[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Jasara had been roused by the noises made and once she saw the damage she knew she had made a terrible mistake in feeling comfortable so close to the camps. Eight of the older young were dead, either strangled to death or slain. The plan had been well-thought and had depended greatly on the hope that the youth would be unorganized or unsuspectings. The attackers had done well, Jasara knew.

"Most of the children under twelve have been taken," Nasir informed Jasara emotionlessly. In his left hand was a bloody spear, and with his other hand he held a little boy tightly by the wrist. Uri followed Nasir, two young children in tow, and Khasia carried another young one in her arms. Some were whimpering slightly, and the others were holding back tears. They were the only ones forgotten or recaptured.

Jasara turned away from them, her head began to ache and she began to seriously doubt her defiance of the elders. What was she supposed to do? She had to stay strong, or Khasia would take over, most likely leaving Jasara to die by herself in the process. Jasara's eyes began to hurt along with her head, when the familiar voice returned to her.

Retaliation, Jasara. Show them that you are willing to fight back after a loss. Show them you children are adamant.

Jasara wanted to discard the voice and somehow be rid of it. If it were not for the voice, the visions, and the premonitions, Jasara would not have gotten anyone, especially herself, into this mess. But her voice was not like Fouad's rock. She could not toss a magic stone away and be rid of the evil that plagued her, it was with her forever.

"We will retaliate," Jasara informed the leaders after a moment for consideration of the voice's orders. Her voice was shaky, but strong as the others nodded. "Take the children away, put them under competent guards. I need to speak with you all. Nasir, bring Najah. The five of us will talk."

Nasir nodded and went to go get Najah as the rest of the leaders took the fastest way to the nearby stream. When Najah and Nasir had joined them, Jasara was finally prepared to inform them of her plan. She knew Nasir would never accept it willingly, she knew Najah and Khasia might enjoy it, and she knew that Uri would be skeptical but would accept for the greater good of the tribe.

"We've lost eight able warriors and many children. We probably have only thirty or forty left. However, we need to show the elders that we are not afraid to take drastic measures," Jasara began, preparing the other leaders for her slightly radical idea. "We kill them. Any child who can not readily and properly wield a weapon will be killed and left in the centermost area of the Baobab-Painted Sand Tribe. They waste food and time, and would only subject us to further weakness."

Najah had a wicked grin on her face, and Khasia looked indifferent. Nasir was already shaking his head defiantly, while Uri looked at Jasara critically, as if considering something she had not thought of. Jasara nodded; she had expected these reactions. She didn't even feel the need to further push her campaign and idea in their faces.

"I accept!" Khasia and Najah said simultaneously. Khasia answered as if it were a grim admittance, but Najah seemed rather excited and anxious. Nasir was still shaking his head violently, but Uri was the next to add to the proceedings.

"Jasara has a good point and a good idea. This could only strengthen our tribe, not weaken it, as the sacrificed would be young who are of no use. I accept, for the greater good of the tribe," finished Uri, with a look to Nasir. "Nasir, you are outnumbered four to one. Jasara will not lead us to our downfall, friend. Trust."

Nasir said naught, but he sent an evil look Jasara's way. Jasara dismissed it, knowing that deep down Nasir knew it would be best and that he would be loyal to the tribe no matter what decision were made. The group had an agreement: they would sacrifice any useless young and leave them at their parent's tent, and Uri would lead the way into the familiar camp. Only capable soldiers would be left.

"The first to go will be the four who were left behind by the attackers. Najah and Nasir will have a late practice, and determine who will be useful and who will be useless. Remember that this is mostly to show the elders what we are willing to do, so don't give up a warrior if they are decent enough to fight when the time comes. Then while they try and get some last sleep before dawn, we will slit the throats of those chosen to be sacrificed. Uri, you'll lead us into the tribe of elders and we'll leave them towards the center," Jasara went over everything one last time and was glad to recieve nods of agreement and understanding around the group.

The four children had tentatively fallen asleep while the group had been talking, and when they got back they were killed swiftly and silently with a mercy strike to the throat. The children's bodies were pulled behind a tree while Nasir and Najah began the late training lesson.