Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Ian suddenly saw Yulia, a female warrior with whom he had become acquainted ahead, and walked towards her.
"Yulia!" he exclaimed," is the salt exchange crew coming back?"
Yulia nodded," The hunters went to greet them, they seem to have brought back many people from another along with them."
"People from another tribe?"
"Yes," Yulia said frowning," We'll have to take a look."
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In the evening there was a bonfire and everyone huddled around it. Ian sat next to Caesar getting the curious glances of several tribesmen who had just come back.
The tribe was in turmoil as the salt exchange crew not only came back with salt, but a whole other tribe.
The Chief, who was having a discussion with the other tribe's chief finally came out and stood in the center on a raised platform made of stone.
"Everyone! Please calm down!"
Once the tribe settled down," the chief started to speak," Everyone in the Dark Mountain tribe must be wondering what is going on, so listen up!"
"The tribe that the salt exchange team brought back is the Deccan Tribe, recently there was a flood in their territory. When they were unprepared, the hoard suddenly showed up and ran over and destroyed their tribe."
There was commotion everywhere, Ian felt Caesar clasp his hand and turned to smile at him.
"Now, this is not the bad news that I have to share with all of you" the Chief sighed," The hoard seems to have grown. There are many big beasts in the hoard now which are ferocious, and unfortunately, they seem to be heading towards our direction."
Everyone gasped and started speaking all at once.
What did this mean for the tribe?
"I have decided to have our tribe move with them."
Everyone burst out.
"Chief, what do you mean?"
"Yeah! How do you know that the hoard is coming this way?"
"How did they travel faster than the hoard?"
"You're joking right?"
Suddenly the sky split open as a crash of lightning hit the mountaintop. The ground started to rumble.
Ian froze.
Damn it!
"Everyone, run!" Ian shouted pulling Caesar up," There's an avalanche! Run towards the woods! Away from the mountain!"
Priest Dunya seemed to realize it too and shouted," Listen to Ian! Run! Run into the woods away from the mountains!"
"Everyone started running, Ian led Caesar away from the ground and dashed far into the woods not stopping, he could hear the rumbling getting closer and closer and printed as fast as he could.
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Ian took breathed heavily trying to catch his breath, the avalanche came to a stop. He could see several tribesmen around him looking at the rubble in dismay.
An hour after the avalanche stopped the tribe regrouped near the river.
There was only 1/4th of the Dark Mountain tribe there. Many people from the other tribe were not there. Many tribesmen walked around the ruins trying to find others and some were rescued from under the rubble. Others were found as corpses or severely wounded.
Luckily, the chief was still okay," Everyone!" he hollered," Gather around!"
Around 400 people gathered around him, the others had been buried in the rubble.
"I have talked with the other chief, and we have decided that this place is not suitable for settlement anymore!" the chief paused when he saw everyone give him a shocked look," We shall head towards Whitepeak mountain to the Usha tribe, they are the sister clan of the other tribe."
There was discussion all around, Ian walked towards Caesar who was tending to Jacob, who was laying on the ground with a broken ankle.
"But they are so far away! At least a moon's worth of walking!" A female tribesman said holding an old woman," What of our injured?"
"Yes chief," A man said coming up with a child," Our newborns and elderly won't survive the cold! It's nearly winter."
The chief sighed," There's nothing that can be done, if we don't leave now, the hoard will kill us, you'll have to stay and find some nearer settlement."
A pregnant woman next to Ian started weeping as her mate comforted her.
"Everyone that want's to come with us follow Reemer and the rest stay here."
Reemer jogged under the tree and there was huge discussion amongst the tribesmen.
Caesar had a bad face and stood up. He looked at Jacob before taking Ian's hand and leading him to a secluded place.
"Ian," he started," I-I want to stay."
Ian frowned," Is this because of Jacob?"
Caesar nodded," You know he is like a brother to me... he's not fit for travel, he's starting to develop a fever, I'm not sure if his foot will ever heal and Barbara and Michael decided to stay with him to look after him. They are like family to me..."
"I don't want to abandon them," Caesar said before pausing," I understand if you want to leave..."
Ian stopped Caesar," No, if you're staying, then I'm staying," he pecked Caesar's lips," We're mates remember?"
Caesar smiled at him and hugged him tightly," Okay," he whispered, his voice a little choked with emotion.
Ian and Caesar walked back and stood by Jason, Barbara, and Michael telling them their decision.
Jason looked at them conflicted and embarrassed," You guys... don't stay because of me... I-I'm not worth all of you staying."
Caesar shook his head," No you are, you've always been my best brother, and you always will be," he said firmly.
Reemer looked over at them and huffed displeased, he had wanted to make Ian his mate for a long time now. Ian was intelligent and hardworking. He wasn't squeamish like a lot of other females and he was loyal. He was also beautiful, with long straight legs and a slender build. He was perky everywhere he needed to be and he shined in the sunlight. He was also very clean and always smelled nice.
Unfortunately, he stuck with Caesar all day. They were inseparable and he couldn't weasel his way in even if he tried.
Reemer was insanely jealous.
Even when Caesar wanted to die in the wilderness alone with a bunch of old men and women along with weak people, Ian would only follow him.
He would make sure that he would regret that, he looked at his current mate, Lila who paled in comparison and was complaining at his side. He sighed, he'll have to find someone better soon. Anyways, Caesar wouldn't be in his line of sight from now on.
Reemer cheered up and looked elsewhere.
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