The troll snorted at the mention of the dryad, wrinkling his nose with distaste. "Keehp wahn eaht da crittah she wahn sehve."

"I just wish she hadn't been quite so adamant about the little bunnies and squirrels. Small animals are usually pretty good at surviving without our help. Our meddling may have been more stressful to them than the fires were."

Another glance was given toward Dante, the troll reaching into his satchel to draw a thick hunk of meat, using his knife to slice away a strip and toss it toward the scorpid, then another, nearer, when the creature had taken the first, slowly guiding it toward him.

Tahlian arched an eyebrow again, but went completely still, so as not to interrupt the hunter or startle the scorpid.

Daashi's face grew sterner, concentrating as he finally held a strip of meat in his hand, waiting for the half-starved beast to come near enough to take it directly. A claw closed around his wrist, but he remained unflinching, watching the scorpid as he slid it's mandibles against his palm, setting to eating hungrily.

Tahlian watched the other's technique with fascination. He very rarely saw other hunters building the bond with their pets, and the subtle differences between his own style and Daashi's certainly made the process worth the watch.

Another strip of meat was slid into his hand, then the troll lay what remained of the heavily trimmed hunk on his knee, holding the free hand above the scorpid's head, where it would be certain to see as it continued to eat. Slowly, steadily, he brought his palm down until it lay atop Dante's carapace, the scorpid's stinger coming forward to barely graze his skin, a warning, but not breaking his skin.

"Easy, Dante," Tahlian murmured. "Daashi doesn't want to hurt you...if he did, you'd probably be dead by now."

The redhead remained silent, his eyes never leaving the scorpid as it ate, gliding his palm against the others carapace in a steady stroke, ignoring the threatening stinger as though it wasn't there. Dante finished the meat that was in his hand, raising it's claws in request for more, releasing his wrist and pulling the stinger back and away. A smile brushed his stern face, satisfied and he pointed, murmuring in Zandalar as he rose, then dropped the entire remaining hunk of meat before Dante.

Tahlian broke into his own smile as he watched the hunter and the scorpid. "Still going to keep the name?" he asked.

"Yah...t'ink Dahnteh wuhk."

[Acherontia]

This made me smile Very cool, well-written and a good read!

[Tufak]

Thanks. It's actually a direct transcript of when Tahlian and Daashi were waiting for Skarr to spawn (Daashi was going to Silence Shot for Tahl, since Tahl is BM) and Daashi was off-chance waiting for Karkin.

[Silivren]

This is really good! Someone should make sure Kalli see's it

[Kyria]

I'd just like to say that it moves me so much that Kalli and I created all this history for a silly little out-of-the-way scorpid and people liked it and the name I picked for him so much that they're actually taming him for that reason... even though some of them don't even like scorpids! I love the story, and I'm thrilled Dante has found another good home. :')

[Tufak]

Blame Tahlian. As a player, I'm not honestly a fan of scorpids, but he talked Daashi (my Surv/Marks hunter) into taming him...oh, and 'he' turned out to be a 'she' for us.

Daashi was miffed to come home and discover that his mate's scorpid Malice (red Maddex) was very, very receptive. He's already looking for homes for the inevitable eggs.

[Kaelys]

Malice <3s Dante~