Chapter 8 -
The Find
Across the thick, humid jungle weaving through the canopy was Athoniar atop his drake. The great winged beast dodged branches and vines with ease. The death knight sitting on its back was scanning the forest floor below them, his head careening over the sides of the drake intermittently as he searched for the black hippogryph. Finding Veya's mount was becoming more and more of his top priority the longer he remained in Sholazar. Athoniar's own head would be on the chopping block if he did not return to his employer with a report soon.
Tye'jin's absence and lack of communication with the league created deepening rifts that allowed room for questioning his loyalty. The league of assassins was not a silly guild that could be deserted, it was an elusive clan dedicated to power and gold. Every race and manner of people used their services, no matter what side they were on. Kings and Warchiefs had occasionally called upon their aid for one reason or another; ending wars, revenge, and even mouthy mistresses.
Members did not casually join. They were scouted and recruited. If one chose to join the league, they could not leave duty unless dismissed by the leader of the league. Athoniar was quickly inducted after awakening from the Lich King's grip due to his already high standing within the scourge. He imagined Tye was recruited for the same reason.
The death knight had seen Tye'jin in battle multiple times on previous assigned missions; or to put it more accurately, hardly seen him as he expertly stalked his prey and slit their throats from the shadows without a single sound. Tye was a formidable rogue and not one to be trifled with. Athoniar had been sent to retrieve him simply because they could be considered partners in the league after many assignments together. The blood elf did not want their exchange to come to bloodshed, but as they continued in the jungle, he came closer to accepting it may.
Jolted from his thoughts, Athoniar's long ears caught the sounds of clamor and shouting on the forest floor. He leaned over the side of his mount and was met with the sight of a substantial group of people of varying races arguing loudly with each other in a circle. Within the circle was a large black bird creature tied down by ropes and nets. Athoniar quickly jerked his drake's reins in the opposite direction to back track to Veya and Tye. He clicked his tongue and the beast flapped its heavy wings to take off from its hover at a much faster pace.
Within minutes he spotted them far below him and commanded the drake to dive. He held tight to the rough leather saddle under him as the proto drake curled its wings to its sides and dropped through the canopy towards the moss covered ground. About twenty feet from the ground the drake reopened its wingspan and let the air catch it, like a parachute that goblins use. The drake landed heavily beside Tye'jin and Veya with a low groan that vibrated deep in its fiery chest. The sudden appearance startled the pair, but once they saw his expression they quickly realized the matter was urgent.
"Veya, I've spotted your mount. We must hurry. Get on." Athoniar's voice was layered, grave, and commanding. With wide eyes, Veya did as he said and slid off of the riding wolf before quickly crossing over to climb aboard the immense drake. Tye remained on his mount with Veya's two pets standing on either side of him.
"I'll catch up wit ya. Go," The troll gently assured her with a small smile turning up the corners of his lips. She nodded confidently and wrapped her arms tightly around Athoniar's waist to keep from falling off. The death knight clicked his tongue again and his mount immediately pushed off the moist soil with its strong legs. Its wings beat the humid air loudly as it gained distance from the earth. Soon, they were soaring through the jungle again and quickly found what Athoniar was talking about.
A gasp caught in Veya's throat as she gazed below the drake where she saw her hippogryph being prodded and jeered at by about thirty people surrounding her. They screamed back and forth across the jungle, fighting incessantly about the reward for the beast. Veya's eyes widened and her muscles tightened as rage filled her chest and knotted her stomach. Her entire demeanor changed with a frightening darkness. She no longer seemed like herself.
As if in a trance, Veya lifted her right leg up and over the drake and slid off, plummeting to the ground forty or so feet below. Athoniar watched silently with wide eyes. The night elf landed on her feet with a hard thud, her hands flattening against the ground as she crouched before she slowly rose to her full height and faced the hunters. Eyes burning white and huge, her muscles taut under her skin, and long silver waves flowed behind her in the hot breeze as the crowd turned towards the sound of her landing. They ceased their bickering and glared at her, confused as to what she was doing.
Strange and powerful magic pulsated within Veya's body and crawled across her lavender skin like electricity, down to the soles of her boots where it flared out and sent waves of white fire across the forest floor in all directions. It throbbed angrily until it met the bodies of her opponents and lit up their armor and skin in a flash. The hunters screamed in agony as the magic peeled the skin from their muscles. Once they were helpless, Veya rapidly knocked arrow after arrow against her bowstring, each one bursting into bright flame before they were let loose on their journey to meet their skulls.
Athoniar watched the carnage from above with a grave expression. As she felled nearly half of the gathering, the other half were attempting to escape by crawling across the soil, their fingernails digging into the moist dirt. They clung desperately to the earth, pointlessly grasping handfuls as they dragged themselves slowly away from Veya's fiery wrath. This did not slip her notice.
From behind the night elf she heard rustling of flora. Two massive creatures suddenly sprung from the dense ferns and dashed for the remaining hunters. Luna and Loque were side by side behind her before they split apart to go around Veya in unison. Upon reaching the stragglers, her pets violently pounced on their backs before they showed their white teeth in snarls and struck the back of their necks with snapping force. The animals tore repeatedly at their flesh, shaking their heads furiously for better leverage. Once the hunter stopped moving or gurgling their own blood, her pets would move on to a nearby crawler. Veya watched patiently as they accomplished her revenge for her before she turned toward her mount. Her eyes widened as she realized one of the hunters escaped her notice; an exceedingly small male gnome. In his hands were two large swords that he held up high above the hippogryph. The gnome's eyes met Veya's and he grinned in satisfaction as a cackle rose from his throat.
An immense dagger with a black, leather handle flew from the brush and swiftly spun on its side. It curved around Veya's body like a boomerang before sinking itself into the gnome's eye socket, the cackle dying in his lungs. Veya's head snapped in the direction that the knife came and was relieved to see Tye'jin breathing heavily with a second dagger in hand as backup. The fire fell from her eyes and skin and her body became loose causing her to stagger slightly. She caught herself and stood straight as Tye walked up to gently touch her arm. Veya gazed down at his hand before turning her attention to her pets; they were finishing off the last two hunters. Finally, Veya collected herself from her stupor enough to grab Tye's dagger out of his hand and bolt for her mount. Upon reaching the bird, she screeched happily at the sight of her master. Veya speedily sliced through the ropes tying her down like butter. Meanwhile, Tye assisted her in tugging the ropes off of her body and let them fall to the ground around her in a pile.
From much higher above, Athoniar had come to terms with the fact that Veya is no normal night elf. A dark look hung over his face before he verbally clicked and shifted his drake's direction away from the onslaught and out of Sholazar Basin.
Thank you for reading :) I hope you enjoyed this update. Leave me a review!
-Allie