Rend's crushing victory drew thunderous cheers. Every spectator in the arena shouted the name of their High Chieftain. This event had also proclaimed the High Chieftain's authority—no one was permitted to challenge it!
The severely wounded and unconscious Cairne Bloodhoof was sent back to Thunder Bluff in Mulgore overnight by Tauren warriors of the Bloodhoof Guard for treatment.
Baine Bloodhoof lived in Bloodhoof Village by Stone Bull Lake rather than Thunder Bluff. Upon hearing that his father had been severely wounded and fallen unconscious, he hurried to Mulgore.
After confirming that his father, Cairne Bloodhoof, was merely badly injured and not in mortal danger, Baine Bloodhoof was invited by a group of Tauren elders into the largest tent in Mulgore.
The matter of Cairne Bloodhoof challenging the Horde High Chieftain and being defeated in a Mak'gora had already spread. Everyone knew that Cairne Bloodhoof was no longer suited to be Tauren High Chieftain, and the Tauren of Mulgore had to choose a new one.
The chieftains and elders of the Tauren clans had clearly divided into two camps. One camp, led by the Bloodhoof Clan and the Runetotem Clan, supported Baine Bloodhoof's succession as Tauren High Chieftain.
The other camp supported Anok Grimtotem, including the Grimtotem Clan, the Wildmane Clan, and others.
In terms of influence, Baine Bloodhoof and Anok Grimtotem stood at roughly six to four. After all, the Bloodhoof Clan and Runetotem Clan were the largest and third-largest Tauren clans. Over the years, Anok Grimtotem had followed Rend through countless campaigns, steadily building his prestige and winning over many small and medium-sized clans to gain such support.
Although the Camp Taurajo massacre had greatly lowered Cairne Bloodhoof's support, the prestige Cairne Bloodhoof had accumulated among the Tauren over the years was simply too great. How many of them