Fatherhood

Skies! He was going to be a father! He and Aponi had created new life during their many practice sessions. He pondered this as he rode his patrol. He'd known his father searched for him, as he had searched for Pop, but now he considered the emotions having your Son taken from you would bring forth. He still could only imagine the pain his father had felt, however the greater understanding renewed the resolve to stand firm, stand honorably, and be a man his father would be proud of.

Claiming a Mate

The drums brought word of Ba'atar's approval, with that news he completed his duties quickly and went to his wagon. The pelts were piled high on the newly constructed sleeping platform, he washed up and changed into fresh leathers, then made his way to the central fire. He waited, passing the time with Silken and Aponi until more Tuchuk gathered, then pushed to his feet and announce his claim of Aponi as his woman. She was lifted to his shoulder and carried to his, now their wagon where the night passed much more sweetly than he'd imagined it could.

A Price Paid

He'd been busy that day, tending to the payment of the price Ba'atar had set for Aponi. He personally had gathered the bosk, examining their health and sending only the best to the Ubar's herds. The fawn kaiila yearling was groomed, the handlers directed to move the beast to the Ubar's holdings. He also sent a small metal disk to the wagons of Ba'atar, a marker of the promise he'd made. The bride rights to his first born daughter were reserved for Ba'atar's sons. More work at the forge was completed after these tasks were complete. As the Sky turned indigo over the plains he moved toward the fires and a good meal.

Home

The grass shimmered in the early morning light, the air held a sweetness that had been missing for nearly a moon. Could it be, could it actually be that they had arrived home. The North Camp, the pastures were rich for the bosk, the stream filled with sweet fresh water. He'd helped get his wagon settled along with those of his father. There were so many details, but the Tribe worked together as one to get the harigga established quickly. Those concentric circles, layers of safety, that can only fully be put into place when the Tuchuk are camped on their lands. Once he had spoken with his commander his own Or was gathered. Carefully they went over the established patrols, and discussed the blood tinged trail found earlier that day. Extra caution would have to be taken, it would be easy to fall into a sense of safety. Life on the Plains was harsh, camped on the trail or at home in the harigga. Ending their discussions on that note, Teng set to the task of setting up the forge, for many repairs would be needed now that they had arrived home. He enjoyed working along side his father, getting to know him as a man instead of a distant memory. He still had many questions, perhaps soon they'd hunt together and he could ask what he needed to know.

Endless March

It would seem the Sky is testing our strength, just as we form a plan to overcome one obstacle placed before us another appears. Last night a larl attacked, killing a bull bosk. Pop examined it's body, and found no sign that the larl had fed. Apparently it was killing for the sake of the kill.
This seems to go against the very fabric that nature is created of, but then the Spex warned us that things may appear one way but actually not be as they appear. As I rode patrol with my men in the darkness I carefully considered her words. Many odd happenings have taken place on this seemingly endless march, not the least being the shaking of the earth. Was the great crevice in the earth truly made of that shaking, or is it something more. Larls tracking the wagons, the number of Tuchuk finding their way to us while on migration, chunks of ice falling from the Sky. ::he paused to think for several ihn::

Ba'atar eased the mood for a time last night. He formally made Aponi Tribe, and commanded the women to set her nose ring. That tiny, shimmering ring. We enjoyed some easy banter and
concluded that she indeed needed to keep her braid, I was happy to exchange as part of her bride price the mating rights to our first born daughter. A girl child could do much worse in a mate than the son of an Ubar. However, if he had chosen to require her shaved bald it would not have diminished her worth in my eyes. Hair grows back.

Shaking Earth and Thundering Bosk

::He was curious, given the massive shaking of the earth that had happened the night before, so Teng went seeking a yearkeeper. He asked questions about past migrations, and the severe conditions of this one. There was little the Elder could share with the young Commander, so he wished him a safe day and was off. During his patrols he pondered the events of the night before. He'd learned much from Ayguili and the herdsmen as they worked together to bring the bosk safely back behind the wagons. He was proud of the way his men worked together as a team, both in stopping the stampeding bosk and in the wagon to wagon search afterward. Many concerns etched his face, for Cana, for the beasts in their care, for the People. He'd give his all to ensure the tribe arrived safely in the northern pastures. With much intensity he went about his daily scouting, then as darkness again began to fall on the plains he headed for the central fires.::

Winters March

::Each day as his Or took their places, he talked with each man about his wagons, his family, his personal livestock. Teng intended to assist each as he could, so that they could withstand the rigors of the march. Saddened by the news that the herds continued to struggle, hoping that the feed they took from beneath the snow would help them survive the migration. The larl tracks they had spotted earlier in the day showed growing attention in the wagons. Rain, wind, snow, ice, Turians, now larls, the Sky seemed to be testing the Tribe in a great way on this march. He pondered this for an ahn, coming to the conclusion that they would emerge from these trials stronger and bound more tightly together than ever. What did not kill them could only make them stronger::

Blood Red

::as his Or scouted that day his mind was on the coming raid, he'd seen the tracks indicating Turians on the move, a spit to the side as he harbored an inner hatred for the dwellers of that city.....nothing would please him more than to see the grass watered with the red of their blood.....another more pleasing thought occupied his mind, the red kaiila that had come to him as a gift, with Ba'atar's blessing he would give the beast to Silken, in replacement of that oddly circling beast.....his men, his body, his heart prepared to raid, Teng rode back toward the wagons::

A tale of Tribe and family....

It all started with two kaiila, gifts from his Aunt Inanna. The deep red beast would be perfect for the woman Silken, who was in need of a new set of legs beneath her. The blue/black calf perhaps would make good part of the price he needed to pay for an object of his desire. Teng was startled from these thoughts by a great hubbub, apparently his aunt was not welcome as they were on migration. All the facts and attitude that flowed were none of his concern. One primary question was in the young Commanders mind, could he keep the beasts to gift to other tribe members, or did they flow to the tribal herds. He very much wanted to do the right thing. Kam had given him new orders, adding his Or to the scouting detail. Teng was learning much about the workings of tribe, and was happy to be home. One thing bothered him as his eyes closed for sleep, the haunted expression in his father's eyes as he said Tribe Above All.

On the move.

The wagons had been moving for some days now. Teng and his men rode the herds to ensure their safe arrival. Long days in the saddle were wearing, but he did not simply collapse into his furs at night. The talk around the fires was enlightning to the ways of the Tribe, and he drank in the substance that was his life. The conversation with the women was calming, and eased the bone weary edges that were bound to appear after days in the saddle. The drums announced that Kaeli had been made tribe, he wondered if another was soon to follow. With those thoughts darting through his mind he took to his furs for the short nights sleep.

Scarred

::he'd been purified by a ritual bath, then presented himself to the wagon of the Scar Clan, his father watched as his Courage and Command scars were set deftly by Ayguili, as much as the blade cut his skin, the song of the Tribe was further etched on his heart, it would be some days before his scarring was complete, his thanks to the Sky had been offered in advance, he was certain he would come through his scarring stronger than he went in::

Earning a name.

::He had completed his assigned tasks, setting himself on his way to being known as a Kassar killer in the process. He answered the Ubar's questions honestly, not wavering on the attributes of Tribe that coursed through his blood. At the Ubar's approval his father rose, announcing his name to Sky and Tribe alike. Tengfei Tetsuo, it's meaning clear thinking, high soaring iron man. The many years it had taken to return faded away as though they had never existed, the Warrior was home. The Ubar had surprised him with a command, an Or to lead. His life pointed forward now, no longer did he feel as though he was standing in one place. Greatly anticipated was his first migration as a Warrior.::