Quote:
Months before the Burkuteshti tried and failed to take the Qyrhy's last oasis, a new Borclu had arrived, a young male found wandering heat-sick in the desert. His name was Umkhombo, and once his health was restored, he trained to fight alongside the other young warriors of the pride, so that he might one day repay his life-debt. Soon after his training was complete, he won his freedom when a small patrol he was part of encountered an enemy patrol, and was victorious. Though he had often spoken of his home and intentions to return there once he'd earned his freedom, he rather curiously opted to stay. Before long, the reason for his choice became apparent in increasing amounts of time spent in the company of the Hatun, Aribak bint Adala, and rumor was confirmed when she eventually announced him as her choice for her mate: more importantly, her choice for Bey. The decision was not without controversy, an outsider raised to their highest rank, but Aribak's choice was hers to make, and she had chosen Umkhombo.
It was after this that the Burkuteshti attacked and failed and retreated to lick their wounds...and for the Qyrhyeshti to run out of resources. In the weeks the followed, one of Aribak's sisters, Nesf, gave birth to a litter of cubs, sired by her mate Aniketos before he died in the attack. A week later, Aribak sought seclusion as well, but did not return. She died in childbirth, having delivered only one living cub, a female. This left the grief-stricken, foreign-born Umkhombo the only leader of the Qyrhyeshti, and he attempted to pick up the pieces, sending hunting parties farther and farther north beyond the river to find enough food for the pride.
As the situation began to look increasingly hopeless, however, fate intervened. The Burkuteshti were first stricken by disease carried by the seals they feasted on, then routed by humans who wanted the plenty of Baj-Jer for themselves. The ancient enemy of the Qyrhyeshti had been struck down, but there was little satisfaction in the knowledge of it, as the land they had fought for for generations beyond counting was no longer worth fighting over. And so Umkhombo made the decision: the time of the Qyrhyeshti was over. It was time that they found new lives, new ways of living rather than living to die in battle. They were all free to do as they saw fit.
He declared his own intention to return to the pride of his birth: any females who wished to come with him would be welcome to do so. The journey would be a long one, but there would be safe haven at the end of it.
Probably.
It was after this that the Burkuteshti attacked and failed and retreated to lick their wounds...and for the Qyrhyeshti to run out of resources. In the weeks the followed, one of Aribak's sisters, Nesf, gave birth to a litter of cubs, sired by her mate Aniketos before he died in the attack. A week later, Aribak sought seclusion as well, but did not return. She died in childbirth, having delivered only one living cub, a female. This left the grief-stricken, foreign-born Umkhombo the only leader of the Qyrhyeshti, and he attempted to pick up the pieces, sending hunting parties farther and farther north beyond the river to find enough food for the pride.
As the situation began to look increasingly hopeless, however, fate intervened. The Burkuteshti were first stricken by disease carried by the seals they feasted on, then routed by humans who wanted the plenty of Baj-Jer for themselves. The ancient enemy of the Qyrhyeshti had been struck down, but there was little satisfaction in the knowledge of it, as the land they had fought for for generations beyond counting was no longer worth fighting over. And so Umkhombo made the decision: the time of the Qyrhyeshti was over. It was time that they found new lives, new ways of living rather than living to die in battle. They were all free to do as they saw fit.
He declared his own intention to return to the pride of his birth: any females who wished to come with him would be welcome to do so. The journey would be a long one, but there would be safe haven at the end of it.
Probably.
Long story short, any Qyrhyeshti females who want to travel with Umkhombo back to the Bonelands may come along! He will explain the structure and culture of the pride - which is, of course, quite different from the Qyrhy - so they will have some knowledge of what they're getting into. He may, however, be glossing over certain details pertaining to how his return might go over...
