WoW Petopia Community

Goblin towns are renown for being lively places. Each corner there is something going on, bartering and bantering fill the air everywhere you are. Gadgetzan is certainly no exception to this, especially being somewhat of an oasis in the deserts of Tanaris. You can imagine the kind of spectacle one would have to see, then, in order to attract the attention one such busy people in a town like this...

"I am not using that thing, and that's final!" Salaina huffed, crossing her arms tightly. "I cannot believe you drug me all the way down here to get me--"

""Sweetheart, it's completely safe! I have used one dozen's of times in my life and never had a problem." But Rendir's reasoning did not affect Salaina's resolve.

"Here... ask Gobbs, he will tell you it's risk free." Rendir pointed to his long time friend who was caught in the middle of the spat.

"Uh, well I..." Gobbz stammered, caught off guard at being put on the spot. "According to the manual, I can't say completely safe..."

Rendir covered his face with his hand. "Gobbz, why did..." Rendir sighed.

"Mostly risk free!" Gobbz insisted, lifting the transporter as high as his short goblin arms would let him.

"Listen," Salaina started again, "I have used these goblin machines twice in my life and both times I ended up spending the rest of the day as a farm animal. I'm sorry, I just won't do it. We can go the long way."

Rendir paused for a moment. "I'm sorry too.." he walked over and hugged Salaina.

"Thanks, Ren." She replied, but felt Rendir's hand moving on her back as he hugged her. "Wait.. sorry about what? Ren, what are you--"

"Gobbz, now! Hurry!" Rendir yelled.

"Rendir, don't you dare." Salaina struggled to break the embrace, but it was to late. The transporter began to whirr and spout. The space around the three became fuzzier and brighter each second. In a few moments, nothing was left of them but a puff a smoke, and the disappointed crowd their dispute had gathered.

In a matter of moment, the world came back into view for Salaina. A few more moments to adjust to their new surroundings. As soon as she was coherent, she smacked Rendir hard on the chest.

"That's the last time I ever trust you!" she yelled as she stepped away, still wobbly from the transport.

"I'm sorry, Salaina, but Winterspring is days of travel any other way. I just want to show you where I grew up."

Salaina's eyes were still narrow at Rendir's audacity, but she began to soften up as she took in the beauty of the snowy valley. The transport had landed them just outside Everlook.

"I'll be seein ya Ren! Got some business to do with Zap in the town." Gobbz had come along with a backpack full of trinkets and gizmos of his own.

"No worries Gob, thanks for the port." Rendir waved his friend off and came up beside Salaina who had wandered a bit.

"I thought you mentioned your father was an engineer. I.. guess I thought you would be used to transporting." Rendir reasoned with her. Salaina didn't respond, her attitude as cold as the air around them. "Ok, well we can borrow some of the stabled horses, it's a short ride. Will you please just come see it? I want you to meet someone."

"Get a horse. I'll ride, you can walk." she replied without turning. Rendir smiled and ran over to the nearby stables. A few silver exchange and he brought the stallion over to Salaina. He attempted to help her up.

"I don't need your help. Just show me where were going." She said sharply.

"You really don't know how to let things go, do you?" Salaina peered down at Ren, eyes as narrow and face as tight as she could.

"You know..." Rendir laughed a little. "That didn't work on me when we met, and it still doesn't work on me now." Salaina knew he was right, and it irritated her to no end. He seemed immune to all the defenses she had built over the years.

The couple began walking north along the road, Rendir pointing out the various places he knew while growing up. Salaina had been silent the entire trip, but curiosity got the best of her.

"I thought you were raised in Silvermoon. How'd you end up here?"

"My mother, mainly. My father was a ranger in Silvermoon for most of his life. Once he retired, he and my mother decided to move. She had spent some time working here in her youth, mainly for the owls and frostsabers up here. They were nearly wiped out by some of the dragons that used to frequent these hills. She fell in love with it, so when I was young, maybe 5 or 6, we moved. My brother stayed in Silvermoon as a ranger. By that age, I had already proven to have a stronger bond with beasts than bows, so my father gave up on me training to ever become a ranger myself. Made the decision to leave Silvermoon easier I suppose."

"Ohh, look at that." Salaina interrupted as she pointed to some of the snowy white owls fluttering from tree to tree. "Theyre gorgeous. Did you ever have any of those growing up?"

"Yeah, they're everywhere up here. We have a lot of poachers, but we manage to keep their numbers up." Rendir navigated the horse onto a lesser defined path as they continued walking.

"When we arrived here, my mother became more and more active in the Everlook Wildlife Initiative, to help the frostsabers regain their numbers. I spent a great deal of time in these hills and forests. I made many friends among the people, and beasts to."

Listening to Rendir tell of his past, Salaina caught herself looking down at him mesmerized by the tale. A complex mix of emotions wafted over her. Anger and jealousy for him having such an easy life, tempered with affection as she found this goofy elf growing closer to her heart.

"I see the shelter now! It's just ahead." Salaina gasped as they walked up on one of the shelters. Animals were everywhere, owls flying over head, bears as white as the snow sleeping under trees, and Frostsabers walking around.

"Those..." she pointed to the cats, "...those are frostsabers? I have never seen such an animal." Rendir smiled as they walked around the camp surrounding the shelter. "This is how I grew up." He waved and greeted various workers as they walked past.

Soon, they left the camp behind them and had taken an even more obscure path through the forest.

"Where are you taking me now?" Salaina asked, dodging low hanging snow covered limbs.

"My home, of course."

"Home.." Salaina said lowly, her voice trailing. She closed her eyes and quickly composed herself before she let herself get carried away in grief.

A small clearing came up ahead, accented by a beautiful albeit modest house. Rendir let out a sound, a whooping of sorts, that took Salaina by surprise.

"What are you tryin-" she was cut off as a couple of frostsabers came running out from around the building, one a striking lavender and the other a light blue, a small cub also running beside them.

"Oh how I've missed you guys!" He said as ran up to greet the playful cats. Salaina smiled as she gingerly got off the horse, she did not know how the animals would respond to her, especially a cub among them. The blue stripped saber, apparently the father, watched Salaina intently.



...cont below...

Rendir waved Salaina over. She tied the horse to a nearby tree, and slowly walked over, noticing the father cat watched her every step.

"You can pet them, it's OK." he said as he ruffled the fur on the blue one to break his stare. "This protective guy is Shear. He belonged to my father before he died." Rendir reached and nuzzled the lavender cat. "And this beautiful lady is Alayos, named after my mother's best friend who was killed up here."

Salaina used a small piece of string from her coat to play with the cub. "What's this little fellas name?"

"Doesn't have a name yet. I figure he will end back up in the wild once raised." Rendir stood up. "But these belonged to my family, I want you to meet my friend." Rendir whooped again.

"Where could she be?" He looked around at the trees. Salaina stood up beside him. "What are we looking for?"

"Green." Rendir said calmly. "Green? You have a green cat?" The notion puzzled Salaina.

"No, not a green... her eyes are as green as mine are, but her coat is as white as the snow. The only way you will be able to see her--" Suddenly from behind Ren pounced the cat he was talking about. They both stumbled to the snow, and Ren began playing with the cat. Salaina marveled at his ease with such beasts.

"And this sneaky little girl is Emilee." Rendir tried to stand up, only to be pounced a second time by the lively cat.

"I like her." Salaina chuckled, "She keeps you in your place."



Ren finally got to his knees, as he stroking the flawless white cat.

"I found her near death from a Shardtooth mauling. Her kind, the solid whites, were the rarest of the frostsabers, but now they flourish again."

Salaina knelt down and petted the cat. "I see now what you mean by her eyes. They are incredible."

"Green as the purest emerald." Rendir replied. A few moments went by as Salaina watched the animals, not saying anything.

"I need to be getting home, Ren." Salaina said, finally breaking the silence.

Rendir looked down to the ground. "Only real way out of here is the transporters. That, or several days journey through the mountains and that corrupted Felwood valley. I don't want you going through there alone." Salaina sighed.

"If I get turned into another pig..." she said as she hopped on the freed horse.

"You won't, I promise. Gobbz is excellent with these." Rendir turned around and knelt down, pulling the cats closer again. "Head inside guys, I will be back shortly." And patted the cats as they trotted back to the house.

"Quite a family you got." Salaina remarked as they headed back to Everlook.

"Yeah... not the kind of family I hope to have one day." Salaina sat very still at Rendir's confession. The hint was obvious, but she was petrified at the notion of being that close to anyone, let alone having a family.

"So how did you parent's die?" She asked, quickly changing the subject.

"My father was killed during a combat. He was called in by some Silvermoon ambassadors, said they needed his expertise and experience for a special mission they were doing.."

"Who were they fighting?" Salaina asked.

"A demon portal had been opened by some traitors in Eversong. A large cult of elf warlocks. Demons apparently were pouring into the land, many of which were winged and they needed rangers. He was ported in, and killed the same day."

"I am sorry to hear that, Ren. It's terrible."

"Thanks, I am at peace with it now..." He looked up at her and smiled, then looked back ahead. "I haven't been back to Silvermoon since the funeral though."

"What about your mother?" Salaina continued to ask.

"My mother lived a long life. She spent the rest of her years here, helping the various camps out. It was just her time to go."

"Theres Everlook," Ren pointed out, "Just in time to... going to be dark soon."

Rendir led the horse back to the stable, helped Salaina off, and walked her into the town. He stopped one of the bruiser that was patrolling.

"Do you know where Zap's shop is?" He asked.

"What, you can't read bub? You blind er somethin'?" The bruiser point behind Rendir. "Yah already passed it."

"Oh," Ren exclaimed, "Sorry I asked."

"You gettin short wit me, pal?" the bruiser threatened. Rendir just shook his head and raised his hands innocently. He and Salaina turned to walk toward the shop.

"I don't understand some goblins." he said, Salaina laughing at him.

"That'll never happen to me." She replied as they walked into Zap's shop, "I'll stare one down anyday."

"Yeah, we'll see about that. Bruisers here aren't half as mean as other towns. I need to take you Booty Bay sometime, you'll like the bruiser's there. Mean and tough and serious all the time, right up your alley." Salaina shot Rendir a sarcastic looked at the notion.

"So Zap..." Rendir said, turning his attention to the goblin, "Gobbz gone home?"

"Yeah, tries to sell me worthless gnome trinkets and then runs off." Zap grunted as he hammered a device he had.

Rendir laughed at the story. "Yeah, sounds like Gobbz, trying to cut a deal anyway he can. Is the transporter good for another trip?"

"Yeah yeah, just hurry it up, I'm about to close."

Rendir and Salaina walked over to the device.

"Ready?" Rendir asked.

"As much as I will ever be." Rendir turned a knob, pressed a few buttons, but nothing happened.

"Zap... I think it's broken, nothing is--" Suddenly the device sprung to life.

"No!" Zap yelled. "Not that one, that one..." his voice trailed off as the couple vanished in a puff of smoke. "...goes to Outland."

The air jolted around Salaina and Rendir, their vision fuzzy from the port. Rendir stepped off the platform they appeared on. "Salaina?" He turned to see her wiping her eyes.

"Ren..." she said, finally looking around. "Where are we?"

Rendir looks around at the small outpost they ported near. He stopped a gnome that was walking by. "Excuse me... exactly where are we?"

"Oh my, you stranger's lost? This is Toshley's station. You better keep your distance, Toshley doesn't take to well to you elves."

Salaina interjected. "Wait a minute, are we on Azeroth?"

"Azeroth, haha goodness no! This is Draenor!" the little gnome replied.

Salaina growled loudly in disgust, her arms shooting straight by her sides as she stormed toward the station. "I KNEW I couldn't trust you!"

"Salaina wait, I didn't know-" Rendir tried to plead. Salaina spun around, "I don't want to hear it, I am going to get us home and not another word from you!" She exclaimed and continued walking toward the station, huffing with every step. The little gnome backed away, not sure what he had stumbled upon.

Rendir sighed. "Hey! At least you're not a pig!"

"Hey! At least you're not a pig!"

I don't think I stopped laughing for a good five minutes. I absolutely LOVED this story, I think it's my favorite yet. I loved reading about Ren; I can't get over how easily he fits in with Winterspring. I love that you incorporated the screenshots - they are so beautiful, especially Ren playing with his cat! They all look SO real. I wish I had your kind of talent, this was so amazing!!! Are you going to write more about Ren and Salaina in Outland?

I may. I actually had it in my head that Salaina got them a gnomish transport back to Azeroth, and Ren would be in the dog house for a few days.

The next story, though, will be about Aylee. She wants daddy to get her a corehound, particularly one she found while she was in Azuremyst Isle.

9 more levels until Ren is 69 and can finally tame the exotics. I will probably write it then.

Awww! I can't wait to read about Aylee! And I can't believe how fast Ren is leveling

I loved it! Wonderfully written