"So, we're looking for that cow again?" Byden asked from where he stood in New Tristram.
"Yes," Kalgor nodded. "I remember where we saw it before."
"As do I," Eirena nodded. "It was by the Old Tristram road."
"That's right," the Nephalem nodded back. "Gather up any that want to help."
"I do worry for you," Mirdael sighed to his mortal mate.
"I know. But, I will be fine," Moolara soothed him and pat his gloved hand. The Fetish following around her were all too ready to protect her. Gurzick had told them of her new state of health.
"Do you think you can call that, ah, Bogadile to us, if we need it?" Lou-yu asked Sohar.
"It may be possible. I know that it does want to help," he agreed.
"It can't simply walk with us?" Kormac asked.
"It cannot. It needs to swim at all times. I was given this," the old Witch Doctor said, as he removed an old, rubbery scale from one of the many pouches at his hips. "The beast removed it for me. As long as I hold it, I can call it forth."
"Don't lose it," the Nephalem said. Sohar only chuckled softly and put it back in his pouch.
"You would think that Zayl would be here," Jozin said.
"He's with his wife," Lyndon smirked. "Sort of odd that she doesn't have any sign of having brats, er, children yet..."
"I'll tell Zayl of how concerned you are of that," Vincent muttered, as he walked past him.
"No need!" Lyndon said quickly. Byden rolled his eyes with Kormac, as they moved to the mage that would help with transportation. Before they reached their destination, Gurzick appeared.
"Let me help get you there faster," Greed said from the crown. A portal was made and quickly used. When he appeared, he chuckled. "I am most curious of this! I have to be here to see everything."
"Greed, were you able to find out about Mitherael?" the Nephalem asked.
"I have a very minor scout infiltrating the lair of the Baroness as we speak. Her main doors are locked. In order for my spy to gain access, he has to go up in the ranks, so to speak. He needs to earn their trust. He's playing out being a base goblin to gather treasures right now. He knows what to do and what to look for, so he'll be able rise up quickly. Don't worry. We'll know more when we can. I'm not getting any reports of anything different right now," Greed assured them all. At the sight of Izarius coming down, they all looked at him curiously.
"Before you all find the Cow King, Anaurael had a question for Sohar. Will you accompany me to Heaven?" Izarius asked the Witch Doctor.
"I can," he nodded.
"We shall return," Izarius said. He grabbed Sohar's hand to bring him to the Angiris Council chamber where Anaurael was waiting. Imperius was holding her, and even he was quite curious to her request to see the Witch Doctor. Tyrael, Auriel, and Itherael were also there to witness it. Taylauriel was there, and she moved to rest her hands on his shoulders. He knew she missed him.
"Thank you for appearing," Anaurael smiled. "Um...can you summon your companion?"
"My companion?" Sohar frowned.
"She means that beast that helped us before," Imperael chuckled. "She wants to see it. I told her about it, and she is quite curious of it."
"Oh! Hmm. I suppose I can," he nodded. "Just make a clear spot."
"EASILY DONE," Anarius chuckled and had the floor cleared. Sohar smiled and moved to start chanting softly. At the pool of toxic water appearing, Tyrael was even a bit surprised. When several piranhas began to skitter around the water's edge, Anaurael showed complete interest. At the sight of the Bogadile leaping out through the floor by the watery portal, she had Imperius set her down.
"My ward..." Imperius growled with protective concern.
"I am fine," she smiled. The Bogadile regarded her calmly and seemed to tilt its head at her small nod of respect to it. A sniff was given to her before it went back into the water before it dried up. "A truly amazing beast! Thank you for letting me see it."
"You are welcome," Sohar nodded. He also felt something else through the scale. It was a sensation to let it come back. "Hmm. It wishes to return."
"To return?" she frowned. He was already in a chant to bring the Bogadile back. In its mouth was an egg, and it nudged it at her feet. Sohar was very surprised at this. None of the others knew what to make of this, either. The egg was also hatching...
"I do not think it can survive here," the Witch Doctor frowned. "It will need to be in water most of the time. I am clearly puzzled by this!"
"I can have Greed collect a tub for us," Izarius said.
"Why did it give over an offspring?" Itherael asked.
"It knows of her importance, I think," Sohar thought aloud.
"Those odd beasts from that colorful world also gave me their aid, too," she said.
"They did?!" Itherael asked with surprise. At her nod again, he was quite perplexed at this. Malthael was calmly listening in from her mind. Auriel was simply fascinated by the cracking egg.
"The egg is hatching," Imperael said. The adult Bogadile had left, but now the infant was soon sprawling on the ground at three feet in length and weighing in at fifty pounds. It looked up at Anaurael and was quick to lurch forward to rest on her feet. It easily claimed her.
"I cannot move now," Anaurael seemed to blush.
"It has imprinted on you as its mother," Sohar sighed.
"What?" Imperius asked.
"What can it eat?" Tyrael asked.
"Anything," Sohar chuckled. "I will inform Greed when I go back."
It gave an odd sound that was mixed with a cluck and a chirp when Darius moved to gather up the infant reptile. It still had the egg sack on its belly, and it was taken to her chamber to be set in a spare bathing tub. When fresh water was placed into the tub, it started to turn green. Now they realized how the water in the swamps became poisoned. The Bogadile's skin naturally exuded the toxins into the water. It was doubtful the spare tub would be used for bathing after this.
"You will be careful?" Taylauriel asked Sohar.
"You know I will," he nodded and accepted the kiss she gave him. He was taken back down, and he explained what happened in full.
"It gave over an egg?!" Moolara asked with disbelief.
"It did. I find it strange the Sanctuary's beasts are flocking to her now," Sohar admitted.
"You may be right," Kalgor thought aloud. "It's almost as if...Sanctuary knows."
"What's this?" the Nephalem frowned.
"Just an old tribal belief that, one day, Sanctuary will assist in defending itself," he shrugged.
"Sort of odd," Byden frowned. "I mean, why didn't this happen when that Black Soulstone happened? You would think that it would have happened then!"
"I don't think that the situation was right," Kalgor seemed to mumble. "Even I still have certain doubts. We all know how events can be slow to come about."
"True," the Nephalem sounded puzzled on all of this. "Anyways, let's contact the Cow King. We'll talk about this later."
"Oh..." Byden said and moved to whisper softly to the Nephalem. Now disbelief was shown.
"When were you told that?!"
"Some time ago, unfortunately. We can look in on it after," Byden promised.
"I will want to see it," the Nephalem nodded sharply.
"Hmm?" Kalgor asked. Now he was whispered to, and he thought. "I should bring what I know, too. It's carved into an animal hide back in my homeland."
"Itherael would want to see that," Byden nodded.
"What is this about?" Greed asked curiously through Gurzick's crown.
"Nothing of too much relevance," Byden chuckled. He only said that to keep Lyndon's curiosity down. He didn't want any that didn't need to know anything to remain clueless. Greed would likely be informed in time. He was doing much to help them.
"I have the staff," Kalgor said and took it out to show them. "I...don't know what to do with it."
"I did see a skeleton of an animal on the ground," Eirena said. "It saddened me. Ah! There it is."
She gestured to where it was next to a cliff, and Kalgor moved the staff near it. The ghostly form of the Cow King rose up to acknowledge them all.
"Greetings! You have rung a bell for my assistance?" the Cow King asked.
"We need your help," the Nephalem said. The problem was now laid bare, and the Cow King thought over everything very carefully.
"I do see that it is needed for me to provide such aid. But, it does not come freely. So, you help me with my pastures, and I will help you with yours," he said.
"What do we need to do?" the Nephalem asked.
"Some of my herd has gone astray. They need to be rounded back up into their proper enclosures. My queen seems to have gone mad cow, too. I am unsure what to make of this," he said sadly. "If you help me restore order and rebuild the fences, I shall be indebted to you."
"And...if we get attacked by those we are trying to help?" Byden asked.
"The symptoms of being a mad cow may not have only afflicted my queen. If my followers do show discontent with you, do what you must. Try and mooOOoo! Ahem. Excuse me. Move them to proper pastures. Let's just hope they don't have a lot of beef to pick with you," the Cow King chuckled.
"Then let's go," Vincent nodded. He had Danetta's weapons ready. His wolf was ready, too. At the signs that the others were ready to go, the Cow King nodded and activated a flaring red portal before vanishing. They all tensed and moved through it. What they found was very strange.
It was a large plot of farmland. Acres of it, in fact. There were cows grazing everywhere, but many of them were outside the main buildings. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until they found a dead farmer. At how the man seemed to be gutted open, Jozin stood up and readied to fight. Something felt very wrong now. Gurzick was quick to take a hint to hide and watch for Greed. Even the Fetish that surrounded Moolara began to jump and chitter on edge. Mirdael hovered over her protectively, too. He sensed that something was far from ordinary now.
"Um...they killed the one that looked after them?" Lyndon frowned. "Does he have any gold? Oh! He does! My day just got better!"
"Quiet," Kormac grunted. Then he blinked when one of the cows stood up. "What in Akarat's name is that cow doing?!"
"What?" Lou-yu frowned. Now he saw other cows stand up and pluck up weapons and armor from the ground. Then they all turned to see them.
"It looks like we've been noticed," the Nephalem said and readied to attack. At the angry braying and moos given now, the group was charged at.
"Fight for us!" Eirena commanded to hypnotize a few cows to attack each other. Kalgor got into his spinning whirlwind of death. Vincent had a massive bundle of arrows launched into the air to rain down on them all, while his wolf howled to help them attack. Lou-yu called down several icy meteors to help slow down the crazed beasts. Sohar and Moolara had their undead summons appear to help hold back the mob of angry cows. After a bit more slaughter, the cows suddenly relented at the loud mooing from the back of the farm. They abandoned the heroic group to answer the call.
"That must be the queen," Jozin muttered.
"You think?" Lyndon grumbled and was quick to refill his bolts. At the sight of a several cows coming over, their weapons were raised. But, these cows didn't attack.
"We have no beef with you," one of the cows said. "Our Majesty queen has gone mad cow."
"We have tried to feed her greener grass, but she refuses. We do not know how to tie her down," another said somberly. The other cows could only nod in agreement.
"Your king wants us to kill her. If we must," the Nephalem said.
"We understand. May she find greener pastures than the ones here. We will help you get to her," one of the heavier cow warriors nodded. There were a good fifty cows that moved in front of them. Their weapons were raised up, they brayed out their battle cries, and charged forward.
"I'm starting to feel hungry," Kalgor sighed when he saw the different cow carcasses on the ground. "I think I'll eat a steak when we're done here."
"You feel that way, too?" Kormac grinned and helped spear down a rogue cow. As they followed the herd of good cattle, they all grimaced at the sight of other slain farmers on the ground. Something nasty had to have happened. When they finally reached the queen, they paused with shock. She was massive. She towered over them all and brayed out her defiance. Even her crown looked overly large to suit her stature. And she had a very crazed look in her eyes, as she glared at them.
"Mad cow," the Nephalem seemed to mutter out.
"Too bad Imperael isn't here," Byden smirked. Sohar was already chanting to call the Bogadile forth to help. Moolara clicked to the Fetish around her, and they darted forth to cause havoc around the large bovine's feet. The shamans were busy spraying blasts of poison into the fray to further cause havoc. Sohar was also able to call another shaman to help turn various cows into chickens for a time to make them easier to handle. The battle was intense and very brutal.
"Look out!" the Nephalem shouted when the queen called forth the cows that still obeyed her.
"This is worse than unicorns!" Jozin grunted and did several dashing kicks to multiple cows around him. Byden seemed to glance over at him.
"Ah, no. This is nothing compared to that place!" the Crusader snorted. He activated his charge with Akarat's champion and barreled through a mob of the cows. Two lesser champions had materialized alongside him to help clear the path again for temporary assistance.
"We should go back there," Kalgor grinned and leapt into a fray of cows to whirlwind through them all. When he stood tall after the slaughter, he was still grinning. "It was fun."
"Fun?! You call that fun?!" Lyndon gaped and kept firing his multiple arrows. "Are you mad?"
"Are they easy to kill?" Lou-yu asked. "I haven't been to that place yet."
"We were unprepared the first time," Jozin chuckled and looked at the now wounded Cow Queen. She was staggering from several blows to her legs and one to her head. She had massive bite marks from the Bogadile's attack, and it even managed to severe a front leg to take with it for the piranhas to share it. Smaller cuts and wounds from the Fetishes were easily seen, too. It was a bit hard to make out her form from all the arrows, bolts, gashes, and other wounds caused by the heroes on her body. When she finally fell to the ground, she saw the Cow King appear.
"May your pastures let you roam far and wide," the Cow King said gently. The madness left her eyes, as her life finally left her. In that single moment, he knew that she felt remorse in what happened. There was a chance that she could come back. His world worked differently. He just hoped that the madness she bore wouldn't return with her. Now he turned to the heroes and said, "As you have helped me regain my herd, I shall lend you what aid I can. Give them the summoning stick!"
Several cows mooed and trampled off before coming back with a type of bardiche spear. The Nephalem took it and studied it critically. "What does this do?"
"It will summon a part of my herd to help you for a time. It is the most that I can do," he said regally. "Roam free and beware any picket fences!"
"Ah...sure. Thank you," the Nephalem nodded. Gurzick reappeared and giggled. He was able to loot a few corpses, and he had found a few items to hand over. He waited for them all to leave through the same portal, and then he gave over his findings.
"Wow..." Vincent blinked at the new set of boots he was given. They would easily enhance his walking speed, and they bolstered his endurance. Jozin was given a ring that amplified his attack power. As the others got small items to help them a bit more in the fight, the Nephalem was talking to Byden.
"I need to see that prophecy," the Nephalem whispered.
"I know. I don't know about the mercs," the Crusader sighed.
"Although Lyndon is questionable, he can be bribed to keep quiet. However, he has been trying to keep his mouth shut when he knows it's best," the champion smirked. At the sight of Itherael coming down to see them, instant attention was granted.
"Greetings! I was hoping to find out what transpired in that new realm," he admitted. His floating wings hovered over his frame calmly. "I would have sent another, but I needed to know personally. What was done?"
"We gained some assistance with the help of a spear," the Nephalem said and showed it to him.
"Oh! Would it be safe for Anaurael to keep this relic in her chambers? In case she truly needs it? She does know how to use a spear, too. She is trained in handling this particular weapon," he said.
"That's fine," the champion said and handed over the spear. It was to help protect her, after all. Itherael took it to hold onto for now. "Oh. A question. I was told there was a prophecy. A very important one. I need to see it."
"Ah. Yes, you do," Itherael nodded.
"I also heard of something else that happened," the champion continued. "We were suddenly taken back down from Heaven after nightfall was done."
"Oh..." Itherael said with a heavy sigh. "Imperius...learned of the hidden prophecy. The very same one you wish to know of. And, because of it, he was ready to abandon Anaurael. Her mind...it had shattered. Without his presence in her life, she would not have been able to bear it. She also gave him back his Light when this happened."
"Is she okay now?!" Byden asked with complete concern. Lyndon's jaw actually dropped at this.
"Of course, she is. So, you can calm yourself. Imperius realized his mistake. He healed her mind. He gave her even more of his Light to further cement her to him. Worry not," Itherael chuckled.
"How did her mind shatter?" Vincent asked.
"She wished to forget about Imperius. He had to help her remember him again," Itherael said softly. Small gasps of shock were given in response. "Once her memories were restored, so was her full faith in him. All is well now. Anyways, you wish to see something of vast importance. I need your vows in full that this information will not be shared to any outside sources."
"I vow," Jozin nodded. Other promises were also given. Byden had already agreed when Izarius told him. Even Lyndon gave his promise. That surprised Kormac, but he held his thoughts to himself. Gurzick was already giving his vow of secrecy with Greed. This was something he had to know of.
"Itherael," Kalgor said. "I wanted to find something in my homeland that spoke of a different legend that may be coming about, too."
"Truly?! Can you fetch it?" Itherael asked.
"Where is it? I will find it," Greed said from Gurzick's crown. The locations were given, and Gurzick vanished away. When he came back, he handed over the delicate skin. Kalgor nodded and let Itherael take it to hold onto in his own careful way. Itherael nodded to them all and had a portal made for them to walk into.
They found themselves in his Library. Izarius already had a table set up with the ancient writings ready to be seen. Translations were carefully written out to be set nearby. Kalgor's animal skin was carefully placed on another table for Itherael to study in full.
"So...where is Anaurael?" Lyndon asked curiously.
"She is safe," Izarius said calmly. He refused to give out any further information. She was closed off with Imperius in his sanctum. He wanted her nowhere near the party. She also knew how much he would always detest them coming to Heaven.
"Itherael will tell us what is learned," Imperius only snorted when his sanctum sealed them away.
"I know he will," she smiled. As they relaxed in the privacy of the sanctum, Itherael was amazed at the legend he was reading from Kalgor's tribe.
"Sanctuary's beasts would rise to defend the true savior of Sanctuary? Well...as much as Anaurael is Imperius's missing Light, I am unsure of her being Sanctuary's true savior," Itherael admitted. Then he looked over with shock to find the baby Bogadile running into the room. And on its back, and clinging with a form of joy, was Mal!
"Come back here!" Darius said when he chased the speedy reptile.
"What is this?" Itherael asked. Malthael was quick to appear to report.
"My body was crying. The beast heard the cries and decided to escape its own confines to help," Malthael shrugged. "I am unsure why..."
"So...Mal was crying in his cradle, and this infant Bogadile heard him?" Itherael asked carefully. "You know, Malthael was to be reborn as both Heaven's and Sanctuary's champion..."
"You think...the beasts are for...?" the Nephalem blinked at this. Now Malthael was pleased. At the sight of Anaurael appearing with Imperius, Mal looked over and whimpered at her.
"Come to mommy," she said warmly. The baby Bogadile hissed and turned to approach her. It was something completely unheard of. The beast seemed to be completely in-tune with the baby's thought process. And now Sohar realized why an egg was given to Anaurael. The Bogadile was going to grow up with her son. They going to be a form of brothers, in a sense.
"How is he not hurt by the reptile's skin?" Darius asked.
"Only in water does the poison spread," Sohar said calmly. "In the air, it is simply skin."
"Was that baby riding on that thing?" Lyndon asked.
"He was," Darius nodded. Mithus and Azarius had soon appeared to see if they could collect the infant Bogadile, but Anaurael only chuckled and waved them down after Mal was safely in her arms.
"It is fine. If it feels that it can follow on its own, then it can," she nodded. "Where is Tyrael?"
"He had to check on the Horadrim," Izarius said.
"Oh..." she frowned.
"My ward?" Imperius asked. He was completely ignoring the other heroes. Izual was able to sense her worry and had Tyrael quickly appear.
"What did I miss?" Tyrael chuckled. On being told what just happened, he was in shock. "My son...was riding on that?!"
"He was," Itherael chuckled.
"And it will be ridden into battle..." Malthael mused.
"A steed of battle..." Imperius mused. Now Sohar's jaw dropped. Moolara was just as surprised.
"Nothing is going to touch my son," Tyrael chuckled. Imperius only nodded and was able to carry both Anaurael and Mal away from the Library. The infant Bogadile happily followed.
"This is getting weirder and weirder," Byden sighed. At the sight of his angelic female partner appearing behind him, he found himself sighing with relief at her hands on his shoulders.
"I missed you, too," she soothed.
"What do you make of this?" he asked her.
"I find it amusing! If Sanctuary, itself, rises up to assist in the fight, why should we stop it? I also have a theory," she mused. When she was glanced at by the others, she said, "I was told that Sanctuary was made from Anu's eye. I wouldn't be surprised if animals that grew up on the landscapes had a small touch of Anu in them, too. Think about it."
"That is...a very interesting concept!" Tyrael blinked. "But...why would such a thing happen now? I mean..."
"I BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE OF ME," Anarius said when he appeared. "I AM REBORN. SO, THE OLD LAND KNOWS. EVEN THOUGH THE WORLDSTONE IS DESTROYED, SANCTUARY WAS CREATED FROM IT. NOW THAT I AM HERE, IT IS REACTING IN VARIOUS WAYS. IT MAY BE WHY ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING NOW."
"You would think so," the Nephalem thought aloud. Greed was actually quite intrigued by all of this. But, at the small alarm he got from something in the Burning Hells, he was quick to check it out. One of the strong demons managed to become reborn. Now he had to figure out who it was to report it and cause more havoc. That was always considered fun to him!