As Dar'shal walked toward his father's tent, he found himself filled with trepidation. He hadn't precisely failed in his mission, but what he'd discovered so far seemed sooo...underwhelming.

Unlike most of the tribal leaders, his father's tent was small and rather unremarkable. That was because, despite his position of authority in the tribe, it wasn't really his job to meet with the members of the tribe on a day-to-day basis. That responsibility still belonged to the chief. If his father needed to address a larger gathering, he would do so at the chief's side.

He clapped outside the tent to draw his father's attention, and soon after, Rak'shal's voice was heard from within. "Come in." With a deep breath, the hunter parted the skins that served as a door and entered.

Dar'shal realized he was more hesitant than he had been when he'd spoken before the gathering of the chiefs. Despite the enormity of the moment, his role had been relatively minor. He just said what he'd seen in his time with the nomads traveling through their land and left. Any success or failure was Jack and S'haar's to bear. But this time, it was his task to learn the secrets of these strange travelers, and any success or failure was his alone.

The hunter stood in place, watching as his father rose from the seat he'd taken near a small plank on the ground that served as a makeshift table. As the older hunter approached, Dar'shal debated how he should explain that the whole big secret to how the strangers raised their wolgen was simply to treat them like big stupid kids... It sounded so ridiculous yet simplistic. It sounded stupid... yet the results spoke for themselves.

Dar'shal started to open his mouth to make his report when his father surprised him by further closing the gap and pulling the hunter into a hug. He was so surprised he stood frozen in place as his father pounded him on the back, then grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled back, looking his son up and down as if inspecting him for the first time. Then, finally, the older hunter spoke. "I'm so glad to see you whole and healthy! When I heard the news the strange valley people I'd sent you with had been attacked and then entrapped, I feared the worst! When I saw you at the meeting, I almost interrupted the gathering to speak with you there, but I would have belittled anything you said by treating you as my child rather than the hunter you've clearly become. Still, it is good to see you. Welcome back, my son."

The younger hunter found himself speechless and more than a little embarrassed. While he'd never say his childhood had been lacking, his family wasn't known for being overly affectionate. This was all but unheard of, and he had no idea how to respond.

After another awkward moment, Rak'shal's expression relaxed into his more familiar half-smile, and he turned and resumed his seat, indicating Dar'shal should sit next to him. "Come and sit! I have food on the way, so you can eat soon, but first, tell me about your time among the valley people! Were there any exciting hunts? What of the enemy? What did you do when you were trapped in the valley? Did any females catch your eye? Tell me everything!"

Dar'shal blinked rapidly as he tried to keep up with all the questions flying his way. "Um, well, I'm not sure where to start. There's so much, and so little of it makes any sense! But I suppose I should start by describing the people in charge, S'haar, Jack, and Angela. If you accept half the things I have to say about them, the rest will sound a little less insane..."

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To'brel was shaking his head. "Yes, you've cleared a decent line here, but we need it to be more than decent. Make it twice as wide, at least! We don't want any chance of a fire hopping the gap!"

The worker, one of the hill people, grumbled in a heavy accent. "easy for you to say, child, but you're not doing anything. You're just walking up and down the line watching us work!"

To'brel felt a pang of guilt. The worker was right, though it's not that he was unwilling to work. Instead, he was more focused on ensuring the work got done as fast as possible while also ensuring it was done thoroughly. Maybe a single bramble bush left in the middle of the fire break wouldn't be enough to spread the fire to the forest beyond, but he wasn't about to take that risk. If anything, he was determined to make sure the job was done more thoroughly than Jack's specifications called for. When dealing with a forest fire, he figured it was better to be too cautious rather than the other way around.

But a large part of getting everything done quickly was ensuring the workers didn't burn out. He sighed and responded as diplomatically as he could. "Listen, you've done good work, but it does need to be wider. However, why don't you go take a break for now? There's some fresh food and drinks by where you picked up your axe earlier. Run the axe back to get sharpened, and relax for a bit. Come back when you're feeling ready for more."

The worker looked like he would argue some more for a moment, but then he shut his mouth and turned to comply. To'brel wondered what had changed his mind, but that was when he sensed a presence over his shoulder. As he turned, he could see Chal'ac, whose face was shifting from what Anglea once jokingly referred to as her "resting homicidal maniac face" into one of the more pleasant expressions To'brel was familiar with.

Realizing why the worker had suddenly changed his mind, the young noble smiled sheepishly. "Ah, thanks for that, but try not to be too hard on him. Everyone's just exhausted. This is a lot of work!"

Chal'ac simply shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I just wanted to let you know we've got some fresh churlish meat cooking if you want to come get a bite. I'm assuming even the guy in charge gets to take a break."

To'brel decided to let the previous point go and shook his head instead. "I'm not in charge of anything. Jack is. I'm just the poor sap he has watching to ensure the work gets done properly since he can't speak directly to the workers without using his "magic voice," He figured I'd be less distracting."

Chal'ac raised an eye ridge. "So, in other words, he left you in charge?"

At this point, To'brel realized he was just arguing semantics and decided it would be quicker just to give in. "Alright, alright, as you say. Besides, I am pretty hungry. It's been a while since breakfast. And work will probably go faster if you're not standing over my shoulder, spooking all the workers into compliance."

The huntress merely tilted her head to the side slightly. "I suppose I'll let that slide...so long as you join me for lunch."

Not long after that, the sounds of Em'brel starting up her chainsaw invoked a jolt of fear from nearly everyone close enough to hear it. She was the only one allowed to handle the device because of her previous experience and Angela's claims that she didn't currently have the means to reattach anyone's severed limbs. Judging by the young female's maniacal laughter, it was probably a good thing no one else was permitted to use the chainsaw. The last thing they needed was a fight breaking out over whose turn it was.

To'brel also suspected she was taking out some of her recent frustrations in running the camp on the helpless trees falling before her wrath, but he wasn't so brave as to vocalize the thought in her presence. She'd been using it most of the morning, then took her own break not long ago, but judging by the beast's roar, she was back at it.

With a concerned glance back to Chal'ac, To'brel nodded. "That might be best!" Then he followed the huntress to the meal area, trying his best not to look like he was fleeing before the wrath of some mythical beast.