<75> A deep sigh left the bulky paladin before he rolled to one side and gently wrapped his arms around his daughter, pulling her curvy form tight to his chest. "I am not mad, Lyrah," he spoke quietly to her, a soft quiver in his deep voice. "You are a grown woman with more power than I am likely aware of, and you are perfectly capable of making your own decisions, right or wrong. You spared many lives today, but I would be lying if I did not admit to being fearful for your future." Lyrah softly returned her father's gesture, her forehead pushing against his chest as an uncomfortable exhale escaped her. "Honestly... I didn't expect her to agree. The Grimtotem are vicious, and they kinda hate other tauren. If nothing else, I kinda figure she'll break the vow herself before she dies," she added with a light chuckle. "She might," he returned, one hand gently intertwining his fingers with his daughter's deep brown mane. "It depends on if her spiteful nature outweighs her desire for a blood successor." "I mean, even if she doesn't, I think I could lead 'em to be better, y'know? They could give up the brutal stuff and be more peaceful. They'd *have* to listen to their leader, right?" Drenan kept silent for a few moments, tightening his embrace and pressing his muzzle into her mane. "You are very wise, my sweet Lyrah, but the Grimtotem are far more savage than you have seen. Magatha leads them well due to her own savagery, and before her, no other was able to organize them as a proper tribe, as bloodthirsty as they were. I do not know with certainty what might happen, but I admit to having many fears of a coup against you or worse." Lyrah shivered a bit in her father's arms. "I hadn't considered that," she admitted quietly. "Do you... do you think I really... fucked up?" Drenan's large head gave a slow shake. "No. I would have made the same decision in your position. I feel if there is any fault, it is mine." Lyrah tilted her head to look up at him with a huffy expression. "You do this a lot, and you really gotta stop. I can make my own mistakes. You didn't mess up by letting me tag along or anything. I came on my own, and even if this ends badly, I'm glad I did. I don't think you could've convinced her to stop the attack, and really... I think she would've killed you if you'd gone alone." Drenan sighed and held her tighter. "She never did like me. I have always heard that mother-in-laws tend to be... the worst." Lyrah let out a soft giggle at this as a smile returned to her face. "I've heard that too. Guess we won't have to worry about that though, huh?" A tinge of color ran over Drenan's cheeks as his own smile spread. "I guess not. I suppose we are worry-free for the time being. Maybe we can actually get back to finding a home." "No kidding... wow, it feels like we left home years ago," she remarked in quiet shock. Drenan chuckled softly. "Only a month, I think. It has proven difficult to keep track of time in the wilds and jungles, not to mention when enemies are around. Feralas still has me confused." "Right? Ugh... I'll be honest, dad, I don't think Kalimdor is really safe for us anymore. I thought going South would work, but all we've gotten is chaos and misery." "I agree. Maybe we should alter our travel plans a little. Crossing the sea might be a bit luckier." Lyrah looked to her father curiously and propped herself up on one elbow. "Undercity is toast though, and no member of the Alliance would have us. I don't think the blood elves think much of tauren either... do you think that'd be a safe move?" Drenan's head tilted to one side and the other before answering. "Probably not, but it would not be far to reach the Dark Portal from Booty Bay." Lyrah's eyes went wide. "You're serious? Draenor?" "Furthest place from Azeroth that I can think of," he remarked with a shrug. Lyrah exhaled slowly as her gaze turned to her father's chest in thought. "I guess if it's still open, we could try it. Wasn't it destroyed?" "Only on the Draenor side. So yes, it is a one way trip, so to speak. There are portals to Orgrimmar there, but not many. It would be risky to return." The shaman squirmed a bit in her father's arms. "Frostfire Ridge is awful cold though...." "We would not stay there," he assured her. "I was thinking Nagrand might offer us some peace since the ogres were driven out. It... might not be easy living for a while, but once we are established, we will have our peace." "I have been there," she added, a wide smile suddenly crossing her face. "It's a beautiful land. Lots of greenery, clean water, and not too many people. I think that just might work." Her gaze met her father's once more as she suddenly lurched up to mash her muzzle against his, kissing him deeply and squeezing him even tighter. Drenan returned her kiss and embrace alike, his eyes sliding shut as he practically melted her into his arms. For the first time in a while he felt safe with her, alone, and simply happy to spend intimate time with her again. As their lips parted, his weathered hands tenderly grasped her backside with a soft squeeze, while his voice dropped to a whisper. "Wherever we go, know without doubt that I will always love you, Lyrah." Lyrah's eyes seemed exceptionally large as she looked to her father. "I love you too... daddy," she spoke sweetly, intimately, almost teasingly, while her own hands began to run up and down his back... only to weaken and lose their strength but a few moments later. "Ugh... I'm sorry, daddy. We walked for over a day, and my hooves are killing me... I think I'm out of energy."