The wilderness wind never ceased. It blew over the fertile valleys, past the riverside farms, carrying the scent of withered yellow and bringing news from the south. It swept over the unused sacrificial altar, gently caressed the ancient stone walls, and reached the outskirts of the ancient Pamus City, all the way to the newly established Red Crow encampnt.
Although it was called the Red Crow encampnt, aside from an inherited banner, there weren’t many old mbers of the Red Crows. Three days ago, Alan had already led eight hundred able-bodied n and over a thousand won and children, bearing the harvested food, to migrate eastward along the Tampen River.
This long-planned migration did not escape the ears of the Great Chief of Chichika. However, when the Great Chief learned of the number of able-bodied n, he silently approved the early retreat of the won and children. He even arranged for four hundred Canine Warriors, over two thousand Canine won and children, and an additional three thousand won and children from vassal tribes, amounting to eight thousand people, to migrate eastward.
Among the eight thousand migrants, there wasn’t a single elderly, sick, or weak person. Even the Canine won and adolescents were capable of drawing Hunting Bows and wielding Stone Spears. By now, they likely had already boarded the prepared rafts, floating downstream along the Tampen River, travelling over a hundred miles to the east.
After these eight thousand people departed, there remained over thirty thousand mbers of the Guajili Tribe in the valley, preparing for war, along with six thousand Agricultural Slaves and prisoners of war from the Otomi. After continual fierce battles, the troops in the valley were few in number. Only the three thousand Tribal Warriors of the Red Crow encampnt remained, alongside several thousand adult able-bodied n scattered among the tribes.
Thinking of this, Amoxtli’s expression was resolute, and his eyes showed an intrepid fighting spirit. He nodded to Zucata, who had brought the intelligence, and spoke kindly.
"Brother Zucata, thank you for the intelligence! Military matters are urgent, I must gather the encampnt’s warriors and reinforce the south as quickly as possible!"
Hearing these words, Zucata’s expression changed. He opened his mouth, wanting to offer so advice but was interrupted by a gesture from Amoxtli. He could only retreat to one side with several people from Chipawa.
When the Spear squad arrived at the Red Crow encampnt, they did not conceal the military situation in the south. At this mont, chiefs and warriors from various tribes had heard the news and were hastily gathering. There was much discussion and concern, and the Red Crow encampnt was a scene of tumult.
Amoxtli raised his hands, and slowly people fell silent. With bright eyes, he looked around confidently and shouted with a proud heart.
"Chiefs from all tribes, warriors! The cowardly Monkey Tribe has surrendered, and the cruel xica are attacking the Great Chief’s main encampnt! The valiant Great Chief is engaged in a fierce battle, keeping the xica at bay outside our holand! Now, with three thousand warriors gathered here, let us go with a resolve to die if need be, to rescue our noble Great Chief and defeat the cruel xica!"
Hearing this, many faces among the Canine Warriors showed worry and unease. They were mostly soldiers who had fled from various tribes, and they had only been reorganized a few days. The night of wildfire still haunted them like a nightmare, instilling fear in their hearts.
After a mont of silence, a Chieftain of the Red Salamander tribe stepped forward and questioned aloud.
"Amoxtli, you are just the Clan Leader of the small Red Crow Tribe, having fled from the Red Fox Valley. What right do you have to command our Red Salamander warriors?"
Hearing this, Amoxtli’s deanor remained unchanged. He laughed heartily and responded loudly.
"I am the Clan Leader of the Red Crow Tribe and the rear encampnt leader personally appointed by the Great Chief of Chichika, in charge of all the reserve warriors!"
"The Great Chief places great trust in , summoning to his side and entrusting with great responsibility! I also fear no danger, going through fire and water for the Tribal Alliance!"
Saying this, Amoxtli suddenly lifted his Wolf Robe to reveal his chest full of scars.
"I fought with the warriors of the Cactus Tribe in the Red Fox Valley and wounded the enemy’s Black Wolf General! I went to battle alongside the warriors of Uman and attacked the fearso Great Chief of the God of Death!... These days, I have also led elites several tis deep into the south, raiding the camps of the Cactus Tribe and rescuing hundreds of warriors!"
Hearing this, the warriors who had been rescued expressed their excitent, loudly chanting Amoxtli’s na. They admired the Red Crow Chieftain and were willing to die for him.
Amoxtli beca even more impassioned. Clenching his fists, he struck his bare chest and roared at the crowd.
"Co! Look at the scars on my chest, all marks left from fighting face to face with the Cactus warriors! I am both the Great Chief’s beloved general and a warrior of the Alliance! How could I not have the right to command the valley’s warriors?!"
The camp’s warriors were persuaded by Amoxtli’s spirit and began pounding their chests in a disorderly chorus of agreent.
"Good!"
"A true warrior!"
"I support you!..."
The excited shouts echoed around the encampnt, lingering for a long ti. It wasn’t until an elder entered the center that everyone rapidly fell silent. Zucata looked closely and saw that it was the revered wilderness Priest Zuma from among the Guajili Tri
bes.
Priest Zuma was sombre in deanor, dressed in ancient robes, holding a carved wooden staff. He stepped into the center, paused his staff on the ground, and proclaid firmly.
"Hold on! Whether Amoxtli is qualified to lead the people of this encampnt, he doesn’t have the final say, nor do you, we must ask the Earth Mother Goddess!"
Hearing this, everyone was montarily taken aback. The Guajili revered heaven and earth, worshipped wind and fire, and regarded the color red as sacred. The Earth Mother Goddess held an exalted position and was not a deity with a specific form but more like the Lord of Heaven in the Celestial Empire.
"Soone light the sacrificial fire basin!"
Priest Zuma shouted to those nearby, and imdiately soone brought over the prepared fire basin. The fire basin burned with dry pine wood and was mixed with unnad herbs. As the wind blew, the scent of pine and herbs dispersed, and everyone’s expression turned solemn.
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