Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Dawn of the Dragon	By : RotSeele Category: +S through Z > World of Warcraft Views: 3875 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft. I do not make any money from this story.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
Twenty-Three
Once freed from the rock debris, both Anduin and Shalya let Karidormi and Shandris worry over them, checking them for wounds. The only wound Anduin felt that he'd suffered was bruised pride, especially because every time he tried to catch Shalya's attention, she seemed to be focused elsewhere. Which wasn't fair, Anduin decided, because she'd started to kiss him back seconds before Wrathion and his sense of timing stopped what could've been a very productive kiss. Maybe even a relationship starter. And now, because of that cock-blocking dragon, Shalya probably thought Anduin just wanted to get some from her because she'd been available and they'd been about to die.
By the Light, can my life get any worse? Anduin thought. He stared at Shalya's back as she led them through the Blade's Edge, heading toward Ruuan Weald. She wasn't speaking to him, and hadn't looked at him since then. In fact, she acted like he wasn't even there! Anduin wasn't sure if he was grateful to Wrathion for saving him or if he wanted to strangle the jerk for ruining his chance. Of course, Wrathion was acting a little strangely too, and when Anduin asked him about what happened, Wrathion shied away from answering.
A few days after the incident at Bloodmaul, their path led them toward what looked like an arena. They camped in its shadow, knowing that in the morning they'd reach it. Wrathion stared at the metal wiring that caged in combatants, and wondered what kind of person was brave enough to get locked in there just to have the pleasure of fighting others.
"It's called the Blade's Edge Arena." Shalya said quietly. Wrathion jumped; he hadn't heard her come up behind him. "Baron Sablemane keeps watch over that place. It's quiet now, but when the time is right, people from all over come here to fight or to watch."
"Aren't they afraid of dying?"
"Who knows? Perhaps they find some sort of thrill, or perhaps surviving their fights reinforces the fact that they're still alive."
Wrathion frowned and returned his attention to the shadowed arena. Shalya stepped up beside him, not quite invading his personal space, but not quite letting him forget she was there. Finally, he snapped, "What?"
"How well do you know Anduin?"
"Pretty well. Why?"
Shalya's cheeks reddened slightly. "He wouldn't... Well..."
Wrathion raised a brow. "Okay, well, I don't know much about human mating rituals, but I know Anduin, and he's not the type of guy to do one night stands or little flings. In fact, he never paid much attention to girls, not in the few years I've known him." Wrathion tilted his head. "Why? What happened?"
Shalya's eyes narrowed. "Why am I discussing this with you?"
Women logic. Wrathion could almost hear the aggrieved voice of Anduin in the back of his mind. "Well, a) you asked and b) I can't give you much of an answer if you're holding out on me."
Shalya shifted to one side. "He kissed me."
"He what?"
She slashed a glare at him. Wrathion held up his hands in surrender, then stroked his goatee. "Seems to me," began the Black Prince, "he likes you. And not just in the 'she's really pretty must seduce before going separate ways' type of like."
A look crossed her face, and Wrathion couldn't tell if she was disturbed or pleased. "Are all human males like that?"
"I dunno, but I guess a good portion of them are. At least some of the ones I've met. If you're gonna die tomorrow, might as well get laid." Wrathion shrugged. "Point is, Shalya, Anduin's not the type of guy to hurt other people for the sake of getting what he wants. He's never been like that. He's always helping people, even if it ends up with him lying in a bed somewhere broken into pieces. I've never known him to have a cruel bone in his body."
She stayed silent.
"So, I kinda take offense to you treating him like you have."
Now she raised a brow at him. "Why? It's not like you're dating him."
Wrathion spluttered. "Well, if I were a girl, maybe I would!"
Shalya's lips twitched. Whatever she was thinking she didn't voice; instead she turned around and left him standing at the edge of the camp. Wrathion stared after her, mouth gaping. Slowly he closed it, folded his arms across his chest and muttered, "Females."
There was a moment's pause before Anduin approached him. "What did you say to her?" Asked the blonde prince.
"Nothing," grumped Wrathion. "Just played your wingman, that's all."
Anduin stared at him. A blush crept into his cheeks. "Thanks, I guess."
Wrathion rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You're stupid in love with her, and she's got no clue how to react to you. One minute, the idea of you liking her makes her all tingly inside, and the next she's vehemently denying she's attracted to you."
"That's a girl for you, though." Anduin said in an aggrieved tone. "For whatever reason a man is just supposed to know that the woman likes him, but if he doesn't act on it, she gets mad."
"Chicks, man."
"Mhm." Anduin tilted his head. "So you wanna tell me what happened? Kari's being a typical bronze, not revealing anything to me that might affect my timeline."
"Nah, well." Wrathion paused. He thought about it for a long while, then told Anduin everything. Anduin just stood there and listened, his eyes never betraying any of his thoughts or feelings. Finally, Wrathion said, "Kari says she'll do everything she can to protect me, but that shaman's hooks are in me, Anduin. Even if I fight him, he just might win."
"He 'might' win." Anduin said. "Look, we've been through too much together for me to give up on you based on a 'might'."
Wrathion looked at Anduin. "Even if I'm gonna be the new Destroyer when I'm all grown up?"
"You? Grow up? Please." Anduin grinned. "I didn't think you would. You're still only two."
"In dragon years." Wrathion sighed. "But I guess you're right. It'll be a long time before he could use me."
"Anduin, Wrathion, come get some rest." Karidormi called. "We're going to need all our strength for tomorrow."
The two boys returned to the camp, and Anduin noticed that Shalya wasn't there. He tried to be secretive in looking for her, but Wrathion and Dashiell caught him looking. The blood elf waved a hand in dismissal. "She's securing our route with Shandris. They told us to stay put."
Karidormi looked off toward the distant arena. "Perhaps they'll find a way around that thing."
"Why?" Asked Wrathion.
Karidormi looked at him with an unreadable expression. "Because if we had such a hard time getting past the Bloodmaul, I can only imagine what it'd be like trying to get past an arena."
The morning came with silence. The party quickly erased the signs of their passing and started on their path once more, following Shalya. They managed to avoid getting close to the Blade's Edge Arena, but they still came within earshot and heard a massive crowd roaring for their favorite to win, and then a deep, cultured voice announcing the combatants. Wrathion craned his head back to try and catch a glimpse of the speaker, but all he saw was a silhouette of a man standing against the burning sun.
As they headed deeper into the mountains, a scent began to fill the air. It took a moment for them to recognize it, and Shandris let out a soft gasp. "Trees!"
Shalya nodded. "There's a small town not too far ahead. Evergrove. It's a staging area for the Cenarion Expedition. If we're going to find any information about black dragons, they're the ones to ask."
They ended up spending two more nights out in the open before they finally crested the hill and saw the town. Evergrove was a small outpost situated in Ruuan Weald, manned almost entirely by night elves. The kal'dorei didn't seem shocked to see the odd party approaching; rather, they seemed delighted to have guests. Or, as Anduin supposed, they were just happy seeing Shandris.
Not surprisingly, there were spare rooms at Everglade's inn, a small dwelling run by a night elf who called herself Aelerya. The men ended up in one room while the women were placed in the room across the hall. As Shandris went to go scout the area, Anduin, Shalya, and Wrathion went to explore the small town. Karidormi and Dashiell went to go look for information. Karidormi was surprised to learn that there were black dragons close by, but the dragons were but hatchlings. They were under the care of orcs who served... Well, the rumor was they served Sinestra, but since she was dead, someone else had picked up the reins. Not that any of the Druids knew who, of course. They didn't get that close, and the orcs didn't come close to Everglade. There was also a rumor going around that there had been a few attacks on the orcs and a few of their whelps stolen or outright killed, but no one had ever seen the perpetrator.
Karidormi stared out across the forest into the dark areas, watching shapes move silently along paths that took them wherever they needed to go. Once in a while, she saw the flutter of wings, and her heart ached because she knew those wings belonged to a little whelp younger than Wrathion. A whelp who would never be free. She tilted her head to acknowledge Dashiell as the rogue slipped up beside her.
"There's a mountain path that leads up to a small outcrop." He lifted his arm and pointed. "I found evidence that someone was there recently, probably watching what was happening down here."
"I'll check it out."
"And if it's our shaman friend? You know Khargol hasn't given up the hunt."
Karidormi swallowed sharply. "No, but I don't think he'd have time to come out here himself. And if his agents are working here... Well. We stopped them back in Hellfire."
"That doesn't mean he doesn't have other ways of reaching them." Dashiell said.
"I'm aware."
"Are you?"
She turned a sharp gaze on him, but the rogue refused to quail. Even knowing she could turn into a dragon that could easily crush him, Dashiell pushed her, prodding at her until she was forced to acknowledge that she wasn't alone on her fight. When it became clear that he wasn't going to back down, Karidormi let out a soft sigh. "When I go looking, I need you to keep an eye on Wrathion. If he has another attack, or loses himself in time, you're all that stands between him and the destruction he'll cause."
"Well, that's comforting." Dashiell folded his arms over his chest and glowered into the darkness. "Kari, he's going to learn, sooner or later, that his kind is out there, bound by invisible chains to someone we can't even begin to know. If he goes off on his own to play hero, there's a good chance we won't know he's gone until the last moment. And then what will you do? You can't risk Anduin."
"I won't choose between them."
"You might not have a choice. I don't know what you saw when you pulled him out of that timeline, but I know it was enough to worry you. So let me warn you - Wrathion may be the last of his kind, but Anduin's the Prince of Stormwind. If it comes to it, and you won't choose, I'll make the decision for you."
Karidormi didn't look at him; she didn't do anything except give a slight twitch of her shoulders and then transform. The bronze dragon took off toward the outlook, leaving Dashiell alone, standing there in Everglade and watching her go.
- 22
- 23
- 24
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Dawn of the Dragon