Return of a Leader

[Northen Light36]

It pained her to leave her children and her husband, but she'd always known her first duty was to her people. Her family must come second, particularly when they were safe and the clans were not. Now she'd regained the strength, or most of it, that a hard pregnancy and childbirth had drained from her, the plight of Naurorod tore at her heart and tortured her dreams. It was time to get back to work.

Aideen hadn't been thrilled to be asked to bring Ann back to Naurorod. The death and the wounded had dampened even her spirit and she feared seeing her best friend in the same condition. But a healer knows the burden of duty and she understood what compelled Ann back to her people. So she had only protested a little before agreeing to bring Ann home.

Now both women stood on the desert sands, taking a deep breath as each prepared to plunge back into a living nightmare. “Time to get to work,” Ann murmured, giving Aideen a small, grim smile. “Stay safe, heart sister.”

“You too,” Aideen murmured, touching the ring she'd been given. “Efil protect us both.”

With that, they parted ways – Aideen heading for the healer's tents while Ann went to seek out the clan elders. She needed an update on the situation before anything else could be done and the elders would have the best grasp on things. In particular she kept an eye out for Charanth, knowing she'd need the benefit of his experience.

Idly she thought she'd come a long way from the child who thought she could solve the world's problems alone. She almost missed being that naïve.

[Kender Bard]

Charanth was with his clan. Despite the clans having come (mostly) together against the threat of demons, they were still divided. Clans stayed in tightly clumped groups, avoiding too much spill over into one another. Charanth was at the center of clan Char with Charminei and Alexi on either side of him. The three Elders talked softly to each other, their faces lined with worry.

"Ann," Charanth greeted abruptly, lifting his eyes to meet hers. Though he wasn't a young man, the trials of this incursion were aging him even more rapidly, his streaked hair now more gray than black.

[Northen Light36]

"Charanth," Ann replied in greeting. "Charmini. Alexi." She didn't waste any more time on greetings. Like the three elders, worry and strain lined her face and the shadows under her eyes showed how poorly she'd slept in her time away. Grief too was visible, and the barest hint of guilt. The loss of Linnod would eat at her for some time to come, even as it motivated her to see that such a loss would never come again. "What's the situation like?" she asked, and waited to be filled in on things.

[Kender Bard]

"Gathering together has discouraged lesser demons from picking off the smaller clans, but it's clear we're gathering attention from stronger beings," Charanth replied. "And I only say discouraged, not stopped all together. There's still some brave or mindless creatures that continue to attack along the edges of our encampments."

"And the demons won't stop coming," Charminei put in. "One of the Wind-Fires of the clans was stupid and brave enough to go investigate the volcano from above and they reported that demons crawl out of the volcano at random."

[Northen Light36]

Ann sighed, silently offering up a prayer to the forces that she didn't expect to be answered. "You've been here, I haven't. In your opinions, what do you think we should do?" She'd talk to the other elders as well, of course, and see what they had to say. Then she'd see what felt like the best option.

[Kender Bard]

The three elders glanced at each other uneasily.

"Well that's what we were just discussing," Charminei said. "Most of us don't want to leave, but on the other hand... the only other choice right now is to stay and keep fighting for who knows how long."

"It'd be one thing if we knew how many demons there were, but as far as we can tell, so long as that volcano there keeps belching them out, they're limitless," Alexi drawled with a frown.

Charanth sighed again. "Ultimately... Right now I say we stay and fight and see how things go. The clans aren't so bruised yet that we're willing to turn tail. Then again, that may never happen. But I think we should begin forming a strong front defense that we just keep replenishing with rested men and then every single other soul here be ready for an aerial attack or a sneak attack.... Unfortunately there's not much we can do against the more subtle demons except keep our eyes out."

[Northen Light36]

Ann nodded thoughtfully, considering their options. "I'll talk to the other elders, but that seems the best plan to me as well." She glanced around then asked, "If you want, I can try to get in touch with Libre and see if at least the younger children of the clan can join those from Fira." Her eyes lingered on Charminei and Alexi, a silent offer to get their daughter out of the danger zone, just as had been done for her own children and Amneris.

[Kender Bard]

Neither of them hesitated. "Yes," they said in almost unison.

"It would be greatly appreciated," Charanth replied. "We've sent our families to the far eastern border, but even so, they are open to the threat of danger. It'd be good to see them safely put away and our warriors put to a more active use here."

[Northen Light36]

"I'll see about making the arrangements then," Ann murmured. "Anything else Char needs that I might be able to arrange?"

[Kender Bard]

"Just let us know when things are prepared at our front end," Alexi replied. "I want to be doing something, not just sitting here."

"And he's not the only one," Charminei agreed.

[Northen Light36]

"I know that feeling," Ann murmured with a rueful smile. "Though I suspect we'll all have far too much to do before this is over. I'll see you three later." With that she headed off to speak to the other elders, pausing along the way to offer what reassurance she could to worried clanners who stopped to talk.

When she'd gathered that the general opinion of the other clan elders was much the same as Char's, she pulled aside one of the Fira fire-minds and had them reach out to Libre.

~Master Libre?~ the scout called. ~Honoured Leader Ann wishes to speak with you.~

[Kender Bard]

~A moment~ Libre answered curtly. After several moments, he contacted Ann directly. ~Yes? What is it, Honored Leader?~

[Northen Light36]

So formal, Master Libre? And here I thought we were friends, Ann replied, the barest hint of amusement in the otherwise grim tone of her thoughts. Even that lighter note vanished as she added, Don't tell Flame this, she'll only want to come home and she's better off as far away as you can keep her. The clans are still taking a beating. Grouping up has helped a little, but it hasn't stopped the demons taking an interrest in us. And there's no sign they'll stop coming. Scouts say they continue to crawl out of the volcano at random. She sighed, physically and mentally. I know Sensatia's alliance is with Fira, not Naurorod in general, but is there any chance your people can offer shelther to some of the other clans' non-combatants?

[Kender Bard]

~On one hand, we're peers, but on the other, you are my superior~ Libre replied in amusement to her first remark. then he fell silent as Ann went on. ~I don't think that will be a problem, but I must consult with my advisors first. I'm not sure on the logistics. Traveling has kept me from knowing how Sensatia is fairing.~ There was a hint of regret and guilt in that admission. ~I'll consult with them immediately and get back to you.~

[Northen Light36]

Ann could certainly sympathise with Libre's guilt. She had a good deal of her own from having been away from her people, despite the knowledge she'd had no choice. This was not a situation she'd have chosen to give birth to her son in. Taking a deep breath, she decided to head to the healers' huts and make herself useful there while she waited for Libre's reply.

She was no healer, but she could bandage wounds and lend a sympathetic ear to those in pain as well as anyone else. And keeping busy kept her from thinking about just how bad the situation might get.