Hey everyone, another chapter here. Review if you like it and review if you dislike it! I'll try to have more in the near future, many plot twists coming up (wink wink). Ta! 

Chapter 10

Time passed in the tribe, the days grew colder, though there was no snow or ice, being so close to Red Mountain, occasionally an icy rainstorm would hit turning the entire encampment muddy and soggy, making everyone, especially Larka, irritable. The three Clan Friends learned the language and ways of their tribe with help from WhisperWing and occasionally Liam, becoming friends with many, and gaining grudging respect from others. Taka and Krillan fell in love, and though Taka would frequently remark about it, Larka kept Liam at a distance, all the while Jey watching with hawk like eyes.

Larka, though no one said anything official, became a very prominent member of the warriors, joining in hunts and training exercises. She learned the Ashlander's technique of fighting with knives and swords and in turn gave the warriors lessons in longbow archery and hand to hand combat. While the tribesmen were at first skeptical about her teaching she quickly proved to be a strict, and even brutal instructor. She would not tolerate any mistakes, quickly correcting them or if the were the work of a sloppy hand, using physical harm to get her point across. It was good for the warriors to have Taka, whose patience and kindness offset Larka's techniques, though the warriors couldn't help but respect her for her abilities. Soon, with Taka's help, Larka transformed the raggedy bunch of fighters into an army of sorts. Of course Jey was none to happy about it but kept it to herself, not taking part in the training exercises and in most of the tribe's opinion, had informally relinquished her position as War Leader. Larka remained wary of her in spite of her sullen silence, knowing that even though she had been put in her place, she could still be a danger to Larka and possibly the tribe. Though she didn't worry over it, knowing that if there was a danger she would meet it.

Several times a group of Imperial soldiers came to their tribe, speaking with the chief for long periods of time, though Larka knew nothing of what was said and she wasn't particularly curious. She did manage to relay a message back to the Mages Guild through the soldiers, giving them news of their dead mage and telling them of her and Krillan's extended stay in the tribe. A month after her message she and Krillan had their belongings delivered by the soldiers to them, which were placed in the two huts they now had, one for Larka and one for Krillan and Taka.

One chilly morning when Larka was out practicing her archery Liam found her.

"Would you walk with me?" he asked.

"If you wish it." Larka said, pulling her heavy black cape tighter around her shoulders to ward off the wind and situating her bow and arrows on her back. She joined Liam as he walked out of the camp, down a worn hunting trail through the hills that Larka was unfamiliar with. Things had been tense between them, Liam making subtle advances and Larka blatantly refusing him. Though she couldn't deny his looks and charm she was well aware of his explosive relationship with Jey and besides that of her conscious decision not to become involved with any man.

"You've been avoiding me." He stated.

"I have." Larka said, no use lying, she thought.

"Any particular reason?" he asked, stopping and turning to face her.

"Jey if you must know. She thinks I pose a threat to your relationship. I have no wish to make her dislike me further." She said, that wasn't the whole truth though, and he knew it.

"Are you afraid of what might happen if you did pose a threat?" he asked.

"I can deal with Jey easily enough." Larka said.

"That's not what I meant." He said gazing into her eyes.

"I'm not afraid. I don't want it, so I've tried to stamp out the possibility." Larka stated.

"You show no fear when in battle, yet you are afraid of one of the most wonderful things in the entire world, Love." Liam said stepping closer, still staring into her eyes with his mysterious and foreign blue ones. Larka stepped back from him, blinking, breaking the stare.

"I'm practical! I do not let my emotions interfere with my life. Love? More like pain." Larka said savagely.

"Yes it is pain, it is pain seeing you daily and not being able to hold you, to touch you, to kiss you. Having to pretend to Jey, that is pain Larka." Liam said, hurt in his eyes and his voice.

"You may call me WinterStar, and I do not want your love!" Larka shouted turning and swiftly walking away. He speaks of nonsense, she thought.

Walking along she only vaguely realized that she was off the path now and wandering through unfamiliar territory. Her mind was too distracted with her own confused thoughts. It wasn't until the ash storm hit that she realized how in danger she was. Quickly she covered her eyes and crouched down against a boulder to escape the worst of the winds. It didn't appear to be a Blight storm so Larka wasn't too concerned. I'll wait it out, she thought as she huddled by the rock. Not a second too soon did she see the shape of a Clannfear. What's a Daedric creature doing out here? She wondered briefly as she drew her wakazashi to stop it from gouging her with its razor sharp claws. Probably from a Daedric shrine somewhere and wandered off, she thought. But what luck that I get to be the one to meet it, she thought wryly. Swinging her sword up and across she managed to cut a long gash in its chest. The creature shrieked and lunged at her with its claws ready. Larka managed to drive it back but in a mist swing one of the claws hooked under it and wrenched the blade from her hand. Unable to use her bow at such close quarters and spells because of the limited visibility Larka was defenseless. A clawed hand swung at her, Larka dodged and turned, kicking the beast in the side making it stumble. The ash was clouding her vision and stinging her eyes and skin and now she was weaponless and virtually sightless with a Daedra attacking. She just had time to duck as claws skimmed over her head, but the other pair caught her on the side as she turned away, leaving shallow gashes where it struck. Larka winced in pain and aimed a jump kick at the creature catching it in the neck, sending it sprawling. Larka accidentally turned into the wind, ash whipping at her body, stinging her already raw skin and eyes as she searched for the creature. Instinct made her turn at the last second and she just had time to bend over, flipping the beast over her back, lunging at it on the ground where it lay.

It was an eerie thing, grappling with an inhuman reptilian creature, not to mention the constant threat of the beak and claws. Larka kneed it in the stomach and rammed the heel of her hand between its eyes, all the while struggling to keep its sharp claws and beak from killing her. A claw caught on her cheek, cutting diagonally across her cheekbone. Larka rolled away, unluckily rolling over a clawed hand, the tips puncturing her side. Ash whirled around her, the storm worsening. Larka continued to roll as she heard the creature get up and let out another inhuman shriek. Her hand touched something hard and sharp, letting out a small squeak of pain as her palm pressed into the blade, her sword! Grabbing it she got to her knees just as the creature charged, unaware that she now had a weapon. Raising it she let out an Ashlander battle cry and thrust the blade out, impaling the monster.

Exhaustion claimed Larka. Wearily she removed her blade from the beast, shoved the dead body away and crawled to the boulder, lying against it and closing her eyes. Let death come, she thought, as long as I can sleep. And with that she slipped into blackness, her hand loosely gripping her sword and blood gently dripping from her wounds.

When the storm cleared search parties went out to look for their missing tribeswoman, Taka, Krillan, and Liam leading them. It was beside the boulder that Liam found her, sleeping peacefully beside a dead Clannfear. Hurriedly he sent his warriors back with news that they'd found her. "Wake up, please wake up." He said gently stroking her unharmed cheek. Her eyes fluttered open and she appeared disoriented. Then she noticed her wounds and the dead creature and she grimaced. "Are you badly hurt?" Liam asked anxiously, worry in his eyes.

"I'm perfectly fine. Help me up." Larka said, wincing as she felt the gash on her cheek.

"Oh no, I'm carrying you back to camp whether you approve or not." Liam said lifting her up to loud protests.

"I am quite capable of taking care of myself, I don't need you." Larka said icily.

"Yes, I can see that by evidence of the dead Daedra." Liam replied. "But will you at least let me take care of you this once? For my sake?" he asked.

"You hardly know me, yet you care about me. Why?" Larka asked.

"Because you are part of my tribe, and from the moment I saw you in my dream I loved you." He said as he walked along the path.

"I don't believe in love at first sight." Larka said bluntly.

"Then give me a chance to win you over." Liam begged. "I promise I'll act as merely a friend."

"A friend I would welcome. Nothing more." Larka said firmly. "Become my friend if you wish."

"As you wish, WinterStar."

"You may call me Larka."