A young Orc with a shaven head sits in the middle of Thunder Bluff fishing. Over and over again, he casts his line into the small pond and retrieves each fish when he catches them.
During the cool of the evening, before the sun had finally set over the Stonetalon Mountains, a young Tauren approaches the young Orc.
“Are you Halkale?” the Tauren says in Orcish.
The young Orc continues to stare at his bobber, and reels in the fish when the bobber is pulled below the surface. As soon as the Orc has placed the fish in his fishing basket, he stands and faces the Tauren.
“Yes, my name is Halkale.” the young Orc responds in a very crude spoken Taurahe.
The young Tauren smiles at the Orc’s attempt to speak Taurahe.
“Orcish is fine, Halkale, but I am not here to interrupt your fishing, I have a message from Chieftain Cairne.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“The Chieftain would like to speak with you, he..uh..made it seem like it might be a good idea to go now.” the Tauren nervously says.
“Of course.” Halkale replies and stores his fishing pole carefully. “Were you expected to take me there?”
“Yes.”
“Lead on, then my friend.”
The Tauren leads Halkale up to the Middle Rise and approaches Cairne Bloodhoof.
“Chieftain, I have brought Halkale.” the Tauren says as he salutes Cairne.
The Chieftain nods to the young Tauren, “Very well, thank you, young one.” Cairne says, his deep rumbling voice carries not only authority but also betrays an affection for the young Tauren. As the young Tauren leaves, Cairne turns his gaze to the young Orc.
“You wished to see me Chieftain? Have I done something wrong?”
“No, no young one. You have done nothing…wrong.”
Cairne looks at Halkale for a long period of time. So long that Halkale begins to fidget nervously.
Finally, Cairne speaks, “It is not often we get young Orcs living here in Thunder Bluff. Especially young Orcs who the Warchief expresses an interest in.”
“The Warchief?” mused Halkale. “Well I am sure he’s got better things to do than worry about me.”
“Yes, young one, he does, which is why he asked me to look after you for a time.” Cairne stops and stares at the young Orc for a moment or two. “The Earthmother has plans for you.” Cairnechuffs when he sees Halkale’s look of disbelief. What you don’t think the Earthmother worries about even the Orcs?”
“No…I mean yes.” Halkale sputters.
“What I am about to do is not something done much, nor even seldom. I am about about to send you on a journey. A journey every Tauren goes on, even though you are obviously not a Tauren.” Cairne chuckles at his own joke.
“Wha..what do you mean?”
“Halkale do you know where Camp Narache is? Halkale nods. “Good, I’d like you to go visit Chief Hawkwind there. He’ll set you on your path.”
Halkale looks confused as he salutes Cairne with respect.
“As you wish Chieftain.” Halkale turns to go.
“Remember this journey is not bestowed on just anyone, young one. Respect the spirits.” Cairne says with authority.
So, the young Orc known as Halkale makes the long journey to Camp Narache and finds Chief Hawkwind. Chief Hawkwind asks Halkale to find his mother. Upon doing so, she asks him to take some water back to the camp. Impressed by Halkale’s willingness to do simple tasks for the Tauren, he starts him on the Rites of the Earthmother, again Halkale is told that this is a great honor that an Orc would be invited to do this. Halkale find SeerGraytongue. Seer Graytounge tells Halkale about the Rites of the Earthmother and gives him a job to do to complete the Rite of Strength. After killing as manyBristlebacks as he can, he goes back to Camp Narache to speak with Chief Hawkwind. Chief Hawkwind sends him to Bloodhoof Village, to speak with Baine Bloodhoof, son of Cairne. There Chief Baine Bloodhoof asks Halkale to speak with the spiritual leader of Bloodhoof village, Zarlman Two-Moons. Zarlman asks Halkale to find a few items for a potion and then Zarlman brews them up and gives the potion to Halkale.
Halkale drinks the potion and a wolf appears in his vision. The wolf howls and takes off to the northeast, leading Halkale to a cave not far from Thunder Bluff. This allows Halkale to complete the Rite of Vision. In the cave SeerWiserunner gives Halkale his last Rite, the Rite of Wisdom. He is to travel to Redrocks and speak with an Ancestral Spirit. More Bristlebacks have to be killed because they have infiltrated the burial grounds.
The Ancestral Spirit tells Halkale, “You will now be revered within our great city. Any Orc worthy of completing the Rites of the Earthmother earns that honor. For your final quest, seek out our noble leader, Cairne Bloodhoof, who dwells atop the highest mesa in Thunder Bluff.”
Halkale returns to Cairne who is very impressed that he completed the Rites and did so without complaint.
“Chieftain, I have learned much from the spirits, but I am not sure if I understand why you sent me on this path?”
“Young one, you were not meant to spend your days fishing. That was not what your father wanted for you, no?”
Halkale sighs, “No, Chieftain. My father was a worker of leather. I have some skill in that regard.” Halkale pauses. “You sent me on that journey so that I would return to the shop?”
Cairne chuckles before placing his hand on Halkale’s shoulder. “No, Halkale, that would not have been necessary, I am sure Thrall could have told you to do that.”
Cairne begins to speak to the Ancestral Spirits as Halkale looks up into Cairne’s eyes he begins to see what has troubled him so. Halkale gasps. “NO!” Halkale exclaims. “NO! You don’t understand. I can’t.” A shudder runs throughHalkale’s body.
“Tell me young one, what did you see?” Cairne says tenderly. “Please sit”
Halkale sits as he begins to tell Cairne what he saw and what is bothering him. “I saw the death of my parents. It is those deaths that have been bothering me and which brought me to Thunder Bluff.”
Cairne nods.
“My parents were traveling to Alterac Valley to take some supplies, armor and such to the Frostwolf Clan. On their way there, they were attacked and killed by the Scourge. This is my reason for leaving Org. I cannot stand the sight of the shop and all the memories it brings up.”
Halkale pauses.
“But yet, I know that my place is not here. Not fishing at the pond. That is no way to honor those who have come before. That is no way to honor the Ancestral Spirits and what they have done. The Scourge can not win. The Burning Legion can not win!” Halkale leaps to his feet. “I must serve the Horde!” As the Blood Fury courses through his veins Halkale yells, “For the Horde” and thrusts his fist in the air. Emotionally and physically spent from the experience, Halkale collapses to the ground as the Tauren HolyStriders yell in agreement “For the Horde, for the Bloodhoof!”
Cairne helps Halkale to his feet. “And what path have you chosen for your service?” Cairne asks.
“I will be a hunter like my friends the Tauren.” Halkale declares.
Cairne nods, “Good. I think you will make a fine Hunter. In your travels, do not forget your friends the Taurens.” Cairne smiles.
“I will not, I swear to you this day. On the honor of my parents, I will never forget the Tauren.”
“You will find the Hunter trainer ready for you on the rise to the south. Go young one.”
Halkale salutes Cairne Bloodhoof, Chieftain of the Bloodhoof Tribe and the Tauren with respect and heads to cross the bridge to the Hunter Rise, and his journey continues.
