Book 4 Chapter 23

The valley settled into an uneasy quiet, with only the crackle of the fire disturbing its perfect peace. Dun had spoken with so much confidence that even those opposed couldn’t find a proper way to refute him. They glanced at each other with uncertain eyes… Allowing an outsider to help seemed unforgivable to many, but so was throwing away a gift from the ancestors…

Finally, it was Fari who broke the silence, “Even if the arrival of the flatlander was the guidance of the ancestors, what is he here to do?” She let out a sigh, her view traveling over Tirr with an experienced eye. Tirr didn’t falter under her gaze, instead of taking the chance to fully look at this other clan leader.

She seemed to be one of the older leaders here, her hair tinged with slight traces of gray, yet her figure was firm and toned, forged with the mountains as an anvil. Yet it was her eyes that really caught his attention, intelligent and piercing, like a hawk watching from on high.

She seemed to share his sense of approval, nodding slightly but then sighing again all the same, “Guarding all the Clans should be too hard, even for a god. Surely you can’t be thinking of having the Tribe come together until the disaster is over?”

“No!” Dun shook his head, his eyes traveling over the crowd, “I’m saying even that wouldn’t be enough!”

A furious uproar met his words. Though Rev himself didn’t speak, hesitant to upset Fari once again, many of his clan did. Matching with those of Clan Jacta and even some of clan Havo. The Tribe had been separated for centuries, pulling it back together, just so some flatlander could guard them? Where would their pride go? Where would they have the courage to face their ancestors in the afterlife… Even as they voiced their objections, Dun ignored them as he moved on.

“I understand the hesitancy, and it's not something that I would propose lightly. Waythe clan doesn’t want to lose its autonomy any more than anyone else. But these are desperate times, desperate enough that I feel even reconsolidating the tribe isn’t enough.”

“You! Even reconsolidating the Tribe is going too far!” A sickly-looking man stood, his voice coming with a wheeze. From where he stood Tirr guessed he was the leader of Clan Jacta…

The sickly man scowled at Dun and Tirr, “Why would we even need an outsider’s help? If all of the tribe only had to guard one valley, not only would it reduce the Beasts we encountered but we’d have more than enough manpower as well! If the god is as impressive as you say how could that not be enough? Or are you saying it’s the Tribe that is weak?”

“Don’t try and put words in my mouth Ono,” Dun countered, “If I believed that this disaster was already at its end, that we’d see no worse than we already have, then yes! Bringing the Tribe together again would be more than enough!”

“But…” Dun paused, “I don’t think that’s true, I think it's only going to get worse, not only that, but I believe a danger we can’t even imagine is upon us. A threat that could destroy not only our Tribe which has lasted throughout the ages, but the mountain itself! The home that has sheltered us since our ancestors first walked its paths…

A low, worried murmur rippled through the clans as he spoke, though most didn’t want to believe it. Even Furi was now frowning deeply as she leaned against her staff. Rev glanced over at Ono his eye narrowing as he silently urged the man to speak.

Ono complained obediently, “Who are you to guess at such things Dun are you claiming to be a seer, or touched by the ancestors?”

“I don’t need the records of the Havo to know the Beast disaster is something we've never seen before. And don’t need to go over the damage it's already caused again, at this point, we don’t even know what's causing it. Just looking at the rate of attacks, is it any wonder that I think it can only get worse?”

“Still….” Fari started doubtfully, “If things are as bad as you say, you can’t think that this god is the answer? One boy, no matter how powerful, wouldn’t be able to effect something that could destroy the mountain…”

“I think he is exactly the answer we need!” Dun answered, “His leadership and ability to strengthen those around him is exactly what the Tribe needs to wade through these troubled waters.”

At this Rev could finally stay quiet no longer, “Leadership! Just who do you mean for him to lead!?”

Dun turned to him, smiling casually as if they were talking about the weather, “I called this Moot today, to make the god Tirr a part of the Tribe, and to nominate his as Tribe Chief until the disaster has ended!”