An Unlikely Meeting

The breeze came down the shore of Lake Elune'ara. Mograg caught the scent of the dark elf before he saw his approach. The green-haired elf was dour. His expression conveyed grief, his posture was of one broken. His appearance was well kept, but decidedly of earthen tones. If it were not for the dim glow of yellow eyes or the long ears, he might be mistaken for a short tree. The elf barely gave the bull a glance as he slowly shuffled toward him.

Mograg, big bull that he was, was hardly a threatening sight to behold. He'd gotten up early and dressed for the occasion. Loosely threaded clothing, the sturdiest rod he owned in hand, and his lucky fishing hat completed the look and gave warning to the world that the bull was here to relax and he intended to see it through. His ever-docile wolf companion sunning himself on the shoreline only reiterated this notion.

Only when they were well within striking distance did they give acknowledgment of the other's presence. The elf, Velton, raised his hand, hailing the bull. Keeping an eye on his already cast line, the bull nodded to the elf. Mograg started to smile, stopping short when he saw the expression on Velton's face. He gave a small bow, then squared his shoulders up again to watch his line. "Ishnu'alah," said the elf, breaking the silence.

"Hello, elf," returned the bull in his native Taurahe. The bull didn't expect the dark elf to understand, of course, but it seemed polite to him to speak a greeting. He had met enough of the dark elves to know that he was being greeted, and kindly at that.

Deep below the surface of the water, the salmon had been tending to its own business, unaware of the encounter happening on the shore. Its mind was preoccupied with eating and the urge to spawn. One desire, it seemed, would be soon satisfied as the morsel danced tantalizingly in the water before its large eyes. He circled around twice before sucking in the meal.

The strike of the line snapped Mograg's attention back to the task at hand. He jerked the pole upwards, setting the cold, barbed steel of the hook through the lip of the salmon. He began to reel the fish in, cranking slowly as it fought against him. He could tell by the struggle that this one would be sizable. The salmon did not stop resisting the tug at its mouth until the very end.

As the bull hefted it out of the water and onto the shore, the elf's eyes grew a bit brighter and a slight smile crossed his lips. He watched as the bull removed the hook, holding the fish by its lower jaw. As Mograg ran the stringer through the salmon, Velton dug his rod and reel from his pack. By the time the salmon, now tethered and anchored to the shore, was back in the water the elf had his line cast. Grinning, Mograg followed suit.

The pair fished for hours in near silence, keeping only the most suitable of their catches, releasing the others to the water. When the bull had accidentally injured one beyond what would heal readily, the elf waved his hand over it. Green energy seemed to concentrate around first the elven hand, and then the body of the fish. The wound was repaired. "Handy. A druid, mmm?" asked the bull.

Velton had understood the word for druid in Taurahe and responded affirmatively, "Anu'dora." He watched as the bull released the catch and it swam off into the depths of the lake.

Their fills caught, Mograg took out his flint and steel and placed it on the ground. The druid nodded to him. Smiling, the bull stalked off into the surrounding woodland to gather fallen limbs. While he was gone, Velton began cleaning the fish. By the time the fire was built and ready for cooking, their catch was prepared.

After the meal was eaten, the druid took out a flask from an inner pocket. He took a swig from it and handed it to Mograg. "You have no idea, hunter, what I say to you. I know this, and still I speak," the Kaldorei said in the Darnassian dialect. The bull accepted the offered flask and drank from it, his face twisting a bit in distaste. "I have not left the Moonglade since I found out she was dead, bull. I cannot bring myself to do so. It was hard enough when our children were killed, and then she..." he trailed off. "If only I had been there for her." The druid sighed heavily.

Mograg watched after the druid with a head slightly tilted. He offered the flask back to him, and found it accepted quickly. "A ovak kee," the bull's voice rumbled. He rested a hand on the druid's shoulder after patting it twice. "A mani a eche ni hale awa." The message did not get through to the elf, but the tone of sympathy in the bull's voice brought him comfort.

Velton produced a small book and opened it. He took little time in finding the right page and holding it to the bull for his inspection. Upon it was a sketch in charcoal of a young human girl. Pretty, Mograg supposed, by human standards. The druid pointed to the picture of the girl, then toward the barrow den in the distance. Mograg nodded his understanding and again clasped the dark elf's shoulder.

Velton smiled weakly and closed the book. He stowed it away. "I hope for your sake, bull, that your life is happier than mine." The hunter regarded him with a brief, puzzled shrug. "Either way, I shall let you return to it." He took another swig from the flask before offering it one last time to Mograg.

The dark elf stood before the bull, having been returned the flask. He bowed to Mograg, deeply and graciously. "Elune'adore," he said. The bull knew enough to understand this as words of departure.

"Zhi anohe nechi awa," Mograg said as he bowed in return. Velton turned and walked up the shore from whence he came. The bull lingered a little longer, ensuring that no trace of their presence marred the shore. He activated his hearthstone and he and his wolf companion were carried away by its magic to the other world.