Writing Prompt: Alternate Universe

[Kage]

After the outburst that C'kayah and Natalie had when Kage opened his big mouth, Kage had gone to the airship bar to drink his sorrows away. Why had he even -said- anything?

 

It had hurt. Denn and Natalie. They knew each other and they both -knew- he had wanted to give Denn a good time at the ball. Thal's balls, Natalie helped Kage give Denn his invitation! So why? Why had Natalie bedded with Denn? What was the point of Denn even accepting his plea if all she was going to do was just leave him anyway?

 

It hurt. So much did it hurt. Why?

 

Kage glowered as he sat, drinking away. Suri, the Moonkeeper Kayah had mentioned not liking Natalie... he wouldn't tell her any of it. Vague stories maybe. But he wouldn't tell her about Natalie. Just Denn. That. Stupid. Roegadyn. He thought Denn wasn't just a fighting brute. The lalafell thought that after that spar that there was something about her. But no. Just... no.

 

Shaking his head, Kage stood up resolved. He didn't care. Not one onze about Denn. Not over what he had with Natalie. Not over what he had with Kayah. The lalafell returned to the ball, looking around the strip... but when he finally found them he couldn't gather his courage to face them. To interrupt what they were arguing about. The heated voices turned so angry at each other. He watched from behind the wall as Natalie stormed off in one direction as Kayah threw down his fineries and walked closer to the aetheryte shard near the Alchemists' Guild.

 

Kage sprung forward, running after Kayah who he was closest to. He skidded in his tracks as armored masked garbed figures stepped out, hidden in the shadows of the strip to attack the miqote. The lalafell yelled in anger, drawing his weapons to confront those who attacked his friend.

 

"Halt!" The lalafell commanded to no avail.

 

The axe wielding leader turned to him with a pause. A masked pugilist turned to him and another pugilist, miqo'te, stopped kicking Kayah to growl at him. "Walk away little lalafell."

 

Both of them looked at him with hate-filled anger and it furthered Kage's resolve in that split second of pause. He shot out a quick, short message into his pearls, "Kayah's been attacked at the Alchemists' Guild! Help!" before he charged in.

 

But there were too many. The axe wielding leader then tried to plunge a blade into Kayah's back but the lalafell was able to cover him, taking the blade to the shoulder wielding his sword. The miqo'te and roegadyn pugilists turned to face Kage as another hooded one stood beside the leader. The pugilists rained blows upon Kage, his hold on his shield broken by repeated blows as he tried to fend them off in vain with his limp sword wielding arm. A combined kick to his neck and a blow to the lalafell's chest made welcomed Kage into unconsciousness as the last thing he saw was the labored form of Kayah and the axe wielding leader backing away, staring down at him.