#72 pt 2

The entry is as written by the doe herself, in a careful hand.





I have experienced many things since I left the Barrens over a year ago now, but nothing I had heard or learned about could have prepared me for what happened after I drank Wooshy’s ‘sapta’. It was bitter, and tasted of herbs. I can’t say it was particularly pleasant.

I should start at the beginning though.  As Wooshy already wrote, we banished Weylo’s spirit - my body and mind felt so much lighter. I had no idea the dead could do that - linger and trouble the living. It was so alarming to actually see him after what had happened. Wooshy explained sometimes a negative spirit will cast a shadow on your own spirit, wearing you down. “Your brother was an intensely negative, troubled bull, “he said, “I am not surprised he clung to you, the last person he felt connected to.”

I wanted to sleep on his words but after he cleaned up his candles and buried his salt he sat me under the pines we’d met at. “You have no time to rest. You are raw and ready - your spirit must soar and you must seek your ritual name in the time honored ritual of the vision quest. It is through this quest you will be guided by less harmful spirits, you will find a new path perhaps, or some kind of totem. It is a private matter - you are not required to share any of it with anyone.” He pressed a bowl of this herbal brew in my hands and said to undress and sit by the trees, and not to speak until the ordeal was over.

 I did as he said, moving to the trees and drank the brew (it was kind of gross) and waited. He assumed a position near the fire, causing it to grow somehow - I have to ask him about that. He beat on a little drum, keeping a gentle pattern of beats, closing his eyes as though in thought.

I felt confused, wondering what would happen. I can say as much it was sort of like smoking that herb the trolls favor at first. A weird disconnected feeling, as though my hooves were floating off the ground. The next thing I knew I was standing on the plains by Stonebull Lake, the warm sun beating down on my back. In my hands was a bow, and a quiver on my hip. I saw gazelle on the plains and felt the urge to hunt! Gazelle is good eating if you can catch them, they’re really quick.

I hunkered down, using the grass to my advantage and crept up on the herd. These were buck gazelle, fair game to take. You don’t typically take females or fawns. I settled on a buck, he looked well fed and could feed a few tauren easily. As I positioned myself and my bow a hyena came out of nowhere and took it down. I stood, watching the hyena - it was a richly colored beast, a yellow brown with darker brown markings. It seemed to glow, curiously enough. I gave it a wide berth, crawling away carefully. We have them in Barrens and they aren’t friendly, preferring to scavenge off my kills there, or outright claiming a kill. One tauren can’t fight off a pack of them, so it was better to let them have it and live.

I thought I was clear but found myself suddenly nose to nose with it, its breath reeked and it’s face was streaked with blood. I expected it to attack but it instead sat down. I knew better than to run - that invited an attack. It just sat there, watching. It made a weird, chilling whine, then flopped on the ground to expose it’s belly.

“What do you want hyena?” I asked finally. It seemed to glow brighter, sparkling with motes of light. A spirit? Tentatively, I reached out to rub the fur on the belly. It rolled back to it’s feet and sat down.

“You come seeking wisdom of the spirits, Dusthoof?” It’s voice was neutral in tone, neither male nor female specifically.
“I do, Spirit.”
“You have been much troubled. You have a good friend in the Spirit Walker - trust him, Dusthoof. He will guide you. Do not lose sight of the elder.”
“I will- he has been a great comfort.”
“You have confronted your Brother, a hard task..but have\ found confusion on your journey.”
“But-”
“The Earthmother has always been with you, even if you did not believe. In her wisdom you have experienced much. You walk the way of the hunter, and in this path have always chosen a fair hand. You never kill for sport, and are always quick to dispatch your targets. You have given up the hunt when my kind came, never seeking vengeance for a lost kill. Once you walked with one our number.”
“Yes! Bhenta - she ran away from a caravan and never returned. I was sorry to see her go.”
“Your path and hers did not go together.”
“Do you mean Routledge? Ginja?”
“There is nothing wrong in your path or those you keep company with.”
“Will I see her again?”
“Walk with me, Dusthoof.”
We walked across the plains, the spirit growing brighter in the sunshine.
“The trader’s path suits you, Dusthoof, but so to does that of the hunter. Both may work together - but ‘ware the goblins. They do not walk with the Earthmother’s wisdom. Walk with your face to the sun, and let her guide you.”
“But how? I- I feel inept.”
“She does not require you to give thanks as The Spirit Talker. Or the Sun Walker. She merely asks to be remembered and loved as she so loves her children.”
“So I don’t need to go.. go all in like others?”
“You go as far as you desire. She will still be with you.”
We paused, watching the progress of the sun in the sky as afternoon gave way to the evening.
“But Spirit, what about Routledge?” The hyena looked me over, “His path may yet be with yours. That is not ours to know or say.”
“Is that all?” I was frustrated, I ached to find him again. Was he alright? would I ever know? Those Alliance in Highmountain weren’t keen to respond to letters.
“An’she will shine down upon you, as Mu’sha will.”
I knew those names from my studies. Mr Jukko was a devotee to An’she, he often sang of his praises.
“What about them?” I looked down to see the hyena, which in the dimming light seemed to glow brighter.
“Walk in the sun with confidence, Eishona. That is where you belong. Find the broken Druid, she will teach you of balance, and of the private ways of worship. You will know her by her leg.”
“Her leg-?”
A vision danced before us, made of dust and motes of light: a strangely familiar face of a stern elder, her mane was dreadlocked and covered in leaves. When she walked, her left hood dragged on the ground.
“I know her I think!”
“She has met you, Walks-In-The-Sun. It is time for you to know her. She has much wisdom to share. It is through her you may find your way with the Earthmother.”
“What did you call me?”
“You are Walks-In-The Sun. You embrace life as you do the warmth of the sun, with your face forward and your smile flashing despite your hardships and trials. Find your companions in the waking world and live your life.” There was a light breeze and silence.
I looked around and saw the spirit was gone, and suddenly it was night. At my hooves was the haunch of a gazelle. When I bent to pick it up, everything faded. I was suddenly back with Wooshy, slumped over and barely able to lift my head.

Wooshy was there, covering me with a blanket against the chill of the plains at night. He left me there, allowing me to come to when I was ready and it was most foul when I woke up finally. My mouth was dry and my head ached. He had already been up some hours, preparing for the day while I slept.

Instead of just leaving, he sat with me as I accepted a bowl of broth and dried fruits. We talked over what I had seen, the signs and symbolism. He mentioned he’d seen a hyena lingering near his camp and that it seemed it was waiting for him to leave, lingering on the edge of the pines and watching us. I was flabbergasted, could it have been Bhenta? I am filled with questions.  We talked for hours while I regained my strength. He streaked my face with yellow and green paints, explaining those who saw me in Bloodhoof would understand I had gone on a vision quest and be left largely alone. I’m grateful for that I think, it means I don’t have to talk to anyone, I don’t feel up for it. He’s right when he calls it a private thing. I trust him though, and value his insights. He says the hyena is a strong totem, representing adaptability and the strong female.

Wooshy left on the second day - he’s a bull with things to do after all. I feel sad to see him go but I get it. He cannot linger. The camp is so empty though. I didn’t realise how comforting the elder bull was.

She eventually came after he left - I stayed at the camp for an extra night. The plains were so soothing. The part of the plains we camped at were fairly safe, close enough to the Bluffs that most predators were deterred. Hyenas were rare here, found in the Barrens typically, and Desolace I have seen them too. But she came in the night, her eyes catching the firelight as she padded up. I didn’t speak, only holding out a hand to greet her. I expected her to lick my hand, instead she walked over and flopped across my legs, like she used to. It was so nice to see it was my old friend from the Barrens.

The next morning, the one I am currently writing from, I broke camp. I rolled up the sleeping furs Wooshy left - I’ll get them back to him - and I wrote everything down. I set off for Orgrimmar after I check in at the Bluffs for any mail. It’s about time Ginja sent a letter about the trade route. She likes to check in.

I hope to meet with Vik’wa soon too - she’ll be keen to hear of this tale. Next I need to check in with those Highmountain folk and see if news of Routy has come. And I guess next.. Next I go and try to find this druid.