《Reclamation》


 Glossary

    Sauruld- A lush, life-filled planet, with habitats ranging from arid and sandy deserts to humid rainforests, stony mountain ranges to dense forests of massive trees, spread out across two vast continents with an island between the two and an ice cap on the northernmost point.


    Iritha~ The main home to the Jir and Relo, with great forests to the north, dense rainforests and jungles to the far south, and a wide swatch of stone and mountains across the middle.


    Lo Rai~ The continent home to the humans and Pern; grasslands and rolling hills cover the northern half of this continent, while the southern half sits significantly higher, on a raised cliff with a deep canyon at its northern front. At the southernmost tip sits a clear, fish-filled gulf, a common destination for the wealthy.


    Ban Lait~ A neutral island, with a jungle-covered southern expanse used mainly for less serious inter-racial rendezvous at its world-renowned Arabel Bay, and grasslands covering the rest of it. At its northernmost point sits an old stone keep, used for meetings between races in times of importance, or for matters spanning both continents. It boasts several bays, with a large one on its western side used for trading.


    Jir~ A red-brown skinned race well adapted to wherever they make their home. Considered extremely savage and wild by the other races. Jir have wide, upturned noses set squat against their face, pointed ears that are not as long as the Relos'' but noticeable nonetheless, and at least two sharp, thick tusks protruding from their upper jaw. Thesesiiralare often adorned with hoops and bands and are used to display rank and importance; a warrior with unimposing tusks is hardly a warrior at all. Males are often built thick as a tree and twice as sturdy, while females are much slighter, yet still imposing. While men lumber and stand like a mountain, the women move with the grace and ferocity of a mountain lion, all hard muscle and determination. The Jir take their roots and tribal traditions very seriously.


    Relo~ A golden-skinned race, the tall Relo pride themselves on their grace and smoothness. Long, pointed ears, horns curving back from the edge of their hairline, a slight nose, and large, glowing white eyes make Relo the most beautiful race- as far as they''re concerned. They are not shy about considering themselves the superior race of Sauruld, nor do they restrain their disdain toward the Jir. The Relo place beauty and progress above all else, and believe themselves to be the epitome of grace, with long, slender limbs and refined features.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Pern~ A race of ashen-skinned beings with small ears flattened against their heads and sharp green eyes, the Pern are exceptionally talented with technology and architecture. The Pern stand shorter than the average human, maxing out at around five feet tall, but use this slight stature to their advantage: smaller hands mean an easier time working with small, intricate pieces. The Pern are a logical people, only slightly believing in the All-Mother, but firmly convinced that there is always a logical explanation. Whether this is due to or the cause of the utter lack of magically-attuned Pern, nobody is certain.


    The All-Mother~ Though she goes by different names in each language, all know her as the All-Mother, the great being who crafted Sauruld and those on it. Ultimately just and fair, she is in charge of deciding whether a soul may pass onto the Golden Plains, or if it must be cast down into the Dark Realm to spend eternity with the Dark Father.


    The Dark Father~ Having come into existence immediately after the All-Mother and almost as powerful, the Dark Father rules the Dark Realm, working actively to corrupt souls and doom them to walk his realm, forever condemned to darkness and cold.


    Inzeera~ An elite yet corrupt group, accepting of all races but condemning of the All-mother, the Inzeera exist to serve the Dark Father, facilitating his will in the mortal plane. Despite their rejection and outright hatred of the All-Mother, they are a deeply ceremonial and spiritual people, having an intricate system of rituals and rankings. The Inzeera are currently led by Maran the Betrayer.


    Maaru~ Any race can be Maaru, so long as they possess and practice their magics in accordance with the All-Mother''s will and adhere to her holy teachings, passing these onto the rest of their kin, whomever that may be. Many people allow Maaru free passage through territories, regardless of boundaries and relations, due to their intrinsic and direct connection to the All-Mother; to deny them would be akin to denying the All-Mother herself.


    Guider~ The Jir word for someone leading the Clan, usually inherited. Occasionally, a Jir outside the bloodline or too impatient to wait will challenge the Guider in a battle to the death, though it is more common for bloodlines to shift when a Guider dies with no heirs and names a close friend as Guider.


    Reader~ The Jir responsible for reading the stars and natural signs from the Allmother and interpreting them to the Guider to better serve their Clan.


    Seer~ A Jir not affiliated with a Clan but deeply powerful and connected to all magics, a Seer will read fortunes and futures for a price, willing to commune with gods when so inclined. Seers are often viewed as morally corrupt Readers, though undeniably more powerful.

 Chapter One: A Coming and A Going

    Amora-Tae crouched down beside the mother, setting the back of her fingers against the woman''s arm, her brown skin darkening as she panted heavily. She glanced over to the Keeper, who nodded urgently. Returning the gesture, she set her palm against the hot cheek of the mother, who would alternate between letting out a guttural growl and hissing through her teeth. Amora-Tae took a deep breath, urging a calming rush through her hands into the woman; not enough to remove her from the labor, just enough to focus her on the efforts as she pushed, mouth parting in a silent scream.


    The Jir''s two daughters, seven and sixteen, knelt behind Amora-Tae, uttering prayers to the All-Mother, Ortaea, while her son, a young man of nineteen, stood guard outside with a curved blade. The woman had made a nurse-home of the cave, as the women of their Clan often did, and her screams were almost certain to attract unwanted attention; already an easily-deterred pair of amber eyes had gleamed from the trees.


    Now, the mother bared her fangs, lips pulling back into a snarl that could rival the nightstalkers creeping closer to her new den. Amora-Tae looked to the elderly woman, speaking in a hushed voice, "Tora-Wen, I cannot hold like this forever. When do I release her, Keeper?" She threw a look to the mouth of the cave, looking for any sign the boy only two years her elder had heard her.


    It was another minute of snarls and gasps before the old woman spoke, "Now, Amora-Tae! She must do the rest on her own." Tora-Wen could see the exact moment Amora-Tae began to pull back her powers; the woman''s fists pounded furiously against the furs she had piled, teeth parting and gnashing repeatedly as the pain increased. Finally, Tora-Wen could tell the mother was on her own. She pushed, muscles contracting as she gasped for breath, and with one final, massive effort, the child slid out into Tora-Wen''s waiting hands, where it was quickly separated from the mother. The old woman held him up briefly, taking in his wailing body before passing him up to the sweating woman.


    For the first time since her younger daughter had been sent to fetch Amora-Tae and the Keeper, the mother spoke the traditional words for welcoming a child. "Ortaea, watch over this Jir, brought into Sauruld in your name. From this day forth, he will serve you in your plan, All-Mother, in whatever roles your ultimate will sees fit." With that, the mother nestled the small baby into her chest, brushing her knuckles against the red-brown skin of the infant. "Hush, little one. Mother will protect you. Come now, let''s see thosesiiral, my sweet." She slipped two fingers carefully into the baby''s mouth, propping it open to see the two tusks protruding from her upper jaw. She released the child''s mouth, nestling him close to nurse as she ran a hand over the fuzz atop the small head.


    Amora-Tae rose slowly, sending a numbing pulse down to her knees, stiff from the cold stone floor. "I must return to the Clan. Bring the child forth if he makes the first night, and we will hold the celebrations." She turned and walked out of the cave into the darkness, nodding to the woman''s son as he saluted her passing.


    Glancing up at the trees towering high above her, the short ones easily five meters tall, Amora-Tae let her shoulders relax. The child had seemed healthy, and, come tomorrow, the son would not again speak of the way she had soothed his mother, if he even knew. Almost none of the men in the Clan, nor did any members of neighboring Clans, knew what she could do. Her parents simply knew the mothers preferred her for births. Lamruk-Ral was the only male whom she had told, and even then she had not told him so much as she had held her friend calm and steady when the Keeper had removed an arrow from his side.


    Amora-Tae walked through the dense jungle for at least twenty minutes before she reached the Clan, but she could feel the eyes of scouts on her well before. None of them approached her, of course; she had every reason to come and go as she pleased without being questioned. None of them had to know what she had done for the mother, only that she had been called upon to serve her Clan.


    When she reached the edge of the camp, her parents stood facing away from her, and Amora-Tae was hesitant to approach them just yet and interrupt their moment. However, a massive Jir beat her to it; carrying his equally impressive blade, he lumbered up to her parents, clapping a hand on her father''s shoulder. Satisfied she would not cause the interruption, Amora-Tae stepped forward briskly, bringing her right fist to her heart in a salute. Her elders nodded to her and she relaxed slightly, glancing over to her father''s best friend. "Ysral,Thagorn-Ral, where are Kamdul-Ral and Lamruk-Ral?"


    The giant jerked his shaved head toward his hut, running his free hand over his thick, coarse black beard. "In bed already, Amora-Tae; you all have to be up early tomorrow." He set a massive hand on her shoulder, saluted her parents, turned, and lumbered off toward his hut.


    Amora-Tae turned her head to her father, loose dark purple hairs falling around her face while the bulk of her braid thudded lightly against her back. "Why, father? What''s tomorrow?" She tilted her head, glancing between him and her mother.


    A sly grin crept across Ra-Tae''s face, setting off both apprehension and excitement in Amora-Tae. "Well," the older woman began, "your father and I assumed you would like to come with the war party to clear out the garrison tomorrow." She reached forward and swept the flying hairs behind her daughter''s ear, watching the smile spread across Amora-Tae''s lips.


    Amora-Tae nodded eagerly, "Yes mother, I would be very happy to! When do we leave? Can Rasa come?" Amora-Tae realized she had not seen her cat the entire day, save for when she woke up; the delivery had taken longer than most Jir births did, from sunrise until almost midnight. Fortunately for the mother, the baby only had to make it through that night before they would be welcomed into the Clan again.


    Gaul-Tae nodded gently, "Yes, of course Rasa can come, my cub. Faro would miss her too dearly otherwise." He winked at his wife, refrencing her own treestalker. "Now go, get some rest, we leave at dawn." He set a large palm over his daughter''s shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. His mate set one hand against her swollen belly, running the other against her daughter''s face.


    Amora-Tae leaned into her mother''s hand for a second before stepping back slightly, a soft smile playing across her lips. "Well, I had better head to bed. I will see you tomorrow." She stepped past her parents toward their hut, leaving them standing close together, three hands cradling her future sibling.


    Amora-Tae ducked into their spacious hut, an excited trilling coming from her right side. Amora-Tae grinned and hurried to her pile of furs on the floor, dropping to her knees beside the massive cat, lounging on its back on her makeshift bed. Amora-Tae ran her hand through the black-green fur of its stomach while it thumped a massive carmine paw against her shoulder. "Get off your tail, Rasa, I need to sleep too!" Amora-Tae gave the treestalker a hefty shove, rolling her onto her side. Amora-Tae settled in beside the cat, facing her and draping a thick arm over her rib-cage while the cat returned the gesture, tossing a mammoth forelimb over Amora-Tae and nestling close as though nuzzling into her own mother.


    Amora-Tae''s hands shot up, left hand burying itself in the hair of the face hovering above her, right hand clamped tight over the mouth, careful of the two particularly large pairssiiral. Her right knee came up instinctively, landing one fast blow to the body''s side before planting itself in their chest. Amora-Tae opened her eyes and found herself staring up at Lamruk-Ral, could feel his grin spread under her hand. She rolled her eyes and released him, shoving him away. "When will you learn? You''ve yet to sneak up on me, no matter how often you try." Amora-Tae hauled herself to a sitting position shoving Rasa with her left hand, "and some guard you are, Rasa!"Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    The cat yawned lazily, licking her paw and drawing it over her ear. Lamruk-Ral let out a hearty laugh, bringing a smile to Amora-Tae''s face. "Ah, come on Amora-Tae! I''ll get you eventually, I have to!" He dropped back to sit beside his friend, fingers playing mindlessly with the furs in front of him.


    Amora-Tae stretched slowly, twisting to crack her back as she came fully awake. "Well, then, next time don''t breathe. Or bathe, first." She punched her friend in the shoulder, standing from her furs. "Where is Kamdul-Ral? Who all is coming in the party?" She nudged Rasa gently with her heel, urging the giant to her feet, before stepping past Lamruk-Ral to her bag full of clothes. Trusting him not to look, and not exactly caring if he did, she pulled the wrinkled cloth shirt over her head, wrapping a fur-padded linen cloth around her chest and slipping on the metal breastplate over it. "Buckle me."


    Lamruk-Ral rose and stood behind her, pulling the chest piece''s straps taut around her and buckling the single strap over her left shoulder. "There. The three of us, our parents, a couple of the senior warriors, and the Fen brothers are going. I heard whispers of Senres-Hal coming as well, but I''m not sure. Get ready, I''m going to check on the others." He clapped Amora-Tae on the shoulder before turning and ducking his wide frame through the flaps of the tent.


    Once he was gone, Amora-Tae made quick work of changing from the loose linen pants she had worn the full day prior and into her leather skirt. She took a quick moment to flatten the leather flaps covering her before clicking her tongue to summon Rasa and grabbing her own pair of axes from beside her bags. She strode out into the open, taking in the scene in front of her: Jir bustled around, almost all wearing leather or iron armor, the males with nothing over their heavily muscled torsos as the Clan worked to prepare the raid on their own garrison. Amora-Tae slipped past Jir, making her way to her parents in the center of everything.


    Her mother came into view first, one hand over her belly, the other on her mate''s shoulder.It can''t be long now, two months, at the most,Amora-Tae thought cheerfully. She stopped beside them, bringing her fist to her chest in salute. When her parents nodded at her, she set her arm and axe back at her side, glancing around at the gathering Jir. "When do we leave?" Rasa rubbed against Amora-Tae''s parents, shoving her massive head between them, a deep purr booming from her sturdy chest.


    Gaul-Tae turned his face toward the Keeper''s hut, weak sunlight bouncing off his several scars. "As soon as the Keeper is ready. The Reader has seen tragedy in the entrails, so both will come with the war party, and those who stay here will be on high guard." He patted Rasa between her shoulders before running a hand the size of Amora-Tae''s head over his beard, done by his mate into a secure braid to match the one trailing down his back.


    Amora-Ta nodded grimly, sending a quick prayer to the All-mother for safety. Before she could finish, a high-pitched scream tore from the forest behind her, and she felt herself take off in the direction of it, Rasa on her heels. Moments later, another screech followed, one that chilled Amora-Tae to her core, one she felt down to the bones in her toes. One of a mother.


    Amora-Tae, Lamruk-Ral, Kamdul-Ral, and Senres-Hal tore through the forest, Senres-Hal constantly fighting to pull ahead of Amora-Tae. Behind them, Amora-Tae could head the thunder of her Clan, could feel the Fen brothers catching up. Nodding to Lamruk-Ral and Kamdul-Ral, Amora-Tae whistled at Rasa, who pulled up beside her Jir and matched her pace. Amora-Tae passed each of her friends an axe before leaping onto Rasa bareback. She caught her weapons when the brother and sister threw them back, and Rasa peeled off, leaving a growling Senres-Hal in her dust.


    Even on her treestalker, it was another five minutes before Amora-Tae found the mother. Rasa had smelled them first, and dropped to a trot, then a walk, as they drew close. When Amora-Tae could see them between the trees, she dismounted Rasa, glancing up at the trees; the stench of blood hung thick and metallic in the air, certain to draw unwanted attention. Amora-Tae held her arms out at her side as she approached, moving slowly toward the sobbing mother, bent over a shape in her lap.


    "What''s wrong? Who is hurt?" Amora-Tae did her best to keep her voice calm and steady, but as she got closer, she could see the blood pooling under the mother''s knees, and a long arrow beside her.


    The mother''s head shot up, teeth bared as she clutched her child. "Get away!" Her words came out in a quick snarl, right hand flying to the ground in front of her to grab a jagged knife, a mean serrated thing for deadly blows.


    Amora-Tae crouched low to the grass, quickly strapping her axes onto her back. "Tell me what''s wrong. I am Amora-Tae of the Treestalker Clan. This is Rasa." She extended one hand to the cat, who strode forward, taking her place beside her Jir. "Tell us what happened. Let me help," Amora-Tae implored.


    Looking defeated, the mother dropped the blade beside her lap, shoulders sagging as she ran her hands over her child''s head. "They shot him, shot him down like a deer. An arrow through his gut, as if he were just... nothing. Not a boy, not a living breathing thing. Shot him like he was nothing." She didn''t move as Amora-Tae and Rasa sidled up to her, the large cat shimmying her head under the lad''s arm. He gripped her thick fur loosely, head lolling to the side to look at the treestalker. Blood bubbled up around his mouth when he tried to speak, gurgling the only sound he made.


    Amora-Tae placed a hand softly on the mother''s knee, throwing a cautious glance over her shoulder. The others would be here in mere minutes, but the boy would not last that long anyway. "Who? Who shot your son?" Amora-Tae asked, though the sinking pit in her stomach told her she already knew, her grandmother''s voice scolding her for such a stupid question.


    The mother didn''t answer right away, her voice small and bitter once she found it. "Vilejaws."She spat on the ground when she spoke the name.


    Amora-Tae bit back a growl, keeping her eyes on the boy and Rasa, who lapped gently at his head.Of course it was them, are you dumb? Born with a stone for a brain? Who else would it be? This arrow likely held their poison, before this lad held the arrow.Amora-Tae heard her grandmother''s voice scold her in her mind. Amora-Tae pushed back against it and, throwing one last look over her shoulder, let a pulse of calm flow from her fingers to the mother.


    At first, the woman looked as though she might resist. Shock bloomed over her features, thick black brows furrowing and her already flattened nose scrunching up in confusion. Then, though, her face relaxed significantly as Amora-Tae''s magics seeped into her bones. When Amora-Tae gestured to the dying boy, asking permission, the woman gave a gentle, slow nod.


    Amora-Tae ran her hand over the boy''s frizzy hair a few times before settling her palm against his scalp. She shut her eyes and let the calm wash over the boy. His body fell slack against Rasa, his pulse slowing as his grip on the cat''s fur loosened significantly. Amora-Tae kept her voice low, sweat already beginning to form along her hairline, "I cannot heal him, but I can make sure he will not feel anything but calm when he goes."


    The mother, a Jir Amora-Tae realized she did not recognize from any neighboring Clan, nodded solemnly. "That is all I can ask." She ducked her head and rubbed her son''s arm gently, muttering prayers to the All-Mother for his safekeeping.


    In the long minutes it took for the boy to die, Amora-Tae tried not to think about the strange, ashen tone of his skin. When he was gone, she gave the mother a silent nod, hauling herself to her feet and using Rasa as a support. Calming the boy, shielding him from so much pain, had taken a lot out of her, but she was sure he had not felt anything after, and that was what mattered to her. "If you''d like, my father is Guider of the Treestalker Clan," Amora-Tae began awkwardly, digging a hand into Rasa''s fur for comfort. "I could arrange a burial, for your son. Or an escort home. Where are you from?"


    The woman paled at the mention of an escort and quickly shook her head. "No," she said in a hard voice that set a flag off in Amora-Tae''s head, before continuing in a gentler tone, "no, we won''t need that much. I doubt your father would send us with an escort on a boat. I... I suppose I don''t know what I will do from here." She looked up as Lamruk-Ral and Kamdul-Ral came quietly through the trees, Senres-Hal following much more loudly. She placed herself swiftly between the three and the body of her child, a snarl coming slowly to her lips.


    Amora-Tae held up her hands, one toward each party, and spoke evenly. "Calm, they''re with me. Lamruk-Ral, Kamdul-Ral, and Senres-Hal, of the Treestalker Clan." She gestured to each Jir as she named them, turning her brown gaze to the mother. "So, what will we do?"


    The mother lifted her son''s body, arrow and all, and looked Amora-Tae in the eye. "I suppose we shall see your father."

 Chapter Two: Reclaiming the Garrison

    Finally, the young Jir led the charge to take back their home, Amora-Tae and Rasa taking up their rightful place at the front. Though they would have to wait for the senior warriors before they could rush in swinging and yelling, it was clearly a race to get there first, and Senres-Hal refused to lose. She pumped her legs faster, closing the distance between herself and Amora-Tae. She gradually moved closer to Amora-Tae''s side before cutting in front of her and stopping for a second before peeling off again, snickering as she went.


    Amora-Tae stumbled and fell hard, a growl coming from both herself and Rasa. The cat helped her Jir up before the two took off after Senres-Hal again. This time, it was harder for Amora-Tae to catch up, the feeling of blood trickling down her shin trying to push its way to the forefront of her mind. She gritted her teeth in frustration, forcing herself to stop and sit. She made quick work of plucking wooden splinters from the gash across her knee, listening as the Fen brothers caught up to her. The taller, Lero-Fen, helped Amora-Tae up quickly, eyes flitting over her in concern. She rolled her eyes before patting them both on the chest to get their attention.


    "Toss me. It''s a straight line. Don''t throw me into a tree." She turned to face forward, holding her arms out, as the brother obliged. They lifted her first by her arms, before turning her belly-down and winding up twice, launching her forward through the trees. She let herself fly through the forest, Rasa''s paws thudding behind her. When Amora-Tae felt herself start to slow and drop, she brought her feet quickly under her, landing in a run.


    Finally, she could see Senres-Hal only a few yards in front of her, and the garrison just past her, growing by the second. Amora-Tae shot herself up one of the massive trees, bounding forward from branch to branch. Here, Rasa overtook her with glee, shooting forward through the treetop. Despite the cat''s massive weight, the branches bore her weight securely and quietly.


    When Amora-Tae was nearing the garrison, and pulling in front of Senres-Hal, she dove out of the trees, landing past Senres-Hal, just in front of the garrison wall. Rasa dropped down beside her, purring like a kitten with a leaf and waving her tail lazily.


    Senres-Hal came to a stop in front of Amora-Tae, jaw hanging loose and eyebrows furrowed in anger. "That''s cheating!" A deep growl tore from her throat and her hands balled into tight, practiced fists. "Just because you spend all your time playing in the trees like a monkey!"


    Amora-Tae and Rasa snarled, both baring sharpened fangs.What I wouldn''t give to bloody her stupid, pretty face. Swell it till nobody can see her stupid green eyes."Try me then, Senres-Hal, and tell me I''m the one who needs fighting practice." Amora-Tae pulled her axes off her back, handing them off to Lamruk-Ral and Kamdul-Ral as they and the brothers arrived to the scene.


    Senres-Hal scoffed, setting her spiked and gleaming mace aside. "Call off you treestalker, Amora-Tae. Have a shred of honor." When the cat stalked off behind the four Jir watching, Senres-Hal lowered herself to a crouch, taking a few steps back.


    Amora-Tae dropped as well, readying herself.If thishedathinks she-Amora-Tae''s thoughts were interrupted when Senres-Hal charged her. Amora-Tae moved to sidestep her, but caught a foot to the stomach. Instinctively, she grabbed Senres-Hal''s ankle, yanking her to the side and landing a punch to her stomach as she passed.


    Senres-Hal barely steadied herself as she fell before launching herself and Amora-Tae, wrapping her arms around her waist. The impact carried them backward, Amora-Tae sliding on her back with Senres-Hal on top of her. As soon as they stopped moving, Senres-Hal started aiming blows at Amora-Tae''s head, left hand pressing into her shoulder while Amora-Tae used her arms to deflect punches and shove at the girl on top of her.


    Amora-Tae winced as Senres-Hal landed another hit on the right side of her face.That''s going to be an ugly bruise.Using her forearms to cover her head, she worked one leg loose before swiftly hooking it around Senres-Hal and using it to throw them both sideways. When Senres-Hal hit the dirt, Amora-Tae was on her in an instant, left shin holding down one arm, the rest of her weight settled onto Senres-Hal''s midsection. When Senres-Hal kept trying to hit her, Amora-Tae leaned back for a second before coming in with a hard, well-placed punch to her jaw, settling the fight simply.


    When Senres-Hal stopped struggling, Amora-Tae rose and stepped back, brushing dirt from her legs. She touched the bruises blooming across her face gingerly, turning to face her friends as she spoke. "Maybe now I''ll have some pea- What?" When Kamdul-Ral cleared her throat and nodded to something behind Amora-Tae, she felt her stomach drop to her knees. She turned to find her parents, as well as the other senior warriors, standing and watching.


    Her mother had one hand on her mate''s shoulder, likely for balance, another over the modified buckler strapped across her stomach, and a scowl across her face. Her father, however, had his massive arms crossed across his broad chest, one eyebrow raised, and the faintest hint of a smile playing at his lips. Amora-Tae saw Senres-Hal rise out of the corner of her eye, and she could tell the girl''s pride was more bruised than anything else. Kamdul-Ral and Lamruk-Ral handed Amora-Tae her axes as her father crossed the short distance between them. He clapped a hand on her shoulder before leading the rest of the party past the teenagers toward the large wooden gates.


    Amora-Tae let out a deep exhale, following at the back of the pack with the pairs of siblings on either side of her, Senres-Hal sulking behind them. They went on quietly as Gaul-Tae led them through the wooden gates and into the main yard. The garrison was quiet as well, but when they listened harder, they could all make out the slight scratching coming from inside the stone walls of the main hall.


    Gaul-Tae raised his fist, bringing his warriors to a halt. He turned to face them, setting the point of his blade against the dirt. "Thagorn-Ral, you will lead half of the group through the eastern door and kill any ragals you find. Do not let yourselves be overrun. They''re small but vicious." He thudded his fist against his chest, half the warriors mimicking his gesture before following the massive Jir off toward the eastern side. "The rest of you, with me." Gaul-Tae and his wife led the way to the massive double doors, nodding to each other before raising their weapons, letting out a battle cry, and leading the charge into the main hall.


    Amora-Tae bounced from foot to foot, the Clan''s frenzy overtaking her. When it was her turn, she burst into the massive room, blood already spattered across the stone walls. She looked to Rasa, who stood beside her scenting the air, and gave a quick click to the cat. The treestalker finally let out a growl before loping off toward the kitchens, down a short hall just left of her father''s massive throne.


    She followed the treestalker into the wide room, gray stone just like the rest of the hold. At first, she couldn''t tell why Rasa had led her here; no ragals lunged at them from beneath tables, nor had any shot out when they entered. Yet Rasa led the way straight to the meat closet, standing on two feet to paw at the latch.


    Amora-Tae came forward, undoing the latch and stepping back as the big cat pulled the door open. A weak growl came from the dark room, and she squatted low to peer under the shelf that used to be filled with salted and dried meats. Meeting her brown gaze were three gray, furry heads with blue eyes like lightning. Amora-Tae reached in slowly pulling the little bodies out one by one. "Stormwolf pups? Since when do ragals take prisoners?" At her voice two of the pups seemed to calm, though one continued to growl, struggling against the vines that bound his paws together.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "They''re runts, all of them." Senres-Hal''s voice sent Amora-Tae jumping to her feet, hands on her axe handles. "Put them down." The girl strode forward, already wielding her mace.


    "No! You''re crazy, Senres-Hal! That''s why you aren''t bonded yet, not even a river gator would have you." Amora-Tae pulled her axes from her back, ready to send the other Jir packing.


    "Yes, becauseyou''reso comforting. Is that how you silenced that dying boy? Because he certainly stopped his incessant wailing right around when you must''ve gotten there." She let a sly grin spread across her lips,siiralglinting in the light drifting through the window. "Or is there something else, something the Clan should know?"


    Amora-Tae felt her face grow warm under her green gaze. Fighting to maintain composure, she forced her voice steady and her spine straight. Amora-Tae drew herself to her full height, just shy of six and a half feet tall, towering over Senres-Hal at six feet even. "Piss off, Senres-Hal. I don''t answer to you. Now go pull your damn weight or I''ll have you pulled from the Hunts this year and put on guard duty this moon and the next."


    Senres-Hal bared her teeth at the taller girl, turning away to leave the way they had come, hunting for blood. It wasn''t until the sound of her footsteps on the stone floor faded away that Amora-Tae recognized the telltale scratching all around her. From the walls, from the floor it seemed, she just couldn''t tell where they were.


    At least, not until they came flooding through a door that should''ve been latched. Dozens of the wiry-haired, pointy-eared creatures came pouring out of the grain store. Amora-Tae and Rasa both planted themselves in front of the pups, prayers and curses alike rushing through the girl''s mind.


    The ragals fanned out in front of her, thirty pairs of eyes, thirty sets of razor claws and teeth, all fixated on her and the little lives tied up behind her. The big cat bared her fangs, snarling a challenge to the two foot tall invaders bouncing from foot to foot across the room.


    "Now would be a great time for backup, eh Rasa?" She paused, hoping, praying. "No? Nothing? Well, we''ll see what the All-Mother has written for us, then!" She brandished her axes in front of her, as though fancy axework would settle the dispute. Finally, the ragals seemed to grow brave. Six of them, three from each end, shot forward, beady eyes glinting and short tails whipping side to side as they charged the pair.


    Amora-Tae let the first one get close before bringing a foot up to meet its chest and shoving it backward, dispatching a second quickly with an axe. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure Rasa was doing well, before turning to slash at the third ragal. Its bloody body had barely hit the stone before two more took its place. No matter how swiftly she hacked and swung at the little gray creatures, they kept coming, threatening to overwhelm the pair. Finally considering simply tossing herself into their midst to buy Rasa time to save the pups, Amora-Tae imagined she heard someone shout her name.


    Taking advantage of the brief distraction, a handful of ragals flung themselves at her, digging nails and teeth into her legs. She let out a hiss of shock and pain, lopping off two heads and ripping the other two from her legs by their ears, throwing them across the room.Why did I kick out Senres-Hal?Amora-Tae risked a quick glance behind her, down at the cowering canines.Right, because you would be dead, I would be back off with my parents, and also I hate thatheda. She looked over to Rasa, who bowled ragals over in twos, swatting massive paws with hooked and deadly claws unsheathed. "Save the pups, Rasa." Her voice cracked and her heart shattered at the thought of leaving her treestalker behind in this mess, but she stepped forward regardless.


    The cat nudged Amora-Tae, mewling like a newborn kitten, but she pushed the animal''s head away gently, steeling herself for the pain to come. But, before she could fling herself into the mass of intruders, Kamdul-Ral came tearing into the room, screaming as she went and daggers slashing through ragals left and right. Lamruk-Ral followed close behind his sister, quickly cutting a path to Amora-Tae.


    He looked over her quickly before turning quickly to the vermin in the room, lashing out with both of his swords. Amora-Tae breathed for a moment before jumping in alongside Rasa to help finish off the remaining ragals. When they had slain them all, Kamdul-Ral grinned at her friend, covered in blood.


    "Didn''t your father tell you not to let yourself be overwhelmed?" Kamdul-Ral snagged a rag from a wood table, running it over her face. Most of the blood came off, some smeared across her jawline.


    "And how many times have I told him to pave the grain store?" Amora-Tae set her head against Lamruk-Ral, leaning against his frame for a second before remembering the pups. "I''d bet they have tunnels in there, but I don''t know where they got these." She squatted down, pulling the furry bodies to her. The loud one growled until it was brought to her, eyes glued to her fangs.


    "Stormwolf pups?" Lamruk-Ral was thoroughly surprised; the Stormwolf clan prized their wolves above anything, and no Jir went unbonded. Perhaps these pups would set that off. "how would the ragals have gotten them? Storm Rock is too far away, no?"


    "Not to mention small, and stupid," Kamdul-Ral added, "are we sure Senres-Hal isn''t an overgrown ragal queen or something?" She snickered at her own comment before continuing, "Amora-Tae, we have to get back to the Great Hall. Our father made quick work through the eastern door, and Gaul-Tae wants to check everyone over before he sees to that mother you found. He asked me to make sure you''re okay."


    Amora-Tae laughed, drawing the pups into her arms and standing straight. "Yes, well, I suppose we had better get these to him first then." She made her way to the door, stepping over broken bodies and pooling blood.


    "Finally, there she is!" Gaul-Tae''s voice boomed through the room as soon as his eyes fell on his daughter. Then, his voice left him as his eyes fell further to the gray fur bundles wriggling in her and her friends'' arms. "Ra-Tae, what does she have?" He rubbedat his left eye before squinting at his daughter walking gingerly through the room.


    His mate didn''t answer, already on her feet and pushing warriors out of her way, going as fast as she could to her daughter. The two came together quickly, Ra-Tae turning her daughter''s face side to side as she examined her. "What''s wrong Amora-Tae? Where are you hurt? And is that really..." her voice trailed off as her gaze flew past the pup to Amora-Tae''s bloody legs. "What happened? Are you hurt anywhere else? Are those things dead? I swear if they aren''t yet I''ll hang them from their tails myself!" Her voice rose in fervor the more she spoke, finally getting behind her daughter and nudging her forward towards the end of the room, fussing over her hair and her skin as they went.


    When they finally reached the steps in front of the throne, Amora-Tae gave her father a sheepish grin. "I found these," she said simply, shifting the pup in her arms. She had taken the rowdiest one, now soothed in her arms, while the other two lay with the twins standing behind her. "We should really pave the grain stores."


    Gaul-Tae sighed, shaking his head. "Thank you for bringing her back, Lamruk-Ral." His dipped his head to the Jir, who brought his fist to his chest in salute. Gaul-Tae pushed himself from his bone-and-wooden throne, descending the half-dozen steps to meet his daughter. "Let me see it," he muttered as he reached for the pup. As soon as it left contact with Amora-Tae, it began fussing and nipping at the Jir, held aloft by the scruff of its neck. "Are the other two this feisty?" He chuckled, passing the bundle back to his daughter. "I suppose for now you should watch them, Amora-Tae. Rasa can help you care for them until I hold council tonight. Then the Clan can decide what to do with them." He turned back up the steps, standing before his throne before addressing his warriors. "Thagorn-Ral and his son will lead the rest of the Clan here. We will mop up this mess, then, we feast!" The men and women around him cheered, and when they quieted, he continued, "tonight, I will hold an open council. All may speak. Now go, do your duties." He came back down the stairs, drawing his wife into an embrace as he passed.


    Amora-Tae nodded quickly to Kamdul-Ral and Lamruk-Ral, leading them quickly up the stairs behind the throne and off toward her room. Once they had all hurried in and the door was shut and latched, she set the stormwolf pup carefully on the tiger pelt on the floor, letting it pile together with its siblings. "I suppose it''s in the All-Mother''s hands," she sighed, watching the pups sniff and nuzzle each other, drawing close together for comfort.