Ironhoof

[Rhonoa Ironhoof]

Rhonoa was fishing by the lake in Mulgore. Her owl, Skanoton, was asleep next to her. Though Rhonoa's eyes were fixed on the bobber, her other senses remained sharp as ever. Those who knew Rhonoa would know that trying to sneak attack the Shu'Halo would be foolhardy.

*plop!*

The bobber disappeared under the water. Rhonoa pulled on her rod as she reeled in the fish. The fish put up a fight, but Rhonoa was a strong girl and it wasn't long until she had her prey. Rhonoa held the fish out to inspect it and whistled. It was a big one! Rhonoa was pleased. There was a new fish recipe that she wanted to try and share with Huatar, who for some reason was the only one who ever wanted to try her cooking twice.

She placed the fish into a bucket next her her and went to pack her rod and other fishing items. Skanoton woke up and stared at the wiggling fish. So big... so tasty...

Rhonoa shouldered her rod and turned to pick up the bucket when she saw that the fish she caught was gone. She caught Skanoton's eye and gave the large white owl a glare. She was about to unpack to try and catch another fish when suddenly...

"Rhonoa! Rhonoa!"

Rhonoa lifted her head and saw another Shu'Halo heading her way. He was about her age and covered in reddish-brown fur. A simple dark green kilt was wrapped around his middle. Rhonoa's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Kona?"

The male Shu'Halo laughed out loud with joy and waved his arms in the air. "Rhonoa! It's good to see----WHOA!!"

Rhonoa watched, amused as Kona tripped on a rock and fell on his face. Shaking her head and chuckling softly, Rhonoa moved toward the male and helped him onto his hooves. No sooner had he been up that Kona surprised Rhonoa with a big hug.

"Rhonoa! My friend! I've missed you! The whole tribe has missed you! Look at you! You're huge! Er, in a good way, of course! Wow! Is that a battle scar on your neck there? I can feel your muscles! I bet you can lift two grown males! No three! Fo--"

Rhonoa picked up the talkative, grabby Kona, took a step, then placed him on his hooves. She moved back, lifting a paw to warn Kona to give her space.

"Kona, what are you doing here?"

Immediately, Kona's good mood vanished. He lowered his eyes. "Rhonoa... I'm here to bring sorry news. Your father, Chieftain Grawth Ironhoof has passed away five nights ago."

Rhonoa stared at Kona in disbelief. Then she closed her eyes and lowered her head. Kona remained silent, knowing to give his childhood friend a moment. After a bit of silence, Rhonoa sighed deeply and returned her gaze to Kona's.

"How did he die?"

"The quillboar," Kona explained. "We were in the Barrens and the quillboar attacked us. We managed to drive them off, but Chieftain Grawth was hit by an arrow during the attack. We thougth he would make it but... the wound turned poison and... But he fought like a true Shu'Halo Chieftain and saved us."

Rhonoa nodded. "An honorable death. I'm sure my father would not have it any other way."

"Aye," Kona replied. "After the Chieftain left to be with the Earthmother, I was sent to find you. It didn't take as long as I had thought. You have quite a reputation, Rhonoa. Anyway, I was told that you spend a lot of time here in Mulgore... in another tribe."

Rhonoa nodded again. "Aye, I was taken in by the Earthspear Tribe. ... Is something wrong, Kona?"

Kona's eyes met Rhonoa. "Rhonoa, my friend, I was not sent to find you just to deliver sad news. Rhonoa, your father had no other young. You're his only calf. You do know what this means?"

A shocked look appeared on the normally stoic tauren's face. She did know what that meant. Kona explained anyway.

"It means... you're now the Chieftess of the Ironhoof Tribe. I was sent to bring you back so you can lead the tribe. Your mother is watching over everything until you arrive, but we must not waste time. C'mon, Rhonoa! We have to go!"

Kona took Rhonoa's paw to take her with him, but Rhonoa remained in place. Slowly, the big female shook her head. "No, Kona. I can't."

Kona opened his mouth to protest but Rhonoa raised a paw to silence him. "Not yet. Have no fear, I won't abandon my duty to the tribe, but there are... things I need to take care of. You've had a long journey, my friend. Bloodhoof isn't far from here. You can lodge there. I'll join you when I am ready."

Kona bowed respectfully. "I shall wait for your arrival... Chieftess."

Rhonoa watched as the Shu'Halo ran off. Her face expressionless, she picked up her fishing gear and looked to Skanoton. "Come, Skanoton. We must be going."

[Huatar Earthspear]

Huatar watched as Rhonoa walked off, and stood out in the midst of the falling tears of the Earthmother for only several moments before turning back to the inn. He paused, looked over his shoulder to watch the fading figure of the female Tauren, then looked back to walk into the inn. It was a quiet evening, one that was made even quieter with the leaving of the only one that he knew would bring back the fire to his heart.

He felt that it became cold, not just from the rain. He crossed his arms and rubbed them, looking around the dark inn with eyes as calm as they could be--mostly from sadness. But what could he do? He understood that Rhonoa had other responsibilities she had to attend to. Though the news was shocking and brief, he understood that she had to leave. What had made his heart heavy with sorrow was that he did not know how long it will be until he sees her again.

Huatar walked up the ramp to the balcony overlooking the lake, placing both of his palms on the railing. His eyes rolled down as he thought about the moments spent with Rhonoa for the past several months. He sighed, looking back up to the lake.

It would be a harrowing experience, one that he must endure. He promised to himself that, no matter how long he would wait, he would always be waiting for what he considered to be the love of his life. He would remain faithful to only her, no matter what.

But now, nothing could contain his sorrow. He fell on one knee, his face pressed against the fur of his arm. His body shook from what seemed like light weeping.

It will be difficult...He thought to himself, ...But I must endure...

[Rhonoa Ironhoof]

Weeks had passed since Rhonoa left the Earthspears to lead the Ironhoof Tribe. In the northern Barrens where the Ironhoofs decided to make their new camp, Rhonoa sat in her tent and contemplated the last few weeks.

Had she not been wearing her wolf mask, one would see how shocked Rhonoa was when she saw the tribe for the first time in years. The tribe had gotten a lot smaller during her absence. What was once a two-score and ten Shu'Halo tribe was down to a mere fifteen with many of the members being well on in years or too young to battle. Evidence of rough living was everywhere, from the poor, broken down equipment the tribe carried to the number of wounds and scars each grown tauren had. Even the Ironhoofs were greatly affected by the wars.

Rhonoa was welcomed back to her tribe, her mother, Kaya, being the happiest of all. However, while she was welcomed to her tribe, there were many doubts about her skills as a leader, and Rhonoa knew it. She could not blame them. After all, she did leave the tribe years ago. The tough Shu'Halo knew she would have to prove to her tribe that she was capable and that she could be trusted to take care of the tribe.

But it wasn't easy.

With the war going on, more and more posts were being built in different parts of the continent. No matter where they went, the Ironhoofs found themselves competing with others for food and resources. Attacks on the tribe from enemies such as gnolls, furbolg, and the Alliance were often, and Rhonoa was hard pressed to protect what was left of her tribe. At last, she was forced to bring her tribe back to the Barrens, where the attacks on the tribe were not so frequent and the land was familiar.

Rhonoa sighed deeply and rubbed her temples. Three more Shu'Halo were slain under her leadership, and the Chieftess knew one thing for certain.

The Ironhoof Tribe was dying out. Slowly, but surely, it was dying.

Frustrated, Rhonoa slammed her fist on the small wooden table before her, smashing it. She remained seated near the broken table, silent, teeth clenched and fist shaking. Cecil, Rhonoa's pet tiger, moved over to his master's side and laid next her her. Rhonoa raised a paw and stroked the tiger's fur.

"Cecil, my friend, I don't know what to do."

Cecil stared at Rhonoa with gentle green eyes. Then he raised a paw and lifted the wooden pendant that hung around Rhonoa's neck. Rhonoa looked down at it. Huatar had given the pendant to her before she left, and Rhonoa wore it everyday since.

Understanding the tiger, Rhonoa looked at him and nodded. "You are right, my friend. The Ironhoofs have to be united with the other tribes. It may be the only way to save it. But the Ironhoofs are traditional. They will not want to change their customs so easily, especially the older ones."

Rhonoa lifted her head and watched the tribe through the opening of her tent.

"It will not be easy, but it's our only chance."

[Huatar Earthspear]

(( The following happened in-game, but some of the dialog was dug up through memory. May not be accurate. ))

Huatar had been where he stood for the past five days - standing on the wooden balcony overlooking the small lake behind the inn of Bloodhoof Village. It has been this long, precisely, since he had last seen Rhonoa and waited till the day that she would return. His calm, blue eyes scanned over the luminescent, azure lake in silent contempt. Off in the distant, he could hear the sounding of sparrows, the rumblings of Kodo, and the conversations of those within the village. He closed his eyes, paws flat against the wooden railings of the balcony. He listened to the wondrous melodies and symphonies of the wildlife, the swaying of the trees, and the blowing of the wind.

Had his heart not been set on Rhonoa, he would have enjoyed this moment. He would have been at peace.

But nearby, and as he opened his eyes in surprise, he could hear the approaching rumbling of Kodofeet. He furrowed his brows and turned to look over his shoulder. Kodo do not come this close to the village, unless...

He turned and moved over to the side railing as the rumbling continued to approach, his spear's runic shaft tightly gripped by his clenching paws. Huatar had raised his eyebrows in surprise, also in joy. In the nearby-distance, the familiar figure of a female Tauren, abroad a grey, armored Kodo, came into clear view. The female was wearing a tan kilt, a hefty axe over her back, and apparent-brown gloves. Her face was hidden under a tribal mask in the shape of a wolf.

His mood had extremely lightened. He knew this Tauren all too well. Rhonoa had returned to him.

As she approached, he cried out, "Rhonoa?! Is it really you?! Have I gone mad?!"

From what he could see, she smiled underneath her wolf-helm and shook her head, "No, Huatar. You are not going mad. It is me." Huatar leaped off of the balcony and ran up to her in sheer joy, almost ready to jump up at her and embrace her. But as he approached, he could only tell that she was not here just to see him...Behind her smile, he could see an apparent worry.

"I am sorry, Huatar," she said as she leaped off of her mount, "I wish I could say that I was here to see you, but this is not the reason..." She looked away for a moment, but retrained her eyes on the male Tauren. Huatar nodded, "I see..." His face was stern, "What do you need?"

Rhonoa continued, as Huatar listened, about the state of her Tribe since she had left so long ago; how when she returned, there was hardly any of her kin remaining. In the weeks she was overseeing the tribe, there were doubts of her leadership, and so she returned to Mulgore - and ultimately, to Huatar - to seek guidance on what to do. She spoke to Huatar about potentially uniting her tribe with others, so that they may live out their existances in peace, living in the Mulgore lands.

"I needed to come..." she sighed, "I don't know what to do...I want my people to be protected, but I worry that I won't be able to unite them among others without offending them...They linger on old traditions..."

Huatar nodded, stroking his beard while thinking, "Hrm..." He mused to himself for moments, "There are possibilities...But many of them are very difficult...Near-impossible..."

Rhonoa nodded, understandingly, "I only know that there has to be some way to do so...I wish for my people to be safe here, in Mulgore...But above all..." She placed her paw on Huatar's arm, "I wish to be with you..."

Huatar's heart warmed, beating faster in its place. He began to think further on her situation; in his mind, he had already come up with a solution...One that he didn't know if Rhonoa would agree to, or not. Finally, he steeled himself and nodded, then looked her in the eyes, "There is another way..."

She stared at him back, her head cocked to the side, "What is it?"

Huatar gulped, thinking on his next words, "The only way to unite your tribe...without offense...Is a love-bond with another, into another tribe. That is the only way..." He looked back to her, waiting for her response.

Rhonoa thought for only a moment, "A love-bond..." She sighed, but nodded, "I understand..."

Huatar had seen this as his oppurtunity...A culmination of the two months he had known her, and their abrupt time together...This question would either make it or break it. He held out his paw, palm up, with a soft smile, "Then, Rhonoa Ironhoof...Will you be my mate, to both save your tribe..." He blinked as he thought, "...and for other, personal reasons?"

Rhonoa smiled, then placed her paw on Huatar's, "Huatar, Chieftain of the Earthspear...I accept..."

Huatar closed his paw on hers and slowly moved up to her, wrapping her in a warm embrace. He closed his eyes as he cold her close, "I've missed you..." He sighed.

And they stayed there, wrapped in each others' arms...

[Rhonoa Ironhoof]

In the Barrens, near Camp Taurajo, Rhonoa stood before her tribe, Huatar by her side. All her pets, from Sheba to Lask, sat behind her, almost as if they were her bodyguards.

Rhonoa was not a tauren to beat around the bush and went straight to the point with her tribe.

"Fellow Ironhoofs, I will not deny the truth. The tribe is dying out. Deny it all you want; it won't change the fact that our numbers have fallen and continue to fall. As your Chieftess, it is my duty to assure the tribe's existance."

The remaining Ironhoofs stared at Rhonoa. Each of them wondered what their Chieftess is up to. Rhonoa watched her follows. Some seemed to doubt that she would be able to save them. Two turned their heads away, as if denying the truth. After a moment of silence, Rhonoa continued.

"Last night, I went to Bloodhoof in Mulgore, and spoke to the Chieftain Huatar of the Earthspear Tribe, who stands next to me. He proposed that we unite our tribe through a love-bond, and I have accepted his proposal."

The Ironhoofs suddenly began to chatter amongst themselves. Rhonoa's mother, Kaya, cried out in joy and moved over to embrace her.

"But wouldn't that mean giving up our nomadic life?" one of the older Shu'Halo asked. "We're Ironhoofs! Traveling is in our blood!"

Rhonoa looked to the older one. "I do not disagree, but tradition will do us no good if we're wiped out. I will not allow such a thing to happen. The Ironhoofs shall join the Earthspears and the Ironhoofs will survive. This is my decision!"

The Ironhoofs went silent and looked at one another. Rhonoa turned her gaze to Huatar. "Chieftain Huatar, have you anything to say?"

[Huatar Earthspear]

Huatar kept the Earthspear leaned against his left shoulder, his left hand gripped firmly on its runic-laden shaft. As Rhonoa said her piece, and then asked Huatar for any input, he simply took in a breath to speak.

"As one that had thought as much as yourselves," he began, his calm, azure eyes scanning over the attendance, "...One that had believed Tradition would bring about peace in solitude, I understand that you are all reluctant to abandon your traditions...But I can assure you all, a life of solitude here in the Barrens will do you all no good, without help...Without assistance."

He took another short breath, "I remember, there was a time not too long ago when my Tribe thought alike. We had lived a peaceful existence, albeit a quiet one; we had made no motion to make contact with other Tribes that had settled in regions around us. It was a most fatal mistake, but it was one that was not noticed for hundreds of years. The Centaur, if not disease, malnutrition, and starvation, wiped out what was left of my Tribe." He pauses and looks to Rhonoa, "As one that cares for your Chieftess - in more ways than some could imagine - I care deeply for the safety of her Tribe, even if it is not my own."

His eyes then scanned across the congregation, "I will say this to you all, you will all find peace and prosperity if you forsake your traditional ways and unite with the others...More harm will come to you if you remain nomadic and in solitude."

[Rhonoa Ironhoof]

Rhonoa nodded to Huatar and spoke to her tribe once more. "None of you have been to Mulgore. I have. It is a beautiful land. There is a lot of open land, with green grass and a beautiful lake. Kodo roam the lands, along with plenty of other wildlife that Shu'Halo can hunt in peace. There we have no fear of the Centaur, or of starvation or harsh conditions. There are plenty of places to explore. If you still wish to wander, then you can do it at Mulgore in safety.

The Ironhoofs began talking amongst themselves again. This time, they sounded more optimistic. Rhonoa watched them for a moment before she stepped foward.

"We shall head for Mulgore immediately! As for any of you who disagree..." Rhonoa paused to take out her huge axe. She held it easily in both paws and stared at the tauren before her. "... maybe you would like to become chieftain of this tribe? I'm open to a challenge. Step forward now if you think you're brave enough to defeat me and lead the Ironhoofs!"

There was no response to Rhonoa's challenge. The Chieftess lowered her weapon and nodded in approval. "Good. Break camp! We leave now!"

The group broke up and went their seperate ways to prepare for the journey. Rhonoa smiled at Huatar. "Thank you for coming, Huatar."

[Huatar Earthspear]

Huatar, with the Earthspear against his left shoulder and both his arms wrapped around it, smiled and nodded to Rhonoa. He broke from his position and placed a hand on Rhonoa's shoulder, "This is a decision for the best, Rhonoa. Your people will be safe in Mulgore...I can promise that."