Storm looked up and was suprised to see that it was a Harpy that was calling him.
She was hidden behind the corner of one of the tents and made a beckoning gesture.
Storm nudged Leyocan with the tip of his snout until he noticed her too.
They both came closer to her and she quickly handed over a small note.
"What's this?" Asked Leyocan.
"Instructions, from my queen. Follow them, or ignore them. But please leave me be!" Said the Harpy.
She kept looking around nervously as if she was afraid of being seen with them.
"What game are you playing?" Accused Storm.
"Please!! We can't talk here!! It's too dangerous! Follow the note!!" Pleaded the Harpy.
Storm was about to press further, but Leyocan tapped Storm on the scales along his snout to draw his attention.
"Come on, Storm. We're wasting time. She doesn't know anything. No use troubling the poor girl any longer."
They walked to the edge of the camp and Leyocan open the note.
Storm peered over his shoulder to try and read the note for himself.
'Meet me tonight at Azarag's rest' was written on the note.
"That's it? No information about what it's about?"Asked Storm.
Leyocan folded up the paper and hid it in one of his pockets.
"Guess we'll find out when we get there.
But if I had to guess, it's probably about your discussion with Torin.
Seems like you made an impression on the harpy queen. " replied Leyocan.
"Do you think this might be a trap?" Asked Storm.
"Not orcish and minotaur style.
Harpies are a different matter, but she wouldn't act without Torin's consent if her intentions were hostile.
Most likely, she might want to defect and she wants to know what kind of deal she can get out of it." Explained Leyocan.
"Any idea what this location is where she asked us to meet?" Asked Storm.
"Azarag's rest is a mountain range not far from here. The belief is that a Great Earth Titan called Azarag died there in some unknown battle at the dawn of creation.
The mountains are believed to be his earthly remains.
Leyocan climbed up Storm's shoulders and he began to guide him towards the mountain where they were scheduled to meet the Harpy Queen.
As the mountains came into view, Storm saw why people believed the mountain's otherworldly origins.
It certainly somewhat resembled what could be classified as a humanoid body.
Although much of it had crumbled overtime, it could still be seen. Leyocan pointed towards what vaguely resembled a 'head' of the body.
It was split open on the left hand side from some kind of powerful blow, but was otherwise still intact.
"That's the peak." Explained Leyocan.
They landed, then settled down to wait.
In order to help pass the time, Storm asked Leyocan on the history of the Titans.
"I'll admit, I'm not exactly an expert on the topic, but I'll do what I can. The Titans was the first intelligent race in this world, and that they were the ones who shaped this world.
I will admit that I'm suprised you don't know this? Evidence seems to suggest that they waged war against the primordial dragons and that it was the dragons that wiped the titans out. " Explained Leyocan.
"Dragons did this?!" Asked Storm.
"Don't your people speak of it?" Asked Leyocan.
Storm shook his head.
"Much of our history from the dawn of creation is lost. We know that we are ancient, but we don't know our origin, or anything from that time. Almost like it was stripped from us!" Explained Storm.
"Curious...It was believed to be a chaotic time of the world. Gods walked the earth, the dwarves and humans had yet to migrate to the continent and even the fallen ones were still young at the time.
It's not suprising that some details might be lost, but all of it? Not even a fable or story of your kind survived that period of time?" Asked Leyocan.
"None, we know we existed at the time, we found bones dating back to that period, but nothing else." Explained Storm
They continued to talk through the remainder of the day until dusk began to settle, a screech alerted them that their host had arrived.
They looked up and saw 3 Harpies descending from the sky above.
The Queen landed and handed her spear to one of her followers, before stepping forward alone.
"You came!? I wondered if you two would.
I am known as Queen Stella by my flock. " said the queen.
Storm and Leyocan nodded their heads.
"I believe you already know our names?!
So we can move on to the reason for this meeting. " said Storm.
"You must have realized that Torin won't be convinced. Even if his visit to your settlement goes well, he's still too proud and mistrusting to place his people's fate in anyone else's hands." Explained Stella
Storm nodded his head.
"I figured as much after our meeting. Why do you care though?" Asked Storm.
"Because not all of his council agrees with his decision to isolate ourselves.
His goals for us are good, but impractical.
He believes that the Beast-kin can all unite under his banner, stand alone against any threat that comes our way, and build a nation as powerful as any kingdom. " Explained Stella .
"But you don't think so?" Asked Leyocan.
"No, none of us can stand alone, we need each other. Something that you have already realized, and have begun to work on." Explained Stella.
"So, what are you proposing? Do you wish to defect?" Asked Storm.
"No, I want to reveal a way you might be able to prove to him that this alliance can benefit us both. Not a lot of people knows this of him, but Torin has a younger brother.
When he escaped from his first master, he failed to escape with him. By the time he returned to liberate him, he was already gone and the trail had run cold.
He's been desperately searching for information about him ever since. " Explained Stella.
"What makes you think we can find him, when even Torin failed?" Asked Storm.
"You have more contacts in the human kingdoms that Torin. Your people has an easier time than us infiltrating human civilization. " Explained Stella.
"Storm looked at Leyocan, who had a thoughtful expression.
"Won't be easy, after being moved around that long? He could be anywhere?
Might not even be alive anymore?" Said Leyocan.
"How would this even help my case?" Asked Storm.
"You would prove that you can provide something even he can't access and you would also have his gratitude.
Minotaurs are honorable to a fault.
He's more likely to listen to you if he owes you a favor. " Explained Stella
Storm nodded his head.
"I'll try my best, but I make no promises. " said Storm.