Andreas had not returned to Highmountain since the expulsion of Deathwing.
He knew of Hoon's death but had not been present to mourn him personally at the time.
Thousands of years have passed, and most of Highmountain's territory has become the hunting grounds of the Highmountain Tribe. The various Clans are united, Thunder Totem, as the capital, is flourishing, and the entire race maintains an active and enterprising posture.
However, it is said that a Great Chieftain named Nalmus of a certain generation was defeated and killed in battle with a mysterious beast, and the spear of the eagle, an artifact passed down by Hoon, was lost as a result.
After Nalmus, the Highmountain Clans sent out hunters many times to search for the spear of the eagle and the whereabouts of the mysterious beast, but all these hunters eventually disappeared.
Andreas' decision to go to Highmountain was not just to fulfill Onyxia's wish; the headquarters of The Hidden Path, which he had ordered to support vigorously, was located among these mountains, and Andreas planned to take this opportunity to visit.
Letting Onyxia transform into a Tauren female to go to Thunder Totem to contact her younger brother, the accompanying people divided into two groups according to their personal wishes.
Leticia and Aurora were very curious about the black dragon who had lived in seclusion in Tauren society for thousands of years. The two of them followed Onyxia to Thunder Totem, so they could look out for each other.
Andreas, on the other hand, took Shandris and Celeste to climb to The Hidden Path's encampment—the Marksman Camp... The Marksman Camp, an encampment jokingly called a 'farmhouse resort' by players, was very sparsely populated at this time.
Although Andreas had approved the funds to support The Hidden Path's expansion, the development of an organization cannot be completed in a day or two.
Although Namuria Linsong, the first leader of The Hidden Path, worked very hard, The Hidden Path has not yet found an opportunity to make a name for itself. Not many hunters have answered her call; most are Night Elves and Highmountain Tauren.
Andreas looked at Namuria in surprise, "Retrieve the spear of the eagle?"
"Yes."
Namuria's appearance was not outstanding among the Night Elves. Her face was painted with large areas of war paint, and she wore simple leather armor, with an old longbow slung across her back.
There were only four high-ranking members of The Hidden Path present: besides a female Tauren named Ansha Split Hoof, the other three, including Namuria, were Night Elves: her husband, Brand Eternalsworn, and her apprentice, Imorell Shadowguard.
Everything is difficult at the beginning. The Hidden Path's principles lean towards reclusion, so recruiting enough elite personnel is destined not to be an easy task.
To show support for Namuria, Shandris, at Andreas' persuasion, agreed to be listed as a member of The Hidden Path.
However, due to her special status, Shandris would not intervene casually unless Namuria encountered major problems that she couldn't solve.
After Namuria started, Ansha, the Tauren, took over, explaining, "Since Nalmus Highmountain lost the spear of the eagle, the atmosphere among the Highmountain Clans has become increasingly discordant."
"The Bloodtotem acts too aggressively, while the Rivermane are too gentle. The conflict between these two Clans is becoming increasingly apparent."
"The Skyhorn Clan is busy dealing with their giant eagles all day long; many suspect they are friendlier to their giant eagles than to their own kin."
Ansha said worriedly, "The current Clan leader, with his strong charisma and excellent diplomatic skills, has brought the conflicting Highmountain Clans together, but once he passes away... the Highmountain Tribe may face a crisis of fragmentation in the future."
"Coupled with the increasingly obvious differences with the Drogbar, the Highmountain Tribe, plagued by internal and external troubles, has left the Great Chieftain exhausted."
"We need a symbol to reunite the Highmountain Clans. The spear of the eagle is the most suitable choice, and finding it again can also deter external enemies to some extent."
'Drogbar, huh...'
Andreas still remembered Igloor, the one called the Dragon Slayer. He had predicted that the relationship between his people and the Tauren would not easily improve, and now it had indeed come true.
"So?"
Andreas said encouragingly to Ansha, "How do you plan to retrieve the spear of the eagle? Have you found out where this artifact was lost?"
"Yes."
Ansha glanced at Shandris, and Andreas' trio immediately understood her meaning.
"I see."
Shandris chuckled lightly, "As long as I complete the ritual, I will become a member of The Hidden Path. My retrieving the artifact will also help establish The Hidden Path's name to some extent, right?"
Namuria was a bit embarrassed. She could fight bravely on the battlefield, but this kind of administrative calculation was really not her strong suit. This plan was proposed by her apprentice, Imorell.
Seeing Andreas' indifferent attitude, Shandris understood that he wanted her to make the decision.
"Alright."
Shandris considered for a moment, then nodded and agreed, "First, complete the ritual. Tell me the information about that beast and the location where the spear of the eagle was lost. I will depart as soon as I am ready."
Under the guidance of Namuria and the other three, Shandris officially joined The Hidden Path after a simple oath-taking ceremony.
"We are the guardians of the wilderness, we are the eagles in the wind, our path is destined to be solitary, we are The Hidden Path."
After the oath, the soul of the Eagle Demigod Eonhar briefly appeared.
This demigod, who died in the War of the Ancients, had not fully recovered from her injuries, but her welcoming attitude was clearly expressed.
Watching Shandris fly off towards Stormheim on a giant eagle, Celeste asked with some concern, "Andreas, aren't you worried about Sister Shandris' safety?"
Andreas smiled and shook his head, saying, "To say I'm not worried at all would certainly be a lie, but I believe Shandris can successfully overcome this difficulty."
According to the information provided by Ansha, the one who killed Nalmus Highmountain was a Wild Spirit, Dakar the Black Panther.
Animals that can be named Wild Spirits possess some special abilities. After multiple probes by the Highmountain Clans Tauren at the cost of their lives, Ansha confirmed Dakar's special ability.
Stealth.
This cunning black panther possesses stealth abilities far superior to others of its kind, and its lair is located in The Wetlands near Mistsong Harbor in Stormheim, where strange mists constantly linger. In this environment, Dakar thrives.
Including Nalmus, all the Tauren who died by its claws were ambushed. The difficulty of this battle lies in whether Dakar's movements can be detected... As Shandris departed from the Marksman Camp for Mistsong Harbor, Onyxia's trio entered Thunder Totem.
Under the influence of Onyxia's charm spell, the three of them smoothly entered the cave beneath the main building of Thunder Totem.
A Tauren, covered in black fur with jet-black horns, stood on a water mirror platform deep inside the cave, gesticulating as he passionately recounted the glorious history of the Highmountain Clans to young Tauren who listened attentively.
Under the influence of his spell, the water mirror displayed vivid illusions. A phantom figure representing Hoon Highmountain was blocking a portal, slaughtering demons.
"Hmph! I'll take care of this guy, Shadowsong, go play with the imps."
Leticia's expression was a bit strange. She had seen Hoon when she was young, and Blackhorn's imitation of Hoon's voice was very similar.
However, according to Leticia's understanding of Hoon, this seemingly crude Tauren was very polite to talented people. He would never disdain others with such an arrogant tone, much less arbitrarily shout at Garrosh, who was the supreme commander of the allied forces.
"Bragging... is it?"
Leticia burst out laughing, "Andreas' choice of words is still so precise."
The Marksman Camp, an encampment jokingly called a 'farmhouse resort' by players, was very sparsely populated at this time.
Soulwalker Blackhorn—besides the Highmountain tribe's great chieftains, no one knew how many years he had truly lived, or what his true form was.
Most tauren only remembered hearing Blackhorn tell stories when they were very young, and this elder, whose entire body was covered in black fur, was still actively boasting until they were close to their own end.
The Immortal.
This was the name the Thunder Totem tauren privately used for Blackhorn.
They knew their own kind; Blackhorn never flaunted his long lifespan in front of other tauren, because he and the tauren were not the same species to begin with.
Bidding farewell to a new batch of energetic young calves, Blackhorn watched the little ones gradually depart, a look of satisfied maternal affection on his face.
"Heh~ It seems you've been living quite comfortably in the tauren city, my long-lost brother."
"Hmm?"
The sudden playful remark from behind him made Blackhorn instinctively furrow his brow.
Two night elf women, their eyes full of curiosity, and an unfamiliar female tauren stood behind him.
Though Blackhorn's guard was up, he maintained a gentle smile on his face. "Ladies, I don't understand what you mean. I don't recall having an older sister."
Onyxia, in her tauren form, flashed a meaningful smile. "Allow me to correct that. It should be, you don't have an older sister who is a tauren, perhaps?"
Surprise flickered in Blackhorn's eyes, and his expression grew more serious.
"You, could it be..."
Waving a finger at Blackhorn, Onyxia led the way out of Thunder Totem's cave. "Come, let's find a quiet place to have a good chat."
...Thunder Totem was a city built into the mountainside, geographically located in the south-central part of Highmountain. It was the optimal city-building location that the Highmountain tribe had determined after years of surveying.
To the north of Thunder Totem were continuous mountain ranges, while to the south were even higher, majestic peaks perpetually covered in white snow.
Thunder Totem, nestled by mountains and water, ensured the rapid development of the Highmountain tribe in this high-altitude region. The Highmountain tauren's footprints spread further and further, and in recent years, they had even begun to advance towards the southeastern Stormheim, leading to increasing friction with the Kvaldir.
West of Thunder Totem, the former lair of Neltharion.
Ever since the fallen Black Dragon Aspect was driven out by Huln Highmountain wielding the Hammer of Khaz'goroth, this once boisterous lair had never been inhabited by black dragons again.
Today, four guests arrived in this long-abandoned black dragon lair.
Onyxia stood at the entrance of the lair, looking around with a hint of nostalgia. "To still be largely intact after thousands of years of abandonment, that's your doing, isn't it, Blackhorn?"
"Or should I call you... Ebyssian?"
Blackhorn was not foolish; in fact, he was extremely astute.
During the journey from Thunder Totem's west gate to Neltharion's lair, he had already roughly guessed the true identity of this suddenly appearing female tauren.
Called by his true dragon name, Ebyssian showed no panic, maintaining a calm demeanor as he nodded. "Yes, this is, after all, the ancestral land of the black dragonflight, and the depths of this cave are not suitable for anyone to explore."
Onyxia chuckled, "It seems you're aware of certain things buried deep beneath Azeroth, but on that point, you're overthinking it."
"Indeed, when the ancient Kalimdor continent had not yet split, there were indeed undercurrents beneath Highmountain, but that is long in the past."
Onyxia stepped forward and patted Ebyssian's shoulder. "The fellow you're worried about is now lurking deep in the ocean. This lair is safe."
Seeing that the two were not getting to the point, an impatient Laetitia eagerly asked, "Ebyssian, do you remember Andarion? Andarion Moonshadow."
Ebyssian paused at the name, frowning in thought for a moment before saying uncertainly, "If you're asking about the meaning of that name, of course I know. He is the leader of the Night Elf Republic, but..."
"You're probably not asking about that, are you?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Ebyssian smiled silently. "Well, the truth is, I have only a faint, weak impression of that name. It was mentioned by Huln in his adventure stories when I was very young."
Aurora's eyes sparkled as she pressed, "So, you really are... a black dragon?"
"Yes."
Seeing that he could no longer conceal it, after entering the lair, Ebyssian simply reverted to his true dragon form.
Over 7,000 years had passed, and Ebyssian had long since matured, but perhaps because he had lived outside the dragonflight for so long, and the education and resources needed for his growth were insufficient, his size was a bit smaller than Onyxia's.
Onyxia also immediately reverted to her true form. From Laetitia and Aurora's perspective, the two black dragons indeed bore a slight resemblance.
However, just as East Asians might find it difficult to distinguish between Caucasians, and Caucasians might find it difficult to distinguish between East Asians, as outsiders, they found it hard to truly discern the differences between the two black dragons.
Onyxia appraised the black dragon's physique opposite her, then pursed her lips and quipped, "Ebyssian, you're too scrawny. Have you been slacking off in improving your strength?"
Ebyssian shook his massive dragon head and said helplessly, "Not at all. Perhaps it's because I never received formal dragon education; my efficiency in absorbing the power of the earth isn't particularly high. After all these years, this is just how I've turned out."
"That's true."
Having achieved the purpose of this family reunion, Onyxia transformed back into her night elf form.
"Make some time to take leave from your mortal friends soon. I'll take you to the Obsidian Sanctum to meet Mother, and she can teach you the uncorrupted primal philosophy of black dragons and the most suitable training techniques for us."
Ebyssian also changed back into a tauren, nodding with a simple, honest smile. "Alright, sister, I will arrange my time as soon as possible."
Onyxia revealed a sly, mischievous grin from an angle Ebyssian couldn't see. Her strange expression was perfectly caught by Aurora.
Aurora: "???"
With the serious matters discussed, the four leisurely walked deeper into the lair. Along the way, Onyxia, with a touch of nostalgia, introduced Ebyssian to this former black dragon stronghold.
Ebyssian, unlike most unruly dragons, was raised by mortals from a young age and adopted the values of the Highmountain tauren. His temperament was much gentler than his other kin.
Onyxia couldn't say whether his temperament was good or bad, but at least she didn't feel uncomfortable or awkward when interacting with Ebyssian... As the black dragon siblings reunited and Onyxia began to hatch some small schemes, Shandris, having departed from the Sentinel Outpost, rode a giant eagle into Stormheim.
Stormheim, as its name suggests, frequently experienced lightning strikes in the skies above this bay area. During her flight, Shandris saw many unique subspecies of dragons, which the residents of the Broken Isles called Storm Drakes.
It is said that these subspecies of dragons were once part of the proto-dragons, but they received blessings from Odyn, the leader of the Keepers, and gained intelligence through tens of thousands of years of evolution.
Shandris didn't know if this legend was true or false, nor did she have much interest in uncovering the truth. As long as these Storm Drakes posed no threat to her, that was all that mattered.
Crossing the gradually descending terrain, she arrived above the map-marked Hrydshal. A thick fog enveloped this port, which exuded an eerie aura. Even the powerful flapping wings of the giant eagle could not disperse the dense mist nearby.
"This must be the place."
Directing the giant eagle to descend in the fog, when Shandris could already see the sea level, a dozen harpoons suddenly shot out of the mist, aimed directly at the giant eagle beneath her.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
Shandris, with the speed of a blur, continuously fired arrows, deflecting all the harpoons aimed at the giant eagle.
To avoid being without a mount for her return journey, Shandris leaped from the startled giant eagle's back, and while still in mid-air, she called upon Elune's light, illuminating the dense, impenetrable fog nearby.
Numerous strange Kvaldir, clad in seaweed, officially entered Shandris' line of sight. Their fierce eyes clearly indicated their extremely hostile attitude.