I didn't know when La'el returned to camp but he was there when I began to awake. I cracked an eye open just enough to be able to see the occupants of the little clearing we'd found. La'el and Frakkal were off to the side, they both looked like they were arguing about something. Frakkal was gesturing wildly and La'el had his arms crossed and face scrunched up in frustration. I tried in vain to hear what they were saying, both were speaking in very hushed tones so I finally gave up and moved my gaze to the camp fire. Kure kneeled before it speaking to Gruk who was on the other side.
She seemed to be making breakfast; it smelled delicious that much I knew. Marcus was off to the other side of the camp sharpening his long sword. I couldn't look at him too long, he still freaked me out. My attention was brought back to the Dwarf and Blood Elf when I heard Frakkal finally give up trying to speak quietly, "oh come off it ya bloody Elf! She'll never go for it!" Go for what I wondered? And was he talking about me or Kure? I only assumed one of us since we were the only 'hers' in the group.
Speaking of Kure, she had whipped her head back to glare at them and hissed, "would you two cut it out? Airi must be exhausted from yesterday. Poor thing…I wanted her to get some rest, you'll wake her up with that racket…" They looked over to me and I snapped my eye shut trying to feign sleep still. Kure walked over to me and knelt next to me putting a hand on my head gently. Boy, I should have taken acting classes, "Airi? You're awake aren't you?" she smiled knowingly. I sighed softly and sat up slowly from my bedding. I saw La'el twitch as if he wanted to come to me but stopped.
"Sorry Kure…I was just so tired." I looked down and fidgeted with my hands.
"Dear one it's alright, we understand. This is a lot to take in so quickly and all the emotional stress since this started…it would have been odd for you not to be so tired." She pated my head again and got up moving towards the fire. "I hope you like meat stew for breakfast, it's a recipe from Stormwind, very good I promise." I moved to sit next to her and looked at the liquid.
It looked like any other stew I'd ever seen, meat, vegetables and such. She dished it out and handed me a stoneware type bowl with a spoon, "Careful it's hot". I sipped it and almost yelled out, yep it was hot alright. I winced and smiled at her.
"Heh…not a problem, I'm used to it. Used to burn my mouth all the time eating Hot Pockets. Thing about those, they're either molten lava in the inside or ice cold because you didn't cook 'em long enough." I laughed to myself then realized they were all looking at me confused, "ah right…you don't know what those are. Never mind then hehe," I giggled nervously and they all went back to eating. La'el had positioned himself directly behind me, I could feel his gaze on my back. If only I knew what he was thinking, oh what I would give to be psychic right now. A thought suddenly crossed my mind, where did they get the meat? "Erm Kure? I noticed there's meat in here…where did you get it out of curiosity? I didn't see any animals big enough." La'el twitched again and Kure turned towards me smiling.
"Well…you see when your loving Protector came back this morning, he was dragging a small animal with him. It was so cute…I wish you'd been awake for it. The only thing he said when he handed it to me was-"
La'el tried to interrupt her, "Kure please don't…" She ignored him.
"As I was saying, he said 'Airi's been looking pale, I don't think she's eating well with the stress, do something with this please, I don't want her to get ill.' So cute really…" I looked back at La'el and he refused to meet my eyes, just stared into his bowl of stew. A red tinge painted his handsome face from what I could see under his bangs. Marcus scoffed and we looked at him.
"You're so sickening La'el honestly. Sucking up to Airi like this…you haven't even laid hands on her yet you-"
La'el was on his feet, "watch yourself Marcus..." Marcus jumped at as well and withdrew his sword, pointing it at La'el.
"You wanna go? Right now? Let's go!" La'el unsheathed his short swords and they were about to leap at each other. Something inside me snapped.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I had jumped to my feet and screamed at the top of my lungs. My eyes were clenched shut and my hands were fisted in anger. Both males froze stiff and looked at me in surprise. The other three had stopped as well and were looking at me. "I'm so tired…of this fighting over me. Marcus, you are NOT my Protector and never will be. La'el is and that's that! Get over yourself and for once can we have a peaceful meal! Kure made this special and it's really delicious so sit down AND EAT IT!" La'el immediately put his swords down and dropped to a sitting position.
Marcus was still frozen so I turned to him with my full glare. "Marcus? WE'RE WAITING!" He stumbled backwards, startled and fell over a log on the outside of the campsite. "Good enough…" I huffed and sat back down picking up my bowl again, "now then…shall we continue?" I started to eat again while everyone stared at me stunned. Finally the silence was broken by Frakkal bursting out into laughter.
"Now tha's how a woman handles things! Way t'go girlie!" He was rolling, and Kure and Gruk started to laugh too. The two men stayed silent and ate their food, still stunned from being told off.
We walked through the forest, silent and attentive to the surroundings. La'el refused to leave my side for an instant. It was almost getting too much, I had to tell him back at the camp when were packing up to give me space. Looks like he forgot about that. Frakkal had told us that the tower lay to the south so that was the direction we started in. I was still having a hard time wrapping my mind around everything. Here I was traveling with a Blood Elf, who was completely in love with me I might add, a ten foot tall Draenei. A Dwarf, they do like to drink its true, and an Orc, big and green.
Marcus was just Marcus…the jerk. I felt so plain compared to them; I mean, my lover was a gorgeous Elf for crying out loud! How was I supposed to compare to that? I sighed and the aforementioned Elf heard it. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it lovingly. The forest was so quiet, a few birds chirping, small critters scurrying under the brush, a crumbling building off in the distance-wait what? I stopped and looked closer at it, it can't be. Without a second thought I ripped my hand from La'el's and went bounding through the trees towards the object of interest. I could hear them yelling in the background to come back, it was dangerous alone.
I couldn't have cared less. I skidded to a stop in front of the decapitated structure and blinked. It was just as I had thought it was. La'el came racing up behind me well ahead of the others and slide in front of me gripping my shoulders and shaking me slightly, "don't you EVER do that again! It's too dangerous to be running off like that!" I didn't hear him, I was too busy staring at the thing behind him. He registered this and turned to look as well. At this moment the others caught up with us and stood in silence.
Frakkal voiced what everyone was thinking, "what is it?" I walked forward a few steps.
"It's…my high school…" La'el looked at me.
"What's a 'high school'?" They all made confused noises so I figured I should tell them.
"A high school is where people my age go to learn math, science, art and literature. A place of laughter and friends. I wonder…" my voice trailed off and I tore off up the stairs. I heard La'el sigh behind me and follow quickly behind. I slowed as I entered the building, the doors were barely hanging onto their hinges.
I didn't understand, how could it be so dilapidated after only two days? It hit me then, all the things I had seen and not seen, the terrain completely changing. My world was disappearing, the building was just one of the many things being engulfed. Everyone was merging completely with this other world. I was the only one completely untouched by this.
The only one left that was original. I had to stop this and restore everything, I just had too. La'el and Marcus came up on either side of me but Kure, Gruk and Frakkal stayed outside. I turned to them, "are you guys coming?"
Kure shook her head, "me and Gruk are too big to fit in there Airi…and Frakkal's just a scaredy cat." Frakkal punched her thigh, she laughed lightly. "You three are on your own dear. We'll be right out here."
I nodded slowly, "alright, I just want to see if there is anyone inside, we won't be long." I turned to the men, "come on you two…no fighting." They glared at each other and followed after me as we disappeared into the dark hallway.
Everything was completely silent as we made our way through the school building. It was like a scene out of some B level horror flick, crumbling building and dark doorways surrounding us. I expected some guy with a saw to jump out at us almost. I giggled to myself, breaking the silence and making my companions look at me. La'el put a hand on my shoulder, "are you alright Airi?" I nodded and smiled at him.
"Yeah never better. I was just thinking of something that made me laugh."
Marcus snorted to the right of me, "trust you to find something funny about this…" I glared at him but decided to let it go. Pick and choose your battles Airi…pick and choose your battles. We continued down the hallway and I could see the stairs to the other floors materializing out of the dark. It was then the three of us froze as we all heard what sounded like heavy footsteps above us.
Marcus and La'el drew their weapons and moved in front of me, creating a wall of unyielding muscle. I hugged myself, getting slightly scared, usually this was the time the crazy guy with the saw came running at the unsuspecting teenagers. A blood curdling scream ripped through the air, Marcus and La'el looked at each other.
"Truce?" La'el stared at Marcus.
"For now…" With that, La'el grabbed my hand and pulled me up the stairs as Marcus followed closely behind.
I was stumbling behind him, he was so fast, "um shouldn't we be…ouch!" I had tripped again, "moving away from the noise?" La'el didn't answer as we bounded up the remaining steps coming to a halt at the beginning of the second floor hallway.
La'el was peering into the darkness of the crumbling building, "don't move…it's coming…" I swallowed hard and felt as Marcus moved closer to us. I stared over his shoulders trying to see what he saw. That's when something started to take shape in front of us. I heard a soft noise, like the shuffling of footsteps.
What was this thing in front of us? A single shaft of dull light was shooting through a window, the things foot moved into it and I saw a tennis shoe, ripped to shreds. It stopped then, looking at us I could only presume. La'el took a step forward and took a defensive position, "show yourself creature! Friend or Foe!" Silence greeted his order.
Then another shuffle and it moved closer to us, showing more of itself each step it took. La'el pushed me back a few steps shielding me with his body. Finally it was completely in the light, I gasped, it was a Night Elf. It was so tall and had lean muscles running down his whole body. Marcus looked about to spring at it but the creature in front of us opened its eyes wide in fright.
Its sudden deep voice startled me, "wait! I mean you no harm truly. I've been hiding in here since all this happened. Have you also been changed by this event?" La'el straightened up but did not sheath his weapons.
"We have not, Marcus," he motioned to the man next to us, "and myself are true bloods of the other world. The girl…well…she is unchanged as well, but from, I'm guessing the original world you also come from?" The Night Elf looked at me.
"How is it possible she escaped the merging? All around me were writhing in pain and agony as their bodies twisted into new forms." La'el stared at him and sighed.
"I apologize…I can not tell you that information right now. Not until we know for sure you are an ally to us."
The Elven man in front of us looked at me and its eyes widened again, "Airi? Its you isn't it?" I jumped when it said my name and I nodded slowly. A huge smile appeared on his face and its eyes softened, "Airi…it's me…Michael…" I paused for a moment as I looked at him, stared hard into his eyes. Even though he had the form of a purplish elf creature, his eyes had remained the same, deep penetrating blue.
I screamed out in happiness and ran to him, La'el yelled after me to stop but I didn't listen. I jumped into this mans arms, "Michael! How…what…thank goodness you're alright…" I buried my face into his well-muscled chest. Michael hugged me to him and I could tell that he was trying to hold back his tears.
"Oh Airi…I thought you had been killed in that huge battle outside." Michael pushed me back to look at me. "How did you escape the change?" I was about to answer him when I felt a strong familiar hand grab my arm and pull me back. La'el's arms quickly encircled themselves around me protectively and I couldn't see his eyes from this angle but I could tell he was glaring.
When he spoke next, his voice was icy cold, "like I said…you are do not have the privilege to know that." I gasped at him.
"La'el! He's my friend! How could you say-"
La'el cut me off, I was surprised he used the same tone with me, "shut up…He may have been your friend before but we don't know how his personality has been altered since the merge." I stared at my lover in astonishment, he'd never spoken to me like that before.
Michael watched us, "now, now…no need to get so huffy."
La'el growled and the true reason for his anger came out, "you are not to touch her again…" Michael's soft gaze turned into a glare and the two men had a stare off.
Marcus broke the tense silence, "oh please…don't tell me we have ANOTHER man after Airi's virginity?" I whipped my gaze to him and stuttered. He laughed and walked forward, "come on, it was so obvious the moment he said you name, La'el and I both noticed it. Can you blame your Elven boy toy for being jealous?"
I stomped my foot and put my hands on my hips, "he's not a boy toy…" Marcus chuckled.
"Whatever you say dear Airi…" He put his hands up in a show of defeat. Michael sighed and backed up a step.
"I promise you I mean you no harm, I'm confused and afraid with all that has happened. This new body is so strong and agile, I can move so quickly now that I have a hard time with it." He looked at his large hands and closed his eyes sadly.
La'el chuckled, "welcome to being an Elf…we are extremely agile and quick on our feet." His arms had wound themselves around me again and I gave up fighting it.
Michael looked at both of us, "you love her…I take it?"
La'el relaxed his gaze in surprise, "yes…she is my Escapist and I, her Protector, of course I love her. More then you are capable of I'm sure…" His glare had returned.
"I didn't want to fight you about this right now, I need your help actually…Airi…Melissa is with me, she's still changing, it's very painful." I gasped.
"Melissa is here? La'el please we have to help them!" I pleaded with him in my eyes and he sighed dejectedly.
"Fine…" he looked to Michael, "show us…" Michael smiled and motioned us to follow. A scream sounded out again, the same one as before, as we drew closer. Michael opened the door for us to a destroyed classroom. I walked inside first followed closely by La'el and Marcus with Michael bringing up the rear. My eyes scanned the room quickly and finally landed on a still form by a wall with a blanket over it.
"Melissa?" When I said her name, the form peeked out from under the blanket.
"Airi? Is that…really you?" She sounded so weak, I rushed over to her and knelt beside her form.
I pulled the blanket down a bit to reveal her almost completely transformed body. She was turning into something I didn't think I could stomach. Her skin was ripped and torn, there was some bone showing and her hair had become matted and greasy. My eyes couldn't look away, "Melissa…what…"
La'el was next to me suddenly, "Undead…Airi…not many were unlucky enough for this…but she was one of the few. Soon…she won't even remember you. She'll be pure evil." Melissa looked at him, her eyes were sunken and cheeks sallow.
"Is there no way…to reverse it?" La'el shook his head sadly.
"Not until Airi is able to reverse the entire merge of the worlds can you return to normal. You are doomed to stay this way till then." Melissa rolled over onto her side facing away from us and started to cry.
Michael had stood behind us and listened to everything, "you have to be kidding me…she has to stay like this until everything is somehow fixed? And how is Airi supposed to do that?"
Marcus had been leaning against a wall during this and finally spoke, "how many times do we have to tell you, you don't need to know that." Michael glared at Marcus as the human man smirked. "Does that anger you…boy, to know that you're helpless, that the one you love has been taken by another?"
"Marcus! Stop it!" I jumped up and moved to slap him but La'el stopped me.
"We need to get out of here…now…" We all turned to him.
Michael stepped towards Melissa but was frozen in place as she started to move. "Melissa? How are you feeling?" He started to reach for her but La'el smacked his hand away.
"Don't! As much as I would like for you to go away, you're Airi's friend…Melissa is gone now, all that remains is the Undead she's become…" Melissa had gotten up fully now and her hunched form turned to us. Her eyes glowed darkly and her smirk was sadistic.
"Dear Airi…come…we have so much to talk about…" I shook my head, Jessica and now Melissa was going to be taken from me? When will this stop? La'el suddenly picked me up in his arms and yelled.
"Let's go! We need to get out of here now before her full power is available to her!" Marcus was already at the door Michael was right after him and La'el and I were last out of the door. My eyes were clouded with tears forming as I watched the disappearing form of Melissa, twisted and torn in hatred and agony.
We raced down the hallway and bounded over the stairway railing landing on the floor below. I was holding onto La'el as hard as I could as the wind rushed past my face. The men and I flew through the door and Marcus screamed at the stunned three that waited for us, "move it now!" They immediately became unfrozen and dashed after us. I screamed as an explosion rocked the earth and I looked back in horror as the building had disappeared into crumbling parts, and in the midst of the smoke and debris, stood Melissa cackling.
"Melissa…" I whispered as we disappeared into the forest beyond moving south again towards our ultimate destiny.