** DOUBLE AWARD WINNER IN THE PROSE FICTION AWARDS 2017**
Imagine finding yourself in Azeroth for real, a parallel universe of the game World of Warcraft and knowing of certain events about to occur. What would you do? Who would you trust? And would...
Dedicated to Finfychan whose kind words and World of Warcraft Oneshots have inspired me
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The five companions voted unanimously to remain in the Keep following their hunting encounter. Anduin had delivered the boar to the kitchens where he left it with the staff for butchering and cooking. Some hog delights would be served to him and his guests later that day.
Sarah enjoyed the company of her two new companions and listened enthusiastically to the tales they told of their homes, families and adventures.
Erik was very much how she had imagined a dwarf hunter to be; all huff, gruff and puff but with a kind and generous heart. He told her of not only his extremely successful hunting trips but also (wearing a somewhat compunctious expression) about the occasional hunting faux pas he had experienced. They had resulted in not too serious, but often embarrassing injuries.
Lukha smirked and informed Sarah it was mainly Erik who caused the injury in the first place and her husband often came home with some form of injury to his person. However, Erik also managed to injure himself on a fairly regularly basis too. The exploits had went from mildly amusing to hilariously funny.
Lukha's eyes were streaming as she asked Erik to relate the story of when he and Taril went to Azuremyst Isle on a hunt for moongraze stags.
The dwarf smirked and happily told his captive audience the tale. Initially they had been hired, along with other hunters to help stock various inns and kitchens, mainly in venison. Having completed the task, they decided to try snag a couple for themselves.
"Oor competitive, me and Taril, and ah didnae think onything untoward when the lad wis naewhar tae be seen." Erik explained with a degree of flair and drama. "Ah thought he'd snuck off tae try and bag a target further across the meadows. Well ..." he took a long draft of ale then dragged his arm across his face, wiping the froth from his wiry red beard and moustache. "Ah heard the bushes rustlin' tae ma right and a young fawn bolted oot frae behind them. Ah knew summat had spooked her. And, when ah looked again ah could see the rump o' a fine stag still amongst the foliage. Ah got tae thinking he'd been tryin' a wee bit romance in the shrubbery, and the lady deer didnae want tae ken. So, very carefully ..." he acted out taking aim with a bow. "Ah lined up ma arra' and with perfect aim..."
Lukha could not contain her laughter. Erik eyes twinkled as he glanced in her direction. "Thwack!" He emphasised by smacking fist on palm.
"You didn't miss. Did you?" Sarah asked. She looked disbelieving at the dwarf.
Erik slowly shook his head. "Nae lass, ah didnae miss." He laughed. "But ah did mistake the target."
The result dawned on both her and Anduin the minute Lukha keeled over in peals of laughter. Thaerai's humour rumbled deep in his chest as the elf tried hard to keep a relatively straight face.
