• The Prouds 116

Chapter Fifteen

The Prouds lived in a harsh, wild environment where
everybody fought over control, wealth, and women.
Stability was a feature that environment never had. Their
surroundings, in that time and place, were like a jungle
where survival was for the strongest and the strong ate the
weak. Therefore, they realized long ago that they needed to
be strong.
Despite the fact that strength in their surrounding
was always combined with injustice and despite the fact
that they were the strongest people in the desert, all
members of the Prouds were forgiving and generous. They
never assaulted anyone weaker than themselves. They even
protected wronged people who came to them for protection.
Yet, when wronged, they would strike those who
did them wrong fiercely to deter others. For centuries, they
protected their dignity well and taught their children the
need to protect their dignity even if it cost them their lives.

Year 372.

Long awaited by his parents, Leader Addison was born.