Steps of Gold

[Trehmar]

The bull's grunting breaths rose from his throat with a rumble and broke out into the cool morning air with a forced huff. His nostrils flared around his dulled bronze nose ring with each heavy exhale. The rocky path crumbled and shifted under his broad, sturdy hooves as he ascended the mountain at an almost methodically slow pace. Black pupils encircled in a light blue ring adorned with gray shards gently bobbed around in ponds of white upon the tauren's thick, fleshy face. A heavy brow formed of three or four folds rolled down his forehead, almost covering his eyes like a low-riding hat as he casually scanned the scenery of the windy Stonetalon Mountains.

Hrukh Windchanter made his way up the rarely used path into a pass overlooking Sun Rock Retreat. The tents and activity in the camp below contrasted the serene forests clinging to the mountain the young tauren walked upon. He looked down on the switch-backs formed over countless years by the deer, the sturdy pine trees rooted deeply into the steep mountainside and the vast valley below, coated in bark-covered obelisks standing up like the quills of a porcupine with an admiring eye. As the pass lowered itself into a narrower area surrounded by taller cliffs he turned his attention ahead, where a small bowl with a few trees had been made into a camp for he and his Fellows.

A fallen tree marked the boundary of the camp on one side, while the rocky bases of the cliffs overlooking the Charred Vale served as the rest of the boundaries. A sleeping fire pit, backpacks, weapons, and yet uncooked food populated the cozy camp. What little grass there was to color the glade was flattened in several places where the tauren had slept the previous two nights.

Hrukh's large lips shifted upwards in the corners, reaching farther back along his hairy jawline as the tight, natural wrinkles of his snout rose up, sandwiching his eyes between his facial flesh to form a dorky, lazy smile. He liked the camp he and his Fellows made. The land there has been kind to them and felt like an old friend. He eagerly recalled the memories of roaming Stonetalon with Telomwe in younger days when ever they had the chance. His thoughts wandered to Wheathoof Bluff as he walked into camp. The morning was young and breakfast had only recently been shared.

He was eager to lead his tribe to the bluff and introduce them to his family. He did not consider himself the leader of the Banepaw Fellowship (and certainly not the tribe) but he was very aware that his involvement had taken him to a place of importance within the small, budding community. It was because of this social significance that he wanted to share his old tribe with his people, to show them that family is more important than anything else; to share with them his bond to his adoptive mother and respect for his peoples' ways. Though his life had recently changed and took him from the Wheathoof forever, he vowed to never forget what his time among them had taught him. Hrukh sought to share this philosophy with all Shu'halo. Though the life in the barrens was far behind them, the lessons from it should never fade underneath steel and nation.

These thoughts asserted themselves into his normally calm, passive mind as vision of the raptors, of the Spirit Tree and of his new family passed through his head; with these visions came the words, Today, I will bring the Banepaw to the Wheathoof and they will learn from me as all should learn from one another.

[Sianhu]

It had not been long in the night before the wilderness had called again. The below village was sheltered from the light winds, but the mountain path upon which they rested caught the full force of the breeze. It was not heavy, not enough to cause an unpleasant rest in the camp. But it was what was carried upon the winds that awakened the wild druid.

Every now and then, the winds grew warmer. With each gust it surged upon the mountain top, carrying with it the pain of the earth itself. It called her from her sleep, the burn piercing her dreams.

Rising from her sleeping place, it was paws that met the ground as opposed to hooves. As she had done each night, the druid took to rest in the form of a beast. Her agile body carefully moved forward, each step methodical and seeking silent ground to avoid awakening her beloved Tribe. Her form a mimic of the wilds she so respected. Tribunal markings painted her sides, feathers and beads respectively adorned her fur; a large almost unnatural snout accompanied by the horns of the Shu'halo painting her the form of a druid.

The beast moved away from the camp, each padded step meeting the reddened earth in silent bond. She carried herself to the top of the nearby hill, one that overlooked camp and the narrowing mountain path that lead down from the camp.

It was here the Northwest burned.

The Vale revealed it's curse in the darkened night. The great fires reflecting from the light cloud cover, illuminating the mountainsides in burning hate. It was as if the valley had engulfed the sun as it descended from the sky, never allowing it to sink into the night. With every great gust, the sky above the vale would spark with burning ash, which would dwindle as the winds carried them away from their torment.

It was then that Sianhu disappeared, absent once again even as the sun freed itself and set to rise again in the sky.




After the morning meal had been shared, after the young Banepaw surveyed their camp, was the time for the solitary druid to reappear.

Each footstep was carried with purpose, the molds her paws made in the worn earth coated with blackened ash. Her approach just as quiet as her departure, she took quickly to Hrukh's side. Feline form sitting beside the observant brother, head raised in regal pose as she silently followed his gaze to their temporary shelter. The proud being slowly trailed over the remnants of their shared camp, eyes narrowed in soft appreciation.

Silent observation was all that accompanied her arrival, neither offering explanation or hello. Nothing but a grateful presence and the soft gesture of the bow of her head as she remained faithfully at Hrukh's side.

[Ceares]

(( It's been years since I've RPed on a forum. Please bear with me. Dx ))

A large leather bag lay against the fallen tree, filled with small clay containers and a wooden brush. A brown and green staff, feathers tied to it, lay upon the dead tree. A large piece of wood rest next to it. An illustration had been painted on the piece. An off-white tauren in brown and red garb, slowly bent down and picked up the staff before making her way toward the cliff.

The druid stood atop the cliff, overlooking the Vale. Soft green eyes examined the area below. The winds carried the smell of smoke through the mountains, and just enough for her to smell it. Her braids blew in the breeze. She rested the butt of her staff on the ground and let out a deep, long sigh.

Ceares looked back to the camp, glancing between the two Shu'halo, then turned her gaze back to the vale. A frown slowly appeared on her face. One of seriousness and thought. The druid turned and slowly walked back into camp. She had a look of determination. She gave a quick nod to the two druids, then continued walking, toward the edge of the camp. She turned in the direction of the Charred Vale.

[Telomwe]

Telomwe grunted and rubbed her weary eyes as Kintu licked her face to awaken her from her slumber. It was very early and no one else was moving in the small camp in the Stonetalon Mountains. She noticed with a quick glance that the druid Sianhu was missing from her place, but Telomwe didn't give it much thought. Her time spent with Hrukh had taught her that druids did things their own way, in whatever form that might take, and a non-druid, such as herself, could never truly understand that.

Finally she rose from her place curled beside a lone stump, and stretched her arms and legs methodically, smiling at each member of the fellowship in turn, glad to see they had finally gotten some rest the previous night. Her warm face looked upon her friends as a mother would her sleeping children, though behind her eyes remained a playfulness one would see in a wolf pup playing with his brothers and sisters. Telomwe then turned her gaze to the sky and surrounding trees, the cliffs that walled them in from the Vale, and the grass beneath her hooves. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, smiling a deep, thoughtful smile.

She was distracted from her revelry by the others in her camp stirring in their slumber, and with that, she began making a fire for the morning meal.

* * *

After eating her fill of a tasty breakfast, Telomwe rested against the stump again, watching as Sianhu reappeared and sat beside Hrukh in her feline form. She smiled at them as if they were the most satisfying sight she had ever seen. She sucked in a breath of the crisp air and let it out slowly as if savoring its taste. As she opened her eyes, the young druid Ceares passed by the focus of her interest, and proceeded to follow the path towards the Vale. Telomwe's brow furrowed, and she rose to her feet, quickly catching up to the Shu'halo woman.

"Would you like some company?" Telomwe asked politely, her eyes shining with a friendly curiosity. Kintu trailed slightly behind his lifelong companion, and looked up at her, tail wagging as she spoke.

[Trehmar]

As the white-furred, horned lion appeared silently by his side Hrukh looked down with his lazy smile. He appreciated Sianhu being around. He sensed great wisdom and a powerful presence from her. They had spoken rarely, and almost always in private. It wasn't when they talked, however, that he felt her inner strength. She stood beside him with a noble stance and readiness of the soul any looking upon her could see. Hrukh felt more confident of his purpose and presence with this wordless friend than he would with any warrior by his side.

Telomwe and Ceares stood a bit off, at the camp. Hrukh took a few steps forward as they greeted one another. He nodded his head, massive, curving horns moving like a permanent headdress with his nod.

"If you are ready, we should depart for Wheathoof Bluff soon. The walk will take up our afternoon," he says in his breathy, low voice.

[Ceares]

Ceares stopped and turned her head, looking back at the Shu'halo woman that followed her. She smiled lightly. "I'd love your company," she replied, face lighting up for a moment. She turned her gaze back on the vale, smile fading quickly, face expressing seriousness. She glanced back at camp, and saw Hrukh walk up to them. She turned to face him as he walked towards them, and rested the butt of her staff on the ground.

As he spoke, the she nodded. Ceares hesitated for a moment, glancing at the Vale before setting her eyes on him again. "I'm ready when you are," she said, looking between the two. She made her way back to camp, where her belongings lay.

She walked over to the fallen tree and reached down to pick up her bag. She lifted the strap over her head and rested it on her shoulder, the bag itself resting against the opposite side of her body, then bent down to get her painting. She stood and waited to see if the others were ready.

[Telomwe]

Telomwe's brow furrowed when Ceares seemingly forgot about going towards the Vale, but shrugged it off and smiled broadly at Hrukh.

"I am so glad to be going home again, my friend," she said as she turned to pick up her bow and quiver from near the center of camp. Kintu stayed beside the male Tauren, wagging his tail furiously with a rather ridiculous grin on his face. Once Telomwe gathered all her things and made her way back to Hrukh, she took a last look at their cozy campsite and smiled broadly at Kintu's behavior.

"We can lead as soon as everyone is ready, Hrukh."

[Karonak Embermaw]

In the corner of the camp Karonak snorts, planting his staff in the ground and hefting himself to his feet. He rubs his eyes with his left hand, wiping the sleep out of his eyes. He eyes the gathering carefully and then speaks.

"Hell. I hope you all were not waiting on me to get my ass up."

((Sorry, distracted but wanted to post to get myself into this. MORE LATER! =D))

[Telomwe]

As Karonak finally stirred from his place, Telomwe chuckled lightly and gave him a sideways grin.

"I hope you weren't expecting a hot breakfast. All that's left is a bit cold."

[Sianhu]

The white feline paused behind, inquisitive eyes watching the group move about. A somewhat amused expression turned towards the elder Tauren as he spoke, a slight snort in response to his tardy wake-up. The slight upwards turn of the corners of her mouth indicated a feral smile, an unusual expression on her feline snout.

The druid then rose to stand, shaking her head furiously as all sorts of dust and gray ash freed itself from her fur. She began to move forward, though by the time her foot was to fall into the next step, a hoof instead met the copper earth. The change was silent, a natural progression of form that appeared graceful. It was an essence that was borrowed, not the contortion of her shape that allowed the change to appear much more naturally.

Sianhu casually walked forward to return to Hrukh's side. She lightly clapped her massive hands together, idly dusting them of the remaining soot that still plagued them. Her whitened tribal robes blended in with her light fur, her body being a certainly bright focal point against the red earth. She seemed to appreciate simplicity, adorned with little more than the beads her common garb already came with.

"How did you all sleep? Well, I hope?" she spoke, her voice low in a natural calm. She always spoke as such, almost as if she remained in a constant state of practical patience and peace. Her gaze turned upon each of them in turn, her demeanor remaining of that of her previous form. Head held high, the knowing gaze still apparent in her eyes as if her feral nature still remained with her behind them.

[Trehmar]

Hrukh's inattentive grin clung to his face as Elder Karonak sputtered another one of his usual sarcastic remarks. His impressive, upward curving horns turned with his head to Sianhu at her polite question. He spoke first, waving his large, clumsy hand dismissively, "Quite well, myself. Come, let us begin our trek.

As the casual morning conversation went on, Hrukh led his Fellows down the path towards Sun Rock Retreat. The morning began to fade as the hoofed party marched calmly through the sparsely wooded mountain range. Warmth came with the rising sun but the chilly winds never faded. Though Autumn was only just beginning puffs of breath were visible from Hrukh's wide, ringed nostrils. Having walked this trail many times he led the group relatively quickly through the long hike.

After many hours they rose up from the depths of the valleys and low hills to a rise. Emerging like explorers from a deep cave into the light of day, they looked over the vast mountain range. Not far in the distance was Wheathoof Bluff, covered in golden wheat and mills both ritually adorned and pragmatically simple.

With a proud, sweeping motions, Hrukh addressed the impressive plateau among so many spire-like mountains, "Wheathoof Bluff. My old home."

After a moment's appreciation he brought his companions to the path leading up to the bluff. The village lay just ahead...

[Ceares]

Ceares nodded at Sianhu. "I slept well, thank you," she replied with a smile, before giving a nod to the other druid.

She didn't talk much during the hike, mostly thinking to herself as the group trekked. She enjoyed the walk, which brought back several fond memories of her former tribe. She smiled occasionally as she thought of her fondest memories. Ceares was glad to return to the old ways of her people, the way she'd grown up.

As they approached the village, Ceares glanced around at the others, before gazing at the village with curiosity.

[Trehmar]

(( Odd as it may seem, this little forum RP served its purpose entirely to my satisfaction! I would have liked to go on a bit but I think this is far enough in the past of our stories that no one is interested any longer. The real purpose of this forum RP was to get some creative muscles working by presenting everyone the opportunity to add a little more detail to their character.

I also wanted to introduce Wheathoof Bluff but that's more of a fun little world-building thing of mine. Haha. Basically, it's called the Steps of Gold because there are natural steps leading up to it which are covered in wheat. Think rice patee but with grain.

Anyway, I think it would be a good idea to have, in the future, a more purposeful... uh.... purpose in the forum RP. That way, everyone could be included and it won't just be me leading the show and everyone responding to it. I hate that.

Lesson learned, and detailed RP muscles a little less rusty. I'm going to throw this thread into the archive soon. If you have any further comments before I do, feel free to leave them. ))