Her gaze remained locked on frigid waters until all remains of him were completely out of sight, taken by the current, washed over the falls or swallowed to the lower depths to be fed upon by whatever lay beneath the surface. She turned heel and stepped away from the river a few yards, eyes drawn to the trail of blood around her.  The rock that held the dismembered body of the traitor would be washed clean by a fortnight. Braiya clenched her fist and flexed her hand wide, stretching her muscles and joints. Her and three others had held him down while a fourth beheaded him and hacked away his limbs.  It had been a gruesome task done in silence, all mentally reflecting on the fate of the guilty. Afterwards, a few had glanced at her, waiting for something to break the silence of the ceremony like execution. None of them enjoyed this type of execution, an elimination of one of their own, but the younger feline was much like her father in the aspect of relying on swift action as opposed to a volume of words.  Over her short twenty-one years the lynx child quickly learned that correction settled better in tender young minds when the offending party’s punishment is swift and public.  She now wore her brother’s severed tail hanging from her hip as a reminder of faithfulness to the clan. When time came, she would attached it to her hatchet to remind herself of what loyalty means.  For now, she left the river bank and joined the few there in the woodline waiting for her.<br/><br/><br/>Having departed much earlier than necessary, the detour the execution caused did not make them late. It did ruin the scouting plans they had, but weeks prior they had all the information they needed on the southern clan, the ones that caused them nothing but grief for two generations since they settled in the hills below their home. Time and again the southern clan of humans had tried to assimilate the the lynx clan into their numbers, but failed.  The humans thrived in numbers and what some considered wealth, but the lynx were a strong, tenacious lot that managed to inflict serious damage upon the human tribe’s numbers more and more with each try.  They were well aware they wanted them for nothing more than slaves like most other humans and desired those who bore the physical traits of lynx for their parts. There were many who stooped so low as to willingly grow out their claws and sell them to any merchant stupid enough to set foot on their mountain, but not  those of Semleir clan.<br/><br/><br/>Semleir were said to be an old race of humans who’s lineage was tampered with by mages of old to include lynx, so the old wives tale says, but the Semleir know better.  Yes there is an affinity to magic in their blood, but it’s little to do with the intentional works of human mages and more to do with the lynx  request from powers unknown to become stronger through a human like shape. Not many would see the difference in the stories, but the Semleir do and hold the secret of  their heritage sacred  despite the wild rumors and tales.  It is the secrecy that encourages the raids set upon them and other catfolk. Lured by the salability of their parts and ability to conjure obeisance from the world around them with the manipulation of magics.  It is this attention that has carved a small yet resilient race of peoples, defiant to the core against all who would end them. Desperate times call for desperate measures and the sheer brutality used to strike fear in the heart of rivals has not changed, but their willingness to join up with or use outside parties to protect what they hold dear is a rare first for the closed off tribe.<br/><br/><br/>Due to her rank as the healer shaman’s daughter, Braiya walked just a few feet behind their chieftain, who walked beside her father, thinking nothing of it as they entered the encampment.. It was the spot her brother usually took and she easily filled the void.  There was no time for grief and excessive displays would be taken as being sympathetic to his traitorous actions, so she held her head high, only a little higher than she normally would, but few would be aware of that and if so would understand why.  It was what she attributed her father’s stiff body language to, as they began to be surrounded by the escort as they made their approach.  Among their small representative group, all were of Lynx blood, as was the entire clan, but those with strong magic showed visible signs. Cat ears, the short nub tail of the lynx, oddly colored eyes, teeth and thicker clawlike nails. Braiya, her father, and two other males had these traits, the chieftain only bore the claws and sharp teeth.<br/><br/><br/>Their stance changed when they came into view of the southern clan. Protocol had them all ignore their  presence only tuned into any hint of aggression so to be prepared for a fight as any good warrior would be.  Braiya stood by quietly as her chieftain began to speak with the leader of the encampment or previously discussed offers.  The funds, the agreement to fight for or with them, passage through Semleir lands, it was all what they had discussed would be offered along with what little tangible items of value they had.