Over the next day, the rest of the pathfinders slowly trickled into the outpost bringing the results of their scouting with them. Not long after the last pair had arrived and spoken with Jestix gathered everyone together for an announcement.

“It looks like the only passes open are one in the west and the two large ones directly north of us.”

This immediately began a chorus of worried mutters around the room but Jestix kept on and raised his voice.

“I will be discussing this with the other society leaders when they arrive. If you have any points you want made tell me before then.”

Instantly a handful of the pathfinders approached Jestix and moved into an adjacent room from which an intense discussion faintly could be heard through the walls. Aelan, Manix had moved to a private corner in which their own argument was proceeding.

“What are they discussing in there, and what's the difference between all of the passes?” Lleu asked Ria.

“The differences between the passes is that the one in the west is fairly small but safe and the ones north are large and dangerous. As to what they are discussing, when Jestix will be talking with the other society leaders later he will try to convince them to take the western pass which they will, of course, be unwilling to do so we need to prepare good reasons to convince them. “

“Why wouldn't they want to take the western pass if its safer?”

“Mostly impatience and a disregard for others.”

Manix and Aelan appearing to have finished their conversation moved over to join Lleu and Ria.

“Something you need to understand about the other high ranking societies, they are much bigger than us and generally have more members than they do high tier totems. Because of this, a few casualties means absolutely nothing to them, the core of their strength will be protected in the center of the expedition. The only thing the choice of passage means to them is how long they have to spend traveling.” Said Manix softly.

Aelan interjected, “It is very different for us, instead of being protected in the center we travel ahead looking for danger which we will be guaranteed to find in the northern passes.”

“It just increases the chances of some of us being injured or even killed. We can barely scrape together enough members to keep our scouting lines intact, half of the society's rooms have been empty for generations now as we can't find enough recruits to replace those we have lost over the years, that's why we want to avoid chances we don't need to take.” This last was added by a worried looking Manix.

“I guess you can say that our priorities and worries are the opposite of most of the other societies.”

The rest of that night went by in a flash, between intense discussion centered around Jestix most of the pathfinders made sure to take some time to drop by Lleu and dump all the worldly knowledge they felt he should have to survive and thrive as a pathfinder.

Of course what one half said seemed to contradict what the rest said and any question he asked would give rise to an argumentative discussion that usually resulted in an answer that had absolutely no relation to the original question.

One norm he had noticed in the society was that most of the pathfinders seemed to have some oddities in behavior and lived and breathed chaos yet moved, talked, and argued together like a big close family. Each pathfinder could say something when they wished to and have it be heard. He felt that even though they seemed to disagree on pretty much everything they all knew what their peers were doing at all times and how they approached things and therefore could work together smoothly.

Three days passed quickly with Lleu receiving intense training from Aelan, Ria, Manix, and the rest of the pathfinders in everything from tracking and scouting to combat utilizing magical or mundane methods. In addition, Jestix had him practice a set of movements that seemed almost like a dance which was designed help increase mental fortitude.

Practice with his totems was another thing he did constantly although this was not really something anybody seemed to be able to really help him with.

It was a little after midday and Lleu wa in the middle of his training routine when the expedition finally approached the outpost. He knew this even though he could not see the first of the approaching column. Instead, his knowledge of their position came from the clatter of hooves, banging of gear, and shouting voices that announced them a good hour before they came into sight.

After spending several days in relative quiet this assault of sound shocked him.

Into the abandoned outpost they rode and then like a flood spread in every direction. Just as the pathfinders had their building of choice all of the other societies seemed to have their own preselected building or buildings. Soon invisible lines had formed all across the outpost as if territories had been marked.

“You noticed the divide?” Aelan asked Lleu while looking out at the sea of motion disapprovingly.

“Yeah… but I thought we were all part of the same expedition?”

“Oh we are all part of it but between all the grudges from one group to the next and politicking that goes on behind the scenes this happens every year.”

Two hands landed on Lleu’s shoulders and Jestix approached from behind.

“Make sure to ignore it son,” he said with the same disapproving expression that Aelan had

“We have a policy of ignoring all of this… nonsense. Just treat everywhere you go as if it was your own home. Especially if it is filled by some society who thinks they are something better than everyone else.”

Aelan quickly followed Jestix’s instructions with the answer to a question Lleu was about to ask.

“We do have our own grudges and take share in the politics but we try to leave those inside the walls. Out here too many depend on us for warning when aberrations are approaching to let such simple things get in the way of our work. In short, we have better things to do than squabble with everyone else, so just ignore it.”

“I think I’ll take a look around then.”

Lleu, after making sure to note where the pathfinders building was in relation to everything else, set off into the bustling outpost.