Melodies and mothers
Three rapid knocks on the door; none of which rewarded a reply. Captain Angelina Soluna dug her nails into the wooden door before her, the human fumed at how the elf had kept her hanging at his door through the morning. Elf or not, she had been left to stand and wait as a gofer would. Enough was enough. The door cracked at the hinges and fell to the floor as Angelina kicked it down with all of her strength.
"Get up! The morning has long since passed." Her words fell silent; the silhouette under the covers did not budge.
"How can you still be dozing off?" She tore the covers off only to find a carpet curled together in a bundle. Soluna's face gleamed with spite, as she picked up the note resting on the pillow. There, it read quite boldly:
I suppose you would find me quite insolent, but I assure you that I cherished your company. However, Miss Soluna, it is high time I travel north on my own. I do have a favour to ask of you. Do you recall the young orphan from the day prior? Be mindful of her, she could use a hand if you are able to find her.
The fee for accommodation and passage? Look to the nightstand; it should more than cover your expenses while watching over an old elf.
Try not to take my departure too close to heart. I woke up early, after all.
Vingor Stormcrow.
There was a moment of serenity about Angelina as she glanced to the nightstand where she saw the satchel filled with coins. By opening her dainty hand, the human allowed the piece of parchment to drift gently towards the floor before she trampled on it fiercely.
"Who would take it close to heart, you rat-like scoundrel of an elf!" The human woman exhaled and turned, she left the room with flushed cheeks. On her way down the stairs, she met with the innkeeper and he confronted her about the racket that she had made.
"I broke a door and I need a drink, the payment is on the nightstand." Angelina said towards the barkeep when she approached the end of the stairs with a gruff gait, for a woman. Her temper was not in a good state, as the dwarf who spoke about pretty elven women learned when she clobbered him over the head with a mug that she picked up from the dwarf's table. She played it off as an accident and kept walking. Angelina sat at the counter for a brief while, she downed her mead in one gulp, before she went back to her own quarters. There, the woman reflected upon the elf's behaviour and wondered what had brought him across the sea from Kalimdor at such a time. From what she had heard, the elves had plenty to deal with in Darkshore and Ashenvale. Why would a druid travel east on his own, across the sea?
The constant hymn of dwarven drinking songs echoed from downstairs as she pondered the elf's intentions, the noise annoyed her. How could someone drink before noon, and in such quantities? It seemed as if every race were bonkers, in their own way. Angelina's thoughts returned to the letter the druid had written. It seemed like a bad joke, but she recalled how he had played a tune for the child. Perhaps, even if it was unlikely, there was a meaning behind the letter. Well, she was going to find out. After a quick rest, she left her quarters. She spoke only briefly with the innkeeper and made sure that everything was in order, before she left on her own.
The Dwarven District was full of dense smoke, the leftovers of heat from the smith's churning oven ran rampant all around the district. It was difficult to breathe in the heat. Old Town was due southeast of the Dwarven District, she only had to traverse the bridge across the canal and she would be there. On the way across, she heard the bells chime. It was past noon. Old Town had always had a sense of distinguished calm about it, even if quite a few people wandered through the streets on occasion. While the population in that area of the city was poor, it held its own charm. Crime and poverty, but pride in its structures and a part of Stormwind that survived the First War. The home of SI:7 and the Champions' Hall could also be found there. Old Town was a very strange place for those who were used to the buzzing hot pots of the Dwarven District and the Trade District.
Beyond the Pig and Whistle, she turned right into the abandoned alley. There were rats crawling all around the well. Angelina thought it was a rather disgusting sight, but she continued to roam the alley after the young girl. The girl was not there anymore, but upon closer inspection Angelina noticed that the bucket she had left behind was still present. She attempted to envision the girl's face, but the only thing that she could remember cleanly was those deep hazel brown eyes. It filled her gut with an uneasy sensation, so she decided to find the child.
Her search led her through every nook and cranny that Stormwind could offer, by midnight Angelina gave up her search. She sat down in the garden behind the Cathedral of Light. The air was calm. Colours were darker than during the day, a deep shade of forest green upon the grass, while the lake looked like a dark abyss. She closed her eyes briefly and dozed off a little.
A small figure moved across the grass, it made its way towards Angelina Soluna. The little figure wore rags, and could have easily been mistaken for a cursed ghost in the eyes of the superstitious. A fragile hand cupped Angelina's cheek and caused the woman to wake up. Upon opening her eyes, Angelina was met with a set of eyes she recognised.
"You!" She exclaimed and blinked in disbelief. Angelina had spent the entire day looking for the child, but there she was right in front of her. The child merely nodded in silence.
"I heard it in the melody," the girl stated bluntly, "it was a sad story."
"What do you mean?" Angelina demanded as she grabbed the girl's shoulder.
"It was about a dad, but not by blood, looking for his son." The girl spoke as if she remembered a vague dream.
"A father and a son?" Angelina looked bewildered, she pondered what the girl meant.
"He thinks his son is dead, but he has to be sure." The girl's lips moved steadily, the words she spoke felt heavy and monotone.
"Who is the father?" Angelina felt a cold tingle down her spine.
"The wandering crow." The girl held out a massive feather, it was much too large to be native to region of Elwynn. Angelina's mind began to put two and two together. She knew a creature capable of shedding such a great feather. It was no normal beast, but a stormcrow.
"What else did the melody tell you?" Angelina asked the child.
"That I'd have a new mum." The girl's voice was filled with warmth, Angelina could have sworn she saw a glimpse of a smile in the dark.
"You better come with me. The cemetery is no place for a child at night." Angelina said with heartfelt warmth, she placed her hand upon the girl's head.
"Yes, mummy." The child beamed at Angelina Soluna.
"Mummy?" Angelina blew out in disbelief. Her jaw dropped a little. For the first time in years, the captain of a whole crew felt terrified. The idea of parenthood was a foreign concept to her.
"You came, just like the melody said." The child insisted, with a cheerful smile that was visible even in the dark.
"We'll talk about that when we get to the inn. Come!" The captain felt somewhat uncomfortable. She got to her feet and motioned for the child to follow. Lamps lit their path as Angelina unconsciously clasped the child's hand, to make sure she did not wander off.