Thunder On
((14 February 2008))
The pub had been busy, and on the whole, rather jubilant for most of the evening, much more so than Calsh could remember it being recently. Visiting with the Gang had always been the highlight of his evenings if he happened to be near Stormwind on Wednesday evenings, and he'd made a point to stop in every chance he got, but the mood over the past few weeks had been a bit tenser with the gang's leader, Homrend, trapped in Karazhan. Tonight, though, Homrend was back, and the pub was full of celebrators.
Homrend hadn't been the only one reuniting with his friends; Calsh once again glanced across the room at the pair of gnomish women sharing a chair at the table. Imble had apparently just returned from her trip to Northrend — a trip which he'd heard about briefly a few weeks prior from a young dwarven priestess who'd thought it fit to bring news from the troubled continent — and Jenive hadn't left her side the entire night. He'd been vaguely aware that the two of them were close, but even he was amazed how little they needed to say to each other after several months of separation; the two just seemed to have been in a happy trance for the entirety of the evening.
Yes, the mood was good tonight, and even though Calsh was not a member of the Gang, he couldn't help but feel glad for the return of a few of its members, just as he couldn't help but be worried when their leader was missing. They seemed to a friendly bunch, and although he wasn't among their ranks, he'd never really felt unwelcome when he'd showed up at their pub in the past.
He'd told his siblings how much he'd been enjoying himself when he got to meet up with them, and as usual, they listened eagerly to his stories of his Wednesday nights. Rissh had excitedly suggested that Calsh should see if they wanted him to join; Heacha had needed to tell her twin brother to calm down, but told Calsh that she, too, thought that he ought to find out if they were interested in him. He'd given it some serious thought, and he realized that he did want to become a member of the Gang, but he simply couldn't bring himself to ask. What he had now was good; he could visit with them on their pub nights, and they treated him well enough. If he asked and was rejected, it seemed to him like it would be rather awkward for him to continue visiting with them. It was much easier to continue to come visit with them weekly, watching for signs that they may be looking for another, but never overtly asking.
Apparently those already in the Gang weren't the only ones to be given something to celebrate that evening.
Calsh had been thinking how much he really would like a piece of cake to go with his drink, eyeing the piece at the other table, when Homrend suddenly turned toward him. "Ach, Calsh — how come ye're no' in th' Gang, after all this time?"
Heacha and Rissh were going to be proud of him.
