A war is coming, a second chance is given

[Rhonya]

A war is coming, a second chance is given

As a small beam of sunlight shone into the watchtower, breaking through the shadows and night chill that still lingered there, Rhonya awoke with a yawn. Disentangling herself from the hold of Grek’thar who had his arms around her small form, she stood up and looked around a moment, trying to remember where she was. Oh, yes… Lom ‘rak’s watchtower. Grek’thar softly mumbled something in his sleep and Rhonya smiled a little as she looked down on him. Perhaps she should wake him… At that moment though, her attention was pulled to something else. Her son, still sleeping in the arms of Lom’rak a few feet away from her. Her brother… He’d been so nice to her, even after all she told him about her past. This surprised her, not having expected such a kindness. Little Skorm chose to awake at that moment and locked his blue eyed gaze on his mother, quickly followed by him holding his arms out to her.

Smiling, Rhonya moved over to her cub and gently lifted him into her arms, careful not to wake Lom’rak. He needed his sleep… After all that happened yesterday and that what was about to come… Skorm started to whine softly, being hungry of course after this night. Rhonya turned once more, softly prodding Grek’thar awake now. As he opened his eyes, she put a finger to her lips and motioned to Lom’rak. Grek’thar only took a moment to realize what she meant before he nodded and quietly moved to his feet, picking up his belongings and following Rhonya outside quietly. The female Orc made sure that they were far away enough from the tower so that they wouldn’t wake Lom’rak before speaking. “I want to go to Ogrimmar, Grek’thar…  Today. I don’t find it safe here anymore at the moment. “

Grek’thar  sighed softly, but took position next to her, putting an arm around her shoulder in a comforting way. “You know I’d never let anything happen to you again. Or to Skorm, for that matter. I don’t like the idea of bringing him there either, but perhaps you’re right. “ Rhonya simply nodded, looking down at her son, who was now tugging at her robe with his tiny hands, whimpering softly, making it very clear what he wanted.  Grek’thar chuckled lowly, looking down at Skorm. “Perhaps you’ll need to feed him first, dear, otherwise even the short journey to Ogrimmar will be hell.” Softly smiling herself now, Rhonya nodded, just settling on the floor there for a moment to take the time to feed her son.

A little while later the three of them moved through the Canyon, on the road towards the large city of Ogrimmar. Grek’thar was holding his son now, the cub playfully tugging on his beard as he now had a full tummy again. As they closed in on the large gates, Rhonya smiled a little. “Don’t think I could ever get used to this all being so big… I would get lost here every time.” Grek’thar chuckled softly, putting his arm around his mate again, keeping her close, Skorm cradled in his other arm.  “I know the way, don’t worry. “ Together they moved on, over the busy streets of Ogrimmar. Different smells and sounds surrounded them, even Skorm was just quietly looking around now with his large blue eyes,  seemingly surprised about all the noise around him. Rhonya moved forward with a heavy heart, knowing she’d not see her son for at least a while… With a deep sigh she noticed suddenly Grek’thar had stopped moving. When Rhonya looked up she saw the building they were standing in front of. The Orphanage… It sounded so weird, as if they were giving away their cub instead of only bringing him there for a while. Grek’thar gently guided her inside, even though he also had a worried expression on his face.

After a short while Rhonya and Grek’thar stepped outside again, this time without their son. Rhonya sighed deeply as she hurriedly just made her way to the gate again, keeping herself from going back and just taking Skorm with her once more. Grek’thar followed her closely and when she slowed down, he put an arm around her waist. At this Rhonya stopped walking and just turned around to bury her face against Grek’thars chest and wrapping her arms around him. Grek’thar returned the hug, a bit awkwardly since they were standing in the middle of the Ogrimmar streets now. “He’ll be fine, Rhonya. Come on, let’s go back to the tribe.” Rhonya nodded once, before just letting him ago again and turning to the gates. “Might be best, yes..”

The rest of the day was filled for Rhonya with collecting more herbs. She had a rather large bag filled with them now, preparing for the war that was to come, stocking up on various kinds of healing herbs and poultices. As the evening fell, it once again became more busy in Razor hill, the Cultists moving around as well when Rhonya arrived back from her gatherings. It was quite the interesting evening, first filled with completing the task that her tutor and sister, Marshfang, had given her, followed by a short axe fighting lesson. Shortly after that, Rhonya managed to get into a ‘fight’ with one of the Cultists who had once been part of a torture session the Cult had done on the female Orc. It ended well, however, and Rhonya just chose to remain in the inn for the rest of the evening, mostly talking to Sharptongue and some other Cultists. She had told her sister she’d try to at least make it work a little, so she did.

Rhonya awoke the next morning, alone. Grek’thar was probably out somewhere, minding his own business. That was fine with Rhonya, since she had some plans of her own to do. Inspired by the talk she and Sharptongue had had a few days before that, she had written a ritual. A ritual to do by herself, to catch the attention once again from the Elements. She’d been meditating for months now, without any success in getting her powers back, but perhaps this would work. While she had gathered the ingredients for Sharptongues ritual that still had to be done with Skorm, which would have to happen after the war now, she had also gathered some things for herself. Moving through her stuff with her hands, she checked if she had everything, nodding to herself when this seemed to be the case.

The small female moved outside slowly, not wanting to be followed by anyone. She made her way to one of the places where the ridges still hung above the water filled canyon now, choosing a nice spot on one of the flat plateau’s. Rhonya put down her bag and got some things out of it, a bowl, a candle she bought from a merchant and a pile of leaves that she put on the ground as well. With a stick she drew a circle in the sand around her, then dividing that circle into four quarters.  Rhonya was wearing only a very simple brown robe, no shoes or anything else, except the tooth necklace that she’d gotten from Grek’thar long ago. Her feet red of the sand, she moved to put the items in the circle, the pile of leaves in one, the candle in one and the bowl in the last, that she filled with water.

The she-orc looked around a moment, a light breeze playing with her deep black hair, making tendrils of it move slowly over her shoulders. Rhonya stood straight, closing her eyes a moment and inhaled deeply, before she turned to face east and spoke, with a clear and determined voice.

“Great element of the East, warmth of the rising sun, Element of the new day. Great element fire, nuclear fire of the sun.
From you comes our life energy, vital spark, power to see far, to envision with boldness.
You who purifies the senses, our hearts and our minds. I humbly ask that I may be aligned with you, that your energy may flow through me, and be expressed by me for the good of this earth and all living things upon it.”

With these words she leaned forward towards the candle, lighting it with two firestones that she had put down next to it. The flame struggled a moment to catch and remain burning, but it did firmly after a few seconds. Rhonya stood up straight again, turning south now.

“Great element of the South, protector of the fruitful lands and of all things growing, the noble trees and grasses.
Great  earth, element of nature, great power of receptive, of nurturance and endurance, bringing forth the flowers of the fields, fruits of the orchards and of the garden. I humbly ask that I may be aligned with you, that your power may flow through me for the good of this earth and all living things upon it.”

Her hair falling over her shoulder, she bended forward to grasp some of the red sand in her hand, throwing it up in the air, scattering it in the wind. She didn’t even wipe her hand, but just continued, turning her form west now, robe flowing lazily around her legs as she did so.

“Great element of the West, element of the great waters of river, lakes, springs and rains.
Great element of the ocean, deepest matriarch, womb of all life.
With you comes the dissolving of boundaries and of limitations, the power to taste, feel, cleanse and heal. Great blissful darkness of peace. I humbly ask that I may be aligned with you, that your power may flow through me, for the good of this earth and all living things upon it.”

Crouching down once more, she turned the bowl of water upside down, pouring the liquid onto the red sands. She turned once again, now to the north, the last direction.

“Great element of the North, invisible spirits of the air, the spirits of the cool winds. Vast and boundless Great  sky, your breath animates us and all life. From you comes clarity, strength and the power to hear inner sounds, to seek out old patterns and bring challenges and change. The purity and ecstasy of movement and dance. I humbly ask that I may be aligned with you, that your powers may flow through me for the good of this earth and all living things upon it.”

Picking up the pile of leaves, she moved her hands up in a fast movement, throwing those into the breeze, watching them as the wind carried them over the land. Rhonya just stood still for a moment, before speaking.

“Spirits within me, those who guide me and keep me safe from harm. I also call on you, in this hour of need, to hear my call. Elements of old, Fire, Earth, Water and Air, I ask for forgiveness. I regret my actions of the past, and vowed myself never to repeat them. I ask of you to give me a second chance, so I may prove that I am worthy of receiving your aid.”

After those words she kneeled, head low, eyes closed as she waited. Suddenly, a feeling filled her, a hotness in her stomach, slowly building. A hard breeze suddenly whipped her hair around her face, almost threatening to push her over, but somehow she stayed put, as if being held to the earth by some unseen force. Droplets of water flew through the air as the usually still waters were disturbed by something. Rhonya shuddered once, feeling the force that had gathered around her, but she stayed put.

A deep voice then filled her head, rumbling and harsh. “Child, you have disappointed us before. We turned away from you for long, ignored your prayers and your calls, as we saw it a fit punishment for the deeds you have done. But we decided… You will need to start over, pay a price for our aid this time if you call on us. We will claim something of you, since you will be claiming something of us as well. Use this power wisely, child of the elements, for if you wrong us again, we shall not be so forgiving. “

Rhonya nodded, and spoke softly. “I will not disappoint you again. I will give and take, as it should be.” The presence then pulled itself back from her mind, though soft words still echoed through it. “So it will be.”

Rhonya opened her eyes then, noting that tears were streaming down her cheeks. The candle next to her was burned down to only a stump of what it once had been, black and charred. The waterbowl was gone, probably blown away by the wind which also had covered the circle she had drawn with red earth, making it near invisible, as if she’d never drawn it in the first place. The she-orc felt tired, drained and exhausted, but happy, almost covered from tip to toe in the red sand. She’d finally done it…A second chance to do it right. Tilting her head, she looked up into the sky a moment. “Thank you…”

[Thrash'Nak]

Goose bumbs, nuff said. Your so good at writing! Good job! ))

[Grekthar]

Love it

[Therak]

Quite a lovely story!

[Mozrogg]

The elements are going to take baby orc!