Pain. It wasn’t something foreign to him. As a Seeker in the Wolf tribe, Val had been constantly subjected to it for as long as he could remember. He’d first learned to deal with emotional pain as a child when his mother, Diah, was forbidden to care for him as she had in his early years. After all, he needed to learn to fend for himself in case he was left alone in the wild. The second, third, fourth, and many other times he’d been introduced to it was when he trained with other tia and went on hunts. His training was not kind and often resulted in bruises that lasted for weeks; the broken bones lasted much longer. He’d never been subjected to healing herbs unless it was absolutely necessary. They had told him that he’d need to learn to work through it in case he was harmed outside of his tribe’s reach. It certainly seemed to help at first. After all, he’d gone on many hunts and received many wounds from the beasts they’d slain. But if any of that really held any merit, then why the hell did he hurt so much now?
It took a moment for the darkened canopy above to return to focus. The taste of something metallic flooded his mouth and something wet dripped from his lips. In the background he could hear some sort of loud buzzing noise, but he couldn’t quite make out what it was.  The more he regained consciousness, the more pain flooded his sensors. The first thing he noticed was that his head throbbed relentlessly. Next the hot, searing pain in his back. His left arm absolutely refused to respond to his urges to make it do so and another sharp, pulsating pain emanated from his right side. Then, more darkness came.
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But he was still very conscious. He knew this because his sense of taste had never left him and he could still hear that annoying buzzing sound. Finally his eyes adjusted further in order to find that the looming shade above him was, in fact, another Miqo’te.  The dark brown tuft of hair along the ears gave it away, but the Miqo’te didn’t seem very friendly at all. He wore a deep-seated scowl along his features, something made thoroughly more intimidating by the strong, square jaw and large, broad shoulders that accompanied it. His golden eyes pierced the darkness to ensure Val got a good look at them as he knelt down after the much, much smaller Seeker. It was only then that Val caught a glimpse of a sickening scar that curved its way around the opposing Miqo’te’s neck.
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It all came back to him in a sudden flash. This was W’renhari. They had known one another since they were babes. Renhari was always considered a prime contender for nunhship ever since a sudden growth spurt sent him towering above the rest of his tia brethren. A fateful hunt some years ago changed all that.
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Val was not quite of age to attend the hunt, but he recalled Renhari’s fallen form being brought back to their settlement. A ziz that the tribe had been tracking managed to catch him off guard and take a large bite out of his neck. Many believed he’d never make it without proper care, and Tende almost refused to give it to him in order for Val and the rest of the tribe to know what it meant to be careless. Renhari showed great promise, and Tende felt that letting one such as him perish would be a mistake. The tribal healers mended the wound the best they could and left the poor boy to fend for himself. Much to their surprise, Renhari quickly recovered from his wound. His voice, however, was forever lost.
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Val felt a vice around his neck and what must have been a tree settle down on his chest. His airway had been cut off and the Seeker began to aimlessly writhe beneath his assailant. His only good arm reached out for something—anything—to help him gain freedom. His fingertips brushed over an object, something rough and hard. His fingers immediately curled around it and his arm swung around with every bit of might that he had left. The large branch crashed into the side of Renhari’s skull, just along his brow, and sent him rolling away in a mixture of pain and fear. Val rolled in the opposite direction in order to gain some distance between the two. He struggled to stand and, once he did, suddenly knew where he was.
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He was surrounded by the rest of his tribe, all deathly silent as they watched the spectacle unfold. The buzzing he’d heard had been in his head all along, likely ringing from when Renhari knocked him to the ground—if that’s how he’d even ended up there in the first place. Both of their hunting spears were randomly scattered about the field, disarmed by one another during what must have been a close fight judging by the attention they were being given. Unfortunately for him, one seemed to be very close to Renhari’s position.
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Val also recalled that the two were in the final match to be recognized as a nunh, the position left vacant by Renhari’s father. Territorial disputes were not uncommon for the Wolves, thus why they cherished strength and tenacity over all else. Tende had always been one to fiercely protect what was theirs, including the lands they’d settled in and their surrounding areas. He’d tried to settle things peacefully. The neighboring tribe, their own Wolf brethren, had agreed to leave their lands after they’d managed a few nights of rest. They attacked not long after and, while they had won, Tende’s tribe was not without its casualties. Renhari’s father was amongst them.
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Renhari’d trained long and hard after. Both Miqo’te believed the position to be their birthright, and both were quietly uncertain as to whether or not they’d be victorious. Over time, their rivalry grew. Val often teased Renhari, making fun of his inability to speak by stating that he deserved his fate. After all, had he been good enough he’d have never been caught by the ziz in the first place. Renhari was not quite as cold as Val. He accepted Val as a worthy opponent, even respected the humility that he’d tried to bring. He spent many evenings training and meditating in order to ward the negative emotions away. For him, it all boiled down to that final moment when he’d be able to unleash everything he had at Val. Then, the Seeker would pay dearly.
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Val was the only male sired by his father, and his father took a great deal of pride in him. Not only his father, but the entire tribe expected great things of him. They saw the only son of Tende as a great omen; becoming a nunh was his destiny. It was the sole reason he was birthed, his purpose to live, and he would not come this far just to let it slip out of his grasp. With renewed vigor, Val knelt down to pick up a stone almost too big for his fingers to wrap around. Renhari had not quite recovered from the wound, which gave him plenty of time to hide the makeshift weapon behind his back.
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“You can give up now, you know!†Val boasted to Renhari in his native tongue. “I’m not a ziz. You’ll get no mercy here.â€
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Renhari had certainly been hit hard, the skin tearing open just above his left brow. He’d be forced to keep that eye shut now, half-blinded thanks to the blood that dripped from it. He brushed his forearm over the wound to try and relieve himself, but it was no use. Even the tiniest droplet would be enough to blind him. With a huff of annoyance, Renari stood. He lifted one of the previously discarded hunting spears with him and raised it in a challenging gesture towards Val.
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“Mute, dumb, and blind?†the Seeker continued, a cocky grin on his lips. “You can’t catch a break, can you? What makes you think you’d ever be a Nunh? You dishonor your father by even trying!â€
That set Renhari off. He’d let many things slide by him over the years, but to question his devotion to his father in such a public manner was more than he could handle. He pulled the spear back and charged with all his might. Val followed in turn, stumbling at first but eventually finding the strength and energy to keep his legs beneath him. When the two met, Renhari thrust the spear forward with his right arm. Val jerked to his left, the weapon just grazing the right side of his neck as it went by. He simultaneously swung his right arm around to deliver an open-palmed strike with the previously acquired rock directly to Renhari’s exposed trachea. Renari never saw it coming.
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Val turned to peer down at his foe, watching closely to ensure he’d not get back up. Renhari would not move. The only sounds that could be heard were the pathetic gargling as he tried to breathe. No one cheered. No one moved to help Renhari. No one dare sought to congratulate Val. No one except Tende, that is. Val turned to find his father moving forward from the edge of their makeshift arena. He dropped to his knees and bowed forward to show his respect.
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“Father,†the Seeker spoke obediently. Tende knelt before him and brushed the tips of his fingers over Val’s chin in order to lift his gaze skyward. For the first time since Val’s birth, Tende smiled at him. Val was unable to find the words to break the silence. He saw his mother watching out of the corner of his eyes. It seemed as if the entire tribe was unsure of what Tende was going to do, as was often the case. Tende continued to say nothing Val. He stood, gave a beckoning glance to Diah, and left the arena. Diah followed, though she gave a pleased smile to Val as she wandered past.
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The rest of the tribe soon followed to go about their daily business. Several carried Renhari away, presumably to assist him in whatever way they could. If not, his body would be discarded. Val eventually stood and scanned the crowd. He was a nunh now, and as such he had duties to perform. Two Sunseeker females caught his eye, one well-endowed with fiery red hair and another blonde with shapely hips. He beckoned them forward and they happily obeyed.
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Pleasure. Up until now, it had been something entirely foreign to him. He’d never been allowed to have it as a child, perhaps in order to make him fight harder when the time came. He couldn’t use his left arm, but he didn’t care. The pain in his back and chest all but vanished and the throbbing of his head was drowned out in the pleased cries of his chosen mates. He wouldn’t last long, not his first time. But then he had them again, and again, and again, until neither of them could find the strength to continue. He lay there with a pleased smile on his face, staring up at the darkened canopy as it slowly drifted out of focus. This was something he could certainly get used to.
It took a moment for the darkened canopy above to return to focus. The taste of something metallic flooded his mouth and something wet dripped from his lips. In the background he could hear some sort of loud buzzing noise, but he couldn’t quite make out what it was.  The more he regained consciousness, the more pain flooded his sensors. The first thing he noticed was that his head throbbed relentlessly. Next the hot, searing pain in his back. His left arm absolutely refused to respond to his urges to make it do so and another sharp, pulsating pain emanated from his right side. Then, more darkness came.
Â
But he was still very conscious. He knew this because his sense of taste had never left him and he could still hear that annoying buzzing sound. Finally his eyes adjusted further in order to find that the looming shade above him was, in fact, another Miqo’te.  The dark brown tuft of hair along the ears gave it away, but the Miqo’te didn’t seem very friendly at all. He wore a deep-seated scowl along his features, something made thoroughly more intimidating by the strong, square jaw and large, broad shoulders that accompanied it. His golden eyes pierced the darkness to ensure Val got a good look at them as he knelt down after the much, much smaller Seeker. It was only then that Val caught a glimpse of a sickening scar that curved its way around the opposing Miqo’te’s neck.
Â
It all came back to him in a sudden flash. This was W’renhari. They had known one another since they were babes. Renhari was always considered a prime contender for nunhship ever since a sudden growth spurt sent him towering above the rest of his tia brethren. A fateful hunt some years ago changed all that.
Â
Val was not quite of age to attend the hunt, but he recalled Renhari’s fallen form being brought back to their settlement. A ziz that the tribe had been tracking managed to catch him off guard and take a large bite out of his neck. Many believed he’d never make it without proper care, and Tende almost refused to give it to him in order for Val and the rest of the tribe to know what it meant to be careless. Renhari showed great promise, and Tende felt that letting one such as him perish would be a mistake. The tribal healers mended the wound the best they could and left the poor boy to fend for himself. Much to their surprise, Renhari quickly recovered from his wound. His voice, however, was forever lost.
Â
Val felt a vice around his neck and what must have been a tree settle down on his chest. His airway had been cut off and the Seeker began to aimlessly writhe beneath his assailant. His only good arm reached out for something—anything—to help him gain freedom. His fingertips brushed over an object, something rough and hard. His fingers immediately curled around it and his arm swung around with every bit of might that he had left. The large branch crashed into the side of Renhari’s skull, just along his brow, and sent him rolling away in a mixture of pain and fear. Val rolled in the opposite direction in order to gain some distance between the two. He struggled to stand and, once he did, suddenly knew where he was.
Â
He was surrounded by the rest of his tribe, all deathly silent as they watched the spectacle unfold. The buzzing he’d heard had been in his head all along, likely ringing from when Renhari knocked him to the ground—if that’s how he’d even ended up there in the first place. Both of their hunting spears were randomly scattered about the field, disarmed by one another during what must have been a close fight judging by the attention they were being given. Unfortunately for him, one seemed to be very close to Renhari’s position.
Â
Val also recalled that the two were in the final match to be recognized as a nunh, the position left vacant by Renhari’s father. Territorial disputes were not uncommon for the Wolves, thus why they cherished strength and tenacity over all else. Tende had always been one to fiercely protect what was theirs, including the lands they’d settled in and their surrounding areas. He’d tried to settle things peacefully. The neighboring tribe, their own Wolf brethren, had agreed to leave their lands after they’d managed a few nights of rest. They attacked not long after and, while they had won, Tende’s tribe was not without its casualties. Renhari’s father was amongst them.
Â
Renhari’d trained long and hard after. Both Miqo’te believed the position to be their birthright, and both were quietly uncertain as to whether or not they’d be victorious. Over time, their rivalry grew. Val often teased Renhari, making fun of his inability to speak by stating that he deserved his fate. After all, had he been good enough he’d have never been caught by the ziz in the first place. Renhari was not quite as cold as Val. He accepted Val as a worthy opponent, even respected the humility that he’d tried to bring. He spent many evenings training and meditating in order to ward the negative emotions away. For him, it all boiled down to that final moment when he’d be able to unleash everything he had at Val. Then, the Seeker would pay dearly.
Â
Val was the only male sired by his father, and his father took a great deal of pride in him. Not only his father, but the entire tribe expected great things of him. They saw the only son of Tende as a great omen; becoming a nunh was his destiny. It was the sole reason he was birthed, his purpose to live, and he would not come this far just to let it slip out of his grasp. With renewed vigor, Val knelt down to pick up a stone almost too big for his fingers to wrap around. Renhari had not quite recovered from the wound, which gave him plenty of time to hide the makeshift weapon behind his back.
Â
“You can give up now, you know!†Val boasted to Renhari in his native tongue. “I’m not a ziz. You’ll get no mercy here.â€
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Renhari had certainly been hit hard, the skin tearing open just above his left brow. He’d be forced to keep that eye shut now, half-blinded thanks to the blood that dripped from it. He brushed his forearm over the wound to try and relieve himself, but it was no use. Even the tiniest droplet would be enough to blind him. With a huff of annoyance, Renari stood. He lifted one of the previously discarded hunting spears with him and raised it in a challenging gesture towards Val.
Â
“Mute, dumb, and blind?†the Seeker continued, a cocky grin on his lips. “You can’t catch a break, can you? What makes you think you’d ever be a Nunh? You dishonor your father by even trying!â€
That set Renhari off. He’d let many things slide by him over the years, but to question his devotion to his father in such a public manner was more than he could handle. He pulled the spear back and charged with all his might. Val followed in turn, stumbling at first but eventually finding the strength and energy to keep his legs beneath him. When the two met, Renhari thrust the spear forward with his right arm. Val jerked to his left, the weapon just grazing the right side of his neck as it went by. He simultaneously swung his right arm around to deliver an open-palmed strike with the previously acquired rock directly to Renhari’s exposed trachea. Renari never saw it coming.
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Val turned to peer down at his foe, watching closely to ensure he’d not get back up. Renhari would not move. The only sounds that could be heard were the pathetic gargling as he tried to breathe. No one cheered. No one moved to help Renhari. No one dare sought to congratulate Val. No one except Tende, that is. Val turned to find his father moving forward from the edge of their makeshift arena. He dropped to his knees and bowed forward to show his respect.
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“Father,†the Seeker spoke obediently. Tende knelt before him and brushed the tips of his fingers over Val’s chin in order to lift his gaze skyward. For the first time since Val’s birth, Tende smiled at him. Val was unable to find the words to break the silence. He saw his mother watching out of the corner of his eyes. It seemed as if the entire tribe was unsure of what Tende was going to do, as was often the case. Tende continued to say nothing Val. He stood, gave a beckoning glance to Diah, and left the arena. Diah followed, though she gave a pleased smile to Val as she wandered past.
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The rest of the tribe soon followed to go about their daily business. Several carried Renhari away, presumably to assist him in whatever way they could. If not, his body would be discarded. Val eventually stood and scanned the crowd. He was a nunh now, and as such he had duties to perform. Two Sunseeker females caught his eye, one well-endowed with fiery red hair and another blonde with shapely hips. He beckoned them forward and they happily obeyed.
Â
Pleasure. Up until now, it had been something entirely foreign to him. He’d never been allowed to have it as a child, perhaps in order to make him fight harder when the time came. He couldn’t use his left arm, but he didn’t care. The pain in his back and chest all but vanished and the throbbing of his head was drowned out in the pleased cries of his chosen mates. He wouldn’t last long, not his first time. But then he had them again, and again, and again, until neither of them could find the strength to continue. He lay there with a pleased smile on his face, staring up at the darkened canopy as it slowly drifted out of focus. This was something he could certainly get used to.
![[Image: ValForumSignature.png~original]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/Kendei/ValForumSignature.png~original)
