Dawn light touched the far sky, and the morning sun rose from amongst the mountains, illuminating the temporary camp of the Canine Descendants. The chaotic camp sprawled for miles, with wisps of cooking smoke twirling around the edges of the forest, the aroma of corn permeating the air.
"Having temporarily repelled the Otomi, the Tribes can finally settle down for a moment and enjoy a warm breakfast."
The banner of the Red Crow was slanted on the highest point of the small hill. Below the hill was the fenceless Red Crow camp, no, it should be said it was a gathering point for the Tribes.
Amoxtli, dressed in Cotton Armor, accompanied by several dozen red-haired trusted aides, patrolled the Tribes’ gathering point. Resolute, he continually greeted the surrounding warriors and occasionally erupted into hearty laughter. The Chieftain’s laughter echoed through the valley, drifting towards the sun atop the eastern mountain peaks, gradually brightening the gloomy camp.
"Truly the blessing of the ancestors! Chieftain, we’ve rallied one thousand five hundred warriors! And with the northern old camp, the Red Crow Tribe now boasts over two thousand able fighters. We are no longer the small Tribe we used to be!"
Moqi, the trusted aide, showed exhilaration mixed with a hint of nostalgia. On the night of the surprise attack, they had been separated from the Chieftain, and under Alan’s lead, they had fled in panic in the dark, constantly on the brink of destruction. But just a few days later, they not only rejoined the Chieftain but also raised their banner high and gathered scattered soldiers from various defeated factions. Now, witnessing the Red Crow Tribe with so many fighters was like living a dream.
"Thanks be to the ancestors and even more to the wise Great Chief! The Great Chief is like the Wolf King, acting bravely and decisively, yet also kind to warriors, truly admirable!"
Amoxtli nodded in reflection, as clear in his mind as a placid lake. When he had escaped from Red Fox Valley, he was merely a leader of a small Tribe. Now, to be able to stand his ground among the tens of thousands of eastern Canine Descendants, all was due to the esteem of the Great Chief Chichika!
Previously, it was the Great Chief who had summoned him to his side, allowing him to participate in military councils, ranking after the five major Tribes. Now, it was also with the Great Chief’s tacit approval that he could raise his banner, gathering the scattered warriors of defeated Tribes. After all, these warriors were the elite, conscripted from various Tribes, many even from the Great Tribes of the Red Stork and the Red Salamander.
At that, Moqi fell silent for a moment. He glanced around, checking no one was near before he spoke.
"Chieftain, you’ve fought to the death for the Great Chief on numerous occasions and survived the night raid, all for these privileges. You owe the Great Chief nothing..."
Amoxtli stopped in his tracks. He looked at Moqi, pondered for a while, and then spoke slowly.
"Moqi, my old brother. The Great Chief has been gracious to us, treating us well!... When we were under the Red Fox Chieftain, how many times did we put our lives on the line, and what did we get in return?"
Hearing this, Moqi’s eyes widened as he earnestly looked at the Chieftain.
"Chieftain, I did not mean it that way. It’s just... I often recall the words of old Chieftain Kakalo. He was a Priest of the Wilderness, capable of foreseeing the future. He told us... the lifeblood of the Guajili people was not here, but rather to the East and North!"
"Old Chieftain, Father Kakalo... huh, the lifeblood of the East..."
Amoxtli lowered his gaze and fell silent, a touch of longing on his face. After quite some time, he finally turned his head to look at Alan who had been listening all along.
"Alan, we’re near the Valley entrance, merely twenty-odd miles from the old camp inside the Valley. You go back to the old camp first, gather the provisions, and prepare for the migration."
Then Amoxtli looked at Moqi and commanded.
"Moqi, you too. Take five hundred of the newly rallied warriors and return north through the mountain paths."
Moqi paused. Looking at his captain who he had followed for decades, he couldn’t help but call out.
"Chieftain, what are you doing?..."
"Go! Move quickly before the new orders from the Great Chief come in!"
Amoxtli made a decisive decision, his expression firm once again.
Seeing this, Alan felt an inexplicable anxiety. She stepped forward, grabbing Amoxtli’s arm. The young girl looked at her father’s expression, finding herself unable to say the words of discouragement. After a while, she finally spoke.
"Father... you... you must come back alive. I don’t want to lose a father again."
"Alan, my daughter. The night of the raid, you did very well!"
Upon hearing this, Amoxtli extended his hand and ruffled his daughter’s hair, smiling tenderly.
"You go back to the old camp and prepare. If I don’t return, the Tribe is in your hands. You must lead the Tribe to the East, to the lands of the Vastec people!..."
"Ha ha, I still remember the first time I saw you, in the mountains on the Eastern side. You wore a little cape and carried a small bag, like a little squirrel... Time flies indeed! The little girl from back then has become the Red Hawk, able to stand her ground in this Wilderness, no longer in need of an adult’s protection..."
Alan couldn’t hold back any longer and embraced her father tightly. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she cried out.
"You must come back... promise me!..."
Amoxtli lowered his gaze, suppressing the emotions swirling in his chest. After a while, he nodded solemnly and gently pushed Alan away.
"Yes, Alan, I promise you. But you are a red-haired warrior of the Wilderness; you must be strong!"
Then, with a solemn look, he turned to his trusted aide Moqi and instructed.
"Moqi, you’re Alan’s uncle and an elder of the Tribe. Although Alan has great potential, she is still too young. The situation within the Tribe is complex, in many cases, we still need to rely on you... If Alan truly cannot shoulder the responsibility for the Tribe, then you must take over as Chieftain!"
Hearing this, Moqi shook his head. After a long silence, he spoke.
"Chieftain. The Red Crow Tribe has expanded too quickly along its migration, and has also taken in too many from other Tribes. If you don’t come back, nobody can hold the Tribe together. Even if we manage to migrate to the lands of the Vastec people, we still won’t escape the fate of dissolution."