One Shot Number 7 : Young Lion vs Cat

(King Anduin's Study; Mid-Morning)

A dark blue troll, in all black leather and his throat slashed open, fell to the ground. As he landed, Ghost Cat snarled as she sliced into the arm of another attacker, this one an orc in similar leather armor. Not far away, a dazed Anduin was shaking off the blow to the head caused by slamming said head into the side of his desk when Ghost Cat pushed him forcefully out of the way of the unseen, poisoned dagger. His sight cleared just in time to see Ghost Cat using both set of claws to slice left and then right across the orc's throat and lower torso. The attacker was dead before he hit the ground.

"Annie, "Anduin whispered his sister's childhood nickname as the door slammed open and the Lion Watch finally showed up. Only seeing a strange masked woman in blood covered leathers, the two royal guards went on the attach. "Stop!"the King ordered, "She..." But the Ghost Cat had already dodged one slice of a sword as she dived and rolled pass the two guards to made her escape through the open door. One guard moved to help the king up and guard him as the other moved to chase after the woman. "Let her go!"Anduin ordered needlessly since the woman was no where to be seen.

(Later, Princess Llainna's Chambers)

"What were you thinking?!"he firmly demanded as Anduin called upon the Light to heal her few minor injuries, "You could have been killed?! How could you have just murdered those two..."

"They were here for one thing, Andy, "Llainna growled back, "To kill you. There was no way, no how I was going to let that happen. If it means killing every Hordie or Defias within a day's ride of you, I'll do it!"

Stunned for a moment, Anduin's voice lowered as he said, "No you will not! Its one thing to play at..."

"Play?! You think I'm playing a game when I'm training with Shaw and them?"Llainna hissed,"What the Void do you think I'm training for?"

"If you mean killing people for no good reason..."

"Saving your life isn't a good reason?!"

"Annie, please, "Anduin knowing he stumbled. Now trying to calm himself and his sister, "I just don't want you to become someone who finds killing easy like..I..."

"Say it, "the girl whispered loudly, "I dare you. Say it!"

Anduin stepped back from his younger sister and started to rub the back of his neck. He looked away as Llainna gave the answer, "Like Father."

Anduin's head whipped around as he replied, "I did not say that!"

"But you were thinkin' it!" the young woman snarled before turning to leave, slamming the door behind her.

(Early Evening)

"Enter, "Anduin said in reply to the knock at his study door. As the door opened, the king push the papers he was working on to the side to give the man who entered his full attention.

"You have an assignment for me, your Majesty, "Mathias Shaw stated as he closed the door behind him.

"I wouldn't say an assignment exactly, "Anduin replied and then sighed, "Have you seen Llainna recently?"

With a raised brow, Shaw answered, "Last I saw her was when she gave me her report on the assassination attempt. Did something happen?"

"You tell me, "Anduin said flatly, fully away that Shaw no doubt knew exactly what happened between him and is sister that morning.

Shaw crossed his arms and said, "She possibly saved your life and you berated her for it. Princess is understandably a little upset, but she'll get over it. I do believe she'll spend the night sneaking around the noble quarter some, trying to find some dirt on someone she calls 'Greasy Hair'."

"Mathias, I'm a bit concerned about her, "Anduin said as he indicated Shaw should sit, "I...I don't feel comfortable with the methods she used this morning."

"What was wrong with her methods, "Mathias replied without blinking, "You're alive, uninjured and they're dead. Although I will admit ideally it would have been nice to capture at least one of them for questioning, but they would have been executed eventually."

Anduin flinched and then said, "But it shouldn't have been her that killed them."

"Tell me, your Majesty, what would have happened if she didn't kill them?"Shaw asked as he crossed his arms. He knew full well that the King had to get use to and accept the fact that his little sister was not only to be his confidant but his secret bodyguard and if it calls for it, his personal assassin, "If she attempted to capture them both alive, there was no doubt a greater chance that the Alliance would have been mourning the end of the Wyrnn line and the nobles would start bickering on who should be the new ruler of Stormwind. I'm not even going to bring up what would have happened to the Alliance. If she just left to get help, you would be dead and she would ended up being forced to take the throne as woefully unprepared for it as she is. That alone may have caused an uprising among the nobles. In either case, a good many more Alliance lives would have been lost. She made the right call."

"But that spirit, Cat..."

"Is a killer, "Shaw said bluntly, "She same as admitted rather proudly to empowering blood thirsty bandits in the past. The only reason why she isn't now is because Roselie's family took on the responsibility to keep the Cat's Bell out of the wrong hands. Llainna is almost the perfect wearer of the Bell. She keeps Cat happy with her little adventures and the Princess is focused on using Cat's gifts to protect you and this kingdom. If Llainna asked Cat to take over, and for all we know she did, then those assassins would have been just as dead. I don't see Cat taking prisoners unless there is some entertainment value in it."

Anduin placed his hands together in front of himself on the desk. He sighed as he lowered his head thoughtfully and then said, "You're right. I don't have to like it, but you're right."

"Actually, your Majesty, I'm more concerned by how little killing someone affected Princess, "Shaw in turned looked away briefly and then back at the king, "My guess, either she is blocking her feelings in which case she'll break down eventually or..."

"She has killed before, "Anduin softly said as he closed his eyes, "More than once? Shaw could you...I hate to ask this of you but sometimes you seem closer to my sister than I am. Could you talk to her?"

"After that argument you two had, "Shaw nodded, "I agree, but that'll change. Just give it time and remember she is no longer that five year old you use to go sneaking off to the pond with."

(An hour later, Lion's Rest)

At the foot of the memorial, a black and gray tabby with bright blue eyes sat. Its tail wrapped around its paws, the feline looked up the stairs as if considering if today was the day she would climb them.

A familiar pair of dark boots stepped up next to her and the cat actually sighed as it moved its head to look at the man now standing next to her. "Figured you be here, "Shaw quietly grumbled and covertly considered the small, nighttime crowd around them. Just as the cat was preparing to run, the Spymaster reached down and picked her up. Holding her close to his waist, he whispered, "Don't even consider disappearing this time."

Shaw then walked over to a more secluded part of the park, behind the memorial. He purposely dropped the cat as he leaned against the memorial's stone base, "Change. You can wear the mask if you want, but we need to talk. Now!"

A line of raised fur ran down her spine as the cat arched its back with growl and then hissed.

"Change or I swear I'll put you in a pet carrier and sell you on the Auction House, "Shaw promised.

The cat hissed once more before the shadowy smoke appeared and then a young woman in black/gray leathers sat in the cat's place. You could see the frustration in her slitted blue eyes in spite of the tabby cat mask. Her hooded head turned to the side as she crossed her arms in a silent huff.

Shaw didn't bother trying to hide the smirk of her very classic teen reaction. "Before we get any further, I want to commend you once more on what you did earlier. Killing those assassins was the right choice in spite of your brother's reaction, "Mathias said. He then added as the girl started to relax, "Now with that out of the way, there is something I need to know and your answer will determine what to do next in regards to your training. Were they your first kills?"

The Ghost Cat looked up towards Shaw and responded with a simple, "No."

"Ok, "Shaw crossed his arms as he waited for her to continue, but wasn't too surprised when she didn't. So after a few minutes he continued, "
"How do you feel about killing?"

"I know that it is sometimes needed and I am capable of doing so. I don't like it, if that's what you're worried about but I can do it without throwing up, "the girl answered. The bell at her neck rung firmly once, causing the girl to slump some as she added, "At least not anymore. Please don't tell Anduin. He's…"

"He's worried about his little sister, "Shaw spoke up, "He's not mad, he's just concerned. I won't give him details, but I will try to convince him not to worry so much. Anduin is more like his father than he knows. " Shaw muttered that last sentence under his breath.

Until next time…