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| Details |
| Author: | Luridel |
| Summary: | White Squad visits several Thunderfoot farms in the area to lend a hand. Some pigs are picky eaters. Alysson gets to see some piglets. Iphindra has a great day being followed by all the animals. Estel learns how to catch falling friends. The turnip war continues. Li Li Stormstout is very relatable. Shun does not like pranks. ~4.6k words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Estel finishes eating and gets up, pulling her gloves back on.
Shun rises up after she stands, lightly rolling his shoulders to loosen up some.
Alysson is standing nearby staring at an unfortunate, stabbed scarecrow. "What do you s'pose this fellow did wrong?" he asks.
The scarecrow has a cleaver embedded in its crotch.
Iphindra rushes inside to join the others, while avoiding a snagtooth Troublemaker. "H-hi!"
"Failed to do his job and now it is being punished," Shun nods.
Iphi hears Alysson's question. She rests a hand against the scarecrow, then shakes her head. "Nothing a- alive is in there."
"Hey, Iphindra." Estel studies the scarecrow and then a hatchet embedded into the wall. "Maybe they use him as target practice."
"…Though uh," Shun eyes where that knife is located.
"So Gwen's still not feeing great," Estel says, clapping her hands. "I'm in charge again today."
"What is our mission today?" Shun asks.
"Pang wanted us to check on his nephew, uh. Liang. The pig farmer." Estel gestures to the west.
"Pigs!" Alysson grins excitedly.
Shun furrows his brow, but then slowly nods.
"Oh, I like pigs!" Iphi claps excitedly.
"Great," Estel says, grinning. "We'll see what he needs, then."
There's a dirt path that leads down to Liang's farm, although some virmen are making themselves a nuisance on the way.
The ranch is absolutely full of pigs.
Iphi is beaming.
"Whoa look at 'em all!" Alysson stares at the pigs.
"Oi. You. What do you want?" Shun asks Liang curtly.
Estel laughs and heads up to the guy who looks to be supervising the farm. "Hey!"
Liang tips his hat to the group. "Hello, travelers. Are you here for pork?"
"No," Shun says.
"Uh, not exactly. Your uncle Pang sent us to see if you needed anything?" Estel grins. "I'm Estel, this is Alysson, Iphindra, Shun."
"I do- don't eat animals!" Iphi's eyes widen at the idea that she could be at a pig farm for pork.
"Maybe you've got some baby pigs need pettin'?" Alysson asks hopefully.
Liang Thunderfoot looks at Iphindra curiously. "I'm Liang Thunderfoot, as I'm sure my uncle told you."
"I could use a hand, actually," says Liang. "I try to keep an eye on my stock, of course, but pigs are smarter than most folk realize, and every once in a while some of ‘em manage to sneak away. The virmen are causing such confusion right now that I've been out trying to secure the farm against ‘em, and while I wasn't paying attention, a few of my pigs escaped. Would you mind having a look for ‘em? They're probably down the hill toward the west, where the mushan beasts and the turtle pond are."
Shun looks to the west, then grunts.
"We'll find 'em!" Alysson promises immediately.
"Of course," Iphindra says, smiling. Saving pigs! Yay!
Liang looks out over the pigs that remain. "The pigs you're looking for are Jian, Ling, and Smelly. They're not babies, but I'm sure you can pet them."
"…Smelly," Shun mutters.
Iphi giggles.
"Smelly gets extra pets!" Alysson declares.
Liang hesitates, then adds, "The other thing is — pigs are extremely picky eaters," Liang says. "They haven't been thrilled with all the beat-up produce Pang keeps throwing down here. What they really need is meat. Unfortunately, they don't like mutton, they don't like yak — and I'm not about to feed them any pork. They do, however, eat the meat of the mushan beasts, and they're also pretty partial to turtle. My skills as a hunter are pretty weak. You think while you're out looking, you could help out a young rancher and his pigs?"
Shun stares at Liang for a moment, "Is there something wrong with your pigs?"
Liang immediately insists, "No! Not at all."
Shun narrows his eyes.
"'Randy always said if you spoil a fellow, that's when they get picky with food an' such," Alysson says.
"Usually pigs aren't p- picky!" Iphi shakes her head. "Even if spoiled."
"Maybe your pigs aren't," Liang says, pouting a little.
"I'll speak to them for you, when we're done with our mission today, i-if you'd like," Iphi offers with a smile.
Liang gives her a confused look. "Speak to them all you want! But if you find any fresh turtle or mushan meat…"
Shun grunts.
"Sure, okay," Estel says, flashing Liang a thumbs-up.
"Down the hill to the west…" Estel mutters. "Let's find some pigs."
"What kind of pig refuses to eat?" Shun shakes his head.
Estel shrugs. "Beats me."
"Sad pigs?" Alysson offers.
"Yes, that is wh- what I fear," Iphi shakes her head. "Or maybe they're sick.. That's why I want to speak to them la- later."
"For sure." Estel smiles at Iphindra.
[Shun]: "Pig spotted."
There is a little pig swimming in a pond.
"Good eye!" Alysson says, hurrying over to the pig.
Iphi stays on a small cliff and watches as others go to fish the pig out. "I- is it Smelly?"
"It has no notable scent that I can detect," Shun states.
"'Sides wet pig," Alysson says with a smile.
"So it must be Ling or Jian!" Iphi nods to herself.
"Hey, Jian!" Estel calls. The pig doesn't react. "Ling?" The pig snorts.
"Ling i- it is!" Iphi smiles.
Ling toddles after Alysson.
Smelly is roaming the fields and also easily identifiable for obvious reasons.
Shun grunts as he approaches this one.
Iphi giggles. "Th- that's smelly!" She pats the pig on the head. "Yes, you a- are!"
Smelly grunts and bumps his head into Iphindra.
Alysson beams and gives Smelly lots of pats.
Shun shakes his head and goes to take down a mushan for its meat.
A blue bandicoon joins them as they pick up meat from the Mushan. With big, beady eyes, it decides to follow Iphi for more food.
A pandaren woman building kites calls, "Have you come for the pig?"
There is, in fact, a pig nearby.
"Unfortunately," Shun replies.
Jian is a splendid grey pig. He seems happy to follow Iphindra as well.
"Yeah," Estel says, flashing the flight master a thumbs-up. "We'll get him outta your fur."
"Smelly's the biggest one," Alysson says. He seems pleased by this.
Smelly darts forward when he recognizes his home. Maybe he was just lost.
Shun is now lugging a lot of meat.
Alysson follows Smelly with the same eagerness. Maybe he was also lost.
Iphi waves Alysson over. She has found a mom pig and her three babies. Piddle, Puddle and Poople. They're all sleeping peacefully.
You too can see Piddle, Puddle, and Poople if you go to Liang's pig farm!
Ling follows Alysson around the farm, sniffing at his pockets.
Alysson oggles the piglets, but keeps a respectful distance to let them sleep.
Liang seems pleased to see the return of the pigs - and the delivery of meat. Many pigs seem interested in Shun now.
Shun does not look amused to be surrounded by pigs.
There are some new arrivals to the farm, as well: Chen Stormstout and Li Li.
The bandicoon is also following Shun very closely. Literally like his model is doing right now.
"Thank you!" Liang calls, and comes to help Shun.
"Here we are, finally setting foot in our ancestral home for the first time in our lives, and you want to stop and rest by a PIG FARM?" demands Li Li.
"Be patient, Li Li," Chen says. "If we explore Pandaria too quickly, we will quickly run out of Pandaria to explore."
"That… barely even makes sense!" Li Li folds her arms crossly. "You're just saying that because you're lazy and old!"
Estel waves to Li Li as she heads past. "Okay, pigs are back," she reports.
"Thank you all. I'm truly grateful for your assistance." Liang smiles at the group. "If you want to talk to the pigs… be my guest."
Iphi smiles. "Thank you, I- I'll be back later for this!"
A lamb peeks out of the home behind Liang and bleats.
Liang beckons the lamb out. "Seems like I'm not the only one having trouble with his stock. See that lamb? He belongs to Francis, a shepherd southeast of here. Would you mind bringing his lamb back to him?"
"Baby sheep!" Alysson reaches out to pet it.
"Southeast…" Estel tries to orient herself. Liang points helpfully.
The lamb huddles close to Alysson. This is his friend now.
"Sure, okay." Estel gives Liang a thumbs-up. "We'll take him home."
This is Iphi's day. They are being followed by all the animals. Isn't being part of Cobalt Company great? She's beaming.
Shun just closes his eyes for a moment.
"Bye Smelly!" Alysson calls on the way by.
"Bye!" Iphi calls as well. Smelly is a good pig.
The lamb hides behind Alysson from the wolves that roam the fields between farms.
Shun watches as a hawk just. Snatches a sheep.
Iphi smiles at the hawk.
Alysson hugs the lamb protectively. "Should we uh… be bringin' this fellow back here?"
"Well I think I have an idea of what this request will turn into," Shun states.
The most distressed shepherd boy in the world watches a sheep just get stolen right in front of him. He's a child. He's not ready for this.
"C-c-come back here! That's my sheep!" Francis cries.
"Hey," Estel says, approaching. "You lost a lamb."
"Oh," says Francis unhappily. "You have… one of my… my lambs?" He casts a despairing look at the pen. "You really shouldn't have brought him back to me. He was safer in the pigsty."
"Do you need us to cull the onslaught of predators that are targeting your livestock?" Shun asks, somewhat deadpan.
"First the hawks came." Francis peers uneasily upward. "Then the wolves came after that. I think they smelled my weakness."
Francis shakes his head despondently. "I'm not nearly as brave as Master Shang thought I was. I don't suppose… I've heard you travelers are very brave. I don't suppose you can help me? Please?"
The little lamb they returned huddles under the elevated stilts of the house next to the pen, terrified.
"We've gotta help him," Alysson says.
"Yeah." Estel smiles. "We got you covered, kid. Just stay safe."
Iphi kneels. "That's o-okay. It's not your fault. Hawks and wolves do that, and they must eat too." She smiles at Francis. "We can help, b-but unless you stay awake all the time and with your lambs, this will ha- happen again. It's j- just life."
As another hawk starts to fly off with a sheep, Shun shadowsteps up to intercept it.
"Nice," Estel says, and heals the sheep Shun just saved.
Francis looks at them with awe.
They kill some wolves and hawks that are too close to the sheep.
"Uh-oh," says Francis. "Here comes the master now…"
A much taller adult pandaren approaches.
"Francis!" snaps Shang Thunderfoot. "We need to talk!" He folds his arms and looks sternly down at the little shepherd. "You must show bravery! You have everything it takes to make a great shepherd, except the courage to face your fears!" He looks over at the Cobalt group. "You, foreigners. You helped the rest of my family. Francis is like a second son to me. Show him what it means to lack fear. Use this rope to lasso and defeat one of the great white hawks above us."
Shun looks between the two pandaren.
Shang tosses a rope to the ground. "Come see me when you are finished. I live in the small farmhouse just down the road." Shang nods respectfully.
Alysson peers upwards. "This sounds fun!"
"Uh," Estel says. "I mean, okay, we could - yeah, sure, uh."
Shang walks off without even waiting to see how it goes.
Iphi shrugs at Estel.
Shun also shrugs.
Estel looks at Alysson. "Sounds like fun, huh? You wanna give it a shot?"
Francis looks at them, eyes enormous.
"Yeah!" Alysson prepares the rope and lassos one of the large white birds circling overhead. He is quickly yanked into the air!
Shun looks up and watches.
"Welp," Estel says, and puts a Shield on Alysson.
Iphi runs around on the ground, following the hawk, as if trying to catch Alysson if he falls. "B- be carefull!"
"I wish I could cast that spell Gwen kn- knows…" Iphi says.
An aerial battle ensues, the hawk twisting and grabbing, but Alysson nimbly escapes its claws and takes it down. He did not, however, account for what happens when the bird he is riding dies. Whoops.
"Shit," Estel mutters, and reaches out to grab empty air. A pair of spectral angelic wings appears on Alysson's back as he is pulled diagonally instead of straight down, soaring through the air to land safely in front of Estel.
The hawk hits the ground with a splat.
Shun grunts at Alysson with mild approval.
Iphi sighs of relief. "Perfect!"
Francis is staring in awe. "I… I can't believe you did that! You could have died up there! That was amazing!." He squares his small shoulders. "If you can do something like that, then… then I can handle some measly wolves and plainshawks! This is the dawn of a new Francis!"
Alysson, who was only worried for about two seconds, laughs and cheers. "Good catchin' Estel!" he says.
Estel grins at him. "You good? Fantastic."
"I guess we can tell that guy - Shang? How cool you were and that he totally missed it." Estel shakes her head.
It's a short trip down the road to Shang's Stead. Chen and Li Li are out front.
"Hey, friends!" says Chen. "We meet again! You looking for Shang? I think he's out back, polishing his melon."
"…" Shun furrows his brow, eyeing Chen and Li Li.
Estel blinks a couple times. "His… uh, okay?"
Shun nods at Estel, "Phrasing."
"Melons need a good polishin' somtimes," Alysson says, nodding sagely.
Iphi giggles. "Polishing his melon…" she repeats quietly.
As the group heads around the back of the house, Li Li tugs at Chen's arm.
"Let's get goinggggg," says Li Li. "There's a whole big valley waiting for us, but you're too focused on the bottom of that mug to see it!"
Chen chuckles. "Yes, Li Li, the bottom of this mug is very interesting to me."
"I'll leave without you," Li Li warns. "Don't think I'm bluffing. I don't need some smelly old uncle to hold my hand."
"Why are you so impatient?" Chen asks patiently. "Are you worried that the mists are going to come back before I finish my drink?"
Li Li stares at him. "Well, NOW I am!"
"… How are they always ahead of us if they travel so slowly?" Shun mutters.
Behind the house, there is an absolutely MASSIVE melon, twice as tall as Shang Thunderfoot while lying on its side.
"Well, we were bein' heroes," Alysson says, then gapes at the melon.
"I don't get it eit- whoa," Iphi looks absolutely amazed at the size of the melon.
"Oh," Estel says.
Shun blinks several times.
"What the hell is in the soil here that makes produce get so big?" Shun asks.
"Well?" Shang asks. "How did Francis take it?"
"Imagine the boat you could make out o' this!" Alysson says, examining the melon from all angles.
"That is your first thought?" Shun raises a brow.
"It was awesome, and you missed it," Estel says. "Alysson was super cool. Francis was impressed."
"I- imagine the hungry people you could feed… like in Westfall!" Iphi's eyes widen. "Maybe I should take a few seeds and s- some soil back there!"
"He will learn," Shang says. "It is the Thunderfoot way." He turns back to admire the giant watermelon.
"Sure," Estel says, and waits. When it seems like Shang doesn't have any requests for them, she waves lazily and wanders away.
"So," says Chen. "What is this, the fourth time we've run into one another already?"
Alysson counts on his fingers. "Yeah!"
Estel starts counting on her fingers, but Alysson gets it first. "Yup."
"Say, my keg is quickly becoming empty," Chen observes. "I've heard mention of a brewer who lives to the southwest, and that's where we're headed. Why don't you walk with us a way?"
Estel looks at Li Li, who shoots her a hopeful look back.
"Sure, okay. Why not." Estel smiles.
"All right," says Chen, and heaves himself to his feet. "I suppose we have stayed here long enough. These Thunderfoots are good people, but they do not have enough ale between them to fill a cask. Let's go find something to drink. Shall we, Li Li?"
"If beer gets you off your butt, then… sure. Let's go find you some beer." Li Li rolls her eyes.
"Farewell, Shang!" calls Chen.
"You kids have fun at Mudmug's!" Shang hollers back cheerfully.
"Mudmug!" Alysson smiles at the name.
They head down the road with Chen and Li Li.
"Uncle, look," says Li Li urgently. "There's somebody up ahead. He looks… weird."
"We are the outsiders here, Li Li," Chen tells her. "We probably look even weirder to him."
"Pshh… only because we're traveling with a bunch of humans and an elf!" Li Li glances up at the group. "Sorry, but you guys do kind of stand out."
Estel waves a hand nonchalantly. "No worries."
Iphi's ears droop slightly at being called an elf.
"Hallooooo, stranger!" Chen greets the man. "We are looking for a brewer named Mudmug! Do you know of him?"
"I'm Mudmug," says apparently-Mudmug. "Who's askin'?"
"I am called Chen, and this is my niece Li Li," says Chen. "And these are the foreigners you have probably heard about, from Cobalt Company."
Estel waves lazily. "I'm Estel, hi. This is Shun, Alysson, Iphindra."
Alysson waves in a hearty greeting.
Mudmug eyes them skeptically. "Hmph. Y'all any good at fightin' virmen?"
Li Li hops excitedly. "Heck yeah we are! I've probably beaten up about a million virmen back on the Wandering Isle!" She glances at Cobalt Company and then back to Mudmug. "These guys are pretty good too."
Estel snorts and glances at Shun.
"You have a virmen problem? We will be glad to help you, Mudmug," Chen tells him.
"Awright, then," says Mudmug. "My place is just around the corner. Let's get to critter-whompin!"
Shun grunts.
"I told you he was weird," whispers Li Li loudly.
"Critter-whompin'!" Alysson repeats with a grin.
Iphi giggles. "I- I like him!" she says.
"All right," says Chen. "Before any kegs are tapped, we have work to do. These virmen are no different than the virmen on the Wandering Isle… a nuisance that breeds as fast as the rabbits they resemble. Sure, we could kill every last virmen we find, but what's the point in needless bloodshed? Let's just take out their alphas, and they'll slow down with their… reproduction."
"Understood," Shun grunts.
"Okay," says Li Li. "Okay, hang on, I have a great idea. I love messing with virmen. Here's the plan: We're going to paint some turnips orange, and then we'll try to convince the virmen that they're carrots. This can only end in comedy." She grins. "I'll collect the turnips. You get some stuff to make edible orange paint."
Estel glances at Li Li. She looks at Alysson and Iphindra.
"The turnip war continues…" Alysson says. "This phase is called… revenge of the turnip."
Iphi giggles. "I'd love to make p- paint!"
"Does it really matter if the paint is edible here?" Shun asks.
"We don't want to kill the virmen with unedible paint!" Iphi says, worried.
"We're prankin' 'em, not poisonin' 'em!" Alysson agrees.
Li Li cocks her head, looking at Shun. "I guess it depends on if you want to eat any yourself!"
"I feel like poison would be more effective here…" Shun mutters, "If the turnips are only for the virmen."
"Well, we'll see what we can find," Estel says. "Let's move out."
"Located one of the targets," Shun states.
Estel gathers up some marigolds. "Great. Let's go for it."
Iphi points at one of the alpha virmen.
"They've got some neat weapons," Alysson observes.
[Shun-]: "…Neat?"
Estel dodges as a virmen throws a skillet at her.
"Yeah, like that fellow. It's creative!" Alysson says.
Iphi smiles at Alysson. "Th- that's true."
"I don't know much about paint mixing," Estel says. "These are more of a yellow than an orange…"
Estel begins to crush the marigolds regardless.
"Hmmm…" Iphi looks at it. "We should maybe trust the process."
"I don't see any red flowers…" Estel shakes her head and starts collecting virmen blood. What can possibly go wrong with this plan.
"Tha- that's a great idea!" Iphi begins to also collect virmen blood.
Eventually, they return.
"You have the stuff ready for the paint?" Li Li asks. "I went ahead and gathered some turnips."
"The army is assembled…" Alysson whispers.
"Still gotta mix it, but…" Estel presents her crushed yellow marigolds and a jar of blood.
"Whoa, whoa. You brought back BLOOD?" Li Li gapes. "I guess I should have looked around for a half second before I told you guys to bring me something red. Yeesh."
Shun just shakes his head.
Li Li mixes her paint and paints her heap of turnips orange, giggling madly.
"Okay," says Li Li, and glances over at Chen. "Uncle Chen's got his eye on me, which means I won't be wandering off anytime soon. I guess it's up to you to take these turnips… I mean, ‘carrots'… and deliver them to the virmen. Should be pretty simple. Just toss the vegetables in front of ‘em and wait for the hilarity to begin!"
Estel mutters, "Careful, wet paint."
Iphi takes some of the paint and 'accidentally' hits Alysson with it. "Oops!" She giggles. "A- at least we know it works well!"
Alysson laughs. "Hey now I'm even oranger! I could be a carrot too!"
"Good work, friends," Chen says, mostly ignoring his niece having fun. "You're not bad in combat. What do you say we team up for the next part?"
Iphi giggles again.
"We've dealt with the alpha males. Now, the alpha female. Most virmen broods have a dominant mother figure. She's usually bigger, meaner, and tougher than anyone else in the brood." Chen grins. "I wouldn't mind testing my skills against a warren-mother. Mind if I fight alongside you?"
Shun ignores the shenanigans and focuses on Chen.
Estel shrugs. "Sure, no problem."
"Okay, I'll meet you down there!" Chen heads off.
"Bigger, meaner, tougher… sounds like a Ma, alright," Alysson says.
"Hey," Mudmug says. "Y'all are real good people, helpin' out with the virmen like you are. I don't like to ask for favors, but I ain't gonna turn ‘em away, either. While you're out there puttin' the hurt on those rabbit-men, you wouldn't mind keepin' an eye out for some bags o' hops, would ya? I'm pretty sure they lifted ‘em last night." He glances north toward the meadow. "Probably usin' ‘em for pillows," he mutters.
"We'll keep an eye f- for the hops, yes!" Iphi nods.
Estel gives Mudmug a thumbs-up. "Will do."
"They stole hops, 'cause they're rabbit-men," Alysson says.
Estel collects some orange turnips once the paint has had a little bit to dry.
Shun gives Alysson a look.
Alysson grins at him.
It takes a second for Iphi to understand Alysson's joke, but when she does, it's hard to stop herself for a little bit.
Estel rolls a turnip towards a group of virmen.
"Carrot? For US?!?!" Oh, they buy it immediately.
… Until they start eating. "Gross! Carrot was turnip! Run!"
Estel cracks up laughing.
Shun shakes his head.
"False carrot alert! False carrot alert!" shouts one of the virmen. They flee.
Iphi is having the time of her life. "I- I love this mission!"
Shun vanishes into the shadows as they round a corner.
The warren-mother awaits, red eyes gleaming in the dark of the cave.
Iphi whispers. "I- I think that's her!"
"You come to fight my brood? You come to steal my treasures? Time for Chufa's surprise!" The warren-mother takes a flamethrower out from her pile of stuff.
Shun appears to stab her in the back.
Chen shows up to help in time!
Iphi gasps. Flamethrower!
"Wait where the hell did she get a flamethrower? Pandaren have flamethrowers?" Shun asks.
Estel shrugs. "Good question. I'll put it in the report."
They head back to Mudmug's place.
"I've seen one o' those dragon cannons," Alysson says. "They're for fireworks!"
"I see," Shun says.
"Well," says Chen. "I'd say we've earned our reward. Hey, Mudmug? How about a taste of what you've been brewing?"
"I'm good," Estel says, holding her hands up. "Enjoy yourself, Chen."
Mudmug pours Chen a mug of beer and looks around at the others.
"Mudmug!" Chen cries. "This is fantastic! Strong, too!"
"Thanks!" Mudmug grins. "Most folk 'round here prefer it over anything from that ‘Stormstout Brewery.'"
"Wait…" Li Li stares at Mudmug. "Did you say Stormstout Brewery?"
"You know of more Stormstouts?" Chen asks. "Here, on Pandaria?"
"Well shoot, of course! They're the biggest brewin' family in the whole valley!" Mudmug says.
"A brewery… my family… my ancestral home!" Chen looks awed.
"Wait a dang minute — you're a Stormstout?" asks Mudmug.
"Yes, I am. Tell me — where is this ‘Stormstout Brewery?' I must see it for myself!" Chen rises to his feet.
"You just keep goin' down this same road, but…" Mudmug starts.
Shun blinks.
"I am going," Chen interrupts. He turns to his niece. "Li Li… you stay here. I will come back for you. Promise me you will keep out of trouble while I am away?"
Iphi gasps.
Li Li eyes him dubiously "I… yeah, sure. Whatever."
Estel glances at Li Li. "Your turnip-carrot plan actually worked really well."
Shun folds his arms over his chest.
"Yessss!" Li Li looks triumphant. "I love messing with virmen."
"It d- did! Do you have any more paint?" Iphi asks. For future pranks.
Li Li checks her bucket. "Just a little… Do you want it?"
"Yes!" Iphi beams. "Here, for you!" She takes out a snowball. "Magically enchanted to ne- never melt, so you can throw it whenever people least e- expect it. Like now!" She throws a snowball in Shun's direction.
Shun ducks, then glares at Iphi.
Estel did not see that coming. She Shields Shun after a moment, but Shun ducks in time regardless.
Alysson laughs.
Iphi takes a step back. That prank backfired, apparently.
Li Li trades the bucket for a magic snowball. "Thanks!"
Shun huffs.
"Whoa," Estel says, holding her hands up. "Okay, we don't throw stuff at Shun, yeah?"
"Aw, it was just a snowball," Alysson says.
"I- I'm sorry. I just wanted to d- do a prank!" Iphi winces.
Shun quietly grumbles, "Going back."
Estel smiles at Iphindra, putting a hand on Shun's shoulder. "You're not in trouble. Let's save pranks for people who like them, okay? Shun doesn't like 'em."
Estel nods to Shun. "I'll be there soon."
Iphi looks a little worriedly at Shun. "Tell him, I'm sorry. I wo- won't do it again…"
Estel pats Iphindra's arm. "I'll tell him. Now you know, yeah?"
Iphi nods.
"I need him to be able to trust you guys," Estel says sincerely.
"Aha!" Alysson says. "He didn't wanna end up like the straw fellow in the inn!"
Iphi looks very intensely at Estel for a little bit, then nods again. "I understand. I'll d- do better, from now on." She nods to herself once more. "I'll sh- show I take my work seriously. I'll go s- speak to the pigs now!"
"He's been betrayed before, by folks he thought were on his side," Estel says to Iphindra. "So… yeah, I don't want him feeling like he needs to guard himself from us, too." She smiles. "Sounds like a plan. Good luck with the pigs, yeah?"
"Say hi to Smelly for me!" Alysson adds.
"Thank you!" She looks very seriously at Alysson. "I will!" Pandaria is serious business now.
Estel grins. "I'm headed back, then. Later, later!"
Iphi takes off and begins running down the road back to the pigs.