World of Warcraft: Blood Ties - The Evilhoof Story

"Behold the mighty dragon! Fierce and blood thirsty, filling the hearts and minds of all who lay eyes upon him with fear and dread. Ready to turn on anyone, even his keeper"

The old Taurren sat round the camp fire watching the glow of the now dying camp fire. He looked deep in thought as if he was not truly there. Around the fire were three others. A young Taurren and two older warriors. The two older taurrens were sitting side by side on the other side of the fire smirking and looking at each other, the younger one just sat beside the older one and grinded his teeth as he felt the anger growing in side him. The morning was just waking, the sun was gently kissing the sky and by now what had once been a strong and warming fire was now just little more than gently glowing embers. By now life in the quiet valley in the corner of Stonetalon mountains was just as it has been most other mornings. All people were tending to their routines.

Routines are all you have in such a quiet village, its how anyone can get through their day. Taurrens were especially good on the whole at interacting and getting along. Not all followed the path of Cairn Bloodhoof. In actual fact the alliances with the Horde were only ever formed out of a need for survival. The Grimtotem tribes never had that many issues with the centaurs and kept them selves to them selves high on one of the pinnacles in thousand needles. A vast canyon with steep un climbable sides. The only way down safely is to take the great lift. Two vertical moving cages made of wood. This is controlled by the Taurrens of thunder bluff, a new strong hold of Taurrens that are joined under the command of the great chieften Cairn Bloodhoof. These Taurrens are a member of the horde and are at war with the alliance and all the races that serve under the banner of the alliance. The fact that the Grimtotem tribe settled in the thousand needles is rare as taurrens generally tend to be nomadic people never settling in one place for too long. Most people keep clear of them and the Taurren tribes keep to them selves. The Grimtotem tribe although not aligned with the Orcs and the Horde races, are in fact aligned with the residence of razor fen downs. A kind of pigmy tribe. The Grimtotems provide security and in exchange get passage through the treacherous maze of sharp entangling plants that form the homes for the tribe. This way they avoide all contact with the Bloodhoof tribes controlling the great lift.

The young taurren was awoken with an almighty clatter sending him bolt upright. By now the fire had long since died and was still smouldering slightly giving off a small plume of smoke. As his eyes adjusted to the bright morning light, the young taurren made out through the haze of smoke two young warriors fighting and shouting as they started clanging swords about, "typical warriors," thought the taurren shaking his head slightly. He got to his feet and looked around for his master. He found him on a near by pinnacle meditating. As he made his way to him, the two fighting warriors stopped and shouted over to him, "hey claudhoof!" the younger Taurren turned and looked round trying not to let his irritation caused by them show too much, "what are you doing ? haven't you slept enough last night?" Selec said grinning widely. "You see? I always told you Shamans were dozy!" Just as Lithius said that, Selec picked up a small rock and aimed it at the young Taurrens head. The rock flew through the air hitting the young Taurren in the back of the head with a crack. With this, the young Taurren filled with rage, ran from the bridge he was trying to cross and started running at the two mocking warriors. The two warriors of coarse just laughed all the more. Then the young Taurren stopped and glared at them. "Look!" said Selec with a mighty grin. "He cant even attack! Told you shamans were useless!" Just as he said that, the young Taurrens hands started to pulse and glow with energy. And with a growl he unleashed a bold of lightening that knocked Selec to the ground leaving him in terrible pain. Seeing his friend go down, Lithius took his sword from its resting place and pointed it to the young shaman yelling "you are going to wish you hadn't done that!" and with that, he charged the shaman with weapon drawn and unleashing a battle cry. The shaman didn't move or flinch. He reached his fist up to the heavens and called for the spirits to come to him. He was engulfed in a darkened cloud that crackled and unleashed a terrible thunder and lightening to leave four glowing balls of light that seemed to suddenly merge into one. The shaman too took a sword and shield and prepared to fight.