Sunlight filtered through the towering trees, it bathed the world with a warm light. It was almost dawn, the sound of leaves rustling and branches falling on the ground sounded like a sweet melody.
As Becca along with half a dozen wolf tribe members ran through the thick forests, she wore a beige robe which covered her face and hair.
Alongside her was one of the new members of the Dragon Guild, Hunter James. He also wore a robe similar to her.
"James, no engaging with the Tiger Tribe. We are going to their main base for information." Becca said as she continued to run through the forest.
"That sucks, I wanted to fight them." James replied.
"We're on the lookout for their real base, I'm sure the elites of the Tiger Tribe are nothing compared to the ones me and Xior have fought so far."
After travelling some more they stopped and set up camp, Becca and James set up markers on trees not far off and setting up trip wires among the grass making a whole circle around their camp.
She sat down as James and the Wolf Tribe members prepared food for themselves. The Wolf Tribe members were among the elites of the Tribe. Handpicked up Kayla, they were experienced in recon and spying.
Scenes from the previous night played in her mind, Tharnak was poisoned and on the verge of dying when he came to ask for help.
She saw Xior angry, the second time in all of the years she has known him. If not for Rain he would've barged in enemy territory all by himself.
He was an orphan and knew how much a parent matters to a child, he had only spent five or so years with his parents before they disappeared while climbing the tower.
Rain didn't wait and quickly formed teams, Becca and James were the Recon team tasked in finding the Tigers main stronghold and where they kept Fenra.
The Escort team was himself and Evelyn, they took Tharnak back to the Wolf Tribe and tried to stabilize the Wolves there and to prepare them for an eventual conflict.
While Xior was the only one in the Diplomatic team, tasked with bringing Alice to help the Wolves against the Tigers.
A few hours had passed and Becca continued her journey with her team. Soon they came across an open clearing which lead to a vast and beautiful plain and not far off in a valley was a massive walled city.
Vegetation on all sides plus the cliffs on the sides made it have a natural camouflage. She raised her hand and prompted them to stop. From the edge of the cliff they started observing.
They set up their things once again, Becca lay down on the grass and used binoculars she had taken from the Dragon Guild storage.
Upon further inspection she saw Tigers preparing for war, swords were being sharpened, arrows being put in quivers and armor getting reinforced.
"James, this is bad. We need to update Rain on this. Write down what I'm about to tell you and run back to the Wolf Tribe."
James nodded and started to write, she told him the rough numbers of the Tiger troops and their weapons. James finished and started walking back after saying goodbye.
A Wolf Tribe member came up to Becca and lay besides her and looked through another binocular, "do you see any signs of he Lady?"
"No, not yet at least." Becca replied as she continued to monitor them.
"We'll infiltrate at night, we need to see if the Lady is fine or not. Do you have any objections?" The wolf tribe member asked.
"No, but we need to be quick with that. If they get the slightest of hints that we are there it will be over for your Tribe."
The Wolf Tribe member didn't say anything and just nodded.
*****
Rain walked slowly through the snow covered mountain, he saw the trail left behind Tharnak as he walked towards Aegis while injured.
On his back he held Tharnak, unconscious but patched up and already healing. A healer from the Griffin Guild helped him.
The wind which was blowing like a whisper in his ear was now raging like someone had offended the god of wind or something.
Even the world showed signs of a major conflict brewing. The Tigers had forgotten their place and needed to be taught a lesson. But if the Wolves didn't unite against them then that would be the end of their legacy.
Rain arrived at the Wolf Tribe which was in chaos as sound of blades clashing were heard inside. He didn't rush in, just removed his glasses and put them inside his pocket.
Didn't want his favorite pair to get broken. The guards at the entrance saw Tharnak on his back and ran to help him. They carried him inside along with him.
He saw the commotion and ran towards it but was too late, Kayla lay on the cold hard ground in a pool of her own blood. A knife in her chest and the elders grinning as they looked at her lifeless body.
*****
In the middle, Kayla stood all alone as blood dropped down from her left arm where a deep cut was, and the elders of the Tribe surrounded her in a circle.
Her father was the only one keeping them at bay and with his disappearance they were free to do what they wanted.
Kayla looked around, her gaze pierced the members standing outside the circle of the elders. If only anyone could help her, she knew they were as helpless as she was against these seasoned warriors.
Despair set in her as she pushed the dirt with her foot and launched herself towards Tarlock the one who started this coup d'état.
She slashed her sword upwards and an arc of ice jumped out of her sword and towards Tarlock, the elder raised his left arm and blocked the arc with his special armor and parried her sword. He kicked her leg making her stumble forward and took out a knife stabbing her heart.
Kayla felt her vision blur as the knife neared her chest. She though of her father, his encouraging smile when she first swung a sword.
Of her mother, laying helpless, trusting her to protect the Tribe. And then Xior, the human who had once seemed ordinary, but now was her anchor in this world.
'Was this really how it end?' She thought.
Alone, in the cold snow? She wished she could have said goodbye...
A smile formed on her face and the knife struck her chest, the sound of flesh being cut was the last thing she heard as blood sprayed over Tarlock's arm as he let go of the knife.
She staggered a bit and fell down backwards, her back met the cold hard ground and the blood from her wound flowed slowly and formed a pool around her.