This story is rated M for some language, some adult themes and violence.))
Through the Hour Glass
A World of Warcraft fanfic
By Heidi Cautrell
Part 2
"Who said we wanted to help in the first place!?" Xyra snarled, staggering to her feet, her sword finally drawn.
"You did," said the image of Zephyr. A strong gust of wind dashed the image apart. Coughing and spitting out the black sand, Xyra turned to Gelles. The former paladin had already risen to her feet and was primly dusting off her tabard.
"What the nether did she mean, I did?" demanded Xyra, her annoyance clear.
Gelles shook her head. "I don't know what she meant. I don't know what they expect of us either. I should have known they wouldn't let me go so easily"
"What do you mean let you go?" said Xyra with a frown.
Once Xyra was facing Gelles fully her silver eyes widened. Pulling her head back, she looked her friend over, then carefully said, "Gelles"
"Yes?" said Gelles' voice. Xyra's mouth fell open as she stared at the woman before her. Gelles frowned at the reaction. "What?" she asked shrugging her shoulders.
Xyra blinked, then incredibly started laughing. Bending over almost double, she laughed until tears streamed down her striped cheeks. Propping her hands on her metal hips, Gelles glared at her friend who was almost on the ground she was laughing so hard.
"What is so damn funny!" Gelles finally demanded.
"You!" Xyra gasped and was taken over by fresh bouts of laughter.
Throwing her hands up in the air Gelles was startled to find that her hands brushed ears--her own ears. A half a foot away from her head, no less. Gasping, Gelles' hands grabbed the protruding ears and followed them to their points, a foot away from her head. Shaking her head, eyes wide with incredulity, Gelles pulled her hands in front of her face. The fingers she gazed at were long, slim and blue.
"Blue! I'm blue!" she exclaimed, staring wide eyed at Xyra who was in the final throws of her amusement. The exclamation sent her into fresh giggles, but she did manage to stay up right.
"Gelles, not only is your skin blue, but so is your hair and the very stylish markings on your cheeks," said Xyra, a huge grin plastered on her face.
"What!?" Gelles hands flew to her hair. It was still pulled back into the sensible ponytail, so she tore out the holder, dragging her hair over one ear, almost bending it in half in the process. Wincing Gelles squinted as she eyed her hair color. It was a darker blue than her skin, slightly darker than the blue of the sky. She groaned, dropping the lock of hair as she covered her face with her now enormous hands.
Xyra chuckled softly, gently patting Gelles' new body on the shoulder. "Look on the bright side Gell. You're as tall as I am now." Amusement was threaded deeply into Xyra's words, but her touch was comforting as she tried to soothe her friend.
"I'm an elf," Gelles said, her voice muffled by her hands.
"You certainly look like one. Though I doubt you could ever be as pompous," said Xyra teasingly.
A smile touched Gelles' now blue lips. Slowly lifting her head she looked her best friend directly in the eye for the first time without the aid of anything to stand on. They smiled at one another. Xyra's smile soon turned sly however, "Now don't you wish Farahl were here to see you"
Gelles blinked in surprise. Farahl had been an elven woman and leader of the guild where Xyra and Gelles had first met. Along with being a friend and leader, Farahl had also been Gelles' love interest for a brief period of time.
A snort was Gelles' response. "I'd rather no one else saw me like this"
Xyra simply grinned. After a moment Gelles returned the smile with a small one of her own. She had to admit, she could get use to the height. Drawing her sword from her back she took a few experimental swings with it.
Quirking a pale eyebrow, Xyra said, as she watched, "You'll find the height is a blessing and a curse. Your arms are longer, as well as your legs, but while that means you can reach farther with your sword, it also means it will take you longer to complete a swing"
Nodding, Gelles said, "I was wondering about that. I'll be sure to keep it in mind." She sheathed her sword again, then looked around. They had landed in a pile of black sand, but the black was only a small patch in a larger, more normal colored desert. A mile or so away Gelles spied what could possibly be an outpost of some kind.
Turning in the direction Gelles looked, Xyra said, "Do you think this is Tanaris"
Gelles looked thoughtful, "I think so. But the real question is, since we are dealing with the Bronze Dragonflight: What time period is this"
A snort was Xyra's response. "True enough. I say we start walking and find out if that place is friendly." A glance from Xyra had Gelles nodding her agreement. The pair turned and started out. The first thing Gelles noticed was that she could easily walk step for step with Xyra, no need to lengthen her strides or take extra steps. Xyra noticed this as well, for she didn't have to shorten her steps or stop for a moment to allow her friend to catch up. The pair grinned at one another after twenty steps. After several more paces, Xyra's grin slipped into a thoughtful look.
"What I don't understand," Xyra said finally, breaking the silence as they walked, "is why you're now a kal'dorei. When we ventured into that one time to help save Thrall, _I_ was the one to be changed. Into a human no less. So when, exactly, would you need to be a Kal'dorei"
Gelles's blue eyebrows knitted together as she thought. "Well, we're on Kalimdor, so that must be part of the reason. The other part must have something to do with Tanaris. So what happened, in the past, that the Kal'dorei took part in that occurred in Tanaris or nearby"
The pair continued walking through the sand, their feet sinking only marginally as they used their grace to maneuver over the sliding surface. Their thoughts consumed them for sometime, the sun beating down on their head and shoulders as they continued walking. A buzzard circled over head, pulled a wry grin from them both as they glanced up at the carrion eater's cry. He'd make no meal of them that day. After a quarter of a mile, the pair glanced up at their destination.
A frown creased Xyra's pale forehead. "That doesn't look like a settlement anymore"
"No..." said Gelles thoughtfully, "It's more like a hill or mound. A rock perhaps? Tanaris has plenty of those"
Slowly shaking her head, Xyra said slowly, "Not a rock, more like... a hive"
In unison they looked at one another and gasped, "Silithid"
Swearing a blue streak Xyra finally said, "The War of the Shifting Sands. Bloody hellfire"
"That was over a thousand years ago," said Gelles thoughtfully.
Xyra opened her mouth to retort, but shut it quickly to the sound of muffled thunder. The pair turned to see dust billowing up a half a mile away. Cursing yet again, Xyra jerked Gelles by her bicep, pulling her friend after her as they raced toward the nearest shelter; a rather meager looking pile of rocks.
"If it's a sandstorm, this is our only hope. Get in and pull your cloak around your entire head!" Xyra shouted as the thundering sound grew louder behind them. The rocks turned out to have a bit of an overhang, so they scrambled in, huddling together and pulling their cloaks over their heads. After several moments the thundering sound drew nearer, but there was no wind and only a minimal amount of sand flying through the air.
With a frown, Xyra drew the cloak from her pale head. A nudge from Xyra's elbow had Gelles pulling her cloak off as well. Making a few silent gestures, Xyra let her friend know she would sneak out and take a look around. Wrapping the shadows around her, Xyra slipped into stealth and crept from the rocks. The thundering noise continued to increase in volume. Crouching near the side of a round rock, Xyra peered out into the desert. She could still see the billowing cloud, but now she could see there were riders within the cloud. The riders were astride nightsabers. Letting out a sigh of relief, Xyra slipped back into the rocks.
"They are Kal'dorei riders. They're our best bet to get through this, if this is indeed the War of the Shift Sands," said Xyra. Gelles nodded grimly. It was well known that many Kal'dorei lost their lives in the fight against the Silithid, including Fandral Staghelm's only son, which was one of many reasons the druid leader was so insufferable in the future. Emerging together, Xyra and Gelles kept their hands away from their weapons. As the riders approached, Xyra whispered, "Tell them your name is Allahna Lunastar and you are my cousin." Gelles glanced at Xyra from the corner of her eye, wondering absently if her eyes were silver like Xyra's and just how she was going to pull of being a Kal'dorei.
The riders were upon them then, blowing sand and dust around the pair as they reigned to a halt. The riders looked to be a unit of Sentinels. Xyra eyed them a moment, then saluted smartly. Gelles hesitated but a moment, making sure her movements were exactly the same as Xyra's. Xyra smiled in her mind at her friend's quick adaptation.
"Hail Sentinels of Elune!" said Xyra, her voice clear and full of authority that Gelles remembered well from her time in Xyra's guild. She wondered if Xyra wouldn't have also made a good sentinel.
"Hail strangers! State your names, ranks and purpose!" said the sentinel at the front, a Lieutenant by the looks of her insignia. She sat astride a frostsaber, her eyes glowing a brilliant amber within her purple helmet. The rest of her armor was purple as well and it matched the purple of her skin, though the armor was a few shades darker.
"I am Xyra Lunastar, Sergeant. This is Allahna Lunastar, Master Sergeant. We are the last of our unit. We were out on patrol when we were attacked by the Si- er, Qiraji," said Xyra, saluting sharply again. She prayed that this Sentinel wouldn't bother to ask too many questions. A glance at Gelles, told Xyra for now she was willing for the rogue to be the speaker, even if Gelles' rank was higher.
Mutters among the Sentinels told Xyra they were all wondering who was in her unit that were now dead. The questions were intermingled with curses upon the insectoid invaders. Grim though it was, Xyra hoped the story would be sufficient. Becoming a practiced liar was no easy feat, but Xyra had certainly found it came easier the longer she was a rogue.
A sharp whistle interrupted Xyra's introspection. The Lieutenant was calling for quiet from her unit. She glanced sharply over her shoulder, then regarded Xyra and Gelles coolly. Knowing this one would be no push over, Xyra squared her shoulders.
"If what you say is true, then you shall come with us to report your failure to Fandral Staghelm yourself," said the sentinel leader, a faint smirk in her voice. Gritting her teeth, Xyra nodded sharply. Of all the Sentinels they had to encounter, this one had to be a hard case. She knew instinctively this Sentinel thought they were deserters, which irritated Xyra because if anyone else thought that and called them on it, Xyra knew they were both in deep trouble. After all, how could they explain the truth and not look insane?
Gesturing to one of the sentinels behind her, the Lieutenant said, "You can ride these two mounts, they are extras, but we won't be needing them, we're done with our patrol." The subordinate the leader had gestured to returned from the back of the formation with two darkly colored sabers--one male, one female. A pang of regret touched Xyra then as she thought of her own mount, Nox, who was still roaming through the Moonglade until his owner came to claim him again. Taking the reigns of the mounts, Xyra handed the male saber's reigns to Gelles. After allowing the saber to sniff her over, Gelles mounted carefully. Xyra's movements were more sure and confident as she climbed astride the dark female saber she'd chosen. After all, she didn't have a new body to adjust to.
Gesturing the pair to back of the formation, the Lieutenant whistled sharply. The unit took off, not waiting for the newcomers to make it into position. The pair managed well enough, though even Xyra had a bit of trouble getting use to a new mount after over two years with Nox as her constant companion.
As they rode, Xyra glanced about them, noting the direction of the unit was almost due west and if they kept their current course they would ride to the north of the Silithid mound that she and Gelles had initially been intent on approaching. A glance at the elven Gelles told Xyra that her friend had noticed the direction as well. The question now was, were they in Tanaris or were they in Silithus? Just how close were they to the gates of the Qiraji stronghold?
The other thought that occupied Xyra's mind as they rode was one that could possibly have a darker answer. What, exactly, was their purpose in this time period? Were they nearing the time when Fandral's son was about to die? Or had that already passed? Xyra could only guess that the Bronze Flight would want them to keep history as it was in their own time and if that were so, then many, many of her people would have to die--and she would have to watch. Dark thoughts twisted in her mind as well as her gut.
Feeling Gelles' hand upon her thigh brought Xyra from her brooding. Glancing up at her friend's strange features, Xyra realized that even though she wore a different shape, Gelles still carried herself the same way, used the same expressions and even her eyes had the same compassion and determination. Another thought occurred to Xyra as they rode. What were Gelles' powers now? Absently biting her lip, Xyra decided she could pass for a Priestess of Elune well enough, if she still retained her paladin powers. Even the priestesses during the War of the Ancients wore armor and fought along side the rest of the troops.
And on went her thoughts as they continued to ride, each thought spawning the next. Time passed slowly as Xyra's mind worried the problem until it was a sore spot that throbbed endlessly.