Post by machk on Nov 23, 2010 19:01:53 GMT -5
The road to Feralas was a beat and forgotten one. Not many adventures traveled out to the immense wood these days. They never had good reason to; the wilds were teaming with ferocious beasts and wendigos, Dire Maul seethed with dark forces, and the danger only grew towards the northern spear, which was where the huge black bull was heading.
Machk carried behind him a sack tied to a long pole that rested along his shoulder, his large hooves pounding against the dirt as he took a known shortcut to his old village. His reason of travel was to visit friends and what remaining family he had in the tribe before the outcome of the elemental invasion that had been occurring. His blank eyes could feel the world churning, ready to burst at any moment while the elementals raged against them, attacking and rioting in their cities. It had taken him longer than usual to reach the village without his kodo friend, Malice, who had grown too old to bear the beast armor and saddle. He was among his aging fellows in the plains of Mulgore now, without a worry in the world.
Even without his old ally Malice, it hadn't taken Machk long to return to the village. He was greated by old and new tauren alike, all of the Grimtotem. Those who knew him offered a drink, some food, or a place to stay, while those who didn't offered their greetings and stories. The black bull spent the wealth of the day in the village, speaking, drinking, and feasting with old and new friends alike. As the sun began to sink, Machk ventured to the tent of the village elders to pay tribute.
A large hand brushed away the strings of beads that acted as curtains to the illustrious tent. When he entered, he immediately fell to his knees in honor of the elders who once reigned over the bull as a boy. A rather withered tauren, who sat in the middle in a line of three aged men, held a wobbly, bony hand up in the air above Machk's head, addressing his recognition and granting him ease among their presence. The old man's voice was raspy and writhing with old age.
"It's been long since you left, boy."
Machk held his head to him, giving the elder a warm smile as his white eyes gleamed in the flames that lit the tent. The elder's deep blue eyes gazed into those of the black bull.
"I see you've faced many tribulations. The trembling earth brings you here."
Machk nodded once, remaining silent. This time, the elder sitting to the left spoke in a seemingly young voice, though it was broken up between many coughs and weezes.
"We've missed you, boy. You've missed many raids. You should be proud of your tribe, as we are closer to our goal than ever before."
Machk lifted his head to the elder. "Our goal...?" The middle elder chimed in once more, nodding in agreement with the left elder.
"Yes. Magatha has set plans in motion. Soon, the Bluffs will be ours."
Machk questioned the elder in a tone of respect, while maintaining his deep structure.
"Why does the tribe seek to capture the bluffs? All the tribes are represented there already, as well as ours."
The elder on the right scoffed, his rudeness immediately seeping through his spirit. Machk winced slightly as he began to speak.
"Have you forgotten our foundations, boy? We are the only tribe worthy of representation. And all the other tribes will too remember once we capture the Thunder Bluffs for ourselves."
Machk lowered his head, gazing into the fire which provided light in the otherwise dark tent. He remained silent, making a note of not to show any weakness in front of the elders. Machk was able to sense emotions and spirits because of his handicap; this was only an additional prowess for the elders. Machk would rise to his hooves, giving them one final bow before gathering his things to head out.
"It was nice to see you again, oh great ones, but I must be off, now. Nightfall approaches in a few hours."
The elders all bowed their heads slightly in one motion. Their faces were off putting, obviously sensing Machk's emotions, which were a mix of confusion as well as self awareness. The huge shadow left the village in a different state than when he entered. Why did the Grimtotem seek to take over Thunder Bluff? He was scared for the city. Not only did he know the tribe was very much capable of pulling it off, but he knew someone that took shelter in the village. Thoughts of Shari entered his mind, and how he would tell her. Should he warn her to leave? She probably wouldn't have listened to him. Should he warn Aranskah? He most likely would choose not to take part in such a situation.
All these thoughts left his mind completely when he reached the border of Feralas and Thousand Needles. The earth was shaking uncontrollably, not like it usually had been during the past month. It continued to shake, it never stopped. It dropped Machk to his bottom with a thud, and it still continued to shake. The world was coming to and end, he thought. The large bull began to sprint as fast as he could, his hooves thundering down on the harsh ground of the Thousand Needles.
The bull ran like he had never run before. The only thing that kept him from falling to his knees and giving up where the thoughts of his friends in the family he had left for such an idiotic reason, and the vision of Sumi. In his mind, her eyes gazed into his, never looking away, as if they both were struggling to survive the onslaught of the world itself.
Unseen by his blind eyes, the ground beneath shook so much it began to crack, spliting under his hooves. One of his hooves became caught in a crack. He slammed to the ground, trying as best as he could to rise again and run. As he tried to get up, the ground shifted again, the crack holding his hoof in place shifting too. He let out a bellow of pain as the crack began to move, bending his leg backwards. He could feel his muscles giving out until suddenly the ground jerked away, snapping his leg in half. The bull cried out, his cry being submerged in the sounds of the earthquake.
He bent his entire body back, grabbing his broken leg and pulling it out of the crack with a tug and shout of pain. He took a moment to gather his strength to stand, bearing his weight on one leg. He began in a trotting movement now, slightly hoping on his one leg. He could see the Great Lift from where he was. He only need get to it to survive. As he continued to hop in pain, he could hear the voices and cries of the citizens of Freewind Post, they too heading for the Lift. He sensed many souls rushing to the Lift, traveling upwards into the Barrens before disappearing, and another group boarding the Lift like locusts. He was so close to survival. He heightened his pace, hoping more quickly to the Lift. Even though it hurt even more, he tried to ignore the pain as much as he could. He looked back to wince at his bent and broken leg, bending and sliding along lifelessly as he continued onward.
Within all of the commotion and sounds of the earth churning, Machk was able to hear the cry from a small tauren girl astray. She cried for her mother and father, trying to hold her balance beneath the trembling of the earth. Machk looked around, attempting to sense the souls of someone going to help her, but never did. The large bull groaned in pain as he chugged his way to the girl, swooping her under his arm and hoping to the Lift.
He snapped in a turn to hear the heightened screams of the citizens. Within the cries and screams, he could here a man say "The lift is falling! The lift is falling!", and indeed it had. It now tilted with the earth, away from the cliff where the Barrens ended. The tauren left on the ground were hopeless, but Machk turned to the girl he held, whispering in her ear "Don't be scared, it will all be over soon."
He closed his eyes, using what little privilege of the wind elements he had to send the small girl blasting in the air. She flew over the lift, landing on the cliffside of the Barrens. He could sense her soul run off towards the other survivors before it disappeared.
Now Machk heard the gasping of the people who didn't make it as they now remained quiet. They all stood still, motionless and mute. Machk made a face of confusion as a small sound of waves entered his ears. Suddenly, the crowd began to scream again, racing for Feralas. The sound of rapids and waves grew louder as Machk turned around immediately, hopping away from the huge rushing rapids that had taken over Thousand Needles.
First, there was the sound of an angry ocean. Then, the cries of people rushing to safety. The image of the friends he had made over the last year, as well as Sumi, flashed upon his eyes before a monstrous wave smacked against him. All was silent. All was black.
Machk carried behind him a sack tied to a long pole that rested along his shoulder, his large hooves pounding against the dirt as he took a known shortcut to his old village. His reason of travel was to visit friends and what remaining family he had in the tribe before the outcome of the elemental invasion that had been occurring. His blank eyes could feel the world churning, ready to burst at any moment while the elementals raged against them, attacking and rioting in their cities. It had taken him longer than usual to reach the village without his kodo friend, Malice, who had grown too old to bear the beast armor and saddle. He was among his aging fellows in the plains of Mulgore now, without a worry in the world.
Even without his old ally Malice, it hadn't taken Machk long to return to the village. He was greated by old and new tauren alike, all of the Grimtotem. Those who knew him offered a drink, some food, or a place to stay, while those who didn't offered their greetings and stories. The black bull spent the wealth of the day in the village, speaking, drinking, and feasting with old and new friends alike. As the sun began to sink, Machk ventured to the tent of the village elders to pay tribute.
A large hand brushed away the strings of beads that acted as curtains to the illustrious tent. When he entered, he immediately fell to his knees in honor of the elders who once reigned over the bull as a boy. A rather withered tauren, who sat in the middle in a line of three aged men, held a wobbly, bony hand up in the air above Machk's head, addressing his recognition and granting him ease among their presence. The old man's voice was raspy and writhing with old age.
"It's been long since you left, boy."
Machk held his head to him, giving the elder a warm smile as his white eyes gleamed in the flames that lit the tent. The elder's deep blue eyes gazed into those of the black bull.
"I see you've faced many tribulations. The trembling earth brings you here."
Machk nodded once, remaining silent. This time, the elder sitting to the left spoke in a seemingly young voice, though it was broken up between many coughs and weezes.
"We've missed you, boy. You've missed many raids. You should be proud of your tribe, as we are closer to our goal than ever before."
Machk lifted his head to the elder. "Our goal...?" The middle elder chimed in once more, nodding in agreement with the left elder.
"Yes. Magatha has set plans in motion. Soon, the Bluffs will be ours."
Machk questioned the elder in a tone of respect, while maintaining his deep structure.
"Why does the tribe seek to capture the bluffs? All the tribes are represented there already, as well as ours."
The elder on the right scoffed, his rudeness immediately seeping through his spirit. Machk winced slightly as he began to speak.
"Have you forgotten our foundations, boy? We are the only tribe worthy of representation. And all the other tribes will too remember once we capture the Thunder Bluffs for ourselves."
Machk lowered his head, gazing into the fire which provided light in the otherwise dark tent. He remained silent, making a note of not to show any weakness in front of the elders. Machk was able to sense emotions and spirits because of his handicap; this was only an additional prowess for the elders. Machk would rise to his hooves, giving them one final bow before gathering his things to head out.
"It was nice to see you again, oh great ones, but I must be off, now. Nightfall approaches in a few hours."
The elders all bowed their heads slightly in one motion. Their faces were off putting, obviously sensing Machk's emotions, which were a mix of confusion as well as self awareness. The huge shadow left the village in a different state than when he entered. Why did the Grimtotem seek to take over Thunder Bluff? He was scared for the city. Not only did he know the tribe was very much capable of pulling it off, but he knew someone that took shelter in the village. Thoughts of Shari entered his mind, and how he would tell her. Should he warn her to leave? She probably wouldn't have listened to him. Should he warn Aranskah? He most likely would choose not to take part in such a situation.
All these thoughts left his mind completely when he reached the border of Feralas and Thousand Needles. The earth was shaking uncontrollably, not like it usually had been during the past month. It continued to shake, it never stopped. It dropped Machk to his bottom with a thud, and it still continued to shake. The world was coming to and end, he thought. The large bull began to sprint as fast as he could, his hooves thundering down on the harsh ground of the Thousand Needles.
The bull ran like he had never run before. The only thing that kept him from falling to his knees and giving up where the thoughts of his friends in the family he had left for such an idiotic reason, and the vision of Sumi. In his mind, her eyes gazed into his, never looking away, as if they both were struggling to survive the onslaught of the world itself.
Unseen by his blind eyes, the ground beneath shook so much it began to crack, spliting under his hooves. One of his hooves became caught in a crack. He slammed to the ground, trying as best as he could to rise again and run. As he tried to get up, the ground shifted again, the crack holding his hoof in place shifting too. He let out a bellow of pain as the crack began to move, bending his leg backwards. He could feel his muscles giving out until suddenly the ground jerked away, snapping his leg in half. The bull cried out, his cry being submerged in the sounds of the earthquake.
He bent his entire body back, grabbing his broken leg and pulling it out of the crack with a tug and shout of pain. He took a moment to gather his strength to stand, bearing his weight on one leg. He began in a trotting movement now, slightly hoping on his one leg. He could see the Great Lift from where he was. He only need get to it to survive. As he continued to hop in pain, he could hear the voices and cries of the citizens of Freewind Post, they too heading for the Lift. He sensed many souls rushing to the Lift, traveling upwards into the Barrens before disappearing, and another group boarding the Lift like locusts. He was so close to survival. He heightened his pace, hoping more quickly to the Lift. Even though it hurt even more, he tried to ignore the pain as much as he could. He looked back to wince at his bent and broken leg, bending and sliding along lifelessly as he continued onward.
Within all of the commotion and sounds of the earth churning, Machk was able to hear the cry from a small tauren girl astray. She cried for her mother and father, trying to hold her balance beneath the trembling of the earth. Machk looked around, attempting to sense the souls of someone going to help her, but never did. The large bull groaned in pain as he chugged his way to the girl, swooping her under his arm and hoping to the Lift.
He snapped in a turn to hear the heightened screams of the citizens. Within the cries and screams, he could here a man say "The lift is falling! The lift is falling!", and indeed it had. It now tilted with the earth, away from the cliff where the Barrens ended. The tauren left on the ground were hopeless, but Machk turned to the girl he held, whispering in her ear "Don't be scared, it will all be over soon."
He closed his eyes, using what little privilege of the wind elements he had to send the small girl blasting in the air. She flew over the lift, landing on the cliffside of the Barrens. He could sense her soul run off towards the other survivors before it disappeared.
Now Machk heard the gasping of the people who didn't make it as they now remained quiet. They all stood still, motionless and mute. Machk made a face of confusion as a small sound of waves entered his ears. Suddenly, the crowd began to scream again, racing for Feralas. The sound of rapids and waves grew louder as Machk turned around immediately, hopping away from the huge rushing rapids that had taken over Thousand Needles.
First, there was the sound of an angry ocean. Then, the cries of people rushing to safety. The image of the friends he had made over the last year, as well as Sumi, flashed upon his eyes before a monstrous wave smacked against him. All was silent. All was black.
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Founded April 26, 2005