On the Path to Redemption

[Rhonya]

“Raise your chin, Steelheart.”
Trakmar had said, before he had gone to rest.

So when the new day began, Rhonya set out. The sun was barely coming above the horizon, but she was up and about, collecting what she’d need. A chain, a very strong piece of rope tied to it. A piece of bloody raw meat. And her dagger. Her clothes consisted of leather pants and a simple shirt plus light leather boots, her hair bound back into a long braid.
The knowledge was there, how to hunt. The problem was more that she didn’t want to call on the spirits for this task to help her and well… there was no denying it, she just wasn’t the most strong orc around. Agile to a degree, but she’d never been strong. She pushed everything else out of her mind. Heart aches, hurts, insecurities. There was no room for them today. Today she had a task to do.

The barren lands made way for the red sands of Durotar as Rhonya made her way to the Southfury river. Thinking on a prey had actually been rather easy. Something that she felt a connection to. Something that was also a contrast to her, however. She had lived here in the Barrens and Durotar for quite a while now on her own and had gotten to know its inhabitants pretty well. She had learned to feel a certain love for the land, so that was already a start to the connection.

She followed the Durotar side of the river until she found a suitable spot. A palm tree, hanging to the side, several other palm trees surrounding it, giving the place some shade right next to the water. The little island was empty. Perfect.

Time to set up. This wouldn’t be so much a hunt of chasing something. No, this would be a test of patience and courage to a degree. It wouldn’t be easy.
The chain she brought went around the tree. It had to be firm. The rope at the end of the chain, knotted into a loop that would pull tight only one way. The bloody meat just behind the loop. 
She used the bushes to get the loop upright slightly, a little ‘path’ in between leading towards the meat. A trail of blood was made, starting in the water and leading the few steps towards the bushes.

And now she had to wait. And hope nothing else would be attracted by the scent of the blood and the slab of raw flesh.
Rhonya hid herself behind the other two trees nearby, dagger in her hand. Patience, now.. patience.

It took several hours. Several hours of the sun burning down on her shoulders and her head, several hours of watching, waiting… But finally something moved on the water’s edge. A dark shadow moving through the water, lured in by the blood. It didn’t take long for a nose to surface, followed by a long, flat head with large eyes. The jaws were enormous, teeth jutting out at odd angles, a spiny back now also visible as the creature stepped out of the water. Rhonya inhaled sharply as she saw the crocolisk step onto the land. It was.. slightly larger than she had expected. Maybe she should’ve chosen a different prey-.. No. It wasn’t meant to be an easy task and she’d always felt a certain understanding with these creatures already. It had to be this one. 
The Crocolisk took its time on land to sniff out the blood and meat, waggling with its six legs towards the bushes.
Rhonya held her breath.

Step by step, it came closer. Poked its head right through the gap in the bushes and the loop of the rope. It gobbled up the meat like it was nothing and when it turned to leave again after not finding anything more to eat, the loop tightened due to the movement.

Immediately a loud angry roar sounded as the crocolisk felt the rope around its neck pulling tight, making it struggle even more. Snapping jaws tightened around the chain, but it didn’t break. It rolled over, trying to get loose. But to no avail. Rhonya had made a good knot, had chosen a good rope.

She waited.. and waited. Patience.

Eventually the beast ended up on its stomach again. The rope wasn’t strong enough to choke it, the hide too thick.
This was her sign. It was getting tired. But a beast pushed into a corner was only more dangerous.
She had to be fast. One chance was probably all she’d get.
Making use of her small form and her agility, Rhonya leapt from the side, dagger in her hand. Her aim was perfect, she landed right on the beasts neck and stabbed the dagger down. She had no time to see if she had aimed it well, because the moment she touched the beasts back, it reacted and rolled again. A sharp pain flared up near her leg where one of the claws managed to rake open her skin. But she had no time to cry out.
Keeping a hold off the dagger, she let the movement of the large reptile fling her to the side, pulling the dagger out of its flesh again.
Rhonya rolled a few times through the dust, ending up a little bit away, luckily for her out of reach of the crocolisk, which was still stuck to the rope. And now bleeding.
A large puddle of blood started to form under the beast.

She waited.

Her own leg was bleeding, but for now she only quickly bound a piece of cloth around it. Patience. If she had gotten a good hit, the beast should bleed out in not too long. If she hadn’t.. She would have to try again, as not to make it suffer too long.
Luckily it only took a few moments of thrashing before the reptile lay still. Her aim had been well, the main artery in the neck severed. Luck had been with her today, indeed.
With a huge sigh of relief, she quickly got to work. Time to skin. And make this totem.

[Rhonya]

With a start, Rhonya woke up, letting out a soft gasp, sweat visible on her brow. It was utterly dark around her and for a moment she panicked, the remnants of the nightmare still lingering in her mind. Two arms around her pulled her back to reality though as they pulled her closer in reaction to her movement.

Rhonya looked over her shoulder a short moment. Gashuk was still asleep… She hadn’t woken him, luckily. With a soft sigh she relaxed against him again, pulling the furs slightly more over them both.
The dream… she couldn’t even remember what it had been about. Fled so fast from her mind, the only lingering thing was the fear she had felt when she’d awoken. But fear for what..? She didn’t know.
Her gaze travelled over Gashuks face as she turned herself around in his arms. Calm, at rest. She couldn’t see the massive scar that crossed right over his neck, it was too dark for that. Reaching out a finger gently, she let it travel over his cheek, his tusk.
It had been such a weird time for the both of them since his return and the Clan meet. So many emotions that had ran through her. From utter sadness to a sudden found love. From a rejection and a bond broken to an acceptance and a bond changed.

Speaking to Kozgugore the former evening had been difficult. She’d nearly misspoken a few times, almost naming him brother. Every time she had realised it, she’d bitten her tongue and a pang of pain had gone through her. But.. There was Gashuk, standing or sitting at her side the entire time, letting her know he was there for her through subtle touches of her arm, or simple soft words spoken in her ear. Rhonya had been afraid of a reaction, from Kozgugore or anyone else, to what was so clear before them. Gashuk and Rhonya had spoken about it for a long time, deciding not to hide their feelings away for the rest of the Clan. No more secrets. Whether they’d accept it or not.
None had come though so far, and she felt slightly relieved about it. Though it didn’t mean it couldn’t happen still... At least she had taken her first steps again on showing the Clan she had meant what she had said, that she'd do her best to redeem herself. Her first Gosh'kar task was completed.

Rhonya sighed softly, snuggling herself a bit closer to Gashuk. She needed her sleep… Tomorrow she planned on asking the spirits for forgiveness. With Kozgugore there. He had accepted her offer, thankfully. But now she feared what might happen. What the outcome would be…
Closing her eyes again, she tried not to think about it. For now she’d just enjoy the warmth of sharing the furs with someone who she loved, who she trusted fully, who she knew would stand at her side no matter what. Tomorrow would bring what tomorrow would bring… No use worrying about it now.

It only took her a little while to drift off again, watched over by the stars Gashuk put so much trust in.