The herbivorous demi-humans ascended the mountainside with the formal bearing of a delegation. On the horizon, there was no third option: either they forged a strategic pact, or they unleashed open war.
Mukhar marched at the head, dominating the procession with his imposing physique. His broad ears swayed with every step, while the tusks protruding from his face reinforced a natural authority that required no threats to make itself felt. At every stretch of the climb, his ceremonial staff struck the rocky ground with a dull, steady echo.
Behind him, the chieftains of the various herds followed in strict silence, maintaining rigid, alert... and hungry postures.
As they gained altitude, their eyes compulsively surveyed the surroundings. Tender shoots, lush shrubs, rare blossoms—the entire vegetation pulsed with mana. More than one swallowed hard to suppress the urge. A female buffalo even had to turn her face away from a bush covered in small, glowing berries.
"Not now," another chieftain muttered when he noticed her fixation.
"I haven't said a single word," she replied without turning her head.
"Your mouth hasn't, but your eyes are saying everything."
The exchange elicited a couple of muffled snorts from the delegation, though no one slowed their pace.
At the end of the slope, Lusian awaited the delegation from a provisional post erected at the entrance to the settlement. He stood unarmed; his mere presence was enough to serve as a deterrent. A few steps away, Kara and Adela flanked the position, their hands resting close to the hilts of their blades, while the rest of the troops occupied strategic points around the perimeter. The tension was palpable, but discipline prevailed.
Mukhar planted his hooves a few meters from Lusian. After several seconds of mutual assessment, the giant placed both hands atop his carved staff.
"We did not travel this road to beg for shelter," he declared, his voice reverberating across the mountainside. "We came to establish clear terms."
Lusian held his gaze, impassive.
"The Lithaar extended an offer to join forces with us," Mukhar continued. "We are also in a position to make an offer." He pointed the end of his trunk toward the base of the peak. "Grant us the right to graze on the lower terraces. We will not cross the agreed boundary, and we will stay out of any military action against you."
Lusian narrowed his eyes.
"And what of the Lithaar faction?"
"Those creatures of stone are a latent threat," the elder replied. "We do not know the full extent of their intentions, but it is obvious they are not open to diplomacy."
"They are not interested in diplomacy," Lusian corrected, turning his gaze toward the savanna. "Their sole objective is the eradication of the Tree."
Mukhar nodded gravely.
"In that case, we share a common problem."
Lusian returned his gaze to him.
"Alliances forged purely out of convenience tend to be short-lived. Today you come here to negotiate; tomorrow you could be standing on the opposite side." His gaze swept over each representative in the delegation. "What guarantee do I have that, once this conflict is resolved, you will not claim ownership of this mountain?"
Mukhar did not blink.
"None."
The bluntness of the answer caused several leaders behind him to shift uncomfortably. Lusian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. The old demi-human allowed himself a faint smile.
"I will not resort to lies simply to secure food." He brought the base of his staff down against the stone with a sharp crack. "But neither are we insatiable predators; we understand the laws of coexistence. If you allow us to settle below, we will protect our territory and act as a buffer against the packs before they reach your walls. It is in our interest for you to retain control of this peak."
Lusian gave a slight nod of approval.
"That logic I find convincing." He glanced down the slope. "You will have access to the vegetation in the lower region." Several chieftains looked up with renewed attention. "However, we will establish the boundary at the third line of rocks. Anyone who crosses that marker will be entering hostile territory."
Mukhar inclined his head.
"Agreed."
A female buffalo stepped forward, interrupting the conclusion.
"And what if a calf or a youngster crosses the boundary by accident?"
Lusian regarded her coldly.
"That answer will depend entirely on how far they have intruded."
The warrior clenched her teeth. Before the tension could escalate, Mukhar cut in.
"The perimeter will be respected without exception." His eyes settled on the members of his group. "And if anyone chooses to ignore the agreement, they will bear the consequences individually."
The female swallowed her retort, silently chewing over her frustration. Mukhar resumed speaking.
"There is something else we have to offer."
At his signal, a deer-like demi-human stepped forward carrying a bundle tied with plant fibers. He placed it carefully at Lusian's feet before immediately retreating. Lusian crouched down and untied the wrapping. Inside lay several hefty tubers with dark skins and a subtle bluish glow.
Pure mana, at a density far greater than that found in the ordinary flora of the savanna.
"An initial gesture of what our presence can contribute," Mukhar explained.
Lusian examined one of the pieces before standing.
"An acceptable beginning." He paused before adding, "There is still one critical matter to address."
The elder raised his head.
"The Lithaar."
"Exactly. They are not going to delay their advance."
Mukhar tightened his grip around the wooden staff.
"We are aware."
"Can we count on your forces?"
Silence thickened. Mukhar exchanged a silent glance with the chieftains behind him; not one raised an objection. The decision had already been made.
"We cannot allow this mountain to be destroyed," the giant declared.
"To preserve the Mother Tree?"
Mukhar shook his head.
"To preserve our future." He extended a hand toward the barren plain. "Those creatures seek to claim the mana beneath the ground. You intend to retain it. We, for our part, depend on the life flourishing on the surface. If the Lithaar prevail, our extinction is certain."
Lusian held his gaze for a long moment. The need for negotiation had vanished; all that remained was to confirm which side they would stand on when the battle came.
"Then we have an agreement."
Mukhar bowed his head deeply.
"We have an agreement."
The delegation began turning to make the journey back, but before taking the first step, Mukhar halted.
"One final detail."
Lusian waited in silence.
"The carnivores will not tolerate this balance of power."
"I know."
"They will launch their offensives."
"I know that too."
Mukhar broke into a broad smile, baring his tusks.
"Excellent."
With that, he led the descent. They had sworn neither friendship nor blind loyalty; however, when the masses of stone emerged from the depths of the earth, they would not find a single species waiting to bear the impact.
Selvryn emerged from the foliage shortly afterward. She had witnessed every stage of the negotiations from a distance. She watched the herbivores withdraw before lowering her eyes toward the trampled, diminished plants near the defensive post. Her expression hardened.
"They'll devour every last leaf."
Lusian sat beside the stream, slowly carving a block of wood with his knife.
"Not all of them."
"A critical portion."
"Probably."
Selvryn stared at him in open disbelief.
"And you're just going to watch it happen without lifting a finger?"
Lusian continued carving.
"I don't like it."
"Then why let them through?"
He paused his work and looked up at her.
"Because their advance was inevitable, Selvryn."
The elf crossed her arms over her chest.
"We had the strength to drive them back by force."
"And they would have come again."
"We would have annihilated them."
Lusian let out a weary sigh.
"And in the process, we would have thrown ourselves headfirst into a three-front war: suppressing the herbivores below, containing the packs on the flanks, and waiting for the Lithaar to emerge and crush us from behind."
Selvryn fell silent, absorbing the tactical assessment. Lusian pointed with the tip of his blade toward the upper foliage of the peak.
"The forest's expansion will slow. That's the operational cost." He then angled the blade toward the horizon of the savanna. "In exchange, we have thousands of herbivore warriors standing between our territory and the claws of the predators."
The elf immediately understood the underlying maneuver: Lusian had not yielded out of weakness. He had bought preparation time and a living defensive shield.
"You behave like an utterly irresponsible father," she muttered, turning her gaze toward the ancient trunk.
Lusian smiled sideways and resumed carving.
"And you maintain the attitude of an absurdly overprotective mother."
"The Tree isn't a helpless creature."
"Go explain that to him."
Selvryn started to reply, but thought better of it and closed her mouth. She raised her eyes toward the enormous branches swaying lazily in the breeze, casting a cool shadow over them both.
"Don't give him any ideas," she finally whispered.
Lusian let out a low laugh. For one fleeting moment, the murmur of the water and the rasp of the blade against the wood turned the imminence of war into a distant threat.
Only for a moment.