The clearing, still echoing with the fading cheers of the Evergreen tribe, shifted from a scene of triumphant celebration to one of sudden concern. Usato lay motionless on the ground, the fading golden sparks of his exploded manifestation still shimmering in the air around him.
Thorne, his face etched with a mixture of relief and worry, rushed forward, his usually stern expression softened by concern. He knelt beside Usato, his large hands gently checking for a pulse.
"He's alive," Thorne announced, his voice a low rumble, "but he's taken a heavy beating." He looked up at the surrounding tribesmen, his gaze sweeping over their excited faces. "We need to get him back to the village, to the healers."
Several Evergreen warriors stepped forward, their expressions serious. They carefully lifted Usato's unconscious form, their movements gentle despite their warrior build.
"What about Borak?" someone asked, their voice laced with a mixture of fear and triumph.
Thorne glanced at the fallen Bloodfang warrior, his face hardening. "Leave him. He's no longer a threat. We have more pressing matters." His gaze shifted to Korga, who stood amidst the Bloodfang warriors, his face a mask of barely concealed rage and frustration. "We will deal with the Bloodfang and their treachery later."
Korga, sensing the growing hostility of the Evergreen tribe, snarled. "You think you've won? This is just the beginning. The Silica Kingdom will crush you all!" But even his bluster lacked its usual conviction, his eyes betraying a flicker of uncertainty.
As the Evergreen warriors carried Usato away, Thorne turned to face the remaining Bloodfang tribe members. "You have witnessed the consequences of your leader's folly," he said, his voice cold and hard. "Return to your village and tell them what you have seen. Tell them that the Wildbeast Border will not tolerate such treachery. And tell them that the Silica Kingdom's threats will not go unanswered."
The Bloodfang warriors, their bravado shattered by Borak's defeat and the raw power Usato had displayed, exchanged uneasy glances. They knew Thorne's words were not empty threats. They had seen the impossible, and the fear of what was to come settled heavily upon them.
Meanwhile, Thornek and Thaggar, their faces unreadable, watched the scene unfold. The triumph of Usato, the revelation of the Silica Kingdom's plans, and the growing tension between the tribes created a complex web of uncertainty. They had gambled on the strength of the kingdoms, but now they wondered if they had underestimated the resilience of the Wildbeast Border.
Kael, standing slightly apart from the cheering crowd, watched Usato being carried away. His expression was a complex mix of emotions. He had witnessed Usato's fight, the raw power of his artificial manifestation, and the calculated precision of his attacks. A slow realization dawned on him: he wouldn't have won. Not against that. The arrogant confidence he had carried into the arena began to crumble, replaced by a grudging respect. Usato had fought not for glory, but to protect the tribe, a fact that pricked at Kael's pride. Yet, despite this newfound respect, he remained stubbornly aloof, refusing to join the cheering crowd or offer a helping hand. He watched silently, a storm of conflicted feelings brewing within him.
Syka, her eyes filled with concern, stood beside Thorne. She had witnessed the severity of Usato's injuries and the strain he had endured. "He pushed himself too far," she said, her voice soft but firm. "He knew the risks, but he fought anyway." She looked at Thorne, her expression pleading. "We need to ensure he receives the best care possible."
As the Evergreen tribe departed, carrying their unconscious champion, a heavy silence settled over the clearing. The air was thick with unspoken questions and the looming threat of war. The fragile peace of the Wildbeast Border had been shattered, and the fate of the tribes hung precariously in the balance.
That night, while Usato remained unconscious, an emergency council meeting was convened in the tribal hall, the place where the most crucial decisions were made. The air was thick with tension as the tribe elders and warriors discussed the grave matters at hand: the Silica Kingdom's impending invasion, the Bloodfang's betrayal, and Usato's unexpected power. The discussion began with the immediate threat.
"We cannot ignore the Silica Kingdom's words," Thorne began, his voice grave. "Korga's threats, though laced with arrogance, hold a chilling truth. They are coming, and we must prepare."
"But how?" Elder Lyra asked, her voice laced with anxiety. "We are a small tribe. We cannot stand against a kingdom."
"We will not stand alone," Jorin countered, his voice firm. "We will send messengers to the nearby tribes, warn them of the coming danger. We will forge alliances."
"Alliances?" Elder Kaelen scoffed. "Who will trust us after the Bloodfang's treachery? They have tainted us all."
"We will explain," Thorne said, his voice resolute. "We will make them understand that the Bloodfang's actions were their own, not ours. We will show them that we are united against this common enemy."
"And the Bloodfang?" Elder Maya asked, her voice calm. "What of them?"
"They have broken the ancient laws," Thorne said, his voice hardening. "They have sided with those who seek to destroy us. They will pay for their betrayal. But first, we secure our borders."
After a long and heated debate, they agreed to send messengers to the nearby tribes, excluding the Bloodfang, to warn them of the Silica Kingdom's impending invasion and to seek alliances. Only after settling the matter of the looming threat, did they turn their attention to Usato.
"Now," Thorne said, his voice softening slightly. "We must discuss Usato's request."
"He is already awakened," Elder Lyra said, her voice sharp. "Why should he take the slot of a younger warrior who has yet to experience it?"
"He fought for us," Jorin countered, "and he is a natural awakener. That is a rare and powerful thing."
"We cannot offend him," Elder Maya said. "He has proven his strength, and he has earned our respect. We must explain our position carefully."
"An heirloom?" Elder Kaelen asked, his voice skeptical.
"Something of our tribe's lineage," Elder Maya said, her voice calm and measured. "An item passed down through generations, holding a piece of our history."
"ABSOLUTELY NOT," Thornek interjected, his voice sharp and hard. "He is an outsider. We should not be offering him our tribe's treasures."
"It is a gesture of respect," Elder Maya responded, her tone even. "He fought for us. To deny him entirely would be an insult."
"Respect is one thing, reckless generosity is another," Thornek pressed, his eyes narrowing. "He is already awakened. To send him to the Ancestral Altar now would be… unnecessary, a diversion of our already strained resources. But to give him a valuable heirloom? That is something we cannot afford to risk. We do not know his true nature, his true purpose here. We must be cautious."
"That is... a pragmatic view," Thorne conceded, his gaze shifting to Thornek, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. "It is a choice we offer. The decision will be his. We will explain the significance of the ritual and the history of the heirloom. He will decide which path to take."
"And if he refuses the ritual?" Elder Kaelen asked.
"Then he receives the heirloom," Thorne confirmed. "It is a way to honor his contribution, without risking the Ancestral Awakening, given his unique situation."
"Very well," Elder Maya said. "We will present this to Usato when he awakens."
Throughout the meeting, Thornek remained uncharacteristically silent, his face unreadable.
As dawn approached, Thornek, under the cover of darkness, slipped out of the village and met with Korga.
"You took your time," Korga hissed, his voice a low growl. "I grow impatient."
"Quiet, fool," Thornek retorted, his own voice barely a whisper. "The Evergreen dogs are not as oblivious as you think. I will not be followed."
"You dare call me a fool? You, who will deliver your own tribe on a platter to the Silica Kingdom?" Korga sneered, his lip curling in disgust. "You and your pathetic tribe are nothing without their 'protection'."
"We're aligning with the winning side," Thornek said, his voice tight. "We're not fools."
"You're aligning with those who will use you," Korga said, his voice filled with disdain. "And you'll thank them for it."
Thornek's hand tightened on the hilt of his hidden dagger. "Enough! We are here to finalize the arrangements. The Silica Kingdom's advance is imminent. We must ensure the Evergreen tribe is… prepared for their arrival."
After a tense silence, Korga relented, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Very well. We will discuss the precise moment of their 'welcome'. But remember, Thornek, you are playing a dangerous game. One misstep, and you will find yourself on the wrong side of the Silica Kingdom's 'benevolence'."
They spoke in hushed tones, detailing the timing and method of the Evergreen tribe's surrender, their words laced with treachery. The nanobots, silent and invisible, recorded every detail, transmitting the data back to Usato's system. Finally, they parted, Thornek returning to the Evergreen village, his face a mask of melancholy. He paused at the edge of the clearing, gazing at the sleeping huts.
"You can't blame me, Father," he whispered, his voice heavy with a false regret. "We must survive. We must adapt. The old ways are dying, and I will not let our tribe be destroyed by their foolish pride."
Then, his face hardened, his eyes narrowing with a fierce determination. The melancholy was gone, replaced by a cold, calculating anger. "They will see," he muttered, his voice a low growl. "They will all see that I was right."