((Author's Note: A little diddy inspired by World of Warcraft. Liathano and Anri are two of my characters (Thorium Brotherhood and Cenarion Circle respectively) while Alexy is an alt of my friend's, used with her permission. This story, although using characters I've ascribed personalities to, is copyright Blizzard Entertainment 2005, please don't sue and all that jazz.

This story is rated T for minor swearing and violence and such.))

Swinging Chickens

A World of Warcraft fanfic

By Kristin Renee Taylor

Part Four -

For the second time that night (or the first time that morning, if you preferred), the door to the Swinging Chicken tavern burst open. Of course, given that it was only a few hours or so until dawn, the only people present were Dave the Bard and Fizzlethork. Dave was asleep, wrapped up in his cloak by the smoldering hearth, one hand curled protectively about his lute.

Fizzlethork, one hundred and eighty pounds of compacted muscular goblin, had also been sleeping in his usual spot: right in front of the door. Heavy oak met grouchy goblin with a resounding crash that sent the little green fellow sprawling into the tavern proper. He bounded to his feet, gripping a rather large mace in his hands, and rambled off something in his native tongue that sounded angry and full of swears. Dave the Bard shot upright, brandishing his lute. "I didn't do it!" He screamed in a startlingly high-pitched tone.

Liathano paid neither the irate goblin or panicked bard no mind. She strode inside and bellowed "GORTHAD!"

Fizzlethork stomped towards her, fully intending to throw her out. He was foiled by the small mob of children that followed Liathano inside. He stared at them in bafflement.

Gorthad appeared from the second story, wearing a long white robe and carrying a candle. He rubbed his face blearily. Tammie the Wench appeared at the doorway leading into the kitchen, a short portly woman beside her. Maggie was the resident cook in the tavern.

Gorthad took in the scene below with some confusion. "What's all this?"

Liathano begin shoving tables and chairs away from the center of the room. She talked while she worked. "There are a lot of pissed off undead coming here. They're about a half hour behind us, maybe more."

A chorus of panicked questions flew through the air. This touched off the children, who added their own voices by crying loudly. Lia tolerated the noise for about four seconds.

"Shut up. All of you, SHUT UP!"

Miraculously, they all obeyed.

Liathano frowned at Gorthad. "All the adults around here were killed and turned into undead. The children had been captured but Anri and I rescued them a few hours ago." Her eyes narrowed. "You mean to tell me that you never noticed any of this?"

Gorthad gaped at her. It was Dave that answered, his voice shaking so badly he stammered. "Scuh- scourge can't get into the tavern. Wuh- we had a pruh- priest wuh-ward the door." He pointed a trembling finger at the door, indicating a bunch of looping swirls carved into the wood.

Someone had obliterated one of the swirls. Carved in tiny yet precise letters was the sentence "ANRI WAS HERE."

A muscle in Liathano's jaw twitched. She turned a flat stare on Gorthad. "Start barricading the windows."

As chaos ensued, Liathano stepped outside.

A stables had been built behind the tavern. Lia circled around the building, spying the unhitched wagon in front of the stables. Anri must have taken the horses inside.

As she approached, she heard voices and what sounded like muffled crying. Puzzled, Liathano crept closer until she could make them out.

Anri's voice wafted towards her on the still air. "Stop apologizin', I know it ain't yer fault. Nobody ever means t' get kidnapped."

Whoever Anri was talking to answered in a quiet, tearful tone, too low for Liathano to make out. She moved a little closer.

"'Mad at ya?'" Anri said, sounding a little surprised. "Why the hells would I be mad at ya? It ain't like this is yer fault. Hells, kid, if anything I'm proud of ya fer not freakin' out and turnin' into a total mess."

Liathano crouched at the stable entrance. By leaning enough to peer inside, she could make out two shapes. Anri and one of the captured children, the oldest girl in her white robe, stood inside of an empty stall. Anri leaned against the wall of the stall, her arms folded.

It was the girl who was crying. She sniffled, wiping her face with the sleeve of her robe. She spoke quietly, and Lia had to strain to hear her. "I couldn't do anything."

Anri snorted. "Ya did plenty. Ya kept the brats calm enough for Lia t' get t' ya'll. Ya didn't pitch a fit when ya saw the horses." Anri smiled suddenly, a smile full of warmth and fierce pride, completely at odds with how Liathano normally saw her. "And don't think I didn't see what'cha did for Lia."

The girl looked embarrassed. "She was hurt..."

"She's a lotta things, the least of which is being too dumb t' notice somethin' unless it smacks 'er in the face." A brief pause, then, "Yer gettin' better." The smile faded into a look of concern. "We'll talk about this later. Ya better get inside. It's gonna get nasty."

The girl nodded and moved to turn away. Anri straightened. "Hey."

The girl paused, and Anri stepped forward, pulling her into a hug. The thief's voice turned gruff. "I'm sorry, kid. It's my fault that we're in this mess t' begin with. But don't worry, I'm gonna get us out, too. I promised I'd never let anything hurt ya, and I meant it."

Liathano pulled back, and sat on the ground. Her mind whirled. Who knew? Anri does have soft side...

A moment later, the girl walked out, passing Liathano without noticing her. Wood creaked, and Liathano glanced up to see Anri leaning on the half-wall, watching the girl walk towards the tavern.

Anri said flatly, "Ya tell anyone about this and I'm gonna kill ya."

Liathano grinned. "Why, Anri-"

Anri punched the top of Liathano's head, producing a satisfying yelp of pain. Liathano shot to her feet, rounding on the shorter woman. Anri stared back blandly. "Problem?"

Liathano opened her mouth, thought better of it, and grunted. She rubbed her head. "That's 'the kid,' huh?" Anri nodded and Liathano said, "What did you mean when you said you saw what she did to me? What did she do?"

Anri stared at her in disbelief. She shook her head, laughing quietly, and stepped around to exit the stables. "Dumber than a brick."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Anri said as she walked away, "that you can breathe."

"Of course I can breathe. I've always been able to-" Liathano froze, staring down at herself. "I can breathe..." She ran a hand along her ribs, then took a deep breathe. Nothing. Not even the barest twinge of pain.

Her ribs had been healed. But, when?

"You're hurt," the oldest girl said. She stepped forward and touched a hand to Lia's shoulder.

Lia touched her face. Her fingers came away sticky with her blood. She forced a cocky grin on her face anyway. "I'm a big warrior. I'll be fine."

The girl gave her an odd look, but nodded and pulled away.

Lia shook her head. "Liathano, you're an idiot..." Smiling to herself, she jogged after Anri. They re-entered the tavern together.

"Wow..." Anri said. Liathano privately agreed.

Gorthad hadn't wasted time. He, Dave, and Fizzlethork had cleared the entire floor. Tables heaped upon tables blocked every window. The fire had been rebuilt until it was burning furiously; any undead that tried to get in through the chimney were in for a nasty surprise.

Gorthad, dressed in a raggedy, too big leather jerkin and holding a rusty looking saber, was making the final inspections of the hastily-built barricades. He waved the two women inside impatiently. Fizzlethork shut the door, then crammed a few chairs behind it. Dave turned to Lia. "Tammie and Maggie took the children into the basement. Dave's going to go down there with them."

"What!" The bard said in mighty indignation. "And miss out on the fight of the century? Imagine the song that I can make from this!"

Anri drew a knife.

"Going." The bard whimpered and slunk into the kitchen.

Liathano said, "What about upstairs?"

"I'll handle that," Dave said. He lifted his sword and ran a thumb down the blade. "Been awhile since me and Ol' Trudy have had to fight, but I think we'll manage."

Lia nodded. "Anri, cover the stairs, and be ready to assist us. Fizzlethork, you take the kitchen and the backdoor. I'll hold them here."

Anri looked at the size of the tavern. "This's a lotta space. Sure ya can hack it?"

In answer Liathano drew Alennius. She smiled, dangerously. "I'll be fine."

The small group (three humans and one goblin) looked at each other. Silent nods were exchanged, and then they parted.

Alone, Liathano paced the empty tavern floor before giving up and sinking to her knees in the center. Alennius lay before her. She slowed her breathing, forcing calmness upon her body.

Time passed, measured only in heartbeats and deep breathes. A heavy thunk, the crack of splintering wood as an axe was driven into it, and woke Lia from her meditation. She rose to her feet, Alennius in hand, as the door gave way. Red eyes gleamed as the first undead forced its way inside the tavern.

Liathano smiled slowly. “Come right on in."