Tauren's Tale Reincarnation - Ch. 2: The Journey
#2 of Taurens Tale Reincarnation
This is a re-write of an older piece. I've changed around a few scenes, altered a minor character's personality, cut out whatever I felt was unnecessary and/or didn't lend much to the story, and hopefully made the sex scenes hotter. I hope that no matter what, whether you are a new reader or revisiting a improved favorite, that you enjoy it. The story, unlike the rewrite of the first chapter, didn't grow much in size, only about 1000 more words. So it shouldn't be a terribly long read. :3
If you would like to see the original, just follow this link: http://www.sofurry.com/page/42800/
Obligatory Warning: This work of fiction contains scenes of sex between two Tauren males, and should not be read by anyone under 18, by anyone who lives in a country where such content is illegal, or by someone who is easily offended by homosexuality. All reference to the World of Warcraft, including people, and places are copyright by Blizzard Entertainment.
Feedback is ALWAYS welcome. I look forward to hearing from you. :)
Ryldar stood before his mate, Tainer, with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Tainer was fastening the last few straps of his armor. Lightning flashed from within the clouds outside, and a steady downpour soaked the ground.
"What do you mean you're leaving?" Ryldar asked. The decision on Tainer's part had been sudden, and he had mentioned it only after they last made love just a few hours ago. The cave that had become their home had been full of the sounds of bickering Tauren as the pair argued back and forth about Tainer's decision to leave.
"It means what it means. I'm leaving Mulgore," the hunter replied. He slung a large sack full of supplies over his back.
"Why? What's so important that you can't stay here?"
"I have things to attend to," Tainer paused, "...personal matters." Ryldar waited a moment for Tainer to elaborate, but he remained silent.
"At least let me come with you," pleaded the shaman. "I merely want to be at your side."
"No," Tainer didn't turn to face Ryldar as he spoke. "You still have a lot to learn, things that only the Thunder Bluff shaman can teach you. You're not ready for the world outside Mulgore. It's too dangerous."
Ryldar winced. He knew that Tainer was right, but that didn't soften the blow to his ego any less. He knew he was getting stronger by the day, but he also knew it wasn't enough. Not yet.
"I'm sorry, Ryldar. I truly am." Tainer stared off into the distance, his eyes unfocused, silent. "But what I must do is something that cannot wait. I care about you a lot, I want you to understand that, but I cannot allow you to accompany me when the road ahead is full of danger." He stepped outside of the cave and let the rain pelt him, soaking his fur in seconds. He didn't even bother to pull the hood of his cloak up over his head. He strode over to where his faithful kodo was tethered to a tree. Tainer saddled up and turned to look at Ryldar one last time. "Please understand... I'll return one day, I promise."
He gave the kodo a light tap with his hoof before they took off across the plains.
Ryldar stood outside the cave, clothed only in a loincloth. He watched as his mate became smaller and smaller, until he could no longer see him across the plains. Tears streamed down his face, and the rain had soaked him from head to hoof. Ryldar eventually staggered towards his bed and collapsed atop it, crying himself to sleep.
A year came and went in the blink of an eye, and Ryldar had finally completed his training atop Thunder Bluff. He wore a suit of silver ring mail armor that glittered in the sunlight, with a pair of axes hung on his belt. Beneath his armor, powerful corded muscles rippled as he moved, the product of a year of intense training. He rarely stopped to rest and eat, seeking to get as strong as he could as he trained, even against the advice of his masters that he rest once in a while. He wanted to become stronger, faster, and would push himself to his limit to accomplish his goal. He would follow his mate to the ends of the known world, and he was determined to be strong enough to walk along side the hunter.
Ryldar had spent many nights lying awake on his bed, wondering what had become of Tainer. He had yet to return, and he'd heard no word about where he went or what might have happened to him. On the day of his final initiation into the order of shaman, Ryldar had nearly broken into tears when it occurred to him that Tainer was not there to see such an important moment in his life. Ryldar fought back his tears and stood up straight as he initiated, and granted the name Stormhowl in homage to his adept control over lightning and his savagery in combat.
But, afterwards, Ryldar let the tears flow freely. It all felt so pointless without Tainer.
After his initiation, Ryldar spent a great deal of time meditating at the reflecting pool on the lowest section of the central rise, praying to the Earthmother and to the spirits for guidance. His answer finally came to him in the form of a spirit wolf, on the exact day that Tainer had left a year ago.
The wolf stared at Ryldar for a moment, then turned towards the south-east and let loose a ghostly howl. The wolf then padded away from him and as it faded away, Ryldar called out to the wolf, asking for it to wait so he could speak with it. The wolf continued to walk away until it returned to the spirit world. Ryldar slowly came out of his meditative trance after that and turned to look at the horizon, in the direction the wolf had indicated.
"Camp Taurajo," Ryldar said to himself, remembering the name of the town at the border to the Barrens and Mulgore. He wondered if that would be where he'd find some answers as to Tainer's whereabouts.
The shaman wasted no time in summoning his kodo with a whistle. The kodo sauntered over, and Ryldar mounted the beast before snapping the reins and giving it a sharp kick. A smile crossed Ryldar's lips and adrenaline began to course through his veins. The excitement of an adventure and the thought of finding Tainer spurred him on.
After a day and a half of traveling, Ryldar made it to Camp Taurajo. He'd barely rested the night before, and knew he sorely needed the rest, but he had no intention of stopping yet. Not while his anticipation still remained, anyways. Day break had only been a few hours ago, and already the small hunting village was coming alive as travelers and merchants went about their business. Without any clue as to where to begin looking, Ryldar approached one of the guards that stood watch over the village.
"Greetings, proud warrior," Ryldar said to the guard, "I'm looking for some information, and I was curious as to who I should speak to?"
The Tauren nodded in the direction of a hunter sitting on a rock outside of a large tent. "Jorn Skyseer is the one you want. He knows everything that happens in this town."
"Thank you." Ryldar bowed and walked over to the Tauren the guard had indicated. "You are Jorn Skyseer, correct?"
"Who's asking?" the Tauren asked.
"I am Ryldar Stormhowl. I'm looking for some information in regards to a friend of mine. He's an old hunter named Tainer. Do you recall anyone by that name coming through here?"
Jorn stroked his chin, "Ah yes, Tainer. I remember him. He came by here a few times and we swapped hunting stories. Haven't seen him in a while though, been almost a month now since the last time he was here."
"He was this close to Mulgore? Where was he headed?"
"If I remember right, he was headed south. Said he had some business to take care of with some Grimtotem, but didn't mention what for. Pretty risky for someone to actually want to seek out the Grimtotem, if you know what I mean," Jorn explained.
Ryldar knew of the Grimtotem. Thunder Bluff itself was home to a small minority of them, but they tended to keep to themselves. The Grimtotem were not very fond of the Horde or of the Tauren Chieftain Cairne's pacifist ideals, and they could be hostile if not downright violent towards anyone not of their own tribe.
"Anything else you needed to know?" Jorn asked.
"No. You've been a great help. Thank you, Skyseer." Ryldar took off before Jorn could say anything more.
Ryldar pushed his kodo onwards to the south. Thinking back to the maps he had seen of Kalimdor before leaving Thunder Bluff, he knew that there was a town called Freewind Post atop one of the steep rocky bluffs called the Thousand Needles. It was the next closest Tauren settlement he knew of, and someone there was bound to know something.
As nightfall began to descend over the Barrens, Ryldar's kodo began to slow down, and he knew he was pushing it too hard. He allowed the beast to slow to a trot as they traveled along the Southern Golden Road, and once the sun had set beneath the horizon, Ryldar decided to set up camp for the night. He'd been riding for nearly two days straight and he was rather exhausted himself. He opened his mouth wide and let out a loud yawn. He rubbed his eyes with the side of his head, and realized he was beginning to have trouble keeping them open.
Ryldar tied his kodo to a tree and started a small camp fire. He pulled out a fish he had wrapped in a leather hide and began to cook it. After he ate, Ryldar laid down on his bed roll and closed his eyes to go to sleep.
Thoughts of Tainer entered his mind, of the nights they had spent together and of the first time Tainer had mated him. Ryldar's cock began to stir, and he rolled onto his back. Grasping the waistbands of his leggings, he slid them down and freed his growing member from its confines. He grabbed it in his paw and stroked it slowly until it became fully erect. He gave it a light squeeze and let out a low moan.
The shaman began to stroke his cock faster, his tail thrashing beneath him. He drew in short, ragged breaths. It had been a while since the last time he had pleasured himself, and knew he wouldn't last very long. Precum seeped from his cock head and run down along the side of his thumb. Ryldar collected the pre with his free hand and used it to lube up his tail hole, pressing his finger lightly against his puckered entrance. For extra assurance, he placed his first two fingers in his mouth and coated them liberally with spit before returning them to his hole. He inhaled through clenched teeth as he penetrated himself, and gripped his cock harder as he stroked himself.
"Aw, fuck..." Ryldar groaned as his fingers brushed against his prostate. He began to move both his hands in sync; he pulled the foreskin down around the head of his leaking cock at the same time he rubbed his prostate. He felt his balls draw up towards his body and he bucked his hips. A long, loud moan escaped his lips as he brought himself beyond the point of no return, and fired his load all over himself. Thick ropes of cum spurted from his cock and coated his chest and stomach. As he came down from his climax, he scooped up his cum with his fingers and licked it up.
After pulling his leggings back up, Ryldar rolled over onto his side and passed out from exhaustion.
"He is persistent, I'll give him that. He continues to defy me even when restrained and surrounded by Grimtotem Warriors," said a black-furred Tauren. His horns were as dark as his fur, and they curved down and to the sides of his head. The right horn had chipped away from a battle many years ago, and was barely half the size of his left horn. The only thing he wore was an eye patch, and as he moved his large cock swung lightly between his legs. "Not eating or drinking. What a coward's way out! If he wanted to die, I would've granted him a quick and painful death right after we found him."
"Perhaps he is ashamed of subjugating himself to you and feels it is the only way to die with some dignity," suggested a female Tauren standing at the door to the tent. She wore a red robe with a triangular pattern making a V-shape across the chest. A glowing, gemmed staff was slung over her back. The gem seemed to radiate arcane magic.
"No. What's shameful is willingly subjugating one's self to another rather than asking for a quick death. What happened to the so-called proud warriors of the Horde, I wonder?" the male Tauren mused aloud. "No matter. All that matters to me is that after all these years, he's still beneath me where he belongs." The Tauren's cock twitched as he spoke those last few words.
The female caught the subtle movement. "Shall I prepare him for another visit, Chieftain? Even if I cannot get him to eat or drink anything, perhaps I can at least get him cleaned up? He hasn't been taken care of since you acquired him, and I can already start to smell him through the tent as I walk by."
"Concerned for the bull, Narala?" the chieftain asked.
Narala shook her head. "No, Chieftain. I merely wish to prevent him from offending you in any way."
The Chieftain waved her away, "Go then. Make sure he is ready for me in an hour." The Tauren bowed her head before leaving to have a bath prepared for the prisoner. "If he does not wish to eat of his own free will, then I shall feed him myself." The Chieftain gave his semi-erect cock a few strokes. "That old cow has quite the skilled tongue..."
A week after he had left Camp Taurajo, Ryldar dismounted from his kodo in Freewind Post. The town sat atop one of the many needle like bluffs within what was known as the Thousand Needles. A hot, dry wind whipped about the shaman and coated him in a fine layer of sand and dust.
So, this is Freewind Post, Ryldar thought to himself. Without any idea where to begin looking for information, he began to ask everyone who would speak to him about Tainer and the Grimtotem tribe that resided in the area. No one had heard of Tainer, and few provided Ryldar with any information on the Grimtotem's compound. Most of them just spat on the ground and muttered some curse before returning to their work. To Ryldar, it was about all he had come to expect by the time he had asked nearly everyone around town.
Ryldar wandered around town for a while. He wondered if the best way to go about things would be to simply go to the Grimtotem compound by himself and see if he could find Tainer. He went and retrieved his kodo, then headed towards the lift.
"Word 'round town is that you're looking for a hunter named Tainer," a voice said from behind the shaman.
Ryldar turned and was greeted by an orc clad in armor made out of animal hides. A pair of daggers were sheathed at his belt, and a bandolier with a number of throwing knives was latched over his shoulder. His face was partially concealed by a wolf-head mask.
"Aye, I am. And you are...?" Ryldar asked, waiting for the orc to introduce himself.
"I'm an acquaintance of Tainer's. I needed some tactical information on the Grimtotem's movements, and Tainer was willing to get it for me in exchange for some supplies and a modest fee. He said he had some score to settle and would be headed to Dark Cloud Pinnacle anyways," the orc explained.
"And you did not accompany him?"
"No, I had other...business to attend to. There's a lot of money to be made for someone of my skills."
Ryldar did not bother to ask for the orc to elaborate. He could already guess at what the rogue was getting at. "Where's Tainer now?"
"He headed to the Pinnacle several weeks ago. I just returned here from Gadgetzan only a few days ago, and have been waiting for word from him ever since." The orc cracked his knuckles. "I sincerely hope he has not taken the information I requested and sold it off to someone else."
"Tainer wouldn't do something like that!" Ryldar yelled, clenching his fists.
The orc grinned from beneath the wolf mask. "I see I've struck a nerve. That Tauren must be close to you. A friend? Family? Lov-" the orc didn't have time to finish the sentence, as Ryldar lashed out with his hand, grasping the orc's tunic and lifting him off the ground. "My, such anger. You two were close." The orc smiled again. "Some advice for you, young shaman: never let your rage get the better of you."
Ryldar felt something poking him in the stomach, and he looked down to find that the orc had unsheathed his dagger and was pressing the tip against his flesh.
"Now, if you don't mind, can you put me down?"
Ryldar let go of the orc and he fell, landing softly on his feet.
"Do you still need that information you were after?"
The orc shrugged. "Provided Tainer hasn't sold it off to someone else..."
"I told you he wouldn't do something like that," Ryldar frowned at the orc. "I only want to find Tainer, but I'm guessing that compound is probably heavily guarded and rather large. I wouldn't be able to handle it on my own. Accompany me and you can take whatever you want back with you."
"How generous of you. I can hardly refuse," the orc said.
"Don't mock me, rogue."
The orc grinned at him, then shrugged. "Please, call me Bladefury." He offered his hand to Ryldar.
Ryldar hesitated for a moment, then shook his hand. "Ryldar Stormhowl."
"Well then, Stormhowl, we've got a long way to go if we want to get to Dark Cloud Pinnacle before nightfall. Let's ride."
Darkhorn thrust his cock into the captive Tauren's mouth, letting a moan escape his lips. The captive sucking at the cock had his hands bound behind him. His fur was matted and torn in spots, and battle scars marred his fur. The captive turned his eyes up to look at Darkhorn and scowled.
Darkhorn grunted as he hilted his cock in the Tauren's mouth. "You should at least try to enjoy this, Tainer," he grinned. The tempo of his thrusting increased as his climax drew near. "Nngh! I hope you're hungry..."
Tainer could feel the sickly fluid spurting into his mouth. He lost count of how many jets of cum sprayed the back of his throat. Before Darkhorn finished cumming, he pulled out of Tainer's mouth and fired the last few remaining spurts across his snout. Darkhorn clamped Tainer's mouth shut with a free hand, forcing the hunter to swallow his seed. Tainer felt nothing but humiliation as Darkhorn violated him.
"Ah, that's much better," Darkhorn sighed. "If it weren't for the defiant look in your eyes, I'd say you were enjoying this." He grabbed his cock and shook it clean, spraying Tainer in the face with a few drops of cum. "My servants will be by shortly to clean you up and feed you. You should be grateful I spared your life after you were arrogant enough to think you could come into my camp and challenge me. I'll only keep you alive for as long as you continue to pleasure me. Remember that well, Tainer Grimtotem." Darkhorn grinned as Tainer winced at the mention of his clan name. "Until later..." Darkhorn left the tent that acted as Tainer's prison.
"I'm sorry, Ryldar." Tainer was ashamed of how he was being used. "I should've just died rather than allow myself to be violated like this." His thoughts turned back to the shaman. A year ago Tainer had promised to return to Mulgore, to Ryldar. It felt like an eternity ago when he had last laid eyes upon him. "But, I can't break my promise. I'll return to you, one day."
It was that thought alone that kept him going.
Ryldar stood at the edge of the light cast by a camp fire. Getting to the compound had been an easy ride, but now that he and Bladefury had made it there they needed to move carefully. Two guards kept watch over the only rope bridge that ascended the Pinnacle. Ryldar reached for his axes, but Bladefury motioned for him to remain still.
The orc crept forward and hugged the shadows, stalking his targets like a cat. When one of the guards bent down to tend to the fire, Bladefury pounced. He brought the hilt of one of his daggers down on the first guard's head, knocking her unconscious. The thud from her body striking the ground alerted the other guard, but it was too late. Bladefury put a dagger in the Tauren's back, piercing the heart. At the same time he placed a hand over the Tauren's mouth to muffle his scream, and after a few seconds it was over.
Ryldar watched the orc as he worked, and spat on the ground with disgust. He hated dealing with an opponent in such an underhanded manner, but he knew such tactics were a necessity if they sought to scout the camp. All it would take was one guard retreating to rouse the entire compound against them.
"Come, let's keep moving," Bladefury whispered. They approached a bridge that connected two needles and crossed it as silently as they could. As they crossed the compound they ran into more guards that Bladefury handled with ease.
Ryldar began to wonder why Bladefury needed anyone to get the information for him instead of doing it himself, when he caught sight of a number of Grimtotem near the edge of the needle they were currently crossing.
"Intruders!" shouted one of the guards. An alarm went out across the entire compound as horns were blown.
Bladefury cursed under his breath. He snatched a few throwing knives from his bandolier and tossed them at the guards, landing direct hits on each one of them.
Ryldar grabbed his axes and threw down a number of magical totems to empower him and the orc. "Funnel them towards us using the bridge." The spirit of wind kissed the shaman's axes as he struck down the first attacker with a slash across the throat. Without losing his momentum, he brought the axe back and sliced the arm of a second Grimtotem. Ryldar lifted two fingers off the handle of his weapon and thrust his hand forward. A burst of frost erupted between him and the Grimtotem, striking him with shards of ice and snow. The spell easily dispatched the wounded guard as his rime-covered body fell to the ground.
Bladefury had darted past Ryldar and rushed after his own targets. His daggers flashed from out of their sheaths, faster than Ryldar's eyes could see. By the time he managed to catch up to Bladefury, the orc had already dispatched three Grimtotem and was working on a fourth. Ryldar channeled a spell and let loose a bolt of lightning that finished off another Tauren.
"This is more like it!" Bladefury cackled. He brought one of his daggers to his mouth and licked the blade clean of blood.
"Let's keep moving." Ryldar ran on ahead of the rogue across another bridge, plunging deeper into the compound.
"What the fuck's going on?" Darkhorn burst from his tent, naked as he always was.
Narala came rushing over to her Chieftain. "There's a couple of intruders attacking our guards. I have no clue what they're planning, but our warriors are having issues dealing with them."
"The Grimtotem are the finest warriors on Kalimdor, and they cannot deal with a couple mercenaries!? Worthless! Every one of you!" Darkhorn spat. "Go and assist them, Sorceress. I want their fucking heads!" The Chieftain turned back into his tent. "I need to get my armor."
A short distance away inside his tent, Tainer smiled and waited, biding his time until he could make his escape amidst the chaos.
Ryldar led the charge across the bridge with several Grimtotem warriors hot on their heels. They had passed the spire that housed the tents of the tribe's guardsmen, and they need only stop them from getting across the bridge to end the flow of opposing Tauren.
Once across, Ryldar touched his axe to the rope that suspended the bridge. "Hurry up, get across!" he shouted to Bladefury. The orc dove past him and rolled across the ground to safety. Ryldar lifted his axes into the air and sliced the ropes easily like a sharp sword cutting living ooze. The Grimtotem that had been caught on the bridge plummeting to their deaths, screaming as they fell.
Ryldar dropped to the ground and sat for a moment, panting. Coming this far already had been taxing, and he wasn't sure how much further they had to go.
Bladefury caught movement out of the corner of his eyes on the other side of the ravine, near the rear of the compound. "Heh, looks like we didn't get them all. Good, I'm not finished with them yet." Bladefury brought his daggers to bear and prepared himself for their next attack.
It never came. The ground beneath the pair began to heat up and was rapidly increasing in temperature.
"It's a flame strike. Get back!" Bladefury leaped away from the spot he had been standing, just in time to evade an explosive plume of fire that erupted from the ground.
"Halt their advance!" shouted a female from the other side of the ravine. Guards rushed across the bridge and poured onto the spire, engaging Ryldar and Bladefury.
Bladefury grabbed a knife off his bandolier and tossed it at the oncoming Grimtotem. His knife spun in the air as it whisked past the one in front and struck the second warrior in the head.
Ryldar took to mimicking Bladefury's strategy, hurling an arcing bolt of lightning that jumped between several Grimtotem at once. The first one hit fell where he stood, but the others who were hit by the spell shrugged off the magical attack.
"Useless..." Narala muttered. She began to conjure a ball of fire and hurled it at Ryldar. It flew through the air in an instant, and Ryldar didn't notice it until the last second. He raised his left arm to shield his face. Although he managed to protect himself, the spell incinerated his arm. His ring mail became super heated, and his flesh boiled and burst beneath it. He screamed out in pain, never before having felt the sting of a mage's spell before. He dropped his axes and clutched at the wound, unaware of the two Grimtotem warriors advancing on him.
Bladefury moved to attack the mage, but before he did he saw that Ryldar needed help. "You fool!" he bounded over the corpses of the Grimtotem he had felled, shouting for Ryldar to get back. The shaman was clutching his arm. His eyes were screwed shut and he was chanting a spell. The orc intercepted the Grimtotem and sliced the throat of one of the attackers. His other dagger flashed out to his left and drove into the eye of the other. He pulled the dagger back out and slammed his foot into the Tauren's chest to knock the dying warrior away.
"Move it you stupid fuck. If we don't deal with that Mage quickly you'll have more to worry about than that arm, pansy!" Bladefury ran on ahead to attack the Tauren.
Sighing with relief, Ryldar stood up as his healing magic finally took hold and repaired the seared flesh. He picked up his axes and fell in behind Bladefury as they charged the mage.
"Damn it!" Narala cursed. She began to prepare another spell, turning the mana in the air around her into pure arcane energy. She hoped that the spell would be enough to delay her attackers until she could evoke something more powerful. She let the spell loose, and bolts of arcane energy streamed from her finger tips, zipping towards Bladefury and Ryldar.
The shaman had anticipated such a move, however, and cast an enchantment onto one of his totems before he tossed it ahead of him. The bolts became attracted to the totem and instead of striking Bladefury or himself, they destroyed the totem.
Narala growled and turned to retreat. She didn't get far before Bladefury was upon her.
"Die!" Bladefury's swung at Narala, but struck only air as the mage doubled back to avoid his reach. She weaved an arcane pattern into the air and an aura shimmered around her like a shell. Bladefury attempted to attack her again but her shield easily deflected the attack.
Ryldar cast a spell of his own in an attempt to dispel her shield, but Narala's skill at the arcane was greater than his own. She was easily able to ward off each attempt at removing her protective spell. Ryldar resolved to force his way through her shield, striking it with his axes over and over again in rapid succession. Bladefury assisted him in assaulting her defenses, but neither managed to get anywhere.
The mage laughed as she began to chant another incantation. Despite the pair's best efforts, the shield absorbed everything they threw at it and Narala was able to continue casting unharmed.
As her spell drew to a close, Ryldar and Bladefury attempted to escape from it's area of effect, but they were too slow. An explosive blast of ice hit them full force, and they were both brought to their knees.
Narala advanced on them. "Farewell, pests." She began to conjure another fireball, but before she could finish the spell, the flames in her hands dissipated and the shield surrounding her shimmered one final time before it faded away as well. "No, not now!" she shrieked. The mage had failed to realize that she had used up her magical energies trying to fend them off with her shield. She turned and ran.
Ryldar staggered to his feet. "We can't let her get away."
"On it." Bladefury sprang into action. He twisted his hand around and struck the mage with the handle of his dagger. The Tauren mage fell to the ground with a hard thud. "I don't kill women. Consider yourself lucky, witch." The orc spat on her body.
"Come on, we've got a clear path ahead of us." Ryldar rushed on ahead towards the rear of the compound. A couple of tents of various sizes dotted the top of the cliff, and a cave was nestled in the back against the mountain top.
"Sorry boy, but you're on your own," Bladefury said to himself, and headed in a different direction.
Ryldar began looking through the tents, searching for any evidence of Tainer having been there or for the chieftain in charge of the encampment. What he found was not what he had expected to find. In a tent nestled against the cliff-face was a Tauren, sitting on the ground with his hands tied behind his back.
"By the spirits... Tainer!?" Ryldar said in disbelief. Tears threatened to well up in his eyes and his mouth hung open at the sight he saw. Tainer's fur was matted and stained by blood, semen, and other bodily fluids. In other spots his fur was missing entirely. Tainer was dressed in nothing but a stained loincloth. The hunter looked up at Ryldar, and their eyes met for the first time in a year. "My god, what happened to you?"
"I am what happened to him, boy!" a booming voice echoed across the wind swept bluff from outside.
"Run, while you still can!" Tainer pleaded.
"I'm not going anywhere without you, not after I've come all this way and waited all this time. I'll not lose you again." Ryldar positioned himself behind Tainer and sliced the hunter's bonds, then helped him to his feet.
"Darkhorn will kill you, just run and forget about me."
Ryldar ignored Tainer's plea and exited the tent with his axes in hand. His steps were calm, his hooves making no sound as he moved towards Darkhorn. The Chieftain was illuminated by a large bonfire. He was clad in blood red plate armor and his hands rested on the pommel of a great sword, the tip of which was dug into the ground. As Ryldar approached him, he took note of the fact that the Chieftain was at least a couple feet taller than himself and had broader shoulders. Or perhaps it was the armor that gave him such an imposing appearance. Ryldar couldn't be certain.
"So, you're the whelp that's been fucking around in my compound," Darkhorn said. He hoisted his sword onto his shoulder and laughed. "It seems you've been abandoned by your companion. You shouldn't have come here in the first place. Now I'll make sure you suffer for trying to take one of my slaves away from me!"
Darkhorn roared as he charged at Ryldar. He gripped his sword with both hands as he heaved it in an overhead arc. Ryldar side-stepped the attack, and felt nothing but the breeze caused as the blade passed close to his face. Ryldar called to the spirits and evoked a blast of frost magic in an attempt to slow Darkhorn's movements, but the spell failed to affect the Chieftain at all.
Darkhorn laughed and took another swipe at Ryldar with a horizontal swipe of his sword. "Did you think I'd leave myself defenseless to magic?" He said as Ryldar attempted to cast a second spell. "Do you have shit for brains? I wouldn't have a mage at my side and not have her enchant something to protect me."
Ryldar glanced at Darkhorn's armor as he dodged another swing. The armor showed the slightest glimmer of magical runes as the energy coursed through the armor. Ryldar cursed his luck in having to fight an opponent without the use of his offensive spells. He rushed Darkhorn, and as the sword came down at him once again, he dove forward and to the right. The underside of Darkhorn's arm was exposed at the point where his arm guards met his breastplate, and Ryldar exploited that weak spot. He struck with his axe and sliced at the exposed flesh, cutting through muscles and tendons.
Darkhorn let out a roar of defiance as his arm fell limp and useless at his side. "You...you son of a bitch..." he pulled the sword inwards toward himself with his good arm, and the flat of the blade struck Ryldar with such force that it broke a number of his ribs.
"Ryldar!" Tainer shrieked as he watched the battle. Without any of his equipment, he was utterly useless.
Ryldar screamed in pain, and fought back the urge to black out. He concentrated on the image of a wolf, and ducked away as his form shifted. He bounded away with Darkhorn hot on his heals. Quickly shifting out of his lupine form, Ryldar cast his best healing spell to set the broken bones back in place and reduce the pain, though they continued to remain in their fractured state.
"Dammit, that's going to take a while to heal." Ryldar muttered.
"Provided you even live that long!" Darkhorn was already upon the Shaman with a series of quick swings meant to throw Ryldar off balance. The Shaman was capable of dodging each one, but every time he did, he moved closer to the wall of the mountain side. He felt the cold stone upon his back and knew he had nowhere else to run.
"This is the end for you!" shouted Darkhorn, raising his sword again to strike.
"No!" Tainer leaped onto Darkhorn's back. Even though the weeks of malnutrition and abuse had been hard on him, he still had enough strength to stall Darkhorn's attack.
"Get off me!" Darkhorn swung his arm around and struck Tainer in the side of the head with his elbow, forcing a steam of blood to spew out of the hunter's mouth. Tainer spiraled to the ground and seemed unable to get up.
Ryldar took the opportunity to press the offensive once again. His axes struck with deadly accuracy, leaving shallow cuts in Darkhorn's magical armor. Sparks flew as he continued his assault, maintaining a constant and feverish pace despite his fatigue.
"I'm not going to lose to you!" Ryldar yelled.
"Try it whelp! All who oppose me face only death!"
Darkhorn raised a hoof and kicked Ryldar in the chest, knocking him back. He lifted the sword over his head and brought it down on Ryldar.
With no where to run to dodge the attack, Ryldar stepped forward and crossed his axes above his head to parry the attack. He moved towards Darkhorn as he strained to keep the massive sword at bay. Once he was close enough, so close that he could smell Darkhorn's breath, he side-stepped and let the sword fall to the ground. Before the Grimtotem Chieftain could pull his sword back up to attack again, Ryldar attacked the exposed flesh of Darkhorn's throat.
Darkhorn's eyes went wide as the blades bit into his flesh, unable to even scream in pain. He clutched at Ryldar's arms, tugged at them, digging his nails into the flesh and drawing blood as he struggled to pull the axes away.
"Suffer for what you have done, Grimtotem! I will destroy you for what you did to my mate!" Ryldar let out a roar as he made one final push with his arms until he made a clean cut across Darkhorn's throat, severing the head from the rest of the body. It fell to the ground with a wet thud, and Darkhorn's body fell shortly after.
Ryldar dropped his axes and fell to his knees, ignoring the sharp pain in his ribs from the sudden movement. The only sound he could hear was the fire crackling nearby and the sound of his own breathing as he panted.
"I see you bested the Grimtotem Chieftain. Well done, young shaman," Bladefury said, clapping, as he stepped out of the shadows. "Didn't think you had it in you, but then again you Tauren are always full of surprises eh?" He looked to the left, where Tainer stood naked, then his gaze returned to Ryldar. "I got what I came here for, so I'm taking my leave."
"S-some help you were..." Ryldar said between intakes of breath, the slightest hint of annoyance in his voice.
Bladefury shrugged. "Dealing with a Grimtotem Chieftain wasn't the reason I came here. Be grateful I came as far as I did." He turned to Tainer. "Good to see you're still alive. At least you didn't snake your way out of our deal." Bladefury turned and took his leave.
Ryldar growled as the orc left, then sighed and turned to look at Tainer. "Well, let's go home. I'm exhausted and I miss Mulgore."
"Ryldar..." Tainer started to speak, but Ryldar raised a hand to silence him.
"Please, don't say anything. Not now, anyways. I'm just glad you're alive and I'm by your side once again." Ryldar stood up and walked over to where Tainer was standing.
"I promised to return. I'm sorry I broke my promise," Tainer said, and he lowered his head until he was looking towards the ground.
Ryldar pulled him into a hug. "Ssh, it's OK. Let's get to Freewind Post and we can go from there, OK?"
"OK. Ryldar?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you...for coming for me." Tainer returned the hug. He wanted nothing more than to return to his home in Mulgore and cuddle up next to Ryldar.
1 month later...
"I think my ribs are finally healed," Ryldar said, poking at the spot where Darkhorn's blade had struck him. The plains were sweltering and muggy from the summer heat, so Ryldar and his mate wore nothing but their loincloths.
Tainer strode over to his side. His coat of black fur had returned, almost completely regrowing over the wounds and mottled spots. Everything was back to normal.
"So, are you ready to tell me why you had to leave without me?" Ryldar asked.
Tainer shifted as he sat down and looked at the ground. He'd been holding off on explaining everything to Ryldar. "It's a long story..."
The hunter told Ryldar about his travels across Kalimdor. He'd searched through Orgrimmar, Stonetalon Mountains, and as far south of Feralas. "I was searching for someone who used to be my friend. Darkhorn Grimtotem." When Ryldar failed to recognize the name, Tainer elaborated, "He was the Chieftain that you fought on Dark Cloud Pinnacle."
"He was your friend!?" Ryldar's mouth hung open. "What kind of friend treats someone the way he treated you?"
"There's more. Have you ever wondered why I do not have a clan name?"
"On a few occasions, yes."
"My full name was Tainer Grimtotem at one point," he explained. "Darkhorn and I were the finest warriors the tribe had ever seen, and we had earned a great deal of respect for our fighting prowess. However, Darkhorn grew ambitious, or perhaps merely lustful for power. Under the cover of night, he and a small faction worked to slay the Chieftain and anyone who refused to pledge allegiance to Darkhorn. My parents were among them."
Tainer watched his mates reactions as he spoke. "My father ordered me to flee as soon as word of Darkhorn's rebellion became known among the camp. I made a promise to myself that one day I would take vengeance upon him for the lives he stole that day." Tainer looked out the cave, towards the rolling plains outside. "I lived in the wilderness for decades, fought through the Burning Legion's invasion, and continued to live in the wild after Thunderbluff was constructed. I was training every day for the moment I would get my revenge."
Tainer smiled. "It wasn't long after Thunderbluff that I found more and more Tauren settling down in the area. I took to protecting the land and its people, even though I disliked the idea of returning to civilization. It was around that time that I met you, after I followed you into the Venture Co. Mines."
"I remember the day we met. To think I grew up from such a cocky calf like that." Ryldar chuckled.
"You've changed a lot since then, and I suppose I have too. I think for the better. I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything before. I feared you'd reject me because of the blood that flows through me." Tainer said, his shoulders slack. He was unable to meet his mate's gaze.
Ryldar placed a hand on Tainer's shoulder. "Please, think nothing of it. I love you know matter whether you're a Plainsrunner or a Runetotem or a Bloodhoof or even a Grimtotem. You are what you are; an amazing Tauren who would do anything to help someone in need, who is caring and loving and supportive." Tainer looked up at Ryldar. Tears streamed down his face and he was smiling. "All that matters is that you're here with me now, and that we're together."
"Ryldar..." Tainer whispered, sniffling.
"I...I love you, Tainer." They'd never actually said it, but deep down Ryldar knew that they both loved each other. "I love you with all my heart."
Tainer wiped a tear away from his eyes. "I know you do. I love you too."
The two Tauren embraced and began to kiss each other, their tongues mingling between them as they eased themselves onto the ground. Ryldar rubbed a hand along Tainer's back as they kissed, stroking the mane of fur that went down his back. Tainer forced them to roll slightly so that he was on top of Ryldar. They resumed their kiss as Ryldar explored Tainer's body with his hands.
Tainer reached down and ripped the loincloths off both of them in one swift motion. He ground his now exposed, erect member against Ryldar's, forcing a moan from both their mouths. The hunter broke the kiss and sat up. Wrapping both cocks in a single hand, he stroked them both at once. Ryldar clutched at the ground as he felt his mate's throbbing cock pulsing against his own. Precum dribbled down onto his belly. Tainer reached down with his free hand as he stroked and began to play with Ryldar's nipples. He rubbed them, traced circles around them, and even gave them each a slight pinch. The sensation sent shivers up Ryldar's spine and caused him to thrust upwards into Tainer's hand.
"Mmm... I missed this..." Ryldar said.
Tainer stopped stroking their cocks and scooted forward until he was sitting on Ryldar's chest. He grabbed his cock and swung it a few times, smacking Ryldar in the muzzle. He smeared his pre-soaked tip against the shaman's lips until he opened wide and took the penis into his mouth. The salty taste of pre and musk assailed Ryldar's tongue as he lapped at the cock. He felt one of Tainer's hands stroking the back of his head as he sucked. He rolled his tongue around the head as he bobbed his head forward onto the cock.
"Yes, just like that, get it nice and wet for me..." Tainer said between pants.
Ryldar continued to suck and lick the older bull's cock. He strained to fit the entire thing into his mouth without gagging, but had to pull back a few times when he felt his reflex starting up. He tasted just as good as Ryldar remembered. Tainer gripped his horns and began to hump into his mouth. Ryldar felt Tainer's balls slapping against his chin each time he thrust into his mouth, making a light plopping sound each time.
Tainer pulled out and stood up. Ryldar whined as the hunter stood, but then he was instructed to get on his hands and knees. He was more than happy to oblige his mate.
"Every night I was gone..." Tainer stroked his cock lightly as he spoke, smearing the spit and precum along his thick member. "...every time I pleasured myself and shot my seed on the ground, I couldn't help but think of you, of your warm embrace, and," he pressed his cock against Ryldar's tail hole, "of this tight hole of yours!" He quickly shoved his cock all the way into Ryldar's ass.
The younger Tauren yelped in pain. It had been so long since he had last been mated, and it burned. Where it not for the tip of Tainer's cock brushing against his prostate, he'd have begged to have it removed from him. Ryldar moaned each time Tainer hilted himself inside the Tauren, a mix of pleasure and pain coursing through his body. His cock jumped with each forceful thrust into him. Precum dripped from his cock and began to soak into the ground of the cavern floor.
Ryldar clenched his fists and lowered his head until he was resting against the ground. He could hear Tainer panting as he fucked his ass, followed by a chorus of grunts and moans that only a man who's truly pleased can make.
"Fuck...come on, harder!" shouted Ryldar. "Don't stop! Please, fuck me harder! Please..."
Tainer smirked at his mate, and slammed his cock as hard as he could into Ryldar. The younger Tauren gasped and arched his back He was in paradise as his mate's penis was driven as deep and as hard into his ass as he could manage. His body was tingling as the sensation spread throughout his body and he moaned uncontrollably.
Ryldar grunted and growled. "Fuck me...come on, I want to feel all of that cock inside me."
"Oh gods, I'm gonna cum!" Tainer hammered into Ryldar's ass as hard as he could. When he finally shot his load, Tainer slammed into his mate so hard that they both nearly fell forward.
Ryldar could feel every single pulse and throb that Tainer's cock made as it shot his pent up load of cum into his ass. The feeling of the warm cum splashing against his insides sent a tingling feeling out from that spot to the rest of his body. The sensation was too much for the shaman, and he reached his own climax. He let out a roar that shook the cavern's walls and plastered the ground below him with his seed, his cock twitching and sending is cum in different directions. As he came down from his orgasm, his legs began to shake and collapsed beneath him. He fell onto the cum-soaked ground, dragging Tainer down with him, even as Tainer fired the last few jets of cum he had left.
The only sound Ryldar managed to make as the afterglow set in was a simple moan.
Tainer licked the side of his partner's face. "I love you, Ryldar Stormhowl. I promise I won't go anywhere again without you by my side."
"I love you too," Ryldar panted. After a few moments of rest, Tainer was still rock hard inside Ryldar.
"Um, would you wanna go again?" Tainer asked.
"I'll take that cock as many times as you want me too." Ryldar smiled at his mate as he got back up onto his hands and knees. "Now, shut up and fuck me."