Returning Home
By Serinthia Draftwood

Serinthia's kodo was moving quickly across the rolling, grassy plains of Mulgore, nearly at the towering peaks of Thunder Bluff. Serinthia herself guided it carefully, as she looked up at the peaks swiftly approaching, feeling glad to be home again. Lakota sat behind her, holding on to Serinthia's waist snuggly; something neither one of them minded a bit, eager to see the capital city once more. She hadn't had much chance to look around the last time she was here, and hopefully this time she'd be able to see more things. They'd only just bought the new kodo as they passed through BloodHoof Village. Serinthia had been eager to get one and, at last, the riding trainer there had felt her ready to handle such a responsibility. Trailing behind the swift moving kodo, the tiger, Kirika ran along quickly, able to keep up easily. Along with her was another feline. Lakota had managed to tame a pet of her own while in StrangleThorn Vale only a month or so ago: a sleek black panthress with emerald green eyes. Lakota had named her Mireille after a name she had overheard in Booty Bay that she thought was rather pretty. Luckily, both felines seemed to get along well together, and Lakota was learning all the things she could about earning Mireille's trust.
By mid afternoon, they arrived at the base of Thunder Bluff peak. For the longest time, riding kodos had to remain on the ground since there was no means of getting them up to the top. Apparently, since they'd been gone, however, a much larger elevator had been constructed to haul the beasts up so they could stay with their masters. Serinthia and Lakota dismounted and unloaded some of their things, taking their pets with them and boarding the small elevator while their kodo was hauled up as well.
Upon reaching the top, Serinthia looked around at the large city spread out before her and smiled warmly.
"Welcome home," she said.
"I was amazed the first time I saw it," Lakota said "Now I am even more so. It makes me proud too, that tauren can come together in such a place and make something like this."
Serinthia nodded softly as they stepped off the elevator and retrieved their riding kodo, making their way for the nearest inn.
"Hopefully we'll be able to stay longer this time," Serinthia said "You're right, we've been away too long."
"Did your guild summons say what this meeting was to be about?" Lakota asked.
"No," Serinthia replied, "but I'm eager to find out."
They led their kodo down the wide spaces between large, complex tents and huge wooden structures with heavy canvas acting as their roofs. In time, the two tauren made their way to the main stable house and spoke with the Stable Master there, getting a place for their kodo and both their pets to stay for the time being. Lakota stroked Mireille's head softly a moment before letting her go. It was so easy for Serinthia to see the attachment the two had already form, much like the one she had had with Kirika for the longest time.
Once the animals were secured, they crossed the main rise and used the long rope bridges to cross over to one of the smaller peaks that jutted from the ground, know as the Hunter's Rise, where Serinthia's clan lived still to this day, knowing they could get free room and board there. The inn there was nothing like the one on the main rise, but they could get comfortable beds in a small room at least, and a nice morning meal every morning while they were staying there.
Serinthia couldn't wait to get a bath and change into something a little simpler than the armor she constantly wore. The guild meeting wasn't until tomorrow so she could spend the remaining hours today with her clan, and hopefully she might learn some new skills as Lakota might as well. The two got clean up from their journeys and made their way to the main Hunter hall where most of the ThunderHorn clan gathered.
There were many tauren inside, and they all sat in groups, discussing various topics. Many paused in what they were doing as Serinthia entered. Of course they would recognize their clanmate. One especially, a tauren with dark grey fur and white muzzle markings, got up quickly and hurried over to them, embracing Serinthia in a tight hug.
"Sister!" she exclaimed, hugging Serinthia close. Serinthia returned the hug and smiled.
"Kary, it's good to see you again!" she said. Once the two siblings released each other, Serinthia turned to Lakota
"Lakota, you remember my older sister I believe?" she asked.
"Yes, you taught me quite a bit when I came through here before," Lakota said.
"Well I am a master hunter," Kary said, with pride "And who knows, maybe I can teach you both a couple more things while you're here. Serinthia, you look like you've gained a lot of experience since we last saw you. Maybe you're even ready for the next big step."
"Of course she is. If she weren't she wouldn't be a ThunderHorn."
The deep voice startled all three females, but perhaps it shouldn't have. Standing behind them was a huge, elderly male tauren with fur as purely white as Serinthia's. Holt ThunderHorn held out his massive arms and Serinthia soon found herself drawn into them.
"Father," she said simply, hugging him very tightly. As a child she had drawn all her strength and determination from him, and looked up to him in all things. It was nice to know those feelings hadn't changed. He released her slowly and looked over at Lakota.
"And welcome to you as well, Lakota, whom I remember from before," he said "Do I call you daughter yet?"
Lakota actually blushed and smiled.
"Well, not quite yet, Sir," she said respectfully "But I'm sure in time…"
"Once all our battles are fought and won, father," Serinthia said "That's what we agreed."
Holt ThunderHorn nodded sagely
"Well, regardless, if you have become as fine a hunter as you had hoped to, then you are very welcome among us regardless Lakota," he said "How long can you stay?"
"Well my guild is meeting tomorrow," Serinthia said "Presuming they're not immediately heading off for some grand adventure, though, I'd love to stay at least a couple weeks."
"Entirely too short," Kary said "But we'll make the most of it "Speaking of which, I've got some new armor I want you to try on, you look like you might be ready to handle it."

By the time Lakota and Serinthia returned to the small inn, Serinthia was still beaming with pride. She had been granted the ability to handle wearing chain mail armor instead of the somewhat weaker leather armor she'd always worn. Luckily her father had given her extra money from the clan holdings so she get completely outfit herself from the armors around the city or even from the main auction house. Lakota, meanwhile, still had to wear leather armor when she fought but she'd picked up a number of new shooting techniques that she was confident would come in handy in a battles that lay before them. A celebration was in order, and once they settled in their room the two lovers found it amazingly easy to find a way to do so.

In the morning, after breakfast, the two went on a shopping spree, going around to the various armorers and buying up some of the best mail armor Serinthia could get her paws on, eventually producing enough pieces for a full set. They managed to haul it all back to their room where Serinthia spent the next hour bathing carefully and meticulously before dressing in the new full armor, before retrieving her Guild Tabard from her belongings. The tabard was of a very dark bluish gray color with beautiful red trim down the sides of each panel. Directly in the center was a symbol of a huge bear claw in similar red stitching. The emblem of The Spectrum Rage. Lakota helped Serinthia get the tabard laid down over her new armor and Serinthia turned to her.
"How do I look?" she asked.
"Absolutely beautiful," Lakota said softly.
"Oh you're not biased at all are you?" Serinthia said, laughing softly "Well, let's go."
The two made their way back to the main rise. As they approached the upper levels of the main rise where Cairne BloodHoof himself sat in power, they could see other tauren, as well as orcs and trolls, and even undead, moving through the crowd with similar tabards on, all of them making their way to the largest available meeting area in the city. That being, the large bonfire circle right in front of Cairne's own large tent. When Serinthia and Lakota arrived, many of the elders were already present. Lakota hung back and let Serinthia go to work. Lakota was certainly interested in becoming a member, but that would almost certainly wait until any other important business was taken care of. Serinthia took her place with the others and waited. It looked like it was going to be a good turn out which, considering their members were spread all over Azeroth, was quite a sight to behold.
Once the meeting started, it soon became clear the primary reason for the gathering was a number of members, mostly of the undead forsaken, were pleading their case to have the guild intervene in the matter of Scarlet Monastery where an insane religious cult had been threatening their lands for months on end.
Neither Serinthia nor Lakota trusted the undead any further than they could throw them. Serinthia said the ones in the guild were alright, but it was really hard to tell with most others. Serinthia had been in their home of UnderCity more times than she cared to be and there was just always something about the way guards were careful to keep all who weren't undead away from way too many places.
Still, the general sentiment of the guild seemed to be that they would intervene, and Serinthia was one to always hate oppressive cults like that, so she voted with the majority. When the meeting finally broke up towards evening, it was agreed that the guild would travel to UnderCity and group up there in a month's time. Serinthia and Lakota should be able to stay a week longer in Thunder Bluff then, a fact that the two of them celebrated later that night over a huge stack of barbequed ribs from the best eatery on the rise, Kodo Steak and Ribs. After they finished up, overstuffed with meat they made their way back to the inn and flopped down into bed for a good night's rest.

They probably would've slept in, in the morning, but were roused from their sleep by a knock on the door. Serinthia pulled herself out of bed first and answered it, finding Kary there.
"Good morning," Kary said 'I was hoping you'd be up."
"Well, mostly up anyway," Serinthia said, yawning "What's the matter?"
"Father received a note from Cairne at dawn this morning," Kary replied 'It seems BloodHoof Village is asking for Thunder Bluff's help in dealing with a Dwarven digsite to the west of here. Apparently, the dwarves are tearing up the land itself, digging for artifacts and such."
Serinthia shivered at the concept. Violating the Earth Mother in that way was something no tauren stood for.
"I remember hearing about that when we passed through the other day," Serinthia replied "has it gotten that out of hand?"
"Well they keep sending a lot o the young fighters from the village, and they do cut down the Dwarven numbers but apparently the dwarves just keep sending more and powerful dwarves, so they want Cairne to put an end to it once and for all, and he's asked for all the clans' help in doing so."
"Let me guess," Serinthia said, beginning to see where this was going "he wants a team of hunters to go along and we're it."
"Well I know what your sense of duty is like, Serin," Kary admitted "Besides, I've been wanting to fight side by side with you again. Father himself cannot go, but we'll represent the ThunderHorn clan well."

"We're never going to see that vacation are we?" Lakota said as she was putting her armor on.
"As I recall, you were the one that volunteered us back in Booty Bay," Serinthia said, checking that her new mail armor was secured "So blame yourself for that one."
"Yeah well, after this business and after your guild takes down that Monastery I insist on a long vacation, no matter what," Lakota said with finality.
Serinthia grinned.
"Yes, ma'am," she said as they headed out.
A quick stop at the stables brought their pets and riding kodo back to them and soon they were down on the plains of Mulgore at the base of the main rise, massing with a small army of tauren. Hunters, warriors, shaman, and druids were all well represented, almost all of high enough skill to be on kodos, and almost all heavily armed and armored.
Kary joined them soon enough, riding up on her own mount, a vicious looking plains wolf by her side.
"Well, a day there, a day for the killing and a day back," Kary said with confidence. "We'll be heading out as soon as we all gather."
True to her word the army was soon ready the sound of hollow kodo horns being blown sounded across the plains as all tauren raised their voices in call and they set out, charging across the plains as fast as their mounts would carry them, each one moving with a grim determination to bring these encroachers to their knees then wipe them from the face of Azeroth. They kept their grueling pace all through the day and well into the night before setting up camp. They mad no efforts at all to hide the fact that they were coming. With the Dwarven digsite being up against the surrounding mountains, they'd see any armed force coming and have plenty of warning, given how relatively flat and open Mulgore itself was. The night was spent gathered around the fire, listening to the tellings of old tauren folk tales, and some of the tauren even engaging in song and dance to help ease their nerves before the upcoming battle. Perimeter guards around the camp kept watch for any intruders, but the night passed undisturbed.
In the morning, they could see the digsite in the distance and those in the forward positions reported that it looked like the dwarves were forming up a perimeter of their own, closing ranks to defend themselves. The strategy was simple. The warriors would be sent in first, since they had the best armor and tactical abilities, followed closely by the druids and then the shamans who would provide healing and other support. The hunters in the group were to form the second wave, attacking from a distance and closing ranks only if the others needed close combat support.
Serinthia, Lakota, and Kary, got in line behind the others, gazing up at the hillside as they approached, slowly at first, knowing full well the dwarves could see them coming. Any minute the warriors would charge and the battle would begin. Each one loaded their rifles, as did the other hunters in the ranks as the force crept closer and closer. Then, without warning, the warriors are howled their loudest, almost roaring as they surged forward on their kodo, charging forward, the whole group picking up speed as they sped for the digsite. About fifty yards out, the hunts all pulled their kodos to a stop and quickly jump down onto their feet.
"Both of you stay close to me!" Kary called before sending her wolf forward with the warriors. Other pets were loosed as well, catching up with the warriors just as the reached the line of dwarves and the ballet was joined.
"Lakota, shoot anything short with a beard!" Serinthia said, charging forward within range and aiming carefully before firing into the fray, being sure not to hit her own people.
"What do the females look like; I've not seen them before!" Lakota called back as she opened fire as well.
"I told you, short with a beard!" Serinthia called, taking aim and downing one dwarf that had gotten past the battle line.
Sounds of gunfire erupted every where as the hunters advanced, mowing down dwarfs that tried getting past the fierce tauren warriors. Even as a warrior would fall, hunters would close it and offer enough cover fire for a shaman to bring aid. At first it seemed as though the battle would be easily won, but then a bolt of crackling energy seemed to blast right through the main battle and blast one of the other hunters down on his tail.
"What the hell was that!" Lakota said as she moved her rifle around, looking for a target.
"Fire magic, I think" Kary called back "They've got magic users, be on your hooves!"
Serinthia shot down one more dwarf before stowing her rifle.
"I'm going in, cover me!" she called, drawing her huge battle axe and charging forward.
"Not without me you're not!" Kary responded.
"Or me!" Lakota called after them both, before calling to one of the other hunters "Cover our backs!"
The three tauren charged forward into the fray, Kary drawing a two handed sword and Lakota drawing her double set of hand axes. Another bolt of crackling natural magic exploded near them and they ducked for cover as gunfire rang out over their heads. They weaved between their warriors, Serinthia cleaving down a charging dwarf with one swing before looking around quickly.
"There on the ridge!" she pointed quickly to a ridge above the battle where the magic users where posted "They're just within range I think, cover me!"
Serinthia switched back to her rifle as Kary and Lakota engaged the dwarves around them, swing sword and axe about as Serinthia took careful aim and fired up to the ridge. The cloth wearing mages were no match for a rifle of that power and the first one she hit fell from the ridge to the ground below. The others quickly turned their attention to Serinthia who began firing off as many shots as she could, felling two more before their spells rained down from the ridge, striking her hard with both fire and ice magic, knocking her back off her hooves and rolling a few yards away before coming to a stop.
"Serinthia!" Lakota called back in shock "We need a shaman over here!"
"Lakota, I've got this, just keep them off me!" Kary said, switching back to her rifle and opening fire again. Lakota whipped around in time to slash right through a dwarf at Kary's back as a tauren shaman hurried to Serinthia's side, infusing her with enough magical energy to heal and sooth her wounds. Other hunters hard charged into the fray now and found their targets, first gunning down the remaining mages before turning their attention to the paw to hand combat. Some of the dwarves began to retreat but their transgression allowed for no mercy. The warriors pursued them, while hunters drew their weapons and opened fire.
"They're pulling back to their tents in the digsite proper, move it!" one of the warriors called, forming ranks again quickly and charged after them, corning them in the digsite they made for themselves, which would soon be their tomb.
Both Lakota and Kary held back as the lines advanced, going to Serinthia's side who was just sitting up as the shaman finished his work
"She's fine now, just needed a little magic, that's all," the shaman said confidently.
"Here let's help ya up," Kary said, pulling Serinthia to her hooves "We've still got a battle to win."
"Nice to know where your priorities are," Serinthia said with a slight grin before drawing her rifle again and heading further up into the digsite with the others. Many of the hunters were hanging back to catch any remnants that tried to escape. Serinthia, Lakota and Kary all joined in, mowing down any escaping dwarf that thought they were getting out of this digsite alive, until there were none left standing and the tauren were triumphant. Some had been killed, but the ancient magic of the earth mother smiled on her loyal shamans this day and, infused with her power, they were able to bring those that fell back to the land of the living.

That night the bodies of the fallen dwarves were piled high and burned, the shamans conducting a very brief funeral for the death of any living thing, at least doing the dwarves a favor, returning them to the ashes from which the earth mother took them. In the morning, the triumphant tauren set out for home, moving at a slower pace since the urgency was not as great. Kary kept her kodo moving just along side Serinthia and Lakota's, gazing over at them.
"It was good to fight with you again, sister," Kary said.
"Yes it was," Serinthia agreed "They'll sing your praises around the bonfire tonight, I know it."
"And yours too," Kary said "We did a great thing yesterday. The earth mother will smile on us."
Lakota yawned slightly and leaned against Serinthia's back as their kodo kept pace.
"Well…I suppose four days of vacation is better than nothing," she said "We don't have to leave for Scarlet Monastery just yet."
"I suppose not," Serinthia agreed 'We can enjoy ourselves…and each other, for a while longer I think."
"Maybe we can even ask Cairne for his blessing and mate us," Lakota said, giggling softly.
"In time, my love," Serinthia promised quietly "In time."