It was clear that no one had been inhabiting Naxxramas for a while. Arthas entered through the Construct Quarters. The abominations and other constructs that had been created had all been dismembered and promptly burned by the invading forces. The noxious slime that was used in their construction had dried up into an unusable black sludge. Arthas ripped a torch from the wall and lit it with lich fire. Every torch he passed he lit in an attempt to better find his way through the necropolis.
The only signs of movement came from the rats and cockroaches that scurried out of sight from Arthas. Arthas found a book on abomination making that had survived the cleansing, but that was all. Though useless to him, his necromancers might find something useful in it so he took it.
At the center of the necropolis, Arthas was pleased to see that the main teleporter had survived, at least partially. Not only that, but there was some promise. Fresh webs stretched out from the Arachnid Quarter into the center of the complex. Though he saw no spiders yet, there was a chance there was one or two of them crawling around. The adults would be too feral to work with, but there was a chance there were some egg sacs laying around. He wisely left all the webs untouched lest he alert them to his presence. He would go into the Arachnid Quarter last.
The Military Quarter was little better. Despite the years having gone by, the halls reeked of holy water. The damn stuff had been liberally poured on any weapon and armor that couldn't be safely used or easily destroyed. The weapons could be scrapped and reforged, but Arthas was not going to waste any effort hauling back any of them. He would have some cultists come back for them later.
Finally, the Plague Quarter held some small treasure that had been overlooked. The many rooms filled with experimental equipment and books were ransacked, but there was so much to go through that there was only general destruction. Next to an overturned table that once held delicate glass instruments, one glass vial had survived the fall and lay amongst the broken shards. Arthas carefully picked it up and saw a green sheen through the dust covering it.
Dried poisons, herbs and mushrooms had been scattered but not destroyed. Arthas found a few rarer specimens that would prove useful to Kiefer and carefully collected them. He took some empty vials, using some to collect some of the reagents.
All of the mushrooms that had been cultivated within the Plague Quarter were dead, but the delicate spores in their gills might still be viable if given some attention. Arthas found a particular variety of mushroom known for lethality and cut down the ten foot tall thing. It fell to the side and the movement kicked up a plethora of dusty spores into a thick cloud. If a mortal had been around they would have died painfully, blood pouring from mouth, nose and eyes. But Arthas just walked through the spore cloud and stuffed a vial full of the spores still clinging to the pale orange gills.
Now was time to confront the spiders. Arthas unsheathed his claymore and approached the Arachnid Quarter. In the past the webs would have been managed by cultists, but with no one to keep the spiders tame, the beasts had covered anything and everything in webs. Arthas side stepped the most delicate of silk strings to avoid telling the spiders that he was here. He just wanted some eggs, but he'd kill some spiders and take their venom glands if they wanted to disturb him.
Bones were everywhere. Some hung by a thread of silk over head, while others littered the floor. Bodies not yet decomposed were still wrapped up in silk. Foolhardy explorers, rats, birds, and even a black cat fell prey to the spiders of Naxxramas.
Arthas stepped over the bones carefully. He started to hear the skittering of spiders in the distance.
He made his way toward the sounds, where the webs got even thicker.
There, in a large area, sat a monstrous spider larger than a horse and had bright red and yellow coloring to signify how dangerous it was. Venom dripped from its fangs. And in the corner of the room, round balls of silk clung to the webs.
The spider hissed in alarm when Arthas came into its nest.
"Hello, beautiful. If you don't mind I will just take some of those eggs and-"
The spider lunged at him and Arthas quickly rolled out of the way.
"Fine. I'll do it the hard way then."
He attacked the spider, freezing several of its legs and slashing at the spider's thick thorax. The spider hissed, enraged, and spat venom at Arthas. He sidestepped, avoiding most of the venom with the rest of it splashing against his armor. The spider broke free from the ice and slashed one dagger sharp leg at the man. Arthas took that opportunity to get under the spider and stab it with his sword. Body fluids spewed out onto Arthas. The spider screeched in pain, writhing around and knocking Arthas aside with one leg. It skittered up the wall and into a tunnel that led elsewhere.
Arthas got to feet, disgusted by the smell of the guts that coated him. He went over to the egg sacs and carefully ripped them from the web. He left the Arachnid Quarter, finally facing the part that made him hesitant.
The teleportation runes were still active despite disuse. Arthas teleported to the upper part of the necropolis. The last time he had been in Naxxramas, there had been waves of cultist and deathknights to greet him. When he had entered the upper part, he had barely been able to notice his surrounding before Kel'thuzad had wrapped his arms around him.
Neither Sapphiron nor Kel'thuzad was there in the damp, dark ruins. Arthas stood in the dark alone. He didn't want to go. Didn't want to see the state of his archlich's chambers, but he needed to do it. Arthas forced himself to take a step, then another, until he finally managed to enter Kel'thuzad's personal quarters.
Kel'thuzad had always been meticulous. His books were sorted alphabetically according to subject and his own personal preferences. Delicate reagents were carefully labelled. The many tables where Kel'thuzad conducted his experiments and studies were all made custom to the height of a lich.
The tables were knocked over and broken. The delicate alchemical and magical instruments were smashed and twisted beyond recognition. None of the books survived, only torn scraps and burnt husks. Instead of the smell of acrid poison or embalming fluid, the rooms reeked. Tiny bones crunched under his boots. Kel'thuzad would be horrified by the sight.
Realizing just how futile this entire venture had been, Arthas turned to leave with a frustrated growl. And in turn, a soft meow replied in response. Arthas stopped, quickly whipping around toward the sound. Little bright blue eyes peered out from a broken bookshelf.
"Mr. Bigglesworth?" Arthas asked incredulously. The cat suddenly moved toward him, equally surprised. He then meowed more confidently at the sight of Arthas. The man laughed.
"I can't believe you are still here!" He said. Not particularly fond of cats, Arthas now reached out toward the cat gratefully. Mr. Bigglesworth came out of hiding and immediately rubbed himself against the man's open hands. Arthas stroked the poor cat. The cat had lost so much weight, always being fat and pampered. Knots snarled in his light fur.
"So you have been abandoned as well, huh?" Arthas asked.
He had a thought. The two of them were alone. Despite his bitterness toward Kel'thuzad's abandonment, he knew the Lich would be mad if he knew Arthas had left the cat to its fate. So, Arthas confidently picked up Mr. Bigglesworth and started to leave, but the cat would not have it.
"Mrowr!" The cat hissed, hopping out of his hands and running over to an old wooden chest. The cat then pawed at the chest and looked at Arthas before meowing once more. Arthas came over and opened the chest.
Three pairs of bright eyes looked back at him in a bundle of black and tan fur.
Arthas recoiled. "No! No, absolutely not! I was willing to take you, but I'm not a nursemaid!"
He now recollected the dead black cat in the Arachnid Quarter. He hadn't gotten a good look at the corpse but now he had to conclude that it must have been a female. Mrs. Bigglesworth. And these three kittens were the cats' children.
Mr. Bigglesworth lifted a paw and put it on Arthas's leg.
"Fine!"
The deathknight swore a few times, then started to put his other finds into the chest as well. He then shoved Mr. Bigglesworth into the chest and picked it up with ease. If he ever saw Kel'thuzad again, he would have severe words with the lich.
"No pecking!" Sapphire scolded, directing it at a penguin who had started pecking at her boots. The bird ignored her until she pulled out another fish, then it looked up with longing.
Now that they had found a temporary home in the Borean Tundra, Sapphire spent most of her time exploring. The local penguins had gotten used to Sapphire's presence now.
She had just finished fishing and was giving them the smaller ones she had caught. All of them had names. The one that had pecking her impatiently was Yugo. His girlfriend was Tiny. Float, Beaker, Jasper, and Ken all waddled around her, mouths full of fish.
Sapphire heard a voice and looked up, suddenly alarmed. When she saw a tuskarr waving at her from a distance, Sapphire fled back to the safety of the ziggurat. She passed the Drust defensive charms hanging from the trees as well as many "sentries" in the form of snowmen that she and Tryg had made.
She stayed clear of the local tuskarr village. Though the tuskarr themselves are known for being friendly and Sapphire would have really liked to meet them and ask them all about what they liked to do for fun and how best to cook fish, she knew they were not safe around her.
Sapphire ran up into the ziggurat to the main room, where they had set up a rudimentary fire pit and kitchen. Bolfr sat in front of the fire. Once she was there, she immediately started crying. The wickerman looked up in surprise.
"Ingra, what is the matter?" He demanded, voice filled with worry.
"I hate myself! I can't talk or interact with people ever because I might eat them!" Sapphire said, sobbing.
Bolfr tilted his head. "You can talk to me and Tryg?".
Sapphire sniffled. She didn't want to be rude and point out that both of them were dead. And he was right in a way. She could talk to them, especially Bolfr, who could speak in complete sentences.
Bolfr's company was probably what kept Sapphire sane all this time. He taught her how to use Drust magic. Soon the forest surrounded by the ziggurat was decorated with wooden and bone Drust charms. Unlike Gorak Tul, Bolfr wasn't vicious. He only had Sapphire making defensive charms so no one would sneak up on them and attack the ziggurat.
However, he also taught Sapphire darker magics, though with strict warnings that she should never abuse the magic. She was taught how to summon thorny vines, how to drain the life out of an enemy with dark veins of magic, and even curse victims with terrible pain and visions of their own deaths and torture. Less aggressive magics like charming others or even straight up hexing people to do her bidding, though Sapphire could only practice on penguins and rabbits.
But for the most part, he taught her things that were very much in line with Cerelial's druidic teachings. Bolfr would often walk around the forest, speaking to the trees or other plants. If they needed wood, Bolfr would sometimes ask the trees permission to harvest some of their wood. Sapphire never heard any answers, but apparently Bolfr did.
Sapphire did not deserve to have Bolfr. It made her want to cry more, but she just collapsed next to the fire he'd made and sulked. The Drust reached over and put his hand on her back.
"I understand how you feel. Not many would see this body and start up a friendly chat."
Sapphire looked up at the wooden and bone construct that Bolfr inhabited. It was true. If anything, Sapphire had a it a little better than him.
"I'm sorry Bolfr. I should have thought of that. I am being selfish."
He shook his head. "No. You are young and have endured more than most. If this is being selfish, then perhaps you deserve a little selfishness."
As if notified of Sapphire's distress, Rot came in at that moment and rushed over once he saw her tears. The dog immediately started licking them away. That produced a smile on Sapphire's part.
"There, that's better. Now show me the fish you caught!" Bolfr commented. He took the fish from Sapphire's sack. Nodding with approval, he took a knife and started gutting them.