A one-shot prequel to The Hunter's Companions, set before the first chapter, but after The Hunter's Companion: Kalendras. I decided to put this up before I post the final chapter of The Hunter's Companions. I hope you enjoy it!
~*~
Belcarm gritted his teeth as he swung his sword. Livinia's laughter was ringing just as loudly as the sounds of weapons on armor. Even though he normally loved the sound, this time it was just plain irritating.
Because of the person making her laugh.
Sure, he was a hunter like her, and his pet was a Springpaw, just like hers. But really, there was nothing special about Arturius. Belcarm was confident that he was much better looking than the male blood elf hunter. Also, Livinia had only known Arturius for a day.
Belcarm spared a glance over his shoulder and saw the two standing impractically close as they fired arrow after arrow into the melee. Just as he was about to turn back to the fight he was rewarded with a painful blow to his chest that made the wind rush out of his lungs. The goblin rogue on the other side of the creature saw that Belcarm was wounded and skipped around in front of him to take the creature's attention for a moment, with Borris's help, while Belcarm recovered. It didn't take long though, because a moment later he felt the familiar tingle of healing magic, this time from the Forsaken Priestess Athumat, and he felt much better.
"Bel!" Livinia cried from behind him, turning his name into a reprimand. Belcarm growled and hacked into his enemy mercilessly. He knew what he was doing! He didn't need Livinia to watch out for him and he certainly didn't need her commentary. A moment later the laughter returned just as a spray of Livinia's arrows rained down on their final enemy, missing Belcarm by a hairsbreadth, and the creature fell to the ground and took its dying breath.
As soon as he was sure it was dead Belcarm turned again to see Arturius elbow Livinia and her slap his upper arm playfully with a large smile on her face. Belcarm immediately began to grind his teeth when he saw their comfortable interaction. He stalked over to them as he sheathed his weapon.
"It looks as if Livinia did a lot more damage than you did, Arturius," Belcarm said snidely, hoping that the statement was enough to stop Livinia's flirting. Belcarm knew that Livinia liked her men to be strong and competent in battle.
"I told you so!" Livinia cried and then both of them burst into a fit of laughter. Belcarm's upper lip curled into a disgusted sneer and he made his way back over to where Athumat and Nook the goblin rogue were looting the corpses.
"They seem to be getting along well," Athumat observed when Belcarm approached her, nodding towards the two hunters.
"Do they?" Belcarm snapped angrily "I handn't noticed." Athumat looked slightly taken aback, but she didn't say anything more. Belcarm was too furious to care about how rude he was being.
Belcarm had been travelling with Livinia for years, nursing a crush on her the entire time. In the time that they had been together Livinia had, apparently, never even noticed his affection. Every time he tried to suggest that they take things further, or make a move on her, she always managed to get distracted or laugh his advances off as a joke. Throughout the last year that they had been travelling together she had also taken several men to her bed, something which made his blood boil. But, try as he might, he just couldn't get her to notice him in that way.
When all of the loot was stripped from the corpses, he, Nook and Athumat began to divide it up while Livinia and Arturius retrieved and cleaned their arrows. The two Sprinpaws had already had their fill of their enemies meat and were now leaping about playfully, clearly enjoying the company of one of their own kind. Just like their owners were.
"Well," Arturius said as he and Livinia approached the rest of the group "That was one hell of a fight. What do you say we all make our way back to Orgrimmar for a drink?" He asked. Livinia grinned and nodded and the other two added in their consent. Belcarm really had no choice but to go along; he wanted to keep a close watch on the male hunter.
~*~
Two hours later everyone had enjoyed a warm meal and had downed a fair amount of ale. Belcarm normally didn't drink; he hated the loss of control and refinement that often accompanied inebriation. The conversation over dinner was good, but Belcarm's meal churned in his stomach at the sight of Livinia acting so comfortably with Arturius.
Both of the hunters had a little too much to drink and as they talked Livinia was leaning on Arcturius as though they had been friend for a lifetime. Or at least four years. Like Livinia and Belcarm had been. Normally it was Belcarm that Livinia would be leaning against, but this Hunter had taken his place. Belcarm rolled his eyes and downed the rest of his ale, then called out to the bar woman for something much stronger. He knew where this night was headed and he did not wish to spend it conscious.
"I am completely exhausted!" Livinia announced, a slight slur in her speech. Belcarm watched as she looked at Arcturius out of the corner of her eyes, he could tell by the calculative gaze of her green eyes that she was not as drunk as she appeared.
"Me too...I think I might turn in for the night," Arcturious said with a conspiratorial wink.
"Where are you staying?" Livinia asked. A steel fist clenched Belcarm's stomach.
"At the inn down the road," Arcturius replied.
"I'll walk you there." Livinia turned to him fully and gave him that cheeky half smile that usually made Belcarm melt. Arcturius downed the last of his ale in one gulp and got to his feet. The alcohol must have hit him on the way up, because when he stood, Arturius's eyes glazed over and he reached out for the table.
"You are too drunk Livinia, and we need to head off to Dalaran first thing in the morning," Belcarm growled, giving the male hunter a withering look.
"Belcarm!" Livinia's eyes widened with anger. "We don't need to report to Kiransis until the afternoon. I'll walk Arcturius home and I'll meet you back here tomorrow for lunch before we set out." Livinia's face was red with anger. She grabbed Arcturius by the hand and pulled him out of the tavern almost faster than his drunken legs could handle.
"You did a good job of fucking that up," Nook said with a laugh.
"What?" Belcarm snapped, pulled back to the conversation at the table.
"You,"Nook shrugged "If you wanted to take his place then you really screwed up your chances by doing that." The little Goblin downed the rest of his ale and got to his feet. Belcarm stared at him with his eyes wide open. If it was obvious enough for a goblin, who had only known them for a day and a half,why was it not obvious to Livinia?
"Are you off?" Athumat asked as the Goblin rose, or descended, to his feet.
"Yep." The goblin nodded. "I have a friend to be visiting. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Usual time and place." Athumat replied with a small nod. The Goblin said his goodbyes and left the Tavern, leaving Athumat and Belcarm behind. "Here, you need this." Athumat said, sliding his double shot of Karazhan bourbon across the table to him. Belcarm picked up bubbling orange liquid and tossed it back quickly. As it burned its way down his throat and through his body Belcarm felt his mind go pleasantly fuzzy.
"This stuff is good." Belcarm hummed in appreciation, leaning back into his chair and enjoying the way the world spun around him.
"Have you fucked her yet?" Athumat asked. The world jarred into place and Belcarm groaned. He wanted to tell the Forsaken woman to mind her own business, or to pretend he didn't know what she was talking about; but he was too drunk to muster the necessary thoughts.
"No," Belcarm grunted in response, the Forsaken nodded slowly.
"I think you've had enough to drink for the night," Athumat said softly , voice changing from curious to piteous. "You're already at the stage where you'll regret it in the morning." Belcarm shrugged indifferently and she laughed. "Where are you staying?"
"The Mix Toad Inn." Belcarm speech had become slightly slurred as the last drink settled into his system.
"I am staying with a friend just down the road from there. I'll walk with you."
Belcarm really had no reason to reject the offer. As it stood he was unsure if he would be able to locate the inn without stumbling into a gutter at that stage.
As they walked Belcarm's head became slightly less fuzzy and mood changed. Every time that he got drunk he became more thoughtful, and tonight that was something he certainly didn't need. He didn't know what he had to do to get Livinia's attention. She seemed to give it to others without hesitation, but him? It was more like they had become brother and sister, and that was something that he most certainly did not want. But try as he might, and he had tried hard, he just could not sway her. He had been dropping hints for years, literally, but she just didn't pick up on them. It was funny though, because with all of the men that she did go off with, she was the one to start the serious flirting. It made him think that perhaps she wasn't attracted to him. That thought made him grind his teeth.
"What has got you all angry?" Athumat's voice was feminine yet raspy, and even though she was Forsaken Belcarm was happy to tolerate her company. She was a good healer, and managed to help them fight as well as heal, so he could forgive the fact that she was just a little above an average undead creature.
"Nothing!" Belcarm snapped, and the Priest laughed. Thankfully, they had reached his Inn and he could say goodbye, go up to his room, and fall into the wonderfully black world of dreams. "Well this is me. It was good fighting with you and your group today... except for the Hunter, of course."
Athumat laughed. Belcarm inclined his head and turned and entered the front door of the Inn.
"What are you doing?" Belcarm asked as Athumat stepped over the threshold with him.
