“It's great to hear from you, Thrall!” Taretha, or more commonly known as Tari, excitedly greeted her little brother in all but blood over the scrying stone.

Since she was studying in Dalaran under the sponsorship of a former member of the Council of Six, Taretha was allowed to live in and care for Master Krasus’ home while he was away. The private setting made it perfect for her to contact her brother without anyone else eavesdropping on her as often as she wanted. Since they were both busy with their respective studies, they tried to talk to each other at least once a week.

“It is great to hear from you too, Tari,” Thrall said with an easy smile, nothing like the forced ones he used to wear when they lived under Blackmoore. “Has anything interesting or exciting happened since the last time we talked?”

“It's Dalaran, little brother, everything is interesting!”

Which was quite true, since the city was quite possibly the most cosmopolitan and impressive city in the world! She could not walk a few feet from her room without encountering one of many races that made up the world, some magical wonder, or some absurd creature that Tari could have never hoped to have seen before in her life. It made her grateful every day for the opportunity that Master Krasus gave to her to live and learn here.

“Hehe, fair enough,” Thrall admitted. “Mayhaps, I will have the chance to visit in the future.”

“That…” Tari’s joy dried up as she recalled the way her classmates and people in general spoke of the Horde and orcs whenever the topic came up. Hearing the way that people, whom she viewed as kind and even friends, claiming that all orcs were vicious monsters that deserved to be in chains their whole lives disturbed and angered her in equal measure. Whenever the conversation turned to discussion of the orcs, she either tried to change the subject or leave the room before she started punching people. “That… might be a long while into the future…”

“I know, Tari, I know…” Thrall assured her. “I apologize for making such a jest.”

“It's just… I know the Horde did terrible things, there is no denying that…” Tari stumbled for words.

“Indeed, Master Drek’thar says the same,” Thrall nodded, his eyes distant for a moment.

“But to just assume that all orcs are evil just because of that… is wrong,” Tari said. “You had nothing to do with the Horde at all! But the way people talk, they would string you up just for being an orc…”

“The wounds of war are still fresh. Time is needed for them to heal, and mayhaps in time peace and understanding can truly begin between my people and those we have wronged,” Thrall said slowly, deep in thought. “It might not happen in our lifetimes… but maybe we can be a part of the process, sister.”

“Considering how many people want you and your clan dead or worse, I need to become a powerful mage just to stand by your side,” Tari said with conviction. “It wouldn’t do for the world’s greatest shaman to not have the world’s greatest mage by his side, right?”

“Hehehe, I’m far from the world’s greatest shaman, Tari,” Thrall laughed, his features relaxed and joyful once again.

“Well, same here for being a mage, but I work ten times harder than my classmates. So, that has to count for something!” Tari pointed out confidently. “I’m even looking into the classes around arcane weaving that the nerubians, like Master Krivax, use. It's very interesting, and it honestly reminds me of a lot of knitting scarves with my mom! Most of the noble-born here can’t wrap their heads around the idea at all!”

Both Tari and Thrall laughed at that, the image of noble born students struggling with basic knitting being too funny to think about in silence.

“Still though, they’re not all bad,” Tari admitted. “A new student, Jaina, is really sweet and has lots of talent for magic in general. She is one of the only people I can talk to about orcs without her saying horrible things about them. I think you and her could become friends, honestly.”

“Maybe one day, but for now I am glad you are finding true companionship,” Thrall said. “And recently, I have as well.”

With that, a small furry being came into view in the scrying stone. The wolf pup looked at Tari with interest, her tongue lolling out and tail wagging. Naturally, there was only one way for Tari to react.

“It's so fluffy!” Tari squealed and dearly wished she could hug the puppy in her arms.

“Her name is Snowsong,” Thrall introduced. “Members of my clan live and work alongside the native frostwolves as partners and equals, and she has chosen me to be her companion. It is a great honor, and since she is now family it seemed only right to introduce you to her.”

“I will demand all the cuddles when I come by and visit!”

The next few minutes were spent with Tari cooing over the pup, and Thrall explaining what it was like for the two of them to care for one another. Tari was extremely jealous when Thrall told her that in time Snowsong would grow large enough to carry him.

“Can I possibly get one?” Tari asked hopefully.

“One doesn’t ‘get’ a frostwolf companion, sister. They are not pets, but equals in all things… Though if one day you come to the Valley and one approaches you, it would be dishonorable to reject them.”

“Then Snowsong better look forward to a sibling in the future!” Tari said with confidence, which made her brother laugh. “So, I tell you about my schooling all the time, but how about yours?”

“Learning the arcane and learning how to entreat the spirits and elements are two different things, sister,” Thrall reminded her, dropping his voice to sound like Master Drek’thar. “It would be like trying to describe how water works to a rock.”

“Pleassssssse…”

“All I can say is that Master Drek’thar says I am proceeding well in my training despite my youth,” Thrall explained. “It… feels natural, to ask for the aid of the spirits and elements. I can already summon lightning and even the spirit of past frostwolves in times of need.”

"I need to see that some day!" Tari excitedly said.

“Of course, beyond my training as a shaman, I am also learning much about what it is to be an orc,” Thrall continued, after a brief pause. “It feels strange at times, natural and right in others, but… I like to think that I am taking the best of both my upbringings to create something that is uniquely me… and maybe in time other orcs will follow my example so that we can live in peace with the other peoples’ of this land. After all, I want to be able to stand by your side without causing you trouble, sister…”

“You can never cause me trouble, Thrall,” Tari assured him before grimacing. “Are you sure you want me to keep calling you that? I know your birth name-”

“While I will honor and use the name my parents gave me, Go'el, my human name is the one I have always known despite its meaning,” her brother assured her with a smile. “After all, even though it was used as an insult against me, I always remember each time how you spoke it with nothing but love. That is why I shall not discard it and why I do not wish you to stop using it for my sake alone.”

“Thrall… thank you,” Tari simply said, feeling herself tear up a bit. “Anyway, has there been anything interesting happening over there? Other than a lot of Kirin Tor members apparently heading over to the new western continent, things have been pretty normal and boring over here.”

“Life goes on as always, although…” Thrall mused. “My master has mentioned possibly receiving visions in his sleep… of being judged by a great and powerful stag…”

Tari and her brother would continue to speak with each other for hours, during which the whole world fell away and it was just the two siblings enjoying each other’s company, until eventually they had to bid each other farewell for the moment. She felt a little sad every time her brother vanished from the scrying stone, but was certain that they would speak again soon.

As she tucked herself in her bed in Dalaran, Tari dreamt that night that they had become stronger and more skilled than before. They were standing side by side as equals, ready to face whatever challenges the world saw to throw at them.

For they were family, and true family fought side by side!

—

There is a place in the central part of Northrend called the Dragonblight, a vast graveyard of dead dragons that contains several locations of varying importance.

On the southern coast of Dragonblight, Moa’ki Harbor was slowly rivaling Kaskala in the Borean Tundra as the ‘capital’ of the tuskarr people due to extensive trade with Azjol-Nerub and the Eastern Kingdoms. In the center of the Dragonblight was Wyrmrest Temple, the massive Titan created structure that served as a meeting point for all of the Dragonflights. And of course, underneath the entire region was Azjol-Nerub itself, the grandest city in the known world.

But there was one place that interested Initiate Krukzax in particular on the map that was unfurled in front of him. The taunka ‘capital’ known as Icemist Village was conveniently located not far from Azjol-Nerub’s main entrance.

Initiate Krukzax had only recently completed his coming-of-age exams and started his service in the Foreign Outreach Division. Like most of the initiates who requested to join the new division, he had been inspired by Vizier Krivax’s unprecedentedly fast rise through the ranks for his great service to Azjol-Nerub.

In spite of his youth, Vizier Krivax had established relations with the tuskarr and brought back new knowledge, trade goods, and technology from his meeting. Many of his peers dismissed these things as frivolity, but Initiate Krukzax obviously didn’t agree. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have worked so hard to join the Foreign Outreach Division.

Thanks to Vizier Krivax’s efforts, Azjol-Nerub had learned of the existence of other continents and races. Now there were multiple nerubian exclaves in the Eastern Kingdoms.

The kingdom was creating its own navy with the help of the tuskarr and introducing incredible new alchemical compounds. Because of Vizier Krivax, Azjol-Nerub was becoming more powerful every day. Even the High King himself had acknowledged his achievements!

Last month, Vizier Hud’rek, current acting head diplomat, had informed him that the council had decided to seek help from other magic users on Azeroth in coming up with long term solutions to deal with the Primals on Kalimdor. Based on his research, the taunka possessed an unique shamanistic technique that could be effective in fighting the plant hivemind. Therefore, he had suggested to Vizier Hud’rek that the kingdom make official contact with the taunka in Icemist Village.

Initiate Krukzax had studied the first meeting with the tuskarr extensively and sought to replicate that success again. He had spent several days talking to the tuskarr hunters to learn about the taunka's culture and society. Even though the taunka were self-sufficient and kept to themselves, Initiate Krukzax had learned that the primitive bovine humanoids knew the tuskarr language. He had devised a plan based on this information to make contact with the Icemist Village.

Initiate Krukzax had approached a hill close to the taunka settlement and left messages written in tuskarr and trade goods of various types for their patrols to come across. The messages offered the small bundles of silk, ores, and hides in return for anything the patrols deemed to be equal value. In the messages, each time he’d ask if he could have permission to safely travel and enter their village. After several dozen of these dropoff trades, he had finally received a terse answer.

‘Yes, but come alone.’

So Initiate Krukzax made the cold but thankfully short trip to Icemist through Azjol-Nerub main surface entrance.

Icemist was located within a small icy valley surrounded by waterfalls and cliffs on the edge of Lake Wintergrasp. The village was only easily accessible through two large bridges over the river that fed the lake. The taunka of Icemist used this natural defensive location to their advantage to help protect themselves against roving raiding bands of wolvar and magnataur. As Initiate Krukzax approached the bridge, he saw taunka traveling on canoes on the river and using nets to catch fish.

Initiate Krukzax showed the stoic and suspicious taunka guards the note at the bridge. After examining his note, he was led to a large building covered with mammoth bones and fur.

Which is how he found himself before Roanauk Icemist, leader of the taunka. According to the tuskarr, the white bison humanoid taunka was not only the chief of the greatest taunka village, but also possessed a great deal of influence over the other taunka settlements all over Northrend.

“Greetings, High Chieftain Icemist,” Initiate Krukzax bowed. “This one is known as Initiate Krukzax of the Foreign Outreach Division of Azjol-Nerub. I’ve come to seek an audience with you and establish friendly relations between our peoples. As a gesture of my friendly intentions, I have brought some gifts for you.”

Thanks to his research ahead of time, he had prepared polar bear pelts and spotted hippogryph downs, both of which were highly valued by the taunka culture, as gifts for their leader. Even though Roanauk remained impassive, the taunka warriors guarding the room looked at the pelts and downs with wonder.

“Have heard of you nerubians for quite some time now,” Roanauk spoke up. “For countless generations our ancestors spoke of your kind living beneath the earth not far from here, but rare was your sighting… until recently. Now you can be seen across the surface of Northrend among the tuskarr, foreigners, and even stranger things… such as the new mountain that graces the Borean Tundra.”

“While we were not involved with the teleportation of the ‘mountain’ into Borean Tundra, we've been reaching out to the newcomers to Northrend. In recent years, Azjol-Nerub has seen fit to lessen its isolation and explore the surface world,” Initiate Krukzax admitted. “And many have benefited from association with us as a result.”

“And now you seek something from my people, bringing gifts to convince me to do so,” Roanauk said pointing to the pelts and the downs.

“The gifts are merely that, gifts freely given to you and your people. As for the trade goods left for your patrols, I wished to simply have the opportunity to meet with you,” Initiate Krukzax said truthfully. “You are not bound to agree to anything with me, but I promise you any deal made with us would be honored so long as something of equal value is given in turn.”

Roanauk studied him a moment before humming and nodding. “Speak then.”

“Azjol-Nerub, through our association with the tuskarr, is interested in the style of magic known as shamanism, the ability to commune with the elements and spirits of ancestors for great power,” Initiate Krukzax explained. “Unfortunately, our efforts to study and use it ourselves has been… slow due to a lack of understanding and the mindset required to use it among most of my people. However, tuskarr shamans spoke of a different form of shamanism used by your people.”

“Different how?” Roanauk asked gruffly, likely curious to see how outsiders viewed them.

“They spoke of how your people, well aware of the harshness of your homeland, persevere even in the worst winters by forcing the land and the elements to yield to your will,” Initiate Krukzax said. “That your relationship with nature is one of constant struggle and grim perseverance. Something that many tuskarr shamans disapprove of.”

“They are our ways,” Roanauk said with a flare of his nostrils. “Outsiders have no business judging us on how we survive and live our lives.”

“Of course not! We of Azjol-Nerub do not judge at all,” Initiate Krukzax explained to mollify the taunka leader. “In fact, we wish to learn your ways if you are willing to teach us. We have found that the elements and spirits are too capricious and wild to be reliable. We would prefer to tame them like we do our jormungars. We would respect their power and treat them well, but make it clear we are their masters.”

Reports from the delegation to Kalimdor from the tauren shamans and subsequent discussion with the tuskarr shamans had indicated that ordinary shamanistic methods did not work well to deal with the Primals. Initiate Krukzax was certain that the forceful shamanistic methods used by the taunka would be more effective at controlling and defeating the Fel parasitic hivemind.

“And this is all you wish from us? To learn our ways of communing with the spirits and the elements of this world?” Roanauk raised a brow.

“My kingdom would value the knowledge of taunka shamanism the most, especially since it can help us more effectively combat some corrupted vegetation we’ve encountered across the sea know as Primals,” Initiate Krukzax made clear, unwilling to give away his thoughts about the likely effectiveness of the taunka shamanism on their Primal foes. “But Azjol-Nerub is always willing to trade for any rare goods and reagents, but it is access to your teachers that we’d pay a high price for.”

“...How high?” Roanauk asked curiously and Initiate Krukzax tried not to smile, for he learned that most surface worlders found it disturbing.

“What do you wish?” he returned.

“Hmmm. Before any deal can be struck, there is one thing you should know about our magic,” Roanauk said. “You may not wish to learn once you do. For it is a power that relies on Decay to work best.”

“In return for the information and the warning, I will share some news with you,” Initiate Krukzax said, knowing that the best way to create a fruitful relationship was through give and take. He pulled out one of the Wind Rush Totems traded by Bloodhoof Tribe out from his spatial bag and continued, “Namely, to let you know your cousins, the tauren, yet live across the sea, and that your knowledge could help us save them from the aforementioned Primals.”

At Roanauk's shocked expression, finally breaking his stoic mask, Initiate Krukzax knew his hook had landed.