The winds outside the cave were harsh and cold, and yet Xiel barely felt the chill through his skins and furs that draped over his body. He stood outside the cave, the unfortunate soul to pull the second nights watch. It was a required job, and even as the God-Bear's leader, he never put himself over his family and friends, and to outsiders, it looked like they were simply a group with no hierarchy. While that could be considered somewhat true, they did have somewhat of a hierarchy with Xiel being at the top and his second-in-command being right below him, with their ear always open for his concerns. He led this clan for 15 years, and the God-Bears have been around for up for 25. The God-Bears weren't as big as they once were. Xiel was cautious of new members, and had strongly been opposed to letting new Nordenfiir join, which had made their clan dwindle to a ghost of what they once were. He realized his mistake a little too late, and was paying the price for his reluctance now.
The cave felt warm behind his back, and yet he stood for the second time this week at the mouth of their safe house, battered by the winds which nipped and bit at his skin. The snows around him were awashed in darkness, he could smell the scent of their horses and the quiet calmness of their demeanour. It didn't take their scent to assure him that danger wasn't close by, and he considered his watch to be complete on this early day. The darkness in the north didn't always tell the time truthfully, and he could feel some earlier risers stirring in the cave, so Xiel turned back into the cave to stir the fire and wake up the other God-Bears.
Their mornings were often grumbly and many members could be found snapping at their counterparts as they stuffed their faces with whatever was in their stores. Xiel waited patiently for their demeanour to become more pleasant before he took a stand to address their next raid.
"My friends and loved ones, I had a long time to think about whether or not we will attack that settlement in the east, and it has come to the conclusion that we will attack them, and leave no survivors," He took another bite out of the dried chicken that he held in his hand, allowing their clan to think or say what they wished. "My reason for this is to show these bounty hunters, or whatever else they may be that they cannot and will not take down the God-Bears. For we are the predators and they are the prey."
"for we are the predators and they are the prey..." "for we are the predators and they are the prey..."
"We will head out there after breakfast, so make sure the fire is smothered and your valuables stashed properly. Axel and Treton will stay behind on this, and ensure out cave's safety. Everyone else, we leave in an 30 minutes. It's a two day journey, so ensure you got what you need."
The camp burst into movement after he turned to gather his things, and with a fresh raid of their horizon, Xiel could feel that the God-Bears were renewed in their energy, and he too, was eager to fly into the frey.
The cave felt warm behind his back, and yet he stood for the second time this week at the mouth of their safe house, battered by the winds which nipped and bit at his skin. The snows around him were awashed in darkness, he could smell the scent of their horses and the quiet calmness of their demeanour. It didn't take their scent to assure him that danger wasn't close by, and he considered his watch to be complete on this early day. The darkness in the north didn't always tell the time truthfully, and he could feel some earlier risers stirring in the cave, so Xiel turned back into the cave to stir the fire and wake up the other God-Bears.
Their mornings were often grumbly and many members could be found snapping at their counterparts as they stuffed their faces with whatever was in their stores. Xiel waited patiently for their demeanour to become more pleasant before he took a stand to address their next raid.
"My friends and loved ones, I had a long time to think about whether or not we will attack that settlement in the east, and it has come to the conclusion that we will attack them, and leave no survivors," He took another bite out of the dried chicken that he held in his hand, allowing their clan to think or say what they wished. "My reason for this is to show these bounty hunters, or whatever else they may be that they cannot and will not take down the God-Bears. For we are the predators and they are the prey."
"for we are the predators and they are the prey..." "for we are the predators and they are the prey..."
"We will head out there after breakfast, so make sure the fire is smothered and your valuables stashed properly. Axel and Treton will stay behind on this, and ensure out cave's safety. Everyone else, we leave in an 30 minutes. It's a two day journey, so ensure you got what you need."
The camp burst into movement after he turned to gather his things, and with a fresh raid of their horizon, Xiel could feel that the God-Bears were renewed in their energy, and he too, was eager to fly into the frey.