Back To the Future

Zas watched as the Camino Real sept members began to shuffle off in various directions, noting how Hears-the-Song and Red Oath had stopped to talk with one another and how Mocks-the-Night had nearly flown out of the Caern to undoubtedly check on his child and woman.

Snowy Owl looked to the remaining Prodigal Members. Leper-Friend and Jana had begun the trek to find a place to stay for Jana, and Rends-the-Gar had begun to back head to the city of a Nacodoches.

Zas B'ul called out to Rends saying, "Sylvester, I wish to speak with you."

Rends turns to look back at the Philodox as he approaches, noticing a light, and jovial demeanor around his packmate, but detecting a mild crease of worry remain carefully hidden in his face.

As Zas strides forwards he says, "You recall when we first met with the Throat Tearers, how events played out?"

Rends comes to a stop, scratching at his chin as Zas approaches.

"You mean when we very first met 'em and got in a fight? Ya, I remember. They was decent fighters, even if they couldn't strategize much. Why? Plan on goin' off ta meet more of my Tribe?"

Zas shakes his head no. "I will certainly meet more of your kind. Our travels north will probably end in meeting more from your tribe."

He sighs, "No, the reason I ask this is because, when we first encountered them, we ended up in a fight. The situation only resolved itself after you defeated Frost Blood, and even then it didn't really help us cooperate."

Zas wipes a bead of sweat that had begun to run down his face, "Roaring Jack's plan to rescue the Uktena, I fear will not end well, if that is the initial outcome of his first interaction with the Uktena."

He pauses, "I know, that it is the Garou way to have things resolved by fang and Claw, but with as much bad blood that is here already, I'm not certain how far such disagreements will go."

He crosses his arms shrugging his shoulders as he says, "I am just curious as to what your intentions are, and what you plan to do to keep the peace?"

Rends shakes his head.

"Well, see, showin' you know how to use your fangs and claws is how you win the respect of a Get, and me and Frostblood got along just fine. Our packs were able to work together and do somethin' we couldn't have otherwise cuz there was respect both ways; for our fightin' and plannin' and for them bein' more experienced. It was after Frostblood died and Warbreath took over that things started gettin' unfriendly, but I reckon it's hard losin' your Alpha."

He shakes his head, still obviously frustrated by Warbreath's actions but obviously trying to move past it.

"I don't reckon it'll be an issue here though. See, we already know the Nation's stronger than the Pure Tribes. Ain't no point startin' off with a fight as there'd be no honor in it. And not all tribes work the same way anyhow, so I reckon tearin' into each other ain't how a Uketena says howdy, even if it is sometimes how we Get do. We's doin' this for the Pure tribes in the first place. If they's smart they'll take our help, pride be damned. But if they don't want it, and if things is bad enough out there..."

He turns to Zas, curious.

"Well, what if we get out there and the Wyrm's already taken some of their Caerns and spittin' out Banes left and right, but the Uketena refuse our help? What if they try to attack us, thinkin' it's another land grab and they end up defendin' the Wyrm instead? What would you have us do? You's all about keepin' the peace after all. I jest kill shit what needs killin'.

Zas huffs quickly in response as he says, "If things are that bad, It won't matter what I choose to do or say. The Litany is abundantly clear. We fight the Wyrm-we kill it. Any Uktena that are defending the Wyrm, they are aiding it-serving it. They betray Gaia. They will be and must be either cleansed and reminded of their duty, or destroyed."

Zas then clears his throat, "Hopefully, things are not at that point though, and there is still time to prevent the Wyrm from gaining that much of a foothold."

Zas then looks at the ground-half talking to himself half to Rends as he says, "I intend to try and ensure that there are as few misunderstandings as possible by trying to act as a mediator between our pack and any Uktena we meet, to Clearly explain our intention, and try to have both sides see reason."

Zas then looks back up at the Ahroun fear evident on his face as he asks, "Do you think the Wyrm could have really already have begun doing what you suggest?"

Rends stares at Zas for a moment, taking measure of his pack mate.

"I don't know. I grew up out on the border of the Injun Territory, and I know they's desperate in a lot of ways. 'Course, they ain't the only ones willin' to try somethin' stupid to hold onto what they got..."

His eyes flash in anger, but it's quickly gone.

"I don't know what we'll find out there. But somethin's out there, somethin' them Pure ones cain't fight on they own. So it's our duty to go in there and clean up their mess. I don't much care what they think about it so long as they stay out 'a the way, but if they wanna help I won't say no. I'm a warrior, Zas. Intentions and how pissed they is and how bad they got it only really interests me as far as I can use it to kill whoever needs to die. That's why I wanna get this business with the Comanchee done with here in a few days. We need to get back here so we can start scouting up North, see what the situation is. The more we know before Roarin' Jack gets here, the quicker we'll be able to crush the Wyrm and put and end to this."

Zas nods his head at his packmates response, letting his answer resonate before replying, "I think I understand your reasons. What I am hoping you see though is that by finding what the Uktena's mind is, and being aware of the Get heart and mind; it will be important to reaching an agreement. I know you to be a white man whose word is true-a rarity. Your heart serves Gaia, your claws slay her foes. You know war. This is your mind. The Uktena are...different. There minds are elsewhere. They say only what they must, when they must. Understanding this will be vital because if your minds are not in the same place, misunderstanding occurs. Needless war can happen. You seem sure of your reasons, but I ask you to search your heart well, before we meet them. Know where your mind is, where your heart rests. I have a feeling your heart will be tested more than all of us."

Zas drops his hands to his side as he continued, "The meeting of white man and Commanche is a useless thing. The Commanche will not stop being Commanche, and the White man expects this meeting to say they have peace. The Commanche are warriors. Fighters. They do not know peace. Still, we must go-to uphold our word."

Zas pauses to collect his thoughts for a moment before adding, "I am hopeful that my mentor will give us each guidance for our journey ahead. He has much dealings with the Uktena. I urge you to hear him and his words, though you may not like what he says. He is unique and very wise. He has taught me many things."

Rends nods along with Zas, listening closely.

"I'll say one thing for the Commanche: they don't quit. I can respect that. They got a shit deal and kept gettin' worse ones, but they ain't stopped fightin' yet. Maybe if the rest a' the Injuns had their spirit they wouldn't be in such a bad way now."

He starts down the path again, waving for Zas to follow as he leaves the Caern.

"They was some Uketena lived around where I grew up. I only ever ran into them twice I can really remember, and both times they was lots o' killin' to mark the occasion. The last time was right after my whole town got kilt; a couple dozen families with at least a little Garou blood in each all got wiped out."

He checks over his shoulder. When he sees nobody else is nearby he spits and growls.

"We only had three Garou counting me, and we'd had problems with the Injuns for years, but it wasn't them what kilt them all. My Pa was crazy. He murdered them all one night and I couldn't stop him. Bastard got away too, or at least I think he did. Last thing I remember that night is the Uketena showing up to fight him as I passed out. Woke up the next morning and saw my town destroyed and half a pack who were more than half dead was all that was left of the Injuns."

He goes quiet suddenly, the looks to Zas as he seems to remember who he's talking to. He blushes, then puffs out his chest a bit.

"Now I ain't tellin' ya that cuz I'm proud. I ever see my Pa again and I'll tear his heart out and dance a jig on his corpse. I'm jest sayin': I give them Injuns a lot 'a shit cuz they're weak and let their betters walk all over them. But they's some out there I can learn to respect, or at least pity. Jest, uh, don't go tellin' everyone about my Pa. I reckon it'd make things hard for everyone for nothin'."

Zas follows along, listening intently to Rends story. After Rends makes his request Zas considers for a moment before replying, "I was not there to see what took place with your father. There is nothing I could say with certainty. I will not repeat this tale again for it is not my place to."

Zas nods firmly to punctuate his decision to withhold Rends entrusted family information.

Snowy Owl then looks to Rends as he says with a mix of sadness and fury, "You are right. The Commanche are many. When you are marked as their enemy, you are hunted. I understand the white man's wish to not be enemies.
I am certain though, that any peace talks with them will fail. My people have tried...for a long time to seek a truce, to bury the hatchet with the Commanche. The end outcome was always the same-dead braves, stolen war-horses, and tears."

Zas grows silent briefly before adding with a quick smile, "If all the plains nations were as the Commanche, you would not be here."