Raging Tauren

Authors Note: In the World of Warcraft a Tauren is the similar in appearance to a minotaur of mythology. However, in the world of Azeroth, the Tauren have a culture that is very close to Mother Earth, as were many American Indian Cultures.

Xasas sat across from Elder Runetotem. A warm fire crackled in the background as a cool evening breeze blew across elder rise. In the background the sound of drums drift across Thunderbluff from hunter rise. The two Tauren stare into the fire for some time. The younger of the two breaks the silence first…

“Elder Runetotem I miss Bloodhoof village.”

“In the time you have been here you have served the tribe well Xasas. I am proud of you. You will always have a home here. What troubles you young one?”

“Elder, the day I left Bloodhoof village it was attacked by a mighty dwarven warrior in plate armor. He attacked the guards and our young ones. Why did he do that?”

“I know of what you speak. The dwarf was exacting vengeance for his brethren who died at the Bael’dun mines to the west.”

“But Elder, the dwarves are digging in sacred lands”

“Yes, I know that Xasas. We did ask them to stop, many times. The dwarves refused. Chief Cairne Bloodhoof decided that the time for speaking came to an end. But the grievance of the races go much deeper than that.”

“What do you mean elder? Why do they hate us? The nightelf druids of moonglade are our friends. I go there all the time now.”

“This is true Xasas, but you must understand some things. The orcs have long hated the humans. This is because the humans kept the orcs as slaves and worse…many of their people where hunted to near extinction.”

“But did the orc’s invade the humans? Didn’t you say that they were tricked into it by Gul’dan and the Shadow Council? But for the deception of the Shadow Council you said the Orc’s wouldn’t have even come here. The orcs of the Frostwolf clan were even exiled for refusing to follow Gul’dan."

“Yes, this is true Xasas. But you must understand, of all the beasts you will ever hunt, the hardest to kill is hatred.”

Both Elder Runetotem and Xasas sat together, as silence passed between them. Once again the younger Tauren asked for his elder’s wisdom.

“Elder, there is something else that troubles me…”

“What is it Xasas?” Elder Runetotem asked me.

“The other day I was hunting in the Barren Planes near the Cross Roads, I continued. As you taught me, each time I take the life of a beast I thank its spirit and that of the Earthmother for the life that gave itself so the Taurens can live.”

“That is good Xasas,” Elder Runetotem said to me with a smile, “You learn well. Truly you walk with the Earthmother. Please continue…”

“Well, Elder, I had just finished prayer for the noble spirit of the mighty Kodo. As I was taught, I always skin the beast and use all its parts. I leave nothing laying on the open plane.”

“This is good. That is they way of our people. The Kodo is a mighty and noble creature. You were right to pray for it’s spirit.”

Hesitantly Xasas continued. “My prayers were interrupted by the sounds of battle. I rushed to the crossroads and dozens of humans were raiding the orc settlement, killing all that they could. You have sent me many times to the Nightelf settlement in Moonglade for training. Because of this I speak a bit of elvish….well…as I saw the orcs dieing and wounded all around me, I began to heal them. I thought I would do my best to help those in pain. Amongst them was a nightelf warrior. He was trying to kill an Orc warrior. I healed the Orc warrior so he could not. That’s when the nightelf turned to me and shouted something at me….”

Here the younger stopped. A pained look crossed his face and he could not go on. Elder Runetotem, being as understanding as he is, let Xasas continue in his own time. After a great deal of silence passed, the elder spoke….

“What did he say to you Xasas?”

The younger choked downhis emotions that were a mixture of grief and anger. Slowly he continued, “He told me I should go back with the other young ones and…and…well, ‘milk myself.’ He looked up at his elder through tear filled eyes. At length he continued, “Elder, the humans all think we are just big dumb cows don’t they.”

“Sadly, Xasas, many of them do. What do you feel you should do about it?”

Xasas got up and stood for awhile; staring into the fire. He looked into Elder Runetotem’s eyes and said, “There is a human expression my elder, that says ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’”

“Yes Xasas, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’…and the whole world will be blind and toothless. Is this the course of action you choose Xasas?”

Xasxas turned away and strode toward the door. Then he stopped, and without looking back at my elder said, “I don’t know…I just don’t know…”