Cheep!?
Chapter 77
Sasha entered into a grand structure of woven roots, seamlessly shaped stone, and glowing crystals that shone with an inner light. No matter how many times she saw the spire, she was still in awe over its form. It was the oldest structure on the mountain, formed by the might of twelve ancient ironwood trees. From the outside, the building pierced down to the ground, taller than the trees even around the city. It didn’t touch the floors that made up Riizen, the massive slabs of granite and other reinforcing materials carved in such a way as to leave space around the still-growing trees.
The vineways that led into the structure were like highways, and Sasha was far from the only individual entering into the grand arcades of the first floor. However, many beasts parted ways for her, or, more pointedly Sasha noted, the Grove Deer beside her.
Sasha was well practiced in affecting an air of casual apathy towards the attention that she was drawing. ‘At least they’re not muttering gossip right now,’ she thought to herself with some small satisfaction. While she did not always have the greatest opinion of some of her people, Sasha did appreciate that they weren’t completely hopeless.
She walked across the stone floor, most pieces of which had been shaped into simple bricks and mortared in place with cement. Pathways of what appeared to be lush and hardy grasses were also present, but Sasha was unbothered by the feeling of smooth stone beneath her feet. Unlike the mountainsides of the steppes outside, this material felt nice to her paws, though it wasn’t as though she was especially bothered either way.
Several passages led off from the main area, ranging from smaller in size to large enough to fit several creatures at once with no issue. It was through one of these larger paths that she and her traveling companion continued through. Walls of bark with decorated protrusions of stone carved into the likeness of various beasts enclosed their path. Gentle light shone from quartz crystals overhead, charged by essence from the environment around them, enabling even those with less astute night vision to see without issue.
“You are nervous.” The Grove Deer beside Sasha spoke, startling her, “May I ask what troubles you?”
Sasha looked at the deer with surprise, privately wondering how he could tell, but shook her head slightly, “It’s nothing.”
The deer hummed thoughtfully, “Then it should not trouble you so, no?”
A moment of surprise passed as Sasha wondered, ‘Is he sassing me? Surely not…’
The deer must have seen something in her expression, because he chuckled and said, “If it truly is nothing, then you shouldn’t let it trouble you. You are worried about the hornets, no?” At Sasha’s clear surprise, he continued, “While my kin are not so involved in the day to day politics of your people, we are not unaware of what goes on around us.”
Sasha contemplated his words for a short while, weighing whether or not she truly wanted to put to words what she feared. Finally, she said, “I think that we should be taking the hornets much more seriously than we are.”
“And you believe you know how they should respond?” The deer asked the question without a hint of reproach, only open curiosity.
Even so, Sasha couldn’t help but feel slightly defensive, “A threat should be confronted. Just because the Massacre Hornets are only attacking the lower steppe doesn’t mean it will remain as such.”
The deer inclined its head in a slight dip in acknowledgement of what she said, “Though, much of your kin seem to believe in survival of the strongest. Is that not why the council is satisfied with merely sending volunteers to do battle with the insects?”
Sasha did not answer immediately, acutely aware of the place they were in. It wasn’t as though it was treasonous to speak of such topics, but Sasha’s opinion held importance, given that she was Riizen’s daughter. She did not speak for her clan as a whole, but that wouldn’t matter. If someone heard her, the rumor mill would most assuredly circulate. While it might be dismissed by the higher tiers, it would still undoubtedly end up circling back on her.
As such, she only slowly said, “I would not presume to question the council’s motives.”
The deer only turned its attention back forward, fur glinting in the low light. Sasha was more than aware that even her non-answer could be construed any number of ways. Thankfully, her companion did not press her any further with such questions.
The walk to the council chambers did not take long beyond that, the ironwood bark of their walls a dull tinge of grey with flecks that shone in the light. A large double door sat before them, currently open and admitting those of the clans. Beyond the slate gray stone of the portal lay a grand forum with several ringed levels. In the middle of the room an onyx plinth rested, left empty before the view of the council and of the people who could come to attend the meetings. The first ring was for relatively ordinary individuals, with large sections of pillars to separate groups. Sasha was an example of a beast with particularly great control of her instincts, but she was an outlier. Even among her own kin, animosities regularly arose between attendants.
Usually, violence and bloodshed was uncommon in the chamber, but the wide onyx plinth below had seen its fair share of bloody duels. This was, after all, an occasion where people could air their grievances before their peers. Generally, though, the common beast didn’t bother with such things. They handled their issues with one another much more immediately.
It was those who sat on the second ring that made much more use of the plinth. These were the clan folk, ranging from the distantly related tribes to the major clans who brought their grievances to bear with those of other clans here. Again, it wasn’t uncommon for problems to be settled outside of the ring, but the vast majority of them preferred to settle things here. Likely because they could show off the strength of their tribe whilst simultaneously dragging another through the mud.
The third elevated ring of wood, stone, and carefully woven vines hosted the major clans’ more important members as well as the clan heads themselves. It was rare for the higher ranked individuals of the major clans to get involved in the duels, but they happened frequently among the younger and lower ranked, and if you counted how many battles were undertaken in proxy or outside, they might well outnumber the battles undertaken by the rest of the population entirely. The third ring overlooked all of the others in the chamber, save for a single section that rose beyond even them.
It was there that Sasha made her way, bidding her traveling companion farewell before she did so. The deer ascended up the other side, a specific location set out on the third ring for them. Sasha stepped into a stone box on the other side of the clearing, an attending satyr nodding to her before pulling on one of three levers built into the box. With a lurch, the box began ascending, the sound of vines tensing against a counterweight entering Sasha’s ears. She was unbothered by them now, but in her younger years she found herself wary of them. A flicker of amusement crossed her face at the memory, but she gently nudged the thought away.
As they stopped at the third ring, the elevator ‘clacked’ into position with stone brackets preventing it from moving higher. The attendant pulled the lever before more tension could build, and the vine-ropes slackened once more. In all the time she’d seen these, they’d never had any major accident. In the first place, many of the higher tier beasts could simply leap the distance, but for those like her, they needed to use the elevator.
All the while, Sasha was studiously affecting an air of dispassionate apathy. It was an image she’d taken care to cultivate over time, mostly to chase away the inane beasts of other clans who seemed to take anything else as an invitation to be bothered, or invited to duel. After dozens of occasions, Sasha had learned that being too approachable was not a good thing at all times.
“Daughter,” she heard a voice echo in her ears, soft and airy as she rose up the marbled stone steps to the highest place on the third ring. Sasha looked up to find a white-coated and brilliant, azure eyed sabretoothed cat, whose fangs were shaped almost like slightly curved rapiers, with the front of the tooth sharp as a razors edge and ending in a fine tip nearly a half meter in length. What almost looked like rune work appeared to be carved into the lengths of their fangs, but Sasha knew them as a very powerful pattern that her mother had painstakingly cultivated. She had a long mane, woven into fine braids that lay against her fur and along her neck with ivory clasps holding them in place. Protrusions of a smooth, cream pink, bone-like plating were visible along parts of her shoulders, legs, and in subtle locations around much of the rest of her body.
Anya, a tier five Mist Liger powerhouse, the Matriarch of the Blue-Claw Clan, and mate of Riizen, was a well known and wise figure that commanded an easy respect even among those clansmen known to be recalcitrant and unruly. Sasha felt the weight of her loving gaze, and privately felt inferior, wondering if she’d ever reach her mother’s level. Perhaps with enough time and luck– ‘If I need to rely on luck, then do I really deserve it?’
Such thoughts were occurring to her more and more these days, but she did not dwell on them now. “Mother,” Sasha bowed her head deferentially, but not so low as others would be expected to. “I offer my greetings and respect.”
“And they are accepted and returned,” Anya stately replied, before her voice shifted to a warmer and more personable octave, “Sit with me?”
Sasha allowed herself a small smile before rising, a fraction of her icy image melting away. She sat down beside her mother on a cushion more than large enough to allow her to relax as well.
“I hear Tiku’s been avoiding you,” her mother began conspiratorially and clearly amused.
“He has been… A challenge to deal with,” Sasha muttered, “I honestly don’t know what to do to get him to apply himself to his training.”
Anya purred mirthfully beside her and with only a touch of reproach said, “Daughter, Tiku is still young. You apply yourself to practice well, but not everyone has the same drive. Give it time, maybe even play with him?”
Sasha opened her mouth to say that she did play with him, but that’s all he wanted to do, but it felt too much like an excuse even before it left her lips. She sighed, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
With a nod, Anya then turned her gaze speculatively upon her, “I noticed that you entered with one of the Grove. I didn’t know you knew any of them.”
“I don’t,” Sasha shook her head and shrugged as she stretched out a little more on the comfortable pad, “They were waiting for me at one of our vineways into the city. Apparently the Great Mother has wisdom she wants passed along.” She finished, leaving unspoken that the Deer could very well have gone on its own for such a thing. None would dare bar their way. Which implied that she was somehow part of the prophecy, even if the deer wouldn’t necessarily directly state that here in the council.
Sasha expected her mother to say something, but when she looked up to her she saw the worried expression she made. Sasha didn’t like that, and was suddenly very worried that this whole thing was much worse than she’d expected. Before Sasha could grow more distressed, Anya smiled reassuringly and leaned over, giving her daughter an affectionate lick on the forehead. “It’ll be fine, Sasha. Your father and I will always be here for you.”
That genuinely warmed her heart, as bittersweet as the idea of having someone else deal with her problems felt. She wanted to be able to stand on her own two feet, but it was comforting to know that if she was truly in over her head, she could seek help.
Suddenly, she realized that she didn’t see her father in attendance at all. Curious, she turned to her mother, “Where is Father, anyways?”
Anya’s smile dimmed slightly, “Still on the Crown.”
Sasha felt worried at that, but nodded. It wasn’t as though her father needed to be here for every council, and he was at a critical point in honing an essence pattern. The only issue is that he’d been doing so for over two months now. Unless something had gone drastically wrong, that shouldn’t be happening. People were beginning to question what was going on, and Sasha had no answers for them aside from that he was currently secluded. It was partly the reason why she’d left the mountain with Tiku in the first place, just to get away from the questions all the time.
Given that she couldn’t even survive a trip to the Crown, it wasn’t as though Sasha could directly check on him anyways…
“Clan head,” a voice rang out from the right of the uplifted platform where the upper echelons of the Blue-Claw Clan sat, “We are ready to begin at your direction.”
Anya nodded, and Sasha saw her countenance shift to a cool and collected dignity, but different from Sasha’s own. It was a proud, elegant air, one that Sasha couldn’t even begin to try to emulate in spite of her many attempts. And as Anya released the faintest touch of her essence aura into the chamber, the various noises came to a halt.
Tangentially, as Sasha looked at the scene with wonderment she briefly considered how impressive it was that her mother could communicate so easily with the others. Most beasts of higher tiers or sufficient essence control could communicate with one another, but it wasn’t perfect. Every single beast required a particular pseudo-frequency to communicate with, and Sasha herself could speak with only a few fluently. Her mother, on the other hand, had such mastery of her own essence and intent that she could speak with any beast, and even humanoid, with ease.
‘That Phorus could speak to me easily,’ She remembered, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a Phorus in the lowlands of that area, though, so where did he even get practice?’ Sasha thought to herself before refocusing on the scene at hand.
“We now convene this assembly, topics will be addressed by the Speakers before the forum will be open to all. You may begin.” The opener was simple, but it didn’t need to be complicated.
“The first order comes from the Ironfang Clan,” the same sabretoothed cat that spoke to Anya before announced, and Sasha couldn’t help but tune things out. Certainly, she kept up just enough attention to be able to at least vaguely answer any questions directed to her, but none ever did, as it was unnecessary. In the first place, the Ironfang Clan’s topics ranged from territorial disputes to an actually interesting request for open combat with another clan. There was a bit of excitement with that, but nothing that birthed a challenge to duel below on the plinth.
More and more orders came up on the docket, but few interested her. However, there were several smaller Clans, most of which lived on the outer edge of the fifth steppe, that commonly moved down to the lower steppe’s for hunting or any other activities that were bringing up concern over the Massacre Hornets.
However, Sasha noted with disappointment that those concerns were not especially taken up by larger clans. She couldn’t help but feel ill at ease with the hornets, especially with all of the tales that she’d ever heard of them. Weren’t they a scourge and blight? Couldn’t they gather tremendous power with enough time and become a true threat? Then, why weren’t they dealing with it?
Finally, the Grove Deer was announced, and Sasha noted that even those like her that were only passingly interested perked up.
“I am the speaker of the Grove and share the wisdom of the Great Mother,” the deer began, its gaze sweeping across the collected beasts present. “These tidings I bring are not set in stone, and may yet be prevented.”
If the council chambers attention hadn’t been focused entirely on the Grove Deer before, they now had their undivided attention. Sasha had heard of the oracles granted by the Grove before, and while they were vague, they always proved true. Thus, whether it be a disaster or miracle, everyone paid attention to the Grove’s Speakers.
“The tides of the world are shifting, and in the near future Riizen and its people will be in grave danger. Fate beckons to those met beyond the mountain by a young scion, and only this path blurs the destruction of the Clans.” The speaker began, “It is with these people that Riizen will set along a new path, or fall deep into the maw.”
The council chamber was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. All at once, though, a surge of murmuring and whispering flooded the room, such that their collective sound created a cacophony no less loud than the chamber had been in the beginning.
“Order and silence,” Anya’s voice once more cut through the chatter, hushing the crowd. “Does the Grove bring any specifics?”
The Deer inclined its head, “Some, but as always, the meanings are unclear, and so I would advise wariness and wisdom in the use of what I say.” An insistent tone carried throughout the words. It was understandable, considering many had made very specific plans based on the words of a Grove Deer, only to realize they’d completely misunderstood the context. It was what was known as the Prophet’s Curse, to have a clue of the future and only succeed in making the worst possibility come true due to misunderstanding what was presented. “We have divined that something catastrophic will happen within the next six months, related to monstrous creatures with ravenous appetites. It is uncertain what exact form that will take, but we are certain that it will devastate your people if left unattended.”
The council chamber nearly erupted into frenzy at that, but Sasha felt herself pressed into the floor from the combined might of the heads of each major clan of the third ring as they released their own aura’s in concert. Anya’s following command for order and silence was non-optional.
“And what of this young scion you spoke of?” Anya asked. Sasha couldn’t tell anything from her mother, but she knew that internally she must have been thinking that Sasha was the one the words were referring too. Perhaps some other scion, but… frankly none of the others traveled past the boundaries of the mountains. Maybe there was someone who had, but Sasha wondered if they would have the same timing as her. She somehow strongly doubted things would be so coincidental and not be related, though.
The Grove Deer’s coat and antlers glowed with an ethereal, inner light for several seconds. A strange sensation pulsed through the air, an aura that belonged to something vast and omnipresent shivered with the pull of the Speaker’s will, a mere piece of a larger whole. Sasha was not alone in the awe that the power against her fur inspired, as even Anya beside her openly stared at the just barely visible tides of dense essence that suddenly materialized.
All at once, the deer collapsed to its knees, and the display ceased. No one spoke, only watching the being with acute fascination and awe. It was exceedingly rare for one of the Grove to perform a fate reading in front of others, and as she tasted the lingering touch of essence on her skin, she couldn’t help but wonder why?
As the essence sank into her body and mind, it was almost as though she could just barely picture an image of herself, but it wasn’t her as she was now. A different her, a different place, with a touch of insight into what she could be. She was different, desperate for something, and Sasha gradually focused more and more on the image. Her fur was rough, she was wounded, and for as strong as she was, she couldn’t hold on, she couldn’t–
Sasha pulled herself from the realization just as Anya had placed a paw against her side. “It is best not to look into the tides of fate. You might see a version of yourself you don’t want to be.” Sasha nodded slowly and stiffly. Anya left her paw against her side, comforting her, “Remember, Sasha. Nothing yet to pass is certain.”
Instead of responding, Sasha only took slow breaths to calm herself, focusing instead on the Deer as it rose to its feet.
“I cannot specify without dramatically changing the outcome, none for the better,” an exhausted voice echoed weakly throughout the chamber from the speaker, “Only that it was a recent meeting with the outsiders.”
‘Well, that just about proves that,’ Sasha thought to herself dryly.
“Thank you, Speaker of the Grove. I will not forget the grace shown in passing this warning to us.” Anya inclined her head respectfully to the deer, who returned the gesture shakily. Sasha watched as the deer rose and left, taking an elevator to depart. None were especially surprised that he departed immediately, those of the Grove did not take part in normal matters frequently.
“Permission to speak,” One of the clan speakers to the right and mid-distance from the raised platform asked. Sasha recognized them, Karrak of the Citrine Clan, a Stone Kobold that, in spite of barely being above a meter and a half tall, was one of the most powerful stone-shapers on the mountain.
“Granted,” Anya directly addressed the man.
“I…” he paused before taking in a deep breath, “I hesitate to assign any immediate meaning to the oracle, but I cannot help but draw parallels to the issues brought up by the outer clans and the Massacre Hornets.”
Several others considered the issue, visibly nodding or seeming skeptical.
Anya frowned, “I do not consider the Massacre Hornets such a threat to our mountains. Is there something that the Citrine Clan knows outside of common knowledge of the insects?
“It’s nothing like that,” Karrak said quickly, “Ordinarily, I’d be happy to leave them be, but…”
Then, another spoke up, this one almost directly opposite of the seat of honor, “If I may speak?”
Anya nodded to the speaker, but Sasha found it hard not to grimace at them. Scillaz of the Greenscale Clan, a Yaunz, snake-like in body and head, with many arms horizontally aligned along their body. They were stubborn, and often seemed to overly complicate things. However, Sasha did not wholly begrudge them, knowing that much of her disposition to them was merely due to her dislike of their customary use of dishonorable fighting tactics. Admittedly, stealth was… perfectly acceptable, but she didn’t enjoy being envenomed in a duel.
“I wish to preface this with how we as the Greenscale Clan have been complicit in this as well, and that we are not assigning blame to another,” The man prefaced, catching Sasha off guard. As she looked around, she saw she was not the only one. “For decades, we have left the lowlands and issues originating from them to the humanoid races of the Kingdom. And, for decades, we have pulled farther and farther away from the world outside of the mountain range, and even from other mountains. The Tribe Confederations are nearly all but long forgotten, and it is the opinion of the Greenscale Clan that this should change.”
Before anyone else could say anything, Anya, with a perplexed expression, asked, “Clan Head, I mean no disrespect, but I fail to see the relevance to the aforementioned topic?”
Scillaz nodded twice, “It is no issue. To put it simply, we have allowed… no, I believe forced is the correct term,” he shifted on his body, confident in his words, “Yes, we have forced the humanoids to deal with the issues that are on the lowlands, even if they are on our doorstep or from our own mountains. I realize what happened in the past, but it is the past.” Scillaz emphasized, “The Greenscale Clan wishes to give them another chance. Our youth’s wish to see the world, beyond the bitter struggle of what the humanoids call the Niffel Mountain range. Ancient pacts and agreements have long gone unheeded, our responsibilities remiss. It is not only our mountain, but many that suffer this failing, but I believe it falls to us to correct that.”
“Perhaps the Hornets are not the threat,” Scillaz ventured, “But I will admit that I have long waited for an opportunity to reopen contact to the outside. If we may deal with the Hornets, we may also open up a point of contact with the local–”
“Clan Head,” Anya’s words stalled the man’s building plan, “You know as well as I what has happened in the past. It is not that I do not sympathize, but there are many that hold a grudge. We cannot be the ones to start the next beast war.”
Scillaz opened his mouth to speak, but paused, seeing the sorrowful gaze in Anya’s eyes. With a deep sigh, Scillaz said, “Very well. For now, I will hold my tongue.”
Sasha could tell that her mother was saddened by that, and for the first time, she felt like she’d been ignorant in so many more ways than she’d known. Sasha hadn’t even really considered why the beast tribes of the mountains were as seclusive as they were from the outside world. What of the beast war her mother spoke of? What of the pacts and agreements Scillaz spoke of?
Sasha didn’t know about any of that, and as the topic returned to, and then dismissed the hornets as a threat that the humanoids of the lowlands would eventually take care of for them, Sasha found herself wondering just how much she didn’t know.
Cheep!?
Chapter 77
Sasha entered into a grand structure of woven roots, seamlessly shaped stone, and glowing crystals that shone with an inner light. No matter how many times she saw the spire, she was still in awe over its form. It was the oldest structure on the mountain, formed by the might of twelve ancient ironwood trees. From the outside, the building pierced down to the ground, taller than the trees even around the city. It didn’t touch the floors that made up Riizen, the massive slabs of granite and other reinforcing materials carved in such a way as to leave space around the still-growing trees.
The vineways that led into the structure were like highways, and Sasha was far from the only individual entering into the grand arcades of the first floor. However, many beasts parted ways for her, or, more pointedly Sasha noted, the Grove Deer beside her.
Sasha was well practiced in affecting an air of casual apathy towards the attention that she was drawing. ‘At least they’re not muttering gossip right now,’ she thought to herself with some small satisfaction. While she did not always have the greatest opinion of some of her people, Sasha did appreciate that they weren’t completely hopeless.
She walked across the stone floor, most pieces of which had been shaped into simple bricks and mortared in place with cement. Pathways of what appeared to be lush and hardy grasses were also present, but Sasha was unbothered by the feeling of smooth stone beneath her feet. Unlike the mountainsides of the steppes outside, this material felt nice to her paws, though it wasn’t as though she was especially bothered either way.
Several passages led off from the main area, ranging from smaller in size to large enough to fit several creatures at once with no issue. It was through one of these larger paths that she and her traveling companion continued through. Walls of bark with decorated protrusions of stone carved into the likeness of various beasts enclosed their path. Gentle light shone from quartz crystals overhead, charged by essence from the environment around them, enabling even those with less astute night vision to see without issue.
“You are nervous.” The Grove Deer beside Sasha spoke, startling her, “May I ask what troubles you?”
Sasha looked at the deer with surprise, privately wondering how he could tell, but shook her head slightly, “It’s nothing.”
The deer hummed thoughtfully, “Then it should not trouble you so, no?”
A moment of surprise passed as Sasha wondered, ‘Is he sassing me? Surely not…’
The deer must have seen something in her expression, because he chuckled and said, “If it truly is nothing, then you shouldn’t let it trouble you. You are worried about the hornets, no?” At Sasha’s clear surprise, he continued, “While my kin are not so involved in the day to day politics of your people, we are not unaware of what goes on around us.”
Sasha contemplated his words for a short while, weighing whether or not she truly wanted to put to words what she feared. Finally, she said, “I think that we should be taking the hornets much more seriously than we are.”
“And you believe you know how they should respond?” The deer asked the question without a hint of reproach, only open curiosity.
Even so, Sasha couldn’t help but feel slightly defensive, “A threat should be confronted. Just because the Massacre Hornets are only attacking the lower steppe doesn’t mean it will remain as such.”
The deer inclined its head in a slight dip in acknowledgement of what she said, “Though, much of your kin seem to believe in survival of the strongest. Is that not why the council is satisfied with merely sending volunteers to do battle with the insects?”
Sasha did not answer immediately, acutely aware of the place they were in. It wasn’t as though it was treasonous to speak of such topics, but Sasha’s opinion held importance, given that she was Riizen’s daughter. She did not speak for her clan as a whole, but that wouldn’t matter. If someone heard her, the rumor mill would most assuredly circulate. While it might be dismissed by the higher tiers, it would still undoubtedly end up circling back on her.
As such, she only slowly said, “I would not presume to question the council’s motives.”
The deer only turned its attention back forward, fur glinting in the low light. Sasha was more than aware that even her non-answer could be construed any number of ways. Thankfully, her companion did not press her any further with such questions.
The walk to the council chambers did not take long beyond that, the ironwood bark of their walls a dull tinge of grey with flecks that shone in the light. A large double door sat before them, currently open and admitting those of the clans. Beyond the slate gray stone of the portal lay a grand forum with several ringed levels. In the middle of the room an onyx plinth rested, left empty before the view of the council and of the people who could come to attend the meetings. The first ring was for relatively ordinary individuals, with large sections of pillars to separate groups. Sasha was an example of a beast with particularly great control of her instincts, but she was an outlier. Even among her own kin, animosities regularly arose between attendants.
Usually, violence and bloodshed was uncommon in the chamber, but the wide onyx plinth below had seen its fair share of bloody duels. This was, after all, an occasion where people could air their grievances before their peers. Generally, though, the common beast didn’t bother with such things. They handled their issues with one another much more immediately.
It was those who sat on the second ring that made much more use of the plinth. These were the clan folk, ranging from the distantly related tribes to the major clans who brought their grievances to bear with those of other clans here. Again, it wasn’t uncommon for problems to be settled outside of the ring, but the vast majority of them preferred to settle things here. Likely because they could show off the strength of their tribe whilst simultaneously dragging another through the mud.
The third elevated ring of wood, stone, and carefully woven vines hosted the major clans’ more important members as well as the clan heads themselves. It was rare for the higher ranked individuals of the major clans to get involved in the duels, but they happened frequently among the younger and lower ranked, and if you counted how many battles were undertaken in proxy or outside, they might well outnumber the battles undertaken by the rest of the population entirely. The third ring overlooked all of the others in the chamber, save for a single section that rose beyond even them.
It was there that Sasha made her way, bidding her traveling companion farewell before she did so. The deer ascended up the other side, a specific location set out on the third ring for them. Sasha stepped into a stone box on the other side of the clearing, an attending satyr nodding to her before pulling on one of three levers built into the box. With a lurch, the box began ascending, the sound of vines tensing against a counterweight entering Sasha’s ears. She was unbothered by them now, but in her younger years she found herself wary of them. A flicker of amusement crossed her face at the memory, but she gently nudged the thought away.
As they stopped at the third ring, the elevator ‘clacked’ into position with stone brackets preventing it from moving higher. The attendant pulled the lever before more tension could build, and the vine-ropes slackened once more. In all the time she’d seen these, they’d never had any major accident. In the first place, many of the higher tier beasts could simply leap the distance, but for those like her, they needed to use the elevator.
All the while, Sasha was studiously affecting an air of dispassionate apathy. It was an image she’d taken care to cultivate over time, mostly to chase away the inane beasts of other clans who seemed to take anything else as an invitation to be bothered, or invited to duel. After dozens of occasions, Sasha had learned that being too approachable was not a good thing at all times.
“Daughter,” she heard a voice echo in her ears, soft and airy as she rose up the marbled stone steps to the highest place on the third ring. Sasha looked up to find a white-coated and brilliant, azure eyed sabretoothed cat, whose fangs were shaped almost like slightly curved rapiers, with the front of the tooth sharp as a razors edge and ending in a fine tip nearly a half meter in length. What almost looked like rune work appeared to be carved into the lengths of their fangs, but Sasha knew them as a very powerful pattern that her mother had painstakingly cultivated. She had a long mane, woven into fine braids that lay against her fur and along her neck with ivory clasps holding them in place. Protrusions of a smooth, cream pink, bone-like plating were visible along parts of her shoulders, legs, and in subtle locations around much of the rest of her body.
Anya, a tier five Mist Liger powerhouse, the Matriarch of the Blue-Claw Clan, and mate of Riizen, was a well known and wise figure that commanded an easy respect even among those clansmen known to be recalcitrant and unruly. Sasha felt the weight of her loving gaze, and privately felt inferior, wondering if she’d ever reach her mother’s level. Perhaps with enough time and luck– ‘If I need to rely on luck, then do I really deserve it?’
Such thoughts were occurring to her more and more these days, but she did not dwell on them now. “Mother,” Sasha bowed her head deferentially, but not so low as others would be expected to. “I offer my greetings and respect.”
“And they are accepted and returned,” Anya stately replied, before her voice shifted to a warmer and more personable octave, “Sit with me?”
Sasha allowed herself a small smile before rising, a fraction of her icy image melting away. She sat down beside her mother on a cushion more than large enough to allow her to relax as well.
“I hear Tiku’s been avoiding you,” her mother began conspiratorially and clearly amused.
“He has been… A challenge to deal with,” Sasha muttered, “I honestly don’t know what to do to get him to apply himself to his training.”
Anya purred mirthfully beside her and with only a touch of reproach said, “Daughter, Tiku is still young. You apply yourself to practice well, but not everyone has the same drive. Give it time, maybe even play with him?”
Sasha opened her mouth to say that she did play with him, but that’s all he wanted to do, but it felt too much like an excuse even before it left her lips. She sighed, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
With a nod, Anya then turned her gaze speculatively upon her, “I noticed that you entered with one of the Grove. I didn’t know you knew any of them.”
“I don’t,” Sasha shook her head and shrugged as she stretched out a little more on the comfortable pad, “They were waiting for me at one of our vineways into the city. Apparently the Great Mother has wisdom she wants passed along.” She finished, leaving unspoken that the Deer could very well have gone on its own for such a thing. None would dare bar their way. Which implied that she was somehow part of the prophecy, even if the deer wouldn’t necessarily directly state that here in the council.
Sasha expected her mother to say something, but when she looked up to her she saw the worried expression she made. Sasha didn’t like that, and was suddenly very worried that this whole thing was much worse than she’d expected. Before Sasha could grow more distressed, Anya smiled reassuringly and leaned over, giving her daughter an affectionate lick on the forehead. “It’ll be fine, Sasha. Your father and I will always be here for you.”
That genuinely warmed her heart, as bittersweet as the idea of having someone else deal with her problems felt. She wanted to be able to stand on her own two feet, but it was comforting to know that if she was truly in over her head, she could seek help.
Suddenly, she realized that she didn’t see her father in attendance at all. Curious, she turned to her mother, “Where is Father, anyways?”
Anya’s smile dimmed slightly, “Still on the Crown.”
Sasha felt worried at that, but nodded. It wasn’t as though her father needed to be here for every council, and he was at a critical point in honing an essence pattern. The only issue is that he’d been doing so for over two months now. Unless something had gone drastically wrong, that shouldn’t be happening. People were beginning to question what was going on, and Sasha had no answers for them aside from that he was currently secluded. It was partly the reason why she’d left the mountain with Tiku in the first place, just to get away from the questions all the time.
Given that she couldn’t even survive a trip to the Crown, it wasn’t as though Sasha could directly check on him anyways…
“Clan head,” a voice rang out from the right of the uplifted platform where the upper echelons of the Blue-Claw Clan sat, “We are ready to begin at your direction.”
Anya nodded, and Sasha saw her countenance shift to a cool and collected dignity, but different from Sasha’s own. It was a proud, elegant air, one that Sasha couldn’t even begin to try to emulate in spite of her many attempts. And as Anya released the faintest touch of her essence aura into the chamber, the various noises came to a halt.
Tangentially, as Sasha looked at the scene with wonderment she briefly considered how impressive it was that her mother could communicate so easily with the others. Most beasts of higher tiers or sufficient essence control could communicate with one another, but it wasn’t perfect. Every single beast required a particular pseudo-frequency to communicate with, and Sasha herself could speak with only a few fluently. Her mother, on the other hand, had such mastery of her own essence and intent that she could speak with any beast, and even humanoid, with ease.
‘That Phorus could speak to me easily,’ She remembered, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a Phorus in the lowlands of that area, though, so where did he even get practice?’ Sasha thought to herself before refocusing on the scene at hand.
“We now convene this assembly, topics will be addressed by the Speakers before the forum will be open to all. You may begin.” The opener was simple, but it didn’t need to be complicated.
“The first order comes from the Ironfang Clan,” the same sabretoothed cat that spoke to Anya before announced, and Sasha couldn’t help but tune things out. Certainly, she kept up just enough attention to be able to at least vaguely answer any questions directed to her, but none ever did, as it was unnecessary. In the first place, the Ironfang Clan’s topics ranged from territorial disputes to an actually interesting request for open combat with another clan. There was a bit of excitement with that, but nothing that birthed a challenge to duel below on the plinth.
More and more orders came up on the docket, but few interested her. However, there were several smaller Clans, most of which lived on the outer edge of the fifth steppe, that commonly moved down to the lower steppe’s for hunting or any other activities that were bringing up concern over the Massacre Hornets.
However, Sasha noted with disappointment that those concerns were not especially taken up by larger clans. She couldn’t help but feel ill at ease with the hornets, especially with all of the tales that she’d ever heard of them. Weren’t they a scourge and blight? Couldn’t they gather tremendous power with enough time and become a true threat? Then, why weren’t they dealing with it?
Finally, the Grove Deer was announced, and Sasha noted that even those like her that were only passingly interested perked up.
“I am the speaker of the Grove and share the wisdom of the Great Mother,” the deer began, its gaze sweeping across the collected beasts present. “These tidings I bring are not set in stone, and may yet be prevented.”
If the council chambers attention hadn’t been focused entirely on the Grove Deer before, they now had their undivided attention. Sasha had heard of the oracles granted by the Grove before, and while they were vague, they always proved true. Thus, whether it be a disaster or miracle, everyone paid attention to the Grove’s Speakers.
“The tides of the world are shifting, and in the near future Riizen and its people will be in grave danger. Fate beckons to those met beyond the mountain by a young scion, and only this path blurs the destruction of the Clans.” The speaker began, “It is with these people that Riizen will set along a new path, or fall deep into the maw.”
The council chamber was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. All at once, though, a surge of murmuring and whispering flooded the room, such that their collective sound created a cacophony no less loud than the chamber had been in the beginning.
“Order and silence,” Anya’s voice once more cut through the chatter, hushing the crowd. “Does the Grove bring any specifics?”
The Deer inclined its head, “Some, but as always, the meanings are unclear, and so I would advise wariness and wisdom in the use of what I say.” An insistent tone carried throughout the words. It was understandable, considering many had made very specific plans based on the words of a Grove Deer, only to realize they’d completely misunderstood the context. It was what was known as the Prophet’s Curse, to have a clue of the future and only succeed in making the worst possibility come true due to misunderstanding what was presented. “We have divined that something catastrophic will happen within the next six months, related to monstrous creatures with ravenous appetites. It is uncertain what exact form that will take, but we are certain that it will devastate your people if left unattended.”
The council chamber nearly erupted into frenzy at that, but Sasha felt herself pressed into the floor from the combined might of the heads of each major clan of the third ring as they released their own aura’s in concert. Anya’s following command for order and silence was non-optional.
“And what of this young scion you spoke of?” Anya asked. Sasha couldn’t tell anything from her mother, but she knew that internally she must have been thinking that Sasha was the one the words were referring too. Perhaps some other scion, but… frankly none of the others traveled past the boundaries of the mountains. Maybe there was someone who had, but Sasha wondered if they would have the same timing as her. She somehow strongly doubted things would be so coincidental and not be related, though.
The Grove Deer’s coat and antlers glowed with an ethereal, inner light for several seconds. A strange sensation pulsed through the air, an aura that belonged to something vast and omnipresent shivered with the pull of the Speaker’s will, a mere piece of a larger whole. Sasha was not alone in the awe that the power against her fur inspired, as even Anya beside her openly stared at the just barely visible tides of dense essence that suddenly materialized.
All at once, the deer collapsed to its knees, and the display ceased. No one spoke, only watching the being with acute fascination and awe. It was exceedingly rare for one of the Grove to perform a fate reading in front of others, and as she tasted the lingering touch of essence on her skin, she couldn’t help but wonder why?
As the essence sank into her body and mind, it was almost as though she could just barely picture an image of herself, but it wasn’t her as she was now. A different her, a different place, with a touch of insight into what she could be. She was different, desperate for something, and Sasha gradually focused more and more on the image. Her fur was rough, she was wounded, and for as strong as she was, she couldn’t hold on, she couldn’t–
Sasha pulled herself from the realization just as Anya had placed a paw against her side. “It is best not to look into the tides of fate. You might see a version of yourself you don’t want to be.” Sasha nodded slowly and stiffly. Anya left her paw against her side, comforting her, “Remember, Sasha. Nothing yet to pass is certain.”
Instead of responding, Sasha only took slow breaths to calm herself, focusing instead on the Deer as it rose to its feet.
“I cannot specify without dramatically changing the outcome, none for the better,” an exhausted voice echoed weakly throughout the chamber from the speaker, “Only that it was a recent meeting with the outsiders.”
‘Well, that just about proves that,’ Sasha thought to herself dryly.
“Thank you, Speaker of the Grove. I will not forget the grace shown in passing this warning to us.” Anya inclined her head respectfully to the deer, who returned the gesture shakily. Sasha watched as the deer rose and left, taking an elevator to depart. None were especially surprised that he departed immediately, those of the Grove did not take part in normal matters frequently.
“Permission to speak,” One of the clan speakers to the right and mid-distance from the raised platform asked. Sasha recognized them, Karrak of the Citrine Clan, a Stone Kobold that, in spite of barely being above a meter and a half tall, was one of the most powerful stone-shapers on the mountain.
“Granted,” Anya directly addressed the man.
“I…” he paused before taking in a deep breath, “I hesitate to assign any immediate meaning to the oracle, but I cannot help but draw parallels to the issues brought up by the outer clans and the Massacre Hornets.”
Several others considered the issue, visibly nodding or seeming skeptical.
Anya frowned, “I do not consider the Massacre Hornets such a threat to our mountains. Is there something that the Citrine Clan knows outside of common knowledge of the insects?
“It’s nothing like that,” Karrak said quickly, “Ordinarily, I’d be happy to leave them be, but…”
Then, another spoke up, this one almost directly opposite of the seat of honor, “If I may speak?”
Anya nodded to the speaker, but Sasha found it hard not to grimace at them. Scillaz of the Greenscale Clan, a Yaunz, snake-like in body and head, with many arms horizontally aligned along their body. They were stubborn, and often seemed to overly complicate things. However, Sasha did not wholly begrudge them, knowing that much of her disposition to them was merely due to her dislike of their customary use of dishonorable fighting tactics. Admittedly, stealth was… perfectly acceptable, but she didn’t enjoy being envenomed in a duel.
“I wish to preface this with how we as the Greenscale Clan have been complicit in this as well, and that we are not assigning blame to another,” The man prefaced, catching Sasha off guard. As she looked around, she saw she was not the only one. “For decades, we have left the lowlands and issues originating from them to the humanoid races of the Kingdom. And, for decades, we have pulled farther and farther away from the world outside of the mountain range, and even from other mountains. The Tribe Confederations are nearly all but long forgotten, and it is the opinion of the Greenscale Clan that this should change.”
Before anyone else could say anything, Anya, with a perplexed expression, asked, “Clan Head, I mean no disrespect, but I fail to see the relevance to the aforementioned topic?”
Scillaz nodded twice, “It is no issue. To put it simply, we have allowed… no, I believe forced is the correct term,” he shifted on his body, confident in his words, “Yes, we have forced the humanoids to deal with the issues that are on the lowlands, even if they are on our doorstep or from our own mountains. I realize what happened in the past, but it is the past.” Scillaz emphasized, “The Greenscale Clan wishes to give them another chance. Our youth’s wish to see the world, beyond the bitter struggle of what the humanoids call the Niffel Mountain range. Ancient pacts and agreements have long gone unheeded, our responsibilities remiss. It is not only our mountain, but many that suffer this failing, but I believe it falls to us to correct that.”
“Perhaps the Hornets are not the threat,” Scillaz ventured, “But I will admit that I have long waited for an opportunity to reopen contact to the outside. If we may deal with the Hornets, we may also open up a point of contact with the local–”
“Clan Head,” Anya’s words stalled the man’s building plan, “You know as well as I what has happened in the past. It is not that I do not sympathize, but there are many that hold a grudge. We cannot be the ones to start the next beast war.”
Scillaz opened his mouth to speak, but paused, seeing the sorrowful gaze in Anya’s eyes. With a deep sigh, Scillaz said, “Very well. For now, I will hold my tongue.”
Sasha could tell that her mother was saddened by that, and for the first time, she felt like she’d been ignorant in so many more ways than she’d known. Sasha hadn’t even really considered why the beast tribes of the mountains were as seclusive as they were from the outside world. What of the beast war her mother spoke of? What of the pacts and agreements Scillaz spoke of?
Sasha didn’t know about any of that, and as the topic returned to, and then dismissed the hornets as a threat that the humanoids of the lowlands would eventually take care of for them, Sasha found herself wondering just how much she didn’t know.
