The Sycamore Herd
A Purist Cerynei Herd
A Purist Cerynei Herd
The Sycamore Herd was one born out of survival; hunted by carnivorous soquili, animals, and humans alike, Blackthorn saw the need for a leader were the was none at the time. His ancestors originally fled with the other cerynei from the fire that ravaged their homelands, and have been struggling to survive in Kawani ever since. A small group of them decided to stick together so they wouldn't have to face these new lands alone. They had meant to go their own ways once they regained their footing, but as time went on, no one ever made the first step to break away. From the tragedy of their lost homes and loved ones, new bonds were formed, and grew ever stronger as foals were born and new cerynei joined their group. They came to call themselves the Sycamore herd after the strong, tall, resilient trees. But while the Sycamore herd was settling down its roots, they weren't free from danger. They were, after all, prime targets for hunting -- either for their meat, their antlers, or even just sport. While certainly their chances for survival was higher as a group, fate did not treat them kindly. They suffered from shifter attacks, from carnivores just looking for food, and from human hunters looking for the same. They struggled through food-scarce winters and floods. Their numbers dwindled. The rate of survival of foals and the elderly was low. Their herd was in shambles, and had no direction. No organization. No leader.
Blackthorn was born into the newly made herd and had lived through many of the challenges that the herd faced. He didn't get to have much of a childhood, although his parents loved him and tried their best to give him what they could. He admired the herd's loyalty and strength; how they never gave up on each other, even during the toughest times. His father died protecting the herd from a shifter attack when he was still a foal. His mother passed when he was a young adult; he was more prepared to lose a parent then, but it was still hard. When Blackthorn reached full maturity, he stepped forward to become the Alpha of the herd. He didn't want to see them just struggle -- but to thrive.
He gave them someone to look up to in times of crisis to help them find direction and a sense of safety. He worked with each individual's strengths and weaknesses to assess their place in the herd; whether they would be fit as teachers, rearing children, gathering food, protecting the herd, or if their skills lay elsewhere and how to apply them to the benefit of the herd. Everyone was to be taken care of, and no one left behind. The Sycamore Herd was on its way to prosperity.
