In the mountains in the territory of the Wolf Stride tribe there was an expedition lead by the warchief of the Wolf Stride tribe to seek out magical crystals for the new generation of warriors of the tribe, as they search through every nook and cranny of the newly discovered mountain cave they seem to find out that this is much larger than some in-grove, it's vast and stretches far beneath the earth, there are signs of various claw marks dried blood, animal carcasses and many other signs of either a lair or just a battleground.
The warchief continues his search in hope for a hefty batch of magical crystals to be able to cultivate the finest warriors and fit their every need for the coming of age ceremony, he even brought his daughter Axe'rin and son Diarge along on their first expedition to learn about the way of tracking animals and the exploration of the wild in general, his son Diarge has been born with a strong affinity with sensing life forms wich is the true mark of a hunter, so the warchief is also testing out his inborn ability to witness exactly how beneficial to his growth as a warrior it is.
“Diarge my son there are strong signs of combat in this area even signs of newly shed blood, are you sensing any creature nearby?”
“Yes father I seem to be sensing one species of animals to the north-west of us, through the internal energy they have they seem to be four legged creatures I would even venture to say they are of feline decent.”
“Good boy Diarge your sensory abilities are extraordinary for a soon to be 10 year old child, I might even say it's stronger than some of our seasoned warriors, he snarled and gave a smirking look over to the group of warriors who either had a disappointing look of failure in their eyes, some were even viciously green with envy as they looked with strong distaste towards Diarge but most of the warriors laughed in joyous mood for the heir to the Wolf Stride clan”
“Wait a minute father, it seems like there isn't just one species in the north west area, there seems to be one humanoid creature in the middle but I can't quite be sure what it is, it seems to have a very I don't quite know how to describe it but almost fierce inner energy, much more so than the feline creatures surrounding him.”
“Is that so... I am quite intrigued about this scenario we will follow up on this information and investigate the scene, but proceed with caution we are in unknown territory and we know not what dangers lie ahead, remember to always be humble and respectful when entering others territory my young children.”
“But father don't we have a claim to this territory? why would we have to be respectful if we own this land?” said Axe'rin with a inquisitive nature
“Oh my dear daughter Axe'rin the only land we truly own is within the tribe villiage walls, everything outside of our wall is still the land of the animals, we need to pay respect to the creatures of the land, just the same as we do when we enter the walls of the other tribes of Agira, do not forget this my children keep these sayings close to your hearts.”
Both Axe'rin and Diarge contemplated the meaning of these words as to truly understand why hunters should be respectful to their pray, but somehow the thought resonates well within the two childrens hearts.
As the expedition team make their way down the cave the warriors are tracking with the use of the scent of the animal and the blood in combination of the wind to determine exactly which way to turn in the many tunnels and forked paths that come along within this massive cave system.
As the siblings look with piercing eyes towards the scouts in the front of the party to understand the way of tracking they are amazed at the wild like behavior of the scouts, they are walking close to the ground sniffing on everything that seems to have an odor as they look from floor to ceiling to distinguish any marks left by live animals.
“Father we are but a few hundred feet away from the animals, they seem to be moving around alot, but they havn't relocated which indicates that they are not resting but seem to be preoccupied with something, even the humanoid creature is still in the middle, the closer we get the more I get the feeling that he is being encased by the feline's”
“Okay you heard the boy, time to minimize all sounds made and make our way to this strange gathering of creatures, there has to be some value to this journey.”
As the expedition group make their way down to a corner Axe'rin gives a very frightened and nervous expression as she bites her under lip almost to the point of drawing blood with wide open eyes seeking to be as attentive as humanly possible, as Diarge lays note to this development he clenches Axe'rin's hand and gives a bright smile that only an innocent and pure child would be able to give off as the warmth of the smile reaches Axe'rin her expression slowly changes to a more focused and calm expression.
What is seen as they round the corner is an amazing sight, the cavern is naturally lit by electro crystal's of the purple variation the blemishing light covers the cavern in a beautiful violet purple hue, there are all kinds of diffrent vegetation growing in this tranquil paradise within a mountain cave, as water flows from two openings in the cave walls into a pond that surrounds a small island like plateau that is covered in blue grass.
“Dad the life forms I sensed are down there around that pond look!”
As the warchief stared with raised brows and wide open eyes upon the pond he notices a very peculiar sight surrounding the plateau there was a giant pack of stoneclaw lions that seems to piercingly stare at what seems to be a human child with long messy jet black hair that goes past his shoulders with cuts and bruises covering his entire body with Amber colored eyes that emit a gaze that is piercing with murderous intent towards the stoneclaw lions to the point that even the stoneclaw lions can't ignore, some of the stoneclaw lions were even frozen in fear as most of the creatures are just weary about their every movement.
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“Father look there is a boy in the middle of the pond being threatened by the lions!”
“By the gods look at that child his gaze is more fierce than any beast I've ever come across during my years as Warchief it's a wonder the kid is even standing with the wounds he has received, what is it that he is guarding with such strong intent that he would even be willing to risk his own life?” the warchief said with a inquisitive stare.
As the Warchief looks at the center of the plateau he sees a most horrendous sight there is a Shadowflame wolf mother slashed half to death bleeding out, her eyes has the most beautiful brimming light to it as it seems to be standing over a newborn cub, there is blood leaking all over her fur as her hind legs are twitching as she is making every effort to stand and protect her newly birthed cub.
“What is going on here father!?” Axe'rin said with a distressed look to her face.
“Axe'rin I've never seen such a beautiful sight of familial love ever in my life in the wild or domestically within our tribe, the mother shadowflame wolf is giving her life to protect her cub with the last breaths she can muster from her broken down body, I can't even believe she can stand with that amount of blood loss, also considering her weak and frail state she is in as she has just given birth, this the moment all female creatures are at their most vulnerable, remember this sight of bravery for the rest of your lives my children this will probably be the greatest show of bravery, fortitude and love you will ever witness ” said the warchief with a loving yet concerned smile.
“But father what about that child he seems to be protecting them with his life as well, he seems to be just as injured as the mother shadowflame wolf?” Diarge said with a very confused look in his eyes.
“I honestly don't know Diarge he's an anomaly I don't know what he's doing here or why he's here at all but all I can say is that he looks more feral than he seems human he might have been raised in the wild, but we can't sit idly by in this situation I won't let those two brave souls or that innocent cub suffer without a chance. Warriors in the name of your warchief it's time to begin hunt! In the name of the Wolf Stride tribe tonight we feast upon our enemies!” was said with a strong and daring voice to rally the troops morale.
As the expedition team makes it's way down the to the pond with weapons drawn and battle cries echoing throughout the cavern the stoneclaw lions swiftly switch their attention towards the small group of wolf stride clan warriors as battle breaks out as the warchief takes big strides as he cleaves the first of the pack of stoneclaw lions in half with his trusty almost cartoonishly oversized twin edged battle axe with a mighty strike the bloodshed commences.
Strategically taking down stoneclaw lions one after another with an inverted 'V' shaped battle formation they make their way through to the center of the pack with spears and arrows piercing while swords slashes through the feline creatures only about a third of the pack still remains as the warriors are covered in the blood of the felines and breathing heavily as the heat of battle settles in, a mighty roar is heard in the back of the gathering of stoneclaw lions.
Suddenly the pack of stoneclaw lions start backing away in slow fashion as a towering figure appears, it's a bulky stoneclaw lion approximately a third heftier than the others of the pack along with a scar running down it's left eye, a truly frightening creature compared to the rest of the pack. Sporting a very sinister grin as he walks towards the warchief.
Signaling a challenge from one leader to another the atmosphere immediately tenses up as both the pack of the felines and the group of humans are at a standstill, neither group is moving as the warchief is sizing up the stoneclaw lion and vice versa just as the silence is about to break from the engagement of the duel
a mighty howl that echoes through the eardrums as every hair on the body of both feline and humans alike raise stiffly into the air for a short burst of time, striking like thunder as everyone felt an almost electric shock that rumbled throughout their spines leaving only the feeling of fear as it pierces through both animals and humans alike.
The warchief and pack leader swiftly turn their gaze upon the plateau in the middle of the basin it's none other than the frenzied human child that mustered the regal howl, as he stares at the pack leader with eyes of pure pitch black hatred the murderous intent is enough to shake everyone except for the pack leader that is either too proud or too stupid to be left immobilized who slowly turns his back to the warchief and makes his way to the edge of the pond as he starts staring back at the frenzied child with a malicious expression and a haunting grin...