Adahy

I was raised by abandonment. I was abnormal so they left me alone. While the tribe worked to supply the daily needs to their members. I stood on the side reaping help from no one. The chieftain was the closest thing I had to a father figure. But, the most he's ever done was give me some guiding words and sometimes some comfort. The Sarravin Tribe acted much like the the knife I used to sharpen my fishing spear. I was provided with no shelter, no food, no tools to protect myself. But, through this abandonment my skill set was sharpened. I learned how to build my own shelter, provide my own food, and make my own tools.

I became strong but, they still wanted to leave me by the river when the tribe begins the move to their next destination. The scratches along side my arm itched while the angry wolf bite ached along my collarbone. It would take a few more hours and a meal to completely heal them. The chieftain sat with his legs crossed looming over the hot stones. The stones emitted a flickering light that cascaded across his face. With his dark gray braid hanging over his shoulder and unmoving scowl he appeared to be made of stone.

"Adahy" said the Chieftain once he noticed my presence "please sit."

He waited patiently before he began "I believe I have two stories to tell."

My fingers trailed along the dirt ground I knew what was coming.

"Why the stories?"

He reached forward stilling my hand. For the very first time when looking at me he had a soft expression.

"I know you won't believe me but, I see you like a son."

I yanked my hand out of his. The Chieftain spent most his time taking care of the tribe. He had little time to spare on a creature such as me.His shoulders dropped as he fold his hands in his lap and stared into the fire.

"I believe these stories will help you understand more" he said "I believe at the time her name was Sarah Jane."

"Sarah Jane?" I asked.

"Yes. She was the first chieftain of the Sarravin Tribe. She was a very spiritual leader and very desperate. She gathered the lone wolves together with one purpose in mind."

"Purpose?"

"Her goal was to protect Rulen whom she described as the guiding light in the dark. With out him when chaos begins there will be no way for Waylo to lead us out. For even he needs a lit path to follow."

"The gods. She believed in the gods? Believed they walked the world?"

"Yes. And at the time it was only her and a vampire calling himself Grim who believed."

The hot stones crackled and a few embers sparked against the Chieftain's leathers.

"It wasn't much later that she found proof. From then the whole tribe believed with out a doubt that the gods walked Astrial. The realm in which we live."

"Proof, what kind of proof?" I asked.

"It is not known and much is speculated. The only change carved into our tablets is an appearance of a new chieftain. Sarrayel."

"That's a nice histo—"

"I'm not finished." He said. There was a small moment of pause where his braid slid off his shoulder.

"Together the tribe worked to protect Rulen but, in the end they failed. They were betrayed. Attackers they described as the 'soul-less' emerged from amongst and all around them. Many died including the chieftain and many claimed the moon god died that day as well. It is also marked that after the chaos of Twilight's Breach, as we refer to it today, the vampire Grim who was always there by their side had vanished. It is written that they never searched for him."

The hot stones were cooling and the Chieftain's braid swayed as he turned around to gather more stones to toss in the pile.

"What's that got to do with me?" I asked. He handed me a few stones as we both absentmindedly attended to the pit.

"The point is conclusions were drawn and an enemy made but, never confronted. They do not know who attacked them only point fingers. And we continue to do so to this day. I'm sure you've heard others refer to vampires as the soul-less."

The word soul-less reminded me of the nursery rhyme the pups were constantly singing. And what they referred to him as. To his face it was 'omega' but behind his back it was 'half-soul'.

His eyes lingered on my face when I didn't answer. He sighed and leaned forward resting his chin into the palm of his hand.

"This brings us to the next story. The one about your parents."

My fingers dug into the dirt at my sides "I've already heard that one."

The chieftain dropped his hand and leaned back "probably in tone I wouldn't have liked" he sighed. The heat from the stones was beginning to make my skin itch.

"What you probably haven't heard is that she was my sister" he said catching my eye "in fact she was one of two. A set of twins. Both which have left me."

The chieftain sat there staring at his hands. Giving me time to let the information sink in. In front of me was the closest thing I had to family. It was hard news to except when I knew what was coming next.

"This is hard for me. I see you like a son."

My heart clenched when he said it. I wanted to yell out that he's not my dad. But the truth is although he was busy buried in his work as the chieftain. He was always there to give me guidance when I needed it and to help me when I'm sick. He was probably the only reason I was still alive.

"Adahy" he said "the tribe is becoming more aggressive with you. And they will not listen to your words. You were even attacked because one saw you with a spear in close quarters to a child."

"It wasn't pointed at him."

"I know."

"I was teaching him to fish with it."

"I know. And the others find that strange since they hunt as wolves not as man as you do."

"Adahy, they wont accept you" he paused letting his eyes drop to the hot stones "and I as chieftain have to hold the peace."

I felt rooted to the ground, knowing what was to come and unable to avoid it.

"Adahy. I'm telling you to leave."

My heart pounded in my chest I have never known any other place but here.

"I have found you a pack."

Those were vastly different from a tribe.

"And while you are no longer part of this tribe. If you ask for your father he will lend you a hand."

"You're not my—"

"A chieftain has to put the tribe first. But a father can put his child first." Said the chieftain. I went to argue with him but I saw the exhaustion in his eyes. One can only do so much. And he took care of me when no one else would.