The explosion wracked the building. Windows shattered. Flames and smoke rose up from the windows. More explosions. Orange light glowed.
Tanomoan sighed in frustration, and tossed aside his goggles. He looked at the group of goblins around him. They all looked disappointed. The dragon snarled.
"You idiots! I said I wanted those explosives to be big! Knock the walls of the buildings down! You are all-"
"-Remember what Bolvar says." Blight pointed out. He was in his goblin form, smaller than the rest. He liked the green skin, the large ears and the sharp claws that the goblins had. Tanomoan did not understand it. Goblins were ugly. Tanomoan preferred his beautiful, handsome human body.
The black dragon growled, and clenched his fist.
"You are all hard-working, wonderful individuals...Light bless you," The dragon said, grinding his teeth. He stalked off.
Blight quickly grabbed up Tanomoan's goggles, and followed after him.
"You really should control your temper, Moan."
"I don't wanna!" The dragon said petulantly, then continued. "Why should I? I'm a dragon! Shouldn't have to control myself."
Tanomoan looked back at the flaming building. He sighed.
"Momma, can I sleep with you and Daddy tonight?" Calia asked.
Sapphire smiled, and patted the girl on the head. "No, sweetheart. Daddy and I want some alone time."
The girl pouted, and stomped her foot. "But Momma! I don't like sleeping in the same room with Arty!"
They were sitting in the living room. The whole family was there. Ethan was reading some papers while Rot and Terra sat in his lap, ripping up the envelopes with pleasure. Terenas and Serenity were studying together. Serenity always helped her older brother. Arthas was laying on the rug with his cat and dog, coloring a discarded letter from his father, but looked up.
"Hey...What's wrong with sleeping in the same room with me?"
Sapphire scowled. "Calia, He's your brother. Twin brother. I think you two need to bond more. With all of your siblings of course, but especially your twin."
"What makes him being my twin make him special? We don't even look alike!"
That was an utter lie. Arty had the bright green Calwood eyes, and Calia had Sapphire's blue eyes. But both of them had their father's hair and even had adopted his accent. Their noses were alike, and both of them enjoyed the outdoors, even if for different reasons.
Serenity was the only one with Sapphire's old, golden hair color and was the most timid of them all. Terenas had the white hair that Sapphire now had. He was always so serious. Sapphire supposed that was natural for the firstborn to act like that. He had to take care of his younger siblings, and he had the weight of being an heir to two royal bloodlines. Three if you counted the Proudmoore bloodline, which wasn't really royal but as good as. And the Calwood blood wasn't insignificant either, as Kel'thuzad told Sapphire multiple times.
Speaking of the lich, Kel'thuzad was in the room too. He was reading a book, muttering corrections on certain paragraphs.
Sapphire looked at her daughter. "You two are special. All four of you are special, all right?"
Serenity raised her hand. "I am the specialest of all!"
Sapphire saw Kel'thuzad look up from his book, disgusted. If he was looking to Serenity to be his apprentice, he was going to be disappointed. She wasn't old enough yet to be anything more than an annoyingly sweet little girl.
Ethan just chuckled. "You sure are. Come here, sweetheart."
The girl bounced up and ran over to her father. She climbed up onto the couch, and cuddled up against him. Her head laid on her father's arm, and she clutched at him tightly.
"I love you, Daddy! Can I have a puppy?"
"No."
"Why not? Arty has one. And a cat."
"You don't know how to take care of a puppy. Isn't Rot and Terra enough?"
The girl looked at the two plaguehounds, who recognized their names. Rot fled, yipping. Terra wasn't fast enough, and got a hug from Serenity, who squeezed hard. Terra wasn't in any danger of being damaged. She had been made a plaguehound as she died.
"I take good care of a puppy if I had one. I want one of those pug things."
"Serenity, I don't breed pugs."
"You should!"
Sapphire leaned back, and smiled. She was enjoying this. After trying to convince Ethan to breed some smaller dogs, Sapphire had been thoroughly disappointed. Maybe their daughter could convince the Howling King to make the cute little dogs that women in Stormwind loved.
Sapphire had a few friends in New Alterac, female cultists, undead, deathknights, and even one woman who met a deathknight spy and fallen in love with him. She had left her home in Stormwind, and came with him to Northrend. She did not seem to like undead, but tolerated them. Sapphire felt that if there were people like that, maybe there was hope for the Scourge.
Anduin, aspiring Prince of Stormwind, liked Tryg all right, and of course was friends with Bolvar Fordragon. He kept the secret until the world was ready. Undead were no longer monsters, atleast in the Scourge. There were plenty of rogue undead, and of course the Forsaken. Seeing as how they were part of the Scourge, Arthas was reluctant to try to kill them off. And, He was not keen on facing Sylvanas Windrunner.
Sapphire had learned about her from everyone. The only one with a positive opinion on her was Lethumo, and only because he found her sexy. All in all, not encouraging. It seemed to Sapphire that her father had a knack of angering women.
"Da?" Arty asked. Ethan looked over to him.
"Yes?"
"I want to help you train the dogs tomorrow. Can I?"
"Sure thing."
Calia huffed. "And what about me getting my own room!"
Ethan smiled at his youngest daughter. "Calm down, Cally. We'll just convert one of the guest rooms. In fact, we have an entire wing of guest rooms, plus the ones near ours. We could have five more children and still have rooms for the rest of the family."
That forced Sapphire to give Ethan a questioning look. "Do you want more children?"
"No! Four perfect children is enough!" Ethan said, laughing.
Serenity held out a wooden mug. She looked over to the ghoul as it carried a jug to her. Reaching out with it, the ghoul poured. Fresh cold milk went into Serenity's mug. She smiled.
"Thank you, Chef Bonemuncher!" The girl said. She hopped down from the counter, and went off to her room. She looked up at a chandelier make of shoveltusk antlers. The flickering lights were so comforting to the girl. She loved candles, and had a whole row of them next to her bed. Terenas always blew out the candles for her before going off to his own bed. Serenity was glad Terry never asked for his own room.
The girl made her way to her room, and pushed open the door.
Terenas was asleep already. Serenity went over to her bed. It small, but she liked it. She curled up into a ball when she slept.
Placing the mug of milk onto her wooden desk, she grabbed a bottle of the potions her mother gave her. Getting out her spoon, she poured some of the potion onto it, then stirred it into her milk.
She took the mug by both hands, and clambered onto her bed. She yawned tiredly.
A howl rang through the halls of Howling Keep. Serenity looked up, frightened.
Terenas sat up, eyes bright and fully awake. "Hear that?"
"Uh huh..."
"It's Dad. Man, if only I was a worgen," The boy said. Out of all of the children, Terenas was the only one that was not born after their father was a worgen.
"Oh no, Terry. I am glad I didn't get it."
"What about Calia, and Arthas? They are perfectly fine as worgen."
"Calia can get fleas!" Serenity said.
"Ah, Seren. She's our sister."
There was an outburst of howls, cries, and barks. Howling Fjord was named that because of the strong winds that gusted through the high cliffs, making an angry howling like noise. But Howling Keep was called howling because of all the worgen that were there, and every full moon, they would howl.
Terenas went over to his window, and opened it up. Cold air flew into the room. Serenity shivered, and pulled her fur blanket over herself. She drank the remainder of her milk, and then laid down. Her brother listened to all of the noise outside.
"I want to be a worgen," The boy whispered.
"Daddy won't let you."
"Then a deathknight. I'd be the best deathknight in the world, better than even Grandpa. If I had to, I would run away to Icecrown!"
The girl looked over. "You...You would bring me, wouldn't you?"
The boy nodded. "Yeah. You are my sister. Maybe if I became a deathknight, I could find the one who gives you nightmares, and run my sword through him."
Serenity sighed, and closed her eyes.
Ethan threw his head back, and howled again. He stood on the balcony, the cold wind not penetrating his warm coat of fur. Above him, the circle of the moon was shining brightly. There was even the shining lights that could been seen in almost all of Northrend.
No one knew really what the lights were. Tanomoan had tried to fly up into it, but never got high enough without being freezing cold. He even got pneumonia. Sapphire had to take care of the bed-stricken dragon when that happened. And Tanomoan was determined to become resistant to the cold. So, he now lived in one of the coldest places in Northrend. A secluded valley up in the Storm Peaks, close to the coast.
There were more resounding howls, echoes of his own.
"Ethan..."
He looked back, and saw Sapphire dressed in a fur robe, hugging herself.
"Cold?" Ethan asked, surprised.
"No, just lonely," Sapphire murmured. She came over to him, and laid her head onto his chest.
"You could howl with me?" The worgen suggested, grinning. Sapphire kissed him on his muzzle.
"No. Good night. I'll be in bed if you need me."
Ethan watched her leave. He looked to the balcony, then back to Sapphire. He sighed, and fell onto all fours. He walked back into the bedroom, and hopped up onto the bed. Sapphire laid down, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She scratched him on the head and behind the ears.
Ni'kua barked. He was curled up in the corner, watching them.
Rot and Terra hopped up onto the bed, and barked. They clambered sleepily into Sapphire's lap, and both yawned, exposing their small tongues. Sapphire kissed both of them, and laid down. Ethan laid down next to her, and licked her on the face.
The howling continued outside. Taverns would be open, and after the howling the worgen would be partying and having a nice time.
Ethan was fine with sleeping with Sapphire. Perfectly happy.
Sapphire woke up to find Ethan gone. She reached out for him, only to find the sheets cold and empty. The girl sat up, and looked around. Ni'kua was gone too. Rot and Terra were still sleeping in a tight bundle. Sapphire left the bed gently, not wanting to disturb the puppies.
She left her room and checked in on her children. Calia and Arty were fast asleep. Arty was using his dog as a pillow. His cat was awake, and hissed at Sapphire.
When Sapphire went to see Serenity and Terenas, she saw Serenity was curled up into a ball, frowning in her sleep. Terry was awake, and looked up at Sapphire when she came in.
"Hi, Mom."
Sapphire smiled. "Morning, Sweetheart. How are you?"
"Fine."
"How about we go find your father?" Sapphire asked sweetly. Terenas nodded eagerly.
The two left Serenity sleeping. They walked toward the throne room. Sapphire saw that the guards were a couple of young men, ones that had been raised in the Scourge. Not born into it. The two, both human with normal brown hair. One was tall, maybe sixteen. The other was smaller, and closer to twelve. Trainees today then. Now, Sapphire saw an old worgen, grizzled grey, curled up in the corner. Their trainer, sleeping on the job. It was a good thing there would be fair warning if the Fjord was invaded. Both young men yawned.
As soon as they saw Sapphire, they straightened their backs. Sapphire smirked.
"You two sleepy still?"
The older one looked terrified, but the young one spoke up.
"Yes, ma'am! Don't worry, though! I will still be able to stop anyone from coming in!"
"I was going in, but with such a fierce guard, Maybe I shouldn't."
The boy gave her a confused look. "I...I meant...You can go in. But I meant anyone bad."
Terenas was scowling. Sapphire liked the young guard. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Tod. You know my mom, Heather Carter."
"Oh, yes. She's a necromancer. Well, Tod. When you go home to your mother, tell her that I thought you were a very good guard"
"Really?" The boy said. The older one was looking confused. He had probably been taught not to talk to a royal person so casually. Sapphire had been trying to knock that unspoken rule out of the Scourge.
Her father had been doing that as well around the Citadel, and whenever he entered the other settlements of the Scourge. Bolvar was the Scourgeholme children's favorite person.
She looked at the older boy. "You too. Good job. After your shift, go to the kitchens and tell them I sent you. We should have fresh shoveltusk and strawberries."
Both boys brightened at that, and stood more at attention than before. Sapphire entered into the throne room.
"Why should we stay hidden? The Horde and Alliance are weak. We could crush them with ease!"
Sapphire scowled. She left Terenas at the door, and walked into a quarrel.
Several worgen stood in front of the throne. In the center, puffing out his chest, was Marcus. He was a heavily scarred, ugly brute, both in his human and worgen body. He was from Gilneas. Marcus and Ethan were always on edge. Marcus had attacked Ethan once. Sapphire had gladly set his fur on fire.
"Do you not remember what happened last time the Scourge provoked war?" Ethan asked calmly.
"We are better now. We could take them. They have lost many of their warriors. And Tirion Fordring might still be alive, but he could never take down the Lich King twice!"
Some of the worgen were muttering darkly under their breath. All of them were on Marcus's side, wanting war with the rest of the world.
"Don't underestimate him, Marcus. And what makes you think Arthas would want to be the cause of death again? We are different now. The Scourge is not make to destroy the living anymore. Why do you want war, Marcus? So you can exercise your cruelty?"
Marcus growled, and looked enraged. He took a step forward. Sapphire decided to interrupt. Smiling, she walked forward, audibly. The group of worgen saw her, and all whimpered. Marcus saw her, and balked, if only a bit.
She went over to Ethan, and placed on hand onto his shoulder.
"Come now...You are grown men. Surely you can stop fighting and act like gentlemen?" She said, batting her eyelashes.
"No, Your Majesty. Not when one of them is an inbred dog," Marcus growled.
"Hey! That's my dad you are talking about!" Terenas said, coming into view.
"I know that, whelp. We are done here," Marcus snarled. He turned away, and pushed through his group. He went down onto all fours, and ran out of the throne room. The group of worgen that came with him left too, looking back at Ethan. Sapphire scowled, and summoned up a fireball. She shot it at all the worgen, who all yipped and fled.
I'd like to skin Marcus and use him as a rug!" Sapphire snapped. Ethan nodded.
"That'd be nice," He said.
Sapphire kissed Ethan on the head, and ruffled his fur. "Now, be a good boy and take Terenas to Calwood Harbor."
Ethan watched her walk off. "Why?"
"Have you forgotten? Tanomoan's zeppelin? Serenity will be disappointed he isn't on it. She has a bit of a crush on it."
That straightened Ethan. "Crush? On Tanomoan? Fuck that."
"Oh, don't be so parental. She isn't old enough to like anyone seriously. And besides, Tanomoan isn't the worst choice."
"He is to me..." Ethan muttered.
Having left her husband and son, Sapphire went into her study. Only to find Kel'thuzad in there, rifling through her stuff.
"Hey!" She growled. The lich just looked up at her, and went back to looking at a book.
"What is this doing here? Such an amateur tome. This is for children."
"Which I have! That is Serenity's," Sapphire said, folding her arms. One of Kel'thuzad's cats hopped up onto her desk, knocking over an old cup of tea that Sapphire never finished. It fell to the ground, splattering the rug. Sapphire grabbed the cat, who hissed like Arty's had earlier. She held it out to lich.
"Take this horrible cat away!"
Kel'thuzad snatched his cat away from her, and held it tenderly.
"Beauregard! Did she hurt you, sweetheart?"
The cat started purring.
Sapphire scowled. "What are you going to do if I did? Freeze the blood in my veins?"
The lich gave her a dark, sadistic look. "Don't tempt me, you vexatious creature."
Sapphire just turned away from him, and picked up the cup. Then, she took the time messing her desk back up, placing books haphazardly on top of one another and scattering her papers.
"Are you even studying anything right now, dear Sapphire?" Kel'thuzad asked.
"Yes, I am! But my family is more important than magic to me. But I know it isn't for you," Sapphire said in an accusatory tone.
The lich actually looked murderous. But he did not hurt her. He just left in a brisk manner.
The girl looked at one of the papers on the desk. It was letter from her mother. Sapphire hoped that old sack of bones didn't read it.
Grabbing it, Sapphire summoned up a fireball in her hand. She burned it, and dumped the ashes into a wastebasket. After that, she read some unopened messages.
A knock on the door interrupted Sapphire as she was opening a letter from Bolvar.
"Come in," She said, slicing open the envelope. She opened her palm, and a small sapphire fell into her hand.
Autum came hopping in, smiling. "Hello, Sapphire!"
"Hey, Autum. Thought you and Falric would have left with Arthas."
"No. Fally likes it here. And I am sure Mar Mar will be coming. Jaina and Arthas are quite scary sometimes!"
Sapphire raised an eyebrow. "Just now figuring that out?"
"Oh, yes! Also, Kelly is here. And he's the bestest teacher there is."
Sometimes, it was hard to hate Autum. She acted so childishly sometimes. After years, Sapphire was still having trouble figuring out why Falric liked her. Or why Autum liked him.
"I am sure Kel'thuzad is rather competent," Sapphire said.
"Oh, he is! I only wish he wasn't so irritable and sad sometimes."
That took Sapphire off guard. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, he's sad that his son is dead and Ethan doesn't like him. And since he is sad, he gets angry at himself. I think all he needs is a hug."
Owen collapsed, panting hard. His chest heaved up and down. All of his muscles ached. He had been running as fast as he could. He needed to get to King Ethan.
Bernie trotted over to him, and whimpered. He licked his friend affectionately, and laid down next to him. Reached up, Owen pet the dog.
"Good boy..."
He looked at his surroundings. It was a dark night. The trees around him looked threatening to him. The worgen got up on all fours, and limped off to one of the trees. Taking a deep breath, he climbed it, digging his claws into the bark. He smelled the sharp scent of pine.
Once he reached the top, Owen looked around. He was looking for a sign of civilization. He saw it in the form of a farm. It was not far off. In the distance, Howling Keep rose up against the dark sky. Owen wore the standard uniform of an official hunter. They would take him in, and let him rest.
He climbed down, and looked at Bernie.
"Come on, Bern. We aren't that far."