Dawn of the Dragon

Six

Wrathion hadn't woken up since he'd collapsed, and no one, not even the healers brought in to examine those who'd been hurt in the sudden earthquake could figure out what was wrong with the Black Prince. Wrathion had no external injuries, and the healers couldn't detect any internal ones. It was like Wrathion had simply fallen asleep and, like an errant child, refused to wake up.

But Anduin knew his best friend better than that. Not a moment passed that Wrathion wasn't looking over his own shoulder, waiting for the next threat to his life. Of course, recent events made him that much more a target, if Anduin could believe the whispered rumors. He didn't want to believe that Wrathion would forsake their friendship and the efforts so many put forth for his sake just so he could fulfill his own plans to protect Azeroth.

Anduin reached one end of the hall, turned around, and resumed pacing. About halfway, he passed Shandris, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. She, too, hadn't really moved from her spot, her eyes cast downward like she was contemplating something. Anduin didn't want to ruin her thought process, and Shandris seemed inclined to reciprocate, so she didn't say anything when he turned around and started pacing away again.

Finally, a door opened and Anduin turned to look at the person exiting the room. Kalec, or Kalecgos, was the former Aspect of the Blue Dragonflight. With his flight all but disbanded, he had joined Jaina Proudmoore in Dalaran. Anduin didn't really know who else to turn to to ask about dragon ailments, so he'd sent a message to Jaina asking her if he could borrow Kalec for a while. Jaina had sent Kalec with her own message - Anduin could borrow Kalec if she could borrow Anduin. Anduin had to agree, though he wasn't sure why Jaina wanted to borrow him. Still, he wanted to find out what was wrong with Wrathion, and if he had to consign his summer away to his aunt then he'd do it.

Kalec looked troubled. He looked at Anduin and Shandris, then approached them. "There's nothing wrong with him, physically. I could sense something amiss as far as his magic goes, though."

"Like what?" Anduin asked.

"Well, every Dragonflight has a specific magic, unique to their own kind. Wrathion's magic is in flux, like something attacked it. He should be waking up soon, though." Kalec blinked as he noticed Anduin's expression. "What's wrong?"

"About a month or so ago, the moron ate the heart of Lei Shen." Anduin said, barely hiding his disgust for the act. "He started spouting nonsense and attained the power of the Titans."

Kalec frowned. "That could be part of it. His body would need time to adjust to that power, especially because he's so young and hardly used to his own powers."

"But would that cause him to collapse?" Shandris asked.

Kalec shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is what I told you. If his condition changes, gets worse, send for me. I don't know much about black dragons, but I think I could still help. I doubt he'd be willing to let anyone else near him like that."

Anduin nodded. When Kalec offered his hand, Anduin gripped it tightly. "Thank you, Kalec. And tell Aunt Jaina I'll spend the summer with her. Right now, I think dad would have a fit if I went anywhere out of his sight.”

Kalec smirked. "I'll tell her." He let Anduin go and walked down the hall, where he could reach a courtyard big enough to allow him to transform and fly back to Northrend and Dalaran.

Shandris let out a soft sound. "I guess we won't know more until Wrathion wakes up."

There was a sudden crash and Anduin heard the familiar cursing of an irate black dragon. He smirked. "Guess he's awake."

Shandris raised a brow and gestured down the hall.

Anduin led the way, knocking on the door. "Wrathion? Can we come in?"

"Yes! Anduin, what the hell is this? Where am I?"

Anduin and Shandris entered the room, and Anduin saw Shandris purse her lips together to keep from laughing. Anduin, being a prince, had far more control over his emotions. However, because Wrathion was his best friend, Anduin burst out laughing.

Wrathion shot him a glare, which made him seem all the more ridiculous. Wrathion had reverted back to his natural form once he'd been unconscious long enough. To keep him from thrashing around, Kalec must've tied his arms and legs down, and hadn't bothered to remove them. Which meant Wrathion, now that he was awake, had discovered himself tied to a bed in a strange room and no memory of how he got there. Which brought about a violent reaction, and now Wrathion stood beside the destroyed bed with his arms and ankles still bound to the bedposts. "Stop laughing."

Anduin took a deep breath. "I'm done."

"Sure. Now what the hell did you do to me?"

"You collapsed." Anduin said. "Do you remember that?"

Wrathion frowned. "I remember walking into the palace. I remember feeling this surge, not unlike the time I ate Lei Shen's heart and took what was rightfully mine, and then... then I woke up here! Like this!"

Anduin frowned. "Like that time?"

"Almost like. It was..." Wrathion's face screwed up in an interesting expression. "Like being struck with two different bolts of lightning."

"Because we often survive that." Shandris said dryly.

Wrathion glared at her too. Then he looked at Anduin. "You know what I mean."

Anduin nodded. "So it was the Titan power."

"Maybe. But, I remember an earthquake." Wrathion said, finally pulling the ropes off his wrists and ankles. He tossed them across the room. "There was an earthquake, wasn't there?"

"There was. And as soon as it was over, you collapsed."

"Do you remember anything between that moment and when you suddenly collapsed?" Shandris asked.

Wrathion frowned. His head tilted one way, then the other. His frown grew more severe. "I remember something. Barely. It was like a dream. And then the world exploded."

"What is it?" The night elf asked, prompting a look from Anduin.

Wrathion shrugged, his eyes casting down to the floor. "A voice. No, hundreds, no, thousands of voices, all crying out in pain. I thought I could feel the forest in Ashenvale being felled, or the land in Azshara being blown to bits."

Shandris frowned, a thought passing over her features. She didn't seem willing to share whatever that thought was, though, and Anduin wasn't going to push her. He decided to wait until he and Wrathion were alone to find out what his friend had really felt, because it was obvious from the look on Wrathion's face he didn't want to keep sharing. At least, not with Shandris around.

"So," Wrathion started.

"So?" Anduin asked.

"What's for dinner? I'm starving."