Note: Another chapter I'm just not happy with, but I give up trying to make it better. Any suggestions on describing the surroundings better without getting too wordy?
Chapter 4: Roar
"ROAR!"
"Pain!"
The sounds of hammers on hot metal.
"Agony!"
The sizzling sound of hot metal
on flesh."ROAR!"
(Barrack's Front Office)
"...that street-rat arrested and hauled off to a Westfall work-farm..."a noble roared as a city guard took notes. The 'street-rat' in question was a dark haired, blue eyed girl who sat quietly next to a desk where another guard was filling out some paperwork. On the other side of the room, sat a boy dressed in more expensive clothes who was covered in drying mud and feathers. The nobleman's apparent son sneered at the girl, but didn't say anything after already being warned multiple times by the guards to leave her alone.
"...listening to me! That...that...girl has been terrorizing my son and his friends for months! Just a few week ago she tackled him and nearly gouged out poor Verick's eyes out! She is a menace…"
"Only after your son knocked over a much smaller child and with the backing of two other boys, proceed to taunt the kid, "said Mathias Shaw as he walked into the room.
"Master Shaw!"the seated guard said as she stood up and then joined the other guards in the room standing at attention, "What brings you to …"
"I'm here for Annie, "he said firmly in a no-nonsense voice, "She comes with me."
Annie said a choice word that no one of her age should know as she fell back further into the chair.
"WHAT!?"the noble roared, "You'll do no such thing! That brat is going to get what is coming to her or I swear the king will be hearing about…"
The girl snorted as Shaw turned to give the noble a cold stare and said, "Go ahead. I'm sure the king would be so very interested in hearing how your bully of a son was defeated by a girl half his size."
The noble automatically stepped back but then caught himself. With a sneer he growled, "I don't know how that...that...thing warrants your attention, but she'll not…"
"You just don't get it, "Mathias replied as he turned away, "What you want doesn't matter. Annie, come. "
"Yes, sir, "Annie quietly said as she slid off the chair.
The female guard walked the pair out to prevent anyone else from bothering them. As she opened the final door leading back out into the city, she muttered, "So its true? Is she…"
With a raised brow, Shaw replied, "I do believe that's above your paid grade. But lets say if she is, you are expected to keep that bit of information to yourself...unless there is a repeat of what happened today. In that case, send word to me or the Keep."
The guard saluted with a, "Understood."
(Stormwind Keep)
"What was she thinking?!" Varian growled as he paced in his office as both Anduin and Jukebox sat watching. Anduin was dressed in some worn servant clothes that his sister no doubt 'borrowed' for him for another escape into the city.
"She got tired of her friend being hurt…" Anduin tried to answer.
Varian growled as he sent a glare at his son. The prince went silent and lowered his head.
"If I may, your Majesty, "Jukebox spoke up.
The king sent his glare to the gnome but nodded for him to continued.
"Ann..Princess Llainna can be rather protective of those she cares for, "the gnome continued, "If she felt no one else was going to protect her friend..."
"Renn was being bullied for months by those guys, "Anduin spoke up hurriedly, "Right in front of the guards sometimes but they would never stop it cause of Jossu being Lord Dosthal's son. Annie and her friends were the only ones willing to stand up to Jossu on Renn's behalf."
"That's does not explained why she same as tar and feathered the …"
A firm knock warned them just before the room swung open to reveal Princess Llainna in commoner clothing being held in place by Shaw's hands on her shoulders.
"The Princess, as you requested your Majesty, "Shaw said with a small tilt of is head.
"Master Jukebox, Anduin leave, "Varian ordered, "I wish to speak with my daughter alone."
The girl walked into the room and as she passed her brother, he sent her a concerned look. Llainna slightly shrugged in return and then went to stand before the king.
The door closed with a quiet thud and the girl now found the floor very interesting. Varian seeing this, sighed tiredly. In just a few weeks, this child has proven more troublesome than Anduin has in years. Of course a few of those years he was being watched over by Bolvar and the traitorous Lady Prestor, but still. He crossed his arms and said, "Why did you do it? And what were you thinking?!"
"I just got tired with Jossu always getting away with hurting Renn, "Llainna replied quietly.
"Why didn't you just tell someone.. "
"I DID!" the girl yelled as she looked up and glared at her father, "I told the guard! I told the teachers! I even told Jukebox! I told everyone I could and no one did ANYTHING!"
Shocked, Varian stood there a moment in silence. Then the gears in his head started to turn. "You can't mean.."
"I even tried telling YOU but...but..!"
Varian thought back and then closed his eyes. He vaguely remembered his daughter trying to tell him something about someone bothering a friend of hers. Busy at the time, he waived it off as something that kids should be able to handle on their own not really hearing what she was saying. Varian rubbed his forehead, now no longer as sure as what needed to be done. When he first heard of what his daughter did, he was prepared to ground her until she was in her twenties. But now hearing how she did try other means to help her friend and it was the adults, including himself, that failed her...again. A quiet shaking pulled him out of his thoughts with a frown. Another quake...
"Go...get cleaned up and ready for dinner, "Varian grumbled trying to pull in his anger, "We'll...discuss this later…"
Of course, 'later' never comes.
(The next night)
Varian groaned tiredly as he read over the reports. The recent quakes seemed to have been a good thing after all. Those small annoyances kept everyone on their toes and almost prepared for when the tidal wave hit. Damage was high, but the lost of life was less than anyone could have hoped for. The engineers have already inspected the damage. Most of the stonework was still sound, but all the wooden piers would have to be replaced. The shipped that were docked at the time, would either need massive repairs or to be scrapped for their materials. What items that were still in the port at the time of the flood was to be written off as a lost. He picked up a letter and after glancing over it, it tossed to the side and rubbed his face with both hands. The few local shamans warned that this was not to be the worse of it. Something bigger was coming. What, they had no idea only that the 'elements were afraid.' Varian gave a snort. That was helpful. Maybe he should ask if the elements were willing to help put the docks back together.
Then a bright reddish light came streaming through his window. The king turned to see what it was, hoping it wasn't a fire.
"ROAR!"
The wall exploded and Varian went flying, crashing into the bookshelf.
(Anduin's chambers)
"ROAR!"
Anduin woke with start to a smoke filled room. Coughing, he slid out of bed and then pulled his sleep shirt up some to cover his nose and mouth. Ignoring clothes, he slid his feet into his shoes and then make his way to the door. Just before he reached it, the door swung open and a guard cried out, "Your Highness! Hurry!" The guard then reached down to take hold of the princes free arm to lead him away.
As they walked down the hall to the stairs, the guard called out to two other guards racing over to them, "Jacob! Scrite! Find the King and Princess now! Met up at…"
After what felt like an eternity but was no longer than a few minutes, Anduin hurried to keep pace with the taller man as they raced down the hall. "Father!," he cried, when he saw another guard trying to haul the dazed king. "Help them!" the prince needlessly ordered as his guard quickly raced over and pulled the king's other arm over his shoulders.
The ground shook as the arrow slits lit up in fiery red and yellow…
(Hallway)
A small kitten was already racing through the Keep's halls, hugging the wall to avoid the panicked crowd. She skidded to a stop, nearly face-planting when a boy's voice called out "Father! Help them!"
The kitten's head popped up and looked around. Just when she found who called out there was a loud thunderous flapping sound that shook the Keep. The floor and the wall she was standing next to shuttered, cracked and then shattered. The wall, portion of the floor collapsed...taking the little kitten with it.
As she fell, a grayish light expanded out from the kitten and out of the light came a small, humanoid form in dark, hooded leathers. With a snarl, she reached out and set her claws into a wooden beam. Pained ripped through her as her shoulder nearly dislocated but she held on strong as the remaining debris fell around her to the burning ground far below. "You WILL NOT being dying tonight, Kitten, "the being growled as she reached up to dig in her other claws to pull herself up.
In the distance, a giant dragon shape landed on the pair of towers flanking the gates of Stormwind.
"ROAR!"
(Stormwind)
In the mayhem, it was easy for families to be separated. No matter their rank in society or lot in in life. This young Jossu learned that night that the sky roared and the ground shook. In their panic, people didn't care that he wore noble clothes only that he was in their way. So he was often pushed to the side, or is someone was trying to help, he would be dragged along a ways before once again being separated. Having enough of this, he slipped into a small alleyway to catch his breath and get his bearings.
Suddenly, the boy found himself being tackled and knocked to the side, just in time to avoid the side of the building from falling on top of him.
"You?!"a familiar female voice groaned, "You have got to be kidding me."
"Annie?" Jossu rolled over to see the girl barely recognizable in dark hooded leathers. The hood, was double peaked to give the hint of cat ears. In the darkness, he could barely make out a mask with faintly glowing blue eyes. "How dare..."the boy automatically started, but then it sunk in that this 'street-rat' just saved his life, "huh...thanks…"
Annie just stood there for a moment as if in shock, but then shook it off. "We need to get to the Cathedral! That's where the healers are and where everyone will be, "the girl said as she helped the older boy up.
Jossu frowned and asked, "Wouldn't they meet at the Barracks or the Keep?"
Annie forced Jossu to turn and pointed the brighted part of the sky. "That's the Barracks! I just came from the Keep and it was falling apart. So its either the Cathedral or SI:7."
"And the SI:7 is too small and no healers. So lets go!" Jossu said and then remembered that his exit was now blocked, "Huh...how do we get out of here?"
"Duh! We climb up and take the high road. Just do what I do, "Annie said as she tapped the side of her mask with a smirk, "I can see in the dark better than you."
(Cathedral of Light)
Varian was livid! His daughter was missing...AGAIN! This time there was no certainty if she even survived and he was stuck in the Cathedral having to ensure the safety of everyone else in Stormwind! His face softened some, seeing his son helping out with the healers. The discovery of Anduin's natural affinity with the Light was surprising, even though it shouldn't have been. Perhaps that was for the best, the boy was not made to be a warrior. Perhaps with a king so attuned with the Light he might finally bring peace to this war-tired kingdom.
"Sire!" A tired looking guard came forwarded with a familiar looking boy in tow, "This one claims to have seen the Princess!"
Varian turned and set his steely gaze upon a dust covered Jossu. Oh he knew who the boy was, the one that his daughter had all but declared war on. "Where is she?" Varian growled.
Jossu gulped and nervously responded, "I-I-I don't know nothing about a pr-p-princess, your Majiesty. I was telling my father how Annie saved me when the guard suddenly came and.."
"Enough, "Varian barked, "Where is Annie!?"
The boy flinched just before he answered, "I don't know! She got me in sight of the Cathedral and next I knew she was gone. Last I saw her was the walk way from the Dwarven District."
"Stay here and don't let Anduin out of your sight, "Varian turned towards guard, "And keep this one close. I'll be having words with both him and Lord Dosthal later."
(Outside)
Varian marched through the crowd, ignoring the mix reactions of their king walking pass. Not bothering with guards, they had more important things to do in this situation than guard someone who was more than capable of defending himself, he made is way where his daughter was last seen...according to that fool boy.
As he near the walkway, small group of children and the slower walking elderly reached the square. Calls of 'Momma!' 'Grandpa!' and the like soon rang out as family members were reunited with those they feared lost.
"Poppa!?" a mostly familiar voice, with a strange squeaky echo to it, called out from above. Squatting on the stone ledge above was a girl in leathers, except for color, looked exactly like the leathers Rose wore all those years ago. The girl jumped down, trusting that her father would catch her and of course he did. He held her tight, not caring about the investigation or what anyone thought. His daughter was safe and damn it, she was never going to leave his sight ever again.
(A little later, back inside the Cathedral)
Shaw sighed tiredly as he took the latest damage report. He was not made for this type of work, but damn it was all hands on deck. Even the prince was working himself into exhaustion with his newly discovered healing ability. A ruckus in the other room, gave him the excuse he needed to step away from the reports to see what was happening.
He'll deny it to his dying day, he breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief seeing the King walking towards him with what could only be the Princess in his arms. Although the sight what she was wearing did raise one of his brows. Glancing around he hoped that the witnesses would just assume she got thrown into some more protective clothes at one point. He stepped aside to allow the King entry into the temporary office. "Should I get the Prince, "Shaw offered as Varian walked by. The king only nodded as he moved to sit the princess onto a free chair.
"Well, that's one less concern,"Mathias muttered as he went to search for the prince, "Only a million more to go."
To be continued...