Chapter 8 - Mr. Kitty and Catnip

Our first stop was Stormwind City. Stormwind had become the capitol of the human  kingdoms since Lorderon fell in the war. There our first stop was to the King Anduin Wrynn to ask for permission to browse the entirety of the Stormwind Library.

Unfortunatly Stormwind was on another continent. From the sleepy town of Auberdine in which our hippogryphs had delicately delivered us we had caught passage on a ferry leading across the tumultuous seas between our native Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. The journey was long and the inside cabin for travellers was small and stale. Anthra and I were the only Night Elves on board and the other passangers kept to themselves wary of the tales of "thieving night elf travellers". As Anthra and I sat in a single cot in the main hold we asked ourselves many questions, eager to know about one another all the while laughing and enjoying each others company.

As I sat beside her, clinging to the warmth of her body against the salty chill of the winds blowing across the deck, one question in particular seemed to upset her.

"So what is it that we are searching for?" I asked, finally.

She hesitated. I could tell she was strugling with the answer, though I could not understand why. She stared at me with uncertain eyes, the only time I have seen her eyes without her unwaivering optimism. She stood up and walked wearily towards the door out of the hold. I got up and walked to follow. As I approached her she turned, looking at me with sad eyes. I could think of nothing else to do so I embraced her. The meeting of our frames was bittersweet, as she moved readily into my arms, placing her hands on my shoulders and letting my arms wrap around her. I did my best to comfort her there, holding her, hoping she would know I care far too much to see her in such a way.

"Don't worry, Anthra, you don't have to tell me anything youd rather not talk about now, I will be here, and I don't need a reason to stay by your side other than my own." I said to her.

"I know, I'm... sorry. It's not that I don't trust you Ueki, please know that. I just can't bring myself to speak of it right now" She said, pulling her head up from my chest and looking up into my eyes.

"Thats ok, I'm here for you no matter what." I said "All I ever need to know is that you still want me around"

She chuckled a bit. "Of course I do Ueki, what would I do without you?!" She smiled finally.

"Probably alot more without me holding you back!" We both laughed.

"I wouldnt have it any other way though," She said confidently.

---

When the ship docked at Menethil Harbor, it was a sight i had not been prepared for. Where as night elf lands were lush with rich foliage and fauna, Menethil harbor seemed to be dregded with moss and swampland. even the air was heavy and supressive and a lack of sunlight made the port town feel as if it were in perpetual twilight.

We stepped off the boat into a drizzle that ran off the already saturated wooden dock. As we walked closer to the end of the pier an old beggar woman approached Anthra asking for coin. As Anthra places some silver in her hand however the woman began to shout wildy. her body shook and she lunged forward unexpectedly. In seconds i landed pinning the old woman with nightsaber teeth inches from her face. I snarled a warning that would be clear in any language and the old woman began sobbing, eyes wide with fear. I stepped off her slowly unsure of what had just happened or why she seemed to be just as confused as I was. She got up as quick as she could, running in fear towards the guard station not far from where we stood. I turned around to look at Anthra but she was slumped over on the ground. I quickly slung her over my back and carried her to the tavern.

As i ran by the other patrons in their wooden chairs just about everyone stopped what they were doing to stare, afterall if a large black nightsaber carrying an unconcious night elf priest doesn't get your attention, nothing will. I made my way up the stiars to the vacant rooms and found the first and put her in the bed there. No sooner than she was off my back and into bed had there been a knock on the open door. The guards weren't sure how to react to a large cat in a tavern and 2 of them walked slowly to me saying "Nice kitty"

One shift back to my night elf form caused them to jump back, thier silver armor clinking as they did.

"I will assume you have never personally encountered a night eld druid, but i assure you, 'Nice kitty' would not have worked on an actual animal, let alone an emmisary of Darnassus." I addressed them as calmly as i could despite feeling insulted.

"My appogies mi'lord, but it seems we have a little old lady who claims you assaulted her..." spoke the man who was obviously of rank, his voice still shaken somewhat.

"You are incorrect, my companion here was giving her silver when she lunged, to what purpose i am not sure but she is injured for it. She is a priestess of the Temple of Elune in Darnassus and I hope you had the good sense to keep the woman in custody."

"I'm afraid she was not suspected--"

"Why? because she is a human and we are elves? Ash'lenah, I do believe your king will here this when we speak with him."

the uncertainty in the guard's eyes grew to panic, but his subordinate was not as impressed.

"How do we know you are who you say you are elf?" He asked, his superior seemed to regain some of his courage as he nodded. I handed them a document given to us by Lariia bearing the signiture of the high priestess Tyrande Whisperwind only for them to shrink once more.

"Appologies once again mi'lord, this is indeed addressed to King Anduin." said the superior with a dissapointed look in his eyes "You as emmisaries shall of course have the support of the local guard."

"Good, now please do fetch me some fresh water, heated if you can." They both grumbled and walked away. They would not fetch me water, of that i was sure, so i settled Anthra in bed and called for the barkeep. I felt her forhead and she was cold to the touch. I needed answers that I wouldnt get, so for now all I could do was crawl into the bed with her to keep her warm. As I did I shifted back to my cat form and laid beside her.

---

It was not long before mornings light shone through the window in our small room at the top of the tavern. The racuous and wild shouting from below was gone, and in its stead you could hear the soft sounds of sweeping and cleaning from the prior nights merry-making. Apprently even a fiasco involving two night elves was not enough to stifle the draught and i nearly thanked Elune that Anthra had already been unconcious, for had she not I doubt she could have gotten any sleep at all.

I looked next to me only to see Anthra missing from the bed. I panicked. Had the guards taken her while I was asleep?

Not even as soon as I lept from the bed did I hear laughter coming from the hall. As I looked up I saw Anthras head poked out just past the doorframe. I shifted back and walked towards the door embarrased. as I neared the door she jumped out excitedly in front of me.

"Mr. Kitty! You're my hero!" She exclaimed as she jumped into my arms. I barely had time to catch her, I was so suprised.

"Mr. Kitty?" I asked.

she nodded and smiled, "Yup, Mr. Kitty."

"Well if i'm the kitty, you are definatly my catnip!" I found my surprised at what I was saying. I felt my face flush immediatly as the words left my lips.

Anthra's smile widened and she hugged her arms tighter around my shoulders before jumping down. There were so many questions I wanted to ask her, but for now I guess it was ok to just be relieved she was okay. She walked over to the bed and collected some of our packs as well as her staff.

"From here I was thinking we could travel directly to Stormwind, at this point I think it might be too dangerous to travel through the surrounding swamplands." I said

She turned to me again and nodded, "That sounds good..."

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

She looked at me and smiled once again. "of course, you're here!"

---

The guards of menethil proved to be of some help, they supplied us with two gryphons what were taught a direct route to Stormwind Keep. as we loaded our belongings on to the strange half eagle, half lion creatures Anthra noticed a stable nearby. She ran over to it and stood there admiring the horses.

"I love horses," she said without turning as I walked up behind her. "My sister has one, I've always adored her"

"Really? She didn't bring it to Nighthaven when we first met."

"Yeah, she loves her to death, she probably didn't want to take her such a long way from home." She said while watching a white charger get fitted with new shoes by the stable master.

"I see, why don't you have one?" I asked her.

"Last I travelled to Stormwind they weren't so keen on selling one to a night elf"

"Thats too bad," I replied, hardly surprised after the events of the previous night. "You'll get one eventually though, I just know it."

"Thanks Ueki," she said turning to me finally "And when I do, maybe I'll let you name him!" she said gigling.

"Not a wise choice I think!" I laughed, "but I appreciate it. Are you ready Catnip?"

"Indeed I am mr. kitty!", and with that we departed.

The journey itself was vibrant, but otherwise boring. Normally I would have been in awe of the breathtaking new lands we had flown over, each different from the last, but the journey seemed lonely without being able to talk to Anthra. I know my descision to fly was for the best, but part of me longed for a longer excursion on foot. Being able to talk by the campfire as we prepared meals, seeking shelter from a sudden rainstorm, even walking beside her seemed very much worth the extra effort. And if it wasn't for the strange events in Menethil I might've pushed for it. I could see that Anthra was at least enjoying the ride. She would look back at me from time to time and point below when she thought something was particularly spectacular.

Just then as we came over the top of a mountain we saw it. Surrounded by white stone walls Stormwind city cried of regality. The cobblestone, brick, and tatch however was a far cry from our native lands. The spires of blue and the great statues gleamed in the sunlight that seemed to shine even brighter on the human city. As we made our final pass over Elwynn forest I couldn't help but wonder what aid, and what possible hinderances awaited us so very far from home. when I looked ahead of me however i saw Anthra beaming. her eyes followed every little shop, every tavern, and every citizen of Stormwind we flew over. And indeed there was really enough to see, the bustle of the city made Darnassus look more like an outpost as opposed to the capitol of the night elf  people.

We passed over what looked like the market center of Stormwind and over a series of canals. Looking up ahead I could see the castle. the castle itself was even more grand than the cisty itself, though had you told me that earlier I would not have believed you. no doubt the shining center of the city, the magnificent castle towered above all else, much like an elder tree would over Darnassus, though its manmade construction no doubtedly took far less time than the growth of an ancient tree. Also unlike a tree was the castles symmetry. its towers and spires, though tall, all stood as twin to another on the opposite side of the castle.

Just as the guards of Menethil had said the gryphons we were riding had landed in a private aery atop one of stormwind castle's highest towers. Just as anthra and I carefully dismounted several royal guards came to greet us.

"So youre the night elves we're expecting?" asked a guard with a bushy bark brown mustache and stern face.

"Yes, greetings from Darnassus, sir." answered Anthra, curtseying in her priestess robes. I bowed, following her lead.

"And this one? your escort, milady?"

"Yes sir, he is my guardian, he is a respected druid of the claw" she said with a hint of pride in her voice.

"Very well, we've set up a guest quarters for you in preperation for your meeting with King Anduin. We will send an escort when he is ready to see you." the gaurd said before turning and ushering us to follow with a wave of his hand.

The man left his fellow guards at the aery and led Anthra and i to the guest quarters. we made our way down several flights of stairs in the tower and came o a hallway covered with red and gold carpet. the walls were still regal and white even so close up and just a few paces down the hall we found ourselves in our new room.

"Will one room be ok?" He asked unsure of the manor in which wed take the questions.

"He can't guard me from the next room over," Anthra replied quickly. "One room is fine."

"Very well." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Enjoy your stay, an escort shall call on you shortly."

As he walked away Anthra turned to me and smiled, "Now don't get the wrong idea, mr. kitty!"

she laughed as she entered the room and I followed closely behind.