Ji Firepaw

I had to take a portal to Orgrimmar to close out a contract. I, do not like portals, I don’t know what it is about them, but they make me very, very nervous. Something about not arriving where I hope or being lost in some pocket dimension, keeps me awake at night, never wanting to use them.

But, in order to finish the contract for The Iron Pact, they said “meet in Orgrimmar”. And I need gold. So, into the portal I go.

And guess who was waiting for me inside the portal room when I arrive?

Ji Firepaw.

Again.

I don't know how he does it. I stepped through the portal in Silvermoon heading to Org, and there he was. Smiling. Arms open like we're old friends. "Vamiko!" he called, as if we were meeting by chance. How did he know?

"The Horde could use someone like you," he said. Same speech. Same earnest eyes. "We still remember how you stood with us against the Legion. You took on Sargeras! You’re a legend around here and that means a lot to the Horde."

I reminded him, again, that my allegiance is to Azeroth, not a war-crazy faction that keeps picking fights with the Alliance. He nodded like he was listening. He wasn't.

The Horde doesn't forget its friends," he continued, chuckling. "Even the stubborn ones."

I mentioned the void invasion. The rifts opening. That I had guild business waiting.

He offered to sit in.

I walked to the Broken Tusk where we were meeting. He followed. I thought surely the presence of other mercenaries - actual Horde mercenaries - would remind him I don't belong to his faction. It didn't. He pulled up a chair at the next table, ordered tea, and kept smiling at us between every sentence of negotiation.

Gremkar kept looking at me with that "who is this guy?" expression. I just shrugged.

I don't know if it's some pandaren meditation technique or if he's genuinely assigned to be this persistent, but Ji Firepaw is relentless. I finally gave him our supply manifest to organize - mostly to get him to stop hovering - and he returned with everything sorted by weight and priority. Even remembered which items needed cold storage and which could ride in saddlebags.

He's still at that table by the door. I can see him through the doorway, nursing the same cup of tea. Still smiling, probably.

Maybe I'll join the Horde just to see if that makes him go away.

V