I once was lost...|Naurorod

[Kender Bard]

Draknor, leader of the Lost Clan, stood at the edge of their current location, hands gripped tight in an anger that seemed to constantly have him in grips. His nightly ritual was to stand and curse out the Clans, particularly Clan Char, and there was no reason for him to miss it this night. But tonight, he had extra fuel for his rage - another clanner had died of starvation and weakness. How much longer until they all succumbed? Game was getting scarce, and they couldn't forage for their food in this season. Even though it never snowed in this region, the edible plants tended not to thrive well with the dropping temperatures.

What were they going to do? Heaving a sigh, Draknor turned and stalked back to his camp, muttering. He had an idea, but it would need the help of everyone. Whistling a sound that imitated some hawkish cry, he called his clan together.

[Northen Light36]

Nina joined the small crowd that gathers at Draknor's call, trying blend in as part of the scenery and not draw any attention from the men of the clan. She hated and feared them, a hatred fed by the bruises on her skin and the ever growing fear that she'd catch a man's attention and swiftly find herself burdened with an unwanted child in her.

[Kender Bard]

Once most of the clan had gathered, Draknor looked over them all and launched into his speech. "My fellow clanmates, yet another year passes that we find ourselves at the mercy of winter. In the past, we have toiled and strived, struggled and persevered, but at the cost of lives of our elders. While we prune the weak from our ranks, we mourn the passing of our wise elders and parents. But this... This is the year of strength! My brothers, we are all strong men, training endlessly since the war that sundered the clans. I think.. No, I know that this year we will rest in comfortable homes, fed and cared for after we take back what is rightfully ours!" Waiting for a moment, for effect, he gives a rallying cry, "We will not just raid the clans, we will take them, and make them ours again!"

[aivea]

Tanith fights the urge to cheer at Draknor's words, impatiently waiting for the call for those to make the first attack to cross the leader's lips. This would be the perfect time to make those in the official clans feel the anger and sorrow that came from watching the deaths of one's parents. Maybe after seeing the other clans completely crushed, Tanith would again be free from the desire to bring down the full extent of his power and weapons on all those who stood between him and what he wants. Or maybe not. Only time would tell.

[Kender Bard]

Draknor's eyes swept over his men as he posed the question that many wanted to hear, "Who will go with me as we make the first, most bloody sweep of Clan Char?"

[aivea]

In a barely contained rush of eagerness, Tanith steps forward and says with a malicious grin, "More than willing, leader."

"Let me treat those fools to a living Hell, he silently adds.

[Kender Bard]

Draknor gives Tanith a slight nod of approval, the same with all the finest warriors of the clan who also volunteer with zeal. "Good. Let's head out now. By the time we reach their Clan, it will be dark and we'll surprise them." To the rest of the clan he says, "All the rest of you follow at an easier pace. We'll want you on hand to tend the wounded and to sweep in once the Clan is ours." To his warriors, he merely nods and heads off in the direction of Clan Char.

[aivea]

With a rather noticeable spring in his step and his mind full of thoughts of the coming battle, Tanith follows. Now that they were underway he'd stopped hiding his eagerness. To him, this was a crusade to take back what had been stolen and the chance to sate the bloodlust that fustration and grief had granted Tanith.

[Northen Light36]

Nina lifts a hand to cover her mouth in horror. "Those fools will get us chased out of Narurod completely," she whispers, her mind racing as she thinks. What if she snuck away and tried to beat the men? If she warned Charanth, the leader of Clan Char might show her some mercy. In any case, what did she have to lose? Surely her fate could be no worse then it already was.

With that in mind, Nina tries to creep away from the rest of the clan, praying she won't be noticed.