The rabbit known to the Two-Legs as Horace watched as the two-leg "hooman" mage tossed a fireball at the Skullsplitter troll warrior. In the not-too-distant past, Horace would be terrified, not only of the Troll warrior but about being anywhere near the Strangethorn Jungle, but he had faith in the Two-Leg human called Jonathan Chess, Agent of Cheese.
Horace had been caught in Dun Morough near the slopes of the Two-Leg "dorf" city of Ironforge, and then sold to a warlock. The warlock had wanted to conduct experiments with his Fel magic and foul alchemy, and Horace and five other snowshoe rabbits had been sold to him as test animals for those experiments. One by one, Horace had watched as the warlock had animal-tested his compatriots to destruction. Each time all of the rabbits had drummed a warning for everyone to hear but to no avail. The rats in the neighborhood did not seem to care.
Life was terror. The other rabbits died in horrific ways, their dead carcasses being tossed unceremoniously to the Felhunter demon servant of the warlock. Horace spent his time sharpening his teeth against the thick wire of the cage in which he was kept, and exercising this powerful legs; although the warlock wore thick gloves, Horace was determined to not cower when it was *his* turn.
And then a miracle happened. The Two-leg hooman Jon Chess found him locked in his care, and freed him. Two-legs were generally not to be trusted, but this hooman gave him some of his very own food and took him home. Horace spent the night in the hooman's warm bed, and the very next day the hooman took him to see a Kaldorei, one of the few races of Two-legs that were not to be feared.
The Kaldorei spoke with Horace and confirmed what Horace already knew - The Two-leg hooman Jon Chess meant him no harm, and if Horace liked, Jon Chess would take him to the Elywnn Forest and release him back into the wild. This was, the Kaldorei explained, an offer of kindness and consideration, but that Jon Chess had two other options from which Horace could choose. Horace could live at Jon Chess' burrow, and be brought food and be Jon Chess' friend. They would huddle together for safety and warmth, and Jon Chess would defend Horace with the fake fangs he carried.
Or Horace could choose to become a Rabbit of Cheese. The Kaldorei said that Jon Chess had a calling and that the life Jon Chess chose to live was full of conflict, danger, violence. Jon Chess often defended others with his fake fangs, just as he had rescued Horace. Jon Chess was offering Horace become more than his den-mate - Horace could become his partner, and help Jon defend other Two-legs. Jon Chess said that Horace made the Two-legs Jon Chess protected confident that Jon and Horace could keep them safe from predators, including other Two-legs, and that Horace's bravery in acting as a last line of defense gave the people they protected comfort and emotional support. That Jon Chess was often hidden in Shadow, but as long as Horace was nearby to sound warning THUMP THUMP THUMP, that everyone was safe.
Horace chose to become the partner of the Two-leg hooman Jon Chess, to help him guard other Two-legs and provide warning of threats.
Horace watched, unafraid, as the Troll warrior ran towards them, spear ready to impale... when the Troll was stopped in his tracks. Horace watched as Jon Chess appeared from the Shadows behind the Troll, and watched as Jon Chess' fake fangs discolored with venom, sunk deeply into the Troll's body. The mage relaxed - she had been frightened, but nor Horace! Horace nudged the mage with his nose, and the mage reached down and picked Horace up, holding Horace to her bosom. "Do not fear, Two-leg friend of Jon Chess," Horace explained, accepting the affectionate petting. "Jon Chess and Horace will keep you safe."
Horace had been caught in Dun Morough near the slopes of the Two-Leg "dorf" city of Ironforge, and then sold to a warlock. The warlock had wanted to conduct experiments with his Fel magic and foul alchemy, and Horace and five other snowshoe rabbits had been sold to him as test animals for those experiments. One by one, Horace had watched as the warlock had animal-tested his compatriots to destruction. Each time all of the rabbits had drummed a warning for everyone to hear but to no avail. The rats in the neighborhood did not seem to care.
Life was terror. The other rabbits died in horrific ways, their dead carcasses being tossed unceremoniously to the Felhunter demon servant of the warlock. Horace spent his time sharpening his teeth against the thick wire of the cage in which he was kept, and exercising this powerful legs; although the warlock wore thick gloves, Horace was determined to not cower when it was *his* turn.
And then a miracle happened. The Two-leg hooman Jon Chess found him locked in his care, and freed him. Two-legs were generally not to be trusted, but this hooman gave him some of his very own food and took him home. Horace spent the night in the hooman's warm bed, and the very next day the hooman took him to see a Kaldorei, one of the few races of Two-legs that were not to be feared.
The Kaldorei spoke with Horace and confirmed what Horace already knew - The Two-leg hooman Jon Chess meant him no harm, and if Horace liked, Jon Chess would take him to the Elywnn Forest and release him back into the wild. This was, the Kaldorei explained, an offer of kindness and consideration, but that Jon Chess had two other options from which Horace could choose. Horace could live at Jon Chess' burrow, and be brought food and be Jon Chess' friend. They would huddle together for safety and warmth, and Jon Chess would defend Horace with the fake fangs he carried.
Or Horace could choose to become a Rabbit of Cheese. The Kaldorei said that Jon Chess had a calling and that the life Jon Chess chose to live was full of conflict, danger, violence. Jon Chess often defended others with his fake fangs, just as he had rescued Horace. Jon Chess was offering Horace become more than his den-mate - Horace could become his partner, and help Jon defend other Two-legs. Jon Chess said that Horace made the Two-legs Jon Chess protected confident that Jon and Horace could keep them safe from predators, including other Two-legs, and that Horace's bravery in acting as a last line of defense gave the people they protected comfort and emotional support. That Jon Chess was often hidden in Shadow, but as long as Horace was nearby to sound warning THUMP THUMP THUMP, that everyone was safe.
Horace chose to become the partner of the Two-leg hooman Jon Chess, to help him guard other Two-legs and provide warning of threats.
Horace watched, unafraid, as the Troll warrior ran towards them, spear ready to impale... when the Troll was stopped in his tracks. Horace watched as Jon Chess appeared from the Shadows behind the Troll, and watched as Jon Chess' fake fangs discolored with venom, sunk deeply into the Troll's body. The mage relaxed - she had been frightened, but nor Horace! Horace nudged the mage with his nose, and the mage reached down and picked Horace up, holding Horace to her bosom. "Do not fear, Two-leg friend of Jon Chess," Horace explained, accepting the affectionate petting. "Jon Chess and Horace will keep you safe."
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