Moon and the Great White Stag

Staghelm smiled and nodded. "You're right, Chieftain Bloodhoof. For the Tauren to emerge from such a terrifying nightmare, the courage and sacrifices they made must have been unimaginable."

Hearing this, Cairne looked at little Sian beside him, who was shrinking back timidly, and suddenly recalled what had happened that morning. He quietly sighed.

He had secretly gone to Carl's home. Cairne had told no one about this visit; even Tamara did not know.

While the thin mist had yet to disperse, the chieftain, burdened by complicated feelings, knocked on his cousin's door. Tally lifted the tent flap and was startled to see him. She smiled apologetically, then lowered her voice and called for her husband.

As she turned away, Cairne noticed the packed luggage in the corner.

The chieftain sighed. He immediately understood what the couple intended, and that was precisely why he had come.

Carl soon emerged, surprise and a hint of embarrassment on his face. The three silently looked at one another for a long while before Cairne's deep voice broke the morning air.

"You weren't even planning to say goodbye to me?"

Carl scratched his head and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, big brother. I didn't want to draw too much attention, so I thought it would be better to leave quietly."

Tally quietly took Carl's hand and gently shook her head.

Carl sighed and said softly, "We weren't planning to leave without a word. There's actually a letter tucked beneath the corner of the table, for you and sister-in-law. I know this isn't a good way to say goodbye, but we have no other choice."

The young bull smiled sincerely. "Forgive me, big brother. Thank you so much for looking after us all these years, but things have reached this point. We can't remain in Bloodhoof Village any longer."

"Where are you going?" Cairne asked in a low voice.

"The Stonetalon Mountains. Our homeland."

Carl forced a smile. "After roaming the plains for so many years, it's time to remember what life in the mountains was like. It may be poor, but it will be more peaceful."

"How will you survive?" The chieftain stared at him coldly.

"I'll go to Stonetalon Peak and look for the tribes that once lived there. If I can't find them... no, I'll definitely find them!"

Bang—!

A tremendous dull crash rang out. The tent groaned and creaked as dust pattered down. Cairne raised his head coldly, then slowly withdrew the fist he had smashed into the wooden beam as he faced the stunned couple.

He stood before Carl and Tally, silently watching them. He knew why they had made this choice.

Because of their child.

That kind little one had saved countless people. It was a glorious and noble deed, enough to make their ancestors proud—one could even call it a miracle of the Earth Mother.

But what followed was immense danger.

The Tauren were known for their kindness and sincerity, but when faced with a feat capable of overturning fate itself, even someone as steadfast as Cairne could not help but be shaken. What would everyone else think?

Cairne understood Carl and Tally's thoughts very well, but precisely because he understood, he was exceptionally furious.

He was furious that his cousin would rather pursue an illusory path than trust the village they loved, or even trust that his big brother would do everything in his power to protect their family.

"Give Bloodhoof Village a chance. Give me a chance!"

Facing the silent pair, Cairne Bloodhoof roared angrily, "If you still love this place, if you still see me as your big brother, then don't leave!"

The chieftain bent deeply at the waist. "Don't... don't make those kind people shed tears of sorrow!"

Kind people...

For some reason, he thought of his son. The little fellow was probably still sprawled out in bed, sleeping late. He did not yet know the couple's decision. Thinking back on it, they had never managed to tell him.

Carl froze for a moment, then suddenly realized that the big brother who had once been so tall and strong had aged considerably.

What a foolish decision he had made.

Tally covered her face and sobbed. Carl silently stepped forward and gave the big brother he admired most a deep embrace.

"Ah, sorry. I remembered something else."

The Bloodhoof chieftain before him had apparently drifted off for a moment, but he had returned to his senses now.

"It's all right." The Archdruid politely shook his head, then said sincerely, "As for what I said before, perhaps I am not qualified to comment. But please believe me, the Night Elves understand the terror of the Nightmare as well."

Staghelm paused, as though he wanted to say something but held back.

His admiration had other reasons.

Tens of thousands of years ago, in the golden sands of the southern lands, the same disaster had befallen him.

Amid the present tide of the Nightmare, Cairne could protect his people. Yet as the commander of that battle long ago, Fandral could not even protect his beloved son. He could only watch in despair as his son was torn to pieces by the insect swarm.

That was a nightmare Fandral Staghelm would never escape. The father he had been had already been buried forever beneath the yellow sands of Silithus, along with the Scepter of the Shifting Sands that had shattered beneath his rage.

Staghelm continued, "I am very sorry that the Night Elves' aid came so late. We encountered some obstacles on the road, but at this point, further explanations have little meaning. We hope to make some compensation to your tribe by arranging this meeting."

At the side, Shandris Feathermoon solemnly nodded as well, a trace of shame on her face.

Cairne felt somewhat confused. These kind people had come to offer help, yet they were apologizing for faults that did not belong to them. For a moment, the chieftain was at a loss.

"I'm sorry, but I don't believe the Tauren have any reason to accept your apology, do we?"

Staghelm shook his head and explained painfully, "No, it is necessary. You do not understand the story behind this disaster, nor its countless ties to the entire Night Elf race."

Cairne looked at him curiously. Even little Sian secretly perked up his ears, apparently sensing that there was a story to hear.

At Fandral's words, a faint commotion arose among the Night Elves present. Some were pained by the truth behind it all, while others were displeased that Fandral had revealed these facts.

"This begins with the story of the first Druid, my teacher, Malfurion Stormrage. It involves my teacher's mentor, the Child of Nature, the demigod Cenarius..."

Fandral had barely begun when an abrupt voice cut in.

"Ah! I know! I know! The story of Mu'sha and the Great White Stag! The moon goddess and the Great White Stag fell in love, and their son was Cenarius!"

Whether he had been carried away or was simply acting like a child, Sian's thoughtless outburst once again drew everyone's attention. Feeling himself become the center of attention again, he only wanted to slap himself twice.

Fandral was not angered by little Sian's rude interruption. He asked kindly, "That is indeed a very ancient tale. Where did you hear it, little one?"

Watched by so many people, whatever courage Sian had somehow found immediately vanished. His face reddened as he mumbled softly, "The high priestess told me. She said they were stories passed down from ancient times, along with the legends of how the Tauren were born..."

Fandral turned curiously toward Cairne. "Forgive my presumption, but members of your people have not appeared in Moonglade for a very long time. Does your people still preserve the Druidic tradition?"

Cairne shook his head.

"For our generation, Druids are already a tale from the distant past. Perhaps our ancestors once possessed such knowledge, but regrettably, after several great migrations, many traditions were lost. Now only a few ancient stories remain, passed from mouth to mouth."

He frowned and thought for a while longer. "However, there are many Tauren tribes, and I cannot be certain whether other tribes have retained such a tradition. If you are interested, I will have Hamuul examine our records. Perhaps we may discover something."

Hamuul rose from beside him and smiled as he nodded to Staghelm. Staghelm was astonished to discover that within this unremarkable gray-white Tauren flowed an immensely terrifying power of nature.

Fandral seemed slightly distracted. "Then I must trouble you."

The chieftain shook his head and said with a smile, "After all, tracing the footsteps of our ancestors and learning where we truly came from are also matters of great importance to us."

Fandral nodded. "I understand. Then let me continue with the story of what happened behind all this—the origins of the Druids, the existence of the Emerald Dream, and the birth of the Satyrs and the Nightmare..."