| Marc Pelzer | Fabian Wiestner
"For the past three days, Thuli had not shown up. She had locked herself in her hut and spent her days from early morning until late evening in discussions with the most important tribe members. It had been a week since the dreadful night, and although most of the repairs in the village had been completed, normalcy did not return. Everyday life consisted of the crucial tasks for most tribe members, such as guarding the village, hunting, and taking care of the wounded. These were also the reasons behind the discussions about relocation. Everyone knew that the injuries could not be properly treated with the available medicine here. The battle had simply produced too many severely wounded. Although the mage participated in life-saving care, the chances for the injured fighters were bleak. He took special care of Ja'nemeri. Not only did the girl enjoy it, but the people also viewed Tirion less as a stranger and began to trust him slowly. This gradually led to conversations based on honesty, free from suspicion. This pleased him greatly because it had weighed on him that only the shamaness had spoken with him. She would soon decide whether the tribe would have to leave their homeland once again to save some of the severely wounded. On the other hand, some of them would not survive transportation to the nearest larger cities under the harsh travel conditions. In general, not many members of the northern tribe remained, around a hundred people estimated Tirion.
Thuli had made her decision. She had heard many opinions and considered objections, but as is often the case in life, there was no one right decision. The tribe was no longer viable as such; there were too many wounded fighters and simply too few survivors. Therefore, they would leave the village and head towards the nearest provincial capital. It was also the city that Thuli knew best: the free city of Uduas. In her memory, it had always been a welcoming and open place. The journey there would take a long time considering the injured, and besides, she herself was no longer young. She had gathered the village in the late afternoon, sat down, and now explained to the attentive listeners what lay ahead of them.
"I thank all of you for your strong commitment. As you all know, over the past few days, I have talked to some of you. It has become dangerous for us because we are too few to cope with the current situation. We need help. As children, you learned to hide and avoid the world, and back then, we had good reason to live that way. But that time is over now; the world has caught up with us. We will travel to Uduas. It is a city in the west that will hopefully welcome us." A murmur went through the crowd, and immediately, questions bombarded the shamaness. With perseverance and understanding, she tried to answer all of them.
It took four days to pack the essentials onto the many large and small wagons that now formed a long convoy in front of the village. The wagons, covered with furs, leather, or cloth, were partly filled with food or tools, while others had mounted beds for those who couldn't walk. The villagers had packed everything necessary for survival during the journey onto the smaller wagons, making them easily accessible. Thus, hoes, shovels, buckets, and cooking pots piled up and clattered to the rhythm of the stones on the natural path. The mood of the marchers was hopeful, but especially the elderly were grumpy. Far ahead in the procession, Tirion walked beside a small wagon pulled by a mighty stag. Although he had grown somewhat accustomed to the many wild animals in the vicinity, the sight of the convoy was still curious to him. In the past few days, he had been able to talk a lot with Ja'nemeri. The girl had helped him understand the bond and control between the companions while she was recovering. Tirion had done his best to comprehend the magic behind the animal-human bond, but his success had been moderate at best. Slowly but steadily, the long line of wagons approached the western border of the plain. Tirion had decided to leave the tribe there. Although he wanted to disappear quietly and unnoticed, it was appropriate to bid farewell to some people. In the past weeks, he had befriended several individuals. Therefore, as they drew closer to the border, he fell back a bit, sought out the people in the convoy, and wished them farewell. Then he made his way to the third wagon. He pushed aside the curtain that served as a door, expecting to find the girl inside, but neither she nor her wolf was visible on the carriage. It almost felt relieving to him, as Tirion had feared that a farewell would be uncomfortable, especially since he generally disliked goodbyes.
Finally, he made his way to the front, where Thuli was riding on a small wagon accompanied by K'sar the warrior and the man with the falcon on his shoulder. After expressing gratitude and offering congratulations, it was precisely this man who led him away from the convoy. He guided him to a hidden path that meandered south, where Tirion had decided to go. Then, he extended his hand to Tirion. "We will not forget what you have done for us, Tirion, Mage of the Fire Guild. Should you ever need us, we will be there, just as you were by our side." "Thank you, I appreciate that," Tirion replied, looking up and proudly shaking the outstretched hand.
It didn't take long before the man disappeared without making the slightest sound. The convoy could barely be discerned somewhere in the plain with great effort. Tirion took a deep breath, stretched, and then set off. However, after a few steps, he abruptly stopped again. He let a fine stream of flames glide over himself, forming a script: I see you.
Casually, he turned around with a broad grin. Ja'nemeri grinned back, and her wolf let out a soft howl. "Where are we going?" she asked excitedly.
Thuli had made her decision. She had heard many opinions and considered objections, but as is often the case in life, there was no one right decision. The tribe was no longer viable as such; there were too many wounded fighters and simply too few survivors. Therefore, they would leave the village and head towards the nearest provincial capital. It was also the city that Thuli knew best: the free city of Uduas. In her memory, it had always been a welcoming and open place. The journey there would take a long time considering the injured, and besides, she herself was no longer young. She had gathered the village in the late afternoon, sat down, and now explained to the attentive listeners what lay ahead of them.
"I thank all of you for your strong commitment. As you all know, over the past few days, I have talked to some of you. It has become dangerous for us because we are too few to cope with the current situation. We need help. As children, you learned to hide and avoid the world, and back then, we had good reason to live that way. But that time is over now; the world has caught up with us. We will travel to Uduas. It is a city in the west that will hopefully welcome us." A murmur went through the crowd, and immediately, questions bombarded the shamaness. With perseverance and understanding, she tried to answer all of them.
It took four days to pack the essentials onto the many large and small wagons that now formed a long convoy in front of the village. The wagons, covered with furs, leather, or cloth, were partly filled with food or tools, while others had mounted beds for those who couldn't walk. The villagers had packed everything necessary for survival during the journey onto the smaller wagons, making them easily accessible. Thus, hoes, shovels, buckets, and cooking pots piled up and clattered to the rhythm of the stones on the natural path. The mood of the marchers was hopeful, but especially the elderly were grumpy. Far ahead in the procession, Tirion walked beside a small wagon pulled by a mighty stag. Although he had grown somewhat accustomed to the many wild animals in the vicinity, the sight of the convoy was still curious to him. In the past few days, he had been able to talk a lot with Ja'nemeri. The girl had helped him understand the bond and control between the companions while she was recovering. Tirion had done his best to comprehend the magic behind the animal-human bond, but his success had been moderate at best. Slowly but steadily, the long line of wagons approached the western border of the plain. Tirion had decided to leave the tribe there. Although he wanted to disappear quietly and unnoticed, it was appropriate to bid farewell to some people. In the past weeks, he had befriended several individuals. Therefore, as they drew closer to the border, he fell back a bit, sought out the people in the convoy, and wished them farewell. Then he made his way to the third wagon. He pushed aside the curtain that served as a door, expecting to find the girl inside, but neither she nor her wolf was visible on the carriage. It almost felt relieving to him, as Tirion had feared that a farewell would be uncomfortable, especially since he generally disliked goodbyes.
Finally, he made his way to the front, where Thuli was riding on a small wagon accompanied by K'sar the warrior and the man with the falcon on his shoulder. After expressing gratitude and offering congratulations, it was precisely this man who led him away from the convoy. He guided him to a hidden path that meandered south, where Tirion had decided to go. Then, he extended his hand to Tirion. "We will not forget what you have done for us, Tirion, Mage of the Fire Guild. Should you ever need us, we will be there, just as you were by our side." "Thank you, I appreciate that," Tirion replied, looking up and proudly shaking the outstretched hand.
It didn't take long before the man disappeared without making the slightest sound. The convoy could barely be discerned somewhere in the plain with great effort. Tirion took a deep breath, stretched, and then set off. However, after a few steps, he abruptly stopped again. He let a fine stream of flames glide over himself, forming a script: I see you.
Casually, he turned around with a broad grin. Ja'nemeri grinned back, and her wolf let out a soft howl. "Where are we going?" she asked excitedly.