It was well into the afternoon when Livinia and Kalendras scouted the land surrounding Dragonmaw Port. Kalendras had spent most of the day in flight form, making it easier for them to get around, and when they were fighting he had shifted into cat form. They had come across several scouts and patrols in their own scouting mission, but had no trouble dispatching of them. Livinia had always known that Kalendras was a powerful fighter, but seeing him fighting rather than healing had really shown her just how skilled he was. Between Borris, Kalendras and Livinia, their enemies hardly had time to see the attack coming before they were brought down.
They had found and counted two different encampments of Mor'ghors forces, and had discovered that there were at least six more dotted somewhere in the Highlands. They would have to check out Thundermar, Kirthaven, and Bloodgulch at the very least. It had taken them the better part of the day to achieve what they had, and Livinia knew that finding the other forces would take at least three more days. It didn't bother Livinia though, even if she wasn't able to talk to Kalendras she thoroughly enjoyed his presence.
The silence of their travel had given her plenty of time to think about the past week. However the more she thought about it the more confused she became. She was pleased that Kalendras had decided to join their guild, and even more pleased that they were going to be spending more time together. It had been years since they had spent a decent amount of time with each other, and it was very reassuring to see that it hadn't taken long to fall into old patterns. Their playful banter had returned in full force, as Livinia had discovered that morning when they made their way through Orgrimmar to the Twilight Highlands Portal. In addition to the banter, they worked just as well together now as they had when they were children. They didn't need to talk as they fought, they knew each other well enough to be able to coordinate their actions without discussion. So, even when Kal was in cat or bird form, they worked together well.
Livinia also had a similar ease of communication with Belcarm. They had been travelling with each other for long enough to know each other's style, and to be able to predict each other's next move. Thinking of Belcarm confused Livinia all the more. She liked him, a lot, and she knew that now. She decided that she had enjoyed his affections just as much as she enjoyed his friendship, even if he did act very strangely the previous night. She had always known he was protective of her, but his behaviour had just been plain strange. Then when he had refused to talk to her about it she knew there was more to the story, but if he wouldn't tell her how was she expected to know?
"Liv?" Kalendras's deep voice shocked her and she jumped and turned to face him.
"Kal? What's wrong?" Livinia asked, taking in his Tauren form and wondering what had caused him to change form.
"We've done all we can for today. We're best off setting up camp now and heading to Kirthaven tomorrow. If we leave now it will be dark by the time we get there and that could be dangerous." He said, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders, looking as though he had to get comfortable in his own skin again.
"Okay, that's fine. Are we going to head back to Dragonmaw? There is a pretty good Inn there with the best Lamprey Pie-"
"An Inn?" Kalendras looked at her with an eyebrow raised and a grin.
"Yes. You know, those places where you can hire a bed and even get some nice hot food?" Liv said slowly.
"By the Mother you've gotten soft!" Kalendras said with a laugh. "You have been spending far too much time with Pretty Boy!"
"Fine." Said Livinia, slightly annoyed by Kalendras's mocking tone. "We'll make camp out here then. Doesn't bother me."
"That's more like it." Kalendras said. "I saw a spot a while back that looked pretty good. It was far enough from where the scouts were stationed and it was over the other side of a little rocky hill."
"That should work." Livinia said with an indifferent shrug.
"Here, hop on. I'll take you there." Kalendras said. Livinia was just about to ask what he meant when his form shifted again and he changed into the form of a Sandstone Drake. She looked over at Borris, and then at Kalendras-Drake's back.
"Sorry buddy, but I think there is only room for one." Livinia said to Borris before dismissing him. She hitched her pack back up on her back and clambered onto Kalendras's bare back as gracefully as she could manage. "No showy moves please Kal, I can only camp for the night if I am still alive!" Livinia said, when she had settled onto his back, she dug her heels into his stomach and Kalendras-Drake let out a low growl before his powerful legs tensed and then launched them into the air.
Their trip was short, and Kalendras kept close to the tree tops, but it was a lovely flight. His wings were powerful and he was unusually graceful in this form. Without a saddle, like she was used to on her Windrider, Livinia had to rely on the strength in her thighs to stay mounted. She had spent all day creeping, low, around uneven and often rocky terrain, so her body was quickly tiring of the action. It was not an easy task when she was hovering so high above the ground, but it didn't detract from the lovely views around them. Nevertheless, by the time they landed she was pleased to slide off him.
"You look tired." Kalendras said, shifting back into his normal form once again.
"I'm fine." Livinia said defensively, dropping her pack to the ground with an audible oof.
"Really?" Kalendras asked "You look as though you'd love to crawl into a nice soft feather bed with a warm plate of Lamprey Pie." Livinia laughed and elbowed him in the stomach.
"Well as it just so happens I am more than happy to camp out. I just thought I'd suggest the Inn because you're getting old and weak." Livinia said in a sugary sweet tone with a kind smile.
"Old and weak, eh?" Kalendras said, eyeing her appraisingly. "I may be older than you but I am certainly not weaker. As I recall I took down three more enemies today than you did."
"You can count?" Livinia scoffed, Kalendras rolled his eyes and continued on as though he hadn't heard her.
"I keep count so I can tell you exactly how much better I am than you." Kalendras said cockily.
"Oh, so you really think you can beat me?" Livinia said, crossing her arms and puffing her chest out.
"It doesn't matter how far you puff out that chest of yours, Nitawa Kee, you will never be bigger than me." Kalendras laughed, looking at her breasts with a smirk on his face. While he was distracted Livinia launched herself at him and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his, effectively strapping them to his side.
"You think that will stop me?" Kalendras laughed, he easily lifted his arms away from his body and broke her strong hold, but before he could grab her she dropped off him, bounded around behind him, and jumped onto his back.
"You're easier to mount than a Hawkstrider!" Livinia laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. Kalendras growled and tried to pry her off his back, but he couldn't reach around properly, making her laugh even louder. She reached forward and grasped his horns. "Giddy up Hawky!" She cried, knowing that she was pushing all the right buttons to annoy him.
"You want to play dirty do you?" Kalendras growled "I can play dirty too!"
