Death to Seriousness

"All right, Ashton. We're ready to go." Pennettie yelled at her husband, still using the outhouse

"Almost ready!" came the reply.

"I swear, you take longer than a woman in there. Hurry up, or Jem's gonna be late!" the over-active gnome replied.

"Alright, I'm coming!" Ashton said, annoyed by his wife's constant pestering.

Ashton came out of the outhouse and lifted his duffle bag and his wife's. He thought she always packed too heavy for a gnome, so he always carried her bag for her, even though she was perfectly capable of carrying her own bag. Heck, sometimes he just carried her, too. She wasn't going to complain.

Although they were in Stranglethorn Vale, close to the gryphons at the Rebel Camp, Ashton had always insisted on riding every since his last gryphon ride didn't end so well. It would take the three at least half of the day to reach Stormwind City to the north. Ashton and Jemmura both had celestial horses, but Pennettie refused to fall into what she thought was a capitalist trap and buy one, so she stuck with her mechanical chicken. It was a bit silly looking, but it did its job, she kept telling herself.

The trio made it all the way to Elwynn Forest by 1000 that morning with not too much of a problem. Pennettie did get tired of being the lone one on the chicken, though, so she made Ashton let her ride on his shoulders after they got into Duskwood.

"Hey, you!" someone shouted. "Over here, I need help!" the voice from the left side of the forest said urgently.

Ashton dismounted and walked over to check it out, as the others trailed behind him. Once they approached the woods, a swarm of bandits jumped out with knives drawn. Ashton instantly summoned his fire totem, causing the bandits to back a bit. Pennettie summoned her familiar, Jiccux, who appeared, not looking to happy, by her side. Jemmura drew her rune-emblazoned sword, Falling Grace, from its sheath and picked up a defensive
stance.

"I think you younglings have picked the wrong group to ambush." Ashton said with a threat in his voice.

A leader of the bandits stepped forward. He was older than the rest, but still young by Ashton's standards. The rest were clean-shaven, while this one had a day's worth of stubble sticking out. "I think not. You will sheathe your weapons and release your demon, hand over your belongings, and then we'll be on our way."

"I think you're a bit confused." came Ashton's reply. "You will back off and leave us to our journey. Otherwise, your families will be notified that they can find you in the graveyard at Goldshire.

"I don't think you know what you're..." the leader said, cut off by the sound of stomping and snorting coming through the woods. "Never mind, you're right. Have a happy journey." the leader said, as the bandits vanished back into a hidden place within the woods.

"Umm, okay?" Jemmura asked, as she kept her weapon at the ready.

"What's that sound?" Pennettie asked.

"I hope it's not what I think it is, but we're about to find out." Ashton said, as something huge came towards them from the trees.

-to be continued

Join us next time when the three friends find out what is coming from the woods, who General Sanders is and if he'll allow Ashton and Pennettie to join his army with Jemmura.