Finding the Road

Greatmother Hawkwind smoothed back the Tauren's mane and met the eyes of her son over Ihoni's drowsing head. She had been so exhausted when she'd finally made it to Camp Narache; it had been all Greatmother could do to get her to sit, much less bed down.
"She will not be able to stay here for long," the chieftain said, his voice a muted rumble so as not to wake the slumbering Skychaser. "Not that it will be I who sends her off..."
Greatmother Hawkwind smiled quietly. "No," she murmured. "She will go of her own. Give her a few days, my son, and she will find her path."
And as the wise old Tauren said it, so was it to pass. A fortnight in passing found Ihoni strapping on the rucksack that they had given her. Determination was a gleam in her light eyes as she sank into a careful bow. The chieftain smiled, but it was Greatmother Hawkwind who settled old, wrinkled hands on her shoulders.
"Your journey begins now, young Shu'halo. Fit your hooves to the earth below, and you will not fall."
"Thank you, Greatmother," Ihoni replied, and the words shook with emotion. "I appreciate all you have done."
Chief Hawkwind chuckled, a warm sound. "We have done nothing, little druid. It was you who did the work, and you who found your feet."
But Ihoni knew that wasn't entirely true. Without Greatmother's stern, caring guidance, without the chieftain's gruff concern, Ihoni wasn't at all sure that she would have made it. She would have turned around, gone back to Thunder Bluff, back to the disapproval of her brother and the watchful stares of the spirits she wasn't sure she knew how to understand.
Now, it was different. She was sure.
Sort of.
She dug a hoof into the earth beneath her feet and took a deep breath. It was now, or never. If she turned back now, she would always be Ihoni Skychaser, forgotten sister, mediocre shaman. Corralled wife. No. It wouldn't be like that.
She would do what the Skychasers have always done: she would excel. But she would excel on her terms.
Ihoni flung her arms around Greatmother's fragile shoulders, squeezed, and drew away. She strode down the path without another word.
"Ihoni!"
She hesitated, turned.
Greatmother Hawkwind was smiling. "Go to Bloodhoof Village, child. You will find questions there."
"Questions?" She shook her head, puzzled. "You mean answers?"
Chief Hawkwind's great laugh rumbled over the air. "She means questions," he chuckled. "Answers come at the end of the road."
"The road to Bloodhoof?"
They both just smiled, and the chief lifted a heavily muscled arm in farewell.
Bemused, Ihoni turned once more and found the road.
Category: Horde Stories
Category: Stories