Rage and Resolution
Posted on December 31st, 2012 by Kuari

The strangers were there, in the distance.

Stho’Ka could feel the anger building, recognition of the event when they had last confronted each other superceding her companion Reth’s recent teaching that they were in fact benign with good intentions of helping her people. She locked one eye to the striding Vrissk pacing her. What if this male, who was only recently a stranger himself, was confused, perhaps addled by the Fire? Could he have seen events and absorbed what he saw through the eyes of a whelp, one who is known for seeing what it wants to see?

She didn’t want to fight them either, of course, not when there was so much more to focus on. Vrissk no longer lived off their land, were no longer a part of it, just as the land had deserted them and no longer was a part of them. Then again, what could they focus on? There was no way to help themselves. Stho’Ka did not know what to do, couldn’t even speak to her tribe to ask the Elders what to do. It was frustrating, which fueled her anger, and somehow this was all that was left to sustain her, a cycle going on and on, for what already felt like an eternity.

So is that what caused her to lash out towards the strangers? Had she misplaced her rage?

Reth could still be mistaken. Stho’Ka had been taught to be suspicious of anyone or anything that had not proven itself, for the protection of the tribe. These strangers could have attacked, then come to pick her people off while they were weak.

Slowing her pace, Stho’Ka approached, Reth at her side. She could see the strange weapons, the ones that had thrown powerful rays of light. But they were waiting and not poised for attack. It could be a diversion tactic, meant to drop her of her guard. Anger boiled within her, but also fear. It was difficult to concentrate, her body threatening to decide for her at the slightest increase in threat.

Could she go through with this, fulfill the most important mission of her life as a scout and bring help to her tribe? Was she on the cliff’s edge, her past behind her, with a completely new adventure awaiting in her imminent future that would change her life forever? Or had her life ended with the Fire, all of her better days behind with nothing left but to be stomped into the barren cracked ground, her curiosity and hope leading her to be bettered by her enemy?

Stho’Ka had to push forward. As fearful as she was, she had to try.

.o^O^o. ~ .o^O^o. ~ .o^O^o.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!! Resolve to do what only you can do this year.