Chapter 15
The darkness of the sky told Fox that night had come while she had been on the Timeless Isle. An entire day passed without time for food. Longer then that for rest. She stood upon the Pandarian kite surrounded by stars shining in a cloudless sky.
The minute she stepped from the kite at Lion's Landing, she was ambushed. Sho rushing to grab Fox by the arms. "I have been waiting here for hours! We need your help at Halfhill desperately."
"Me?" Fox almost wanted to cry. She was in almost complete agony. It was from her exhaustion. So it would have to be life and death to get her to move out of Lion's Landing at this point.
"Fish has been missing all day. When Ella went by the dock today there was a note saying she was going to Old Man Thistle's cave to see if she could find anything more." Show pleaded. Using the large adorable eyes of a Pandarian upon Fox. "I looked everywhere, and I was not able to locate it. Nana Mudclaw said that you were probably the only one who knows where it is."
Fox groaned and turned to the flight master, "Bring me out the fastest mount you have. I don't have a minute to lose."
Sho looked even more worried at Fox's words, "Is it that bad?"
"It's worse than that. There are some pretty nasty Mogu guarding that area. Why would Fish do something this... this.." Fox reached up and messed her hair in frustration.
"Stupid." Sho nodded, "It's fine. I think the same thing when this sort of thing happens too. We can't watch everyone all the time."
"I know, but I should have told her not to go back alone. I never dreamed she would after what we went through to get in there the first time." Fox saw the stable master walking over with the mount. Running to him, she jumped on and took up the reins. "If you see Mathias Shaw, tell him I had to head over to Halfhill on urgent business. I will explain when I return."
Fox pushed the gryphon as fast as she could. Sho was hard pressed to keep up. Fox soared through the valley, and right over Halfhill market at break neck speed. When she came against the mountain side she dipped her gryphon down. As suspected the Mogu were holding fast near the cave entrance. Drawing her blades into her hands she jumped from the mount. She landed with her feet into the first Mogu's back. Flipping backward and dropping to her feet.
The Mogu rebounded and turned to see what had hit him. Fox was not going to play. She was tired. She was hungry. All she wanted was a warm shower, the first edible thing she could get her hands on, and to sleep. At this point she was willing to fall face first in the grass and dream for days. Lunging forward, she used all the power her legs could give. The explosion of speed and power drove her blades into the Mogu's chest. No longer caring who was alerted as she let out a battle roar and turned the daggers hard. He dropped and Fox looked up at his companions.
Sho landed next to her. "Well, I can certainly tell you mean business."
"If they hurt Fish, I swear, I will have every single one of their heads on a spike." Fox snarled going low to the ground in another open charge.
"Leave a few for me!" Sho cried out close behind.
Varian watched his Gryphon being lead away. Shaw standing silently at his side. "This day turned out better then I thought it would."
"If you say so, your Majesty." Shaw lifted a pack over his shoulder. He had never been one to just run in to situations without previous planning. Looking over at the slight smile on Varian's face, he could only assume such actions befit the King of Stormwind.
"Tell me you didn't enjoy messing with those Mogu in the mines this morning." Varian shot a hard look at his lead Rogue.
Shaw paused before speaking. A thoughtful look passed over his face remembering the events of the day. "I preferred when you walked into the lower chamber, and called out the thieving Blood Elves."
Varian's face broke into a smile, "They were rather startled at my appearance."
"Startled? I had a good view of the entire thing. The first man piddled his pants in terror." Shaw's favorite part of the day to be certain. He really had not done much more then stealth around the room watching Varian deal with the situation. He could have stepped in at any point, but who was he to ruin another man's fun?
"That's right, Shaw, inflate my ego. It's statements like that which keep me from tossing you out the window to your death. Specially lately when you traipse into my office with coffee and not a cup in sight for me."
"Never would you even consider it." Shaw shook his head. He was highly amused that the King had noticed the coffee. That all his efforts were not in vain. " Admit it, I am a bright spot in your life. You might fire me someday though. To be truthful, some times I wish you would."
"But then who would tolerate my infinitely bad temper?" Varian placed a hand over his stomach. "Let's go to the main keep and get something to eat. I am starving."
"I thought you would never ask. Any longer and I think I would eat this bag." Shaw waited for Varian to lead the way. Before he could take the first step to follow he was halted.
"Master Shaw! I have a message for you." The gryphon master called out. He waved a hand over his head as he ran from the stables.
"What is it, man? You are holding up the King." Shaw turned his head to address the man.
"The Crimsonfox just left a while before you arrived. She said she was headed to Halfhill, and would explain when she returned."
"Halfhill? This late at night?" Varian turned, his attention caught. A thoughtful look in the icy depths of his blue eyes.
Shaw shrugged at the information. He had nothing pressing for her to be doing at the moment. The King was in fine spirits. Most assuredly due to his time spent with Fox last night. Not that Varian had been forth coming with anything more since they had dropped her in Lion's Landing that morning. "Ignore it. She is probably having more tea with Mrs. Mudclaw."
"Tea?" The word was almost spat. "Fox drinking tea? Are you sure? She really doesn't seem the type. I could see the woman swilling rum with pirates. Maybe tossing back whiskey with a few road side bandits. Not sipping on Oolong Red or the favored Green teas these Pandarians keep pushing at me."
"I never really considered it. Never been drinking with her." Shaw fell in to pace behind the King.
"I am not surprised. She is by far to professional for something like that." Varian was reminded of the look on her face last night. When he told her his suspicions concerning her motives. "What do you know about her? Besides her professional life with the SI-7?"
"Not much, and what I could tell you, I am bound by our code to cut out my own tongue before revealing." Shaw scowled. He was not liking this course of conversation at all.
Varian enter the keep and was delight to smell the Pandarian banquet that had already been prepared in anticipation of his arrival. Handing his things to one of the guards. "Surely, there is more then how well you can stab, steal, and lie involved in attaining a job with the SI-7. What she did prior to her assignment? Notification of next of kin? Maybe where she prefers to be stationed?"
"The only thing I can, in good conscious, tell you is that Besty was a gift from her parents when she was very small. I am not at liberty to confirm or deny their continued existence." Shaw moved into the dining hall, and waited for Varian to sit before pulling out his own chair.
"I see. So this subject is done since you are not going to break your silence, even to your King."
"My apologies."
Varian leaned an elbow on the table and looked out the window, "You can tell your agent something for me when you see her though. Tomorrow morning, I do not care how tired she is, we are going fishing. I don't care if she falls asleep. I will just toss her face first into the surf, and remind her the ramifications for staying out all night playing with her friends in Halfhill."
Fish was safe. The Mogu had not seen her enter the cave, but their presence had kept her there. The poor thing had been cowering for most of the day further in. At least until Fox and Sho had arrived. Fox tossing caution to the wind and shouting for Fish. Rushing around the damp tunnels like a woman possessed.
Sho, however, was the one that had been tackled by the very scared Fish. Even now the Pandarians clung to each other as they made their way back out of the cave. Once out the bright night sky, alight with stars greated them. So did the bodies of several Mogu.
Fish whimpered at the sight. She pressed her face into Sho's shoulder. Not one that had ever been exposed to so much horror, Fish was more then mildly disturbed.
Sho responded by gently patting her fellow Pandarian. The loving motion between the two a pure reflection of the care and admiration each Pandarian on the continent had for their brethren. Fox was honored to bear witness to how tight the ties went.
She was also ready to bear witness to the back of her eye lids. That was until the light of torches caught her attention from the right. Turning she could see them descending from the Kunzen Village.
Sho moved her attention from Fish, and then to Fox. Following the direction of Fox's gaze she gasped, "But I was only away from my post for a few short hours. How did they know?"
"They knew because they are black hearted little Hozen sneak thieves." Fox growled. She was down right angry now. Reaching to her side she pulled up the vial Mishka had given her. There were two more shots left after this one. Fox wondered what was going to happen first? Would she run out of vials or perhaps her luck would finally change for the better. Oh please be the latter.
"They are headed right for Haohan's farm." Fish whispered softly, "This is all my fault. If I had stayed by the dock, then Sho would have remained on watch and been able to warn Halfhill of the coming assault."
Sho snorted and shook her head, "No, Fish, don't speak that way. You had no way of knowing."
"But they are going to decimate the Heartland!" Fish started to cry.
"Sho is right, Fish. It is not your fault. It's theirs, and they will not be doing anything more then running with their little tails between their legs once, Sho and I are finished with them." Fox swallowed her anger for Fish's sake. "Let's get our mounts and teach the Kunzen why they don't leave their village."
A sharp whistle brought Sho's mount around. Fox's stood where she had left it. She was not going to bother trying to call the silly thing. Besty would already have come to her side the moment she left the cave. How many times had she escaped death thanks to the gryphon's constant readiness? Fox could not count. She was spoiled by the creature. The rented Gryphon pecked at the ground for seeds. The only saving grace was that it had not run off.
Fox jumped on the mount. Looking to Fish climbing up behind Sho, "Take her to Halfhill, and warn the others before joining me. I am pretty sure I can hold them off until you can bring back up." There was nothing more to be said, so Fox lifted off heading for the invading force alone.
"She's so brave." Fish squealed with excitement. Faith that Fox would turn the Hozen away."We are lucky to have a friend like her."
"Brave? You could say so, but I think she is more fool hardy and arrogant in her skills. It's going to get her killed if we don't hurry ourselves." Sho pulled her mount around. Flying straight for Halfhill. "I am as worried about her, as I was about you, right now."
Author Note: The new patch and new models came out last night. I took new pictures for the cover of the fic. A little photoshop, and I have a pretty good image of Besty going on. Not loving the human female face. The color choices are flat, black hair isn't even an option anymore. The eyes never change from face to face. All the same as the female gnome. The gnomes have bright colors though, and the head size that works much better. I am to emotionally invested I guess. I am sure overtime I will be able to remove the hood from my main's face. Fox was able to survive without getting the Bloodfang hood sacked over her head. Aside that I was pretty happy with all my other races. My Nelf and Draenei look AMAZING. The gnome DK was perfect! Although human males and Nelf males in robes had me quoting Pandarian's line of "Poor creature is so skinny, must be starving." Anyone else survive the change without throwing their computer? hee hee.