My tail flicked casually at the bear squad. Orsin had turned, a look of panic spreading across his face as he saw me there. Had I done something wrong? My mind raced to remember everything I'd been taught the last few years in diplomacy with my father. My thoughts were cut short quickly. A primal roar echoed through the air and my fur stood on end. I leaped back and hissed as a large moon bear came barreling towards me, a murderous look in his eyes as he picked up speed. I trembled, then breathed a sigh of relief as he tumbled over onto his side. My gaze flickered to Orsin. What was going on here?<br/><br/>The squad went through several minutes of confusion. The large grizzly was angrily accusing of Orsin of something. "<span style="font-style: italic">...at war with her kind</span>," he was saying, shooting infuriated glances at me. Meanwhile, the remainder of his squad looked torn between the two sides. Orsin explained about finding me and the squad began to settle. Only the moon bear seemed dissatisfied with the group's decision. I blinked as Orsin turned to me, clarifying the two questions most pressing in my mind. We were at war or, rather, Ursus and Atma Kabile were at war. I slowly bowed my head and grieved a moment, wondering if this new tragedy was also Hara'eko's doing. If he had really attacked the Ursus right after driving out the Sikari, then Hara'eko was a fool. Ursus would have five clans to his four; he'd be sore pressed to come out at a stand still, let alone a victory.<br/><br/>I blinked at his offer to come back with the scouts. I needed the passage through Ursus at any rate and this was as close as I was likely going to get. I quietly watched the squad form up, then followed Orsin, still lost in thought. The path we took remained unmarked in my mind's eye. I was too busy contemplating the fate of the Sikari. My father slaughtered by his own wife and a lieutenant. Our tribe nothing more than a memory.<span style="font-style: italic">Sahi, ragata atma.</span>A bloody ghost. Whatever was left of Atma Kabile couldn't truly be considered my home anymore. They were my people though and it would be disloyal to leave them alone.<br/><br/>We were coming to a stop. I settled outside of the Ursus camp, glad that my fur had settled and dried over the journey here. I nervously licked my front paw, tears glistening in the back of my eyes. Even if it couldn't bring hope back to my people, I needed to give my people a chance. I needed to aid the Sikari, for my father's sake. I needed to give them a place free from the tryanny of Hara'eko Amkha. My form quivered with a sudden fury, ears twitching with rage and anguish. I summoned up the smug maw of my people's enemy, my father's killer. Orsin turned to face me. I stared into the ground, digging my claws into the earth as I let my mind stray into the beauty of revenge. I would be the one to tear his skin to shreds and paint the ground red with blood. The blood of this traitor to the Sikari, to my family, to my father. I cut my thought off, ashamed.<br/><br/>The Sikari were always a peaceful clan. We rarely fought the other tribes of Atma Kabile. My father would be disappointed in me. Our people needed a leader, not a child thirsting for revenge. The Sikari needed freedom and a new life, not another tyrant. My shoulders hung slightly and I blinked up at the panda, eyes glistening with tears. Hopefully, Hara'eko's actions hadn't been as grievous here; if I was to be chief of Sikari now, then I needed to behave as such. I could start by repairing relations with the Ursus. I softly bowed to Orsin. a sign of respect in our culture. "Thank you for escorting me here. I pray it wasn't too much trouble. Is there a chance I might speak with you?" I asked, quiet and respectful.