| abstract | - by Talula Talula put the last of her prosepecting tools into her backpack. She hoisted it onto her shoulder and headed for the door. This was to be her first outing since the healers told her she could go for short excursions and she was looking forward to it. "Where you headed, little one?" Talula jumped in surprise and turned to face the voice behind her. "Von Vrais! You startled me. I no hear you." Von shrugged and lit a cigarette. "Your common is getting better." Talula nodded. Kya had been running language drills for three hours in the morning and for another two over dinner. She had to admit there was some incentive to relearn the language, as only Krelle and Litto spoke any gnomish. "So, where are you going?" Von asked again. Talula shrugged. "The yarshiro give me ok for light work. I am going for some mining." Von eased himself gracefully from the chair and said "Mind if I tag along?" From his inflection, Talula figured there was really only one answer to that. Deciding that company might be nice, she shook her head and the two went outside. They hadn't gotten far before the gnome heard the distinctive clicks of a Ravager. It was no secret that of all the animal companions and mounts owned by members of the Tong, Ornrey was Lu's least favorite. "Really, sir? He must come?" Von exhaled smoke through his nose and raised an eyebrow. "Fine," Talula grumbled and headed up the boardwalk toward the jungle. The afternoon was unusually cool and dry for the jungle and the gnome soon forgot all about the beast at Von's side. They hiked into Mistvale Valley and it wasn't long before Talula spotted a particularly inticing iron vein. Von took a seat under a palm and seemed to enjoy the simplicity of the afternoon. Talula scrambled up to the top of a rocky outcrop to get a better angle on the mineral deposit with her pick. The soft taping that filled the air was interrupted by the crashing sounds of large rocks falling. There was a screaching cry and a wet crunch, then the rumbling stopped. Talula looked down from her place at the top of the rocks, frozen in wide-eyed surprise. Spindly legs stuck out from beneath four tons of granite. Von stood up and walked over to where the dust was beginning to settle. He had long ago learned that a hundred pets would come and go over his long elven lifespan. It was best not to get too attached, lest he suffer a thousand heartaches. The night elf sighed. "Oh," said Talula. Von lit another cigarette. "Oh sir," said Talula. "Yeah, Lu?" "Your bug, sir..." Talula chewed her bottom lip. "It's not a bug, Lu," Von said, exhaling more smoke. "Is flat, sir." "Yeah, Lu."
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