Straydog Saga
Flea 28: Secrets of Mydrassil Part 2: The Whitebranch Strikes Back
Hanariel shifted a little in his sleep. The warm body beside him had become a welcome change to the usual mass of crumpled cold sheets. He smiled as no devilish dreams dared take him from the comforting deepness of restful bliss. The mass of scar tissue where his right arm used to be no longer served as a constant reminder of terrible tragedy, but a means to let his beloved get all the closer. Keesha's golden runes gently hummed against his pale skin as the night began its slow assent into the infinite sky.
But just as the first of the birds nesting outside their night-bathed window began their singing ritual, a blaring horn came from the upper bough. Strange buds burst from the top of walls in a line, opening into pale lavender flowers. As the horn's mighty sound came again and again, purple crystals from within the opened blooms began to pulsate in time with the alarm. There was no more rest for the twin mystics as both sets of golden eyes opened and could not find the ability to shut again.
"Wh-What the hell is that?" Keesha groggily asked while rubbing one of her eyes. She cast a sleepy but concerned look to Han, whose fuzzy vision begged for the aid of his glasses. Once in full focus, the flowers' violet alarm made him gasp and scramble to his feet.
"A code violet."
"I-It can't be…" Keesha yawned as she watched Han collect the lightly colored clothes from their randomly deposited place on the floor and furniture.
"It is. We need to go." Han said as the waking panic began to pulse through him as readily as his own blood. Keesha gave him a doubt-filled look but began collecting and adorning what little clothing she usually wore. When the pair was fully dressed, they made their way into the dormitory hall. All along the top of the long hallway were the same lavender flowers, glaring along with the blaring horn. Others were beginning to emerge from their rooms, armor on and weapons readied.
"Damn…" Keesha shook her head as she and Han joined the group of mages, druids, priests, and other guests of Lady Whitedeer and made their way into the upper bough's designated emergency spots, which they had all visited in days past during a routine monthly drill. But instead of the care-free sound of crowd-bustle and giggling gossip, only the thunderous herd's collective roar came as the crowd split by designated standing area.
Meanwhile, from the deepest room within the Pinnacle Bough, a frazzled Orifiel swiftly walked in her finest battle garb towards her own spot within the upper bough trade district. Beside her was Trenton, who quickly gave his report.
"Have they gotten to the Pinnacle Bough?"
"No, mother. But the rats have finally left the nest. Our people in the trunk are fighting them off but we need to get the civilians to safety. Lord Stormrage and his associates are already down there."
"Where are Romulus and Seth?"
"R-Romulus is in the shrine…"
"What the HELL IS HE DOING DOWN THERE?" Orifiel boomed, casting a look to Trenton that made him flinch.
"F-Father sent him there with his mages to protect the area. Father is with the shamans, with the gem."
"Oh for Elune's SAKE I'm going to slap that man. What's happening with Bodyl?" Orifiel grunted as a small group of druids went running past in the direction of the trade district. Although she wore her usual thick-fur adorned reindeer mask, the sound of the horn and the flashing violet light was beginning to give the steward a headache.
"Mizuon is fighting the mercenaries off as we speak, hopefully he'll be able to stop them…or at least last long enough for us to mobilize the White Branch…" Trenton panted, as his shorter legs struggled to keep up with his mother's commanding strides.
"I'm going to have to do this myself, aren't I?" she growled. Trenton's instincts to come back with a cheeky answer were quelled by his equally potent need for self-preservation. It was then that a familiar clacking sound came from behind. Orifiel turned to see the usually cheery Violetina, running towards them with seriousness etched in her sweaty features.
"Ori! Ori, what happens?" She panted, as Orifiel and Trenton slowed their pace.
"We are under attack by The Twilight's Hammer."
"B-But we crush tem! Tey dead." Violetina huskily spoke. Her wide eyes searched for any hint of a joke within the brooding priestess but could find none.
"Apparently not. Violet, how are the shamans fairing? Are they in emergency positions?"
"Yes. Lord Nightgaze helps wit safety procedure. He send me to help you." Violetina nodded. Orifiel sighed without the ability to hide her annoyance. The slightly hurt look on her friend and comrade's face gave Orifiel enough pause to quickly nod in apology but little else.
"So be it then. Trenton, I need to you to get to the nursery and get Inge. After that find Keesha and Han and get them all to safety. It's imperative that the High Mystics not be harmed. They should be in their assigned spots, look for their glow in the southern quarter. Violet, come with me." Orifiel ordered. With a bow, Trenton hurried off, taking a short-cut to the southern end while Orifiel and Violet made their way to the center of the upper bough. There was a great branch-made building that stood tall enough for those who dwelled within to see the entire upper bough if they stood on one of its balconies.
Orifiel, Violet, and a number of aides stood at the most prominent balcony, cut from another large branch at the top of the building. They were able to be seen from all of the people below, but only Orifiel could be heard when she spoke.
"White Branch, HEAR ME!" Her voice carried like thunder in a hushed field. All minor conversations were silenced.
"You are all here because the alarm has rung true. We are under attack…" She paused for only a moment to let her words sink in before continuing.
"The Twilights Hammer has been eating away at my home, at YOUR HOME like termites in the dark. Our brothers and sisters in the lower trunk already fight them. I ask of you, those with the knowledge and training: go to the civilians who dwell below, render aide, and get them to the flight decks. If the decks are bare, use the emergency portals and get them to the docks. Those who can take up arms, go to the trunk and fight. There will be griffons, hippogryphs, and wyverns at the ready to take you bellow. North and East quarters head to the eastern flight deck. West and south head west and take the animals there. Go now; there is no time to waste!" Orifiel ordered. The group said nothing as they obeyed. Orifiel motioned for Violetina and the rest of her small, priestly entourage to follow. She briefly noted that one in their number was missing. Orifiel did not turn when she addressed one of the priestesses.
"Where is Iona?"
"She is on her way my lady, her daughter…"
"Lady Whitedeer!" Another voice, a male voice, called. Orifiel did not stop her progression but turned her head to see a night elf hunter running to her side with a large, striped frostsaber in tow.
"What are you doing here, Morion is it?"
"I apologize my lady. My mother-in-law sent me in her stead…"
"Why would she do that?" Orifiel growled, face going purple with agitation.
"M-My wife is in labor and cannot be moved. Lady Iona with her now. I-I was not allowed to stay per custom s-so she thought my assistance would be of value to you." Morion nodded with a pang of sadness. He could not be there for the premature birth of his child, but in the energy of the moment Morion managed to banish any thought that his son might perish in the midst of the emergency. Orifiel cursed at the seemingly horrid timing. But the Pinnacle Bough was full of emergency portals, in case the situation turned dire. Orifiel gave a forceful sigh, but did not send the hunter away.
"Then stay close and do your best to stay alive down there, boy. I will not make your wife a widow or your child fatherless." Orifiel grunted, causing Morion to gratefully bow his head. They had no idea what awaited them in Mydrassil's trunk, but all of the valiant White Branch members stepped into the glowing portals without hesitation.
The trunk was in utter chaos. Shandori was nearly sent backwards into the portal from which she came as a small body careened into her legs. One of the mint-cloaked fighters, a gnome in stature, met his fate at the hands of one of the Mydrassil civilians. The human bartender, armed with little else than a broken whiskey bottle and a drinking stein managed to bludgeon and stab his attackers, drop-kicking the smallest among them, before succumbing to a barrage of dark spells.
The usually cheerful halls were awash with mayhem, the sounds of commerce replaced with the roar of battle. The mercenaries wasted no time in joining the fray. They dodged bar stools, serving trays, artisan's tools, and all manner of makeshift weaponry as they progressed towards their destination, which seemed miles away in the churning current of battle.
Christoffel, having lost his weapons in the fight with Highraven, had no choice but to fight with his hands, hoping to grab some workable refuse that might have been dropped by a fallen contractor. He felt a whirl of wind coming to his back as one of the White Branch defenders brought their sword down upon him. The blow was blocked by Shandori's steady buckler and countered with her new, elemental sword.
"Stay close!" Shandori grunted as she slashed the attacker across the stomach, cutting open his leather armor as if it were made of parchment. Another slashing motion and the night elf attacker was on the ground. "What happened to your daggers?"
"Long story."
"Stay hidden 'til you can grab something to fight with." Shandori shouted over the sounds of clanging steel and cracking bones. Christoffel, who was never well versed in the art of hand to hand combat, took the advice. The group of mercenaries did their best to stay together in their progression but found themselves splintering off in the fray.
Ima and F-bomb managed to stay close while flinging fire, frost, arcane blasts, and other elemental attacks. F-bomb dropped one of her tiny mechanical totems, causing several mages and druids to become sluggish in their steps. They desperately tried to lash out at the device but found themselves under constant electrical assault from her chain lightning spell. When the totem was finally cracked in two under a tauren's huge hoof, Ima compensated with a frost spell.
Tendrils of ice quickly crept from her touch to those enemies who remained standing. Their feet were quickly stuck to the floor. She raised her hands up and summoned a hail cloud, pelting those beneath with hail the size of tiki masks. The victims of her attack could do little else but shield their heads with their bruised arms. Ima felt beads of sweat begin to fall from the corners of her forehead despite the frigid ice flying from her finger tips. It was then Ima felt a sharp pain cut into her shoulder. She screamed as the metal arrowhead dug into her flesh, interrupting her spell and causing F-bomb to pick up her assault. Another arrow came, nicking Ima's earlobe and sending one of her long, metal earrings to the floor.
"Girlie!" F-bomb grunted and turned to fling a molten ball of pain behind them, narrowly missing the adept ranger and her young companion. To her dismay, the blonde quel'dorei recovered in a matter of seconds and sent another arrow their way. F-bomb's arm nearly broke under the force of the strike, but her metal gauntlet was enough to send the projectile ricocheting in a less deadly direction and rendered little more than a deep bruise on her forearm.
"Stand down or my next arrow won't miss." Vareesa Windrunner assured, pulling back another finely crafted Elvin arrow. Anduin Wrynn was at her side, holy book open and healing spells at the ready.
"Like hell I will; go die in a fire!" F-bomb shouted, tossing another mechanical totem from her pouch. In a matter of seconds a huge fire elemental roared to life and with burning zeal began its assault on the pair. "You fix um good, Tony!" F-bomb smirked as she ran to the fallen mage. She checked the injuries and found Ima's tears to be more motivated by fear than actual pain. She pulled the arrow from the troll's shoulder and quickly issued a healing spell. Though it was weak compared to a more trained healing shaman, it was more than enough to seal the wound, if not leave it a bit tender to the touch.
"Can ya still cast with it?"
"I-I can I think so."
"Good 'cause Big Tony ain't gunna last much longah." F-bomb informed as the roaring elemental seemed to be loosing steam. Despite its waning time outside the elemental plane, each slash and claw forced the pair of alliance adepts apart. Vareesa's keen arrows either burned up or passed through his massive form. Anyone who tried to aide the pair found themselves alight. Ima turned to watch the battle, admiring the elf's skill for a moment before her eyes went wide.
"It can't be…" She blinked in the smoky air. Sure enough she had seen the blue tabard, confident expression, and long pale blonde hair before. In her short time as a student in Dalaran Ima had heard many a motivational speech from the embattled ranger, despite her true trollish form. While in disguised as a gnome she was privileged enough to be in the company of great mages of legend and their cohorts. "That's Lady Windrunner!"
"Who?"
"We've got to warn them about the Twilights!"
"Uh, HELLO! They're trying to kill us, remember?" F-bomb shouted as Tony's massive form began to falter.
"They think we're the bad guys, that's why." Ima stood, wincing a little at the soreness in her shoulder. She did her best to avoid further attack as she made her way towards Anudin and Vareesa.
"Are you NUTS?" F-bomb rasped as a dwarf brandishing two striking hammers swung at her head. With a growl, she shot the dwarf with an earth spell, sending him flying backwards. Seemingly unfazed, the dwarf blacksmith known as McGowan rose again with a smirk. He and his fellow smiths had been among the first to react when the alarm rung out and he had the cuts and bruises as proof.
"That hurt." McGowan grunted and charged, swinging the heavy hammers as quickly as he would his own fists. Barely able to block and counter, let alone stop her companion in her pursuit, F-bomb didn't protest further as Ima continued her progression towards her would be slayers. Ima managed to dodge a fallen warrior, who she nearly tripped over, as she made her way to the soot-covered ranger and her paladin companion.
"L-Lady Winrunner!" Ima slowly approached the air with empty hands raised. Seconds later there was a keen blade at her throat. "P-Please listen! You're making a mistake." Ima screeched as a small trickle of warm wetness began to trickle from the blade. "Y-You're helping the Twilights! We're trying to stop them!"
"R-Rubbish." Vareesa hissed as she pressed the blade deeper into Ima's flesh. The young mage closed her eyes and awaited oblivion as a young paladin's gauntlet stopped the blade from cutting too deep. Vareesa cast Anduin a stern look as he shook his head.
"You better be telling the truth, girl." Anduin spoke with a rare, almost fatherly tone. The sound caused Vareesa to relent
"I am! I am, please!" Ima said with tears pooling in her arm orange gaze. When the knife was moved, only a small but still painful cut remained.
"Speak quickly." Anduin commanded, as he struck a mint-cloaked attacker in the face with his healing weapon. "Quickly!"
Ima spoke as fast as her tongue would allow while blocking flying debris and the occasional strike. She told them of the mint-cloaked apothecaries who were actually fighting for the good of the tree and at its hidden enemies. But just as she was about her benefactor, Bodyl, she felt a claw like grip on both sides of her neck. The hands were so strong that they clamped down on one both of the troll's major arteries, causing her black out and fall to the ground. The smiling draenei giggled a little as she shook her pig-tailed head.
"My, my. She is quite the chatterbox isn't she? No matter. Time to die now." Pashima chirped, while summoning what looked like a ball of sick, metallic light. Just as the pair of alliance legends readied their defensive spells and stances, Pashima struck.
Daggerfang found himself alone in the mob. He could see the tips of Maiev's ears as she mercifully culled those who could take up arms against her and allowed those who could not to either run past her whirling blades or play dead. He could smell Meryl's musky worgen scent steadily drifting away as the rest of his group fully disappeared in the carnage. After shredding an unfortunate priest to shreds, Daggerfang managed to slink into the shadows. Though he could easily dispatch any who came into his path, his daggers did not seem to hunger for blood as they often did.
Instead, he made his way to a place of relative calm while the others cut a path towards the portals. Daggerfang could see them shining in the distance while he deftly dodged falling bodies as they fell around him. But Daggerfang's usual hubris when it came to his skills as a rogue did not allow him to notice he was being followed. His steps were mirrored and as he paused to wait for a battle to end, the silent stalker struck.
"Gotcha!" The tall figure snorted as he brought his large spanner down on Daggerfang's shoulder. Daggerfang howled in surprise as he spun around to quickly counter the strike. When his blade met air he growled at the engineer's smug expression. "Oh I'm sorry, did I scare ya BOY?" The Quel'dorei smiled as he quickly brought his hand to his waste, pulling out a tire iron from its make-shift place on his tool belt.
"Let me pass'n you won't get 'urt, pretty boy." Daggerfang spoke with none of his usual good humor. Any straggling fray could knock him off balance as he constantly looked to the side or behind his back for a loose blade or club. Daggerfang's attacker didn't waste time with a retort, as he lunged forward, aiming to crack Daggerfang's jaw wide open with the tire iron. Daggerfang deftly dodged, thrusting his weapons forward. The clang could be heard over the grunting sounds of battle as both polished daggers struck metal tools. But the engineer, a veteran of bar fights and bouts with angry fathers around the globe, could not keep pace with the seasoned rogue for very long. Daggerfang grinned as he knocked the engineer onto his back and prepared to stab the still smiling elf in the neck.
"Roth!" A voice came from behind. Daggerfang turned just in time to suffer a board with a nail in it to the side of his face. The newly forged nail dug deep into his cheek, causing him to howl in pain and clutch his face. The young carpenter brought the board over his head and nearly struck the creature in the face again, had Daggerfang not dodged. The very sight of the worgen made the young carpenter's stomach turn as a vengeful heat began to rise in his chest.
"I-It's about time you sh-showed up, kid!" Roth teased as he sorely rose to his feet. Daggerfang looked between the pair, eyes coming to rest on the young human. Daggerfang blinked but the image of himself 20 years ago remained with determination in his blue eyes and a bloody board in his hands. Daggerfang did not have time to think before the next attacks came. The elf and the human were skilled in their trade but Daggerfang blocked each and every blow as adrenaline and his lupine stamina began to ware the pair of attackers down. A swift punch to the temple sent Roth to the ground without a smile, leaving the carpenter and the rogue to finish their battle.
"I don't want to 'urt you boy. Tend to your friend and I'll be on my way."
"Like 'ell I will. You'll go no further, beast."
"Is that right?" Daggerfang paused as a familiar scent hit his nose. His stance and his grip on his daggers did not shift but the information his nose collected made his heart race. Daggerfang did not notice it at first despite the image before him, but once the young carpenter began to sweat in earnest, the scent became stronger. Daggerfang shook his head and continued to sniff.
"I-It can't be…"
"Get that bloody nose away from me! MONSTER!" Jim shouted, bringing his balled fist to strike Daggerfang's nose. He yipped a little and recoiled but could not find another strike to bring to the young man. Daggerfang stood tall and imposing for a moment, clutching his nose before his furry lips moved without his mind to stop them.
"Jimmy?" Daggerfang spoke; moving to the side to avoid a glancing blow by a druid's bloodied mace. The word seamed to quiet the action around them as Jim's blue eyes went wide. He slowly shook his head and clutched his weapon a little tighter. "Jimmy Mason?"
"Do I know you, animal?" Jim spat, hands at the ready to bring the board around again. He began to grind his teeth as a small chuckle came from the worgen's lips. Though injured he sniffed the air around them once more to be certain, causing another small round of quiet laughter. "What's so damn funny?"
"Your grandmother never told you…about your father?"
"She told me enough, she told me YOUR KIND killed him!" Jim shouted, batting a stray staff away as he watched the rogue shake his head.
"No." Daggerfang spoke as he closed his glowing red orbs. For the first time since his unfortunate transformation he felt the pall of darkness slip. The scent, the image, and the verbal confirmation pulled the fur and teeth from his form, as the layers of dark magic slowly stripped away. All that was left made the young Jim gasp. The man, who could pass for Jim in middle age, opened his own blue eyes to see the little boy from faded pictures.
"I am your father."
When the boot-deep pool of mixed blood finally seemed to thin, Shandori and what was left of her group found themselves only a few, dry steps away from their destination. Three large humming portals met their tired, and in some cases, blurred vision as Bodyl, Shandori, Meryld, Maiev, Christoffel, and Potan moved forward. But just as the portal's gentle white hum touched their skin, the group was pushed back but a bright light and forceful wind. When the air around them was dim enough to see once more, a steady stream of seasoned heroes and their healers came pouring out of the left and right most portals. They did not seem to stop for them, however, as they made their way to the failing contractors and Malfurion's small fighting force. From the centermost portal, three figures immerged.
The one on the left was a tall, violet skinned draenei woman. The one in the center was a cleric of some kind. The one on the left made Shandori's skin crawl.
"Not YOU again…" Shandori shouted while resisting the urge to spit as Morion's frost saber began to growl.
"To think…you've fallen so far as to help these villains. I am glad your mother sent me in her place…to see you this way would have been too much strain on her heart." Morion spoke with a strange mixture of disgust and pity clear in his hushed voice as he shook his head.
"Bodyl. I see time hasn't changed you much."
"Lady Whitedeer." Bodyl mockingly bowed.
"In charity, I will give you one last chance to turn back. My White Branch with smash your paltry force like a robin's egg. And I see your entourage is winded. How far are they willing to fight for you?" Orifiel smiled beneath her mask as she pulled a strange, golden staff from its place on her back. The amber gems seemed frozen in a sun-like pattern, floating as if the moment it was shattered was captured in an elegant painting.
"I only see three before me, to my six. The odds are against you, my lady."
"So be it then. The time of your judgment is NOW!" Orifiel shouted as she lunged forward with great speed towards Bodyl who merely smiled and engaged the warden. Morion sent his mighty saber forward towards his favored target while Violetina placed her totems of healing around them.
Shandori threw her shield up as the frost saber careened forward into her steady but tired form. She managed to roll backwards, flipping the cat behind her while narrowly avoiding an arrow to the back. When Shandori came to rest in a crouching position beneath her battered shield, she felt the healing touch of druidic magic on her back. Despite being refreshed from the spell, her legs strained to move her from harm's way, as arrow and claw seemed bent on tearing her to pieces.
"Hey rabbit ears!"
"BUSY!" Shandori shouted to Meryld who pounced on the cat with ferocity in her tearing old maw. Shandori triumphantly laughed as the frost saber tried desperately to toss the clinging worgen from its back.
"I got puss, you deal with the hunt-tard!" Meryld cackled while carefully keeping her attitude light hearted in case she became a berserk liability later. Shandori wasted no time, charging forward through a hail of arrows. But in her pursuit she felt something metallic bite into her leg. Though her riveted plate and leather boots protected her, Shandori stumbled to the ground leaving herself exposed to a crucial blow. Morion knocked an arrow and aimed for any weak point. Just as he was about to let his arrow fly, Morion felt someone pull back on his long, white mane.
Christoffel managed to grab one of Morion's arrows and held it to his throat while maintaining his grip on the night elf's hair. Morion brought his foot on Christoffel's own and sent his elbow forcefully inward to strike at the rogue's gut. Christoffel was knocked off balance but maintained his stance. It was then Morion saw one of his two prized swords in the blood elf's hand.
"Silly hunt-tard, one handed swords are for rogues!" Christoffel scoffed as he demonstrated his proficiency, forcing the adept ranger into melee range. Despite the disadvantage, Morion found a smile as he easily kept pace with his attacker.
"Silly rogue, combat is NOT your forte!" Morion countered, lunging forward and striking Christoffel in the hand with the side of his other sword. The action cracked Christoffel in the thumb causing him to drop the weapon and shout in pain. But Christoffel's smile and the shadow behind Morion gave him little room to pause as Shandori, once again, intervened on her business partner's behalf.
While Morion struggled to fend off his attackers, Violetina did her best to keep the healing energy flowing around them. The art of healing was much better left to Jango or Thrall but it was what Orifiel demanded, and so she struggled on. It seemed that Morion was dealing with four of the attackers on his own, while Orifiel did swift battle with Bodyl. Her mind mused on where the last of their party was when she got her answer in the form of a stealthy glinting blade across her chest. She fell onto her back but quickly kipped up to see the elder night elf expressionlessly staring her down.
"You would give your life to help the Twilight cult and your fooled leader?" Maiev motioned to the blue of white and mint garments that almost unnaturally leaped from the floor to the branches in their dancing combat.
"You is fool, woman. You help te cult, we fight tem. If you do not stop we will crush you too!" Violet shouted with wind starting to whip around her. Maiev's frozen expression warmed into a small smile.
"So be it." The fight seemed to drag on as the three noble defenders of the tree felt the burden of battle begin to take its toll. Morion fell first. Shandori's unforgiving blade sliced through his resolve, sending him to the floor in a bloodied but still breathing heap. Violetina was no equal to Maiev, and despite her healing advantage, also met the ground with the inability to rise. While the rest of Bodyl's mercenaries recouped he and Lady Whitedeer continued their danger-laced dance. Glinting gold met hidden knives as the pair's speed and strikes intensified. Orifiel could feel her legs and arms begin to ache as she slowly slipped to a defensive position.
"It will be easier on you if you give up, little girl. I promise a swift and mostly painless end for you."
"The same cannot be said for you. If you slay me, my mate will finish your wretched existence."
"I look forward to seeing my comrade again. His blood will taste sweet indeed!" Bodyl shouted with a second wind filling his lungs. The determination and desire to slay the betraying mage flowed through him. His strikes became more vicious and his delivery was faster than an eye-blink. When he finally made it through Orifiel's defense, he plunged his knife deep into her stomach with a slight twist. Orifiel fell to the floor with a sickening crack as dark red blood began to stain her pure white battle garb.
"We should finish them…" Maiev emotionlessly stated. Bodyl shook his head.
"We should; but there is little time, we must get to the gem before it is secured." Bodyl motioned to the central portal and led his mercenaries through. In their wake was terrible devastation, but there were more members of the White Branch still standing than mint-cloaked Twilights. Orifiel laid very still until the last of the mercenaries were through the portal before she slowly saw up. Her eyes traveled to the gaping wound in her belly as she sighed. Orifiel's hand moved to the spot as a warm light began to form in her palm. Small threads of light began to stitch the horrible gash until the spot looked as if it were never inflicted. She looked to Morion who struggled to breath and to Violetina who was completely passed out with a small smile. Golden threads began to extend from her form as a gold tint overtook her usual pale vision.
"Enough rest you two, we have work to do."