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Post by Brekken on Oct 29, 2010 21:55:11 GMT -5
(( I haven't written in a while, so this may not be perfect. ))
To the east of Camp Narache, the southernmost camp in the land of Mulgore, lied a vast plain extending far to the eastern mountain range. This was not particularly unusual, since vast plains extended all over Mulgore, in every direction.
North of this particular stretch of grassland was a canyon, filled with giant brambles stretching out of it. This, too, was not particularly unusual. Wherever the Quillboars dwelled there were always those giant brambles; the last signs in this world of the great boar god, Agamaggan.
Somewhere in the middle of this plain was a huge boulder. And unlike the plains and the brambles, this boulder was unusual. Unusual in the sense that it did not look like a naturally occuring thing. It was tall, at least ten or fifteen feet, and stood pointing upward, toward the heavens. Strange markings were carved on the top of it, pointing in all directions, almost like eyes. And, indeed, from afar the stone might resemble some lonely figure, looking out over the grasslands. A still, silent guardian.
Kodo Rock.
It was night now, and to Brekken Proudhorn, it did, indeed, seem like a still, silent guardian, siloueted against the moon and stars. Or perhaps some great giant of legend. But he knew better. He had come to this place many times in the past. Many, many times. It was a spiritual place. Aspiring Shamans would often come here to pray to the Earth Spirit. And although few people knew it, it was also the favorite spot of the late Shu'halo Druid, Otheym.
Brekken sighed as he continued walking along toward the great rock. He wrapped his bearskin cloak tight around himself to keep out the cold night wind. He had left Camp Narache...he couldn't recall how long ago. He turned briefly and surveyed the darkened landscape, spotting the faint firelight in the distance. So, an hour, perhaps. Maybe less. He had been lost in his own thoughts during the duration of his slow walk through the plains. With a frown and a shake of the head he turned back to the task at hand; reaching the Rock. And as he came ever nearer, his mind was busy picking up where it had left off.
Where -had- it left off? He had sighed because of it...Ah, of course. Otheym. Otheym, who was, as the Orcs said, one 'hell of a guy' in life. He had been a Master Druid, possibly even taught by Archdruid Rinetotem himself, though he had never given any clear answer on who his teacher had been. All his students were meant to know was that he was a Master Druid, one 'hell of a guy', and the one who was going to be showing them the true ways of this world, whatever those ways turned out to be.
Brekken had been his student. Certainly not his finest, but he had liked to believe that he had impressed the old Shu'halo once or twice during his training.
Oh, Otheym...If only you could see me now..., he thought, though certainly not in a happy way.
After many more minutes of walking, he finally reached it; Kodo Rock. The place they had sat during training. Otheym in the shade the rock provided, Brekken and the other students in the sun. For several minutes, he simply looked up at it with a strange feeling of awe. He had been here many times, during his training, and a few times after that. But only now did he return as a student again. One willing to learn. And, for the first time, one willing to learn from his own mistakes.
Finally he decided to sit, leaning back against the Rock. Looking straight forward, all he could see were the plains, expanding out into the darkness. Looking up, the night sky, littered with stars. It was all so tranquil. All so peaceful.
With no signs of haste, he took the satchel he had brought with him and opened it. Within it was quite a collection of trinkets and oddities. First, he removed a large totem. It was very plain and unpainted, but masterfully carved. In the center, a large paw was carved. A bear paw. And dangling from the totem, by bits of thread, were two wood carved bears.
Next, he took out a vial of red liquid. Blood. He uncorked it, put his finger into it, and rubbed some of it onto his face, and more onto his bare chest. Strange patterns were formed from it; Two lines along his snout, three lines running across the length of his chest.
He took out several other things afterward. All were small, primitive wood carvings of many different animals. A wolf, an eagle, a turtle, a stag, and many others. He set these in a semi-circle around him.
He sighed to himself again. He knew that having there here was not nescissary for what he had in mind.
But what, he thought, can it hurt?
Finally, he removed another vial. This one containing an opaque greenish liquid. It amost seemed to glow in the darkenss.
Slowly, carefully, Brekken removed the cork and held it aloft.
"Great Spirits," He said softly, "Please, offer me aid. I am in need of you. I am lost and alone and must find my way again. I have brought with me the totem of my patron, the Bear Spirit. I have brought with me hyena blood and the symbols of the Animal Spirits. I only hope that these items are enough to persuade you to assist me. So please, anscestors. Spirits of the Animals. Please help me!"
He was shaking slightly as he finished. He carefully tipped the vial of sapta into his mouth and drained it. When he had done this, he returned the vial to his satchel and leaned back against the Rock. Now...he would wait.
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Post by Trehmar on Oct 30, 2010 1:56:50 GMT -5
I really enjoyed this! I think you really did well at capturing the slow, steady ways of the tauren in Brekken's thoughts and casual way of going about a ritual so meaningful to him. The ritual itself is fantastic! It makes sense and brings up some cool visuals. MOAR PLZ?
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Post by Brekken on Oct 30, 2010 23:34:05 GMT -5
Brekken knew that the spirits were unpredictable, that they followed their own will. He was no Shaman, and did not call upon them often, but he had called to them with similar rituals before, each time recieving an answer.
Never had that answer taken so long.
He had sat there all night, looking out over the plains, doing his best to clear his thoughts. He had seen the first rays of sunlight shine from the east, behind him. Watched the day grow older and brighter. Old An'she had moved directly above him, staring down at the Druid with his intense light. And now, he had nearly completed his descent, sinking lower and lower below the western mountain range.
Brekken closed his eyes, leaned back against the rock, and let out a deep breath. A twinge of annoyance and impatience had crossed him briefly, but he forced it down. He was detirmined to wait for an answer, however long it took. Anyway, it made sense to wait this long. He saw it as a cleansing period. More meditation meant more preparation for the moment when--
He opened his eyes. A large bear sat a few feet from him. The creature was a ghostly color and, indeed, looked more like a ghost than a living thing. It was transparent, its eyes were a deep grey. Brekken had encountered his patron spirit several times before, but had never seen it in this guise before.
It looked at him curiously, its head tilted to the side slightly. Brekken paused a moment, then bowed his head low.
"...I have missed you, Brekken." The Spirit said. Its voice sounded flat, lifeless.
Brekken looked back up at it, "...I'm sorry, Ursin. I..."
"You have been busy?" It asked, "Too busy for prayer, yes? Too busy to look to me, or the others?"
"I..." Brekken stopped himself from saying anything he would regret. He sighed softly, "Anything I say would just sound like an excuse. I won't make excuses anymore. I am here to apologize to you, Spirit. And...if you are willing, to earn your favor again."
The bear paused, sitting completely still as it stared at the Druid, "...We will see." It said simply, and vanished.
Brekken blinked. The encounter had been far shorter than he would have prefered. He saw the logic in it, however; It was common knowledge that actions meant more than words. And that was what the Spirit wanted, obviously. Actions.
With a soft smile, Brekken collected the items he had placed around him, set them in his satchel, and departed toward Narache.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 1, 2010 9:23:44 GMT -5
That moon. That moon had been seen before. Like Mu'sha, but somehow different. It sat lifeless in the void...for a void it was. There were no stars to shine out in the darkness. The moon brought no light, either. It was simply a massive white sphere in the middle of unending blackness.
Brekken knew what was to come next. A crack opened up in the top of the moon, and out sprouted a tree. It resembled one of the Barrens trees, where the lions of the plains would often rest in the shade. It was about the same size as well. But it grew. It grew and grew and reached out far into the void. And with it came light. Beams of light all around it. And many creatures moved around in its branches. It was impossible to see them clearly, but it was obvious that there was a great multitude.
And as this tree rose ever higher into the void, something sounded in the dark. Something akin to a roar and a shriek combined. Something terrifying, yet calming all at once.
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Brekken opened his eyes, looking out at the room. It was filled with smoke, making it impossible to see clearly. Not that he could, anyway. The drug still had a strong hold on him, and what he could see beyond the smoke was distorted or faded.
He rolled over on the kodoskin rug he had been lying on, moving onto his back. It was the second time he had ever recieved that vision. The first had been in Nagrand, when his wife had still been alive. He had assumed that it was the Earthmother or Mu'sha somehow sending him a message, but the fact that he had been on an entirely different planet made that seem more unlikely. He had simply disgarded it as an unusual dream and went back to sleep.
"You were dreaming?" A Shu'halo bull walked into his line of vision, looking down on him. He looked to be a little bit older than Brekken, and had short grey fur. His eyes were bloodshot, though Brekken assumed that his own were, too.
Brekken nodded, "Or recieving another vision." He paused, "What would a recuring vision mean? I did recieve a vision, or a dream or something, but you see, I've seen it before. Many, many months ago."
"Describe it to me." The Shaman said, looking for a place to sit down. He found it and sat there.
Brekken described the dream in great detail, though his head was still a little swimmy from the drug. He told him of the moon, of the void, of the tree and its unending growth, of the great multitude within, and of the piercing roar that had soothed and terrified all at once.
"I recieved that vision for the first time on Draenor," Brekken added, "I thought at first that the Earthmother or Mu'sha had sent me a message, but...well, how could that be? Draenor is not their domain."
The Shaman breathed in some of the smoke still in the air, "A vision like that could mean many things. The Earthmother, or Mu'sha, could have sent you a message through the void, but...well, I do not know if that's possible." He frowned, "It could be your own spirit speaking to you."
"My Spirit?" Brekken frowned and looked up at the Shaman, "Why would my spirit speak to me?"
"Well, I've heard the term used before. 'Subconscious'. The thoughts you have in the silent parts of your mind and spirit. Dreams come from the mind and spirit, if they are not sent to you as visions from another. So perhaps...this is a dream from those silent parts of you." He shrugged, "It is impossible to understand the true nature of dreams and visions. At least, for one of my skill. Greater Shaman have learned more from their dreams than I could ever learn from yours." He shrugged and inhaled more air.
Brekken lay still for a few minutes, then rose, reaching for his cloak, "I greatly appreciate your help, Shaman. This had been...most fruitful." He bowed before the Shaman, who looked surprised to see him go so soon, and lifted the cloth drape hung over the doorway to leave, little wisps of smoke trailing after him.
It had been fruitful. When he had recieved that vision the first time, he had promised himself to pay more attention and find out what it meant if he ever recieved it again. He never did, so the issue died. But now...he had recieved it again. And he would learn what it meant, no matter what.
But that could wait for another time. Brekken had only intended to stay in Mulgore for a day or two, then get on the first zeppelin to Orgrimmar. And he would. He walked around Spirit Rise for a few minutes, idly killing time and letting the drug wear off, before heading for the zeppelin platform.
"What time is the next flight to Orgrimmar?" He asked the Goblin engineer, who responded that it would be here sometime in the afternoon. Brekken frowned, considering bringing up that that was not a very good answer, but decided against it. He would just come when he thought it was time to.
He headed across one of the rope bridges to the Center Bluff, where the inn was. He needed sleep. He had much to do...
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Post by Brekken on Nov 1, 2010 19:54:31 GMT -5
Most of the Timbermaw Furbolgs of Ursolan had never seen a Tauren infant before. So when Brekken arrived with one dozing in his arms, naturally there was a great deal of curiosity around the village that day. Young Furbolg mothers brought their own cubs to play with this little Tauren (who, they learned, was called Viela), the men took turns holding her and playing with her. Viela herself seemed to be enjoying her stay at Ursolan immensely, and as night began to fall, she fell asleep near the fire with a few of the Furbolg cubs.
Brekken had sat by one of the Furbolg houses for most of the day, watching them play with his daughter. He had laughed along with them and occasionally spoken to some old acquaintances, but for the most part had stayed out of the fun. He was here for other matters.
In the darkness, two Furbolgs walked toward the small camp. One was the young male Brekken had asked to search the other camps of Ursolan. The second was the one he was asked to find. A very large female with brown fur, clad in a worn green dress. She did not seem to be very old, so her slow, plodding movements were no doubt due to her large girth.
"Brekken!" She exclaimed loudly as she trudged into the clearing. This woke up some of the other Furbolgs who dozed nearby. Not the babies, though. They were dreaming far too deeply.
Brekken smiled, stood, and was instantly embraced by the Furbolg woman very firmly. She was obviously much stronger than she appeared.
"Ergh...Good to...see you again." He squirmed in her grip but she only squeezed tighter.
"Oh! You have been gone so long! I thought some horrible fate had befallen you!"
"Well...something like that..." The woman paused and looked up to him with a frown. She let him go and took a few steps back.
"Well?"
"...I need your help again." he said simply.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 3, 2010 10:21:24 GMT -5
Freezing wind buffeted Brekken's face, a great multitude of snowflakes were caught in his mane and were clinging to his clothes. There was no doubt, he had walked into a blizzard.
Yet still he trudged forward as best he could, praying for protection against the fierce elements.
If only I were a Shaman..., He frowned and dismissed that line of thought. If he were a Shaman he still would not have used his powers to help him. This was his trial. He needed to do this alone and without help, or not at all.
And so, slowly, silenely, he continued.
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The old Furbolg woman had brought him to her house; a large hollowed out log on the outskirts of Ursolan. It was just as Brekken remembered it from his time learning under her.
"Come in, come in! I left some stew on the fire. It should be hot enough by now."
She followed her into the log, needing to duck to pass the doorway. Brekken knew that Furbolgs had little concern for comfort, but even so, it seemed far too tight a fit for the old woman. But if she didn't complain, then neither would he. He slumped against one of the curved walls and adjusted Viela in the sling on his chest. She was still fast asleep.
"You've got a strong little girl, Brekken. Ursoc has blessed her." She waddled over and handed him a wooden bowl. He took it, and sipped the broth from it without a thought. He had developed a taste for Furbolg food long ago, despite their overzealous use of honey, and the occasional insect.
"Thank you. She gets that from her mother, of course."
The woman smirked, "You don't think you're strong?"
Brekken shrugged, rubbing Viela's tiny head with his free hand, "Perhaps I am. I can fight, if that's what you mean." He paused, "That's something I've done too well, I'm afraid."
"Tell me." She said firmly.
He sighed and looked down at Viela again, touching her hand with a finger. She stirred slightly, then reached out and gripped it. Brekken watched this with a frown, then looked back up to the woman.
"...I'm lost," he said, "The things that mattered to me stopped mattering. I was the Archdruid of the Stormrocks once. I tried to do my best, to teach them of the Druidic ways, of the Animal Spirits my Tribe revered long ago. For a while, I felt like I did well. But...I lost sight. I left my position, and..." He paused.
"You left that Clan." She said, "I have heard this part."
"Yes. For the wrong reasons." Brekken continued, "And when I came back, I swore that I would do anything to regain their trust. And by that time...well, I had ceased to be a Druid. I was just a fighter who could shapeshift...I spilled unnescissary blood." He sighed again.
"And now?"
"The Ursine embody strength and wisdom. The ferocity to fight your enemies, but the intellect to know when to fight, as well as how to survive."
She nodded, "Yes...That is what they are called; Ursoc the Mighty and Ursol the Wise."
"The Bear Spirit is my patron spirit. It has been for years now. I have delved too far into strength, into power. Into killing my enemies when I find them. The Alliance...they did not invoke anger and hatred after I first finished my studies with Otheym. Now I see one and...sometimes I will attack them without reason or provocation. I have lost sight of wisdom...and for that, I must beg the Bear Spirit for forgiveness, and swear to it to change my ways."
The old woman nodded slowly for a few moments, "Have you tried to contact the Spirit?"
"Yes, I have. It took an entire day for him to come, and when I asked him for forgiveness, he simply said 'We will see' and then vanished. I think...he wants something. Or at least wants me to earn his forgiveness."
"That seems likely." The woman said, "Nothing was ever resolved through words alone. Actions are the key to forgiveness."
She stood then, and waddled over to the far corner of the log, rummaging through a pile of oddities, "There is a place, in the eastern mountains of Winterspring, that I think might interest you."
She turned, and held up a small piece of cloth. On it was drawn what looked like a dead tree. And on the trunk of this tree were claw marks. Massive ones, obviously created by a bear. But, if the drawing was accurate, a bear far greater than any that walked the earth.
Brekken took it from her and examined it closely. The woman sat heavily down beside him.
"That, I believe, is one of the hidden places where the Bear Twins left their mark. Finding one if a great blessing. If you were to locate it, out there in that frozen land, then perhaps your patron Spirit would come to you, and answer your questions this time."
Brekken nodded, staring longingly at the cloth, "...You are right. I will find this place." He stood, then frowned and looked down at Viela.
"No need to worry about her," the old woman said, standing, "I'll take good care of her." Brekken nodded again, unclipped Viela from the harness, and handed her to the Furbolg.
"...Thank you, my friend." He said, bowing before her. She paid him no mind, cradling the sleeping baby back and forth, "There is no need for thanks. Go on!"
Brekken headed out the door, casting one last look toward his daughter. He then took a deep breath, morphed into his eagle form, and soared off into the night, toward Felwood.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 4, 2010 9:31:01 GMT -5
Brekken landed in northern Felwood, feeling that slight nausia which always came upon him when he visited that land. He was not far from the Timbermaw Tunnel, so he decided to morph into his cheetah form to save time.
Brekken was more aquainted with the Furbolgs of Bear's Head and Ursolan than those who lived in the tunnels, so when he approached in his true form, the watchers did check him thoroughly before allowing him to enter the tunnel. They easily recognized him as an ally of the Timbermaw, and so let him pass. He thanked them, and set off toward the tunnel, pausing only for a moment to look up at the gate of the Hold; A massive bear head, one of the Twin Gods.
He made good time, using his cheetah form to pass through the tunnels quickly, despite the distasteful looks this caused in some of the Furbolgs also traversing the tunnels. As he reached the eastern entrance, it began to grow colder by the second, and before he knew it, a great expanse of white met his gaze; Winterspring.
"Going out there, hmm?" One of the Timbermaw watchers asked; a large white-furred Furbolg.
"Yes...I have business to attend to here."
"Well then, you be careful. I know the ways of this land. And I swear there's a beast of a blizzard forming out there. The skies are enough to tell me that."
Brekken looked up. The sky was grey with white flecks here and there. He had seen skies like this. In Northrend. And sure enough, a blizzard did come that day.
He looked back to the white Furbolg and nodded, "Very well. I will be careful." He smiled, and began down the road at a brisk pace.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 5, 2010 9:13:10 GMT -5
The blizzard came upon him with the speed and force of a charging kodo. In an instant, the trees and sky were blotted out, and Brekken was left in an endless expanse of white. He clutched his satchel, holding it secure, and wrapped his cloak around himself as best he could, continuing his walk, though at a much slower pace than before.
But the winds proved too strong. It was one thing to morph into his eagle form and battle the winds where both he and they were on even terms, quite another to be stuck on the ground. He held his hand before his face and pushed himself forward, only to trip and land facefirst in the thick snow.
It now occured to him that the road had been completely covered in the stuff, and it was at least a foot thick, if not more. He pushed himself up and looked around. There was nothing to be seen. Only white. He gritted his teeth and continued to push himself forward.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 6, 2010 0:37:49 GMT -5
How much time passed, Brekken could not say. The storm did not stop, however. He knew this road well, had traveled down it before many times. But never in this weather. He guessed that he must be -somewhere- near the Goblin settlement of Everlook, but in this endless sheet of white he could not be certain.
For survival's sake, he had morphed into his bear form. He had hoped to make the journey using his own two legs, but it could not be helped. In this form he moved more quickly, and the freezing wind had less effect on him. The going was still slow, however. And only the feeling of the hard stones of the road beneath his paws, and the hope he held in his heart, kept him going.
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And as quickly as the storm had come, it had gone, wandering off to devastate other parts of the icy lands. Brekken snorted and shook the buildup of snowflakes from his fur before morphing into his true form. A small bit of snow continued to fall, but it had no effects on his vision as he looked around intently.
How can anyone -live- in places like this? He thought to himself as he regained his bearings. He could handle the snow, but it was a discomfort he would never truly grow accustomed to.
He had stopped at the foot of a hill, over which he could not see. The road was still completely covered in snow, though he knew which way to go now.
"Just keep thinking of those warm Barrens," He told himself as he began to climb the hill. It was a difficult climb, to be sure. The snow combined with the steepness of the hill made for hard crossing. Still, it beat climbing through a blizzard, and Brekken was up to the the challenge, despite the cold.
He reached the top of the hill in a matter of minutes, and halted to survey the landscape. Despite his dislike of the cold, he would freely admit that the land which a blizzard has passed over is an impressive sight. A blanket of white stretching as far as the eye could see. The branches of trees completely covered in the stuff, or, as he saw now, trees being partially buried by it.
But more appealing than the snow covered landscape was what Brekken spotted in the far distance; smoke, barely discernible buildings. The Everlook!
"Oh, thank the Earthmother..." he breathed, looking to the sky with a smile. He reached down, and touched one of the small wood carved bears which he had tied to his belt.
"You have given me the strength to survive. I thank you, Ursoc." He bowed his head briefly, then began his slow descent. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done, and almost immediately, Brekken found himself slipping down the slope and falling face first into the snow. He grumbled angrily, brushed himself off again, and started off again, this time more aware of where he stepped.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 6, 2010 17:17:07 GMT -5
The inside of the Goblin tavern was a welcome relief to the bitter cold outside. It was the first building Brekken had made for after he had passed through the front gates, and had been the only building he had stayed in all throughout the day, finding much needed rest in one of the beds, uncomfortably small though it was. Now night was beginning to fall, the sky outside had taken a more dark bluish hue, though still remained obscured by clouds. The Goblin workers flocked to the tavern for food, drink and company before they headed off to their own homes. Brekken was more than happy to join them.
"Not the worst blizzard I've seen in these parts," One of the Goblins said through a mouthful of food, "M'not too surprised that you made it through on foot. Er...hoof."
Brekken shrugged, "We Shu'halo...we aren't used to snow, or the cold. Perhaps you're not surprised because you are used to it. I'm not." He took a bite of boar meat.
"I sheen 'em, up north," another one said, already lost in the obscurity of drink, "They calls 'em 'Toonkas'...er' somethin'. Look like you lot...but with more fur on 'em. Maybe if ye' grew more furs on ye', ye'd get used to it." A fit of hiccups followed the Goblin's speech.
Brekken, who had long ago learned to act as placid as it is possible to act when encountering drunks or people of similar mindsets to drunks, simply nodded, "I suppose that would make sense." He said, placidly.
"So what're you here for anyway, sweety?" Said the barmaid, carrying a tray of drinks to the table next to them, "This ain't exaxtly the place for sight-seeing, unless you like snow and...yettis."
Brekken paused a moment before answering, "...I am embarking on what my people call a 'vision quest'. I seek my patron spirit." He rummaged in his bag and pulled out the small piece of cloth which the woman from Ursolan had given him, setting it down on the tabletop, "I believe I will be able to find him here. Have any of you seen this place?"
The barmaid peered over the heads of the other Goblins who looked down at the cloth. The drunk snorted skeptically and muttered vague ramblings of how supersticious and idiotic people were these days. This earned him a few glares from the others around the table.
One of the others picked up the cloth and squinted at it"Hrmm...I oftentimes go hunting for owl eggs in the hills nearby. I never actually examine the trees I wind up climbing. Definitely never seen any claw marks on 'em." He shrugged and took a sip of his own drink.
"Hey, I can ask some of the boys what come in 'ere if they'd keep their eyes open for it," The barmaid said, "There're a lotta trees out there, but there're a lot of workers who go out there, so it should balance out." She shrugged.
"Thank you, but no." Brekken returned the cloth to his satchel and closed it, "I only asked so I might find a lead on where it is. I intend to make this journey alone."
The barmaid smiled, "You do that, sweety." She was called away by other patrons at that moment, and left after patting Brekken on the arm.
"So what about this spirit?" Asked the egg-hunter, "I never talked to no spirit before, though I hear you Taurens are, like, buddies with them or somethin'. Is it like one of those Elementals I've seen before?"
Brekken shook his head, "No, he is--" He got no further, for at that moment, the whole tavern began to shake. Mugs fell off tables and shattered, tables were overturned, and all was confusion.
"Shit! Not again!" Someone shouted, "What's with these damn rumblings?!"
Brekken gripped the table tightly. He had experienced a few of these supposed earthquakes, but this one was far more violent than before. Whatever was happening to cause this was obviously getting much worse.
"Damn!" The egg hunter stood up quickly and gathered his things, "Sorry, friend. I need to get back home, make sure the wife's okay. We can talk about this later!" He bolted out the door.
After a few more moments the rumbling stopped, and only a few mugs and chairs had been damaged. Everything, aside from a lot of confusion and cursing, was fine.
"Alright, boys!" The barmaid called over the din, "S'time for you to head home! We're closing up for the night!"
The patrons grumbled angrily but complied, gathering their things and heading out the door. The drunk who had sat at Brekken's table gave him a crooked grin, "Good luck findin' that phony spirit, cow. M'gonna be dyin' ta' hear yer' story once ye' find it. Geh heh heh!" He lurched out of the tavern, leaving Brekken scowling after him.
"Hey, don't listen to that old layabout." The barmaid said, picking up the toppled chairs, "He's not seen what others have. Never been out there in the world. Its just plain ignorance."
Brekken sighed and stood, helping her clear the debris, "...So...these earthquakes..."
"Been happening every few days. Really shake things up when they come. We've heard from our fellows down south, and at Booty Bay, that they've been getting hit, too."
"Yes, I have felt them in the Barrens as well. I am not sure why, but they haven't caused much damage, to my knowledge."
"Well, I've heard they've got a problem with cultists in Orgrimmar. Cultists and Elementals."
Brekken frowned, "I have not been back to Durotar for a while. What do you mean by 'problems'?"
The barmaid shrugged as she began to wipe off one of the tables, "Only rumors. About how these Elementals keep assaulting the city, and a bunch of loony cultists are proclaiming it the end of the world or some other nonsense. Hey, listen," she added, seeing Brekken's concerned face, "Nothing's happened that hasn't happened a thousand times in the past. My old man, he tells me stories of his days out in the field, on Outland and in the northlands. The stuff he's seen out there...well, what's worse than that? A bunch of half-mad freaks and some earthquakes? Personally, I'd rather have that than a bunch of zombies and demons killin' everybody."
Brekken paused before answering, "I suppose that makes sense."
"'Course it does!" She exclaimed, "Ahhh, but don't let me keep worryin' you. You need your rest before you can go lookin' for that tree. So get to bed, and you can pay my in the morning." She winked at him slyly.
Brekken did not protest, yet it took him a while to get to sleep. The words of the barmaid stuck in his mind, and he could not dismiss them. He would have to visit Orgrimmar soon, just to see exactly what was going on.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 6, 2010 22:11:36 GMT -5
The sun shone brightly the following morning. The skies, which had been dark shades of gray and white the previous day, were now a pure bright blue. This change in the weather was very well-received by the Goblin inhabitants of Everlook, and they set about their daily tasks with great enthusiasm, as if the worries caused by the previous night's earthquake had never been upon them.
Brekken dressed in thick leathers and tied his ursine idols to his belt before going up to the bar to pay for his nights stay and meal.
"I'll have some folks head out after you if the weather turns sour," the barmaid said as she pocketed the silver coins Brekken had given her, "Can't be too careful in parts like this."
Brekken bowed his head slightly, "Thank you, miss. For all of your hospitality. I will not forget it.
She giggled, "No trouble, sweety. Anyway, you did pay me." She patted her pocket with a grin. _______________________
Now...where to go from here?
His friend from Ursolan had told him that the tree lied somewhere in the eastern mountains, though that was still very vague.
Good, he thought, the more challenging, the better.
He tore a long branch from a tree to use as a makeshift walking stick, and began his hike over the hills. It was slow going, as there was no road and the snow was deep off the beaten path. He could hardly complain, though. He was up to the challenge, and a bit of vigorous exercise was always welcome. If not for the cold, he would actually have been enjoying himself.
As he went, he checked every tree, eying the trunk intently before passing on. As expected, none of them bore the mark of the Bear Twins. Fate would not be that easy on him.
He walked on all day, only stopping for a rest twice along the way, when his legs would go no farther without one. As the sun began to sink behind the western horizon was when he reached the feet of the eastern mountain range. He decided to stop here for the night.
Food was scarce in these parts, so Brekken chose to dine on some of the rations he had brought with him. This decision was not made lightly, as he had hoped to find most of his food through hunting or foraging. He had only brought enough provisions for a few days, and they would make meager meals as it was.
He decided to morph into his bear form and climb one of the sturdier trees. This was hardly a comfortable position for him to be in, but he would put up with it for now. Better than being torn apart by a wandering yeti in his sleep, after all.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 7, 2010 12:39:00 GMT -5
Brekken awoke to a light snowfall. He snorted and rolled off of the tree branch, morphing into his lion form for a more graceful landing. After changing back into his true form, he surveyed his surroundings. They were as they had been the previous day, though the snowfall worried him somewhat. It was deep enough as it was without more piling up. He frowned slightly and brushed himself off before continuing along the foothills.
He did encounter some luck, however, in the form of a small white hare he spotted. Swiftly he morphed into his eagle form and went after it, diving down and clutching it in his talons. He ate it immediately, savoring the flesh as he tore it off with his beak. Earthmother knew when he would be able to catch another.
And so the days passed in a simila fashion. Brekken would hike all day, stopping to examine the trunk of any tree he came across, always walking away in dissapointment. He slept as best he could, climbing trees or clearing away the snow until he found the ground. He obviously never needed water, being surrounded by so much snow, but food was near impossible to find. He had only managed to catch one other hare, and was forced to use his remaining rations sparingly. Six days passed like this, with Brekken becoming more and more exausted, and more and more frustrated.
I could fly out of here any time I wished, he thought, building a makeshift fire for another cold night, But that is not what he wants of me.
That night, the routine was broken. Brekken awoke suddenly to the sound of heavy footsteps and deep breathing. He did not sit up immediately; stories of viscious yetis atacking travelers had haunted him throughout his journey, and he would do everything in his power to avoid such a confrontation. He slowly lifted his head to see the source of the noise. A hulking creature was outlined in the darkness, hunched over the bones of Brekken's earlier meal some seven feet away. It looked enough like a yeti, and Brekken slowly began to rise, hoping to sneak off without the creature's knowledge.
Suddenly, a clawed hand gripped one of his horns and wrenched him violently to the ground. Brekken rolled along the ground until he was a safe distance from what had attacked him. He saw the beast clearly now; a huge white owlbeast, at least four feet taller than Brekken himself.
Brekken stood and immediately morphed into his bear form, growling at the offending owlbeast. He made sure he could keep his eye on the other one, as well, for it was now focusing on him as well. The one who had attacked him growled and hooted, pounding its chest with its hands. It definitely did not want a peaceful exchange.
And suddenly, they charged, tearing into him with their huge claws. Brekken's thick hide did much to protect him, but the fatigue from his travels had taken their toll on him. All he could do was slash randomly at his attackers, and pray for help.
Ursoc...give me...strength!
But no rush of divine strength came to him. He fell, beaten and bloody, beneath the owlbeasts. With nothing left to do, he turned and morphed into his true form, ready to face them as a true Shu'halo.
Yet the beasts had pulled away, hooting and growling out of his line of vision. And in his line of vision, slender humanoid shapes moved toward him in the darkness. He tried to speak, but could not. Tried to get up, but culd not. He had lost too much blood in the fray, was too tired to do anything else. And as the figures approached him, he lost all consciousness.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 8, 2010 10:13:01 GMT -5
They were Night Elves, obviously. The length of their ears and their own height were a dead givaway, even in the ill-light cave. Brekken had opened his eyes several minutes ago and had been tense and on edge since that moment, even emitting a few low warning growls. The Elves paid him no mind, as they had made sure to bind his hands and legs very firmly. They seemed to have mended his wounds in his sleep, however, so he did feel quite a bit better.
Good enough to fight through a cave of Night Elves, he thought bitterly.
One of the Elves, a female wearing a suit of mail armor, approached him with a ladel. She uttered something in what Brekken assumed was Darnassian and held it toward his mouth. It had been filled with something that looked and smelled a lot like stew. Despite this, and despite the hunger he now realised inside of him, he refused it, turning his head away from the liquid.
The Elf held it to his mouth again, and Brekken refused again. She looked rather dismayed and walked away. Brekken snorted, satisfied with this minor show of resistance. However, from the main group of Elves now strode a male, clad in a white robe and cloak. Brekken knew that these people were ancient, yet looking into the eyes of this Elf was like seeing all the hardship and turmoil that this one had seen. Like diamond cutters, they were.
"I am told you will not take the food we give you," he said, much to Brekken's surprise, in perfect Orcish, "Why is this? We offer hospitality to a wounded traveler and it is denied?"
Brekken snorted again, "Hospitality. You've bound my hands."
"A nescissary precaution until we could discover your identity. Seeing as you have refused our food and seem less than friendly yourself, I suppose we were correct in our actions. You are not one of the Cenarions?"
Brekken paused before answering, "I was, once. But you're right. I am Horde." He said this hesitantly. There was something very offputting about this Elf.
"We can see that you are a Druid," he said, gesturing back toward the other Elves who were, Brekken was horrified to see, rummaging through his satchel.
"Give me my things back!" he snarled. The Elf simply laughed.
"Do not worry. You may be Horde, but we have no intention of stealing from you or bringing any harm upon you. That is not what we are here for." He paused, "Though I am interested...why are you here?"
Brekken turned his head away, "Why would I tell you, Elf?"
The Elf sighed, "Because we saved your life? Because we will not let you leave if you do not tell us? Because we may kill you? Take your pick."
Brekken frowned, and after a few moments replied "...There is a cloth in my satchel, with a tree on it. Bring it here." The Elf complied, walking over to the group and bringing back the cloth in question.
"I seek that place," Brekken said simply, "I am on what my people call a vision quest. I have been told that one of the Bear Twins of old created the markings on that tree, and that it would be the best place to contact my patron spirit."
"A bear spirit." The Elf said, examining the cloth, "We saw the wood carvings and the totem you carried. We thought it was something like that."
Brekken nodded, "You see? I'm not here to fight you or the Alliance. So let me go, I don't need your help."
The Elf considered this, "...Very well. But answer me this. If you had come across one of ours, under attack by the Moonkin, would you have saved them?"
The Night Elf did not expect such a long pause. He did not know what would go through the Shu'halo's mind after he asked this question. What did go through it was the memory of many shadowed, humanoid forms plumetting into the void.
My greatest regret..., Brekken thought as the images played across his mind. He leaned back against the cave wall and closed his eyes, thinking over the question.
Would I have? Have I strayed so far that I would not save another spirit from that grizzly fate? They have saved me, have healed me, have offered me their own food...Would I just stand by and watch them die?
Finally, he opened his eyes, looked up at the waiting Elf, "...No. I wouldn't have. And I hate myself for it."
The Elf sighed, "Very well..." He signaled to a Sentinel standing by, who then came forward and cut Brekken's bonds.
Brekken stood, rubbing his sore wrists and looking at the Elves. Finally, he bowed, "I have learned much from this encounter. I thank you...for saving my life."
The Elf smiled, "Go now." He said, and turned back to the group. The Sentinel gave him back his belongings and led him to the cave entrance. She gave him rations of dried fruit before turning back into the cavern and dissapearing.
Is this why I have come here? he thought as he trudged his way through the snow once again, Was this a lesson from the Earthmother?
One thing was certain to him, however; This journey was, indeed, changing him for the better. For as he walked, the kindness offered to him by the Night Elves, one of the Horde's greatest enemies, continued to press itself upon his mind.
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Post by Brekken on Nov 8, 2010 19:43:03 GMT -5
And as night began to fall, he came to the spot he had searched for.
All throughout the day he had picked up where he had left off before the Owlbeasts attacked; thoroughly checking every tree, keeping his eyes open for rabbits or anything else he could eat. The dried fruit the Elves had given him did much to satisfy his hunger and increase his strength, but did nothing to uplift his mood. He was beginning to think that the place did not even exist, that it was just a Furbolg myth.
That was when he stumbled upon it. It was in a small, circular valley jutting into the hills. And in the center was the tree; quite large compared to the others surrounding it, wih those four long marks carved into its trunk. The claws of the Ursine.
Brekken simply gazed at it for several minutes, a feeling of awe overwhelming him. It did not stop him from approaching it, for he did so. He ran his hand across the claw marks; that ancient symbol, carved there when the world was young. This tree was older then any Night Elf, and standing in the pressence of something so ancient gave Brekken a chilling sense of just how young and inexperienced he really was.
He finally managed to gather his senses and sit at the foot of the tree, below those huge markings. He emptied his satchel of the sapta, the bear totem, and the wood carvings. And in silence, he bowed his head, muttering hushed prayers in Taurahe.
At last, when his prayers were complete, he uncorked the bottle of sapta and drained it. Afterward he leaned back against the tree and looked up at the sky.
Spirit...I have come all this way for you. Please answer my prayers.
He felt great calm overwhelm him, and was content to watch the fading light of day for as long as it took...
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Post by Brekken on Nov 9, 2010 21:57:00 GMT -5
The skies boiled, the earth fractured, lightning spewed from the abyss above the tree Brekken sat beneath, which, he noticed, had withered and died in only seconds. It was all overwhelmingly horrifying.
And all around, shadows of the past resurfaced. Faces, completely distorted, looked stared at him, unblinking, void of all color and, in most cases, emotion. Some of them he knew to be living; simply memories of those close to him. Here was Recola, there Sunee, and Erier, and little T'kela. But most of them he knew to be deceased; there a vision of his father, there a glimpse of his brother and his wife, of Ridere, of Henkel, of the thrice-cursed Edric Fendring. A small gathering of Night Elf Sentinels, about twelve in number, stared gravely at him. Brekken knew them, and the thought made him sick. A young Shu'halo bull stood at the rear, smiling warmly. Brekken tried to stand, to turn around. And yet he could not. He could do nothing but look out at those faces; Faces he loved, and had loved. Faces he had befriended. Faces he had wronged...
And walking through the crowd, exactly as Brekken remembered him in life, was his Druidic teacher, Otheym. He looked every bit as old as he had in life, with white mane and a long beard, hunched back, and bony fingers wrapped around a gnarled staff. Only a faded shadow of what he no doubt was in his youth.
"Well," he rumbled. For, indeed, the land, while still being torn asunder by some unknown power, rumbled with each word the ancient Shu'halo uttered. Brekken had always thought that his voice held great weight in life. It was only fitting that it shake entire worlds in death.
"Well...I had hoped you would come, my student..."
Brekken tried to bow before his master, as he deserved, but found he still could not move. He tried opening his mouth to speak but could not. He simply sat there, immobolized.
"What's the matter, pup? No words after all this time? Hmmm?"
There are words! Brekken thought furiously, hoping that his thoughts could be heard by the ancient one. So many words. So many things I would ask!
Otheym remained silent for a few moments, studying his old student. Finally, he snorted and sat down with surprising grace, for his age, "It's just as well. You never listened. Oh, do not get me wrong, pup. I couldn't have been prouder of you, when you finally passed beyond my skill to teach. 'A true Druid, this one', I thought then, 'He will bring honor to Thunder Bluff, to the Shu'halo people'." He spat, "I was a fool to think that!"
Once again, Brekken could have wept at the words, ...No...Please, don't say that, teacher.
Somewhere behind Otheym, a great shape moved silently through the crowd.
"Perhaps you did it to appease your own honor, and the honor of your Clan. I will not lie, it was good of you to overcome that stubborn pride of yours. However..." He narrowed his eyes and gestured back at the Night Elves behind him, "Was it worth their lives, pup?"
The shape in the crowd came nearer, yet remained hidden from view.
"None but a Grimtotem would do what you did! Maybe you are a Grimtotem, for all I know." He spat again, a bit of drool running down his chin, "That was cold-blooded murder, and you know it! I know you know it! You have already told someone that, and you have been feeling it ever since those Elves rescued you!" All around, the land began to blur, the faces of the memory spirits smearing and tearing. The shape was nearly at the front of the line now. It would only be a few moments more...
"You are a disgrace, Brekken! The dirt beneath my hooves! You are no student of mine, and this," he pointed back at the looming shape, which was now revealed to be a massive black bear, "is long in coming!"
The bear looked like it had been torn apart and resewn, such was the extent of the gashes all along its body. Its bleeding eyes gazed at Brekken with sheer loathing, and its mouth, filled with cracked and jagged teeth, was curled in a snarl.
And before Brekken knew it, the creature was upon him, ripping him apart with his huge claws. He could do nothing, could not defend himself or even cry out. Yet the pain was real, and there was no stopping it. He simply laid back, and was slowly but surely devoured by the macabre beast and plunged into a word of darkness. ___________________________________
"Why did I have to die?"
Brekken awoke to these words. The pain created by the claws and teeth of the bear were but a phantom now, yet the memory still haunted him, terrified him. Slowly he pushed himself up, and was surprised to find that he could actually do this. Control of his body had been returned to him, and he flexed his fingers, getting a feel for them once more. Finally, he looked up, and was even more horrified by what he saw.
The world was black. The horizon was black, the sky above his head black, the ground black. It was truly a vacuum, in every sense of the word. There was nothing...nothing, but the twelve figures surrounding Brekken.
They formed a perfect circle around him, the Night Elf Sentinels, all looking in at him with those strange, glowing eyes traditionally associated with that race. They had been faded when he had first seen them, distorted. Yet here they were as clear as day...as clear as they had been on that day in the Barrens, when they died.
"Why did I have to die?" One of them repeated, though Brekken could not place which one. In this dark place, her voice echoed far into the distance, despite the lack of walls. And then, another voice sounded, and another. Each of the Elves, in turn, asked the same question.
"Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?" "Why did I have to die?"
Brekken clutched his head, seeming to experience far greater suffering than the bear had inflicted on him.
"No...We...We are at war!"
"War..." They all said in unison And suddenly, forming in the blackness, were images. Images of Night Elves, of Ashenvale, of Darnassus. And suddenly images of great battles, Night Elves fighting Orcs, of felled trees and burning villages.
"We know of war." They said, "But this..." And suddenly the images changed. Images of a large, black hammer falling down upon the heads of twelves Night Elven Sentinels. And, even more horifying, those same Sentinels being cast down from a great height, to a dusty canyon floor far below. And standing atop that cliff, that same hammer slung over his shoulder, was Brekken.
"This...is not war."
He could no longer stand it. The images flashing before his eyes were worse than the blackess could ever be. He ran...ran out through the circle of Elves, and out into what remained of the blackness. He cared not if he would become lost out there, or go insane in the dark. He could taken no more of this.
"Forgive me!" He shouted as he ran, "Please...please forgive me!" And he continued, unable to stop himself. How long he ran, he could not tell. The darkness made it impossible to tell.
And out of the blackness came a soft laugh. A haunting laugh, practically embodying all of the evil in the world.
"It's nice, ya know." Said a voice, "Ta' see new killers form. It warms me bones, it does. Geh heh heh heh!"
And in a flash, great teeth gnashed in frot of Brekken, halting his run. He looked up, and with horror saw the armored head of the Forsaken, Edric Fendring.
"It's good ta' welcome ye' ta' our ranks, Brekken, me lad!"
Brekken backed up, horrified at the sight of his old enemy. So transfixed was he that he did not realize the Elves were there until he bumped into one of them. Whirling around, he gasped in horror. The Elves were rotted, bloody. Huge chunks seemed to have been torn from them. They reeked of decay, and hyenas.
"We were proud defenders of the forest. Why...why did we have to die? Why did we die..in such a dishonorable way?" And before his eyes, invisible winds blew away their flesh, leaving them as naught but bones. And those, too, were swept away.
Brekken screamed his anguish, falling to his knees and grasping his torso. He wretched loudly, tears and perspiration stinging his eyes.
"What's the matter, hmmm? It's what ye' wanted, ain't it?" Fendring lulled, "It's what ye' wanted, ta' regain that honor ye' lost. Geh heh heh! Good feckin' job of it, too, ye' worm!" Fendring's teeth came down on Brekken, leaving him in a world even darker than the one he had left, if that were possible.
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And suddenly, all was bright. It took Brekken a moment to adjust his eyes to it, but when he did, he found that he was in a large, grassy meadow that seemed to stretch onward into infinity. The sky was a light blue, with a few clouds to bring relief from the sun. Brekken sat up, feeling an immense calm come over him.
"Hello." said a voice.
Brekken whirled, expecting yet another horrible phantom. Instead, there stood the young Shu'halo from the meeting with Otheym. He still looked to be in his teens, had sandy brown fur, short black horns, and a kindly face. There was something vaguely familiar about him.
"...Hello." Brekken responded, uneasily.
"I'm sorry...for all this. It's hard to watch you endure so much. But...I suppose it was for the best." He sat down beside Brekken, looking down at his hoves, "...Because I know how you must feel now." something about the boy, combined with all that he had gone through this day, was enough to bring tears to Brekken's eyes. He covered his face with his hands and clenched his teeth, "...Yes. It was enough. Before, all my regrets were empty. All my promises meaningless. I know now...I had to experience that. To see Otheym's dissapointment, to know of the Elve's pains, to learn that...in a way...I...I'm not so different from Fendring." He wiped the tears away, curling his legs toward his chest.
The boy smiled at him, misty blue eyes filled with compassion. He looked down suddenly, and poked at the ground beneath them, "...Otheym called you dirt." Brekken cringed at the memory.
The boy poked his arm, and slowly, Brekken looked up. He was holding a wad of dirt in his hand.
"Otheym underetimates dirt, soil." And before Brekken's eyes, a flower began to sprout from the wad of dirt. A rose, the most brilliant Brekken had ever seen.
"Dirt brings life, brings growth. Understand that, father. You must regrow."
And suddenly, recognition flooded over Brekken. It was like looking into a clear pond and seeing oneself, but many years into the past. Other than his eyes and the color of the fur on his face, the boy was nearly identical to Brekken, as he had been in his youth. And in Brekken's mind came forth the image of a tiny, unmarked grave under a large tree, and an endless plain.
Another tear rolled down his cheek then, as he gazed at the young bull, "...My son." He reached out and embraced the boy, sobbing into his shoulder, "I...I'll remember. Thank you."
The boy smiled, and then vanished.
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And, after what seemed like an eternity, it was over. Brekken opened his eyes and gazed out at the snowy landcape, which was partially obscured in darkness. There was a light snowfall, and Brekken involuntarily shivered. Of all the visions he had yet recieved, this was the most vivid. What had played through his mind over the days of travel had brought it about, and yet he was shaken to the core, and, he hoped, changed by it.
After a few minutes of thought, he stood shakily. And just before he took the first step, he paused, and looked down. A huge bear paw was imprinted in the snow, at his feet. Brekken gaped at it, and then looked up, There, standing in the midst of the trees, was a great black bear, completely healed of the wounds which had covered his body in his vision. The bear gazed at him levely, and for a moment, Brekken wondered if he would strike again. But instead, the beast bowed his head slightly. And out of nowehere, a voice appeared in Brekken's head.
I am pleased with you, Brekken. But know that you have not completely earned my blessing yet. Prove yourself with actions now, live your life as a true Druid and a true Shu'halo. Remember...strength and wisdom. Honor them both...But know now, Brekken; I welcome you, and bless you.
And with that, the bear walked off into the snow, and dissapeared.
Brekken smiled to himself, bowing his head in turn, "Thank you, great spirit." And, with one final look cast after the bear, he morphed into his eagle form, and vanished into the night sky.
Fin.
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