When all that was decided, they set out at once
they made their farewells to the comrades they left
as they went out to face danger for their mission's sake.
The found a small path climbing up a steep mountain
it was a thin road, they marched in single file
they climbed over rocks, and as they made their way higher
the air grew far colder, white snow started to fall.
This went on for days, travelling in that fashion
up and down mountains, for the road was not straight
and the snow fell ever harded, the cold air stung them
and the ice under their feet grew thicker at every step.
They took shelter one night in a cave that they found
near the the top of a mountain, it was hardly warmer
than the world around them, but if was free of the snow.
Part way through the night, when all the others were sleeping
Fafri stood guard, he heard a sound out there in the blackness
of the cold night. Then many figures came into his sight,
they were dressed warmly, they were covered in furs
over the fur of their own, and they carried vast staves
with blades set in their ends. There were seven of them,
most seemed quite youthful, but they were led by an elder
whose fur had faded to silver over the years of his life.
They stepped into the cave, those heirs to Loboshi
and Fafri moved quickly, roused up his comrades from sleep
and made ready for battle, he took them as a threat,
but the elder bowed low, he spoke soothing words.
"Peace be with you, you strangers who have come here
we share the same goal, a respite from the winter
that rages outside us. There is no need to quarrel.
My name is Maka, and these ones are my great pack,
my kin and comrades, they keep watch over my life
and I stand guard over theirs, that is our way.
So let us share this cave, at least for this night,
might I learn of your names, what customs you have?
Though once we are parted, we may never speak again
I still find myself wondering, what are your ways?"
Halon spoke and he smiled, he had every desire for peace.
"My name is Halon, I am of the Collective's inquisitive caste
and that one who aroused us, he is called Fafri,
a spear-comrade of Hallifax, as is brave Lessok
who stands there beside him, and this comrade here,
he is called Jekkex, he holds the command over them,
he has conquered in war, and he has won great glory.
We have come forth from our city, out from our spires
out from the Collective that bore us long years ago
that we might learn of the world, so our people might prosper.
For the love of our comrades we have braved many dangers
and for love of learning, for those are our ways.
Yet still we go further, for we do not value our lives
so much as our mission, so much as we love serving.
That is why we are here, we are striding out into the cold
to find what we might find there, that is our quest."
Old Maka chuckled, he was amused by these words
and he spoke more of his own, he was still laughing.
"The cold will claim you if you go out into it now
and even if you delay, wait for things to grow warmer
the hazards will slay you, if you go out with no guide
for these lands have their perils, and you do not know them."
Halon nodded as he spoke, for he had long known as much.
"That much is true, we shall most likely go to our dooms,
but we shall die for our duty, for what might be gained
by our comrades at home, if by some great chance we succeed.
Surely you understand that, would you not die for your pack?
Well, we share the fine custom, though we have another name
for the pack, we call them our comrades, those of the spires
and that pack is vast, far larger than others, larger than yours.
And in that size is safety, in that size there is knowledge
and thus our city is great, for our comrades are many.
And it is ever growing, and not only through birth
but by accepting new comrades, with honor in their souls.
Would you guide us through these snow covered lands?
I think that you know them, for it seems that you live here.
These lands are barren, they freeze good men to the bone
you could join with us, and win yourselves a new home
in our spires, if that the thought is appealing, then
consider the offer, and I shall call you my comrade."
Old Maka considered the offer, as he had been urged
and spoke his response with a glint in his old eyes.
"Our packs could be merged, there is no shame in that
and in truth we are few, we have been driven forth
by those whose numbers are greater, and who faced us in war
launched raids against us, without any just cause,
out of love of war, and the greed that stood in their hearts.
We did not flee from fighting, but in truth we were conquered
our valour was greater, but our small numbers had dwindled
and so we were broken by the strength of the vast swarm.
If we accept this, if we accept you as our own leaders,
what shall our place be, once we have returned to your homes?"
Halon answered him quickly, there was no doubt in his mind.
"If your valour is great, then there is a perfect place for you
the bloody caste awaits, you shall be our spear-comrades in war
and I think it might be that you could fight in your own custom
we might give you command over a legion, trained in your own way
a pack that keeps those customs of yours which are deemed proper
a pack in service to Hallifax, its place shall be highly honored."
This offer pleased them, they gave their consent very quickly
and promised to serve as guides through the freezing lands
as soon as the path was safe. And for the rest of the night
while they waited for that, they spoke of great Hallifax
and the lives that awaited them, the new comrades there.