# Tales of Mulgore - Chapter 3: Shadows of the past

Author: SecreT
Tags: F/solo, Fanfiction, Tauren

#3 of Tales of Mulgore

 **Writers note: This story contains reminiscense flashback scenes**

_Flashback scenes are made with Italic text_

_---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------_

\*Splash\*   
"Hey, watch out, you are going to scare the fishes!"   
I pulled out the lure of my fishing pole, letting out a sigh as I   
noticed it was empty. Sherinda giggled while she was swimming backwards   
with the oasis water reflecting the moonlight, with her naked wet body   
shining as she approached a small waterfall to enjoy a relaxing shower,   
but the joy and beautiful vision coming from her was overran by   
the gurgling of my stomach begging to be filled.   
"C'mon! The water feels great, come and take a bath!"   
I attached another worm to the lure, mumbling at the same time.   
"Dinner is not going to catch itself you know, I refuse to eat those   
raptor ribs again"   
Then I raised my head just to see a small stone hit me between my eyebrows.   
"Hey! Whats wrong with my raptor ribs?"   
I rubbed my forehead while standing up, I forgot how mad she becomes   
when I mention her food, it wasn't that bad, but sometimes I felt like   
eating my own arm, mostly when she did her special "Mystery meat with   
surprise".   
"Nothing, nothing, is just that I wanted some firefin snapper for once   
because... I... err... want you to cook it for me!"   
Suddenly her deep red eyes were filled with a bright sparkling and she   
grabbed her hands while showing a wide open smile.   
"Reeeeeeeally?"   
Saying this she immediately dived down the water and the silence   
prevailed until a huge watery explosion send dozens of fishes flying   
over my head, the rain of water combined with firefin snappers filled   
the shore as Sherinda resurfaced, raising her arms up in the sky in   
sign of victory. I gave her a silly look while poking the fish out of   
my shoulders.   
"Yeah... I guess that will be enough"

 The cooking fire crackled as the smoke raised above the trees,   
Sherinda gathered all the recently "fished" goodies and started   
placing them carefully so they wouldn't get burnt. She always seemed   
to enjoy it, picking whatever we found to make it a dish worth of a   
king, truth be told, if it wasn't for her continuous feeding, I would   
probably be starving all day and my body wouldn't be as strong as it   
is now.   
"Go pick some fruit for desert, this is still gonna take a while"   
I shacked my head as I came back to my senses, staring at her always   
had an effect on me that bring me serenity and calm, as if she   
irradiated an aura of purity and innocence that soothed my mind (Even   
though she acted in a slutty way some times) I giggled silently to   
myself while standing up to start searching for some sweet treats we   
could use for desert.   
"Hey Flamefeather, take care of Sherinda while I'm gone ok?"   
The big red feather owl, which has been standing silently up a branch   
of a tree nearby, nodded its head slowly while closing its eyes.   
  

 The sound of the crickets around accompanied me while examining the   
trees a hundred yards away of the place we were standing, with my   
knife at hand I chopped a cluster of golden bananas when suddenly the   
sound of a breaking branch behind alerted me, making me turn around   
and throwing a dagger in swift motion. I stared at the bushes, holding   
the handle of my sword ready for whatever could jump at me, but then I   
noticed two yellow glowing eyes looking back at me, while a shadowy   
figure emerged grabbing my throwing between its teeth. A dark skinned   
panther walking in a subtle rhythm, white moons tattooed all over its   
body and bright feathers adorning the neck, gently it proceed to place   
my weapon at the floor and a soft and deep voice sounded in my head.   
"It's been a while, that who calls himself a Secret"   
That voice... my face then took a surprised expression after I   
instantly realized it.   
"Sa... Sadria!"   
  
We had been walking for some days now with no fixed destination, I  
decided to head north in hopes of finding a more soft weather than  
this hot barrens. Neither of us directed a word to each other since we  
began our journey, the oddity of our travel didn't allow us that  
much confidence, but if I was to stay with this tauren, first there  
was something I needed to know.  
"Sherinda... when we were on that cave, why didn't you leave me and ran away?"  
The girl raised her head and after some thinking she gave away a bit smile.  
"Earthmother told me to stay with you"  
Again with this earthmother, it was easy for me to realize it was some  
kind of deity for this people, but so far all the members from this  
race I have encounter were able to, somehow, communicate with it.  
"Does this... earthmother order you to save me?"  
She shacked her head doing a negation motion.  
"Earthmother never orders anything, but she is wise and worth to  
believe. She told me the kindness of your heart and the pain in your  
soul, both reasons of you following me to that place"  
Kindness? She saw my own people slaughter his brethren and instead of  
show hate to them, she tried to find the good in others. And as if she  
read my mind, she asked me.  
"Why did your brothers do it? Is there any reason why you hate us?"  
Even with the noticeable young appearance, she still seemed mature and  
wise choosing her words, probably Taurens get taught by they parents  
since they are born. I couldn't help to show a sad face when she  
asked such a thing and probably anything I would say trying to excuse  
them would be nothing but a lie, so I had to be franc with her.  
"We humans have been in conflict for dozens of years with a race of  
berserk warriors in our homeland, and recently a new plague upon us  
raised our own kind from death and turned them into mindless killers.  
We came to this lands in search of a promised salvation, but our weak  
minds and bodies fear anything that is different from us, making any  
race we find our enemy"  
She stared a me for some seconds then turned her head back at the path  
we were walking.  
"You fear what you don't know. I understand"  
Her words stroke me down as if an arrow pierced my heart, how such  
serenity was possible? I blocked her way, kneeling with my fist at  
the ground and my head down.  
"I'm sorry for everything I have caused you, I promise to find a way  
to compensate your lost"  
What a sad and pathetic image, I have been only but a crying baby  
since I came to this place, everything I could receive was pity and  
cherish. If we wanted to survive, I had to get stronger in mind and  
body. The wind flowing was all I could feel until a warm hand forced  
my head to be raised, only to encounter a soft smile.  
"You didn't do anything wrong, you don't need to apologize"  
Sherinda circled around me and kept walking with me still at the ground.  
"Did your earthmother also told you that?"  
Stopping for some seconds she placed a hand at her chest.  
"No, I decided that myself"  
  

 Days passed and the yellowish landscape began to show a more rich  
vegetation, it seemed like we were entering a forest, plunged into a  
permanent night with trees raising without being able to see the top.  
Flowers mixed with fireflies, sounds of wild animals created a  
soothing melody, a place that was a delight for the senses. I haven't  
seen such a paradise in my life, since I was born they only thing I  
saw was death and destruction. This could be a good place to settle  
for a while as long as we didn't sense any incoming danger, sadly I  
took us little time until we hear a loud screeching sound followed by  
a tree falling behind us.  
"Sherinda lets take cower!"  
We hided in the bushes a coupled of yards in front of the recently  
felled tree, as we saw a huge metal monster, with one big saw constantly  
rotating at one hand while the other seemed like a huge claw, upon  
looking to it carefully I could notice a greenish figure at top of it  
managing some levers at a fast pace, which I could recognize as a  
Goblin. It began to chop the wood at fast speed and after completing  
several logs, it moved to begin its work at another tree.  
"I wonder what are they doing, but for now we better retreat"  
Making a gesture with my hand telling Sherinda to retreat we turned  
around and suddenly a shadow jumped over me biting my arm and forcing  
me into the ground. The animal had strong fangs that would have  
pierced my flesh if it wasn't for the armor covering it, while making  
me struggle to try to set myself free. My other hand reached my dagger  
and before I could even stab the creature, it jumped backwards while  
still facing me. What kind of animal have such reflexes and knowledge  
of danger? Before I could answer that myself, my head was filled with  
a melodic voice which I couldn't figure its source.  
"Balana darel ashera nor"  
Was that cat actually talking to me? Even with my surprise I still  
maintained my combat stance and even if it seemed silly, I replied back  
to whatever was talking to me.  
"I don't know who you are, but you better leave us right now"  
The feline figure raised an eyebrow, which was strangely large, and new  
words assaulted my head.  
"Oh, so you speak the taurahe language. Such an oddity, but doesn't  
matter, all strangers are not welcome on this woods, take your green  
skinned barbarians out of our lands. Also, free that tauren girl you  
have taken as an hostage"  
We both glared at Sherinda, as she was standing in the distance  
holding a stick facing the cat, which kinda surprised it as if it  
wasn't expecting the girl to be hostile.  
"Sorry kitten, but we are walking together at our free will, and you  
will have to do way more than that to try and separate us"  
It stared at me for some seconds then redirected the look to Sherinda.  
"Is that true young one?"  
She nodded without hesitation and all of the sudden a flash of light  
blinded us for some seconds. Upon opening my eyes, my mouth dropped  
wide open, as the place which was occupied by a ferocious animal showed  
a woman of dark skin and amazing beautifulness, she looked like an  
high elf of the Dalaran magic school, but way taller and buffed in  
proportion with deep glowing eyes and the feather necklace that  
adorned her neck in her previous form was still there.  
"Follow me"  
  

 And so we did, silently she lead us to a cave filled with glowing  
items and many drawings that resembled the moon in different phases.  
Upon making a motion with her hand, she invited us to take a sit while  
washing in the crystalline waters of a small lake.  
"My name is Sadria Moonfeather, and I'm a druid who follows the  
teachings of the great Cenarius. For years now, we night elven have  
been interacting with the tauren race to pass the teachings of the  
nature onto them, since they are the closest beigns to Elune's earth.  
You are walking along with one of them, don't get me wrong, you are  
still not welcome on this lands, but it means you have been acknowledge  
by them and gifted with their wisdom, so it means you must be  
something special."  
Saying this she gently sat in front of us, drinking from the same  
waters she just used. Armed with valor I replied back.  
"My name is Secret and she is Sherinda. We are just seeking for some  
place to stay until we know where to head. But let me ask you  
something, you mentioned some green skinned barbarians before, how did  
they look like?"  
The elf let out a sarcastic smile and pointed towards the lake.  
"Well, man who calls himself "a secret", take a look for yourself"  
I stand up and walk slowly to worth the water, and upon reach it  
started to create a living image depicting a huge settlement which was  
getting more and more clear to see, but filling me with dread as it  
did.  
"Orcs! What are they doing here?"  
Sadria approached my side and for the first time I could notice a tone of anger  
at her voice.  
"Those mongrels showed up a couple of days ago and began to cut down  
all the trees after destroying our bases spreaded all over the forest. I'm one of   
the few survivors of this area, but reinforcements will be here soon. The wrath  
of Cenarius itself will fall and crush them!"  
She allowed to stay that night and by morning she took us to the opposite edge  
of the forest, leaving us in what it seemed a long tunnel.  
"Soon a big battle will strike here, it would be better if you are as far away as  
possible. That passage will take you to the Stonetalon mountains, it isn't much   
safer, but as long as you don't get into the harpies territory you should be able   
to find a tranquil place to stay. And make sure you keep that girl alive or one day  
I will find you and shall teach you a lesson"  
I gave Sherinda a look and with more confidence than ever I gave her the proper  
reply.  
"Don't worry I made a promise"  
  
"Sadria! You really scared me there, come join us we are having a good dinner"   
I started walking but noticed the night elf wasn't following me and I felt something   
completely wrong there, as if a huge killing instinct was growing behind me.   
"That day, when I left you, Cenarius was killed by the berserk orcs but I   
survived again, alone and disturbed for years. And after wandering around for   
this forsaken lands, do you know what I find out?"   
I could feel a drop of cold sweat going through my spine and I reached my   
sword again ready for the worst.   
"The taurens are now allied with the same murdering green bastards and   
they have the guts to claim they still care about their precious earthmother.   
I was about to pounce that girl and feast on their corrupted skin, but you   
noticed me to soon"   
With a shocked face turning into pure rage, I unsheathed my weapon and pointed   
at her in a threatening way.   
"Well, you will have to teach me a lesson in order to reach her, so will you try   
and strike me first?"   
But as I said this, that murderous aura began to fade away and the crazed elf   
turned around going away slowly saying her last words.   
"For all this years you kept your promise and protected her, that proves me   
to have no chance against you. But listen to me carefully, as long as I stay   
alive I will find you and all taurens traitors and take care they pay for what   
they have done. And this is a promise"   
She was gone, but the dread of her words echoed in my mind as I tried to calm   
down before going back to Sherinda, it would be better if she didn't know   
anything about this. As I approached back to the fire camp I forced a smile   
at my self.   
"Look I found some good bana.... \*Plock\* Ouch!"   
The feeling of a rock between in my forehead was repeated once more, geez I   
hope she could find a more kind way to get mad at me.   
"Why did you took so long, the food has been ready for a while and now is   
probably cold!"   
I sited near her scratching my head.   
"I'm sorry, I got lost"   
She gave me a silly look then removed my hand from my head, giving the hurt   
spot a sweet kiss. Offering me one of the cooked fishes after she took a bite   
of it, it was really tasty and it somehow made me feel better. With our stomachs   
filled, we cuddled up and she rested her head at my shoulder, I would pay   
anything for these moments to never end.   
"We are going back to Mulgore tomorrow, we better rest tonight"   
But she already was asleep, so I caressed her hair and looked around, even   
if I wasn't able to see anything, I could still feel a presence. That was going to be   
a long night.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/keNA6K91
Part of the series Tales of Mulgore
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