Extra info about the Outsiders:

1. Patriarchy is present in both camps, as you probably already noticed. The only difference in equality is that in the Pridelands the woman are considered just as important as men. They all carry an equally important task to keep the tribe alive. While the men go hunting, is it their task to watch over the children, guard the settlement, etc… While in the Outlands, well, the woman are often treated badly and are not as appreciated as in the Pridelands. There are only three woman in the Outlands: Gou, Chi-Gu and and an elder named Hou-Ta. Hou-Ta however, isn't really mentally stable. She prefers being alone and gets very angry when the men around her get too noisy. She literally throws a tantrum at them, but that doesn't stop the men from being continually abusive. Rin, Sei and Ai-Chi are of course the only ones that have a little respect. Because Gou is Rin's sister, the men keep their distance from her, since Rin can get aggressive. Rin is very protective of Gou, but also relies on her strengh, because Gou is not a weakling. Chi-Gu and Hou-Ta however, still receive the full load from the men.

I'm sorry Chigusa, I love you, but it's for the sake of the story.

2. The outsiders often use slang. The slang is a little pirate-like, they only don't go all 'savvy, and 'arrrrgh' or like something like, but when speaking towards the head, however, they use a bit more civilized language, since Go-Ru is of older age and was one of the tribe members that had joined Ru-O when he got banned from the Pridelands.

Sorry for any mistakes, please let me know if there are any!

PLEASE BE WARNED OF BLOOD/GORE AND VIOLENCE IN THIS CHAPTER.

After those particular words Rin had felt almost sick. But at the same time, satisfied. He hated to admit this feeling, but it was present. Rin despised Go-Ru, and it was a strange feeling to receive praise from someone he hated so much. Does it have to do with his position as a leader? Rin always had the inclination to prove himself. He wasn't doing this for Go-Ru, but since he was the leader, and thus a higher identity than himself, he somehow needed him to approve of his actions. Rin hated that double edged feeling, and it has pestered him ever since he was young.
Ai-Chi praised Rin a lot too of course, even way too much to Rin's liking. But Ai-Chi's a good supportive friend, and only having one friend standing behind Rin's decisions is just… not enough.

Rin heard screaming when he headed outside. At first Rin thought it was a really noisy bird but then realized the screaming came from a woman. It felt like a lump of ice had frozen his inside.

Gou.

"GOU!" Rin screamed. He ran around the cave and saw the screaming came from a nearer rock. He rushed there as fast as possible and could now make out his sister's red hair. She was sitting in front of Chi-Gu's spread legs. Both women were sweating, but Chi-Gu looked terrible. She was lying on the hard ground, crying. When Rin arrived he saw Gou was holding something in her arms that was letting out high pitched whiny noises. The ground was covered in blood. Gou turned around and looked at Rin. Despite the bags under her eyes, she looked very happy to see him. "Brother!" She exclaimed. Rin didn't reply and just came closer. He looked at the slimy crying mess she was holding. It seemed surprisingly healthy.

"It's alive, Chi-Gu… She is alive..."Gou muttered, voice crackling in emotion. Gou's eyes were getting teary and she carefully handed the child over to the mother. Chi-Gu, who was breathing hard, smiled and held the baby close to her chest. Gou meanwhile helped her get up and lean her back against the rock. Chi-Gu let out a noise that was something between a cry and a laugh. "She's… alive…" She sad with a smile, but it quickly fell into a grimace.
"Ko-To… wanted a boy…"Chi-Gu muttered. Her whole face was wet from the tears, and her messy brown hair was hanging in tangles in front of her eyes.

"Ko-To wants many things." Rin replied. "I'm happy for you."

Chi-Gu was Ko-To's partner. Ko-To desperately wanted a son and that's why he often forced himself upon Chi-Gu. She already had two miscarriages, and both of them had been a boy. Meaning that this was the first Chi-Gu has beared a child that was alive. A girl however, but still alive.

Gou huffed. "If Ko-To starts complainin', I will deal with him personally."

"No. You will stay put." Rin quickly ordered.

Later Ko-To and the others returned after saying that they'll be off looking for food. They came back and to Rin's surprise, they we're all covered in dirt, from head to toe. "Camouflage." Ku-Ro said bluntly. "Because you flooded the place with water we could mix it with the ground and cover ourselves. Came in quite handy. We got quite lotta foxes."

Rin scoffed. "No wonder the kids get sick for fuck's sake. Who came up with that idea?"

"Go-Ru."

He really doesn't give a damn, doesn't he.

Ko-To had returned some time later, holding a dead fox in his hands. He saw Chi-Gu and Gou sitting by the rock. He quickly ran to them, seeing what became of his child. When he looked between the child's legs he saw something that he severely disapproved of.

"A girl, you are fucking kiddin' me, Chi-Gu."

Rin, who didn't expect less from Ko-To's reaction, scoffed again, but didn't budge.

"Chi-Gu, you have givin' me two dead fuckin' babies and this is how you repay me, huh." He bend over his partner to take the baby away and give it his personal blessing, but Chi-Gu quickly backed away, screaming "NO!"

"Give it to me, already!"

"No… please… No no no…"

"Chi-Gu, you shit-…"

Before he could use his fists to get what he wanted, Gou stepped in and grabbed Ko-To's neck, making him waver back. "You. Will. Not. Fuckin'. Touch. Her. And. Her. Fucking… Child." She stood in front of him with her face in front of him, nose barely an inch away from his.
Rin is very protective of Gou, but also trusts her. Gou was strong and knew how to intimidate others when it was needed. Also, Rin couldn't resist watching Ko-To get embarrassed.

"Gou, stay away." Ko-To said, in a soft volume that amused Rin even more. He noticed from the way he was hesitating that Ko-To wanted to fight back, but since Ko-To was most likely aware that he was watching, he didn't. He stood back.

"Get up… get up, for fuck's sake." he sneered. The blue eyed boy stood up, staggering a little. He was soaked from head to toe. He was shivering quite badly, to his surprise. He held himself tightly with his frail arms, as if he's trying to protect himself. "What are ye doin'?" He asked. It was too strange. Did he really think he could come out alive by trembling? What an idiot.

"Y-you.. What? Protecting myself!" He replied. Is he sick?

"What, fo'real? Ya think shivering like a nutcase will bring ya that far?"

"I'm scared!" Oh, he's scared. Well he better be scared. He's about to get tacked with my spear if he dares to come near me again.
He has grown to hate everything that lives above the cliff. It is unfair. And then this kid dares to come here?

"Wow, scared ya definitely are! The hell, I knew it, Pridelanders are all the same. They've all they already need. Th'animals just lie dead in front of ya. Ya don't even need a hunt…"

All of the sudden the hyenas appeared. They looked hungry and out for some human flesh. Shit, he had to run. Should he leave the Pridelander here? He has more to give to the hyenas than him after all. Unfortunately Rin is not a coward and doesn't sacrifice other humans for his stead, so he took the Pridelander's hand and screamed.

"Shit, hyenas! Run, fattie, RUN!"

…

"Thank you, I am indebted to you. You were really brave."

What was this guy saying? And why was he smiling? What made Rin so warm all of the sudden? He stared at those big blue eyes that were shimmering in gratitude. He wore an expression that the redhead has only seen on Ai-Chi. Rin normally didn't receive such kindness for saving a life. And he thought he was brave?

"Uh…yeah." He muttered." 's what I do.. uh… the name's Rin, by the way."

"I'm Ha-Ru." The black-haired boy said, still smiling.

"Well, Ha-Ru" Rin said, trying to recollect himself, "Ye don't have to thank me. Running for me life is somethin' I do every day. It ain't new. An outsider doesn't need anybody. I take care of myself."

Ha-Ru just stood there with wide eyes, clearly infatuated by his totally different lifestyle. "Cool." He whispered."What were those things?"

"Hyenas." Rin explained. "Nasty beasts. Everyone hates them. They kill everythin' that lies in their way." And after Rin finished that particular sentence, he saw something approaching him. Or no, they were many figures approaching him. Humans. Oh no, Ha-Ru's tribe.

...

"Who are you? What were you doing to my son?" The woman screamed at him. He held Ha-Ru tightly in her arms, covering his eyes. Like she was trying to protect the boy from all possible horror in this world. But before Rin could even try and defend himself, his own tribe arrived. They climbed up from the cliff, looking surprised to find him sitting there, but mostly surprised because of the Pridelanders standing there.

"For fuck's sake, Rin! What were you doin'?" Go-Ru shouted.

"Go-Ru." A low intimidating voice came from behind him. Rin turned around and suddenly saw a tall, broad ruddy-haired man looking at him. He moved his eyes from Go-Ru and then to Rin. His eyes were very green and looked… really angry. Fear crawled up to Rin and made his body numb. Everything was growing numb. He couldn't see anymore.

"Fuck, Rin! Wake up!"

huh?

"RIN!"

Rin's eyes shot up and he was met with Sei's amber eyes. Sei was covered in sweat and has never looked so tense. "Rin! You're finally awake! Leave, leave! Hyenas.."

Rin heard them. Hyenas laughing. They were muffled sounds and to Rin's horror they didn't come from outside.

"Rin. They are in the fucking cave, right now! Leave!"

"I'm not gonna leave! Where's Gou?"

Sei didn't reply, instead he looked at him deeply concerned. What was that supposed to mean? Gou can't be in danger. She can fight back. Unless Sei is hiding something. Ignoring everything Sei has ordered him to do, Rin grabbed the nearest spear that was lying on the ground and headed further into the cave to look for her sister, still hearing the muffled sounds of the laughter. He saw spatters of blood on the ground. He could only guess who got killed and who didn't. Ko-To, Sei and Go-Ru were the ones who most likely must have survived. They've had enough experience with hyenas.

Rin was now running, his insides feeling colder and colder as fear crept up to him. It was almost making him numb. By the time Rin's was getting hysterical, shouting his sister's name repeatedly, he heard soft crying echoing the large space Rin occupied. Several rays of moonlight shone on the cold surface, revealing more blood spatters. The source of the laughing was getting nearer. Rin tried getting closer to the source, feet looking red from the blood he stepped on. He looked down and noticed the blood described a trail, one leading to a corner. As he neared closer the laughing went over in soft growling and, to Rin's utmost horror, flesh getting ripped apart. Someone was lying there, being eaten, and Rin couldn't see who.
Rin almost bounced back when he heard high pitched screaming coming nearer from behind him. He saw a blink of cherry red hair running past him and attacking the source of the growling. It was Gou who screamed and held a dagger steady in her arm. Ready to avenge whoever was being eaten right now.

"G-GOU!"

"NO! CHI-GU! NO!"

Rin ran as fast as he could, but stopped instantly when the growling stopped and ran over in a loud yelp, and then a short series of howling, admitting its defeat. Then a dagger fell with a loud clang, and everything went quiet. It was horribly still. He stepped closer and fell on his knees together with his sister when he noticed the corpse on the floor. The rays of moonlight has now reached the dark space were they we're standing and shone on Chi-Gu's blank eyes. She was covered in blood and had chunks of flesh missing on her limbs. He quickly withdrew his eyes from the corpse and joined Gou, who sat on the floor after letting out a elongated screech. He held her tightly and tried covering her eyes. At that moment, Rin didn't know anymore how much suffering the tribe could take. The children were sick, it stopped raining, food was getting scarcer as the days flew by. There was nothing to live for here, they were born to die.

The sight was just too horrible. Instead he looked at the stabbed beast that now lied on the ground behind the two, but saw something that now even looked worse. A much smaller heap of flesh, with little legs and arms… Rin's face pulled into a grimace and now felt tears stinging the corner of his eyes. Words couldn't describe the pain that now filled his body. It hurt. Trying to calm the ache in his heart that now stung terribly, he buried his face into Gou's neck, and tried lifting them both up. Trying to lead Gou and himself away from everything that hurts them. He pulled from his sister and pulled on one of Gou's arms, trying to tell her that they had to leave. With bloodshot eyes looking at her brother, she complied. They had to get themselves out of here. Away from the stench of blood and fear.

When they left the cave, and the harsh light of the moon made them blink their eyes, he saw all the tribe members sitting in a small circle in front of them, painfully quiet. They looked at him with faces that looked pale and worn out. Except Hou-Ta, who Rin hadn't seen all day, had her knees trapped together and had buried her face in it. All of them were unharmed, apart from Ku-Ro, who had a bite wound on one of his legs. And then there was Go-Ru. Go-Ru sat there, avoiding all possible eye contact with Rin.

The sadness that had occupied Rin had been replaced by pure genuine anger for Go-Ru. Without thinking twice he let go of his sister and surged towards the tribe's leader. He grabbed the man's shoulder and pushed him on the ground, legs now straddling his waist. Rin's face was now an inch away from Go-Ru and was trembling in rage. Rage that Rin has never felt before. He wanted to scream in Go-Ru's face, punch him, bite him, do all possible things that could harm him. But he didn't. He gritted his teeth and spoke, with breath heaving:

"Ya told…everyone… to fucking leave…without looking twice… did ya?" He spat out the last words menacingly. Go-Ru meanwhile kept his expression blank. Nose only in twitching a little in response. His breathed in slowly, trying to calm himself, and spoke up again.

"That fuckin' stinkin' plan of yours… will start tomorrow…" Rin said. "All of this bullshit… has to end."

"Brother..." Gou's soft voice came from behind.

...

I didn't like writing this chapter. I don't remember why I decided to let a character die like that and honestly, I feel bad for it. But I absolutely wanted to emphasize how distressing the situation in the Outlands is. So I really apologize for the readers that liked Chigusa, but I swear her death in the story will have a good influence on Gou and will make her a very contributing factor on the story. I swear that everything will be a lot better from now on. You have read the most violent chapter of the series.

Next chapter we will return to the Pridelands, and we'll see how the relationship between Ha-Ru and Ma-Ko continues.

Reviewers, and followers: Seriously, thank you so much for putting up with this story, and I really hope this chapter hasn't shocked you too much! :s

See you in a few days!