Finding Sparky

The metallic smell and crackle of electricity surges through the air on the beach. Tiresya drops the imp's tiny hand and moves her head as though looking around, as if this will help her to see and understand what is happening. In an urgent whisper she says, "What's that, Zig?"

The imp responds in his casual manner, "Umm... I think I know why they call him Sparky."

"Why?"

"Errmm... Duck, miss."

"What? Why?"

As the sound of the electric energy grows louder the imp's voice becomes more urgent, "Just do it. Duck now!" 

She just barely ducks in time for the bolt of lightning to surge over her head. She yells, "What was that?!"

"Miss, do you still have the fish and the leash?" the imp asks calmly.

"What does that have to do with anything?! What is attacking us?" 

"Errrr, Sparky is."

"What? How is a cat casting electrical energy?"

"Umm..." He pauses in thought, "Static electricity?"

She sighs, exasperated with the situation. "Fine. What do you want me to do?"

"Just set the fish in front of you on the ground and back away, just enough distance to lasso him with the leash. I'll give you the signal when he's at the fish."

She does as he asks, and as she waits for the signal she hears a strange noise.

"Mrrrghhhrrrghhhlllrrrr!"

"What... was... that?"

"Errrr, I think that was a meow, Tir. I don't think this is a very healthy cat. Maybe hasn't eaten in a while?"

"Is he going for the fish?"

"Yes! Now! Get him!"

She winds up and manages, either through luck or magic, to snare the creature perfectly. As the leash encircles the creature's neck it instantly calms and walks closer to the undead woman. She kneels and reaches a hand out to pet it.

"Umm... Miss, I wouldn't do that. He doesn't sound well. I don't want you to get sick."

She nods and backs away.

The murloc slurps up the fish and lets out a contented sound, "Mrrrrhhhllll."

The imp smiles and grabs the woman's hand, "Let's get him back to the man at the inn."

She frowns, considering the noises she has heard. "It doesn't really sound like a cat, but I can't quite place what that noise is, although I feel as though I have heard it before..." she thinks aloud.

The imp squeezes her hand. "It's just a sick cat, Tir. Let's get him home so he can get better."

Motivation returned

"Come on, Miss!" the high pitched voice of the imp calls.

"But I don't feel like going anywhere. I'm too sad," the undead woman sulks, causing her already unpleasant face to sag even further.

"Tiresya, there's a war going on out there. We can't just sit here or the enemy will win. You are a powerful caster, much like myself. You are needed."

"I'd rather just die. Everyone I love is already dead."

"Come on. You don't really mean that!" The imp settles a tiny hand on her shoulder in an attempt at comforting her. "This is an opportunity, Tiresya. Think of all the, ermm, good you can do in helping to push back the, uhh, Forsaken. You could avenge the deaths of your loved ones!" At this last lie, the imp can't resist releasing a tiny chuckle.

Lost in her own thoughts, the laugh goes unnoticed. She slowly nods her head in agreement.

The imp continues, "Besides, the fellow upstairs has given us a special task, to retrieve his lost pet, Sparky."

A slight smile passes over the woman's waxen lips, "Ohhh, what kind of pet is Sparky? A dog or cat?"

"Umm, I'm not sure, but the gentleman did say he is fond of fish."

"Ohh, then it much be a cat. I do like cats."

"Well then, come on, girl! Let's go!" The imp grabs her hand and tugs gently.

A first meeting

A loud groan emanates from the freshly dug grave. Slowly a young woman's pale and dirty face appears as she sits up. She is obviously no longer alive, her skin sags unnaturally away from her bones, her hair is dirty and disheveled, and her eyes are missing. A high pitched nasally voice greets her. "Hey, miss. You ok?" says the imp.

"Ughh," she says as she stretches her arms and then attempts to rub her eyes in order to restore her sight. She lets out a shriek as she discovers her eyes are missing. "My eyes! I'm blind!"

"It's ok, miss. I'm here. I'll help you," the imp replies patiently.

She stretches her arms out waving them in front of her. "Where are you? Who are you?" Her hands swish through the air passing over the imp's head as he bows elegantly before her, apparently forgetting that she can't see him.

"Zigyal, at your service, miss. You can call me Ziggy." He stretches a tiny hand out to meet hers and shakes it in greeting.

"Oh!" She gasps, "Your hands are so small!"

"Errrm, right. Uhh, I'm, ahhh - a gnome afterall." The imp nods and smiles, proud of his lie.

"Pleased to meet you, Ziggy. Umm... Do you have any idea what has happened? Last I remember I was sending fireballs towards a Forsaken ship, then there was a huge explosion...." She reaches out to grab for him, but he ducks away from her, and she waves her hands frantically in search of her new friend. "Oh! Please tell me my mother and father are ok?! Please!"

"Calm down, miss. We'll get this sorted out. I promise."