Chapter 14
The kite dropped Fox at the Alliance flight path on the Timeless Isle. It did not take her even a moment to realize that the rumors were false. The storm had not even rustled a leaf here. Never changing, protected from time itself, the Isle was as Fox had always come to expect. She could have used better judgment, and ventured across the beach, and the passive turtles. Still lack of sleep would mess with anyone's mind, and Fox was no exception. She was wise enough to avoid the large pythons, but she was oblivious to the presence of a large bright pink crane.
She strayed to close into it's territory. It charged her, beak open with wings spread wide. Fox considered running from it. It would take less energy then an out right fight. Contemplation was her enemy. The gale of furious wing beats tossed her backward to the ground. Fox tumbled heels over her head. Pulling her blades in her hands as she glanced upward. Dodging to the side just in time to miss the beak smashed into the ground. Before the bird could pull it's head back, Fox locked her legs around it's thin neck. Gritting her teeth as she flexed the muscles in her thighs hard. A very real attempt to snap it's neck.
A loud squawk of pain rewarded her. Fox squeezed her eyes shut concentrating as hard as she could. Unfortunately the weight of her body was insufficient to complete her goal. The bird raised it's head dragging Fox up with it.
"This is no good." Fox was unaware that she had voiced her thoughts aloud. A hard shake of the bird's head caused Fox to lose her hold. Lucky for Fox, the hard ground was there to break her fall. Staggering back to her feet she pinned her eyes on the advancing crane. The sound of a loud hiss caught her attention. "You have got to be kidding me." A sudden turn of her head brought her face to face with the python she had managed to avoid earlier. Moving out of the way of it's deadly bite, and jumping onto a rock.
She watched the snake approaching and then turned to see the crane preparing another wing gust. Looking down at her blades and realizing that they were not coated in poison of any kind. This was without a single doubt a losing battle. One of the things she hated most. She required the complete decimation of her enemies to keep her conceited ego in place.
Scanning the area she saw a troll ice Mage in the middle of combat with a large ox. The ox was caught in a frost nova, a spinning ice orb moving closer, as the Troll cast another bolt.
Determination fixed on Fox's features. This situation could be turned. Fox jumped down from her perch rapidly evading the angry monsters descending upon her. A sudden sprint bringing her to just the other side of the Troll.
The Troll turned her angry eyes on the Rogue. She shifted her focus to the brazen Alliance member with immense distrust. Unaware that her ice orb was catching the attention of Fox's already provoked mobs. Vanishing in a puff of smoke Fox moved back watching as the Troll pulled the threat. Standing in the relative safety of shadow, Fox watched as the Mage struggled to contain the added danger.
It was clear that Fox was in the wrong here. She knew it. The Troll had done nothing to warrant this crude behavior. Even still it took Fox a few moments before jumping back in to the fray. Through combined efforts the creatures were felled.
Fox tossed the Troll a salute of respect. The Troll offered Fox a gesture of a completely different sort. Chuckling Fox bowed to the angry Mage and turned toward the center court.
She came to stand before the stairs leading down into the arena. Yu'lon staring placidly awaiting her challenge as the other Celestials held their posts.
"Fox!" This time her name was shouted in unison. Smiling because she knew exactly who was so excited to see her.
Anduin rushed around from his place behind the table, and came to stand before her. "Fox, have you come to take over guarding me? It has been so long since I last saw you."
Wrathion's eyes flared wide. Although, he did not leave his spot. "Anduin, tell me, how do you know my rogue?"
Anduin turned on his heel. A very confused look on his face. "What do you mean your rogue? Fox is an agent of the SI-7. She has been my rogue since I was very small."
"Then she clearly has retired from that position, because Fox has been my rogue since shortly after I was hatched." Wrathion declared crossing his arms over his chest. "Do not think of trying to get her back. Because I have found during her employment that her skills are infinitely useful."
"I can assure you that our Fox, would never desert Stormwind or the Alliance." Anduin was visibly shaken by Wrathion's words.
"My Prince." Fox looked between the two. She had never considered that they would come together. After all, Anduin has such a horrific experience with the Black Dragon Flight already. Onyxia had almost fed him to her whelps. Now here he stood, although older and with more wisdom, with another Black Dragon whelp.
"Yes?" Again in unison.
"Stop that. You are beginning to irritate me, Anduin." Wrathion finally moved from his place and came to stand by Fox. A tactical move in reality, to claim his position as her rightful superior.
"I fail to see where that is any different from how you usually are!" Andiun scoffed narrowing his eyes on the Black Dragon Prince. Not willing to hand over one of the few people who had been there for him during his father's abduction from Stormwind.
Fox frowned at them. They were bickering like children before her. It was nice to know that they both valued her previous service, but this was just getting silly. "Princes. Now if you would listen for just a moment?"
Wrathion raised his finger to Anduin's face. "You fail to see a lot of things, but I can forgive you that being a mere Human child standing against a Dragon Prince."
"I think we have already been over this once, but if memory serves me you are hardly a toddler. In age and life experience, I am vastly beyond you." Anduin tossed back sharply.
"We have been over this, and I told you that was in Dragon years! Which makes all the difference."
"I fail to see how. Considering, we are standing on an island that's existence refutes the very passing of time."
"Boys!" Fox shouted. Clinching her fists. Looking down to see them staring up at her. Sometimes it paid to hand out a little shock and awe of her own. "If the two of you would give me but a moment of your most valuable time, I can explain everything to your satisfaction."
"Very well." Wrathion turned his head trying to give off the impression he was rather bored with her already. She had come to realize that this was his way of dealing with situations he was unsure how to react to.
Anduin looked at his companion then back to Fox. "I am willing to listen to you as well, Fox. I cannot understand how he could come to such an impossible assumption."
"I have served both of you, on loan, under the command of the SI-7. As you well know, Prince Anduin, I have been an official royal guard on rotation for several years now. Before that I was summoned only because you found my presence amusing." Fox nodded to Anduin. She was referring to when he was small, and dangers forced him to remain within the keep. Only the most trusted members of the Alliance allowed to enter. She had been willing to play games and read to him when others had not. The thought that their boy King, had lost his mother as an infant pulled at her feminine heart strings. Then word had come that King Varian was missing, and could possibly have perish on his way to Theramore. Fox could not imagine a life without her parent's love and devotion. It had caused her to become attached to the young Prince. To Anduin, her loyalty was deep, and so it would remain.
Then turned to Wrathion, "And your Highness, I fell under your service quite by chance. I admit, I find your requests of me to be challenging, exhilarating, and impossible to resist. Your goals have not conflicted with that of the Alliance, of which my first and foremost duty is too. At least, as far as I have been able to ascertain. I do not doubt that I have never lead you afield of my intent?"
"See! I told you, she was my rogue." Anduin beamed proudly at Wrathion as Fox finished speaking.
The Black Prince scowling at the Stormwind Prince, until Fox cut in with, "Actually, I am currently serving your father directly, Prince Anduin. It is in his name that I have arrived to check up on you."
That brought out a sharp laugh from Wrathion. It was apparent he was amused that Anduin was being curtailed in his actions.
"My father?" Anduin raised his eyebrows at Fox. "He sent you out here to check up on me?"
Fox could not help herself. The young Prince looked so deflated at the knowledge. She laughed and reached out to tousled his hair. It was an action of affection. One she had done when he was small enough to sit on her lap.
"Fox, I am no longer a child, and your actions are not respectful." Anduin's blue eyes turned to Wrathion in embarrassment.
She sighed and pulled her hand away, "You are correct, my Prince. Please forgive me. It will not happen again."
A shout rent the air. Fox looked over Anduin's head and paled. This was not her day. Someone had foolishly pulled a Molten Guardian into the peaceful center court. Looking down at her feet she could see the ground beginning to bubble and churn in a red color. This was a sign, that Fox directly connected to a fiery death.
She felt her heart sink realizing just who was standing with her. Both Anduin and Wrathion were of extreme value to Azeroth. Both young Princes were certainly going to have a strong hand in the future of her world. That was how her mind worked. It was almost impossible for Fox to admit she adored the young Princes. That their loss would wound her. Instinct took over and she grabbed Anduin's arms shoving him out of danger. Wrathion she knew would not listen to her warnings. That one questioned everything and everyone. Fox leaped toward him. Clasping him to her chest as she rolled out of the way.
The Blacktalon guards, Left and Right moved to attack her just as the lava burst forth from the ground. Cutting them off from their initial objective. Turning they reacted instantly to the change in target. Wisely choosing the very real threat presented to the Black Prince.
Fox scrambled off Wrathion, rushing after the Blacktalon Bodyguards. "Anduin, take him far away from here!" She shouted, not bothering to look to see if they were listening.
Fox found herself quickly joined by others in the combat. Alliance and Horde alike moving to defend center court. Fox came in range just in time to have to jump back from another explosion of lava that erupted from the ground. Fatigue had made her slower then normal. She escaped the main blast, thank the Light, but her left leg was caught in the flame. The leather scorched against her leg in agonizing pain. Slapping out the flame as she moved backwards. There was no time to bemoan her situation. She had to rejoin the fight. It was the only way to make sure that Prince Anduin and Wrathion remained safe.
She rose from the ground only to be caught by the shoulder. "No Fox, you are too wounded."
She swung her head around to see Anduin by her side. Wrathion was there as well, sliding an arm around her waist to help her up. Fox could hear the battle raging so close. It was like a nightmare. "I told you to take Wrathion and get far away!" She screamed at Anduin as she came to her feet. The beautiful face twisting in pain at the harsh movement.
"I was more then willing to go, but Prince Anduin was insistent that we would be of more help here." Wrathion shot an almost bored look over at Anduin.
"Stop trying to score points here, Wrathion. Hold her still so I can heal her leg." Anduin bent down calling on the powers of the light.
"Fine!" Fox pulled away from Wrathion, and pushed back on Anduin's shoulder, "I will allow you to heal me, but only after we move further away."
"I concur." Wrathion nodded in full agreement. He looked over at the fighters. Another lava surge rippling to the far side of them. "It will not remain safe here for very long."
Fox limped her way back toward the center court unaided. She was furious with the both of them. How could they be so foolish as to rush into that fight. They could have been hurt as she was. Intolerable! If she had the authority she would bang their heads together for their actions. Wrathion was beyond her in every way, but Anduin was not. Fox growled in her mind wanting to give Varian a very real accounting of his son's reckless actions. No. She could not do that. Then King Wyrnn would worry. He would call Anduin back, and the two would fight. She would be the cause. Blasted Royals, all of them, from Dragon to humans.
Collapsing when her leg could no longer take the strain. Landing on the hard stone, she turned her body to watch as the Heroes in the battle finished off the Molten Guardian. Relief evaporated her tension. She fell back to stare up at the sky.
"Hold still, Fox." Anduin knelt down and looked over her burn. "I can fix you up in a moment."
The soothing warmth swiftly encompassed her leg, causing her to sigh. She turned her head to watch Anduin concentrating on his work. What had happened to the little boy King she used to play hide and seek with around the keep? She watched in wonder as he healed her leg. Velen certainly had done a good job imparting the skills of a healer. But she knew that it had to come from within. A deep need to help others.
She looked over at Wrathion. The Dragon Prince was staring down at them. Caught off guard she could make out his look of concern. Deathwing's boy was worried about her. Still she had seen him at his worst. Knew his deepest fears for himself and Azeroth. But in return he knew more about her then was good. His previous missions had exposed more of her talent to him, then Fox would have liked.
"You were slower then normal, Fox. Perhaps there is more going on, then you have lead us to believe?" Wrathion's question was more of a statement.
Anduin finished up his healing spells. The bright blue eyes, so much warmer then his father's, turning to Wrathion, "So you have seen Fox in combat before?" A sharp nod from Wrathion, and Anduin turned to look at Fox, "I have to agree with him. Even when I was young you were agile. The day we discovered the cultists in Stormwind, you moved like lightening."
"That reminds me of another time I brought you into danger. You would not have been out there without me escorting you." Fox sighed and rolled her eyes. "I am really going to have to use better judgment with you."
"Don't roll your eyes at me, Fox. It's disrespectful." Anduin stood up and put his hands on his hips.
Wrathion tossed him a smug smile, "You have noticed she never treats me like that, haven't you?"
Anduin ignored the jab and continued. "Besides, I am sure if my father had not asked you to do it, someone else would have gotten the job."
"Shaw asked me." Fox pushed her self to her feet. Testing her leg and was delighted the pain was gone. An added plus was there was no visible scaring as some healers had left her with in the past.
"Excuse me?" Anduin blinked.
"Shaw. You know, Mathias Shaw, my real boss. He asked me to do it." Fox leaned over to touch the ruined leather. "This is going to be impossible to repair. Shoot! They were my favorite."
"Her real boss." Wrathion narrowed his eyes and looked at Anduin.
Anduin shrugged, "Nope, I am not going there. Wanna head back over to Lorewalker Cho, and see if he can tell us another story?"
"And you are the one calling me a child?" Despite his words Wrathion motioned for Anduin to lead the way. Before he left through he gazed down at Fox. "You are excused for the time being. I will send word if I have need of you."
Fox gasped at that. Send word indeed. Reaching to her side she pulled up Mishka's potion and uncorked the flask.