The Wise One walked back to his camp, thoughts entwining through his expansive and wisened brain. He was a unique Ancient; where as his fellow Ancients were cold and at sometimes animalistic, he was thoughtful, and sometimes even sympathetic.
But his mind was set in discontent. he wasn't fighting for any visible cause, nothing was becoming of killing his own race. He believed that the main reason this war had started was because of something the Elders had done.
He stopped at the entrance to his camp, which was shielded by thick fir trees. No enemies could get through them unless they used fire to burn the trees down. Even this tactic would alert the Na'ukiq, who would then go out and eliminate the attackers. The entrance was heavily guarded by extremely skilled Na'ukiq Archers who would kill anyone not Na'ukiq.
Within the camp were tepees: thick wood poles in a tripod shape covered with thick, coarse material and lashed together. Looming over the tents were totem poles; Dreamcatchers and old weapons hanging from their outstretched arms. The camp smelt of burnt wood.
The Wise One nodded to the two Na'ukiq Ancients on guarded, and tiredly headed to his tent to sleep.
Empyrean's dark green eyes surveyed the valley below. No movement whatsoever. No other Ancients dared to pass through the valleys of Canuke.
Empyrean was part of the Canukeiq: Ancients of the Mountains. Empyrean's dark brown hair hung over his face, tattoos adorned his bare arms, shoulders and torso. His mouth was set in a thin line, eyes intently watching the dried up riverbed below.
Behind him sat a blonde Canukiq, same colour eyes, holding a spear. "Nu'unga?" the blonde Ancient said, Empyrean was silent. And then he replied. "Tavisii." His accent was slow but clear, with some resemblance to the Unukitiq Ancients. Empyrean also appeared to be annoyed about something.
The blonde Canukeiq then spoke in Unukiit. "Something is bothering you." Empyrean didn't look at him. "When did you work that out, eh?" Empyrean said sarcastically. Silence. And then Empyrean got up to survey the horizon. Plumes of black smoke drifted into the air from beyond the mountain range, but there were no sounds of fighting.
Finally, Empyrean said, "Do not start lecturing me about questioning my superiors, but I believe this is pointless." The blonde Canukeiq answered immediately. "But you said you do not now what to believe anymore." "Maybe I was seeking the meaning of all this only to find nothing." Empyrean turned his gaze back to his friend. "And that is what I found. Nothing. "
The wood block was clear against the shimmering background of the lake. Sigil inhaled deeply, opened his eyes, and brought the pike down on the block, sundering it into two pieces. Watching the remainders fall to the ground, the Volatauiq Ancient hefted the long weapon onto his shoulder.
Buildings dominated the area behind him, but a lake spanned the gap between him and the looming mountains of Canuke. His red eyes scanned the lake and the ominous mountains intently, as if looking for attack, but there was nothing.
Grunting, he turned and approached another Volatauiq Ancient called Stave. Sigil's black hair flickered in the wind that was picking up. His features looked threatening under the mass of black hair, and Stave looked askance.
When Sigil spoke, his accent was rough. "What's up?" He said, his gaze flicking from Stave to the floor. Stave said, "I'm fine, nervous though." All around were the sounds of weapons being sharpened or training being carried out. "What are you nervous about? The Canukeiq? I doubt they'll try to attack to be honest." Sigil said.
Stave looked wary at Sigil's outward concern, he had never known Sigil to be like this. "Honestly I think it's all coming to an end." Sigil said, sitting down on a barrel. "At least, I hope it is. The Scandiniq people are staying well out of it and the Canukeiq are following their actions. They've always been wiser than us, I wish our leaders were like them." Stave sat down on a barrel opposite.
"There's a lot going on elsewhere, I don't know what we're waiting for." Sigil said finally. Stave asked "What do you mean?"
Sigil didn't look at him when he replied. "The Unukiitiq are seeing their leaders rebuild an oppression again, just like the empire they brought down so many years ago. We should be helping them out, not pointlessly waiting for the Northerners to attack." Stave didn't reply, but began sharpening his spear.
A figure walked barefoot across ice-covered ground, bright katana in the left hand. The Unukit's dark brown hair was tied in a ponytail and his eyes were closed. He stopped dead in the centre of the lake he was standing on.
The swordsman's name was Yusai. He had been in meditation and his mind was sharper than the elegant sword he held in his grip. Two Shadows fell from above and then tried to sweep Yusai's legs from under him. Yusai jumped and kicked at the same time, catching one Shadow in the side of the head. The Shadow went sliding across the ice hard.
The second Shadow drew out two long knives and rushed Yusai from behind. Yusai slammed his katana into the ice, sending small fissures outwards, and waited. The first Shadow got onto its knees and nodded, giving a signal. The second Shadow rushed forward, knives raised.
Yusai dropped to the floor and brought his legs around as the second Shadow charged. The Shadow hit the ice heavily and Yusai followed up with a downward strike to the centre of the ribs, making the second Shadow curse in pain. The Shadow fired a lame punch into Yusai's face, and Yusai brought his foot down on his enemy, sending him through the ice.
The first Shadow didn't give up so easily. He got up on all fours and prepared to charge Yusai. Yusai paused, facing away from the remaining Shadow, listening. His katana was in an arm's reach. The Shadow charged soundlessly, still crouched like an animal.
Yusai unexpectedly turned around to deliver a heavy blow to the Shadow's head. Using his right hand, he grabbed his katana and brought the blunt edge of it up into the Shadow's face. His left arm slammed the Shadow's head through the ice as it tried to draw out an assassin knife. He pulled the Shadow's masked face out of the freezing water and threw his now unconscious attacker to one side.
Yusai's eyelids snapped open, revealing piercing light brown eyes.