Straydog Saga

Flea 30: Sympathy for the Devil

"F-Father…" Terronian whispered as he felt his heart sink at the sight of fires in the Pinnacle Bough. Burst after burst came, as the molten plumes disappeared into the morning sky.

"We're almost there, don't worry, we'll get to him," Keesha assured, patting Terronian on his black-scaled back before gently rubbing him along one of the golden stripes along his neck. The golden eye-rune on her hand began to glow as Keesha felt a rush of power fill her tiny form.

Faint images of the past flew into the mind's eye of the High Mystic, though she saw the rapid images through the vision of her mount. Doting parents to a single hatched egg, the arrival of an adorable adopted sister, a dragon growing up secretly among mortals, and the tragic double life of a Twilight spy all revealed through her simple touch. Keesha smiled and tightly closed her fingers into a blade-like palm. "I wont let you loose your papa, get me close to those purple beasts."

"W-What are you going to do? We need to get to the top of the tree."

"You need to get there, just get me close enough to one of them and let me work," Keesha commanded, eyes glowing with golden purpose. Terronian did not argue as he came closer to where the Twilight dragons still circled. When the pair was in range, Keesha stood and kicked off the dragon's back with unnatural speed. Before he could protest, Terronian's eyes went wide at the sight.

With skillful movements, Keesha traveled at speed dictated by her will and abilities rather than by the laws of physical action, bringing her blade-like hand down on the Twilight drake's back with a chopping motion so forceful that it caused the dragon's scales to ripple. The beast howled in pain as Keesha delivered forceful blow after forceful blow, landing a finishing strike at the dragon's head. The crumpled violet-scaled dragon shuttered for a moment before it began to sink to the ocean below. Keesha kicked off the falling corpse, small shades of herself left in her speedy wake, as she landed on another, larger dragon.

"Get going! I got this!" Keesha shouted with a dark laugh as she delivered the same devastating motions to her new victim. Terronian gave a hesitant nod before flying towards the top of the tree. The great violet-colored leviathan fought as hard as it could to knock the tiny, glowing form from its back, but a vicious kick to one of its massive wings knocked it off balance and sent Keesha and her enemy careening into the massive tree. But as the beast clawed at the tree's bark, desperate to get its baring back, Keesha placed her glowing hand on the surface of the tree as a sturdy branch grew on her command. She stood on the branch, closed her eyes, and concentrated on the feel of the bark under her touch as the air around the High Mystic seemed to slow.

A golden pattern formed into a strange rune on the surface of the tree and quickly drew its way to where the clawing dragon struggled.

"Insolent insect, you shall not defeat me!" it roared, bringing its tail around to swipe at the smiling Keesha, but the strike only met air. The dragon's eyes went wide as the small-seeming human leaped to its back as the runes began their strange work. Threads of air began to shift around them as small beads of energy passed by the pair like a sandy wind. The dragon roared in pain and began to shrink. Within a matter of seconds the great beast was nothing more than a tiny spot in existence before blinking out entirely. Keesha, feeling the strain from her spell work in her sore back and sweaty body, wasted no time in leaping to another enemy.

But the back of this red-violet dragon was filled with more danger than the vicious spines and smooth scales. Keesha delivered harsh blows but her breath was labored and her arms weakened by fatigue. The dragon sped and bobbed, trying to throw the battering mortal from its back. It was then Keesha noticed other sets of wings in the fray. Dragons of all colors came with the fully-risen sun, careening into their enemies with claws and teeth bared.

One of the great creatures, not noticing the spec on the violet dragon's back, rammed the enemy with all its might, sending Keesha falling backwards. She groped the air for a moment, trying to get her bearings as she sped downward, with no solid branches or dragons to land on. She saw flashes of red soar past her as the ocean below drew dangerously near. Before Keesha could right herself, she felt a massive claw close around her.

"Oh HELL NO!" Keesha struggled in the crushing grip but found she could not move her arms to cast a spell that would release her.

"Be calm! I am not your enemy, Ms. Hazzad."

"The hell?"

"My scales are only half the color violet," the dragon assured, as she moved to avoid falling branches. Keesha looked up to see blood red scales.

"A-Are you one of Terro's friends?" Keesha asked as she felt small shards of branch-matter fall over them like a dusty rain.

"You could say that. Though if I may be so bold, you really should leave dragon-fighting to the experts…cupcake."

"…no way." Keesha flushed a little as images of the thin, snobbish young high elf mage known as 'Kat' came to mind and the demeaning things Keesha had spoken so freely to the hidden dragon. "Um, about that…"

"We don't have time for all that, we must get to the Pinnacle Bough; lord Nightgaze needs all the help we can muster," Katastraza informed with a spoken nod. The pair flew to where the other dragons dwelled as they prepared a counter assault on the invading Twilight dragons.

Those mortals too stubborn to abandon the tree's few remaining defenders were awe-struck at the horror that continued in the Pinnicle Bough. Malfurion, Vareesa, Anduin, and the most stubborn among them, Thrall, could barely resist covering their mouths at the horrific smell of burning dragon-flesh. While his shamans left for the safety of the shore, Thrall found it impossible to abandon his former comrades in their effort.

F-bomb, upon seeing several mint-cloaked allies turn into violet dragons and learning the truth about her mission from a returning Thrall, extended apologies to her supposed enemies. With the truth revealed, F-bomb lent her skills to the legendary shaman, pulling the dazed but still living Ima in tow.

McGowan and Roth, unable to be swayed otherwise, also followed the heroes of legend to the uppermost part of the tree, leaving an injured father to pull his son toward the emergency portals. Violetina and Morion, still touched by Orifiel's strange healing magic, also joined the effort, much to Thrall's protest. Before he could convince the draenei to turn back, Thrall and the others traveled through the part of the upper bough that wasn't consumed by flame, and bore whiteness to the great draconic battle before them.

"You should go with the others to safety, Violet!" Thrall spoke in orcish. Violetina shook her head and replied in the tongue of Thrall's people.

"Orifiel cannot go and you cannot go, you old clefthoof! So I will fight with you." Violet shouted back over the roar as she summoned her beloved wind element. With a determined smile, she leaped into the fray, sending lightning and lava to any enemy foolish enough to get in her path. The others were not far behind her as more and more of Setharion's blood made its way to the branch-woven floor. Orifiel could not be seen, but her presence was known in the branchs' wild movements and woven shield around the great gem. But the shield was besieged by dragons and their spawn, as twisted flame and arcane magic weakened the branches' resilient hold.

"F-F-bomb…what have we done?" Ima spoke as she watched the carnage continue. F-bomb frowned and shook her head.

"You didn't do nothing wrong, we were lied to. Now get your head in the game and let's kill some violets!" F-bomb shouted with a snarling smile. Ima nodded and the pair leaped forward with spells flying. Not wanting to be shown up by a pair of power-wielding women, Roth and McGowan were not far behind.

The great heroes, warmed by the emerging bravery of their comrades also charged forward, dealing whatever damage they may upon the great violet beasts.

It was not long before Terronian and the red dragons reached the Pinnacle Bough, calling commands to the other dragons flying nearby to leave the fight and fetch water to extinguish the spreading fires. Kat released Keesha who unleashed her terrible assault on the dragons still fighting around the gem. Terronian did not wait for the red dragons' support as he flew in with great speed and rammed a smaller dragon that was about to viciously bite his father's left wing. The light-bathed dragon roared as his movements grew impossible to see with a mortal eye. Like Keesha's strikes, each light-speed strike tore scale from flesh, rending his enemy into a bloody pile of meat and bones.

"Father, I am here!" Terronian called as he pulled another dragon from his father's gigantic form, sending to the ground and forcefully biting at its throat. The violet dragon tried to scream before its wind pipe was crushed, but the sound never came.

"T-Terro, leave; you may be killed!" Setharion grunted as he felt desperation surge through his body. In one adrenaline-filled push, Setharion pushed upwards, sending several dragons flying in all directions. The mortal heroes scrambled to avoid being crushed. But in the end, the smaller dragons would suffer the humiliation of being slain by common and not so common mortal 'rabble.'

"I will not, father, or you WILL be!" Terronian roared, and turned a vicious claw to sever the tail of one unfortunate dragon, before mercifully culling its life.

The battle seemed to be turning in the favor of the White Branch Initiative as the last of the smaller violet dragons were vanquished, but two large villains remained nearly untouched. While the heroes fought to stave off the swarm, Balumra and his sister Pashima were diligently stripping the layers of bark from the gem's protective covering. By the time the heroes were able to engage them, the gem was not only exposed but in Balumbra's massive claws.

"Fly brother, the master awaits!" Pashima gleefully hissed.

"No!" Terronian roared as he watched Balumbra kick off with the gem in his violet clutches. Not waiting for his father's protests, Terronian gave chase. His tail knocked into Pashima's maw as she tried to bite at her brother's pursuer. The blow, swift and unnaturally strong for the speed in which it struck, sent the stunned red-violet dragon to the ground. With fading strength, Setharion moved his great claws and pressed one against Pashima's throat, the other positioned to tear a massive hole in her underbelly.

"D-Do it now!" Setharion growled to a hidden ally. He quickly moved to avoid several crushing branches as they broke through the woven floor and created a tangled case around Pashima. The movement caused Setharion to loose his balance and fall with a thunderous sound to his side. The sound was quickly drowned out by a pained shriek. Pashinma thrashed around as the sharp tips of the branches dug into her form. She passed out from the pain as the branches brought her downward, through the floor, and towards the holding area just above the Tangled Canal.

"Setharion!" Malfurion called as he ran to his associate's massive head. The black dragon's wounds were grave in the archdruid's sight. "Can you hear me?"

"Y-Yes…are they dead? Is everything secure?"

"They are all slain but one; Orifiel claimed her." Malfurion spoke with truth omitted in his words.

"G-Good." Setharion laughed with a gurgling cough. A strange wind befell them as a large male dragon slowly sank to the ground beside them.

"Lord Stormrage, tend to your mortal allies. I will see to his healing…"

"YOU shall NOT touch me, filth! My mate will tend to me when she is finished dealing with that wretched girl." Setharion growled, weakly trying to stand.

"You'll be dead by then, old fool. I'd never hear the end of it, now stay down!" the red dragon commanded as he placed a gentle but firm claw on the ailing Setharion. The action was more than enough to keep the exhausted dragon in his place.

"I'll only heal you enough to keep your miserable hide alive. The rest will be up to her." The red snorted as a healing light came to its front claws. The four female red dragons that often followed their beloved moved to ensure no one would interrupt his concentration.

Keesha marveled as the red dragon, called Romilstraz by Kat and the other females, effortlessly mended the deadliest of the black dragon's wounds. The healing afforded Setharion time and attention to concentrate on a spell as he began to shrink until the Highborne Seth Nightgaze lay in the dragon's place. Keesha came to his side, and covered his form with her own cloak.

"Couldn't conjure a ridiculous outfit, could you? Or maybe you're just a show-off," Keesha softly jibed. The small joke managed to bring a weak smile to Seth's face.

"Good to see my son's insolence didn't bring you to h-harm. Hanariel is?" Seth grumbled as Keesha helped him sit up. The action caused a wave of pain to rush to Seth's forehead, forcing his clawed hand to clutch his wincing face.

"Han's fine. He's with your daughter on one of the islands near here. They're both alright. You just worry about getting well. Where's Orifiel?"

"In one of the safe rooms, no doubt," Malfurion answered as Setharion's breathing became labored. Thrall, Vareesa, and the others who still managed to stand after the long fight made their way to where the small group stood and looked to their burned surroundings with sunken hearts.

"The gem…it's gone," Anduin sighed, nearly wilting under Maulfurion's scolding gaze. He had tried to spare the news from the injured dragon, but it seemed from the confident smile on Lord Nightgaze's face that the thought did not bother him.

"My son is of my own blood. If he is pursuing that foolish violet dragon then we h-have nothing to fear..." Seth spoke as his voice became as light as the feeling in his head. Keesha steadied him as she gently helped him back into a laying position.

"We should send assistance, then, and begin evaluating the damage. No doubt that the naga or faction forces will notice the exodus. We shouldn't tempt them with helpless prizes." Romilstraz snorted as his own form began to shrink. Ima's eyes went wide as she felt her jaw drop. Standing where the dragon once did, was Romulus Redmane.

"N-No way!" Ima felt her blood freeze. The transformation itself did not seem to bother her, but her actions against her beloved teacher's companions, and the blood she'd spilled in the name of what she thought was good, made her knees buckle. Imajin sank to the floor as tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt a small green hand stroke her trembling back, but the words of comfort didn't seem to reach her.

Romulus looked to his student with a frown. He instructed his consorts to begin their evaluation and assist the other dragons in any way they could. He bowed his head in thanks to the mortal fighters and requested they begin securing the evacuees. He gently and respectfully asked Keesha to use her abilities to safely bring Seth to the situation room which, according to his dragon spawn, was untouched by flame or carnage. As they did as Romulus asked, the somber-faced dragon did his best to shake the feeling of dread before walking to Ima's side and taking a knee.

"Miss Ation? I know my change must come as a shock, but it is not safe here; we should go," Romulus gently spoke.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! Lord Redmane pl-please don't hate me! I didn't mean to help them; I thought I was helping you! Please…" Ima sobbed. Romulus paused for a moment before a sunny smile flashed on his features.

"Oh, no young one! Do not apologize. You have helped me 10 times more than you know. Now, both you and your friend will come with me to safety. When my tasks are done I shall explain everything. But for now…have you ever wanted to ride a dragon?" Romulus smiled as the terror, humiliation, and tears disappeared from Ima's face. Instead sheer joy and childish excitement came as she wiped the wetness from her still-reddened cheeks.

Meanwhile, Orifiel left the safe room, face drained of color and body drained of precious energy. She allowed herself to become one with the tree, giving the great creature all of her power and will. Though she could have leant more of herself in fighting off the Twilight horde, the bulk of her attention was spent getting those that remained in the tree to safety.

Maiev and Meryld were among those carried away by her mind's minions. But in her attempts to save Potan, among many others, those who fell in battle seemed just out of her mighty reach.

As she stumbled through the smoky halls, the walls themselves seemed to cry in agony as the occasional spray of a blue dragon's watery payload touched her sweat-drenched skin. The great azure leviathans dared not used their icy breath, in fear that the freezing would harm healthy branches as well as quell those that burned. The dizziness in her stomach coupled with the fact that the tree seemed to spin in her golden vision, made Orifiel wonder if her efforts were enough.

Mydrassil was in shambles, but finally free of the Twilight plague. Many of the mortals escaped to the relative safety of the shore, but several hung limp and lifeless within the peacefully glowing tree. Family bonds were tested as mothers went missing, wives were lost, and children went unseen and never to be heard again.

Smoke continued to billow out into the morning air from the balcony exit. Christoffel could no longer see clouds or wings or the licking flames at his back. The sky was nothing but dark billowing clouds and the scent of burnt lumber threatened to overtake the air within the stricken elf. Christoffel had seen the death of his brothers, the death of his mother, and even delivered eternal sleep to his cold and distant step father; but Christoffel entered a state beyond pain, beyond the will to stand or jump in the imminent and painful death that was ready to consume him.

As he felt his body sink and lungs unable to take in air, the sunlight finally broke through the haze of black smoke. A single set of great, feathered wings sent the toxic wind away long enough for steady talons to grasp onto the ailing rogue's shoulders. Christoffel grunted in pain, but the shock and numbness that filled his slow-flowing veins allowed him to utter little else.

"Hold on, I shall take you to safety!" the bird, truly a druid of the talon, squawked as it struggled to lift the limp elf from his fiery demise. Tenen Fleetfeather had come on a breeze, bringing with him the true patrons and matrons of the White Branch Initiative, as his great Shando Stormrage instructed. They flew from their secretive mortal-seeming homes, located in several tiny nearby islands, much like Terronian and Inge's own favored hiding spot, at the storm crow's call. But as he circled around the massive tree, Tenen spotted a horrific sight. He was too slow to save the fallen Shandori, but his talons lifted Christoffel aloft before the terrible blaze could claim him.

Meanwhile, the still conscious Shandori felt a rush of wind beneath her. In her descent, she saw what had made her so heavy, what had pulled her from Christoffel's grasp. A single, coiling branch seemed to mockingly wave to her before returning to its position beneath the balcony. Shandori cursed the fiendish branch, and did her best not to pass out as she sailed pastbranch after crushing branch. Dragons, commanded to retrieve water to extinguish the fires above shot past, not giving a spare moment to collect the falling night elf.

But just as it seemed the story of Shandori Sagesmoke was to close, her flailing hand grasped something solid. The smooth stone-like spike nearly slipped from her gloved hand, but the warrior managed to hang on long enough to grasp onto a patch of glittering stones along the back of a blue dragon.

"Ew!" the dragon instinctively uttered as it pre-maturely dropped its watery burden on several burning branches, nearly missing the tree completely.

"D-Don't drop me! I'm a friend I swear!" Shandori shouted as a gust of sea wind threatened to send her back to an early grave.

"Get OFF me mortal!" The young blue female indignantly bucked. "You just made me look BAD in front of the others. What if word gets back to Lord Kalecgos of my mistake? OH!" The blue growled with humiliation as she spun upward and did her best to throw Shandori from her back.

"Knock it off!" Shandori growled, punching her bucking mount only to hastily return the offending hand to a desperate grasp.

"Lumigosa! This is no time for games, get back to the sea and extinguish those fires!" an elder blue female snorted as she delivered her payload, pulling out a large patch of fires in the smoldering branches. If it was possible for Lumigosa to blush in that form, her face would have been purple with rage.

"Y-Yes mistress!" Lumigosa replied as she watched the skillful consort to the aspect of magic plunge with grace toward the salty water. With her magical skill, the consort of Kalecgos and leader of the blue dragons in the White Branch Initiative enhanced the quenching ability of the frothy, arcane brew, removed its potential explosive magical elements, and rose again to deliver another saving swath in the enflamed branches.

"Damn it Tyrygosa, you old hag! You shall not out-do me!" Lumigosa quietly proclaimed as she shot downward like a blue bullet. Shandori screamed as the rush of wind filled her mouth and threatened to peal back her eyelids. As Lumigosa rose again, she brashly sprayed her own purified brew, but only a third of it actually struck the tree itself. The rest spread over open air and fell back into the sea. "Damnit!"

"Hey, you want my opinion? Calm the fuck down and concentrate, you know?" Shandori screamed as the angry dragon twisted in the air, nearly sending her burden flying off. "Uh, I mean! If you want to look good and show her up there are better ways to do it!" Shandori let out a sigh of relief as the young dragon slowed.

"Oh?"

"Y-Yeah."

"How? I was tasked with putting the fires out…" Lumigosa asked with an eye-ridge lifted.

"W-Well that's all fine and good if you can put the water on the fire, I MEAN, you know, better than she can. But what if you go above and beyond that like, say…" Shandori scrambled to finish her thought as something glittering above caught her attention. A great violet dragon was speedily flying away from the tree with something shiny and expensive-looking in its clutches. Shandori smiled.

"…killing a thief, and bringing back whatever that thing is! Look up!" Shandori pointed as if the dragon would be able to see. Lumigosa looked to the fleeing Balumbra and gasped at the sight of the Mydrassil gem in his grasp.

"He must be stopped!"

"That's the spirit, now stop twirling and go get him!"

"I shall, and you shall assist me, servant!" Lumigosa shouted as she sped off in pursuit, ignoring her flight's angry and frustrated calls.

"Who are you calling a servant?"

"The mortal on my back who certainly wishes NOT to the thrown off or burned then eaten for her insolence."

"…yes ma'am!" Shandori nervously giggled as the pair continued in their pursuit of Mydrassil's gem.

STRAYDOG EXTRA: Author Message/Straydog Side Stories Character Submission

Author Message

Dear Readers,

Since July is often the summer vacation/holiday season I realize people will be out of town or just plain busy. Just because you're AFK doesn't mean you have to be AFSP (away from smart phone). I now have a Twitter handle which I'll post notices of future updates to stories, reviews to other stories, and whatever else comes to mind (don't worry I know you all don't care to know what I ate for breakfast or what my dog dragged into the house, etc) My handle is: OriWhiteDeer please follow me! Also, I do apreciate all the feedback I can get. Love my stories? Hate them? No review gets deleted. I want to know how you think I'm doing. So please, help a fan fic writer, and leave feedback.

Regards,

- Ori

Straydog Side Stories Character Submission

Over the course of the next few weeks I'll be writing 3 side stories based on the Straydog Saga. That's a lot of characters to create! Would you like to be a guest in the SDS world? If you're interested in creating a character for one of the SDS side stories please send me a private message! You can submit a character to one or all of the following three stories:

"Imajin That!"(Featuring Imajin, Romulus)

(When an ambitious young troll magically disguises herself as a gnome in order to study in Dalaran, mayhem ensues! Can Imajin cope with student life, keep her secret, and become a powerful archmage? Side story leading up to "Straydog Saga")

"Kill Ill…idan Vol 1!"(Featuring Orifiel, Violetina, Seth, and Meryld)

(With the death of her beloved mortal mother, Orifiel throws herself into her priestly work. When a chance to visit the mysterious "Outlands" comes, she takes it and gets tangled in a black dragon's diabolical plans. Story taking place before "Straydog Saga")

"The Because WoW Needs More Dragons Adventure!"(Featuring Thelma, Jango, Violetina)

(Can the noble and graceful defenders of Azeroth keep these wacky mortals in check long enough to defeat the terrifying Deahtwing? Story taking place before "Straydog Saga")