Sachihiro
Our arrival into the Tundra sees an increase in our pace and excitement in our blood. A lot has changed yet again we all notice as we travel on roads leading from Sandorai to the Tundra directly with traffic busy on them. The sight of other Tribesmen making the journey to and fro is heartening as they stop and greet us with jubilation and questions.
They walk with us as we now take it slow and enjoy the soft grass and rich soil of home, some going ahead and taking word of our eminent arrival to Paradisum. A lot of Southerners give us looks as they pass on carts or horses, or they get out of the path if moving to slowly.
The path is actually flat red grass that the fae brought from somewhere instead of a dirt path it would be expected of an unpaved road. The other Tribesmen and women tell us the recent going ons in the tundra, talking about advancements in Paradisum, Hilton, Viper's Nest, and little villages that are turning into towns even with little populations to speak off.
They speak in whispers of going ons in the Dawn and how some of the Ancient beasts have been known to now venture out of the huge mysterious forest and walk openly in the streets of Paradisum. An occurrence that is unheard of in all of Sandaria before this year.
They speak of arena fights and the deaths that have been honoured, recorded and sang about in what is becoming a tradition known as The Sagas as every fight that takes places is painstakingly scribed in as much detail as is possible and kept in tomes at the fighting arena archives while copies go to the museum.
Though our population numbers are low and our way of life changing at a radical pace they speak of our funeral songs recorded in books and our histories available for all to peruse even as we keep telling stories in the long-houses to our young and each other during rivalry. There has been an influx in all kinds of peoples coming to the Tundra even with all the challenges and death matches that are designed to discourage them, especially from the orcs running from the mountains.
An embassy is being built by the Sandersonians right outside the southwestern Paradisum wall where other large houses have already been marked for construction. Already the city is changing and yes seeing all this change around is bittersweet. But I am heartened by the news that the Council of Chiefs has decided to let no foreigner live within the other cities deeper in the Tundra without being mated to a Tribesman or woman.
I may be a snob or elitist but I want the Tundra to remain ours, I want us to enjoy it with only the few we choose to let into our true histories. And Paradisum is perfectly located to be a gate that ensures no one from the south moves past the city without us knowing.
We are greeted by a patrol that has been established by the Council of a sort of army unit. The unit is all attired in beautifully inlaid leather and sinew breastplates reinforced in some material I cant immediately identity, on horses with javelins strapped to their sides on sheaths. At least trading with the south is providing us with horses, I think as I look at the patrol unit of 12 men and women that look competent and alert but with that Barbarian playfulness as they interact with us.
I recognize none of them but I stay at Ingwe's side holding Aurora in my arms trying to analyse their equipment on a purely academic viewpoint. Like Ingwe and the other Alderman mates, I'm walking barefooted on the soft unyielding red grass that is our path and I'm glad I am. Its a very interesting experience walking on the grass and I notice even the horses don't leave more than slight indentations to indicate their passing.
It's a further two days before we finally see Paradisum in the distance and there is already a small procession of family and friends waiting for us by the beautiful wooden and metal gates. I smile as I think of my family and all my girls waiting for me ahead, its really good to be finally home.
Kuyoki stands with both Saya and Dishna on either side of her holding their hands waiting for me, I know them by their auras among the crowd of people and backslapping welcomes. I have Aurora in my arms and my left hand on Ingwe's wrist pulling her forward even as I smile at the people that recognise me and try starting to talk to me.
My heart is pounded in my chest loudly like a drum and my hands are clammy as I think of this reunion. I have fear-induced cramps in my stomach that are very unBarbarian like. I see them as someone gets out of my way and my mouth is suddenly so dry before a soothing presence clears me of this fear.
I look down at my baby girl and smile, "thank you." I say in Japanese. I debated with myself and with Ingwe what language to teach her first and we settled on Japanese because it will set her up for the most outside the box thinking. I look up again with a radiant smile and practically run to my children as I feel like a great warmth will erupt out my chest like a geyser at the sight of them.
Before I know it I have the two rascals in my arms as I'm on one knee with my head between them. All four of us are holding each other tightly and I have absolutely no idea what to say, they are so big. I hold them back and look at them, "you are so big now." I say in wonderment.
Vigdis puts her fists on her waist and puffs up her chest, "I'm a big girl now. Mama Kuyoki says so all the time." She says and I can't not smile at that, spirits beyond but I'm blessed.
I hold up Aurora from the folds of my chest and she looks around curiously with big eyes and grasping hands. She looks adorable and she is making wondering baby noises.
"This is Aurora, she is my baby and she is your sister to love and help protect," I say to both girls as they stare at the baby with wide-eyed wonder.
"For us?" Didi asks reaching out for Aurora and playing with her hands and face. I'm cut to the core to hear my baby speaking the language of the tribes.
"Yes, for us," I say and pass her to Saya who is trying to pull her from my arms.
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I get up and look down on my mate with a happy smile, my first mate.
"I am grateful for your presence here in greeting me my love," I say to her with a deep bow.
"It is my duty to see to my husband's needs is it not?" She asks coolly.
"No, it is not but it is something I truly appreciate your presence and affection. I hope I find you well and in good health." I say taking her hand in my own.
She clenches her fingers around mine, a good sign that as we interlock fingers like the lovers we are. The whole time our eyes don't wonder far from each other.
"Are you in good health?" She asks moving slightly closer before looking at the children playing with the baby proudly. Saya keeps stealing glances at me and grinning, she is so adorable.
"I am in good health, and I hope I find you in good health my love." I lean down for a kiss and she turns her head and I kiss her cheek.
"You have a lot to answer for Sachihiro." She says in a low voice and I grin but quickly school it, that's her sex voice.
"Yes my love, I have a lot to answer for. This is Ingwe of the Sotho clans of the Alderman tribes from the grassland Foothills on Pangaea, she is my mate and Aurora's mother." I say bringing Ingwe close with a gesture and a hand to the back, pulling her forward.
Ingwe bows respectfully as she expects herself to be subordinate to the first wife as is the way of her people. "I pray you accept me into your family," she says including the now curious Vigdis who seems to have a lot more understanding than is usual.
"We will talk in private, come," Kuyoki says even as I hear a shriek and a verbal fight breakout as Om introduces his child and mate to Kiera and his mother. His first mate is beside herself with anger, his mother grinning ear to ear in joy.
I smile at the sight of her, she is still a gorgeous woman and already driving a lot of the men mad with lust and affection. She sees me and waves happily, I grin and wave back at Tadita as my heart swells at being home amongst family and friends.
Even as we walk through the crowds holding hands and being led towards the closest long-house by the crowds I am beyond happy, Kuyoki is leading me by one hand, the other holding onto Didi who is holding onto Saya's sleeve. My other hand is connected to Ingwe who is holding me tightly whilst looking around at the city like a lost meercat.
Its a truly beautiful place Paradisum, and it smells amazing especially for the population growth and being a predominantly human city. From my travels, I've learnt that human cities usually accumulate waste and just seem to struggle to stay clean, not so this city. A wonder of engineering from fae, dwarven, highlander and tribal cultures.
A city that seems more groove or reserve than a human city, in harmony with nature and all around it populated by a variety of different peoples.
I turn sharply as I feel a presence who's absence I have been wondering about.
"Ma." I say she comes flying through the crowd and I enfold her in my arms. We hold each other a full minute before she disengases and I place her back on the ground gently.
"Ma, you seem different." I say lamely and she snorts with a smile.
"You're da is so silly sometimes Vivi." She says playing with Vigdis' hair who happily soaks up the attention before presenting the new baby to her grandma.
"This is Aurora, she is our sister." She boasts seriously and happily, and ma beams at her then at me before grinning widely.
"Really?" She says looking at me then spots Ingwe just behind me.
"And your baby came just in time to have a playmate, this is your brother Sigrùr." Da says presenting a big fat baby to me having come out of nowhere.
I laught at the implications even as I take my little brother into my arms, "you've Awakened haven't you?" I ask with a happy whisper as I use soul detect all around myself.
Da just grins and winks at me. Ma's soul seems much denser as well and I look at her with a question in my head.
"You're one to talk." Kuyoki projects to my mind, her beautiful face still seemly impassive. I'm so happy to be ho-
A sharp mechanical something knocked my head back with enough force to take my head off. I pull my core tightly so as to no lose my balance even as my head is knocked back and spinning. I bring it back up slowly, the berserker rage at the tip of my awareness. Battle sense reflectively activated and questing 10m all around but my hands are holding to my baby brother gently.
Even when attacked I know it isn't meant to be fatal, not at my home, not in the mist of these people, no one would dare. I breath evenly even as I bring my head back up then down to look at my assailant, my Rage slowly receding as I set eyes on an angry Mira.
"Two years, you left us with the babies for two years without even a letter letting us know your were alright. Do you know how worried Kuyoki has been, who do you think has been taking care of the kids anyway? You better not think you will be getting away with this, and you even bring more women and a baby with you, the audacity!" She says sternly, then she hugs me tightly.
I sigh as I let go of my entire Rage with a shiver, my soul suppression not having fully actively. I guess it wouldn't have been a complete greeting without Mira's fiery personality, then it hits me.
"You've Awakened again," I say as I can still feel the throbbing on the side of my face, a throbbing that is much more painful than it would have been had I been bunched by a mundane.
She snorts and folds her arms across her chest with a pout, yea she's Awakened alright. How is the question though but a question for another day, today I enjoy with my entire family, everyone except Daewon. I hope he is flourishing wherever he is, the kid always had more potential than I did.