A/N I could go off about how deeply I feel about positive Easterling/Haradrim portrayal but anywho, the story

Bitter winds blew wispy clouds across a brilliant sky over a wide plain. Zakhir surveyed the open lands from her vantage point on a cliff above a forest spreading its arms down to the roots of the mountain. A great hawk perched on her arm tucked close to her side. Hlang ruffled ruddy feathers and shifted her talons, fierce yellow eyes gazing up to the sky. Black dots were circling in the air. At least, they were black dots to Zakhir, though she knew they were vultures by the V of their wings and they way they dipped and swayed in circles in the air.

Hlang was eager to begin the hunt, but Zakhir knew better than to release her bird to take on Vultures, Krahy hawk though she be. Known for their size and unrivaled in ferocity, the Krahy hawks, along with many other birds of prey, were bred by Zakhir's own people. Bound all into one group and called the Sani, mountain people, by tribes in the west, Zakhir belonged to the Shonkri, people of the hawk. But there were other tribes in the mountains.

Zakhir's eyes were searching for other signs. People from the west, traders, were supposed to be here a week ago, but perhaps trouble had befallen them on the road. Regardless, Zakhir took it upon herself to watch the path on which they usually came, their mules burdened with great packs. The Uul, Zakhir's people called them. The red people. Long ago, a great part of them had ventured into the farthest reaches of the west, called by a Dark Lord, but few of the Shonkri in the mountain could be swayed by promises of glory and riches. Some had returned, defeated, but their lust for the westlands never seemed to sate, sending invading forces that kept being beaten back by the valor of the northmen. They'd still be licking their wounds from one such defeat, though there was a balm in the slaying of their king.

Hlang struggled to be free of the leather straps that bound her to Zakhir's wrist, flapping powerful wings and uttering a croaking screech. Eyes that could spot a field mouse in a tussock of grass from the sky had seen something in the trees beneath something. Zakhir stood up to get a better view of the road snaking up the mountainside. Colors that wouldn't be seen except on clothing and people could be seen through the trees far beneath her.

Zakhir stood and watched until the distinct forms of people could be seen, some leading beasts of burden, others carrying burdens themselves. At the head of the company was Himou, a merchant who did business with the mountain tribes regularly. One of the few that did. He was trusted as much as one of the Uul could be.

She didn't make herself known right away, just watched as they labored from her high vantage point. Eventually, one of them looked up and glimpsed her, a solitary figure, coated and hooded in white furs, a great raptor on her arm. He gasped and pointed, others following his shocked gaze.

Himou himself laughed at the sight and his fellows reactions, and bowed low said, "The goddess of the mountain herself has deigned to greet weary travelers."

A ghost of a smile touched the girl's lips. Uttering no word, she turned and started back to her village to let the people know that the merchants were almost here.

Little snow was left this at this low altitude by this time of the year, and spring had made itself known with a mist of green over every plant.

Arriving at the array of tents that made up Zakhir's village, she cupped a hand to her mouth and shouted, "Ready yourselves, the Uul traders are on the nigh path as I speak."

A quiver of excitement could be felt in the air as people made their last checks to the wares to sold and recalls for what needed to be gotten.

Returning to her own home, Zakhir was met by a girl younger than she, her sister. "Come, sister! The hanging I've been working on was finished this morning." She announced gaily.

"I'm proud of you, Utas," Zakhir smiled. "Is our mother pleased as well?" She asked as they entered the dimmer interior of their tent.

Their mother responded from the fireside. "I am as well pleased as anyone could be, with a daughter accomplished with birds and the hunt, and a daughter accomplished with the arts of the needle and thread."

Both girls glowed with pride.

On the opposite side of the entrance to the yurt, was a wall hanging. Many swirling patterns and designs in rich shades of green, crimson, and blue worked together to make one large piece.

"Utas, it is truly a work of art," Zakhir praised, her free hand on her sister's shoulder. Turning to her mother she asked, "Is everything in readiness?"

~~

The traders had rested for the night and the next morning before the sun had peeked over to the western side of the mountain, the village was bustling with the bringing out and unpacking of goods to be traded.

In the center of the village, deals were taking place. This was when the mountain people gave the wool of their sheep and kine for the fine threads to make into tapestries and coverlets; fine ivory, horn, and bone for sharp steel weapons and tools. Though the tribes in the west tended to look down on the mountain peoples for not having any great cities or conquests, nowhere could there be found furs so warm, or in Zakhir's tribes case, hunting birds so magnificent

Himou waved Zakhir over. He dealt in trinkets and baubles from the far west and south. Rare things not from Rhun. "Your Krahy is ever present, I see." He admired Hlang's size and coloring.

"Every good caretaker knows to keep a new bird with them until it trusts you enough to always come back after being set loose." Zakhir replied, stroking the red feathers.

Himou nodded, scanning his wares for something in particular. "For you then, a pretty thing." He picked up a small statue of what looked to be a deity. Zakhir looked curiously upon it.

It was about as tall as Zakhir's hand was long, delicately made, fashioned of white marble, with saphires set for it's eyes. It's hair was long and resembled feathers. It had talons for hands and in one it held a scepter studded at the top with a small sapphire. On each shoulder, a talon rested of a great eagle who's wings were spread and beak opened in a cry. It was marvelously wrought, with fine details in the feathers of the eagle, and in designs in the deity's robe.

"The people of the west call him Manwe Sulimo. Lord of the air and of eagles." Himou explained. "If I tried to peddle it to tribes further west, it would no doubt only be bought to be broken and defiled. But I thought perhaps such a trinket could be received with fondness at least within a people with such a reverence for birds." He mused as if to himself, "Something to connect different peoples."

Zakhir took the statue and looked with liking upon it. Turning it over in her hand, she glimpsed letters in the bottom. "Are these elf runes?" She inquired of Himou, showing them to him.

He nodded, "Yes, I don't know their exact meaning, but I was told it is the name of the maker."

Zakhir looked closely at the letters. A curving and graceful script. She smiled as she looked over the statue again. "Perhaps a god of eagles form the west wouldn't find it so bad to have a dwelling in the far east. There are birds here as well, at least."

Himou looked pleased at her acceptance. "Then it is a gift. Keep it well and may it bring good luck to you and all birds who come under you care."

Zakhir bowed in thanks and retreated. She took another look over the statue, enjoying the feeling of smooth marble and delighting in the glossiness it showed in the rays of a newly arrived sun.

~~~~

1376 words.

I really enjoyed writing this and I had some serious inspiration for it, but alas for motivation. I really wanted to play around with the different tribes and cultures within Rhun, as I feel like it had a lot more of its ancient culture preserved, since the Numenoreans didn't try to colonize it like they did Harad. I just really want to dig into Rhun and Harad being more than The Bad Guys who served Sauron and Melkor and having rich and diverse culture and people.

So yeah, hope ya'll enjoyed. :)

-GadSul