Zaela's Return and Warsong's Goodwill

After a night of revelry, relations throughout the Horde had grown much closer. What had once merely been a refuge for the downtrodden was now beginning to resemble a shared home.

"Rend, will you come with us to that ancient continent?" Thrall sought Rend out early that morning to discuss the matter. After all, the Blackrock Clan was living far better than the other Horde clans, and he did not know whether they would choose to follow him to an unknown new continent and build a home there.

"Of course, Warchief. When we abandoned Blackrock Spire and brought everything we had to join the Horde, didn't that already say it all? There is no turning back. The Blackrock Clan is willing to carve out a homeland for the Horde on the new continent." If he had not known history so well, Rend naturally would not have gone with Thrall. Kalimdor was unknown to the orcs, while the Blackrock Clan had money, men, and even a leader looking after them. Why had he defected? Was it not because he knew the Horde was the true path? Rather than following a paper tiger, why not follow the new Horde and fight for a founding elder's seat by opening new lands? Besides, Rend had little desire for the position of Warchief. The Horde's Warchief was far too dangerous... He wanted to live a little longer, and he did not possess the leadership ability needed to coordinate the clans while facing several powers, including the Alliance, on all sides. Just having him open several fronts against the Alliance would overwhelm him. It was like the difference between a general and a commander: a general commanded one army, while a commander commanded thousands.

Rend had only a bit of cleverness, knowledge of history, and the Blackrock Clan, his beginner's gift delivered right to his door, to secure a place for himself. Otherwise, climbing upward would have been unimaginably difficult.

After Thrall questioned and tested Rend, Rend barely earned Thrall's trust and won the Blackrock Clan a ticket to Kalimdor.

Zaela had yet to return. Fortunately, the Horde also needed time to reorganize and prepare. At Rend's insistence, the Horde would first help find Zaela and unite the Dragonmaw Clan before heading to Menethil Harbor to seize Alliance ships.

Two days passed, and everyone was beginning to grow anxious. Speed was vital in war; the Alliance at Menethil Harbor had already caught wind of things and begun preparing defenses. The earlier they arrived, the sooner they could secure a new homeland for the Horde.

"Rend, I understand your guilt toward the Dragonmaw Clan and your wish to bring them to the new homeland with us. But according to the information the Warchief received from the seer, time is truly pressing." Eitrigg, who had become an adviser to the Blackrock Clan, began trying to persuade Rend. No one was better suited to that role than him.

"I know, Eitrigg. But I believe in Zaela. If she said she would bring the Dragonmaw Clan back, then she will." Determination filled Rend's remaining left eye. Though he was not especially familiar with Zaela, based on his knowledge of history and their brief exchanges, he believed in her.

"By this afternoon at the latest, Rend. The Warchief has already ordered the raid on Menethil Harbor to begin tomorrow morning. Tonight, we must head west." Eitrigg was caught in a difficult position. On one hand, he understood the Warchief's urgency; on the other, he understood Rend's decision to wait. Although Rend had delayed them for the Dragonmaw Clan, Eitrigg was comforted by the fact that Rend had truly changed. He was willing to acknowledge and make amends for his mistakes.

The sun gradually sank westward. Rend had stood outside waiting all day. He knew that if the Dragonmaw Clan had not arrived by nightfall, he could only leave with the Horde. He could not delay his entire plan for the Dragonmaw Clan.

A tiny black shadow suddenly appeared on the horizon. Rend strained to focus his left eye. As the black speck gradually grew larger, he heard a familiar cry, filled with joy and impatience. It was Gyth. Having been away from his master for nearly a week, the chromatic dragon finally caught sight of him. Excitedly beating his wings, Gyth quickly descended and landed beside Rend.

Zaela leaped from his back, and Gyth immediately threw himself down beside Rend, rubbing hard against his most important master.

"Good boy. All right, all right, wait a moment." Rend stroked Gyth's head. At that moment, the chromatic dragon was like a little dog, so lovable that it stirred one's affection.

"Zaela, I knew you would return. Hurry and tell me the good news." Rend spoke boldly. He knew Zaela could do it. He had not waited in vain.

"Yes, Chieftain Rend. After suffering the dragons' retaliation, our people scattered. They became discouraged and afraid. Chieftain Zuluhed successfully escaped back to Draenor through the gateway, and the remaining clan members believed they had been abandoned. The dragons had also frightened them out of their wits. It took me a long time to find them. At first, they hid far away from Gyth, mistaking him for one of the dragons. Only after I realized this did I begin searching for them on foot. It took all these days to gather most of our people." Fear of the Dragonmaw Clan's retaliation from the dragons had caused Zaela to waste several days flying about on Gyth. In the end, she had gathered the Dragonmaw Clan by traveling on foot. However, they had scattered too widely, and some Dragonmaw survivors from isolated villages had not been found. Knowing time was short, Zaela gathered eighty to ninety percent of the surviving clan members before hurrying to rendezvous with Rend.

Zaela had flown ahead on Gyth to inform Rend, while the rest of the Dragonmaw Clan followed behind. Rend quickly brought the good news to Thrall and had Zaela return to lead the Dragonmaw Clan over.

"Warchief Thrall, the Dragonmaw Clan has arrived. Zaela came ahead to report to me. I ask that you accept the Dragonmaw Clan into the Horde." At that moment, Thrall was discussing the raid on Menethil Harbor the following morning with Grommash.

"That is wonderful, Rend. The Horde welcomes the Dragonmaw Clan home. Your timing is perfect—I was just about to send for you to discuss tomorrow's attack on Menethil Harbor." Thrall was also delighted by the Horde's growth. Every clan was important to the current Horde. Though the Dragonmaw Clan, after suffering the dragons' retaliation, could not compare to the three major clans, it was still a mid-sized clan and a tremendously valuable source of support for the Horde.

"Rend, the Horde's only remaining fighting strength consists of the Frostwolf Clan, the Warsong Clan, and the Blackrock Clan. The other clans have only just been freed and have not yet regained their strength. The Frostwolf Clan is not suited to this kind of raid. Only the Warsong and Blackrock Clans can handle it. You will partner with me to carry out this mission. What do you say? Interested in fighting alongside Warsong?" Grommash told Rend the plan they had nearly finished discussing. Originally, the task should have gone to Warsong, the clan most skilled at breaking through defenses and possessing the strongest combat power. But Grommash had suggested to Thrall that Rend lead the Blackrock Clan into the operation as well. It would serve as a declaration of loyalty. Grommash understood this better than the still-inexperienced Thrall: the Horde needed to give Blackrock a chance to earn merit for the Horde, so it could better accept the Blackrock Clan.