From Narache's Fires to the Bear's Claw
One long day carried Nanaki from the first cookfires of Camp Narache through the Rites of the Earthmother, to Thunder Bluff, sacred Moonglade, and the shape of the bear.
The Road
I began the day at Camp Narache, where a crowd of young tauren had gathered, shouting and mooing in a great glad racket. From there the road opened onto Red Cloud Mesa, then Brambleblade Ravine and Kodo Rock. I crossed the green of Mulgore and passed Stonebull Lake before coming down into Bloodhoof Village. Innkeeper Kauth made me welcome, and I set my hearthstone by his fire. I came back to that village again and again, and the smell of cookfires grew familiar.
My errands also took me to Palemane Rock, the Winterhoof Water Well, a stretch of the Rolling Plains, the Ravaged Caravan and the Bael'dun Digsite. Later I climbed to Thunder Bluff and walked Spirit Rise, the Wildmane Water Well and the Golden Plains. At Red Rocks I stood among the graves of the honored dead, then went up to the Elder Rise.
From the Elder Rise I cast a new spell and was carried to Moonglade. I saw Nighthaven, the Shrine of Remulos and the still water of Lake Elune'ara. Last of all I went south to the Southern Barrens and Camp Taurajo, where I met the flight master. When my work there was done I rode his mount back to Thunder Bluff.
Battles
The foes were many. By day's end I had counted two hundred and seventeen slain, nearly all in Mulgore. Eighteen Bristleback Quilboar and seventeen Battleboars fell, and a dozen Bristleback Interlopers fell at Red Rocks. Fifteen prairie wolves, thirteen mountain cougars and nine plainstriders died too. The Palemane gnolls came in numbers: thirteen Poachers, eleven Skinners and ten Tanners. The Venture Co. cost me fifteen Workers, and I cut down fourteen Bael'dun Diggers and eleven Appraisers.
Some foes stood out. Chakuyak, the wolf who stalked the trees west of Stonebull Lake, was finally brought down. Enforcer Emilgund, a rare humanoid, also fell to me. Once I bested an adventurer of the enemy faction in an honorable fight.
Three times that day I fell into darkness and woke as a spirit. The first time was in the Rolling Plains, struck down by something I never saw. The other two were in Nighthaven, a few minutes apart, both again at the hands of something unseen. Each time I found the spirit healer and rose again.
Deeds
Grull Hawkwind sent me after plainstriders first, saying the camp needed feathers and meat. Then he asked for mountain cougar pelts, since "our children need clothing and our tents need mending." Later he wanted Battleboar snouts and flanks for the young ones' stew. Chief Hawkwind's own request was a humble one: to look for his mother at the well. Greatmother Hawkwind had me carry a water pitcher back to him. He then set me on the Rites of the Earthmother.
Seer Graytongue set the Rite of Strength: twelve Bristleback belts from Brambleblade Ravine. He also had me carry smoldering incense to the shrine of An'she and Mu'sha before it burned to ash. Brave Windfeather asked for the head of Chief Sharptusk Thornmantle, and I brought it. He said justice had been served and gave me a reward for the deed.
At Bloodhoof, Baine Bloodhoof asked a great deal of me. I thinned the Palemane gnolls and smashed the dwarves' digging picks into broken tools. He also had me carry Longwalker Malah's report to him, after I found Malah dead near the border with arrows in her back. Zarlman Two-Moons gave me the Water of the Seers for the Rite of Vision, and Seer Wiserunner confirmed I had passed it. At Red Rocks the Ancestral Spirit declared the Rite of Wisdom passed and told me to enter Thunder Bluff with pride. Cairne Bloodhoof greeted me there and gave me one more hunt, for the Horn of Arra'chea.
There were smaller kindnesses too. I carried a bundle of furs to Innkeeper Kauth for Antur Fallow and delivered supplies to Kaga Wildhoof. I found Ahab Wheathoof's runaway puppy Kyle and fed him strider meat. Mull Thunderhorn had me gather wolf paws and plainstrider talons for a cleansing totem, and I used it at the Winterhoof Water Well. I also brought animal parts to Maur Raincaller, harpy talons to Ruul Eagletalon, and swoop quills to Harken Windtotem. Krang Stonehoof's sparring match went well enough that he thanked me. I examined the supply crate at the Ravaged Caravan for Morin Cloudstalker, and he sent me against the Venture Co. Kaga Wildhoof also taught me the lore of camping, which sent me to the trainers for each craft.
Last came the druid's path. Turak Runetotem sent me to Moonglade, where Dendrite Starblaze sent me to the Great Bear Spirit and back again. Turak then set me the task Body and Heart. When I returned, he said "you have finally taken your large step into a much larger world," and he began to teach me the Claw.
Fellowship
The mooing at Camp Narache was loud enough to rattle the tents. A tauren warrior, a hunter and many others shouted and mooed that first hour, and I answered with a "Mooooooooooo" of my own. Other travelers passed through the day. A druid beside me had the same idea about skinning, and I laughed and said, "lol too good." Later I called out to others that they could set up a campfire inside the tent where the druid and shaman trainers stood.
A hunter and another traveler joined my party briefly while I hunted near Brambleblade Ravine, then left again. Others joined and left in the afternoon and at dusk. A shaman helped me understand how to earn rest at Kaga's campfire, saying I should simply relax and sit a full minute. Another time a druid joined me, then left after Enforcer Emilgund fell.
At Bloodhoof Village I joined the guild Blacktide as an Initiate. Later a shaman greeted me warmly as a fellow Blacktide. Near the end of the day, in Thunder Bluff, I played the jester for a few passing folk.
Spoils & Craft
Few fine things came my way, but a few did. I found the schematic for EZ-Thro Dynamite and a pair of Tribal Pants, both of uncommon make. I also picked up two pieces of malachite.
My hands were busy with trades. I bound linen bandages, including a first aid kit, and cooked charred wolf meat, brilliant smallfish and herb baked eggs. I cured light leather and stitched eleven light armor kits at once. I also built a camp chair and two basic campfire kits. Along the way I learned many recipes: Linen Bandage, Minor Healing Potion, Charred Wolf Meat, Roasted Boar Meat, Herb Baked Egg, Spiced Wolf Meat, Brilliant Smallfish, and several leather pieces. Last of all I learned how to make a camp tent and a fish bowl.
Growth
I rose in strength many times this day, and by night I felt like a different druid from the one who started at Narache.
Gart Mistrunner taught me Mark of the Wild first. After that came Moonfire, Rejuvenation, Thorns and a stronger Wrath. Entangling Roots and a better Healing Touch followed. At the end Turak gave me stronger Mark of the Wild and Moonfire, Nature's Grasp, and the spell to travel to Moonglade. Then came the greatest gift of all: Bear Form, with Growl and Maul to use in it. A staff and a heavy mace grew familiar in my hands, and I learned the two-handed mace.
My crafts grew as well. Skinning reached journeyman and I became a cook, a first aider, a leatherworker and a fisher. The Rites of the Earthmother are passed, and Thunder Bluff has accepted me. Within Blacktide I am still an Initiate.