Sarnaut's greatest legends span the dawn of existence and beyond the understanding of even the most advanced of its races. The great cataclysm meant fragmentation, tension, lost history and subsequently war. Division into factions along with rapid technological advancement, meant propaganda and war spreading to all corners of the scattered world. Greed, pride and power fuelled corruption on all sides, creating room for bigger threats like the demon invasion to develop. Pain and confusion were rife across the Allods, a fight for the lost world, an ongoing quarrel and bloodied bickering for something neither the league heroes, nor the Imperial warlords, other scattered tribes or even the Great Mages could ever get back…

I HOWLEM

"So Nibiru, you suddenly become so deep, ha. Now you are no longer soft-paw and you want to know how world came to be? You want to know why the pale-faced tailless men and the dead steel-gods war for generations? Look Jahn-Kah, she think she so special now after her first taste of blood."

Luhmi flicked her thick dark hair behind her ears as a wide toothy grin formed across her face and her yellow eyes glittered mockingly.

"You falter and nearly die, cub. Almost swallowed by forest like helpless vole for dinner. Barely escape death. You are not enlightened and will not make it far from Howlem with any of those flat land beasts!"

Jahn-Kah stood up and growled loudly in her direction.

"Silence Luhmi! Enough is enough. It is the cub's decision where She goes now... she is of age…"

pain filled his eyes as he tried not to look at her.

"She is not warlord or propagandist! they take her away, cut her up and do experiment to her! If must go, at least she go with league where they all soft, could always eat them if they try kill her, ha!"

"I said ENOUGH!"

Jahn-Kah slammed his fist on the table, almost knocking everything down. Neither of them had seen him so tense and angry in a long time, but it was to be expected. Nibiru had always been lucky from birth, left in the forest as a newborn by her blood parents who were too young to care for her, and almost being eaten alive by a snake. Luckily she was rescued by local wolf chieftains and mercifully brought to the safest Howlem village in the East where she was adopted. Her adoptive parents put up with her differences from the rest of the Priden community and were constantly her shield from scrutiny and harm. Now she had chosen to leave Howlem to study magic and develop technologies for the Empire, they were terrified.

She anxiously looked back and forth at both of them, feeling guilty and trying not to show how weak she felt in that moment. It was not the priden way to show fear and weakness. When the tension in the air subsided, she finally swallowed hard, and spoke.

"I believe I am ready. I understand many of the languages well, I'm brainy, and… I mean... I know I'm small and you guys think I can't defend myself but if you would only understand the immense power I can gain from the studies of arcane ma-"

"Hai-iish! ath-cha! ahh rha ou'iith ha, hyt! sii'akh ha rrha! shoyshh!"

Luhmi slammed her dish down on the table and frantically pulled at her hair as she hastily stepped out of the room shouting and cursing. This is not how Nibiru had hoped the family dinner would go.

A deep sadness and rejection filled her but she could not cry right away. She had been toughened up and conditioned to bottle her feelings amongst most of the elders.

She looked up at Jahn-Kah promisingly, hoping for some sort of comfort. He breathed heavily with a deep, outward sigh.

"Da?.."

she said, a hint of brokenness in her voice.

Jahn-Kah reached his paw out and she ran to him and buried her head deep in his fur, listening to his strong, slow heartbeat. A quiet sob came from the shaking cub and he cupped her face in his large paws, looking at her with a smile and wiping her tears.

"Young chief!" he said to her affectionately.

"You are not really crying are you my Ninili? Strongest, smartest mage of all times? Great Priden ambassador for the Empire?" He winked at her and she began to smile back with twinkling eyes as inspiration filled her.

"I'm not crying!" She said, baring her teeth and showing her best war face

"I never cry!"

She held up her wand triumphantly and created a small ice flurry of dancing lights in the air.

"That's my Ninili! You will make Da proud someday, do what you must to serve your purpose in this world and time; The Light and the ancesors will make it clear as you age and become a Great-Claw. Represent your clan well, whatever you do- make us known for the ages!"

"This I will Da, I promise. You and Ba will both be so proud of me when my name makes it into the great legends of the lost world!"

She giggled uncontrollably and danced around him, picking up her belongings to head to Residence for her blessing at the Hermitage temple, then jumped back into his arms to give him a big kiss.

"Thank you for believing in me, Da! I promise this day to make our clan one of the greatest in the Legends!"

"Ahh-rhou'ii my Ninili, remember to stay humble. Do not let their foolish ways change your heart. The tailless men of the outside world are greedy and corrupted with lies. I am scared for you, in all honesty. It hurts this big old Priden to see his little girl go. More than I could possibly show."

He stood up slowly, at least a head taller than her and almost twice as wide at the shoulders, and bowed his head, his large auburn eyes becoming sad and solemn looking and his wide, strong jawline in a pout.

Nibiru giggled and playfully chucked him under the chin.

"Ho, Jahn-Kah! Becoming soft like a ripe paw paw. Straighten up, GreatClaw!"

"Yes Chief!" He growled, straightening out his back, becoming even taller, and holding his arm across his chest, war face on, in Priden salute.

After a short moment of laughter he knelt and placed a paw on her shoulder.

"My Ninili... you must talk to Ba before you go."

She pouted furiously and flattened her ears.

"I know you do not want for that, but it is important to swallow your pride. No matter what was said, she is your Baba. You wouldn't be here without her."

She scowled at him and folded her arms, determined to resist.

"At least promise me- and ath-cha, this is the last promise I ask from you- speak with her before you leave Howlem. If you will not do it for you both, then at least do it for me."

She growled, then sighed, and mumbled softly under her breath,

"Ah-ho, Da. I will do it."

Jahn-Kah grinned and gave a loud, roaring laugh, patting her back gently. "My Ninili. So wise beyond your years. Now go young chief, make it to the temple for your blessing before sundown. There the Golases will enlighten you; You will be acknowledged, receive your blessing, and you will begin your story. I will see you again soon, chief."

Nibiru swiftly turned around, reconsidering heading to Residence without speaking to Luhmi first, but it wasn't yet time.

"How long Da… how long will I be there?"

"It Depends, kylys. Some Priden are there for less than a day. Some are there for weeks. Some do not leave."

She shivered

"Where do those ones go?!"

"It depends what is in their hearts, and down to fate and destiny. The Priden way is that no one else can intervene in your story. You stated that you are ready, it is in your heart, it is in your eyes, I see it clearly when I see you. So I am not worried about you going there. Now leave before it is dark! I don't want you to be swallowed by the forest."

She nodded sharply and saluted as he smiled back at her, eyes glistening with emotion, and then ran out of the door, swinging her small bag over her shoulder.