Kewona

=History= In a culture where the thrill of the hunt was the most honourable of challenges, Kewona was raised believing this to forever be the way of honour for the Tauren people. Dedicated to follow this path in the footsteps of the Great Hunters before her, she trained vigerously. Her training paid off as her killing blow impaled the alpha of a small wolf pack that tormented her village. Since then, she knew she wanted to spend all of her life partaking in the way of a hunter. Yet what started as a noble path of honour began to quickly plunge deep into a matter of greed and pride. The animals that her people need for materials and food weren’t a challenge to seek out anymore. She needed prey that was a true match of her skills. Admittedly, she could not find such prizes alone, so at the age of fifteen she formed her first small caravan to travel the most untamed regions of Kalimdor. They brought home the heads of beasts swollen in size and strength and gave it to her nomadic people as inspiration symbols of their power. The Taurens praised the caravan for their bravery and resilience, yet it wasn’t long before they brought back the carcasses of ancient noble creatures as well. The elders demanded that the caravan cease in their hunting for they were slaughtering creatures favoured by the earth mother, who was weeping for their loss. Realizing the error of their ways, most left the caravan. Kewona refused. Four others stayed with her, and together they left to continue their efforts for glory. Thus began the greatest hunt the caravan has ever faced. Kewona began to create a tour of Kalimdor to slay the oldest of beasts that were believed to only be made-up myths. The first stop on this conquest was to take down the great wolf Anahje, den mother of a massive wolf pack in Ashenvale. She was soon slain and her tail was cut off after the bloody battle ended. The second target of their bloodlust was to attain the beak of Kuark, a gigantic old owl that roamed the snowy regions of Winterspring, father and guardian to many of the white owls. The great bird eluded them several times but the Caravans relentlessness finally overcame him, and they took his life. The third goal was to cut off the antlers of the Great Stag Reylore who roamed Azshara, and was said to have been in the same herd as Malorne once upon a time. The peaceful creature was taken off guard but fought with the most determination. No one walked away from the fight unharmed, yet Reylore was the only one to have perished. The fourth animal to catch the caravans eye was a Hippogryph stallion in Feralas named Swiftmoon, who ruled over one of the rare few herds of his race. Oblivious to the Caravan, the spirits of the three ancient beasts they had slain united and warned Swiftmoon of the Tauren’s advance. When the Caravan went to attack, the hippogryphs were prepared and fought back in full force until the attackers were forced to retreat. Almost immiedately after, they ironically found themselves being the hunted. Anahje’s wolfpack, Kuarks flock of owls, and Reylores herd persued Kewona and her comrades across Kalimdor. Humiliated by this turn of events, they refused to go home and seek help. Instead, they agreed to separate and try to split the attention of the animals. They said their goodbyes, and Kewona began her path of solitude.

For a year, she was constantly on the run. The spirits of the wolf, the owl, and the stag, haunted her dreams and tormented her life until finally she had lost all desire to run. Humiliated and defeated, she faced the vast numbers of the pack, flock, and herd that had chased her for so long, and awaited punishment for her actions. Before her the spirits appeared and instead of granting her a quick death, they offer her a choice: She could be mangled and devoured by their children who wanted justice for her actions. Or, she could promise to never touch another gun and bow again, and repay all the years of mourning she had caused for the earth mother. Kewona wanted to live, and chose to path of repayment – a decision that would take her off of the path of a Hunter, and onto the harsh road to becoming a Wilderness Stalker. She vowed never to touch a bow or gun, or the animals would once again hunt her down and shred her apart. The three spirits would be her guides, as well as the muscle of power she needed to become a true follower of the earth mother. However, each spirit demanded a price to be paid for a piece of their power, and of their flesh. Reylore would grant her wisdom and strength if she gave him back the crown of antlers she had sawed off long ago. Anahje would bless her with speed and grace if her tail was returned. Kuark would bestow upon her the power to harm and heal if she recovered his beak. For the first time in years, Kewona returned back to her people, the Tauren. Ashamed and angered at the circumstances, she hid her identity from most and stayed concealed behind the flesh of a bear that Reylore had granted her in return for his horns. Yet no matter how strong the oath was to serve the earth mother… the urge to defy all promises and return on the hunt still taunts her through day and night.