Dedicated to Maya6996 ... Thank you :)

5 - The Cat's Dinner

Dawn cracked an eye open and her yellow iris rose slowly over the horizon. As the night's shroud receded from the sky, the sounds of the swamp changed; its nocturnal creatures retiring for the daylight hours while the diurnal inhabitants embraced the start of the new day. That included the soldiers of Marshtide Watch.

I had spent the night under the overhang of Alarii's roof, and slept, fitfully until the break of day. I had dreamed. The visions were blurry, but I think they were remnants of my time escaping the Dark Portal. Vaguely I remembered the wet-eyed woman. But there was another individual in the dream also. A man who I did not recall actually seeing at the portal, yet his presence seemed significant. As I sat blinking at the light spreading across the floor of the Watch, the man's face continued to elude me and I resigned myself to the fact I could not place him from the day before. I ruffled my feathers. It was of no importance I decided. The soft click from the door below my perch made me look down to the raised platform.

Dana exited the hut, stretching and yawning as she did so. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail and secured it with a small leather thong. Her eyes drifted up to where I sat observing. "Oh, you're still here, I see," she flexed an eyebrow at me. "Adopted my friend have you?"

"Now you leave raven alone," Alarii's voice came from within. In a moment, she appeared beside the blonde, fully armoured for the day ahead. In one hand she had some of that wonderful yellow food, which I now knew to be pine nut bread. I flew down and perched on her offered wrist then took the breakfast she held for me. Delicious though it was, my stomach knew it needed something more; something which I doubted very much that Alarii could provide for me.

Dana's face scrunched up as I looked at her. "I do not know why you bother with that thing," she said, her voice clearly indicating her dislike of my kind.

Alarii smiled, her eyes drifting over to the Commander's hut. "Oh he is a very special raven," she replied. "Aren't you, boy?" She stroked my chest. I flexed my wings, cawed, then continued with breakfast.

"It is no more than vermin," Dana said.

"Do not speak ill of him," Alarii's voice was uncharacteristically sharp and it did not go unnoticed by her blonde companion.

"Tetchy! What's so special about it?" She looked at her friend then followed the night elf's gaze across the compound. Commander Jevon had just stepped out from his hut. He looked across to where we stood. His eyes held their usual authoritative look when he saw Dana, but they softened when he looked at Alarii. He gave her the briefest of nods and even I could now tell his mouth smiled behind his beard. Her coy reaction was noted by Dana, and I almost heard the coppers drop. "Oh!" she smirked. "You finally told him?"

Alarii's small fangs flashed as her smile broadened. "Not quite. Raven here helped."

"That?" Dana pointed at me, a look of disbelief washed over her face.

"He is very unique. I believe there is more to him than meets our eyes."

Dana scoffed. "Yeah well, the only other thing he could be, is dead apparently. Have you heard the news? Well, rumours anyway, I don't think it has been made official yet. Some of the soldiers yesterday mentioned it."

"Mentioned what?" Alarii asked.

Our attention was drawn suddenly to the Commander as a messenger arrived by griffon and called out Jevon's name. The Commander accepted a letter from the young woman and tore open the envelope. We watched as his hand clapped over his mouth and he shook his head, as if not quite believing something. He glanced up towards us.

"Looks like it's official now then," Dana said.

"What is?"

"He's dead. Died at the portal."

I saw the Commander crossing the courtyard, his face solemn to say the least. I decided it was time for me to take my leave. I had taken pleasure in bringing Alarii and Jevon together and selfishly perhaps, I did not want that soured by any sad news he had to relate. I half flew, half hopped to the railing which ran around the hut's platform. I gave a guttural croak as I looked at Alarii. She seemed very much in tune with me and stepped nearer, lifting her finger to stroke my chest once more.

"I understand, raven," she said softly. "You are quite well and I'm sure you have places to be. Go, be free and safe. And..." She leaned near me. "Thank you," she whispered.

With one final avian croak, I spread my wings and took to the skies again. Circling the compound for a final time, I saw Jevon, Alarii and Dana watch me as I soared overhead. With a last glance at my elven saviour below, I turned to the north and made my way to the mountains.

I was more than alert this time making sure no more drakes hit me as I crossed the swamp's canopies. All was quiet on that front. Only a variety of wild birds, and a solitary condor in the distance to the north-east graced the skies. I felt the warmth of the sun on my body as she rose steadily above the horizon and once I crossed over the border to Redridge, I could feel the moisture density in my feathers give way, my plumage once more light and airy.

The warm late spring draughts kept me buoyant over Lakeshire Highway. Boar meandered through the landscape, grazing on the fresh, succulent grass. Amongst the trees and boulders, giant tarantula roamed, their unnerving presence keeping the soldiers stationed at the Three Corners watch tower on their toes.

Hog-like humanoids known as gnolls populated the dips and valleys in the area, their camps little more than a stretch of canvas over criss-crossed sticks, crates to serve as seating and tables and small campfires for cooking and keeping warm. I could somehow recollect that these odd creatures were notoriously aggressive, covering a vast area of the Lakeshire vicinity in Redridge Mountains right up to the pass that led to the Burning Steppes. It took very little for these tusked hoodlums to charge you and they never fought one on one, they were pack creatures. If you managed to wound one, half a dozen more would come at you. Oddly today however, they seemed quite docile, ignoring the soldiers that marched along the winding roads at the edge of their camps, heading towards Duskwood to the west and Stormwind to the north-west. Something had changed I sensed. I also had no doubt it was due to recent events at the Dark Portal.

I swooped down towards the main town, Lakeshire, and settled upon the roof of the largest building. There I preened for a few minutes, occasionally pausing in the ritual to glance down at the people as they busied themselves in their daily chores and business dealings.

The town was small, more of a village community really and looked out over a large lake which stretched beyond the town's boundaries towards the distant keep sitting on a crop of rocky crags to the east. It was quite picturesque with its red-roofed buildings and two wooden quays. A stone bridge crossing the expanse of lake allowed travellers access to and from the town. At its southern side, griffons sat nesting, waiting for the next customer to purchase a flight from their handler. All in all, Lakeshire was a quaint and clean little town.

Two children played near one of the docks, rolling little brightly coloured balls towards a bigger stationery one about a yard ahead of where they stood. The girl, in her pretty yellow dress, managed to get hers closest to the larger one and was running up and down the quay celebrating her success. Suddenly, she clasped her hands to her neck and glanced down at the wooden dock. Next she started crying. The boy ran over to her. I could hear her sobbing and my curiosity got the better of me – I flew down to see what the matter was, landing quietly on one of the quay supports. Cocking my head I listened into their conversation.

"Hilary, what's the matter?" the boy asked, crouching down trying to see her face behind her hands which she now held over her tiny face.

"It broke!" she sobbed.

"What did? The marble?"

"No!" she said, dropping her hands and pointing between the wooden spars. "My necklace. It fell through into the water. Oh Shawn, I'll get a row if I go home without it. Mummy told me I was only to wear it for special occasions."

"Oh!" Shawn replied, peering down between the wooden planks. "Well, I think I can see it, Hilary. But, I can't swim and those nasty eels are down there too. What we gonna do?"

The girl wailed some more. Clearly going home without this trinket was a most daunting prospect.

I hopped down to the boards and skipped over to where Shawn was kneeled down. His face was pressed against the wood, one eye scrunched tight shut while the other peered through the space between the planks. I turned my head and leaned down trying to see what he was looking at.

"Well, looky here!" Shawn gasped. I raised my head to see him staring at me, wide-eyed. "D'ya think that's him?" he swivelled his head towards the girl.

Hilary was still wiping her eyes and sniffling. "I don't care! I need my necklace or papa is going to smack me and send me to bed without any food today."

The boy stood up, tucking his shirt into his shorts and straightening his braces before he faced his friend. With his hands spread out he emphasised the point he was trying to make. "But Hilary, if it's him he can just magic it back..."

"Him? Who is him? Anyway, that kind of stuff is just rubbish Shawn! You are just being silly believing such stories."

The boy became incensed that the little girl dismissed what he was trying to explain. Quite honestly, I could understand where she was coming from. Who on Azeroth was he on about anyway? Only Hilary, Shawn and myself were there on the quay. The boy was clearly delusional.

At that moment an excruciating pain penetrated my back. I found myself flattened against the wooden boards. Something sharp was digging in between my scapulas. I let out a shrill croak. My head slammed against the boards next. Distantly, over my own shrieks I could hear the girl howling again and the boy shouting for something called Effcee to stop. Another sharp pain, this time at the back of my neck. It felt like teeth biting me!

The wooden planks started to vibrate, my body bouncing slightly with whatever had me pinned still. I continued cawing and finally my wings spread and I was able to get a little leverage. With tremendous effort I started to flap and my chest raised from the quay. The movement caused my attacker to grip the back of my neck even tighter. Sweet Elune, it hurt!

I saw a huge shadow loom over me and suddenly the pressure on my back and neck was released. With the removal of my attacker my body was instantly buoyant. With a determind flap I was airborne. My eyes leveled with a man and in his hand he held a charcoal coloured feline with yellow eyes, by the scruff of its neck. The cat hissed and swiped at me in mid air. Instinctively I flapped my wings more frantically. My response caused the man to raise his free hand to his eyes, while his other one dropped the cat - over the side of the quay into the water.

A spine-chilling yowl came from the feline as it panicked, ears flat against the back of its head and pawing maniacally at the water. Hilary screamed even louder; Shawn yelled "Effcee overboard!" the man, all brawn and extremely flustered at dropping the cat in the lake, jumped down into the water to rescue the beast. I meanwhile, remained airborne watching all with keen interest, and yes, a little smugness crept in that my attacker had literally ended up in deeper water than I had when it pounced on me. Admittedly, I also felt a little sorry for it.

"Hurry mister Hale, Effcee is drowning!" Shawn shouted over the edge of the quay.

"Hardly drowning lad," the man's voice answered back. "Her feet are nearly touching the lake bed." At that Hilary yelled even louder. Mister Hale shook his head then reached out and snatched the cat out of the water. The thankless creature clawed at his face and neck before wriggling free, jumping out of his hands and landing on the grassy ledge. It quickly shook itself, head first then rippling all the way down to its tail before sloping off shaking a foot with every step.

"Can you get Hilary's necklace while your down there mister Hale, please?"

"What?" the burly man said, rubbing his face and neck. I gathered he was attempting to soothe the sting that must have resulted from the cat's claws raking his skin.

"Her necklace, it fell under the dock. You can see it, it's shining."

"Honestly! You kids!" mister Hale said, exasperated, then headed back under the dock.

Checking the cat was no longer anywhere to be seen, I landed back on one of the supports and proceeded to preen my primaries and secondaries. The effort caused me some discomfort and I flinched. My neck felt oddly damp and I could smell something - coppery. Yes! Coppery. Another little bit of knowledge having slipped from the veil over my memories.

Mister Hale came up out of the water, causing huge ripples and swells as he approached the banking. He strode up onto the quay, water dripping from his clothing leaving damp stains across the planks as he neared us. He held out his hand to Hilary, from which dangled the precious necklace. "Here lass. Now I strongly suggest you don't wear it when you're playing out here."

The girl's eyes widened and she smiled from ear to ear. "Oh thank you mister Hale."

The man nodded. "Right then, off you scarper, the two of you, you're scaring the fish and I've got a living to make. And feed that damn cat why don't you?"

Hilary clapped a hand over her mouth and mumbled. "Why mister Hale! You shouldn't say that word in front of children."

Mister Hale stared in disbelief. He put his fists on his hips and glared at the two children. "I'll be saying a lot worse to your parents if you don't run along!"

At that both Hilary and Shawn took off along the quay and disappeared up the hill behind the inn. Mister Hale stood watching them, chuckling to himself. Then he turned to me, the smile instantly vanishing from his broad face. "As for you," he said reaching out and grabbing me before I had a chance to react. "You almost ended up as the cat's dinner. I'll check you over, make sure you're not seriously hurt, then I expect you to be on your way too."

I looked ahead as he strode, feet squelching in his sodden boots, towards a shack at the lake's edge. Outside an array of long thin poles with small hoops and what looked like twine of some kind threaded through them, were perched against the side of the small building. I was striving to remember what they were called when he turned and flung the door to the shack open. Inside, more of the poles stood regimental against the back wall. A table, sat hard against the wall on the left was strewn with odd multi-coloured spheres of varying sizes and sharp looking bent, barbed bits of metal. Under it were containers, which by the looks of them were traps of some kind. It was when he pulled one of those traps out and placed it on the table, I just knew I was in for another spell of imprisonment. He shoved me inside and closed it firmly, winding a bit twine around a bauble on the front of the contraption.

He then reached under the table again, and this time produced a slippery looking blueish-silver thing which I recognised as being a fish. He slapped it down on the table beside me; scales and droplets of water splattering over my newly cleaned feathers as a result. "No doubt you'll be hungry once I check you over," he said looking at me from under his rather bushy eyebrows. He removed a blade from his belt and shoved it into the belly of the fish. With a quick yank, he slit it open up to its head. Dark purple and blueish innards spilled onto the table which he shoved into a container on the floor at the side of the table.

His mouth twitched and he gave me a sideways smirk. "I'll soon have you fed and on your way raven. Just want to make sure you're not injured by that mental moggy. She's got quite a bite on her." He rubbed his face and neck again, smearing some fish scales on his skin as he did so. "Not to mention her ruddy claws." He smiled. "Name's Vernon Hale by the way," he said, waving the blade in front of himself. "Your local fishing supplier and luckily for you, keen bird-watcher."

I relaxed. I definitely preferred these humanoids to creatures with fur or toughened serpentine hide. The humans at least didn't try to kill me. And the added bonus was they fed me too! I was so ready for this fish.