Man Of Steel, Shield Of Ice

Clark

The wildlings' camp was quieter than usual. There had been an uneasy calm settling over the people of the Thenns, the Ice River Clan, and Tormund's group in recent days. Whispers still swirled about Mance Rayder's ambitions, but no one seemed ready to act just yet. Clark had grown accustomed to the uncertainty that accompanied life beyond the Wall, but it had begun to feel different. Tension was thick in the air, and he couldn't ignore the weight of what might be coming.

It had been weeks since he had first joined these people. Weeks since he had started to prove himself, not as a leader, but as someone who could be trusted. He was accepted as a part of the group—someone they could rely on. But Clark knew that being accepted and being listened to were two different things. The wildlings were a hard people, and the question of leadership was still a sensitive subject. The Thenns, the Ice River Clan, and even Tormund were reluctant to follow any one person, especially a foreigner.

It was an issue Clark had been grappling with. His focus was always on the survival of the wildlings, not on trying to lead them. But the more he worked with them, the more he understood that survival here wasn't just about food, shelter, or protection. It was about unity. And that unity, as difficult as it might be to achieve, was becoming clearer to him by the day.

He could see it in their faces. The wildlings were tired of fighting alone. The Others were coming, and no one could deny it. The shadow of that threat was enough to make even the most stubborn wildling think twice about their place in this world.

---

The Decision to Stand Together

As Clark spent more time with the wildlings, he started to notice a shift in how they viewed him. It wasn't that they had come to see him as one of their own—it was more subtle than that. The wildlings were a people of pride, and their trust wasn't easily given. But he had earned their respect. He wasn't their leader, nor did he ever want to be. However, the need for a strong, unified front was becoming more apparent with each passing day.

It wasn't about following Mance Rayder or standing apart—it was about standing together.

Clark had witnessed the strength of the wildlings firsthand. The Thenns, though quiet and reserved, were fierce warriors. The Ice River Clan had their own wisdom and cunning. Tormund, with his boisterous personality, was a powerful leader in his own right. But none of them were ready to unite under one banner. Not yet.

Clark didn't have all the answers, but he knew that if Mance Rayder's ambitions were true, the wildlings might not have much time left. The threat beyond the Wall was coming fast, and they needed to prepare.

---

A Visit from Tormund

One evening, after the day's work was done, Tormund found Clark by the fire. The camp was quieter tonight, the wind howling through the trees as the two men sat in the flickering light. Tormund seemed in deep thought, his usually loud demeanor subdued.

"I've been hearing talk," Tormund said, his voice unusually serious. "Talk of Mance. The clans are restless, but no one's making any moves. Some think he's too much of a risk. Too many are afraid of losing their independence."

Clark raised an eyebrow. "You've heard the same whispers I have. People talk about him like he's a savior. But you're right—there's fear mixed in with the hope."

Tormund nodded. "It's not just fear of Mance. It's fear of what it means to join together. Some of the clans are proud. They don't want to be swallowed by someone else's rule."

"I don't think Mance wants to rule them," Clark said, staring into the fire. "I think he wants to unite them. There's a difference."

Tormund scoffed. "We'll see if the clans feel the same way."

Clark turned to Tormund, meeting his eyes. "What if they do? What if Mance's plan could work? What if he's the only chance they have to survive?"

Tormund looked at Clark for a long time before finally speaking. "You'd stand by him, wouldn't you? Even if it means going against the clans' traditions."

Clark hesitated. "I'm not here to be a leader. I just want to make sure we're ready for what's coming."

Tormund seemed to weigh Clark's words carefully, then gave a small grunt of approval. "That's the spirit. But the wildlings don't do things the easy way. If Mance wants their trust, he's going to have to prove it."

---

A Hard Choice

As the fire burned low into the night, Clark couldn't shake the feeling that the time for making decisions was drawing near. The wildlings couldn't keep living in the shadow of uncertainty forever. The threat of the Others loomed over them, and Clark knew that the only way to face it was together.

But standing together meant making a choice. It meant supporting Mance Rayder if he was the one to bring them all together, even if it meant sacrificing some of their independence. It meant fighting for a common cause, not just for individual clans or leaders, but for the survival of all the free folk.

The question was, could they put aside their differences in time to face the real enemy? The answer would come soon enough.