Udyr, the Beastwalker

Herren felt he understood.

This is a matter of legitimacy. You have taken over from Kojiya, so it is only right that you give this fallen mother a dignified funeral.

So here's the question... what does this have to do with Herren?

"Please, you really think I'm a shaman? I've said it so many times, I'm just a hearthman who happens to be good at fighting, not a shaman..."

"But only you are capable of doing some of these things..."

Sejuani knew this was putting Harren in a difficult position. After Harren had crafted an extraordinary suit of armor for her, Sejuani felt a little embarrassed to make such a request.

She herself didn't even realize that when she asked Herren, there was a hint of coquetry in her voice.

"Please, you can summon that goat spirit, right? Just show me a little bit of your skill..."

"It sounds simple, but you have to understand, I am a mortal, not a true god. Divine power is borrowed... If I generate divine power, I can't 'swallow' it back. So, who do you plan to let take a hit from my hammer?"

"this……"

Sejuani rubbed her hair in slight distress.

"And aren't you oversimplifying the ritual? What's the procedure? Aren't there any prayers? Any talk of the gods granting rest or anything like that... I don't understand at all."

"I don't understand either..."

For a long time, all the sacrificial activities in the tribe have been performed by the Frost Priests, but Sejuani doesn't want to admit that without those guys, she can't even hold a proper ceremony.

"It's decided then, Herren, help me this time..."

Sejuani clasped her hands together and spoke in a pleading tone.

She has never tried to play the victim since she was a child, because neither her grandmother nor her mother bought into it. Instead, they thought she was weak. She also had a lot of baggage with other people.

But in front of Helen, her best friend who had witnessed her cry, she had fewer reservations. Besides, this tactic really worked on Helen...

"Sigh... alright, I'll try my best."

Herren shook his head helplessly and had no choice but to accept this unreasonable request.

……

……

The next day, everyone in the tribe put down their work and gathered in the open space in front of the War Mother's tent.

A thick layer of firewood was piled up in front of the campfire, and Kojiya's body lay on it. Black Ice had killed her, but it had also prevented her body from decaying. Even now, she still looked as if she had just died.

Everyone silently admired the War Mother who had ruled Winter's Claw for several years. Although some said she was weak and others made a fuss about her "rebellion" in her early years, it must be said that during the years she was in power, although the tribe was not well fed, at least no one starved to death.

This is already a very impressive achievement.

Everyone respected the War Mother and quietly saw her off... until Sejuani appeared.

Sejuani kept a straight face, trying her best to maintain her dignity, while Harren was still racking his brains to find the right words.

But soon he realized he didn't need to think so much... because before the ceremony even started, someone interrupted.

"Excuse my bluntness, Sejuani... after this ceremony, you will become the new Warmother of the Winter's Claw, won't you?"

The one who spoke was a woman about the same age as Gorgia, also an Iceborn... and Sejuani was prepared for the questioning.

"No, I have to correct you... Even without this ceremony, I am still the War Mother of the Winter's Claw."

Sejuani said coldly, showing no sign of backing down despite the doubts.

"Who decided that? Just because you're of the Kukja bloodline? Even the Kukja themselves don't acknowledge you!"

"We have so many mature and composed women like Kojiya, why should we need a young, inexperienced girl like you to be our war mother?"

There are many women in the tribe who are from the same generation as Kojiya, and many of them have even watched Sejuani grow up, so Sejuani's predicament is not uncommon... They are probably genuinely resentful.

"Look what you've done... You led the tribe to migrate, and many people almost lost their lives, all to completely offend the Frost Priest! And what are you saying... This is just a temporary stop, and we still have to migrate?"

Upon hearing this, Sejuani frowned.

"Frost Priests are a slow poison... We must get rid of them completely!"

"Is that so? They might be poison, but you're a guillotine! You're causing everyone to die in vain!"

After saying that, the woman turned around and looked at everyone.

"Did the Frost Priests nearly freeze you to death in the snow? Yes? No! They even gave us food!"

The crowd immediately started discussing it, and many people were already moved.

Thanks to the Frost Priestess's years of work in the tribe, many people perceive them as "good people" who save lives without expecting anything in return. In comparison, Sejuani does seem somewhat autocratic.

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Sejuani took a deep breath.

She wasn't worried about anyone challenging her; she believed in her own abilities... but she was bad with words and dreaded getting into arguments, even if she was convinced she was right.

So she decided to take the initiative to break the deadlock.

"Shut up! Since everyone has a problem with me... I'll only ask one question: those who are willing to pledge their loyalty to me and regard me as their war mother, step forward!"

Sejuani spoke loudly, but her move was clearly a bit rash. Many people had already been persuaded or had begun to hesitate, and for a moment the atmosphere became awkward, with no one stepping forward.

After a long while, Ercas stepped forward first, followed by several of his brothers.

"I regard you as my War Mother, Sejuani of the Winter's Claw... Yorn, Hela, all of you."

His words sounded weak, not because he lacked sincerity, but because he wasn't qualified enough and his words carried little weight... Urkas was one of the younger generation in the Horde, having been chosen by Gorgias as Sejuani's blood ally.

Faced with this situation, Sejuani's face immediately turned ugly, and she was somewhat embarrassed.

Meanwhile, the women known as "seniors" were already beaming with pride, seemingly ready to "election" for the title of "battle mother."

However, at that moment, a rough and deep voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"I consider you my War Mother, Sejuani of the Winter's Claw... I will protect you with my life."

An unfamiliar voice sounded from behind Ercas, startling him. He turned around and saw a completely unfamiliar face.

"Hey, who the hell are you?"

Urkas looked at his good brother Hela, who was supposed to be on guard, in astonishment.

You didn't know your house was haunted?

Hela was also a little confused and somewhat innocent.

The funeral service was supposed to be held, and everyone was supposed to come... and he came too...

Although the young Erkas and others did not recognize the man, the women who led the instigation and were contemporaries of Kojiya recognized his weathered face after a brief examination.

"You are...Udyr?!"