Children's Week
Nehau - May 2, 2006
Word was buzzing over the Hearthstone about Children's week. It
seemed like everyone had an Orphan to look after and show around,
and as the conversations continued the Triplets' curiousity
heightened. It was a short ride to Orgrimmar to visit with the
Matron, and she seemed more than willing to hand over three young
orcs, without so much as a glance of inspection. Nehau couldn't
have been happier. "C'mon squirt." She hopped up on her unnamed
mount and pointed an accusing finger at the shy youth. Tehau had
already set off, and Dehau was lecturing her child on the
importance of keeping up.
Orgrimmar was crowded and noisy, as always, so they slowed down
their rides to a trot as the young orcs ran behind at an
alarmingly quick pace. Nehau was positive this was a good idea.
"Tire em' out quick so they're less trouble." It was a trick
their gramps had often used on them, though they would refuse to
acknowledge that, should anybody point it out. Finally, after
plenty of pushing and yelling to random city gatherers, they made
it out of the gates. Their charges were soaked in sweat and bone
tired, which left the triplets unimpressed. "If you're gonna
fight for the Grim, act like warriors!" They each frowned their
disappointment and spoke to each other as if the children were
suddenly and mysteriously deaf. "Dang, yo. Looks like everyone
got somebody special and my frikka orphan can't do anything! At
least yours shoves rocks up it's nose! That's entertainment!"
Nehau was furious and hopped from her mount.
"I'll give you the frikka thrill of your life, yo." She roughly
lugged the frightened child up and on to the dire wolf, her
fierce and wild-tempered mount. It's body was twisting and
turning to catch a glimpse of the sudden shift of weight on his
back. Quite a switch from the familiar heaviness of Nehau. It
snapped it's jaws in anger as drool dripped all over. The
triplets were proud of their Greyseer mounts. "Watch your frikka
toes, runt. This thing'll snap em' off without a second thought."
She patted the wolf fondly and again situated herself on its
back, the young orc in front of her. They were ready to begin
their day of touring the sights.
Even through all of her rude and blunt behavior, Nehau was fond
of the little fellow she looked after. "I'm totes calling you
Nehau, 'cause I've always wanted to have a namesake, you know?
It's frikka sweet." She grinned broadly at her brilliant idea.
"They prolly don't even name you at the frikka orphanage anyway,
so I'm totes doing you a huge favor. Your matron looks like a
complete 'tocks."
[Tehau]
The red desert threw sun into the squinted eyes of the Greyseer
sisters. Tehau carefully kept her own boots far above the sand,
dangling off the shaggy wolf she had loaded with packs and a
bedroll. Behind her the orphan waited patiently hopping from one
bare green foot to the other, his face slightly pained.
They'd stopped to drum a blessing their Grandfather had taught
them. According to him, if they managed to play the beat
perfectly nothing could go wrong for them. "Zep's here." Teh
noted. "Next one?" She kept rapping the kodohide as she spoke.
Concentrating on their drumming, her sisters didn't reply. The
orphans wimpered and headed towards the shade of a small goblin
wagon parked nearby. The music stopped abruptly. "Get back here
and listen to this frikka sweet drumming! What's the matter with
you!?"
[Dehau]
Dehua had zoned out on a rocky cliff, not noticing the monstrous
shadow the Zeppelin had cast over the triplet's drumming circle.
She was familiar with the blessing she was playing, and her
concentration was far from the notes she beat on the drum skin.
He's a boulder. Aw yeah! He so likes me. Wonder if my orphy can
get some info.. I don't frikka need info, he totes LOVES me! I'm
such a hot tamale. Can't blame him.
She nodded to herself, her eyes half closed. Yeah. I'm
bohdacious.
Both her drumming and her thoughts came to a complete halt upon
hearing Tehau's voice. Her eyes searched around wildly for the
orphans they had all agreed to escort. She caught sight of them,
gathered together and confused ."C'mon pups! I thought better of
you! Why aren't ya totes dancin' or somethin'?!" Her eyes locked
with 'Snots', the shortest of the three, who had trails running
from his upturned nose. He was the orphan she named and took care
of .
"Dang. Uhh, You can't ride up here with me unless ya wipe that on
somethin'. It's gettin' nasty." She gagged and adjusted her
seating.
The mount beneath her grumbled and lazily made its way towards
the goblin cart. His grey fur reeked of fish, and his underside
covered with sand and seaweed, was beginning to mat.
The orphan blinked rapidly. "Ride on that? It smells like a
rotten tooth!"
"You gotta prob with me or somethin'? I'll frikka rip your pug
nose off and turn it around, bub! You ride on this, or you run!
Choose it, gloosh!"
"Oh, Matron!" His whiney voice sang sweetly and he batted his
long eyelashes. Dehau wasn't intimidated. They were outside the
gates now.
"Matron can't hear your screams."
His face paled and his short limbs scrambled onto Dehau's mount,
gripping to the worg's saddle for dear life. She turned to her
sisters, her voice bellowing into 'Snots' ear."I say we teach
these little crapwads to par-TAY! Change in plans, my buds. We
are gonna give you a night to remember. No goin' to Ratchet,
pups. Gobs are cool, but when ya got connections, parties with
the big wolves are all open, yo. I'm talkin' all out
awesomeness!"
[Vuudu]
Vuudu sat in her small room over the leatherworker's shop in
Orgrimmar, with her back to the open window. Her armor was draped
over a mannakin inside, and she was carefully grooming and
cleaning the shiny black scales that covered her left arm, all
the way down to her claw like hand. Taking a deep breath, she
looked down at the pendant hanging from a thick chain around her
neck. The "gift" from the RAS seemed to be working as intended -
she had not felt the grip of the dragon's possession in her mind
since she first put it on. However, the way the pendant always
felt warm to the touch bothered her. Sometimes she could swear
she felt it squirming under her shirt.
"I'll give you the frikka thrill of your life, yo."
The words drifting up from below caught Vuudu's attention.
Turning around, she scanned the area outside the bank for a
moment, before noticing the triplets milling around with their
orphans in tow. Smiling, she knelt down, crossing her arms on the
sill of the window, and resting her head on her hands, watching
them.
She chuckled to herself as each of the Triplets treated the
orphans in her own way, and then hurried them out of the city
with promises of a party and other adventures. She watched them
depart, and then turned around, only to find her black lion,
Humar, face to face with her. She smiled and ruffled his headfur.
"Totes awesome, yo." she said to him. He licked her nose and
rested his head in her lap.
[Nehau]
The triplets urged their mounts to greater speeds as they left
the city gates. Clouds of dust stirred in their wake and the
crowds they passed cursed the troublesome trio. "Sorry..oh! Dang!
...Watch out!...Move!" Nehau took the lead and cleared the path
for her sisters. Meanwhile each Orphan frantically peered around
for some handhold. It was either the vicious wolf's fur or their
triplet's shoulders. They opted for the wolf.
The grouping made it to the Zeppelin in one piece, and the mounts
were led up the long and winding ramp. They jostled their way
passed other passengers until they all sat admiring the view at
the front of the floating boat. Everyone gave them a wide berth
and took to huddling in the back, whispering furiously. It was
uncalled for to allow mounts to ride. Especially those that
snapped at all within distance. The triplets snickered. "Lesson
number one, Nehau Junior...a top spot on the Zep is essential.
Only the coolest of cool sit up here. Today you live the high
life!"
Upon docking, they handed over the reins of their mounts. A few
trusted Trolls in Grom'gul would ride them to their destination
while the Triplets situated themselves atop three tamed Wyverns.
They had a long flight ahead of them so each Orphan sat in front,
as instructed by the windrider master. She was a caring woman who
gave each child a versa-color treat. As soon as she was out of
sight and about to give the command to set off, Nehau glared at
her charge knowingly. He quickly handed over the candy. "Lesson
number two, Nehau Junior...what's yours is mine."
They flew over many old hunting grounds, and Nehau pointed out
several specific spots where her greatest accomplishments came to
be. "You see right there? There!" She jabbed a finger into the
air, causing the Wyvern to lean dangerously to one side. "I
frikka fought four pinkers with Teh and Deh. They were better
equipped than us too. But you know what? Lesson number three,
Nehau Junior...it doesn't frikka matter what you wear. Got that?
'Cause no matter what, you gotta have skill to back it up! And we
have frikka skill." 'Nehau Junior' nodded dutifully.
Finally, after several more fits of boasting, the Triplets and
the Orphans landed in Revantusk Village. The bustle of activity
brought wide and pleasant grins to the sisters' faces. "Lesson
number four, Nehau Junior..Revantusk Village is the place to
Par-tay!" A whoop and hollar came from the highest platform,
where the Triplets' best buddies awaited.
[Tehau]
Atop a platform overlooking the ocean, several orcs and trolls
laze around some drums. The air is filled with smells... alcohol,
pipes, blood and sweat. Wafts of shimmerweed smoke make curls
around the beads hanging from the rails.
The sun is high in the sky, it is afternoon. The heat leaves a
haze on the earth that carries up to the normally breezy room
crafted in usual trollish style. A party has been underway since
sunrise. The reason is not clear, but it is almost entirely
obvious that this group does not need a reason to party.
The foundation begins to shake. Several feet trample up the
stairs. Three trolls with an abundance of facial piercings pull
themselves from a pile and saunter over to their drums. "The
sistas be here mon." They grin knowingly and begin a steady
rhythm of greeting.
"Hey pups! Let the partay begin! We frikka brought 'phans too, so
gimme some ale, lots of it." Tehau is all business until each of
the kids, herself and her sisters have a bottle of something to
drink. "This is gonna be great, it'll even dry up your boogs yo!"
Still swigging from her own, she tips the bottle back for Snots,
oblivious to the ale pouring out the sides of his mouth and
nearly choking him.