Post by Brekken on Nov 10, 2010 21:56:52 GMT -5
After returning from his vision quest, Brekken traveled to Taurajo for a few weeks of rest with his daughter. For some reason, he had no desire to return to his friends and loved ones. Not that he had not attempted it. While flying down from northern Kalimdor, he had returned to the Stormrock Clan's fortress only to find it abandoned, save for a few more corageous beasts who wandered nearby. All had been packed up and moved out, and Brekken had no idea why this might be. He decided to simply not think about it, and this, surprisingly, made him feel much better.
He flew to Ursolan, stayed for one night with the Furbolgs, and then left on foot with his daughter. From Azshara he traveled to Orgrimmar, seeing firsthand the horrors that had befallen the Orc city. He spent two days there, doing all he could to assist the Orcs. However, hearing that Garrosh Hellscream had arrived and, even more disturbingly, been appointed temporary Warchief, he departed swiftly. With his soul and mind still raw from the horrifying visions, the last person he needed to be in contact with was the brash, violent son of Grommash. Not to say that Brekken did not trust in his abilities; If there was anyone who could deal with Orgrimmar's invaders, it was Garrosh Hellscream.
And so, weary of heart, mind and soul, Brekken took a wolf from Orgrimmar's stables, and both he and his daughter rode swiftly to Taurajo.
___________________
"They say that the world is coming to an end, those cultists." The old Shu'halo said to Brekken, who was sitting outside Taurajo's inn, enjoying a bowl of soup.
"I have heard," he replied, staring up at the other curiously. The Tauren's comment had not been expected, let alone invited. He simply put it out there; a grizzly ice-breaker, as it were.
"But...why would they say that?" He presisted, "The world has been here for...well, forever! Why would it be destroyed now, of all times? What's wrong with it?"
"I couldn't say." Brekken said, taking a moment to sip the broth of his stew.
"People say they are insane, those cultists. I half thought it, too, when I went to Orgrimmar. But...the earthquakes, and the Elementals. This is no coincidence! We...we'll all die!"
Brekken realised he had been communing with a panic-stricken mind. He reasoned that the best way to deal with it was to speak casually of it. For that was exactly how he thought of the strange anomolies now.
"So we die. Do you fear death? True, I would rather pass on many years from now, in my bed, or on the battlefield, winning glory for the Shu'halo, but if our world dies...Well, there's no point in complaining. No one will hear my complaints, as I will be gone."
The old man shook his head, "I'll not die yet...I...I'll go to Outland. I'll live there. And...and you'd be wise to come with me!"
Brekken shook his head, "If this world dies, I die with it."
Spoken like a true Druid, he thought to himself, and actually smiled, proud of this renewed show of faith.
"Fine...I...I'll get packed right away. No staying here..." He walked away, leaving Brekken rather bewildered and confused. He reasoned that a lot of people must be panicking, and fleeing for Outland, if they could. For a moment he wondered if that was where the Stormrocks had fled, but instantly dismissed the thought. He had gotten quite used to being without them, and rather liked being on his own for now.
He finished his soup, and finally headed back into the inn and up the ramp. There Viela slept, in a small basket next to Brekken's bed, completely oblivious to the chaotic world around her. Brekken stroked her cheek gingerly and smiled.
"Sleep well, little one. I have things to see to." Brekken cast one last look at her before heading downstairs once more. He paid the innkeeper a few more silver coins for keeping an eye on the girl, gathered his things, and headed outside where he acquired a kodo from the village's stabes.
He led the beast slowly out of the village, toward the main road, and out onto the barren plains. There was no hurry, and Brekken had purposely decided to take things slower from now on, despite the belief that the world was ending and time was of the essence. To take things quickly was to inspire panic, and panic was the last thing Brekken wanted to do.
And so, humming a soft tune and guiding the kodo with gentle care, he started across the Barrens.
___________________
He stood on the edge of the cliff, away from the Great Lift and its constant up-and-down motions, looking down on the white sands of the Thousand Needles; the land of his birth.
The land of my birth...and I stained it with unnescissary blood.
Brekken forced down this line of thinking, knowing that self-loathing was the last thing he needed after that horrible vision.
I must overcome, he thought. The Elves...I did not see them in my vision just so the memory and the knowledge of what I have done could torture me forever. I saw them because it was meant to teach me. I have done wrong, and I must regret. I must beg for forgiveness. But I must overcome. I must be strong.
He sighed, and managed a small smile. He knelt down and began rummaging through his satchel until he found what he needed; a small sack, containing twelve seeds. Slowly, and with great care, Brekken dug twelve small holes into the dirt, planted a seed in each, and covered them again. He reached back into his satchel and retirieved a water sack, emptying some of the contents over the newly planted seeds.
He stood then, looking down upon his work. Twelve small, wet mounds set before the cliff.
"...Desert flowers," he said aloud, "They will last a long time here."
He looked once more over the expanse of the canyon, "...I'm sorry, all of you." He said softly, "...And...I thank you...for what you were able to teach me."
He bowed his head low, for several seconds. Finally, he walked back to his kodo, and rode back out into the Barrens.
He flew to Ursolan, stayed for one night with the Furbolgs, and then left on foot with his daughter. From Azshara he traveled to Orgrimmar, seeing firsthand the horrors that had befallen the Orc city. He spent two days there, doing all he could to assist the Orcs. However, hearing that Garrosh Hellscream had arrived and, even more disturbingly, been appointed temporary Warchief, he departed swiftly. With his soul and mind still raw from the horrifying visions, the last person he needed to be in contact with was the brash, violent son of Grommash. Not to say that Brekken did not trust in his abilities; If there was anyone who could deal with Orgrimmar's invaders, it was Garrosh Hellscream.
And so, weary of heart, mind and soul, Brekken took a wolf from Orgrimmar's stables, and both he and his daughter rode swiftly to Taurajo.
___________________
"They say that the world is coming to an end, those cultists." The old Shu'halo said to Brekken, who was sitting outside Taurajo's inn, enjoying a bowl of soup.
"I have heard," he replied, staring up at the other curiously. The Tauren's comment had not been expected, let alone invited. He simply put it out there; a grizzly ice-breaker, as it were.
"But...why would they say that?" He presisted, "The world has been here for...well, forever! Why would it be destroyed now, of all times? What's wrong with it?"
"I couldn't say." Brekken said, taking a moment to sip the broth of his stew.
"People say they are insane, those cultists. I half thought it, too, when I went to Orgrimmar. But...the earthquakes, and the Elementals. This is no coincidence! We...we'll all die!"
Brekken realised he had been communing with a panic-stricken mind. He reasoned that the best way to deal with it was to speak casually of it. For that was exactly how he thought of the strange anomolies now.
"So we die. Do you fear death? True, I would rather pass on many years from now, in my bed, or on the battlefield, winning glory for the Shu'halo, but if our world dies...Well, there's no point in complaining. No one will hear my complaints, as I will be gone."
The old man shook his head, "I'll not die yet...I...I'll go to Outland. I'll live there. And...and you'd be wise to come with me!"
Brekken shook his head, "If this world dies, I die with it."
Spoken like a true Druid, he thought to himself, and actually smiled, proud of this renewed show of faith.
"Fine...I...I'll get packed right away. No staying here..." He walked away, leaving Brekken rather bewildered and confused. He reasoned that a lot of people must be panicking, and fleeing for Outland, if they could. For a moment he wondered if that was where the Stormrocks had fled, but instantly dismissed the thought. He had gotten quite used to being without them, and rather liked being on his own for now.
He finished his soup, and finally headed back into the inn and up the ramp. There Viela slept, in a small basket next to Brekken's bed, completely oblivious to the chaotic world around her. Brekken stroked her cheek gingerly and smiled.
"Sleep well, little one. I have things to see to." Brekken cast one last look at her before heading downstairs once more. He paid the innkeeper a few more silver coins for keeping an eye on the girl, gathered his things, and headed outside where he acquired a kodo from the village's stabes.
He led the beast slowly out of the village, toward the main road, and out onto the barren plains. There was no hurry, and Brekken had purposely decided to take things slower from now on, despite the belief that the world was ending and time was of the essence. To take things quickly was to inspire panic, and panic was the last thing Brekken wanted to do.
And so, humming a soft tune and guiding the kodo with gentle care, he started across the Barrens.
___________________
He stood on the edge of the cliff, away from the Great Lift and its constant up-and-down motions, looking down on the white sands of the Thousand Needles; the land of his birth.
The land of my birth...and I stained it with unnescissary blood.
Brekken forced down this line of thinking, knowing that self-loathing was the last thing he needed after that horrible vision.
I must overcome, he thought. The Elves...I did not see them in my vision just so the memory and the knowledge of what I have done could torture me forever. I saw them because it was meant to teach me. I have done wrong, and I must regret. I must beg for forgiveness. But I must overcome. I must be strong.
He sighed, and managed a small smile. He knelt down and began rummaging through his satchel until he found what he needed; a small sack, containing twelve seeds. Slowly, and with great care, Brekken dug twelve small holes into the dirt, planted a seed in each, and covered them again. He reached back into his satchel and retirieved a water sack, emptying some of the contents over the newly planted seeds.
He stood then, looking down upon his work. Twelve small, wet mounds set before the cliff.
"...Desert flowers," he said aloud, "They will last a long time here."
He looked once more over the expanse of the canyon, "...I'm sorry, all of you." He said softly, "...And...I thank you...for what you were able to teach me."
He bowed his head low, for several seconds. Finally, he walked back to his kodo, and rode back out into the Barrens.