Leonis's Story

Hebeny recognized the seriousness in the Shief's voice, "We're leaving tonight." She herself, didn't have that many belongings, but that didn't mean others did not. As Hebeny had no 'parents', to speak of, she spent a lot of time helping the other Clan members in whichever way she could.

Pushing herself up from the tree, she respectfully waited for the Shief to pass before making her way back to the hut which she had been occupying. The uneasiness that surrounded Tila's ungraceful dismount of the branch stalled her. Hearing the desperation in her friends voice, she stayed to hear of any news Lenois himself would have, but mostly to try and coax a positive reaction from her friend if needed. It was well known the young Mira Tila wore her heart on her sleeve, and sometimes, her reactions could prove most bothersome. Makya himself was one that could tolerate and steer Tila's emotions down their smoother courses. If he was no longer with the Clan, or hurt otherwise, Tila would need to be preoccupied during the move.

So, Hebeny stood as a shadow behind Tila's skirts. Ears peaked, and eyes darkened.

Leonis patted the young Mira, Tila, upon the shoulder as he moved past pausing only to speak with her briefly.

"Makya is with Tapu and Kahl," he reassured the youngster.

The pinch of worry behind his gentle expression betrayed his uncertainty of that fact though.

"Go on now," he told her as his hand dropped away. "It'll be sunset in a few hours."

"Are...are they coming later?" Tila muttered, sitting up to stare at the larger Mira before her. Her question was far too soft to be heard, however, as Leonis passed by. Once he had moved on, Tila stood and brushed the dirt out of her furry legs before turning to look at Hebeny.

"Heh...guess I kinda over reacted." She said with a big grin, one hand scratching the back of her head. "Heh. So we should go pack, right? I mean, Shief said we're leaving tonight. Do you need any help getting your things? I don't have much to pack, just my bow and arrow and sleep sack...I started work on that flower necklace but I'll just make a new one when we get to the next village."

Tila seemed rather satisfied with Leonis' explanation of where Makya was. She had no reason to doubt him, after all, and with her head down in the dirt, she hadn't seen that tinge of worry in Leonis' eyes. Tila was all too happy to follow orders and go get packed up. Walking over to one of the trees, she started to climb up into her tree house, looking to see if Hebeny was coming.

Once up in the treehouse, the young Mira grabbed a bag made out of reeds and vines, opening it up to toss some of her smaller items inside. She had really undersold what she had up here, collecting quite a few interesting gem stones and river rocks that were all part of her collection. When all the little things were in the bag, she sealed it shut before sliding the straps over her right shoulder, leaving the sack portion on her shoulder blade.

Reaching out to her weapons, she tied a bone knife around her waist, clipping it onto her skirt to keep it at her side. Leaning against the wall was a single long staff spear, one that Kahl had helped her make. Lifting her hand, she rested her paw like digits on the shaft and frowned. It seemed that was one more friend who hadn't come back. Slowly drifting over to the deck, she looked below her at the other houses in the village that were slowly being emptied of their belongings, a trail of Mira already starting to form, following Leonis' orders. Then, the teenager's eyes went back towards the forest that their warriors had just come from. Somewhere out there were her mentor and friend. She couldn't just leave them behind. If she were in trouble, wouldn't they come for her? She was certain they would - So how, then, could she possibly leave them?

Turning swiftly, she rushed back to her weapons and finished packing them into a special holder on her back, the bow the last piece to be put in place. Without even waiting on Hebeny, Tila climbed down the tree outside the house and landed rather gracefully on the ground after the descent.

She wasn't about to go out on her own blindly searching, though. No, first she needed some more information - information she was sure Shief Leonis had. Keeping her items on her back, she slipped into the jungle bush and moved as stealthily as she could, something that wasn't all that challenging for her since she was rather small for a Mira. Coming closer to Leonis' hut, she tried to hang back in the leaves while listening in for any conversation she might overhear...

Baako wasn't at all surprised that the Mira were leaving. He found his way to his hut and inside were all of his belongings. A hammock, his spare spear, and a few small hunting trophies. Baako lived a simple life and he was perfectly satisfied with it. He removed the point of his spare spear and tucked it into a pocket. He then took down his hammock and put his trophies in it and then tied the hammock to the shaft of the spear. He then put the makeshift bag over his shoulder.

He was ready to leave. He decided to walk around the village until the order was given for him to leave. Baako wandered aimlessly occasionally saying hello to passersby. Baako found himself walking toward the Shief's hut. He began to turn around when he noticed the bushes rustling. Baako slipped into the bush unnoticed and found himself behind Tila. The young Mira was eavesdropping.

Baako put his hand on her shoulder and quietly asked, "What are you doing?"

Tila heard the slightest rustle just before she was touched on the shoulder. Using a move that Kahl once showed her, she gripped onto Baako's hand and attempted to pull him over her shoulder, using her smaller form to slip from under the flip and wind up over the larger cat, her spear pulled down from her shoulder and pointed towards the other Mira's throat.

"Baako!" she hissed, putting the spear back on her shoulder. She didn't move from hovering over him, though, looking up towards the window of the hut to make sure they hadn't drawn attention. "You've gotta be quiet. I'm trying to find out where Makya and Kahl are. They didn't come back with the others. Now hush, I'm listening..." A feat that wouldn't be too hard with her over sized ears.

Baako was surprised to find himself on the ground, but he didn't care. If Tila looked down she would find Baako's machete ready to strike her side. Baako had new intent of hurting Tila, but his instincts kicked in while he was being flipped. Baako focussed up when she mentioned Kahl and Makya.

"Y'know," began Baako quietly, "I was with those hunters." Baako took a breath and managed to sheath his machete. "I too was wondering where Makya was," continued Baako, "If you're going to find him, I'm coming with you." Baako hoped his offer would be accepted. After some thought Baako realized that his offer sounded more like a demand, "If you'd have me." Baako really did want to know what happened to Makya. Kahl was more of a secondary priority for Baako. Kahl had had his knee obliterated by a rifle.

A boom and then a crack echoed in the distance, followed by plumes of smoke rising up on the horizon. Clearly seen from the village. Something Strange was going on, the sound of a thousand bad things encroaching on the fringes of the jungles surrounding the village...

Meanwhile inside the hut several of the veteran Mira were engaged in discussion over the days events.

"They grow bolder by the day," Magi growled. "We must make a stand."

"Our numbers are few," Cheke interrupted. "The split in the clan when we left Aelora has yet to be mended. We cannot afford a direct confrontation."

There was the sound of a fist hitting a table that was audible enough that even the pair of eavesdroppers could hear the pounding of wood.

"We are Mira," Magi bit back. "We do not fear our enemies, and we do not bow even under threat of death or extinction. It is better that we die as warriors with our pride intact than to live in fear as cowards."

"Be at ease Magi," Leonis tempered voice rose. "The Mira will stand strong as they always have, and we will face these enemies as we have those that came before them. But there is wisdom too in Cheke's words. Pride alone will win us nothing. We will strike back in a place of our time and choosing.

There were murmurs of agreement behind Magi's more vocal outburst.

"The Shamana will seek council from the spirits tonight, and tomorrow we will begin preparations," Leonis continued.

"And what of Kahl. Will he fight again?" another of the warriors inquired.

"I do not yet know. He was taken to Naia. If his injuries can be mended, it will be she who can do so."

The conversation trailed off after a time as the gathered warriors of the tribe discussed options for relocation and strategies for this new threat they must face.

Tila was a bit startled by the first on the wood, but thankfully she had long since put her spear back onto the holder strap going across her back. She was, however, still hovering over Baako, holding one hand against his chest as she listened intently.

When Kahl's name came up, Tila perked up and turned an ear closer to the window of the hut. So he was with Naia? They didn't say that Makya was with him, but Tila just assumed that he would be. Slowly standing, she offered Baako a hand up before hearing a loud crashing sound. Her head swung in the direction of the noise and instinctively she dropped into a defensive pose.

"What in the world was that?" she questioned of her fellow eavesdropper. "C'mon. Let's get a move on before all heck breaks loose." Reaching for Baako's hand, she snuck back out of the bushes with him and started off in the same direction that Kahl had been taken. "If we're quick, we should be able to catch up to them before they move on. Do you have all your stuff?"