Ashes

The Camp

I gather the few things I have with me. My bow, journal, cloak, sword and knife. I head outside and am greeted by the man who declared he had some place better than this.

I still don't trust him, I don't think I ever will. But if he really has a safe place, I need to take this chance to have a home again.

I keep one hand firmly placed on my sheathed knife in case he tries any funny business on the way there. Ryu stays between me and him the entire time we walk.

"How long have you been out here?" Iorek asks.

I ignore him and keep my eyes forward.

"Are you an outsider?"

I don't respond to that question either. He goes quiet for a few minutes.

"How old are you?".

I sigh, "I'm 17, about to turn 18".

He looks at me, surprised I answered him.

"Oh, I'm 19."

I dismiss him and walk faster to get ahead. He matches my pace.

"I have to lead you," he half-smiles, "How else will you know how to get there?"

I glare at him and sigh.

"Hey come on," He says, "what is it gonna take to get you to trust me?".

I stop, "You honestly think I would trust you?" I ask, annoyed.

He shrugs, "Well, you trust me enough to follow me to my camp."

I scoff, "Because I have protection from you" I gesture to my weapons.

He grins, "What if I was leading you into a trap?".

I gesture to Ryu, "Even more protection."

He chuckles, "Alright then."

We walk for the next few minutes in silence. I study the man leading me to a potential home and new tribe. His broad shoulders and muscular frame. His vest is made out of leather, the good kind. The straps used to carry weapons are empty.

Why would he come out here all this way with no weapons?

He has a pair of leather hide pants on and a pair of dark colored leather boots. I exhale in amusement.

He must have a lot of resources to be able to wear that nice of clothing.

I look down at myself. I'm only wearing a brown halter top and a pair of dark colored shorts, both made of hide. My belt is loose and leaning to the side where it holds my sword. The only leather I own are what used to be my mothers boots and my belt. I smirk.

He's obviously more wealthy than I am. His camp is probably so much better than mine ever was. I'm going to look like a fool.

"Have you ever belonged to tribe, or has it just been you and your panther your whole life?"

I'm drawn from my thoughts to see him looking at me curiously. I swallow and look through him, "How much longer is this camp?" I ask, avoiding his question.

"It shouldn't be much longer." He responds.

We come across a small stream, me and Ryu stop for water. Iorek sits on a log by us and waits. "Do you trust him?" I ask quietly to Ryu. He stops drinking for a second to make a sharp huff at me. I look at his gentle face, analyzing his features and sigh. "Yeah, me too." I cup my hands into the clear waters and sip.

~ Iorek ~

I look at the fair skinned girl drinking the river water. Her hair is a mess.

She looks like she's been out here on her own for awhile.

I remember hearing her cries last night.

She sounded like she was having a bad dream of some sort. I knew she'd be on edge so I came alone with no weapons. I wasn't expecting that beast to belong to her.

I think of home and become uneasy.

They won't want that thing around.

I clear my throat and they both look up at me. "We should start heading off again. It's going to get dark soon."

She nods and they both start to walk with me again. The panther keeps a trained eye on me.

I don't know how to tell her he won't be wanted around.

I sigh and she catches my facial expression. This time she's the one to ask a question.

"Is there a problem?"

I look up at her and hesitate.

Better now than never, we will hit camp in a few minutes.

"Well, you see my people don't take too kindly to predators like him.." I say cautiously, "If they see him they will run him off, or possibly even kill him".

Her face goes pale and her teal eyes harden. "Well I'm not leaving him. If he can't come with me then I'm not coming." She says stubbornly.

This is going to be hard.

"Listen, I can talk to my chief and see if he will let him in."

Her face brightens a little.

"But I'm not making promises and he will still be in danger living there."

She huffs and replies with an "I don't care" and moved along.

Oh boy.

We come in view of the camp and I usher her to stay there and hide with Ryu. I move ahead and half jog to the Chiefs hut. I knock on the wooden door and am greeted by an old familiar face. I bow.

"Owaki, I have something I need to discuss with you."

He smiles and bows back, "What is it my child?"

"I found that young girl just outside camp I told you about."

He smiles again, "Good, is she safe?"

"Yes, but-" He cuts me off with a wave of his hand.

"Then there is nothing to discuss"

He turns to close the door and I stop it with my foot. "I'm sorry, my chief." I quickly apologize for the rude gesture but he seems to see the trouble in my eyes. "She has a panther with her" I blurt out.

He doesn't seem to be phased by the information. "If she has survived with a panther at her side, I don't seem to see a problem with it staying here."

"What about the others? They will freak!" He waves his hand at me again. "No need to fear. I'll come with you to bring her in." We walk back to the entrance and I see Serene hiding right where I left her.