The Search Begins

"Father, please. He heard her call out to him! Surely there is more to the story of our mother's demise. Please! We must know!" With Ashenrock defending Falcon Watch, and Jin'tal having been recalled to Reventusk, it was up to Demonaro to find out the truth about their mother. His first stop was to their father in Mulgore...hoping he could shed light on the mystery.

Twice Ashenrock had been contacted by his mother while invading Honor Hold, now. Demonaro told his father exactly what Rock had told him upon his return from Thrallmar:

"As I stormed the defense on my way to the tower, I was frozen in my tracks by the haunting cries of our mother. The voice came from below my feet. She said "Son! Free me from this hell! Free me from my bonds to this cursed land!"
I almost got my damn head lopped off while I was distracted. That was all I heard from her..."

"We know there's more here than we've been told, Father."
Old Rocksalt stood up and turned away from his youngest son. He peered out onto the plains and took a deep breathe. "Your mother was a great woman. She cared for the Tauren even more deeply than she cared for the balance of the elements." He turned to face Demonaro, looking him sqaure in the eye. "There are those in Thunder Bluff that believe the Tauren should never have joined the Horde. It was to repay a debt to the Orcs that landed us in this war. Your mother was vehemently opposed to war and felt that the Tauren could act as mediators between the factions. She truly thought that she could help broker peace." Demonaro didn't like where this was going. "You're mother wasn't just gathering herbs there outside Theramore. She was meeting her Alliance counterpart so that they could work together to bring the factions together. Word was that the operation had the backing of Jaina Proudmore, though I doubt you'd ever be able to prove that. Her relationship to Thrall already raises questions of her loyalty."

The old Tauren straightened a bit and reached down to pat his old friend Tycho, a white bear, on the head...seeming to reminisce something that came to mind. He returned his attention to his son. "Your mother was assaulted and kidnapped by a band of humans. We know this because the information came directly from a trusted Kul Tiras source that witnessed the abduction. That was about 6 years ago, well after the battle for Hyjal. We had no contact with her after that, and assumed she had been killed."

Demonaro stood and stretched, reflecting on his father's words. "So mom was a peace keeper." He said wistfully. "Ashenrock will be proud to hear of this. Father, why would she be speaking to him from Honor Hold? What possible connection could there be? If she died at Honor Hold then that would mean that for at least 4 years she was alive..." His voice trailed off at the thought of his mother being tormented and tortured for all those years while her own family had written her off. Rocksalt sensed his son's sorrow and put his hand on his shoulder. "There was no way to now, boy. You can't dwell on what is gone or it will make you mad inside. I can offer you hope to solving your puzzle though. The contact that your mother met with...her name is Triona Rencrak. The last time I saw her was about 3 years ago, she lived in a hut near the light house in Westfall. Be careful there, though. It's Alliance country...and they itch to bring down any horde that enters the area."

Demonaro turned and hugged his father proudly. "We will find the truth and bring Sindall to peace at last." "I know you will, son. She taught you well. One more thing, though. You should visit Nara Wildmane. She can probably give you more details. She was in close contact with your mother while Ashenrock was training under her."

"Nara told you that? Unbelievable!" Ashenrock couldn't believe what his brother was telling him. "All of this time our mother could have been alive and we were out trying to save the rest of the world. Dammit!" Rock's anger got the best of him as he slammed his fists through an end-table. "Who is this Triona Krackenheimer or whatever the hell her name is?"

"Calm yourself, Rock. There is little that a temper-tantrum can do to turn back time. We will find her, but that doesn't mean she will have any useful information for us. She was questioned several times by the Honor Guard and by Father, himself." Ashenrock grew solemn "Time and guilt have a funny way of making you remember things. We will go to Westfall the moment I'm finished this evening in Terokar. Is Jin'tal back from Reventusk?"

"He is not due back for several days. Perhaps we should wait for him, he's a great help in matters of interogation."

"You're right. Let the Betrayed question her. I might kill her..." Ashenrock was torn between his loyalties as well. He knew that searching for their mother would pull him away from his duties to the Grin, and he had unfinished business there. The thought of leaving them for an extended period pained him as he believed that he was gaining respect from some of his top commanders and did not want to impede his status in the clan. There was also the matter of the girl..."
Do you think you and Jin'tal could do this yourselves?" Demonaro paused at this question in minor disbelief. "You're mother was begging for your help, yet you want to pawn her off so that you can play war with these blood-lusted animals???"

Ashenrock grew angry at the insult "We are close to defeating our largest enemies and bringing an end to this war! If we are able to secure peace, then that would be a greater testament to our mother than anything!"

Demonaro pursed his lips and challenged his brother "You're justification is pathetic. Your family's honor and your own mother's spirit hang in the balance here. Your mind is corrupt. Peace will never be found while Gorfrunch leads this "army of blood!" Ashenrock paused and calmly whispered to his brother "It is not only Gorfrunch that I follow. There are other factors that I cannot explain. We WILL free our mother, but first I need to see this through. In the meantime I need you to do your part to help our family's cause. If I am there with that woman, I could possibly kill her. You are the diplomatic one...I'm simply an overgrown, weary, philosopher with a temper. No one listens to my teachings and my wisdom...they laugh at my words. The only thing that earns respect here is my claws...and I must ontinue to prove my worth here. For my own, persoanl reasons. Please respect that. I promise...in time I will make my intentions clear."

"Do you not trust me, brother? Tell me now!"

"I trust you with my life, but I can't tell you anything until the wheels are in motion. Take the Betrayed to see this human...find out what you can." With that Ashenrock assumed his cat form and darted away. Demonaro was utterly confused.

"I be smellin' pig crap again, mon." Jin'tal wrinkeld his nose. They had traversed most of Westfall without incident, and he was getting sick of the rows of farmlands and livestock. Demonaro looked over from his kodo "Thank your spirits that it isn't human waste. nothing smells worse than those filthy beings. They're so unclean." Demonaro was uneasy. Though they were relatively safe here, it was still Alliance territory. They were bound by honor not to show hostile intent unless hostility was implied by the enemy. "Keep your eyes peeled for enemy activity, Jin'tal. You have the luxury of being able to dissapear, I would have to run." Jin'tal chuckled "Ya cud always git on all fours and stat grazin'! HAHAHAHA!" Even Demonaro grined at that comment.

"We're approaching the coast, I can make out the lighthouse through the fog now." No sooner did he speak the words than did five silhouettes appear ahead of them" Jin'tal vanished instantly, leaving the tall, white, Tauren to fend for himself. "Da bushes, ya big cow!" a disembodied voice whispered. Demonaro wasted no time as he crawled into a large shrub. They were Alliance, all right, but they were obviously green. Still, they had no intention of alerting them to their presence. The lead figure was a human warrior. He was disheveled and clearly fresh from combat. He had several small sacks hanging from his belt. They were soked in blood near the bottom and obviously contained heads. He was followed by a colorful parrot. The others in the group had similar objects in tow. They passed by without incident seemingly preoccupied by the battle they had just fought.

Once they were all clear, both saddled back up and continued to their destination. There on a cliff overlooking the ocean was a small house. Smoke billowed from the chimney, so someone was apparently there. "I gonna' go take a peek." Jin'tal cloaked himself and started off to the house. As he approached he could singing. A glance in the window betrayed a human woman, middle aged with long dark hair and a fair complexion. She was stirring a pot while adding vegetables. Jin'tal looked over to see the doorway wide open. "Too easy." He thought to himself as he crept inside. He approached he quietly and carefully from behind. He would knock her unconscious so that they could bind her for questioning. He was about 8 feet way when the woman suddenly spun around chanting. A fireball exploded from her palm and smashed directly into Jin'tal's chest sending him sprawling across the floor and into a table. He scrambled to get to his feet but was suddenly frozen in place. As the woman began conjuring another fireball she was suddenly struck with a hard shock that stopped her dead in her tracks. Demonaro came crashing through the door and yelled "STOP!! ENOUGH!" The woman paniced and blinked out of the door in desperation but suddenly found herself in the clutches of Jin'tal who had stepped through the shadows to catch her. He brought his sword to her throat and whispered "No runnin'. I be hatin' ta run, missy." She tensed up and shot back in Jin'tal's native tongue "To hell with you, troll! Be it here or in the afterlife, I'll come for you!"

"Release her, Jin! This instant!" The Betrayed sighed and unwrapped his arms from the woman. "We don't want violence, Triona. We simply want answers." The woman narrowed her eyes and waited a moment, studying the Tauren. "Do I know you?". "You knew my mother. Sindall Pumastrike." She relaxed and lowered her hands. "Demonaro? The youngest, right? What in the hell are you doing here and why didn't you simply knock on the door, dammit!?" Demonaro glared at Jin'tal "It was my plan, yet this Troll idiot was afraid that you wouldn't accept us too easily." Jin'tal started whistling staring into the air innocently. Triona looked at Demonaro impatiently "We should talk inside." Jin'tal muttered under his breath "You be da one who be bringin' us out `ere."

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"So you're father told you everything, eh?" Triona said as she served her guests a hot plate of stew. "I figured that one day or another one of you would track me down." Demonaro politely tasted the food and replied "Did our father warn you?" "No. Your mother used to speak fondly of her family. Especially her two boys. We talked a lot about our families. It was the most common of ground that brought us together. Tauren...human...none of that mattered. We had a lot in common once we started talking. I was horrified when I learned of her abduction."
Demonaro scowled. "Who did this to our mother?" Triona looked shocked at this question and stood to stare at Demonaro. "Quite to the point, aren't we? Not at all like your mother." She softened a bit at seeing Demonaro shrug. "Your mother was a wonderful woman. She taught me much of your culture, and I of hers. We brought that information to our superiors often." She looked out of her window and onto the plains. "I'll tell you the same thing that I told everyone else. No one seemed to know of our plans. My superior was Captain Malthor Teemand of the Kul Tiras guard. He reported to a contact in Stormwind. Sadly, Malthor was killed a few years ago in combat. I don't know who he reported to in Stormwind."

Jin'tal tensed up "You be lying troo yer teeth. She be hodin' back. I knows it." Jin'tal stood quickly with fire in his eyes "Dun be messin' wit me, woman. I ain't no fool." Demonaro tensed up "Stay your blades, Betrayed. This woman is a friend" Demonaro was lying. He knew all too well how adept Jin'tal was at determining truth. He readied himself for a confrontation but hoped he could make a diplomatic plea. "Triona, please put his mind at ease. He's very untrusting." Jin'tal played along and settled into his chair "She's playin' ya fo a sap, ya dingbat. I can sense it."

Triona looked nervously at the troll. "I tell you the truth! I have nothing to hold back! Sindall was my friend!" The tears welled up in her eyes. Demonaro knew for sure something was amiss. "I'm sure you were a great friend to her. Surely there is nothing more you can do to help us avenge the death of our own mother. Come Jin'tal, we'll leave her be. Thank you for your time." As the two stood Demonaro shoot an all too familiar look at Jin'tal. In a flash Jin'tal was on her again, blade drawn across her neck.

Triona cried out "NO! You don't understand!" Demonaro conjured a ball of lighting and held it crackling in his hands "Then make me understand or tell it to whatever God you pray to!" Triona sobbed "My family...they'll kill my children."
Demonaro let the ball dissipate and Jin'tal loosened his grip. "Watcha talkin' bout? Who be afta yer family?" "No...please...they'll hunt my babies down if word got out."

Demonaro calmly lifted her chin to look at her. "I swear to you that if you tell me what I need to know, I will protect your children with my life. Triona...I have to know what happened to my mother. Her spirit is trapped in Outland, she cries out in pain this very minute. My brother has witnessed this first hand". Triona's eyes shifted to meet the Tauren's, a smile crept along her face "Praise the light! I can't believe she really did it..."