#maliko

With summer drawing its last breaths, the vast mountains around are lay bare with yellow grasses and pine trees. Only the distant peaks glisten with snow, though the cooling temperatures assure both natives and travelers that autumn’s on its way and winter’s on its heels. In the midst of this quiet morning, a small group of tauren gather on the outskirts of a quaint village just outside of Thunder Totem. 

“It’s so pretty!” Maliko beams, jumping around from one tree to the next. His activity rustles the birds perched above, sending them flying to a further haven. The calf simply smiles and awes in their beauty. “Woah, are those quails? I’ve never seen them so close before!” He peers back to Naira and his cousins, smiling wildly. “How about you all?” 

Hanoke -a mere year younger than Malko yet whose antlers were already growing above his head- chuckled. “All the time, yeah. It’s good to see them again though.” She holds out a hand, trying to welcome one of those wee birds, when the youngest calf stumbles into his sister. The stray bird that had been watching the Highmountain calves squawked and flew off. “Yiska!” She furrowed her brow at the two year old calf. “Careful, careful!” The wee calf smiled mischievously before trotting back to Naira and sticking his tongue out. 

Closer to the village, Winoa shook her head with a small smile. This reminded her so much of her own childhood, going on adventures with her younger siblings and the Bloomcallers. “Strange that we’re leading our own calves instead of running off, huh?” She murmurs to Kennocha. 

“Strange, but wonderful.” The druidess chuckles. She peers over to Taima and Naira’s parents, mirroring Winoa’s respectful nods towards them. “I trust your journey here went well, yes? It was a bit hectic getting everyone here, but I am so so happy that we are all here together!”

Anyone who mentions background to me for the next 2 weeks will be force fed Ma n cheese until they need stomach pumping!

Things I’ve yelled at myself while drawing this: Draw the something other than trolls you wimp! Draw the damn background! R E F E R E N C E S ! Practice practice pRACTICE!

The soundtrack behind the idea

@stonestridernerd I present to you, the plan! (and do you see who snuck in?^^)

Naira nodded cheerfully in response, her little twists of hair bouncing as she did so. Looking up at her uncle, she asked “What are they going to have?” in regards to the sort of food there may be available. Taima answered with a thoughtful pat, and pleasant expression. “Probably a little of everything. Even the pickiest of eaters won’t have much to fuss about!”

Naira laughed at the remark, and looked back to Maliko and his family. “Okay, yeah!” Taima stood upright again, and looked between the sisters and Koszmar. The warlock was holding each opposing arm, but his shoulders showed that his arms were in a state of rest, and displayed a feeling of coziness. “Actually, that’s quite right.” He spoke, replying earnestly to Winoa’s query. “To be honest, I’ve been staying on pretty simple fare. Between Tirisfal and Undercity, the options aren’t really the most appetizing, but sometimes you’ll find a lucky break with a Blood Elf if you’re fortunate. I’d love to see what is here!”

( Link to the music here! )

As Winoa walks on stage, the brilliant blues and greens of her outfit shine brightly against the light. The bits of leather are polished and cut into small squares, sewn across her body like glistening scales. On her back, she carries a small wooden canoe. It’s engraved with various symbols and beautifully carved, matching the totem swinging on her right hip. Beside her walks a calf going up to her waist. Maliko’s dressed similarly, though his mane has sparkly blue strands braided into it. In his arms, the calf clutches something draped in a large, starry cloth. 

Once they reach the middle of the stage, both tauren pause and face the audience. Maliko smiles and waves out to the crowd with his free hand while his mother speaks up. “Before we share this tale, we want to thank the man who first told it to me. Tes’mek, I don’t know where you are, but I hope you’re in a better place where you know you’re loved.” 

With that being said, she bows her head and Mali follows suit. Lowering the canoe onto the ground, she frees the totem dangling from her belt and sets it behind her. Yet Maliko still holds onto the mysteriously object close to his chest. 

A sweet, strumming beat begins. Maliko leaps up, circling around the boat wildly as Winoa’s totem begins to overflow with water. The quick flow reaches the stage’s edge before waving back towards the tauren, contained yet close to the front row.  

“She's a fish and he's a boy!” *The water walker sings, waving to her son to start. Together, their voices join in the lighthearted lyrics.* “Moonquake! Moonquake!”

“I want to take a swim in Lake Moon!” Maliko calls out, hopping into the canoe. His parcel is set in his lap as the water rises high enough to lift the boat. 

“Now I am awake, always,” He beams towards Winoa, still standing midstage with water coming up to her knees, as they sing together. “Since I dove into your blue!” 

“Moonquake! Moonquake!” Winoa extends her arms toward Mali. A well sized wave travels towards him, splashing the calf with the cool waters. “I want to take a swim in Lake Moon!” As she serenaded the next line, he giggled softly before continuing. 

“Now I am awake, always since I dove into your blue!” Maliko throws the mystery object into the water, its silver and green fabric just as shiny as their outfits. 

“She came from the Moon ready to fight,” Winoa swings her hips to the beat, her arms bobbing along the water’s surface. Underneath her, the object is clearly a large fishy figure ‘swimming’ in the water. It circles around the water walker as she continues to sing. 

“With scales and a tail and a fishy bite!” The fish comes to Winoa’s hand, getting dangerously close to the water walker. 

“Ready to destroy all of azerothian-kind!” Recognizing this, Winoa rushes to the boat, the fish following closely behind! 

“Fierce and fighting with a brook trout mind!” Mali holds his hand out as she hoists herself into the canoe, safe and sound!

“He was born in an airship above the world.” While Winoa catches her breath, Maliko stands up for his verse. 

“Strong in legend, my soul's in mirth!” He flexes his arms like a strongman. 

“Son of a mime and a performer,” The calf gestures to his mom eagerly. 

“With just a smile for a sweet muah!” He blows out a kiss to the audience, but as his hands go over the water’s edge, the fish leaps out of the water! Maliko gasps, nearly falling into the water himself.

But Winoa is up and holding him steady on the boat. “They were never meant to meet.” 

She sets her hand on his shoulder. Looking out to the open water, he hums. “Put faith in her.” 

Winoa furrows her brow. “They were never meant to be!” Maliko shrugs. “Oh, it never does.” 

“They were never meant to see!” The water walker sings over Maliko’s rebellious words, but Mali’s words rise over her own. “Oh, but fate didn't listen!” 

“They were never-” Winoa tries to finish but Maliko makes an attempt to jump out into the water. “But fate didn’t listen!” 

The water walker shakes her head as she holds him close. “She's a fish, he's a boy!”

Maliko wiggles out of her hug enough to sing with her again. “Moonquake moonquake!” Winoa lets him go, the calf hurling himself to the other side of the boat. “I want to take a swim in Lake Moon!” 

They begin to circle around the canoe. “Now I am awake, always.” Their arms extend towards one another. “Since I dove into your blue!” As their steps draw closer, the movements quicken. 

“Moonquake moonquake!” Winoa swoops down and picks up Maliko. “I want to catch you in my net!” She spins him around, his hooves flying over the canoe's edge. 

“Now I am awake, always," As the tauren above enjoy themselves, the fish circles around the canoe like a shark awaiting prey. "Like the day when I found it."

"And then one solstice at a fishing hole," Winoa lowers the calf down and picks up the melody. "He was unsure casting his bowl." 

Meanwhile, Maliko hurries over to the canoe's bow, watching the water below. "She swam right up to him and took the bait." The fish made her move! She leaps right into Maliko's arms, much to his surprise. 

"He reeled her in and made it a date!" The fish flops in his arms, not happy with the air around her. So Maliko and his date jump into the swirling waters!

"When your worlds are worn, you look inside." Maliko breaches the surface, ready to sing again. "Fight the power, stop the divide." 

As he splashes towards the boat, Winoa chuckles and extends her arm- "Four eyes, two gills, one tauren nose." -Only to boop him on the snout! 

Maliko beams, looking over to the happy fish beside him. "Wrap your eyes around me in the river flows." 

"Moonquake moonquake!" Maliko waves his mother over, inviting her into the water. "I want to take a swim in Lake Moon!" Winoa shakes her head. Instead, she swings her hips to the beat as she signs a prayer. The water gathers around the boat, retreating from the stage's edge. 

"Now I am awake, always!" Maliko beams as the waves deepen "Since I dove into your blue!"

"Moonquake, moonquake!" Where once there was a calm, little lake, a growing volume begins to take the shape of a crescent moon. The canoe is taken in the motion, ending up interior curve, while Maliko and the fish are caught up in the hurrying waves. 

Winoa parts her arms, reaching out to her son. He swims towards her, escaping the current. The water walker holds onto Maliko and the fish onto Maliko by the end of his shirt. "I want to catch you in my net!"

"Now I am awake, always." Winoa hoists the two into the canoe. Everyone is safe and sound while the lunar figure begins to sink. "Like a day when I found it."

"Moonquake!" The canoe drops as the water parts ways. "Moonquake!" 

"Moonquake!" Swirling currents dance around the canoe, circling back towards Winoa's totem. "Moonquake!" 

"Moonquake!" Winoa and Maliko repeat, louder and louder with each word. The water before them is nearly receded back to where it came from.  "Moonquake! Moonquake!" 

"Moonquake! Moonquake!" The last drops enters the totem, emitting a light blue light from its figure. The tauren emerge from the canoe, the fish once again wrapped up in its cloth. 

Winoa picks up totem and canoe as they make the final call. "Moonquake!"

With the song over, the two take a bow and leave the stage.

Though it was midwinter -chilling winds blowing the warmth of their manes and coats as best it could- they stood by the lake, waiting. As Kennocha shivered, tightening her fur cloak around her, Maliko looked up to his aunt. He too was cold, but not nearly as much as the druidess. 

He unclasped his cloak, holding it up for her to see. “Here you go,” The child waved it before it. “You can’t be cold already!” 

“Neither can you, Mali.” The druidess argued. “Wrap yourself up again and don’t worry; I will be fine.” Seeing his pouting face, she knelt beside him and took off her bag. The large leather tote was filled to brim, making it hard to rummage through, but after some careful, time-consuming motions, another thick hide emerged. With a brief smile towards her nephew, she wrapped it around herself, ensuring enough was left on the end to drape it onto him. 

“Hey!” The giggling response came, poking his head out from underneath. “You have to save some for Mama! And Naira! And Taima...” 

With the sudden pause, Kennocha tilted her head. Before she had a chance to speak though, Maliko blurt out: “Where are they?” 

Kennocha pursed her lips at Koszmar, her usually joyous eyes glinted with traces of sorrow. “Are you sure you have to go so soon? There are still the story circles and wrestling matches and-” Winoa places a hand on her Sister’s shoulder, shaking her head. Though her touch was comforting, the water walker’s gaze was sympathetic yet firm. “If he goes, we will write him all about it and enjoy the festivities in his name. Yet if he must return back, we shouldn’t hold him back.”

The druidess furrowed her brows, glancing towards Taima before sighing. “Alright...” She steps towards the warlock, extending her arms out towards him. “I am not sure if a hug would be alright with you, but I appreciate you coming for the opening day of the Dance. It was a delight sharing its wonders with you. I cannot thank you enough for coming.” Bowing her head, Kennocha offered a gracious smile to her friend. “Perhaps we can meet again for that trip around your homeland?”