Redwood - A New Past
(a transition story and link to our new classic Redwood Tribes)
I have had a vision, I scribbled… and then ripped the top of the parchment carefully off, thinking that was not quite the opening line of the letter I should send to Chieftain Abrahof Ragetotem of the strange dream I had just awoken from. Mu’sha was descending and I had lit a candle to write this on parchment as quickly as I could, hoping that the dream would begin to make sense. I started again:
Chieftain. I have been granted a vision in my dreams this night. I stood upon the Bluffs, watching as our Shu’halo ancestors gathered before our High Chieftain’s father, Cairne Bloodhoof. I could hear his name clearly spoken by many, and it seems not long past this vision comes, as I saw others that I know now, though they wore less years upon their features in my dream.
I saw a young bluff watcher, who carried your grin and fierceness as surely as I see upon your features now, yet instead of the elements, he called upon nature, giving heed to some of his seniors in the Cenarion Circle. And I saw a young Warbrave, diminutive in size, yet I could not interact with either of you.
I moved around the assembly as I listened to the High Chieftain call forth the fierceness of our people, reminding them of the help the Orcs and Trolls had extended, helping to push back the Centaurs, to find a home amongst Thunder Bluff, to help defend the Barrens against the incursion of Humans and Dwarves. And if the Kaldorei continued their support of this Alliance, they would feel our wrath, as well.
As I listened, the High Chieftain called forth many by name, giving direction that they were to hasten to Orgrimmar, the Orc capital, and pledge themselves to assisting the Orcs and Trolls, whether to defend the lands of Kalimdor, to share the knowledge of Shamanism, to share the wisdom of the Earth Mother, to gather more to our banners, and most of all to bring Honor to the Horde.
One of those that stepped forward, a warrior, Ayashe Brightmane, held a fierceness and pride in her bearing, and I watched as the High Chieftain confirmed her as a new Chieftain among his council.
Truly, he was nothing I did not expect from the stories I have heard of Cairne Bloodhoof. But as I listened, my eyes keeping track of a certain young druid and warrior, one of the assembled stepped through me, and for that brief instance, I swear he knew of me, and I knew him by name, Okwaho Skyseer, though I have never heard him spoken of in my time on the Bluffs.
He spoke in my mind, “Greetings, Wanderer. You are the one that will tell our story upon the winds of time?”
“I am a teller of tales,” I replied. “Though this tale seems strange to me already.”
“Not strange to me,” Okwaho answered. “We go to war. We go to find allies. We go to bring the Tribes of Orc, Troll, and Shu’halo together to build a stronger Horde and to defend Kalimdor, the home of us all. Redwood will defend these lands and push out the Alliance interlopers under the leadership of our new Chieftain Brightmane.”
“Redwood?.. Brightmane…” I let the words trail off and he embraced me as a brother as my mind wandered back to our present. I awoke with Mu’sha still in the sky and with the name of our Tribe still on my lips.
It is no doubt I saw a vision of Mulgore’s past, though with differences that make me wonder at the gift of this vision. Though we have no knowledge of where we wander, we move forward into our future with our past steadfast and secure; this security giving us confidence to wander the future paths. But if our past wanders down different roads, what does that mean for our future?
If Mu’sha grant me any more visions such as this, as this Skyseer’s words hint at, I will let you and the other councilors know.
Lohkawas Wildmane, Sage of Redwood Tribe
