Patch 4.0.6

I am ecstatic about the upcoming patch and all of the pet changes it's bringing. The atmosphere is like Cataclysm Beta all over again...a frantic, growing excitement as more new skins are revealed and familiar faces make their way back home. The sudden disappearance of so many rare creatures was a bit of a shock to experience. Even for those that weren't necessarily noteworthy or high profile, there was a definitive emptiness without their presences in Azeroth. Of particular concern to me was the fate of three spiders that I had grown rather attached to.

First and foremost was Rekk'tilac, the great lava tarantula of Searing Gorge. I have never seen this spider in the entirety of time that I've played WoW. Granted I didn't go looking for him in the early days of Vanilla, nor did I even quest in Searing Gorge, but once I got it in my head to see him in person I was driven on a frenzied manhunt to witness the tectonic tarantula myself. Always I would swing by his spawn points hoping to just glimpse him with my own eyes, but alas he avoided me until the day when he was seemingly gone for good.

Admittedly I have now visited dear Rekk on the PTR (and holy behemoth batman!), but I am determined to find him and tame him on the live realms once 4.0.6 is released. It just doesn't feel 'real' otherwise. My undead huntress has a stable slot with his name on it, and I simply can't wait to finally have him.

Second on my list of special arachnids is Creepthess from Hillsbrad Foothills. I had always felt drawn to her due to how awesome her name was, and we just had an inexplicable bond even though I'd never tamed her. I was saddened when she too went missing, and I'm pleased to report that not only is she back, but like all the other rares she's suddenly become enormous (and has a pet bunny to boot). ^_^

Finally, in what can only be described as some sort of bizarre second-hand pet love, is Chatter. I hadn't even been aware of this spider's existence until a certain someone *coughs* enlightened me to him and I found myself growing fond of the little brown tarantula. Petopia has truly broadened my spectrum in terms of pet tastes, and I have to say that I have a new appreciation for many skins or mobs that I wouldn't have taken a second glance at before. Anyways, Chatter's disappearance didn't sit well with me at all. I was so desperate to find news of him when I was in the Cataclysm Beta that I did circles around Redridge hoping to find a secret new hiding spot. I didn't find Chatter, though I did stumble upon something very strange. A lone brown tarantula mob, in fact the only brown tarantula in the whole zone, seemingly misplaced amidst a valley of orcs. He carried the name of Greater Tarantula, and I was honestly convinced he had to be a mistakenly labeled Chatter. Kalli and I clung to this hope, musing that he must have suffered amnesia after the great Cataclysm.

Fast forward to the past couple weeks, and Chatter is alive again on the PTR! He's bigger than ever, and that perplexing Greater Tarantula still wanders the southeastern part of the zone. I decided his name should be Chitter since he had garnered a bit of a reputation for himself, and deserved to have a unique identity.

Truthfully I'm relieved about all of the rare pets that are returning (thanks Noah! <3), but the previous three were the most important to me personally.

Now aside from returning rares, there's also the tantalizing new skins we're receiving! I have two new pets queued up for my own stables, and I'm hoping they work out well.

Rex Ashil has transformed into a breathtaking inky blue wasp, and I am completely enamored with the model. I've been struggling to connect with a wasp ever since my old Sapphire Hive Wasp fell out of touch with me. I tamed Rex on the PTR and he suited Veph so well that I knew it was a destined match. I even have a vague idea of his personality beginning to form, but a name still eludes me. I'll certainly be making a post on him after the patch goes live and I get a feel for his character.

The other new model I'll be picking up is this impressive grey wind serpent. I contemplated replacing Shiki with this new skin, but I realized Shiki wouldn't be Shiki without his pale colouring and red eyes. So I'll just have to have two Outland wind serpents. ;D I don't have a name in mind yet, but that will come later after I can spend some quality time getting to know both the wind serpent and the wasp.