The night had passed, and the tribes close to the village the boys had burnt down were fully alert. The tribe was one which had fully turned to cannibalism recently, with their tribe numbering close to a hundred they were a threat everyone paid attention to.
All of a sudden last night, the flames had risen into the sky alongside the caws of ravens which had further added to their confusion. Murmurs had already began to spread with some claiming, the old god's themselves had taken action and destroyed the village for their vile acts.
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Meha remained silent as she stared at the rest of the tribe who were celebrating, the head priestess led the celebration. She continued to tell them that the sudden bizarre events of the night before was the old gods response to their prayers. Meha though was not satisfied with this answer.
She believed there was more to this events and maybe something terrifying had found it's way into the woodlands, and maybe... just maybe they would be next. She would have preferred they went after the survivors but looking at the people surrounding her she knew that they didn't have it in them, the continuous defeats they had suffered, had shattered their spirits.
The celebrations were cut short when they spotted five people heading towards them. Meha quickly grabbed her weapons to join the others who readied themselves for battle, they lowered their weapons however when they laid eyes on the one leading them.
*******
That night after escaping the village the three brothers had led Harwood to where Ronell was hidden. The Ravens had arrived before them with Spakr resting on Ronell's shoulder, Ronell seeing them had a wide grin with teary eyes. He quickly stood and attempted to rush towards Harwood to give him a hug.
However after pushing himself to the very limit to control a large number of ravens, he was lightheaded with his sense of balance disturbed he fell face first, before his face made contact with the earth. Holding his son up with his arm, Harwood let loose the tears.
He truly believed he would never see his children again but here they were, all three of them now warriors in their own right. After spending the night together Harwood led them towards where he knew the remnants of the tribe would be.
Arriving before the tribe all the people simply watched him with their eyes wide opened, "uncle... is it really you" Meha stepped forward and spoke up after staring at him for a whole minute. "Aye I have returned, together with your cousins... my sons" The joy and pride on his could not be hidden when he said the last bit.
The others turned their attention to the boys after Harwood's introduction.
The tribe was busy with the return of the five, Harwood, Benjen and Lothor were led to the healers to treat the wounds they had sustained during yesterdays battle. Lothor especially who had a massive wound that cut across his back diagonally, which had escaped their vision the night before as well as Lothor's senses which were... lets say dulled due to the massive amounts of adrenalin flowing through his system.
His screams of pain could be heard from the hut as the healers tended to his wound. Arthor continued to take in the surroundings as well as the people around who observed him as well, before stopping as he locked eyes with Meha. His cousin, he had little to no recollection of her as he spent his entire childhood focused on training and honing his skills.
"I hear you led your brothers across the mountains and into this woodlands and rescued uncle all on your lonesome", Meha who was mere inches away from him stared into his eyes seemingly assessing him to see if he was truly capable of the feats he had heard.
"Aye, but the rescue was done with the help of my brothers not by my lonesome."
"Even back in the original village they always said you were special."
"I am special" Their conversation was cut short as they were brought into the great hall. The great hall was a large hut with a massive table placed in the midst with the important people of the tribe all seated around the table. Harwood sat at the head of the table, his face clean with his hair shaved off leaving his beard.
He was dressed in leather clothes with a wolf pelt draped over his shoulders, he silently observed as Arthor and Meha took their seats. "My people, we have suffered a lot", Harwood began "Sacked from our home atop the mountains and again in the woodlands now we are not even shadows of our former selves. Peace is not an option, to cower and hide has never been the Skagossi way."
"Aye, but we have not the me-" one of the men began but was cut off by Arthor, "with us four brothers we rescued my father from the clutches of a hundred men. In Orden's rebellion the Crowl men outnumbered you 8 to 1 and yet you cut of the head of the foolish lord."
"Where did that rebellion lead? Orden is dead, our numbers dwindled even more after we were forced back. History has always proven the larger number wins". Another man spoke in a defeated tone. "We are not those men" Arthor spoke in a tone that did not allow for questioning.
"My Father Harwood fought a Bear on his own on his twentieth name day and beheaded the beast gaining him the name Black bear. Our tribe has had great men over the ages but none of them compare to me." His words elicited varying looks from the people around him.
Benjen gave him an as expected look along side Ronell with Lothor looking at him with awe filled eyes. Meha who was at his side looked at him with disbelief, Shyra on the other hand gave him a look which could not fully explained, the others all observed him with discontent looks whilst Harwood had a proud look.
"Your words are filled with arrogance, you know not the horrors of the tribes that are battling in this woodlands yet you say what, we should join this battle, hargh" A woman with greying hair spoke up as she slammed her fist into the table before her leaving visible cracks.
Harwood ready to speak up to support his son was not given the chance as Arthor spoke up in an even tone seemingly unaffected by the hostile look sent his way. "No" that word caused most of the hostile looks to turn into ones of confusion, "I do not intend to join this battle for land, I intend to unite all the tribes."
With his words the place was silent with the only sounds being the crackling of flames from the hearth.