By chance, Cairne met Thrall, the young new leader of the orcs, on the east coast of Kalimdor. With the full support of Thrall and the Frostwolf Clan, Cairne finally repelled the repeated invasions of the Khan of the Centaur. After resisting the Burning Legion's invasion, Cairne assisted Thrall in establishing Orgrimmar and led the tauren of Thunder Bluff to join the Horde. Following the Cataclysm, Cairne was poisoned and killed by Magatha Grimtotem, leader of the Grimtotem Clan, during a duel to the death with Garrosh Hellscream, the acting Warchief of the Horde. Thus, the legendary tauren chieftain bowed out.