Explain. NOW.|Clan Fira-Forian, Naurorod

[Kender Bard]

Time had managed to soothe the worst and biting edge of Thavan's anger over the attack on Beleg; but he was still irritable and now riding through the desert had reminded him why. He wasn't furious, but he was in no way pleased.

He'd taken with him a good sized guard but not so many as to look like a small army. Ten men, four of which had been through Naurorod before, two Belegites who had been at the attack, and the rest good, reliable Poldoran warriors.

They road in formation, the Naurorod-familiar Beasts in front, Thavan in the middle, the Belegites flanking him, and the rest behind. And they headed straight for Fira.

[Northen Light36]

Word spread quickly through the clan, aidded by the fact that the recent spilt of the clan meant it was a good deal smaller. Artica had gone with Rccus Fira, while Tres was currently with the main clan. The two elders would trade places come winter. However, the number of minds in both parts of the clan meant that the sisters saw each other ever couple of days anyway.

Hearing of the approaching beasts, Tres and a handful of the scouts and warriors rode out to meet them. Ann rode along side Tres, mainly out of curiousity. No one had reconised Thavan, so the Narurorod Leader had ne idea of the impending meeting.

"Hello there," Tres called when they were within hearing range. "What brings you to Fira?"

[Kender Bard]

The Beasts moved their mounts aside and Thavan came to the fore, but not so much that the other Beasts couldn't quickly encircle him again if it meant danger. "I am Packleader Thavan of the Beastlands," he announced with as stern a look as he could manage. "And I come here to speak with the Honored Leader Ann of the Fires."

[Northen Light36]

Ann and Tres exchanged a look before Ann rode her horse to the front of the Fires. "That would be me," she remarked. "Packleader Thelon, as honoured as I am by your visit, I must admit to some surprise. Would you and your companions care to accompany us into Clan Fira so that you can be comfortable while telling us what brought you here?"

Despite her attempt to sound calm and confident, Ann couldn't quite keep her surprise and mild unease at this unexpected meeting off her face.

[Kender Bard]

Thavan felt a small sense of satisfaction at what he saw. Good. No matter how things turned out, he'd started it off with him in the position of power by showing up first. And her surprise told volumes, but it could be good or bad so he didn't concern himself trying to divine what she was surprised about. He nodded to his men. "Aye, let's," he agreed.

The other Beasts didn't completely put up their weapons--they would be poor guards to do so short of being told by Thavan--but they did relax visibly as they followed their leader.

[Northen Light36]

The fires rode into the clan just ahead of the beasts and began dismounting. "Packleader," Tres remarked. "You and your men are welcome to allow your horses to rest from the journey in the coral with ours."

"Allow me to introduce Elder Tres," Ann added, then glanced at Tres. "Or have you meet already?"

Tres shook her head. "I think we've been at the same events on an occassion or two, but I don't believe we've ever actually met," she replied.

[Kender Bard]

Thavan shook his head as well. "If we have, I cannot recall," he said and dismounted. His men did the same, following his lead. Thavan didn't take the quiver and bow off his back, though, and none of the men yet surrendered their weapons.

"Where might we talk in relative privacy?" Thavan asked, wanting to get down to business quickly so he could return home and prepare for one thing or another.

[Northen Light36]

"My hut would probably best," Ann suggested. She noticed the fact the men remained armed, as did Thavan, and frowned slightly, but chose not to comment.

Tres had also noticed, and didn't like the idea of Ann going anywhere in private. She shot Ann a frown, recived a brief irritated look in return, and decided not to strain the still healing friendship between them by protesting. "Will you be requiring my presence, Honoured Leader?"

Ann glanced at Thavan and remarked, "I don't think either of us require an escort in order to talk, do you, Packleader?"

[Kender Bard]

Thavan glanced at his men, perhaps a bit pointedly, and then answered, "No."

One of the Poldorans made a sound, deep in his throat. It was hard to define--not really a growl or a whimper but some sort of distressed noise. Thavan glared and the Beast quieted. "Let's go talk," he told Ann.

[Northen Light36]

Ann nodded and lead the other leader to her hut. No sooner had they sent foot inside then a blur of noise and motion shot out of the smaller bedroom. Hugging her mother's legs, Aly grinned up at Ann and annouced, "Mummy, you back!" Glancing at Thavan in curiousity, the four-year-old added, "Who that, Mummy?"

"Yes, I'm back and this is Packleader Thavan. He's come to visit from the Beastlands," Ann told her, picking the child up and giving her a quick hug. "Say hello Aly."

"Hello," Alyssa repeated as told, waving at Thavan a little.

Ann smiled and set her daughter back down. "I have to work now, Aly. Do you want to play quietly in your room or with Aideen?"

"My woom," Alyssa decided after a moment. She returned to her room, but sat in the doorway with a doll so she could watch what was going on.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" Ann asked. "Or are you in a hurry?"

[Kender Bard]

"I'm not thirsty right now," he answered, truthfully. He could at least supply himself with all the water he wanted in the desert. "I'd rather get straight to the point. I want to know why your Fires attacked Beleg."

[Northen Light36]

Ann froze, complete, honest shock written all over her face. "What?" she yelped, staring at Thavan. She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Packleader, I swear, I have no idea what you're talking about. You say Beleg was attacked by Fires? Are you sure they were Naurorod fires?"

[Kender Bard]

Her surprise and shock weighed heavily into her favor that she was speaking the truth. But she could be a good actor and Thavan knew better than to trust people right away. "They looked like your people, right down to the dress," Thavan said. "Dark of skin, dark of hair. I understand people could masquerade in the outfit but I can't think of people going out of their way to select individuals who looked like native Naurorods. The only one who didn't fit was what I think was their leader. He had large black wings--a small anomaly."

He frowned at her. "The Fires were capturing land in Beleg and claiming it as their own, I'm told. Two of the men I brought with me were at the final clash where Beleg brought its power to the fore and expelled the Fires." He'd wished someone had managed to take a prisoner but they hadn't been able to manage it. Most of the Fires had died or fled at the end.

[Northen Light36]

Ann frowned, her eyes dark and both angry and thoughtful. "Black wings..." she murmured, frowning. "I wonder..." She looked seriously at the other leader. "Can you or the men you brought with you give me more of a description of the man who appeared to be the leader? I give you my word that this attack was neither ordered by me or given my blessing, and if any of my people were involved, then I want answers as to who's responsible for this as much as you do."

[Kender Bard]

Thavan got up and moved back to the entrance of the hut and leaned out. "Fly!" he shouted. One of the Belegites broke away from the group and walked over. The long crest of feathers he had in place of hair and the wings in place off arms (folded, at the moment) gave evidence to his name.

"Pack leader."

"Describe the man you saw Bael fighting with," Thavan said. He'd gotten the description from Bael but he knew that Fly had as well.

"He was on the shorter side," Fly described. "Large black wings. Red hair, short. On the lighter side but still Naurorod dark. Fire and Wind of course. And his nails looked a little like claws but they weren't. They were just sharp."