Ferals

Kijani's POV

“Kijani, what did you do? He passed out cold!” Tafari laughs. “And pissed his pants! Hahahaha!”

“Nothing, just smiled at him.” I shrug, throwing the man over my shoulder, heading back to where we found the group attempting to spy on our clan.

“That’s some smile, the man from yesterday did the same thing, pissed his pants and passed out!” Tafari cackles

“Yeah, well at least this one isn’t crying. Hopefully he will be able to tell us where they are keeping the children.” I say.

“If we can keep him alive, and conscious long enough to get any answers.” Tafari smirks.

“Go find Yazari and bring the horses.” I tell Tafari as I drop the man into a heap beneath a scraggly tree. “ I don’t want to smell like piss by the time we get back to the tribe.”

“Done.” Tafari smirks as Yazari comes riding through the brush, our horses in tow.

“They are getting bolder, this is the second raiding party they have sent in the last two days.” Yazari states as he hands Tafari the reins of the two horses trailing him.

“At least they were not successful in obtaining any more of our young this time. We need to get this one back to the main camp so he can be questioned by the elders. We also need to send out more sentinels, and move the main camp further east.” I say.

“It’s a little late in the season to be moving the main camp, don’t you think?” Yazari asks.

“Yes, but since they have begun stealing our young, we can’t afford to risk staying so close to their settlement. They leave us no choice.” I say.

“I agree,” Tafari announces, “but the real question here is, who is riding double with pissy pants?”

Yazari and I trade looks, “You are.” We say in unison. Tafari groans in complaint, and throws the man across the back of his horse.

“Fine, but he’s walking as soon as he wakes up.” He grumbles.

Four hours later we arrive at the main camp. As we dismount several members of our tribe hurry over, panic clearly marking their features.

“Kijani! Kijani we were attacked!” Elder-man Ethosi pants as he approaches.

“What? When? Was anyone taken…killed?” I fire off rapidly.

“About six or seven hours ago, they came in from eastern side of camp. They took four children and killed three of our women. They ambushed them while they were bathing in the hot springs. We sent trackers after them, but they lost them in the Barrens.” His lip trembles as he turns to face Yazari, “ I’m so sorry Yazari… Jenin was one of the women at the hot springs.”

Yazari roars and turns to the prisoner tied to lead from Tafari’s mount. He tackles the man to the ground and starts beating him, screaming his anguish as the loss of his wife. Tafari and I grab him and try to jerk him off the prisoner.

“We need him alive…” Tafari grunts.

“Get off me!” Yazari growls.

“He’s the only way we have to find the children!” Elder-man Ethos yells from the side.

“I’ll kill him, I’ll kill them all!” Yazari hisses through clenched teeth.

“We will brother, we will, I promise, you will have your revenge.” I vow as we pull him off the prisoner.

“Take him and tie him to the stakes.” I order Elder-man Ethosi, as Tafari leads Yazari away. “And gather the council in the central tupek.”

“Yes, Sachem Kijani.” He answers as he yanks the prisoners rope bound hands, dragging him to the stakes in the center of camp.