Northbound/Chapter Five

Someone picked Piprin up and swung her bodily out of the way as a crush of men tumbled past, throwing punches and cursing furiously. Pip looked up and her mentor stared down at her with eyebrows raised. Red and gold leaves tumbled from the island's trees, blanketing the ground as bare feet stumbled across it.

"Can't you stop them?" Piprin asked Arnik desperately. "This isn't fair!"

"Life isn't fair," the man said grimly, and he held her tightly while the BoarClan members stumbled across the island, driven back by the other three Clans. She had a brief glimpse of Willrin's face as he staggered past, dazed and confused.

Flashdar's voice rose above the struggles. "BoarClan is banished from the territory. They must stay away from the lake, and from us. Stealing younglings is the worst crime. Boldar, your Clan is no longer recognised by our ancestors. From now on, it will be as though BoarClan never existed."

Piprin stared as the BoarClan leader gathered his Clan to him. "We won't come back, not ever," he spat. "So don't even think about changing your minds and coming crawling to us. BoarClan, let's get out of here!"