Split

Season One, Episode Two of Where the River Runs.

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As Syllder expected, the camp quickly erupted into chaos. Even Terro didn't do anything to stop it; his eyes looked dull, and his wings were slumped.

I guess he doesn't really blame them, Syllder realized. After all, this is his home to, and he probably doesn't want to leave either.

He scanned the crowd, looking for Mai'ga, but the elder was nowhere in sight.

"What do you think we should do?" Eaya's soft voice startled him.

"I really don't know," he replied with a defeated shrug. "What about you?"

Eaya glanced downwards, pawing at the ground absentmindedly. "I think it would be a good idea to leave. I never felt too emotionally attached to this place, and if Mai'ga is right and there's an evil danger. . ." She trailed off with a shudder of discomfort.

Syllder adjusted the position of his wings, something he always did while he was thinking hard or trying to come up with something to say.

"I really don't know," he grumbled. "Obviously I don't want to be attacked by something evil, but I still have mixed feelings."

Readjusting his wings for the last time, he nodded to Eaya. She trotted after him and dipped her head as he led her to a group of scruffy trees.

Syllder dipped his head and sniffed at the sweet mountain grass growing between the cracks in the rocky ground. "I thought we could just spend a few moments here, grazing in our favorite spot, before we left."

Eaya smiled. "That's a great idea!"

But their pleasant picnic didn't last for long. They both turned at the sound of flapping wings and a deep grunt. Eagho had appeared, flanked by two of his followers. Syllder scowled when his eyes rested on the doe, and she glared furiously back at him.

"Eagho, leave!" Eaya snapped. "This is our place!"

"And now it's mine," Eagho replied sharply, shoving her out of the way.

"Stop!" Syllder shrieked, trotting over to Eaya, who was crumpled on the ground. "Are you okay?" he asked, nosing her flank.

Eaya nodded, although she was trembling nervously. "Y-yeah, I'm fine."

Syllder nodded. "Good," he whispered to her before whirling to face Eagho. He made a deep grunting sound that instantly caught the larger stag's attention. The two faced each other menacingly. Although neither had his full set of antlers, what they currently had would suffice.

For a long time they stood facing each other, and finally, Eagho charged forward. Syllder met him head-on, and their antlers crashed together. Syllder felt himself being shoved back by Eagho's powerful body, so he planted his hooves firmly into the ground and shoved his antlers towards Eagho as hard as he could.

Just as their fight was getting intense they were stopped by a horrified gasp. The two stags pulled away from each other, unlocking their antlers and searching for the voice's owner.

Eaya's mother, Ableia, shoved through the crowd and fixed her gaze on Eagho and Syllder. She was followed by Terro, who grunted angrily.

"Do you really think this is the time to have skirmishes?" he snapped loudly. Syllder cowered but Eagho stood firmly, staring the leader down.

"Sorry, sir," Syllder mumbled, lowering his wings.

Terro gave Syllder a quick nod before turning to glare at Eagho. "Eagho, do you think that this is a good time to fight with each other? Our herd is already torn as it is, and you two are fighting over some grass?"

Even though Terro wasn't addressing him directly, Syllder sank lower and felt the burning pain of embarrassment and shame.

Eagho looked slightly annoyed as he replied. "No, Terro. I'm sorry."

But every peryton watching could see that he wasn't really sorry. However, Terro just ignored him.

"It is decided," he announced, turning to the crowd. "Everyone will leave for the journey. I'm sorry, but we can't stay here. It's too dangerous."

Syllder heard the shocked and angry murmurs of the crowd, and he saw Terro grimace slightly.

"Get lots to eat and a good night's sleep," he continued. "We leave at dawn tomorrow."