Pact - Epistemology

            In sunlight for strength, One’s connection briefly broken by the passing of shadow. Kin’s arrival. Three Kin, circling One’s mountain. One waits, One watches, patient, observant. Kin circle, wide, slow, also patient. Also observant, watching One’s territory, One’s mountain. No secrets. One knows Kin’s cause, presence. One knows Kin’s displeasure. Kin knows One’s Gunaha. Greed. Pride. Fear? Regardless, One stands by decisions. Days, Kin have flown to reach One. Day still, circling.  Kin traced borders of One’s territory. Kin surveyed Man-thing territory.
            Kin gather above One, steady in flight. Waiting. Ready. Must acknowledge. Respected, despite Gunaha, even now. One takes flight. Southward, southeast. Away from Man-things. One's kin follow, close enough, far enough. Yes. Show respect, even now. Even with Gunaha. Southward, eastward, to speak with them. Man-things see dragons, fear us in number; frightful creatures. Eastern border, Kin gathering. Kin larger, older. Wiser perhaps. Great-Kin.

            The edge of One’s mountain. Hid from Man-things. One settles. One waits. Overhead, Kin. Falling to greet One. Against three Kin, One dies with surety. One depends on their mercy.

            “Explain.”
            “One performed Rakta-Cukti. For sake of Man-things. For sake of One.”
            “Man-things small creatures. Limited. Feeble. Unworthy of Rakta-Cukti.”
            “Unworthy, most Man-things. Not all. These Man-things worthy.”
            “Explain.”
            “Peaceful Man-things. Learners. Explorers.”
            “Admirable.”
            “Wild Man-things approach, threaten own kin. Likewise, One’s territory at risk.”
            “Concerning.”
            “Rakta-Cukti protects Man-things. Protects mountain.”
            “Rakta-Cukti unnecessary. Moreso, strength of wing and fire suffice.”
            “Wing and fire draw attention to One, Kin of wilder Man-things seek revenge, One forced to constant conflict. Rakta-Cukti deters conflict on all sides.”
            “Costly decision. Diluted blood. Weakness. Dishonor.”
            “For worthy Man-things. For safety. For territory. Each, values of Kin.”
            “Unconvinced.”
            “SeaKin perform Rakta-Cukti for worthy Man-things. Salvation for Man-thing territory.”
            “Different threats. Man-things lost to sea different from Man-things lost to Man-things. Alternative here: Wing and fire.”
            “Wilder Man-things creatures. Man-things of SeaKin rescued from nature. One seeks protection for noble Man-things against conscious threat.”
            “Irrelevant. Moreso, Seakin older, wiser than One. SeaKin watch Man-things far longer. Possesses knowledge One lacks.”
            “Great-Kin have seen peaceful Man-things, just as One has. One stands by decision. Will not take flight against wilder Man-things.”
            Silence.
            “Kin do not approve. One earns dishonor. However, One makes One’s choices.”
            “Understood.”
            “One must take responsibility for Man-things. Guidance, Wing and Flame, regardless. Failure is death.”
            “Understood.”
           

            Great-Kin depart from One’s territory. Words, thoughts, clear in One’s head. Dishonor, expected. Pardon hoped for, received. One looks to Monarch’s space. Noble enough creatures. Feeble creatures.
            Bearing responsibility for frail Man-things. One’s Rakta-Cukti becomes twofold burden.