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Thunder Horn Clan Ch. 01

By: Celeste Jolie



Murani sat on the gruesome battlefield, motionless, while the skies opened up a torrent of rain. Her long auburn hair was wet and matted to her bare back. Her green eyes were wide with horror and fear, yet she did not weep. Murani was just 5 years old. She had been sitting there for over two hours.

As she stared blankly across the wet and blood-soaked valley, she slowly became aware of movement. Murani blinked. Perhaps someone else from her village lived!

Slowly, she pulled herself up and began running to the figure in the distance. Murani's feet sloshed in the goopy mud as she ran. "Mama?! Papa?!" She cried out.

The rain started to let up, giving Murani a better look at the unknown being. She squinted to make out features...big...muscular and...horns! It was a Thoran! They were large, bull/buffalo like people that were known by Murani's village to be fierce and mean, and she was running right towards a huge male!

Trying to stop, Murani's feet slipped several times on the soaked earth, and she fell backwards. Her small rump hit the muddy ground first and then her head. Murani's eyes fluttered a few times, and then the world went dark.

Reidar had been out hunting when he caught the stench of battle and came to investigate. It was apparent that the onslaught was over long ago, but he decided to search for anything of value that might have been spared. 

Holding his new found battle axe, Reidar starred into the rain with a puzzled look etched across his broad face. What did he just see? Did he really see a small creature just vanish before his eyes? Reidar pulled the brown leather hood over his thick, furry ears and long, black horns. The battlefield made him uneasy, but he decided to have a closer look. 

Reidar almost didn't see the small human girl. Her tiny frame was coated in the thick mud which made her almost invisible. He had never seen a human before, but he had heard stories. Humans were the boogiemen to the Thoran children. The clan elders spoke of their cruelty and how they liked to enslave Reidar's kind. 

He stared down at the motionless body. Reidar took a quick glance around then knelt down to the girl. His large, hairy hand gently brushed the girl's cheek, wiping a bit of mud from her face. Reidar snorted. Humans were pinker than he had imagined. He wondered how it was possible that such a delicate looking creature could be capable of the terrible deeds of which the elders spoke. Deep in thought, Reidar crossed his large arms. Staring at the girl, his mind wandered to his former mate and their daughter. They had died more than two years ago from a sickness that had consumed the clan. Only about half of the population had survived. Reidar had been one of the lucky ones, lucky being a relative term. Before he even realized what he was doing, Reidar had picked up the girl and put her body over his broad, leather-cloaked shoulder. This child didn't deserve to die like this, human or not. She was innocent of her people's alleged crimes.

On his way back to the village, Reidar had already made his mind. The girl was apparently an orphan now, so she would stay with him. He knew he'd catch grief for it, but he really could care less. Who would stop him? Reidar was one of the most respected men in his village, he was the largest and strongest man in the village and he was best friend to the Chieftain. 

It took Reidar a couple of days to get back to his village. Along the way, he had time to think about the situation and how exactly he would handle it. For the sake of the girl, he decided to keep her hidden until she was well. 

Murani took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was so comfortable lying in the soft bed she didn't remember the horrors at first. Murani stretched out her arm and yawned. She was clean now, her naked body covered by a soft saber pelt and her hair tied in two braids. Her eye lids flickered as she began to open her eyes. Fogginess...a large, etched silver ring...attached to a huge black snout...a great, hairy face and a braided beard....AND THE LARGE, SHARP, BLACK HORNS! Murani's eyes shot open and she tried to scream, but nothing came out. Her heart pounded in her throat instead.

Reidar's ears went back. The girl was terrified of him! He needed to calm her, but how? He took a step back and held up his large hand, "please, don't be afraid!" 

Murani pulled the pelt up around her face. What did he say? She couldn't understand Thoran. She just stared at Reidar with wide eyes.

Reidar realized that she didn't understand him, so he tried shaking his head and tapping his thick finger against his lips.

Murani stared. As she looked at the giant beast, she stopped shaking. There was something about Reidar that Murani found comforting...perhaps it was his eyes. They were a soft brown, almost like a deer's. Her terror started slipping away. But she did wonder why she was there with the large beast. The pelt remained around her face and all that could be seen of her were her large green eyes.

Reidar slowly sat down at the foot of a chair. At least she had stopped quivering, he thought.

Murani turned on her side so she could look at Reidar. He didn't move. Her young eyes inspected her new environment. She was in a stone home with a thatched roof. A fire was burning hotly in the fireplace as an animal of some sort was being roasted in the flames. There were many oil lamps providing light in the dwelling. On the wall hung a large sword, hammer and battle axe. Murani cringed. She shut her eyes hard at the memory of the battle. It was tough thing for a child of her age to wrap her mind around.

Murani's eyes went back to Reidar. He was a very large and muscular beast. The hair from his chin and head was coal black, braided and bound with bright red findings. There was a huge silver ring in his snout. It appeared to be engraved with writing of some sort. He wore brown cloth breeches, a red cloth shirt and an embroidered leather vest. Murani also noticed that he had hooves and not feet like hers. He sad on his side with an arm crossed over his knee. 

Reidar watched the child look about his home and his person. His soft, brown eyes never left her. Patience was something he had learned from hunting. There were many occasions where he had to sit still for hours waiting on his prey. However, this time he was using it for good.

Murani was now sitting up in bed with the saber pelt wrapped around her. Where was she and what was his name? She faced Reidar directly. "Murani," she pointed at her self.

Reidar stiffened. A surprisingly strong voice came out of the child, but he didn't understand. He waited for her to do it again.

"Murani." Again, she pointed at herself.

Ah, that must be her name, Reidar thought. "Rani," he mumbled.

A giggle escaped her and she shook her head. "MUR-ani."

"Murani," Reidar managed to say. 

She smiled and nodded. Murani hoped that he understood that it was her name. She then lifted her small finger towards him.

"Reidar." It meant 'warrior' in his clan's tongue.

"Reidar," she said and he nodded.

For the next couple of months, Reidar kept Murani hidden. He often sneaked her out of his home on hunting trips with him. It amazed Reidar how quickly the girl picked up his language, but then, what choice did she really have? He was her family now.

When enough time had passed, Murani told Reidar of her village and how it had been destroyed by a terrible group of humans called Medis. They were who her village had done battle. She had been knocked out in the valley and awoke under a dead body. Murani had wondered if anything remained. Reidar acknowledged that nothing was left. She took the news quietly. Nothing was said of that again.

Reidar noticed that Murani took interest in his activities. So, he taught her how to track animals and how to sew. Her small nimble fingers were better suited to tight stitching that were his and she quickly excelled. Reidar often brought her cloth and leather that Murani quickly used. She had made her own garments and shoes, which was something that the Thoran had no use. 

As they sat eating dinner one evening, Murani noticed Reidar was deep in thought. His eyes were staring at the rabbit and potatoes on his plate, yet he did not eat.

"What's wrong," she asked.

"The people have become suspicious. They have noticed my new clothes and asked of their origin," he touched his new vest that Murani had made. His eyes shifted from his food to Murani. 

She wiggled in her chair nervously and fear crept to her face. Murani could guess what he was about to say.

"I have to tell them of you."

Reidar had told her the he would tell the clan some day and he had told her of their possible reaction. However, she had hoped that the day would never come. Murani trembled.

"Come to me," he said. Of course the girl was afraid. He told her what the people thought of humans.

Murani climbed into Reidar's lap and he put his big arms around her, protectively. "Please don't be frightened, little one." 

"They are going to hate me," she sobbed against his chest as she held fistfuls of his shirt.

"Murani, no matter the clan's reaction, everything will be okay." Reidar hugged her tight, "you'll see". Reidar was sad. What a terrible ordeal she had gone through in the past few months. It was hard to believe she withstood it all. He knew she was very strong. 

Murani fell asleep in Reidar's lap.

Thunder Horn Clan Ch. 02



The daylight came quickly. It was time to tell the clan.

Reidar called Chieftain Soren and his son to his home. It would be best if Soren found out first.

When a knock came at the door, Reidar pulled it open. "Soren, Kaire, please come in."

Murani sat on the bed as the two Thoran came in. She shivered as the two new sets of eyes found her. They stared.

Soren was a large, brown and white Thoran, but he wasn't as tall as Reidar. Soren's clothes were much more ornate and fancy. He had a golden, engraved ring in his snout. The ring signified nobility within the clan. Only the Chieftain and his family could wear the golden ring. Silver was reserved for other nobles, such as Reidar.

Kaire, the son, was much younger. Murani guessed that he was about her age. He was jet black and had only small nubs of horns protruding from his head. Kaire too had a golden snout ring. "Father, it's a human, right?" Kaire asked.

Soren's brow was furrowed as he took in the human. "What's this, Reidar?"

Reidar went to Murani and put his large hand on her tiny shoulder and nodded at Kaire. "Yes, she is a human and her name is Murani. I found her three months ago, east of Stone Water Lake."

Murani tried to smile. "He...hello."

Father and son stared.

Reidar continued. "Her family was killed in a great battle. She's an orphan." 

Soren knew that Reidar had a huge heart, but he didn't know just how big it was until now. The clan would not be happy about this. He looked back to Reidar. "Because you are my friend, I will over look this, Reidar. I don't agree with this, at all, but I will over look this. However, I cannot tell you the clan will do the same." His eyes shifted back to Murani. "What is your age, human?"

"I...I am five...almost six," she stammered.

Soren snorted. "You have been making these clothes for Reidar?"

Murani nodded.

"Speak up, girl," Soren frowned. Just because Reidar was kind to this human did not mean he had to be. He was Chieftain after all.

Murani's eyes grew large. "Yes."

"Have the human make Kaire and I some clothes...some nice clothes," Soren said to Reidar.

"She's not my slave, Soren." Reidar raised his voice and crossed his arms over his chest. "You can ask her to do so, but don't tell me to order her."

Soren snapped his head towards Reidar. "Watch your tone with me, Reidar. We may be friends but I am still the leader of this clan." Soren wanted to be sure to establish his authority early in this 'human' matter. "She needs to be made useful if I am to allow her to stay in this village."

Reidar's eyes glowed hot. He opened his mouth to speak, but Murani beat him to it. "I'll do it, Reidar," she said. "I'll make them some clothes."

Reidar, Soren and Kaire stared at Murani. She spoke and understood Thoran quite well.

Soren looked back to Reidar. "That is the end of this matter then. I will inform the clan of our guest. I warn you, Reidar," he took Reidar's shoulder, "be mindful of her."

Again, Reidar was hot. "I have been for three months now, Soren." He didn't understand what Soren was trying to prove. Was he really that afraid of this little human girl?

"Keep it that way." Soren walked out of Reidar's home.

Kaire stood in his same spot, watching his father leave. His attention turned back to Murani. She was so different from what he had imagined of a human. Murani didn't appear to be scary at all. Kaire noticed her skin had hardly any hair at all. "Reidar, can I touch her?"

"You'll have to ask Murani." Reidar's expression softened. 

Murani quickly held out her hand to Kaire. She was excited that he showed more kind interest in her than his father did.

Kaire went to Murani and touched her hand. Even though he was Murani's same age, his hand was still much larger than Murani's. Her skin was soft. Kaire's eyes met Murani's eyes. "Your eyes are green" he marveled.

Murani smiled at him as they held each other's gaze.

"Reidar, is Kaire still...." Soren stuck his head back into Reidar's home. His mouth dropped open. His son was touching the human girl. "Kaire! Come, now!" That was the last thing he needed! His son would not befriend a human!

Kaire jumped after his father, but not before giving Murani a final glance and a wave.

The clan was indeed upset that there was a human in their midst. However, Soren was true to his word and defended the girl staying with them. He informed the clan that she was a master clothier and thus was his reason for allowing her to remain there. Many Thoran were fearful, but they could do nothing. Soren had spoken.

The next few days proved exciting to Murani. She actually got to see the village and the other Thoran. The village, Murani soon learned, was called Thunder Horn. It was surrounded by a great stone wall. Only the tall, granite mountains that towered over the village could be seen above the wall. 

Murani had imagined the village to be small, but it wasn't. There had to be a good eighty to one-hundred Thoran living in Thunder Horn. Most of them looked at Murani with curiosity above anything else. Not a soul in the village had ever seen a human, so she was a novelty.

In Thunder Horn, there were many stone buildings...homes and businesses. Colorful banners and flags were hung down the walls and flowers abound in window boxes. 

The most impressive building was Soren and Kaire's home which was also the counsel house. It was situated at the edge of Thunder Horn, far away from the entrance to the village. The great wooden door was guarded by two very large stone sculptures of Thoran warriors. They had to be at least twenty feet tall.

Murani's favorite place had to be the orchard, however. It was quite there, but still protected within the walls of Thunder Horn. Colorful birds abound and there never was a time a tree wasn't a blaze with colorful blossoms. It also contained many statues of past important Thorans. It was in that orchard that Murani learned a lot of Thoran history.

The orchard was also the place where Murani played with Kaire. They had met again while Kaire was having an archery lesson in the orchard. The two became fast friends, despite much protest from Soren.

Kaire peeked Murani's interest in archery, so, as time went on, Murani also took it up. Because her eyesight was keener than that of a Thoran, Reidar often took Murani on hunting trips. At the age of 9, she became one of the best archers in the village. Reidar was proud.

Thirteen years had passed since Reidar found Murani. She was now 18. Her hair had grown long, but she always wore it in the customary Thoran braids. Her teenage breasts swelled under her tunic. She was lean and strong. Murani stood tall for a human at 5'10", yet she was dwarfed by her adopted father. He stood at 6'10", which was just above average for a Thoran. 

Kaire stood even taller, at 7'4". He was now massive in size, 450 lbs of pure muscle and still jet black. His horns had grown out long, shiny and pointed. A long, black braid hung from his chin along with two others from his head. To those that didn't know him, he was frightening in stature. He appeared to be a huge, terrible beast, but Murani knew better. He was still a little Thoran inside; gentle as a saber kitten.