Date: January 20, 1999
Place: Roots of the Great Oak - Forest
Cast: Dark-Eyes, Many Shadows, Morning-Mist, Scarlet-Mane
Scene: Strife among the Sylvans -- will they join the war, or no? Dark-Eyes of the Apisachi seems determined to lend his efforts to stopping the war, but Many Shadows, Sachem of the Ettowealona, is more cautious.

Roots of the Great Oak - Forest:
      The helter-skelter tangle of oaken tendrils twist here and there like a thing alive... and indeed they are. The massive root system of this magnificent forest titan stretches easily as wide as a large house. Indeed, the might of the Great Oak seems sufficient to have caught the attention of Mother Earth herself, as the soft soil has risen in a gently sloping rise beneath the roots of this tree. The roots themselves provide an excellent hiding place for almost any purpose, including those who just want to watch the comings and goings of the glen.

Many Shadows turns slowly to make sure the area is vacant, then moves to a spot to sit, gesturing for the other sachem to join her.

Dark-Eyes sits, though he looks much less than comfortable. Perhaps it is the words he is planning to speak. "The actions of the Varati have forced my hand. The Apisachi are going to war. We aid the Empyreans, but only in stopping this war. I plan to help repel the Varati 'til this war is at an end. If we do not stand with the Empyreans and let them be destroyed, then we will be next for the consuming fire that has already done enough damage to the Grandmother. You once pledged your aid to my tribe. I need it now more than ever, will you help me?"

Many Shadows' expression hardens. "What has triggered this decision on your part, Sachem?" She speaks in terse formal tones, her expression giving away nothing as yet.

Dark-Eyes says "I have tried to remain neutral and not let the Sylvans get dragged into this, but my conscience could not let me stand idle any longer. The Varati burn the lands they conquer. They have no care of making things better. They conquer for the sake of conquering. I have been offered huge tracts of land to aid them in the efforts -- the Empyre offered us nothing. I could choose to join either side, or remain neutral, but my heart and the earth mother demand that I stop the destruction of the earth mother. Now."

The female's fingers tighten on her staff in a habitual gesture that makes the wood alter and rearrange itself according to her grip. The fingers are forced straight one by one and slide up and down the indentations to restore the smoothness. Her voice is tight as she speaks. "And you prefer Empyreans, the ones who, it is said, consider us no more than barbarians -- ones who do not negotiate, do not think us worthy of asking? Ones who think only themselves fit to rule, above us, above all, to the Varati who seek to bribe you? You mean Empyreans held back the rains and the wind, the storms that can tear down vast tracts of the forest as easily as the fires burn them?" Many Shadows adds before you have time to properly reply. "Who offers you vast tracts, and why? And from whom do they take the lands that they offer you?

Dark-Eyes shakes his head, "The Empyreans have always been allied to the Sylvans. We have stayed idle long enough. The Empyreans want one thing, and that is to be left to die peacefully. They are a dying race, one no longer able to rule, and we can either let them be burned or help them. I have made my oath." He holds up his bandaged hand. "Will you help me help them? The Varati offered me land, I chose not to take it. The Empyre offer me only truths and an end to the war."

Many Shadows' glance focuses on the hand. "Dying? Do they tell you that or do you think that?" The soft tones come on the heels of Dark-Eyes' statement, "And what truths do they offer you?" It would seem the female Sachem is as suspicious of one race as the other.

Dark-Eyes nods, "They are at a decline, and while they may not be dying, their current mating habits will probably breed them out of existence in a few generations, but none of that matters to me. What I am concerned with is the Earth Mother, and I will not stand by and let her be destroyed by Varati flames any longer."

Many Shadows leans back and lays the staff across her lap, hands resting on her knees as she continues to speak. "Tell me of your injury. And of what you have witnessed to make you decide such a thing." She does not commit while she tries to gather facts and separate from anger and feelings.

Dark-Eyes shakes his head. "If you could only see the fires and destruction, huge tracts of farmland and forests all burned to the ground in their wake. It's horrible. This is part of an oath." A Sylvan blood oath, very serious stuff.

Many Shadows leans forward slightly and murmurs, "Why not let them kill each other off a while longer, reduce their numbers. Some fire Mother earth can recover from, and with fewer to feed, the farmlands can be claimed by new forest." The neutral tones of the wording do not indicate if she supports the option or if she is simply testing resolve of the male facing her.

Dark-Eyes slams his hand down in front of him. "No! I have sat idle long enough." He obviously means this. "The Apisachi will be moving. You sit idle longer while the Earth Mother is trampled, I will not." He stands, a small smear of blood left where his hand slammed down.

Morning-Mist steps from beneath the shadowed confines of a particularly thick root. The fox-tailed graisha climbs up from down below to investigate the noises that have touched her ears. She is without the now-standard weapons, but what reason could there be to carry them inside the Oak itself?

Dark-Eyes stands over the Ettowealona Sachem, his look dark, his voice angry, obviously very moved by something. His right hand is bandaged, and no weapons are visible on him, but his thicker clothing probably marks him as from a more northern tribe.

Many Shadows' whole attention is focused on the male sachem before her, to the exclusion of all else. Her voice changes pitch, not matching Dark-Eyes volume, but projected in a way which is effective enough to counter it. "Sit down. You came to me asking help in waging war against the Varati. We are here to talk, not to engage in a yelling match with each other. I will not be browbeaten, nor intimidated by you, Sachem. If the Sylvans are to work together, then control yourself. This is my tribe and you are here as my peer. I have neither declined nor supported your request as yet, and speak with you to gauge one on who so much rests, and the events which have pushed you along this course of action." Unusual strength of words from a female, but then, perhaps not so unusual, after all, for one whom is Sachem. She pauses. "Sit." She still gives no impression of support or rejection of his request; this canny Sachem preferring to gather all the facts before she chooses to commit her vulnerable tribe to a risky path.

Dark-Eyes clamps his hands into fists. "Many Shadow... you trusted me once, trust me now... please. The Apisachi are committed, and I do not have time to sit around. Either go see the destruction for yourself or trust my words, we must act. If you hold the Earth Mother as sacred, you will help me."

Morning-Mist fully climbs out of the hole and stands near the entrance to the lower areas of the tree. She clasps her hands behind her back and listens without drawing attention. If one were to look, they would notice a thoughtful expression on her face and a slowly-growing, mischievous smile.

Dark-Eyes seems truly unconcerned for the Empyreans -- he is more worried about what the Varati are doing to the land.

Many Shadows requests again, in a kinder, gentler tone, "Sit, there is time for this. There must be." She is firm in her wording. "I am trusted by my tribe to guide them as best I can, and I shall do so. I am cautious in my commitments, but once a path is chosen, am not half-hearted in what is done. That, you must respect." The voice does not plead nor condescend, only speak truthfully. "Do not demand and run as one would if a child -- respect me enough to give me time to think and assemble thoughts." She catches a flicker of motion out the tail of her eye and gestures to the graisha. "Chookma, daughter. Perhaps you best hear this, as it affects how we must act toward some of your friends."

Dark-Eyes sighs and remains standing, "I can't sit, but will stay for a time."

Morning-Mist nods to her mother and to Dark-Eyes, that smile still present. She steps closer to the pair and lets them fully discuss the problem before offering a solution. Not one used to keeping her opinion in, she shifts about nervously.

From underneath the roots, Scarlet-Mane softly crouches in, seeming surprised at the gathering here. She hesitates, looking from one to the other, the stranger receiving a rather thorough study. "Chookma, Many Shadows, Red-Tail," she greets.

Dark-Eyes looks at the small gathering but decides that the Sachem will know if she needs to ask any of the others to leave.

Many Shadows speaks softly, "Can't? Your hand is not your only injury?" She rises slowly and props her staff against her shoulder, moving so she is standing adjacent to the other Sachem. Voices carry through the hollow area around the root system, rising and ebbing with thick emotions and strain of the topic. She nods briefly to the huntress joining the group, not seeming to object to her presence. She glances toward the two younger females of her tribe for a long moment, then speaks. "Have you any information which may affect us should we choose to join Dark-Eyes," she nods toward the male sachem, identifying him, "and his tribe in warring against the Varati?"

Dark-Eyes clears his throat with one last thing to say, "I would reiterate that we are not warring against the Varati. We are merely ending this war. Once the Varati have stopped the aggression, our need to help the Empyre ends. We will not take the war into Varati lands."

Having been given permission to speak, Morning-Mist nods quickly. "Varati woman, Rabi, want come see Many Shadows. Think should tell Rabi to tell Varati to stop whatever do make Apisachi mad. But if that no work, then have other idea. Is dangerous, but no more dangerous than fight Varati." She looks between the two Sachems. "Want hear idea?"

Dark-Eyes nods, "I will listen, but I have made my pact. The Apisachi will aid the Empyre in stopping the Varati. That does not necessarily mean through force."

Many Shadows nods once to indicate she is listening.

Scarlet-Mane about chokes at the question and the identity of the man as she rises to stand, yet keeping her ground, one of the roots all but brushing her head. Her demeanor becomes more hostile, but it is only directed against the male Sachem. It is to Many Shadows she answers, even though her eyes do not leave Dark-Eyes, "To ask to join them in this is almost as if you are asking us to join their tribe, Sachem. I say no. They always pride themselves they are better -- let them work this out alone."

Dark-Eyes turns his gaze on Scarlet-Mane, frowning at first. "The Apisachi make no claim of being better than the Ettowealona, only different in our views. You have been misled if you were told otherwise. To not aid us is to let the Earth Mother down. To let the Varati continue this destruction is paramount to destroying the earth yourself. Do you want that on your head?"

Morning-Mist grins widely. "Ettowealona help Apisachi, but in different way. When Apisachi start fight Varati, then Ettowealona will tell Varati that think Apisachi do wrong and will stop self. Varati will be happy let someone else stop, because need as many people as can get to fight Empyrean. Ettowealona will do nothing really, except send some tribe people away for time so look like hunt for Apisachi. By time Varati realize Ettowealona no really help, then Apisachi will have hurt Varati bad. If fight still continue, then Ettowealona will really help fight. Should make fight much easier because of what do before." A slight frown crosses her face. "Hope make sense."

Morning-Mist quickly adds. "And if send some Ettowealona to help now, then Varati will have no idea no is really part of Apisachi when fight. Stone-walker no have any idea how many people and who is part of which tribe."

Dark-Eyes considers Morning-Mist's words, "That might work. But the first thing I plan to do is warn the Varati -- end it now and the Sylvans will not get involved."

Morning-Mist nods in understanding. "Then why not be here when Varati woman, Rabi, come?"

Many Shadows nods slowly, musing about Red-Tail's comments. "Especially since some members leave one tribe and join another or visit back and forth between relatives and friends." She thinks a moment. "The way of the fox, sly, seeming to move in one direction but to really be doing something else." She stops a moment, giving a brief nod. "Yes, I have a request for a meeting with the female, Rabi, who wishes bring one unknown to me with her. "

Dark-Eyes says "I have my own contacts with the Varati, but if we stood united in this wish, for the war to end, then maybe we could help to convince them."

A soft growl escapes Scarlet-Mane's throat at the man's response, now staring at him in an openly hostile manner. It is only with half an ear that she listens to Red-Tail's response. "We have no part in this to play, 'sachem.' If you wish to spill Sylvan blood in a war that is not ours, be free to do so. You seem to have little faith in the Great Mother herself. She will make them pay for what they are doing..." Her hands have turned to tight fists, and it seems only with a lot of effort that she stays still.

Morning-Mist turns around to face Scarlet-Mane and just stares at her without expression. Not a single movement or anything, much like a statue.

Dark-Eyes keeps glancing back toward Scarlet-Mane, trying to figure out why someone he once called a friend seems so bitter toward him and his tribe. He responds to her in slow, even tones, "I know not what ill will you hold for me or my tribe, Inkana, but the Great Mother does not mystically turn back flames and protect the forests from invaders. Sylvans do. You can choose to help us, or you can choose to stay out of the way."

Many Shadows makes a brief, reassuring gesture toward Scarlet-Mane. "We are approaching a point in which the war comes to us, not us to the war, so must decide if we are to retreat and leave our homes, or stand. The war does not end quickly, but continues, and we feel the waves of it lapping round our feet, rising. This I have known since Faisal requested troop passage, and since we have had to deal with refugees headed toward the city, lost, hungry, angry, striking out at us in fear."

Scarlet-Mane snorts at Dark-Eyes, but decides to hold her tongue, for now at least. Still, her expression does not soften, nor does she relax, standing like a spring about to break.

Dark-Eyes holds a hand up to Many Shadows, requesting a moment. He walks over to stand in front of Scarlet-Mane. "You wish to strike me. Do so. Sylvans are creatures of action and of power. Don't hold back what you want to do."

Morning-Mist blinks and watches Dark-Eyes and the other red-headed Sylvan. She still moves very little but seems a bit more relaxed.

While the Apisachi approaches, the hunter glances at the Sachem and her daughter. A long moment passes before she returns her eyes to the male sachem. Slowly, almost casually, even though her tight lips speak of effort, Scarlet-Mane folds her arms, trying to make it look like an offending gesture. Again, she holds her tongue, challenging the man with a look only.

Dark-Eyes says, "I still call you friend, and have never attacked you or your tribe. Yet you seem to hold some ill will towards me. Why? Our goals seemed compatible before. What makes you hate me so now?"

Many Shadows remains silent, a hint of curiosity in her glance. Her expression is neutral and contemplative as if thoughts are spinning on a different level, planning.

A slow, perhaps even sad shake of the head is all the response Scarlet-Mane has for the Apisachi, and even that she manages to turn into a silent disapproval. She takes a small step back; not in fear, but rather meant to emphasize the distance she means to keep from his tribe.

Dark-Eyes takes the half step forward to keep the distance. "If I or my people have wronged you or someone you love, I deserve to know it. How can I prevent whatever wrong we may have done from happening again. if I don't know it exists? Or would you rather stay angry? Are you using your anger? If so, keep it, dwell on it, but don't bring it up when matters of the tribes are concerned. Your hatred should remain your own, at least as long as your reasons do."

Morning-Mist continues to watch neutrally, making no clue evident as to whichever side she thinks has more merit. Perhaps she thinks both do, or perhaps none.

Many Shadows looks toward her daughter and speaks softly in a conversation aside from the exchange between the others. "Red-Tail, You are sure none know our numbers? None of those visiting the city who have been befriended -- not you -- but others, and made slips of tongue which would betray us? Something as innocent as speaking of hunting or cooking and mentioning that two deer will feed the tribe for a few days will indicate our numbers."

A deep breath is meant to help the redheaded hunter relax. It seems to work, her expression becoming one of neutral disinterest. Again, she shakes her head slowly, only to walk to one of the roots and sit on it, cross-legged, while she folds her hands. If Dark-Eyes takes this as a sign the woman refuses to dwell on her anger, fine, that was what it was meant for. If not, she has made her point. Her eyes slowly return to Many Shadows, giving the impression nothing else interests her but to sit and watch.

Dark-Eyes shakes his head, "Fine... let it die, or fester. But don't blame me or my tribe for your anger if you are unwilling to work it out." He turns and strides back to where he stood before.

Morning-Mist looks up at her mother and shakes her head. "No is sure about that," she whispers, "but is sure that Stone-walker no understand Sylvan. And if come and look and see how many is here, no would matter anyway. Just say people are away. No one visit ever see all tribe at one time." After a moment she adds, "And name no is Red-Tail now. Other name choose. Will tell later after this discussion is over."

Many Shadows returns her attention to Dark Eyes. "You said not active battle. You plan the ways we discussed when I visited your tribe not long ago?

Dark-Eyes shakes his head, "My plan for now is to try and talk sense into the Varati, even if I have to go there myself."

Morning-Mist turns and looks up into Dark-Eyes' face while raising to her full height. "Will help if can. Is time Varati and rest of world learn Sylvan will fight back if try walk over. But no so good fight yet, so will try find other way. Fox choose so will now use what fox give most." The graisha doesn't enunciate those items, but most are quite obvious. "If need that, then all need do is ask."

Dark-Eyes nods to the graisha, "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

From her place on the thick root, Scarlet-Mane observes the gathering, unable to keep a disagreeing frown from her face. Idly, she unfolds her legs and lets them dangle in the air. A small knife is unsheathed, along with a piece of smooth stone and a bottle of water. As if she has nothing better to do, she begins sharpening the blade with even, regular strokes, a routine chore for her.

Many Shadows' head dips in a slight nod. "Better if we both listen. Do you wish to be here when the Varati, Rabi comes? She can convey a message. I saw her with Faisal, like they both were close once."

Morning-Mist chuckles and nods. "Yes, close." She pauses for a moment then adds. "Rabi carry Faisal child in arms now. So, yes, is close."

Dark-Eyes hrms, "Send a messenger, I will try to be here. I will also contact the Varati myself."

As Scarlet-Mane keeps herself out of the discussion, the only sound heard from her is the sound of wetted stone on metal. Yet, it sounds louder when the Apisachi speaks than when her own people do.

Many Shadows 's eyebrow raises quizzically. "Oh? Then they are close indeed. Yet why does she seek me, not the male? I remember males generally are the ones who deal with such, and is sending a female an insult?" She questions her daughter briefly, trying to apply bits of what she has learned to the situation.

Morning-Mist shrugs. "No really sure. But think is probably because Faisal is off somewhere fighting Empyrean."

Dark-Eyes looks to Many Shadows. "I should return to my people."

Finally, an approving sound comes out of Scarlet-Mane's corner at Dark-Eyes' last words, yet the sharpening of the knife never ceases.

Many Shadows folds her hands around the staff leaning against her, sniffing lightly. "From when I was in the city, first few days in the area, I got the impression females were not welcome in meddling in affairs of men, such as doing what her messenger indicated would be wished." She looks toward Dark-Eyes. "If you do not return in time for the meeting, what would you like me to tell her on behalf of your tribe?"

Morning-Mist nods to her mother. "Think would be best if ask Rabi about that. Morning-Mist no understand everything about Varati."

Scarlet-Mane looks up with raised brows, eyes resting on the graisha. Apparently, she had still been listening. The stone and knife lay still in her hands, a silent question directed at the one she knows as Red-Tail.

Dark-Eyes says "Simple. End the fighting. We will mediate whatever peace agreement must be made, but the fighting stops. Now."

Many Shadows says, "And reasons are the damage done to the farmlands, forests, earth. What Apisachi consider desecration of at least two gods, Nokomis and Onatha."

"Aye," Scarlet-Mane mimics the word in silence with twisted mouth, her eyes never leaving the graisha though, studying her, a puzzled look on her face.

Dark-Eyes looks over at Scarlet-Mane and frowns but does not say anything. To Many Shadow, "Good day, Sachem..." to Morning-Mist, "Inkana." He turns to leave.

Morning-Mist stares at Scarlet-Mane and her fists clench and unclench. When Dark-Eyes calls her 'Inkana,' she widens her eyes and looks over to him but says nothing..

"I will visit you or send word to you of what occurs, if you are not here, and will inform you of any news we can glean. As far as supporting you, I will think. It is likely we will, but to what extent, I have to decide, and have to gauge my tribe's support to do so. It will not meet with the agreement of all, whatever path we take, so we will simply have to choose what I think best." The words show pragmatic strength. Many Shadows continues, "Whatever happens, we will continue to see that you have supplies as our trade agreement committed us to send to you, and the training of those who can help you will continue."

From Scarlet-Mane's place on the root comes no farewell. One might wonder if she even notices the sachem leave, the puzzled frown as she stares at the graisha growing deeper. Yet, she sits up, a statue of pride, of someone unwilling to give in, no matter what.

Dark-Eyes nods, "Very well Sachem, thank you for your time." He steps out of the area. Outside there is the sound of a muffled cry that ends in a hawk's cry, then it is gone.

FIN  

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