Picked By The Vultures.

[Geo 1415]

The Tlatlanni bounded through the fields, his paws battering against the ground excitedly, filled with the thrill of the hunt. He carried a hefty goblin carcass within his jaws, his eyes drawing narrower as he neared the camp of his people. His body swerved in the wind as he made a tight turn, the gates already wide open for him. As he entered the camp he stopped, little Raska at his feet looking up to him, all upset. He looked over to Miian in confusion and then back down to the kitten, kneeling and wiping a tear from its eye. He scrunched up his face as the fresh smell of orc urine filled his nose, snarling as he shook his head he returned his gaze to Miian, her ears bleeding as she hung her head.

"Leetawl wun... wyy'ah su sad?" he stepped towards her curiously, resting a paw on her shoulder. She simply shook her head, trembling as she feared to say anything in response, managing a solemn... "Wee'ah mawst leev'... nuw." All of a sudden Raska began to crawl over to the shrine of Metztli and Miian backed away from the Tlatlanni, waving her hands and warning him to stay there. His eyes set upon the notice board and then back towards the direction of the shrine. Then, with a sudden realisation, his eyes snapped back to the notice board as his jaws creaked open in horror at the sight of a dead kitten nailed to the board. The Tlatlanni for once in a long time fell silent, his emotions deterring from his body as he knew not what to make of this, what pride was there in slaughtering the defenceless.

Miian looked to the Tlatlanni, her entire being quaking in fear of what his reaction would be, she, like all the other Kharajyr was used to his roaring and bellowing. His long, black talons came from his gauntlets, plucking the nails from the board. He silently lifted the small corpse into his paws, looking down to it. His eyes closed. Miian's little eye swelled with tears as the Tlatlanni marched silently past her and towards the shrine, nothing but the rattling of his armour being carried along the wind. A large thud rumbled as the Tlatlanni fell to one knee, slowly resting the kitten upon the sacrificial altar. Raska sat there with his little paw place against Metztli's stone, hopeful that the goddess would answer the prayer of him, and all of the moon kin, to be at peace.

The Tlatlanni opened his eyes slowly, his own body shaking with emotion as he looked to Raska, for once he appeared weak. Raska pressed his little paw against the dead kitten's chest and the Tlatlanni shook his head, giving a grave glare in the form of silent, wise advise. The three Kharajyr placed their fists in their paw as they looked to the shrine, falling to silence as they prayed to the moon goddess to answer them. They had been stripped of all sense of pride, and the overcrowding of this island was beginning to take a heavy toll on their lives. Finally the Tlatlanni had risen, standing on his two feet as he arms were thrown into the air, his jaws wide as he roared up at Metztli in the Va'Khajrian tongue.

"FRO SUDRAN, FRO SICD FA CIVVAN MEGA DREC? FA YCG OUI DU YET OUIN LREMTNAH, DRA SUUHGEH LYMM VUN OUI, SEKRDO METZTLI!"

The other Kharajyr soon woke from their sleep and soon a crowd formed from the huts. Their Tlatlanni addressed them briefly and they knew what their task was. Soon the crops were torn from the ground, the soils laying bare and barren. The streams and rivers ran dry, blocked off in desperation to collect water. The masses of chickens were slaughtered and their carcasses collected in bags. The dens were smashed into as the Kharajyr desperately salvaged their own homes for materials. Even parts of the walls were torn down as the small group of pride hunters and huntresses began to abandon their camp. The camp now known as Suuc'Nuuaf, which translates roughly as moon's sorrow, was derelict. Nothing more than another ruined village by the lake, picked by the vultures. However Tlatlanni Morthawl had lied to himself, he did still have pride, the pride of his people.

[Bircalin 332]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.