Word of mouth in Solarisclan spread ike wildfire. What Maware and Kazuki witnessed- a sign from the goddess herself. The mighty sun goddess who forecast a disastrous event, and the whole clan heard news and rumors of this. Yomi had to speak up about it, that was essential. Although, however much she wanted to, it was sundown. A clan meeting at that time of night would only result in the clan having suspicions that the sun goddess wasn't present to hear the decisions made by the clan leader, and that happened to be a tradition that Yomi was not all so enthusiastic to break.
The assembly started as soon as the sun could be seen. It wasn't necessary for Yomi to call upon everyone, since majority had woken up and wandered over, anyways. But Yomi refused to not make an official summon from atop the tree stumps on which she stood on.
"Those who are able, a clan assembly is in order." Yomi's voice echoed throughout the entire Solarisclan camp. For the most part, clan members had just awoken from their slumber, though got up and were already there beneath Yomi, since the meeting was so expected.
The clan was restless, and after a moment of standing above them, listening in quiet, Yomi hissed, "Silence!" A second later, the clan members had done just that.
Yomi started, taking a deep breath, "As rumors have it, yes, our sun goddess has provided a sign for us all." Talking grew again, and Yomi flashed a glare that would cease all conversation; she gave a glare that could lock and freeze any one of them in place if she so dared to look directly into the eyes of her prey.
"Some of you might be thinking that our goddess could have been playing some sort of prank on us, since that is in fact her nature to do so." A short second of silence to check that she still retained attention, "If our goddess had wanted to prank us, she would have had fun in destroying an entire section of our forest, not just one tree." Her eyes widened, "Yes, she could be fooling us still, right? A clever trick? The smoke in the shape of a skull ought to do it. If she really just wanted some fun, she could have messed with us just like that." Yomi smirked, and shook her head, "Not only had that happened, but during my last meeting with DaiFuyu, the Lunarisclan leader, she was acting quite strange on our territory when discussing the plans for the festival. As it happens to turn out, she carries an orb around with her. On our territory specifically, it had turned red, and she was startled by it, leaving as soon as the opportunity arose for her to do."
War was spoken of left and right. Yomi no longer had focus, though regained it only a moment later. "Quiet down!" She grit her teeth, "This is no time to be thinking of war. If anything, it could mean a death in their very own clan of significance to us. Even if it is a sign for one of our own clanmates, a sign has been given. That's a chance to change the future for our benefit and seize the moment of boosting up our chances of survival, no matter who these signs are pointing towards."
Yomi held her head high, disregarding her real height, "I declare that we best prepare ourselves for anything that could happen. Aside from my Deputy and myself, there will now be a Collector, for the swampland, a Sign Interpreter, and a head of class for everyone we have. Trainees will be assigned Sensei's soon enough, and we will have to keep on our toes from here on out. No more relaxing- ever since the treaty was enacted, that's all this clan has ever done." Word of disbelief shared around, Yomi tried to conclude her lasting conference quickly, "Understand me this does not mean war. We're not planning for it, and Lunarisclan isn't, either." With a huff, she finished. Although Yomi found it idiotic to linger around the area any longer when there were roles to be appointed, trainees to be assigned- Yomi stayed to watch the general reaction of her clan. It was a lot they had to take in during the demonstration, and Yomi couldn't help but try to show a tough face, in case anyone had decided to question her actions. She knew that she didn't want a war, and she was hoping that everything wouldn't end in death, as all was predicted.
The morning was buzzing with anxiety, people running around, all gathering in the meeting are for the important announcement their leader was going to make. There had been rumors last night about what the meeting was about, many saying it was about a sign of death and war given out by the goddess. That was all everyone was talking about last night, and Joseph was getting sick of people being scared or thanking the goddess for this sign. How could we know that this was a sign given by the goddess, maybe this all due to a drunken hunter and a big fan that created the fire and the skull shaped smoke.
He was in the middle of eating his breakfast, but as a member of Solarisclan it was his duty to attend the meeting and know the truth about what this commotion was all about. He stood a couple of meters away from the center with a bunch of clan members all pushing and shoving infront of him to get a better view of their leader, even though we were here to listen to the leader, not look at her. She quickly began explaining the whole situation and everyone began assuming the worst. Since Joseph did not like the goddess he was mostly unfazed about this being a sign from her, a friend of his standing by his side asked for his opinion. "It's not unusual for signs to be misinterpreted. If it was something really important she could have just shown up and tell us. But our goddess is known for making things difficult for us." He said looking down, having glimpses of past heat waves and difficult situations all brought by their so called goddess.
"The goddess isn't gonna do anything to help us. We should just do as our leader says and prepare for anything. If there's one thing I know about death is that it comes whenever the hell it fells like it." He said hoping that this so called sign was really just made by a drunken fool who started a forest fire. "But what about the Lunarisclan leader who also had a sign, do you think someone will die in Lunarisclan?" His friend asked. "I don't know, people die every day; it doesn't matter if there's a sign or not." That when Joseph got an idea, a way to help the Solarisclans and Lunarisclans relations, and possibly prevent this so called ominous sign.
He raised above everyone in the assembly so the leader would know where his voice was coming from. With the crowd all talking amongst themselves it would be hard for the leader to hear him so he had to raise his voice more than usual. "Leader, shouldn't we try to lend the Lunarisclan a hand by teaching them our ways of practicing medicine and providing them with herbs, to help them prevent any death that may come from this sign." The crowd immediately went from loud to silence as they listened to Joseph ridiculous idea.
"Are you an idiot!?!?! You would give out our secrets to the enemy?!?!" A man screamed. "That traitorous talk!!" Another woman yelled. Even though they were at peace it didn't mean that all Solarisclan members liked Lunarisclan so it was to be expected that they would not agree to the idea at the moment.
"If we can't start reasonable communications and a fair trade system with Lunarisclan then we're not taking full advantage of what this peace treaty means!" Joseph retaliated. "Wouldn't you agree Leader?"
[attr="class","boxythingy"]Hatsuya woke up early in the morning from a commotion, several footsteps could be heard from outside her sleeping area. She yawned and stretched, wondering what the fuss was all about. A Solarisclan member quickly fumbled inside her sleeping tent with wide eyes, "Hey! Aren't you coming?!" Hatsuya frowned, why would she wake up at such an early hour. Did something happen?
"Why? What's all this commotion about?" Hatsuya yawned before a hand grasped onto her wrist, dragging her outside and shocking her into full consciousness.
"Hurry hurry!" The woman chirped, "We must meet the leader! Apparently there's been a sign with the Deputy and one of our hunters."
Hatsuya frowned, wasn't the goddess known for playing tricks? The apprentice had only been in this clan for a few years but she already knew that the goddess always sent warnings or signs just for fun. Why was everyone making a fuss out of it if this happened on more than one occassion? What made this sign any different?
Hatsuya noticed her sensei sitting on the side, his eyes staring blankly at his leader and commotion. He looked like he just wanted to go back to his sleeping quarters and pass out. "Hey Taku-kun!" Hatsu chirped, excitedly. Her sensei had been sleeping for over a week, she hadn't seen his conscious self since last spring, at least it felt that way.
Hatsuya readily took her spot next to Takuto and stared ahead. She heard Joseph's suggestion and practically face planted. Was he an idiot?! Hatsu had nothing with the other clan, on the contrary, she liked a particular mender in that other clan. However, Solarisclan was known for being extremely hostile, such a suggestion could only bring more chaos into this scenario.
Hatsu decided to step in, she wouldn't try and defend the other clan but she would offer her suggestion with a slight hint of something, if anyone picked it up, she didn't care.
"I don't think our methods of medicine are different." Hatsuya suggested, walking towards a rock on which she stood up. "We have the same methods of practice, they just have less medicine than we do. The same as we don't have that more ores, or at least it's dangerous to get some, while the other clan acquires them at a much faster and safer rate."
She watched as several clan members turned towards her, she felt pressure but continued on, "We already provide them with herbs anyway, just as they provide us with materials and ores. I say the leaders talk about this, maybe have a meeting and exchange information on what could happen and how to prevent the worst scenario possible."
Hatsuya stared at Joseph and urged him to stay quiet, she knew no matter what he said, this would turn violent. He'd been in this clan a lot longer than she had, and Hatsu knew to approach this situation with care.
"Joseph," Hatsu directly addressed him, "We already have a reasonable communication system and a fair trade system. The two clans trade every half moon. What we need to do is utilize these resources and figure out a plan."
Hatsuya mentally gulped at her next words, "Also..." She trailed, trying to find a way to say the next words with caution, "I believe the Lunarisclan leader's orbs glowed red on OUR lands. The sign appeared on OUR land. I don't believe Lunarisclan is affected by this... I think something bad is going to happen in OUR clan..."
Hatsu slowed and stepped down from the rock and resumed her position next to Takuto. "Whether this affects the two clan's future or not is a different story..." She muttered, low enough for only Takuto to hear. This meeting was causing her to grow grey hairs.
Takuto felt just about ready to pass out by the time the meeting had begun. However, as he had been awake just prior to the start of it, and he had an obligation to take part in listening to what Yomi had to go speak about. He woke up before his time to the previous night, for no reason at all. Strange enough, he heard the commotion that night and refused immediate sleep again until afterwards.
Although his eyes drooped and bags were clearly evident as he struggled to keep his head up, sanity was there, however small. Focus was somewhat there, however much it looked opposite.
When Hatsu approached him, he was barely able to say anything to her. "Morning..." Was all he could muster into words, though he would have liked to say more than just that. As Hatsu took her place next to him, he partly turned his head to her, hearing an anonymous comment from the crowd and seeing an instant reaction from her. Oh goddess, what did whoever just say to get her so fired up. Takuto silently sighed, shaking his head as he listened to her proposal.
Up until then, he had only faintly listened into the debate about the clan sign, but once his apprentice had gotten involved, he took every bit of his current energy fully attempting to comprehend her words. He could admit, her statements made sense. Although he couldn't say that he would agree with every point she had brought up and mentioned. She may not have been in clan as long as the majority, but her voice would still be heard, he figured.
As Hatsu returned to her place beside him, he grumbled back to her after her own statement, "The point that the Lunarisclan leader was freaking out over the sign may have something to do with the both of us. What else besides the future could we be talking about here? The previous war that you weren't here and probably have very little knowledge about?" He didn't mean to be harsh, but it sure seemed to come out that way. There was no way for Takuto to stand up or give his opinion with what he had now. Thankfully, Hatsu had already said most of what he wanted to say, anyways. Now if only the meeting would wrap to a close so that he could get some rest and shut-eye.
Long before sunrise, whereas the moon still reined over the blackened sky, Yuuka found herself sitting awake staring off into the nothingness at the top of her tent. It wasn't intentional; she didn't mean to be awake, she just was. Though she tried her best to fall back asleep once again, her attempt proved useless as she decided to finally stand up from her bed and go on a night time stroll around the territory. That might settle the unprovoked restlessness she had swelled up inside her mind, and would use up all the energy she had and result in sleep, after.
Upon exiting the tent, she found the direction of the large forest to welcome her, and she realization of the notion to tell someone where she was headed off to never struck her. Too late for that, by the time she had entered the forest itself and found herself strayed from the legit path leading in and out, known distinctly by Solarisclan members.
Surely it must have been hours of walking all around Solarisclan territory, going on aimlessly until exhaustion started to set in. When Yuuka finally felt like she could sleep again, Yuuka set back and turned around her tracks.
Suddenly, a gust of wind rattled and shook the forest trees around her, sending her long black hair flying and for a moment, blinding her. Leaves flew and bushes rumbled as life stirred and chaos advanced for all but a moment.
When all had stilled, a large solid black bird sat atop Yuuka's shoulder. Much larger than a crow could be, and far different than a raven. The mystery bird looked forward as Yuuka studied it carefully.
In a daze or just in wonder, she reached out to touch its feathers, staring into its red-orange wild eyes that burned like flames. Upon touch, the bird sharply turned its face to her, fixating its eyes to her own. They were all too captivating for Yuuka to look away; such a strange bird she had met.
After mumbling something inaudible, she spoke a bit louder to say, "Blitz." No reaction from the bird, she continued breezing across its feathers with her hand. "I'm Yuuki. Nice to see you." A cross between a first meeting and seeing someone again, though the bird really was unfamiliar to her. She sighed, casting her gaze away from her locked position into the leaving darkness of the morning and forest surrounding the two. Yuuka had no reason to bring the bird back to camp, but she strangely accepted the creature and its company to return back with her.
She walked back to camp with Blitz on her shoulder, yawning as her state of tiredness increased. When she had finally made her way back to camp, Yuuka wanted nothing but to enter back into her tent and fall asleep. However, that wasn't what Blitz had in mind as it tugged at her hair with a talon and pecked at her head with its beak. She winced, turning her head to see Blitz motioning to walk over and join the clan meeting. Against her will, she sighed and did so, not caring if it was just another few minutes of sleep she was missing.
Entering the crowd of people there for the meeting, she must have looked mad- completely crazy. Insane to be keeping such a large bird on her shoulder when birds were a source of food, sometimes. How could such a large bird stay on her shoulder with no effort on her part to support it, anyways. All things considered, she was far back in the crowd, and not all too many eyes decided to focus on the member with a bird on her shoulder when there was more important things to discuss. Nonetheless, there were still quite the number of weird stares towards her direction. She may have been the strange current attention at the time, but she was in fact overlooked. Unnoticed by the true issue at hand, and in Yuuka's mind, that was the acceptance of her new friend and clanmate, Blitz.
