Rimmy and Greg returned just after dark, but they weren’t alone as they returned with some people from the other camp.

I had spotted them on my path to the river so I went ahead and opened up the hatch and got their attention so they could get out of the cold sooner as the weather is getting worse.

They let a small family of turtle beast-kin in first as Rimmy had the parents come down the ladder like stairs before passing their child down to them.

They were heavily clothed with bear hide cloaks and thick deer hide clothing over their regular clothes, if that wasn’t enough they also each seemed to have cookware with hot coals carried by each of them.

The back packs they used were modified with long straps that allowed them to carry them over their cloaks rather than under them and the father also had two satchels, one slung over each of his sides while the mother had one larger one than she carried in front of her.

The turtle family have leathery and rough skin on their faces and limbs but they have practically shell like scales on their back and torso region, the colorful dots speckling the shell like scales on their backs showing that they are all the same species of turtle beast-kin.

I adjust the rooms as needed and everyone settles in quickly and gives their greetings before eating a hearty meal the ladies had prepared for the men’s return, and then calling it a night.

I also added a couple extra fire ferns to the turtle family’s living quarters, as I was informed that cold blooded beast-kin like them are effected by the cold weather more than others as it would put them in a simi hibernation state.

Apparently more people will arrive in the next trip but that’s just because they couldn’t pack up and leave in time for them to be able to make it across the river by night fall.

As even the ones who did come only managed to make it to the river pass by sunset, so had they waited for anyone else they would have had to wait until tomorrow to avoid getting trapped in the snow or risking the dangers of trying to cross the river in the dark.

The people who did came were able to carry all their possessions with them and were also in the worst living situations of their camp.

Their relocation isn’t just better for them as their absence will mean that there will be more resources and space available to the people who choose to stay which can allow for that camp to make improvements that they couldn’t afford to do previously due to limited resources and space.

The nights seem too be getting longer and colder which particularly for the above ground areas it requires more resources to keep people warm and fed.

Before everyone headed to bed the men were talking about setting up regular trades with the two other camps and escorting the ones that want to join us back here.

The CorviDae men volunteered to alternate between the camps since they can fly and reduce the tracks that would be left behind and that they would inform the other camps that have people who want to come here that they will escort them every other trip just so that they don’t make too obvious of a trail.

They also want to come up with multiple paths that they can use to change the route up and possibly confuse any of the bandits or traitors who could potentially come across their tracks.

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Although it would mean having to send three people to carry the same load as two on foot but simply by being able to find more routes and disperse tracks seems to be worth it in the exchange as our camp is still the most vulnerable.

Even though it is more difficult to reach then the Barkley’s camp and it is the furthest away from the village, it has the smallest population and fewest fighters available.

In fact the Barkley’s camp is trying to train their people to fight in one way or another be it through setting up traps or using bows and arrows to attack from a distance or close combat mobbing with numbers or hit and run fighting.

The lake side camp on the other hand plans to just hunker down for the winter and then head to the neighboring villages in that direction as soon as the snow starts melting as they plan to forfeit reclaiming the village since we were betrayed by the village head’s family.

The racial divide between the villagers seems in part due to the Ramington’s family being so clear cut with their betrayal and how they disposed of their unwanted family members as well as the villagers who they had lived aside for generations.

This was further aggravated by how the camps had been divided out as the Barkley’s family which had the second largest racial population all chose to support only their camp primarily and only doing the bare minimum to support the other two camps, which for Luna it was limited to providing their barn as a supply point.

After witnessing everyone clinging to their families and racial groups it had that sort of mentality spread, and consequently certain people wound up separated from their race in favor of their own family.

For those choosing their own family over their race they have in some cases received chastisement from their peers or even bribes to switch sides, causing considerable conflicts for individuals who have chosen partners from another race.

Apparently some couples have even split up during this upheaval and although I don’t quite understand the full significance of the situation, I do understand that them parting ways would also mean that they would be looking for a new partner that they feel would support them better in this situation.

So the Winter festival’s dance seems to have been given more importance than normal even in the other camps that have less leeway with their resources as well as lacking a proper place for the events to be held, as it used to be held in the town square and along the main streets of the village and now they are considerably more crowded and restricted to what they can do.

But that just seems to be giving everyone more reasons for them to work hard to prepare for the dance and whatever other events and activities that each camp will do.

The food preparations are already underway for things that can be prepared ahead of time like jams and jellies that will be used for the deserts as well as making extra to send out to the camps for trade purposes, mainly to get the jars that would have been emptied of their contents as winter progresses.

I have also found out that among the beast races that have distinguishing characteristics, they are quite particular about emphasizing their beasts features in their attire.

Those with horns decorated and accented them with simple jewelry, ribbons, or floral plants.

Ones with distinctive tails also displayed a very similar desire to make them stand out with their decorative touches much the same.

Distinguishing their racial identity seems to have quite an interesting level of importance as they brush fur, prune feathers, polish claws, wax shells/scales, and more.

Although it seems like they might be desiring a emphasis on their own racial identity due to the conflict between different races cultures and authority, I luckily have a overview that allows me to see what really is going on.

Beast-kin seem to see their distinctive features as being their most appealing features, so they’re really just aiming to make what they see as their best features stand out as much as possible because they want to look their best for the dance that everyone is looking forward to.

I can’t help but look forward to all the new people who will come and all that I will be able to learn about them and through them as they help me expand my understanding of this world.

I look forward to experiencing the dance and everything that it entails as seeing how excited and happy everyone is about it I also feel similar as this will be my first time experiencing a festival ever.

I feel so hopeful for the future and everything that will happen from here on, especially with everything that will soon happen between Luna and myself.