Impatience

Ideale sat at the end of the dock at Moa'ki Harbor, idly scratching Cinnamon behind his ears as he purred. So much had happened in the war against the Scourge the past few months, but a broken arm had taken her out of commission for weeks just days after she arrived in Northrend. Now she was stuck cleaning up little messes while others spent their time on the front lines.

"What's wrong, hunter?" One of the Kalu'ak guards took a seat next to her.

"I don't feel particularly useful. I came here to fight the Scourge, but it seems like all I've done is break mammoth traps, retrieve crab traps, play matchmaker to sea cows, pick flowers. Not that those things aren't important," she said hastily, "except maybe the flower thing, but they aren't what I came here to do."

"You came to cover yourself with glory? Be a hero?" he asked with a slight smile. Or she thought it was a smile, anyway. Hard to tell with those tusks.

"No. But ..."

"Ah. Revenge." Ideale nodded, then shrugged. "Vengeance isn't a path one takes lightly, shaloshka."

"I know," she said. "But it's the path I chose, and this waiting is driving me mad."

"If that's really what you seek, then I suggest you ask the goblin for passage to Venomspite. But there's value in what you are doing here as well. The Kalu'ak are grateful for all of the help the Horde has given us."

Ideale stood, her cat following suit. "You're welcome." She hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile. "And thank you for the shelter for these past few days, and the advice." Moments later, she was flying over the guard, waving as she left the village.

Finally, she would get to fight the Scourge. Finally, she would get to do what she came here to do. And maybe she'd find some sign of her family. Ideale pushed the last thought away; it wouldn't do to get her hopes up.

Below, the guard shook his head. "That one's going to get herself into trouble. What's wrong with trapping crabs?"