The world moved on.
Tatal settled into her married life, and the shadow settled into his usual aloof existence. He felt the land around him change slowly. The trees reached desperately for the sky; the beasts prowled the forest, hunting those who were weaker than them while being hunted by those who were stronger.
Tatal became much busier as she matured and built her family. Her young husband proved to be a hunter of great skill and talent, effortlessly demonstrating his worth to the men of the Shadow Tribe and eventually becoming their leader. The old shaman who had officiated the wedding, meanwhile, was beginning to succumb to her age.
As a result, it was decided that Tatal would become her successor. She began her training not long after the wedding, and it consumed most of her time.
