[Osse]

Bear - Hillmen

Bear strode through the bare patch of corroded and muddy ground that served as the village’s meeting-place. He greatly desired to talk to his brother. The attack needed to be launched soon, before the southerners’ roots had delved too deep, weeding them out would prove very difficult if they were left to get settled; it was already perhaps beyond the hillmen as it was.

The recent rains had left the grounds soft and yielding; deep ruts were formed on the most commonly used trails. You could tell just by the depth of the rut how often a person went in and out of their hut, and that was usually in close affiliation with the person’s age.

It was easy to spot where the tribe elders lived. As he walked through the part of the village chiefly populated by the elders he stopped and stooped to look at something on the ground. Clearly outlined against the others, lay Wolf’s footprint.

The trail led away from the priests hut, it would be easy to follow, not many people were up and about, and no-one walked like Wolf. He had a slight instep on his left foot that made a very unique print.

Wolf had walked on a little used track that snaked between some of the larger huts, out onto the hill behind the village. He stood just below the mantle of the hill gazing up into the heavens.

Bear made no effort to be quiet as he approached his brother, when Wolf got like this sometimes even the loudest of noises wouldn’t disturb his train of thought. This time however, Wolf’s gaze descended upon Bear as he got to within about ten paces.

Even from this distance Bear could see the lines of worry and panic that beleaguered his brothers unusually pale face. For the first time in many years, he wished he could help his older brother bear his burden, had fleeting glimpses of a distressed child in need of a mothers care.

The vision went as quickly and fleetingly as it had come as Wolf quickly mastered his expression, though his eyes still had a worried, hunted look to them.

“What ails you brother, surely whatever worry you have cannot be as serious as your face tells?”

Wolf remained silent, and his gaze went back to the clouds.

“Come Wolf, you cannot shoulder this burden alone, whatever it is, you must tell me.”

When Wolf’s voice came at last it was most unlike his usual calculative, calm stammer. Instead of merely saying the words as he normally would, Wolf spat them.

“What I tell you is completely up to me! I am chief. It is my burden alone.”

And with that he strode off down the hill, his doubt and rage even apparent from behind. Bear stood in shock, peering through misty eyes at his brother’s receding form.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 1:03 AM December 07, 2003: Message edited by: Osse ]