/AN
I have suddenly been deprived of creative brain cells. I'm reading my state's Drivers Handbook and it's killing me, so I apologize in advance if the next few chapters aren't as good as normal.
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!
AN/
Alphonse woke up to find the White Kitten licking his face. The kitten mewed and purred as it stuck its face against his.
Alphonse pet the White Kitten absently, realizing what had happened. He was probably going to be the first one to be rejected from the body, since he had the most changes.
"I got something!" Brianha's voice shouted from outside. The unmistakable growls of Khaamon came from outside as well.
Alphonse ran over to the window and looked down.
"Alphonse, come on!" Brianha shouted. She blew one of her many whistles and her Deathcharger showed.
"What's going on?" Alphonse asked.
"Ed's gone missing," Brianha answered.
Alphonse was downstairs in a minute, ready to go on his own mount. "Khaamon, follow the scent," Brianha instructed. The Felhunter sniffed at the ground before growling and running for the docks.
"Don't tell me," Gavaudan muttered from behind as they stopped at the last dock – the one that led for Northrend.
"But why would he want to go back?" Alphonse asked.
Brianha shook her head. "Maybe the Lich King's hold was stronger than we could ever imagine. In any case, we need to follow him."
The two nodded. Winry chose that moment to run up, saying, "Let me come with you!"
"No," Brianha said sternly. Before Winry could interject, Brianha stated, "I need someone to report this to King Wrynn. Winry, we're putting our faith in you to do this and have him send more forces. You can come with them."
Winry nodded, a determined look coming over her face. The boat arrived and they parted, Winry heading for Stormwind Keep, Alphonse, Gavaudan, and Brianha getting on the boat.
They were joined by Supertodo and Cyclone by the time the boat departed. Many greetings and feelings of relief were met by the latter showing up. "It's been hard," Cyclone said at one point, "But some of us did manage it. Soupy heard the ruckus you were making this morning and we followed you."
"For once," Brianha said to Supertodo, "I am going to thank you."
Supertodo laughed. "For once? You thank me a lot."
Everyone fell into silence after the playful retort, wondering how bad Northrend had become, and what reason Edward had for returning.
"Alphonse! Hey, Al!" Brianha was shouting at him. Alphonse opened his eyes and shook his head, looking around. They were on the dock, Alphonse leaning against one of the boxes. "Geez, about time," Brianha said, looking at him sternly.
"Is he all right?" Supertodo called.
Brianha replied, "He is now."
"When did we arrive?" Alphonse asked, trying to clear his head.
Brianha glanced up at the sky, saying, "About a half-hour ago. Is there something you're not telling us?"
"No," Alphonse replied, the lie coming readily to his lips.
Brianha looked at him skeptically, but didn't push it farther. She looked at the rest of the group and said, "We'll set off for Dalaran, if it's still there. If not, we'll reroute for the Wyrmrest Temple."
"Why the dragons?" Gavaudan asked.
Brianha folded her arms, answering, "I know they won't give into the Lich King without a fight, and they are strong."
Everyone blew their whistles and they were off, Brianha riding her newly-acquired Dragonhawk lovingly. This earned some laughs, but other scoffs. As if in retaliation, when they paused to allow their mounts a moments rest, Gavaudan summoned his own Blue Dragonhawk, turning at Brianha and smirking.
Brianha shrugged. "Gloat all you want. I still got the Deathcharger," she answered, rubbing her Dragonhawk's muzzle. It crooned in reply, causing the rest of the group to smile.
They set off again a short while later, and arrived in Dalaran within another hour. "Well, here we are," Brianha announced, flying over the city.
"Why don't we enter?" Gavaudan asked.
Brianha rolled her eyes. "Because the Lich King might've taken it. Do you know what kind of idiots we would be about landing in Krasus' Landing without checking?"
Gavaudan shrugged. Brianha rolled her eyes and closed her eyes, a green orb appearing next to her a moment later. It turned, looking around, before descending for the city below.
Supertodo was boasting about how he could take Dalaran back single-handedly from the Lich King's forces when Brianha stirred. She opened her eyes, saying, "Well, you're not getting the chance. Come on."
They landed in Krasus' Landing, the group immediately dispersing to do different things. Alphonse was about to leave when he felt someone grab him. He looked and found Brianha holding onto his arm. "What's wrong?" she asked him softly.
Alphonse looked around nervously. Brianha seemed to understand and motioned for him to follow her. She wound through the main streets of Dalaran, eventually finding themselves sitting in a secluded spot away from prying ears. (/AN These places do exist. I've looked and found them myself. AN/)
"Ok, what's wrong?" Brianha asked again once they've settled down. Brianha sent Chonar to guard the entrance in case someone tried coming this way.
Alphonse sighed. "Well, there's the whole thing with brother…"
"That's not the only thing," Brianha stated, seeing right through him. She explained, "I want to know what's going on with you blanking out. You've been doing it more and more lately. I've also seen it happen to Winry on occasion, though it hasn't been for as long. And no," she cut across his comment, "I don't believe you were sleeping. We were yelling at you ever since the boat arrived in Northrend, and there's no way anyone could sleep for that long."
Alphonse sighed in defeat. "It's these bodies," he said. "They're starting to reject our souls, because these aren't the bodies that we were born with, but rather ones that the Twisting Nether created to support us here."
Brianha didn't push this point further. "Why would Edward return to the Lich King?" she asked.
"I don't know, and I don't believe that the Lich King still has control of him," Alphonse answered. He looked up. "Can…Can I ask something?"
"Of course," Brianha answered.
"Why are Gavaudan and Silverstorm the only two Worgen?" Alphonse asked.
Brianha paused, barely being able to disguise a laugh. "You know, we don't know ourselves," she finally stated. "They say they jumped the Greymane Wall in Silverpine Forest, but I don't believe them."
"How do you think they got here?" Alphonse asked.
"Me? I think they were idiots and fell into the water," Brianha stated. "Gavaudan certainly seems like the kind to do that."
Both of them were absorbed into fits of laughter, but finally regained themselves. They stood up and, on their way to meet up with everyone else, Brianha told Alphonse, "I guess these times wouldn't have lasted, but I promise that once we find your brother, we will find some way to send you back home."
Alphonse didn't need to ask to know what she was referring to. He smiled, saying, "Thanks" but wondering inside if he really wanted to go back to a suit of armor in place of the flesh and bone body he had become so used too over his time spent in Azeroth.
Edward was looking out over the remains of the Argent Tournament. There wasn't much there, just a few flags that were far enough away from the dug-out area in the center and the graveyard. There was also the occasional tent, but these have all be ripped and torn, probably in desperation of trying to find something to use. Edward hid behind a rock as a guard passed. He didn't want them to know he was here. Not until he found Fuhrer King Bradley.
Once Edward was sure the guard was gone, he slid out of his hiding spot and made a sprint for the next rock, ducking behind it just as a flying guard passed. The guard stopped his mount for a few seconds, looking at where Edward had been, before shrugging and continuing on his course.
Edward moved to the next position, finding that the next guard looked to be a rather new Death Knight that might be scared enough of the other Death Knights. Once this Death Knight passed, Edward started following silently behind, pulling out his sword in the process. After he was sure they were alone, Edward pointed it at the Death Knight and said, "One wrong move and your head gets chopped off."
The Death Knight squeaked, jerking, but not daring to look around. "What…what do you want?" he asked.
Edward smiled. "I want to know who else is standing guard here, and who's on gryphon-back."
The Death Knight was quick in replying. Edward nodded, saying, "You may go back to your duties. Don't mention this to anyone, or you'll find more than just your life at stake."
The Death Knight looked frightened enough, and was quick to hurry away. Edward hid behind a rock and shook his head, gripping it. He was shocked at how much he sounded like one of them, ready to kill at a moment's notice.
How many have I killed since I became a Death Knight? The thought came unbidden to his head, and Edward had to shake it off, hard, claiming that he didn't kill anyone; it was his alter ego that was the one that had his hands stained with blood. Not him.
Finally convinced of this, Edward was about ready to move again and find Fuhrer King Bradley, whom was among the listed ground guards, when he heard a voice behind him ask, "You aren't leaving so soon, are you?"
/AN
As always, tell me what you think. And yes, I did sort of finally answer the whole question of why Silverstorm and Gavaudan are there when the Worgen are behind the Greymane Wall…sorta.
R&R Please!
AN/
