Forgotten - 2

"I defended my charge. I did not go looking for a fight, but I retaliated as needed. The attacker will likely only have scars, and his life is under no risk." Cislunar explained, shrugging his bags off as he looked at the Forgotten member who was less than pleased. 

And why should they be? Yeah, self defense, but that would be a weak excuse when the hit clan came calling for answers and action. Explanations would need to be given, some way to smooth over the inevitable ruffled feathers and anger that was likely brewing. Something Xayah was increasingly stressed about as she looked around from Cislunar to the others. 

"They're going to be enraged over this!" Xayah exclaimed, her mind running a mile a minute as she tried to think of what they were going to have to do to rectify this situation. What do haedians even want in exchange? They'd just met this clan, and it was a matter of whatever you could get your hands on. How was she supposed to even begin to fathom offering ways to placate these other clans? What if she just added insult to injury by somehow breaking a social norm

Shouts of alarm and panic sounded all too soon, the group seeming to tense up as a collective whole. The clan was here? Already?? They'd barely begun to scrounge up the semblance of a plan! Xayah's ears were pinned and her tail was lashing as she hurried with Cislunar and the other Forgotten to meet the angry clan members, the runner being faced with the fact that an angry haedian certainly seemed much larger and menacing when compared to a mellow and friendly one. Especially when it was a large group of very angry haedians.

"Thieves!" A reddish hued female snarled at them, gaze fixating in on Cislunar with an almost predatory intensity. Her anger was clear, and while she wasn't the leader from what was hurriedly explained to Xayah, she was still not one to brush aside. "We've barely tolerated your grating existence before, but now? Now you come into our homes and attack us?"

"It was never mea-"

"And what in the Matriarch are those?" The haedian hissed, gesturing sharply at the various resosans that seemed oh so small when faced with the haedians. Xayah's jaw audibly snapped shut when she was cut off, hating every second of this confrontation. It was like she could cut the tension and stress with a knife. "Sending these new beings to do your dirty work? They must be like rats then, if they're doing your bidding!"

"We never meant to cause harm!" Xayah all but shouted to be heard over the gradually increasing volume of anger and stress. "We stole, yes, but we were never there to cause harm. My guard, Cislunar, only defended me and I am sorry it came to bloodshed at all. But what else do you suggest the Forgotten do for food or supplies? Look at them!"

Xayah gestured broadly to their current hosts, her own frustration with how poor their conditions were helped her push aside the ever burrowing needle of anxiety in her chest. Helped replace it with frustration and dare she say anger of her own. Many of the forgotten that were present were thin, with their bones more visible against their hides. Their manes and claws lacking the healthy vibrancy that the reosans' and the other haedians' possesed.

"They are scraping by on scraps at best, with no one to help them! What are they supposed to do when they are literally being left to suffer in the dark? Their clan name is literally 'The Forgotten'. Not a single one of you are jumping to help them, none of the clans are from my understanding. Yes, stealing is bad and all, I don't like it either. I see no other options for them to take, though. do you? What do you propose they do instead to get by with the waters that have little fish, and soil so rocky barely anything will grow? There's not even enough light down here for them to grow anything!"

The red hued headian reared her head back, affronted with this brightly colored outsider spewing venom when before she looked ready to hide her head in the dirt. Throwing the situation in the wronged clan's faces was perhaps not the best move, but it certainly had some kind of affect. Made many of them exchange uncomfortable glances amongst one another. The Forgotten were just that; forgotten. The Forgotten's state of being and wellbeing were far from on their radar of things to care about. 

"We will work in exchange for what we stole, but they need the food. I cannot in good conscience return it." Xayah explained, looking over when Cislunar stepped forward to bow his head in apology.

"I will also work to amend the wrong I committed. We were told not to draw blood, but I acted in defense of my charge. I do not regret preventing harm from befalling her, but I do see where it was unwise to retaliate in the way I did. Rest assured, my judgement will now slip again." Cislunar explained as well, straightening only after the other haedians started murmuring amongst each other again.

"... I see." Was the slow response they received from the headian at the front. "I knew this clan struggled, but I was not aware they suffered. Though, I fear my frustration with their thievery and pranks kept me from caring completely."

She sat back on her haunches, a low rumble of thought escaping her as she mulled over their options. Of what they were to do with this new information and perspective, and the fact that they themselves were lacking resources as well now. Not nearly as badly as the Forgotten, though. Just enough to be annoying to replenish.

"I have a proposition then, since you're so willing to work. Help us regain what you took. No- I am not telling you to give us back what you took, but to simply come and do the work that would produce it normally. And, from here on out, that can be the arrangement. Come help us, and you get a portion of the food or supplies to take home as well." The haedian offered, head tilting slightly as she watched them turn to each other and discuss. It would be foolish to turn this opportunity up when it was basically free food and supplies. 

"That would be... a relief. Yes, we'll do that. Come the morning, we will send others over to begin helping."