The mage wasn't surprised at his outburst, she had known all about his childhood, she had predicted it, because there was word before that there would be a leader, that was meant to be, and it was him. The mage said nothing and let him leave, hearing Renn get up outside the tent.
Renn flashed him a look, one saying what-happened? She took hold of his arm, giving it a small squeeze before tugging him.
"We must head back, supper must be almost ready."

(( Hey, sorry for such late notice, but I won't be on in the weekend... just so you know.. ))

Ahmad did not answer Renn as she left him, he just followed behind her quietly. Honestly, he wasn't hungry, and would likely avoid dinner tonight, making some excuse, and going to his tent. "I..." He started, barely above a whisper. That meeting had just drained him, the whole day had, and he was ready to get some rest, and leave it all behind when he woke up in the morning. "I do not wish to eat." he finished, looking at Renn. She was the only one who dared to even argue with him, or speak out of turn. She was his sister, as far as he was concerned, even if they didn't come from the same womb. With all that was going on, he forgot about the news he was supposed to give, about the migration, about everything.

Renn looked at Ahmad, and said nothing. She was slightly surprised, but she could understand, after all that he'd been through today. But before she was going to let him not have supper, she realized he had a few announcements to make and that he was planning to do them for supper. Her eyes widened before she took a deep breath and nodded. "Do you want me to announce our move?" she asks.

Ahmad sighed unhappily, looking at Renn. "Yes, you may take my place in the announcement. Join with Tanith, make sure everyone finds out." He waved her away with the simple flick of his wrist. Something was troubling him, this could be seen, but it didn't seem he was talking to Renn. Even if he cared for her dearly, and talked about nearly anything with her, it wasn't a secret that he did keep some things secret, mostly because he thought she was just too young to know, or have to deal with it.

In his mind, he resolved that he would go talk with Bale, see about finding out more information, as well as explain a few more rules. This boy had to make some choices, and tonight was as good of time as any. Without another word, or waiting for an answer, he turned on his heels, making off for the tent in which Bale would be eating, with his guard. He also wanted to assure them that he should be welcomed, for it was likely clear feelings towards this boy were not welcoming.

Renn nodded and skipped away, no longer feeling like questioning. In search of Tanith, she headed off to find her tent.
Meanwhile, Bale had just gone back to his tent, obviously giving up ever trying to feel welcome here, and felt slightly chilled at what he had seen earlier. Seeing his things displayed on the floor, how he had left them, he noticed something was missing. He gasped, he shouldn't have left them here alone!
"Stupid stupid stupid.." he ended up muttering, walking around in circles.
But, in place of his missing object, was a letter. He frowned.

Ahmad sighed softly as he walked, making his way to the tent. He had stood outside of it for a moment, hearing the boy speak. A frown crossed his face, "You shouldn't insult my clan like that." His voice echoed softly across the clearing as he peaked into the tent in which the boy stood. This boy was a huge mistake, he had to of been, no one would respect him after all of this. Yet, how could Ahmad not? It was him in this same position so long ago, wasn't it? Except, he had really broken the code of the forest. Not on purpose, of course, he was never taught them, he was a boy of the wild, and did what he thought he needed to survive.

Bale was taken by surprise when Ahmad had heard him muttering 'stpid' over and over, and he shook his head. "No no.. I wasn't.." he said, but he didn't think he could change Ahmad's thoughts now. He glanced back at the letter before looking at Ahmad again. Should he know about what Bale saw? Bale wasn't sure, and he watched Ahmad carefully.
"Has there ever been any other people trespassing your territory besides myself?" he asks.

Ahmadrsyl looked to the boy, leaning casually against the support to the tent. "Trespassers?" He questioned, more just repeating the word to himself. It rolled smoothly off his tongue, a small hiss as he speaks the 's'. He thought for a moment, though he knew the answer, then looked to the boy. "No, you are the unfortunate one to of wandered onto our lands." A laugh escaped his pale lips, and he closed his eyes for a moment.

Straightening himself, he took a few steps forward, until his was but inches from Bale. "Why do you ask?" This had peaked his interests, and made him momentarily forget why he had even come here, and what he planned to ask the boy.

Bale nodded at the answer and stared at the floor thinking. It was so easy for me to trespass, what makes it any difficult for others? Maybe the reason that thing he had seen was here was because it was so easy and whatever he wanted or placed in their tribe would spread to other tribes easily, perhaps, a sickness? Bale closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and still with his eyes closed, avoided the gaze from Ahmad.
"I...do you trust me?" he asks, ignoring the leaders question.

"No. I don't know you, and cannot trust you. But I do not believe you are the problem of the forest." Ahmad sighed and shook his head. In a way, he just wished this boy was, that would of solved a lot of problems. Now he has to keep this boy, deal with him, and still there is someone out there in the forest messing with everything. "Tell me boy, what are you on about." Clearly he was trying to tell him something, but was stalling... Something was up, which is why he wanted to leave. It would be better to get away from this forest, before something even worse happened.

Bale nodded at his answer, it was acceptable, his answer, but it didn't make anything any easier than it was. He shook his head. "You'll think it was me if I told you." he whispers, looking up at the leader now, right in his eyes. "I know you would... it wasn't you who had the idea of keeping me here, it was that... friend of yours, the girl." he says, and continues, "You did think it was me in the beginning.. what changed?"

Ahmadrsyl shook his head and turned away, looking out the tent for a moment, the stars appearing in the dark sky. Hardly dinner time and it was dark already... Clearly it was time to move. "I was just like you... I was the boy in the forest, innocent and lost." He turned and looked at Bale, "But do not avoid the question, what are you talking about? Do not hide things from me, or I will insure that they do not go easy on you. You're fate is in my hands, and it seems my position as a leader is in yours. If you know what is good for you, you will not mess with me." There was a stern look on his face, he was clearly not kidding.

Bale nodded. It seemed only a little more than a coincidence that they depended on eachother for two different but important things, and he liked it more than nothing at all, atleast it'd give both of them a chance.
"I dont know." he starts, but before Ahmad can interrupt him, he continues, "It was already dark, but I had laid out all my things neatly here.." he says, pointing at the remaining objects on the floor, "when I hear something outside. I looked outside and my guard was no where to be seen, and there was something... lingering in the shadows. I couldn't see what it was. I quickly had gone to a pair of bushes beside the tent and waited for about an hour or two, but there was nothing. So I went to look for you or the girl, I bumped into her and then went back to the tent. Basically. And well, now I find my axe missing, and what replaced it was a letter." he explained, he picked up at the letter and handed it to Ahmad, glancing for a split second at the reaction.

Ahmad listened to the explanation, shaking his head. This wasn't what he wanted to hear. Another issue in the forest? But at least this meant that it hopefully wasn't this boy, and he could prove the other clans wrong, and wouldn't be kicked from the lands. Of course though, that meant someone else to be caught, this was the last thing they needed before the move. Would the move even be safe? They would be more tired, in small, less safe homes, perhaps even more vulnerable. Really, he wasn't sure what all of this meant.

He unfolded the letter that the boy handed him, not sure what to expect it to say. His eyes looked to the boy for a moment before they fell to the paper, attempting to make sense of the words...

// You need help to know what the letter could say? \\

[[Yeah, I don't know where you're going with it, so I figured you had a letter in mind. ]]

// haha, I was actually clueless with the letter.. but I think i have an idea XD

http://www.chinatownconnection.com/images/earth.gif

This can be on the letter. It means something, this symbol. I'm going to make it mean a place, you can choose if you like, [i.e. in the mountains up north, in the valley to the west, etc..] but we'll make it that they don't understand what it actually means if they have figured out what the symbol represents, I mean.. what about the place? Thats what we'll find out. Good? :) \\

[[Sounds good. I'll just post ^^]]

Ahmad looked over the letter carefully, it was nothing more than a symbol scrawled onto the piece of hide. The symbol, he had seen it somewhere before... On a standard, perhaps, or in someones paints. He dropped his arms to hide side, trying to think. "This symbol..." He started, looking to the boy, "... I've seen it, in the east, days away from us." He looked around the small tent, trying to figure out exactly why they would leave this note, whoever they were, and what all of it was supposed to mean. He couldn't take his tribe there, that was far from the path of the winter march, and he couldn't risk it. "The place is pass the mountains, a valley of sorts."

Bale watched the man's reaction to the letter. He seemed slightly relieved, until he realized what was happening. The symbol on the letter hardly gave any clues as to what it meant! Bale shook his head with a frown, thinking to himself.
The words that came from Ahmad's lips were shocking. Who would go? "I can go... that is..." he said, not even finishing his sentence. Ahmad could think that Bale was just trying to escape, rather than travelling east to where he would really need to go if he did. Bale watched him silently.

Ahmad looked at the boy, then to the symbol once more, shaking his head. "You are not going anywhere. None of us will go, I cannot risk my tribe, chasing a silly note, nor can I let you out if my sight. You are my responsibility." He didn't have time to be chasing down some strange note, or after this silly boy, he made a note to make sure the guard kept a better eye on him. This shouldn't of even happened, the guard should of been around. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "Do not even leave this hut, boy." He said with a stern glare as he crumpled the note in his hand and dropped it to the ground. Once outside he scanned the area for the guard, and when he caught sight of him, he sighed and made his way over there to have a talk with him. That was it, they were going to have to leave sooner, here was not very safe anymore. "I must find Tanith..." he grumbled to himself as he made for the guard. When there you could see him shouting angrily, making random gestures.

Bale sighed as Ahmad left, he knew he shouldn't have told him. This was no silly note, if he chose to avoid it, more danger would crowd the forests! What was Ahmad thinking? Shaking his head, he sighed once more. What was he to do? He knew what to do. He'd just have to go himself, even if it most likely meant he was the 'baddy' all along, he didn't care, he had to protect the forest. He peeked outside, watching as the guard curtly nodded at Ahmad as he shouted, and left him to stand guard near his tent. He couldn't leave now. His stomach rumbled and he smiled mischievously.
"Hey you!" he called, and the guard turned in confusion. "Yes you.. I'm hungry! Can I please go get some food?" he asks with a rub of his stomach. The guard seemed to hesitate, but he'd made his decision shortly after. He shook his head. Bale's face fell. No matter how much he begged the guard seemed to be taking Ahmad's orders rather effectively.

Tanith was in her tent, sharpening her knife. She knew dinner was almost ready, but she knew it would take more than usual. Somehow because of their late move, they are having trouble with getting food. She shook her head. They needed to leave, NOW. She also needed to talk to Ahmad. The more she thought about him, the more the ache in the pit of her stomach grew. Something bad was happening, she could feel it, but she didn't know what. Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought, and went back to her knife sharpening.

"Tanith?" Ahmad whispered as he stood outside of her tent, "Can I talk with you?" He had to tell her something, had to convince her it would be good to move now. Honestly, he didn't believe the letter was nothing, but he couldn't send a small boy out either, that would be dumb. A sigh escaped him as he waited on Tanith.

Renn skipped across camp, humming to herself. She had a skin, in it some food from the dinner. She wasn't sure if they were going to feed Bale, so she figured she might as well do it for them. It was a few moments before she found herself outside, arguing with the guard, who seemed reluctant to let her in. "Please, he needs to eat at some point! Ahmadrsyl would be angry if he died on your watch." With those words, the guard let her through, and she peeked in the tent, "Bale? I brought some food..."

Tanith almost tripped on her own feet because of Ahmad. Her knife cluttered to the floor and from outside the tent you could hear a few bangs, someone falling, someone muttering a curse, and then finally coming to the entrance of the tent, with a slightly pained smile.
"Oh..! Come in." she says and steps back to let him in. "I have a bad feeling Ahmadrysl." she says, and when she uses his whole name, its no joke. She paced back forth as she thought, before she stopped and turned to him. "You have news?"

Bale scrambled to his feet when Renn made her appearance. "H-hi.." he stammered. He had been so lost in thought he hadn't thought he'd be having any visitors. Atleast someone was on his side. And with food. He almost fell on his knee's at the sight of food. Without trying to seem desperate, Bale scrambled forward, taking the skin carefully in his hands.
"Thanks." he murmurs with a smile, before sitting and taking out the contents. Some fresh warm bread, and deer sliced in delicate pieces, and salmon cakes. Delicious. Settling for the bread and deer meat first, he ate them as his mouth watered. He stopped eating and looked at her then.
"What are you doing here?" he asks, he doesn't mean to be rude, but he's confused. He frowns as he watches her.

Ahmad heard everything, almost laughing, until he heard Tanith using his full name. He shook his head as he looked at her, entering the tent. "We need to leave soon. I am thinking the day after tomorrow, if at all possible." He started, sitting down on the ground, trying to just calm his mind. Things were moving fast, and this was difficult to try and understand. A sigh escaped him as he closed his eyes, his hands over his eyes. "What is your bad feeling, Tanith?" He questioned, looking up at her.

"I couldn't let you starve." Renn said with a smile, sitting down on the ground and watching him. She sighed, "Plus, it must be lonely in here by yourself." She played with the beaded necklace she wore, absentmindedly humming as he ate. She might get in trouble from Ahmad, but it didn't matter, she wanted Bale to know that she was here, that he wasn't alone in this. "Ahmad not very different from you."