Dreadmist Peak and a Hard Awakening
Across the Barrens from the Crossroads, Nanaki grew stronger, fell in the dark at Dreadmist Peak, and returned to a ledger of unfinished tasks.
The Road
The morning found me at the Crossroads, and I wandered the Gold Road and out to The Forgotten Pools, which I had not seen before. I stopped to take in the view, then turned back to the Crossroads to rest.
In the afternoon I stood in Thunder Bluff, where a wind rider carried me from the bluff to the Crossroads. I passed over Hunter Rise, the Golden Plains, Stonebull Lake and Galak Camp, then Southern Barrens, Agama'gor and Lushwater Oasis, and came down at the Crossroads. Later I climbed to Dreadmist Peak and marked it. I also found The Stagnant Oasis and, in the evening, The Dry Hills, pausing to look at each.
Battles
The morning's hunting was mostly Greater Plainstriders, six of them, with a Kolkar Wrangler, a Sunscale Screecher and a Fleeting Plainstrider besides. One of the screechers shrieked for help before it fell.
The afternoon was far bloodier. I took down seven Zhevra Runners, seven more Sunscale Screechers, five Lost Barrens Kodo, three Burning Blade Acolytes and three Bruisers, plus Savannah Huntresses, Hecklefang Hyenas, Sunscale Lashtails, an Oasis Snapjaw and a Kolkar Marauder.
At Dreadmist Peak a Burning Blade Toxicologist cried out that I had interfered with their plans for the last time, "foolish druid." Then something unseen struck me down and I fell into darkness. I woke as a spirit before the Spirit Healer, who said it was not yet my time and named a price for my return.
In the evening, in the Dry Hills, I fought seven Savannah Prowlers, seven Witchwing Roguefeathers, six Witchwing Harpies, three more hyenas, a Witchwing Slayer and a Kolkar Wrangler. The harpies taunted me as they came.
Deeds
Back from the dark, I found Tonga Runetotem at the Crossroads and finished The Principal Source. He said the water was disgusting and the gazelles sick for it, and that something else was at work too. He asked next for earthroot and kodo horns for a cure, in Gathering the Cure.
Sergra Darkthorn accepted my work on Plainstrider Menace and sent me after zhevra hooves. Later I finished The Zhevra for her and she gave me Prowlers of the Barrens. Gazrog thanked me for ridding the Crossroads of raptors, calling me "a druid of worth." That was Raptor Thieves, and he asked me to recover the stolen silver. Mankrik, full of rage, asked me to find his wife and to bring sixty Bristleback tusks. I took both requests.
I also finished The Stagnant Oasis for Tonga, who marveled that whatever lies beneath the oases can make life from nothing. He asked for altered snapjaw shells.
In the evening Tonga took the earthroot and horns and completed Gathering the Cure. He gave me a salve to use on ten sickly gazelles, with thanks to be carried to the Cenarion Circle. Sergra judged Prowlers of the Barrens well done and set me on the hunt for Echeyakee. Darsok Swiftdagger praised the Harpy Raiders work and asked for six harpy lieutenants' rings.
Fellowship
Two adventurers joined me in the Dry Hills, a rogue and a shaman, and we fought the harpies together. The rogue asked me to share a task, then changed his mind, and both soon left the party.
At the Crossroads I bowed to a fellow tauren druid who saluted me. Later a tauren warrior danced with me by the inn. The rest was idle talk of Alliance raids, shade and roads.
Spoils & Craft
I found a Hunting Bow of uncommon make, and later a Barbaric Loincloth, also uncommon. I worked leather at the Crossroads, making Light Leather and Cured Light Hide, and again later in greater number. My skinning improved through the day, to 100, then 105, 110 and 115. My skill with two-handed maces rose to 25.
Growth
Somewhere on the climb to Dreadmist Peak, new strength settled in my limbs and I felt myself grow. My defense sharpened too. Later my feral combat improved. I remained on neutral terms with the Durotar Supply and Logistics company.