She couldn't make out the words through the thick, stone walls of the dwarven barn, but they were getting louder by the moment. She felt a moment of pure panic as she twisted her head from side to side, taking one final look around the stall to ensure there was nothing lying around that might give away her identity. She had lost her weapons during the desperate flight through the Wetlands, and what little clothing she still possessed was bundled together and buried under the pile of straw in the corner. She had nothing else. Just as she began to relax she saw a faintly glowing piece of wood, half-buried near her clothes. One of her four elemental totems, more precious than any amount of gold! She made a desperate lunge, swatting a bunch of loose straw towards it. Fortune favored her, burying it safely beneath the tide of grain. She let out a long, relieved sigh and resumed her former position, with her hooves and hands both planted flat against the floor, just as the doorway of the barn swung …show more content…
The dwarf was a stocky creature, most of his body obscured behind a wild, grey beard. The deep lines in his face marked him as an elderly sort. Perhaps his eyes were weak, she mused. He was occupied with shuffling through a pile of grain-filled bags. She breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't noticed her. A few minutes later the other dwarf returned, a pair of large feed bags slung over his shoulders. Younger than the first, this dwarf's long, yellow beard was tied into an braid and bound with an ornate leather tie. The sacks he carried were nearly as big as he was, but he seemed not the least bit bothered by the weight. He easily trekked towards the greybeard and dropped them at his feet. "This'll do 'em fer now. Ye want to feed 'em first, or get straight to the milkin'?"
The elder scratched at his beard, "Feed 'em first. Best get it over with." With that, the two dwarves set to work, stomping up and down the stalls and despositing grain for each of the cattle. Once more, the movement stopped just outside her stall. Ahuna held her breath and did her very best to look cow-like. The thud of booted feet entered her stall, circling around beside her. The tauren looked straight ahead, too nervous to even