#91

Pictured here is a view from Bloodhoof Village, Mulgore. Eishona writes below: It’s worth climbing the windmill!



Vik'wa and I returned from Winterspring in Mulgore in the early morning. If we’d stayed too late we’d have been charged for a full day and Vikwa was ready to leave so off we went. We stopped by Thunderbluff to check on my hyenas and kodo first, then went to Bloodhoof for a quiet day. She left at about noon though - another student sent her a pressing letter requesting her immediate assistance.

After seeing her off I went for a nice walk, and ended up meeting with a bull I’ve sort of had a crush on, Ohanjo.  Not that I think anything will happen, mates don;t seem to fancy my being away for so long, so I’ll for now just cherish the time we spent and keep moving on. But oh how we talked - He was at the Wrathgate! He sounded troubled some to speak of it, but wow! I only heard of the Wrathgate from Vikwa’s books and teachings - which is fine, but hearing someone talk of it from first hand experience is hugely different. I could see it in his eyes how much that it hurt to speak of it.

We talked about the Horde too. We’ve both had experiences working for them - him more so than I. I tried to join the Horde but I was turned away, and I’m happier for that fact. My only time working for them was that time Ginja got us a contract for Darkshore as suppliers. Ohanjo wasn;t there, but instead served at the Battle of Lordearon. He says “Darkshore wasn’t shit” and well.. I have to agree sort of. Though using blight on your own people is surely a terrible thing. So is the genocide of a people and burning down their home. I think both events were horrible. In each it seems we were both in charge for the relative safety of others, and both suffered losses. Friendly fire is a terrible thing to have to explain to someone’s family, and it weighs on my mind frequently, and I think him also.


I know not the spiritual practices of goblins myself, it’s never occurred to me to ask. It doesn’t do to just ask someone else their spiritual beliefs. But I still think of the goblins that were on our team that died in Darkshore. I lit incense and made offerings in their memory though, and I can hope that their spirits are at rest. That’s the least I could do. I can still here their mates or parents cursing me - I did the hard work, not Ginja. She does the numbers, I do the people work. We’re working on getting a better balance though..
Weylo came up, I have to confess. Well, his passing, which I still realize I haven’t written about. I suppose that’s pretty telling. I haven’t spoken to anyone but those Elders in Highmountain, Wooshy and Vik'wa. Ginja knows nothing, and I’ll keep it that way, but here we are, blabbing it out in the middle of Bloodhoof Village. It felt weird saying it, that someone- rather, my lover, ate my brother. Thankfully it was a fairly brief moment in conversation. I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest, I was so nervous.


We ended up talking for a while, a few hours - I was surprised. Towards the end he mentioned being hungry, and offered me a meal at the Broken Horn encampment - I accepted. That turned out to be even more talking! He cooked up some kodo and vegetables while telling me of his tribe - the Ragetotem. Goodness he can talk - he’s so vigorous. He told me of his up bringing. He lost his parents at a young age too, and went to an orphanage under the care of a Matron Pa’neeh.  She cared for Ohanjo and several other babes - imagine that. Having lost a parent, some other doe takes the children under her care. I could only wish for that kind of luck when I was a calf - Weylo was my caretaker, the asshole. This matron though, sounds so pleasant - I’m glad Ohanjo was able to go to her - everyone deserves a warm, welcoming person in their lives. He speaks fondly of her, I hope he can visit her again.


He also told me about one of the rites of his tribe - it sounded intense. They started with a big bash celebrating their coming of age, then feeding them a tea so they fall asleep. After that they strip them down and carry them off in to the wilds of the Thousand Needles. I’ve never been there myself (it just hasn’t worked out that way), but I’ve heard it’s not an easy place to live, with or without the water I’m told fills the area. Ohanjo told me that the brave in question is left with just a knife, and the task to hunt down a beast and bring back some sort of trophy as proof of making good on the task. He was careful to tell me not all made it, some died due to misadventure, illness or exposure. The ones that didn’t make it, he said, were too weak, and better off dead.  The tribe needs to remain strong; and coddling the weak might take from defensive resources - he did explain the tribe was often attacked by Grimtotem in the region, so I can see it making sense.

I mean I’m not surprised to hear of a tribe that has such a harsh rite - it differs from the culture of the Bloodhoof, who I am more familiar with. They have rites for all types; even the weak can go on a hunt, but with clothing, supplies, maybe some armor and a bow to go with their knife or spear. Hearing how another tribe does things puts it all in to perspective.  I wonder that I might one day take up such a challenge - I’d never profess to be a Ragetotem though. Or Thundermoon, or a Bloodhoof. I’m not even sure what tribe I am part of: Weylo never told me what tribe we belonged to. A shame. But so far the Bloodhoof allow me to stay in their inns and don’t turn me away from their circles.

Neither do the Broken Horn -  No one stopped me from entering or gave me looks of suspicion, likely because I came with Ohanjo. But it was nice to visit - the food was good, his company was nice and the calves remembered my giving them all sweets and came looking for more. I had none this time, but promised to bring more very soon. Maybe I will visit for the day of Winter’s Veil. I can easily get candies and small toys as presents for them - what calf wouldn’t like a toy devilsaur? I can’t wait!

I left there this evening full of kodo and good feelings - it was nice to connect to someone that wasn’t trying to get a deal from me, or chattering my face off about my goals or biological clock. Not that that seems to be working anyhow.  Love you Vik’wa, but you preach lots!