My name is Marn Plainstrider. I am not sure who owned this book before me. But I can tell you she didn’t suffer. My axe claimed her life before she could feel the pain. I’m not a killer, although I have killed many. My party and I were attacked while we stopped at a well. They were of the ruthless Tai ’Tek tribe. They have no honor. Setting a trap for someone at a well is a barbaric tactic. But we’re Kalim’ Dor. They had no chance. Still, Oreg Gro’ Gosh was killed. Shot in the back. May he join the ancestors in peace. He’d not have gone if Aquila were still here. I miss my friend. We triumphed, but would have fared better.

I found this book in her coat. I can only imagine she’s wealthy. Paper is hard to come by. I hid the book in my pack and took the rest of the spoils to my brethren. I wanted this treasure for myself. I can’t write well. But I’m learning. I hid the book until I was able to take it to our matriarch, Vacae. When I asked her to teach me, she was more than happy. She’s like a second mother to me. After her son was called for the Bonding Year, she took us in. Jathan and I. We were his best friends. She’s been teaching Jathan more of her ways. But I am turned to fight. After the Gathering, Tai ‘Tek attacked us. We were unsuspecting so soon after the Gathering. They didn’t conduct a raid. It was an attack. They slew many of our brave warriors. They especially slew our beasts. We have to carry much on our own backs now. After the attack, I needed to fill gaps in our tribe. I’ve been a part of every hunting party since then. I’ve gone out every day. I’m honored that they think I’m a good warrior. But I’m tired. It was refreshing to find this book. And Matriarch Vacae has been eager to teach me to write. I’ve been eager to learn.

I also enjoy spending time with her. She is as wise as a Tauren Elder. She loves the earth and sky just as I do. She knows the heat of fire and rush of water just as I do. She honors the ancestors. I think I have much to learn. But she is happy that I have learned quickly. It takes time because I am large and I cannot grasp the feather the way her slender fingers can. And my fingers cannot move the same. But despite being slow to write, I am quick to learn.

I worry that I am not learning fast enough. The spirits are restless. Our elders have felt their stirrings through our mighty Windtotem. I do not know if I can feel it. But the air has smelled strange lately. And I miss my friend.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 27th, 2007 at 6:57 pm and is filed under Marn's Journal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.