Newtown Mansion (before the mission):
"Yuqin." King Leifae Arkson summoned, "I have a request for you." Yuqin enters and Leifae hands him a sealed parchment letter. "Make sure that this gets to where it needs to go before the boats disembark tomorrow. I need Pane and all my men to be on the same page if they're going to be working together."
"Your grace, when should the last boat set course?"
"As soon as Bjork defies my orders and leaves, I will summon the last boat. For now, take care of this." Yuqin accepts the sealed parchment and exits Leifae's study.
"My dear Sereen. I will find you, I swear."
*
NW Riverway Forest:
Pane, Kharrl and their group of followers have been extensively mapping out the layout of the area. Even Jerelliyus's groups are lending a hand.
"Pane, it's been days since we've last heard from Jerelliyus. Should we send a scout to search for his body?" Kharrl asked.
"No. Jerelliyus is a master hunter and his surviving skills are the best I've ever seen in anyone. If he hasn't been seen, then it's because he didn't want to be seen. I have full faith in that man. You should too." Pane stated.
"Right. What about the southern borders?" Kharrl points to the hide they've been using for their mapping. "It's a little empty right here" Kharrl pinpoints a remote area still bare of markings, " right here, where the river forks into these creeks. Jerelliyus's group was supposed to go to these areas….but instead Jerelliyus went by himself. We, at least, need a little something to place on the map."
"Remember, our mission is to retrieve Lady Sereen without raging any tribal wars, King Leifae Arkson had instructed us to do so, or have you forgotten? Mapping the area is just a way for us to understand the landscape in case of any~" Pane and Kharrl's conversation was cut short by the impact of an ax, embedding itself deep into Pane's shoulder, knocking him onto the ground.
Kharrl instinctively ducked and glimpsed in the direction of the flying ax to try to see the perpetrator, but they were too deep in the heavily tree covered woods. Kharrl grabs the small pipe on his necklace and blows into it. It was an alarmingly loud whistle and it was his ultimate warning for his followers.
As soon as the whistle was blown, men quickly aligned themselves into position. Three of Kharrl's most trusted followers join his side to give aid to Pane, who is currently gripping his chest in pain and trying to prevent the ax from popping out of his flesh.
"Shit!" Pane spat out a little blood as he struggled to say, "I didn't think HE would be here already. Kharrl, send a message to Yuqin. Tell him, 'Rain is upon us.' Hurry! I will be fine. This is just a flesh wound and I AM PANE, after all."
Kharrl nodded in comprehension then got up and sprinted away into the woods. His followers hovered over Pane to protect him, but more men were dropping dead all around him.
"Ahhhh!" Pane yells in anger. His voice can be heard in the far distance as it rippled away from its origins. The rumbling of footsteps moved in closer and closer to him and he gets up to fight, pulling out the only weapon he had on him, the ax that was lodged in him.
*
Riverway:
Clint's arms are bound tightly behind his back while on his knees on the ground. He has been beaten up pretty badly. "Why are you guys doing this?" he asked the people of Riverway. A new group had made their way to the new establishment and taken over, but Clint wasn't sure who was leading.
One of the men walked up front and center, " We are following the master's orders."
"Master? You mean King Leifae Arkson?" Clint asked again.
"NO!" The man said, "We are following Bjork's orders. He gets his orders directly from the King himself."
"That's a LIE!" Clint yelled. "Do not go believing everything you hear. Bjork isn't even supposed to be here!"
"TIE 'EM UP AND GAG HIM!" the man ordered. "Master Bjork said for us not to listen to anyone who opposes him." Two men grab a hold of Clint, shoving him back and forth. One of them stuffed a dirty rag into Clint's mouth, gagging him.
"We ain't stupid!" the man screamed at Clint. "Master Bjork said we are here to kill the traitor b**** and the savages that are threatening us men! Anyone opposing us will be considered working with the savages. DO NOT HESITATE TO KILL!" the man announces.
They threw Clint into one of the storages and locked him in with Czechvi and a few others. Brute men rounded all the thralls together to keep tabs on them, while other Bjork followers gathered together for a bigger plan.
"Master Bjork said his group of men will take care of the savages in the forest northwest of here. Then we will all meet and head southwest to find the b**** traitor and her group of savages." The small group of Bjork followers conversed on the next steps to take.
"We need to know where the old hag is. She is supposed to lead us to the savages." One of the men asked another.
"Well, that one you just gagged is her son." Another one answered.
"Son? But he's not brown skinned!"
"But he calls her grandma."
"That doesn't make him a son, that makes him a grandson!"
The men bicker back and forth with no logical end to finding the next course of action.
*
Ma'iingan Grounds:
Giken's eyes are in immense physical pain. The blinding flash of light from Jerell's flash-bomb had burned into part of his retina and now seeing everything just hurts. Mooji is trying hard to heal him, but he is very aggravated. All Giken can think about was Sereen and her whereabouts at this very moment.
"Giken, you need to calm down!" Mooji yelled, "and stay still, PLEASE!" But Giken just kept on trying to get up to open his eyes, despite his pain.
"Ah," He groaned each time he tried to use his sight. "Can't you just fix it already?"
"We both know that's not how it works." Mooji said, trying to calm Giken. All around, everyone stood to watch as Mooji and her followers held Giken down to heal him. He bursts into his half-man, half-wolf form and everyone gasps in horror. Very few people have ever seen Giken in a werewolf form nor did most even believe the form was real.
"Rahh!" Giken roared, his eyes still shut as angry heat emanated from his body. His roaring and growling continues in a thunderous bark that states an attack if provoked. No one dares to move in closer to calm Giken, not even Mooji. The tribe started to chatter around about Giken and his transformation.
"I am Gikendaaso and I will find my Sereen! I am her onaabeman" Giken was ready to sprint away when another wolf charged at him, knocking him out cold. Mooji screamed as she rushed to Giken's side. Everyone and everything stood still, because Mooji didn't scream for Giken's sake… she screamed because standing before her was a Great White Wolf that was Niiganii.
*
Northern Borders Ma'iingan Grounds:
Manji-manidoo's five lead followers, Jeko, Aamoo, Bizikaw, Jiiga'e, and Asin are meeting up to discuss the issue of the foreigners scouting in the area nearby.
"Beta said we needed to make sure that none of the foreigners made their way onto our sacred ground. Their filth will taint us and our people." Jeko said to the group.
"Are we to attack… that is the question we need to ask Beta." said Aamoo.
"Always attack!" Jiiga'e announced.
"Let's surprise them in an ambush." Bizikaw suggested.
"No, we wait to hear from Beta." Asin, the most trusted of the five followers declared. "We do not act irrationally. We act with superb precision. We are leaders of Beta. Inaakonigewin… our laws, our oaths."
"We do not give mercy to foreigners such as those creatures. They are NOT of this world. They don't have any respect for our mother earth, nor do they have respect for each other." Jeko forced the words out in disgust.
"We wait for Beta." Asin articulated, this time more firmly. The other men lowered their heads to show their agreement to Asin's declaration.
The mood always changes in Beta's presence. You can feel the power that he had as he stood before you. His ability to make, even the strongest of men, bow before him is phenomenal. A giant red wolf with white patches wrapping around its neck and scruffle, strided towards the men and they all bowed their heads to him, never lifting their heads. The wolf transformed into a very tall and tan man, who looked like he could take on ten men. His body was completely covered in muscles, scars, and beads of sweat. His mohawk was thick and long, draping far below his behind.
"Nishkiinzhig… my eyes!" He commanded. Upon his order, all the five men snapped their heads up, their eyes meeting his. "What news do you have?"
Aamoo was the first one to speak, "Mayagwewinini… foreigners! Scouting the Northeast regions."
"We were discussing plans of attack." Jiiga'e said, but his face suddenly met someone's fist and he tumbles back a little. Asin catches his fall and pushes him back up to stand. Bizikaw lowered his eyes in fear.
"How stupid." Beta said, nonchalantly. "An attack will reveal our location."
"Asin had suggested that we wait for your orders. That we should not act irrationally, Beta." Jeko stated.
Beta shot a glare at Jeko and then to Asin.
"Decisions, decisions. Can't no one do anything without me?" Beta asked. "I think not." Beta approaches Asin and hooks his palm behind Asin's head, pulling Asins face close to his. "Oshiimeyan… cousin… you are my most trusted person. I am happy that they all look at you when I'm not present." he said sarcastically, "may you stay a loyal dog to me." Beta starts a roaring laughter and releases Asin's head, but soon his laughter turns into a raging cough that results in droplets of blood aspirating out of his mouth. Everyone lowered their gaze except Asin, who just stared at Beta.
"Manji-manidoo, I am only a dog now because of inaakonigewin (law/rule/vow) between you and my imbaabaa. I will await the day that cough stays stuck in your throat." Asin said loud and clear.
Beta spits his blood into Asin's face and laughs. "An oath is an oath."
Jeko moves in closer to place his healing hands onto Beta's ribs, where a big "X" scar protrudes outward in a keloid . "Beta, you're not healing properly. We need to summon Mooji." The four men assisted Beta towards a teepee.
"Manji-manidoo, the karma of your sins will come back around. Do well to remember that." Asin said loudly behind them as they left.