Noah sat atop a grassy hill relishing the gentle breeze as it rustled his hair and carried white clumps of cottonwood seeds that fell like snow around him. The bright white sun warmed his skin and he inhaled the spring air deeply, savoring the peaceful pleasure of solitude. He gazed down upon the copse of trees where his people milled about, and he smiled to see the last of them back on their feet. A month had passed since their battle with the beast army. Their injuries had been so grave that only after all this time could they consider leaving. The first few days had been the worst, his dream about Julie had eaten at him as the image of Julie’s distraught face cycled through his brain. He couldn’t up and leave his people though, regardless of his concern for her and Kyle. His people had needed him, especially with so many wounded in the hostile environment. His caution had proven to be fitting too, with stray beasts striking at them with regularity, likely drawn in by the scent of blood and the remains of the battle. Small groups of beasts had begun to attack them with more frequency in the last week, though they weren’t particularly strong compared to the foes they had faced from the kingdom.
Noah relived the battle on the daily, often considering what he would have done differently or how he could have been better. All of his musings had led to a single irrefutable truth, however. He had been powerless. Sure, he could have had better tactics and leadership initiative. He could have stayed beside Ga’To and Di’Ma, doing his best to deliver them from their fate. Perhaps he could have more masterfully used his domain to relay intimate details about their foes to his companions. He would do these things in their battle, but when it came down to it his greatest failing had been clear from the first blow. He had lacked the strength to face his enemy head-on. He wasn’t the type to craft masterful strategies or slink around behind the scenes for a hidden advantage–no he was the one who went toe to toe with the bad guy while the others took care of the rest. And in that regard, he had failed. He wasn’t beating himself up about it anymore, there wasn’t any need to—the marked graves accomplished that task without any help. No, his time of regret had passed and he looked to the future. He wouldn’t be so powerless the next time.
His month had passed in a blur of training, monster hunting, and meditation. He hadn’t grown in leaps and bounds but his foundations felt more solid, more reliable. After months of tumultuous times, the consistency had done wonders for his nerves and though he still slept fitfully from time to time he had come to a certain amount of peace as the weeks stretched on. Now though the itch was back as the last of his tribe regained their strength, and he had dreamt of Julie for several nights in a row. His last meeting had left a bit of a sour taste in his mouth, as she had seemed to disregard his warnings, but it didn’t change anything for him. If they were in trouble, strangers that they were, he would rush to their aid. Perhaps it was folly or misplaced heroism clouding his judgment but he struggled to believe that their meeting was just by chance. And if there was even a speck of truth to that, then he considered it his responsibility to at least try to help.
Noah sighed, realizing that his meditation had once again turned to anxious wondering. He brushed the accumulated cotton from his new furs and stood up, taking a moment to stretch after the prolonged seated position. One of the perimeter scouts caught his eyes and nodded, no doubt assuring that any movement was investigated in case of attack. There would be no more bunny mishaps on his watch. Noah began walking down the hill, immediately catching sight of Un’Dal. Just the orc I want to see.
He waved for the healer’s attention, noting the tired lines on the man’s face. Ah. Noah realized that while his battle had been over for a month, Un’Dal’s was just coming to an end. He grasped the healer's arm in a warrior's embrace.
“What can I do for you, No’Ah?” Un’Dal asked.
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“Nothing.” Noah started, shaking his head. “I just wanted to thank you for all that you’ve done. If not for your efforts, most if not all of us would already be dead. It has become clear to me that you are one of the most important resources in our tribe, and I want to make sure you know that.” Noah said. Un’Dal gave a tired but genuine smile.
“Thank you, No’Ah. This last month has indeed been trying, but I have also grown at an accelerated rate. When we started I could heal one person at a time, perhaps two but with lowered efficacy. Now I can heal three or four at a rate superior to an individual patient prior to the battle. Part of that is due to my most recent advancement. At level 150 my class became Supporter, specializing in healing groups over time. While I have lost some of my immediate burst healing, my spells will have more potency in battle as I can heal several people over time.” Un’Dal gushed, his pallor being replaced with the vibrant red once again. Noah smiled, glad both for the news but also for the well-being of his friend.
“That’s good to hear. I have noticed that everyone seems to be back on their feet. Are they safe to travel?” Noah asked, getting to the heart of the matter. Un’Dal nodded.
“After another night of sleep they should be as good as new. I believe we can leave as soon as tomorrow morning.” He said, the emphasis on tomorrow clear in his voice. Noah chuckled.
“As the doctor orders.” He laughed before wishing Un’Dal well and seeking out his next target. While his tribe had become accustomed to a nomadic lifestyle there were still logistics that needed taking care of before their sudden departure. Now that Ro’Kar was legend, the details that had been picked up without his knowledge finally rested upon his shoulders. To Noah, this only meant one thing. It was time to delegate.
“Ta’Ku!” Noah shouted, seeing his target across the clearing, and running to catch up.
“My loyal friend and only Dan’Kar! I was hoping you could help me with something.” Noah said, hiding the chuckle that threatened to escape his lips. Ta’Ku frowned and he scanned Noah’s face for the tell-tale signs of a scheme that would likely make his life more difficult. He sighed, knowing all too well that his fate was sealed.
“No’Ah, what can this most loyal orc do for you?” He replied, his forced smile adding to the humor that Noah found in the exchange. Noah considered their past together and the humbling experience he had trying to keep pace with the deer. Perhaps it was time to give his friend a break. He nodded to himself, before turning his attention to a now-puzzled Ta’Ku.
“I just wanted to let you know that we are leaving tomorrow, and ask if you would pass the info around. Other than that, have you seen Ne’Ja?” Noah asked. Ta’Ku let out a relieved breath feeling like he had just escaped a trap by the skin of his teeth.
“Oh, yeah I would be happy to let people know. And I think Ne’Ja was sparring with Me’Zin just west of the camp.” Ta’Ku explained. Noah nodded gratefully and wished Ta’Ku well before resuming his search.
He eventually managed to track her down, burdening her with his logistical concerns such as how to feed everyone on their trek back to the tribe and who would cook and carry all of the needed supplies. She had taken it well enough, though he could have sworn the sounds of sparring were louder after he left. He shrugged and made his way back to camp. Now that everything was set in motion it would only be a matter of time before he could return down the mountain.
That thought brought back his logistical plight however as he considered the expansive amount of time it would take to make the trip. He didn’t exactly want to make the trip alone, but leading everyone on another several-month journey made up almost entirely of running felt cruel. He faced a dilemma though, if there was a fight to be had with the elves, he may very well need their help. If his dream was just that, then they would have made the trip for nothing. The easy answer would be to take a small group, but his closest companions had become key members of the tribe, especially so in Ro’Kar’s absence. He believed that he could at least count on Recter’s presence as he had expressed interest in meeting another of his people.
As the evening waned, Noah found himself restless unable to shake the feeling that every moment he waited was something more that Julie or Kyle would suffer. What he had seen on the rankings hadn’t eased his worries either. As soon as it was feasible for him to leave, he would be sprinting down the mountain at a pace even the deer would respect.
