((Disclaimer: I do not own 'Monsuno'. 'Monsuno' belongs to its respectful owner/owners.))
(Author's Notes: Okay, it's the chapter that reviewers have been waiting for. It's the chapter featuring Beyal's wager! Thank you to everyone who is still following this story and reviewing. I also said a few chapters ago that I would produce a chapter called 'Picture Perfect' and get the team moving away from the forest glen. That will be next chapter – it's an idea I would like to include in this long shot Thanks again. Enjoy!)
It seemed that the wind of the forest glen was the only noise that dared to interrupt the flow of silence between that of the destined 5. The trees swayed a little, silently, leaning forward a little with those branches of theirs decorated in emerald green. The blue sky stilled, clouds once floating in all directions with the flow of the wind, and held its breath. The sun shone brilliantly, the heat suddenly seemed more unbearable than it had been before. If that was even possible that is.
"Can't go back on ya word monkfish." Dax said with a frown, the first to break the silence. He twisted his head a little so that he could just see Beyal out the corner of his eye if he strained his line of vision. He couldn't move much, or at all really. Not with the strong force of Jinja's hands clenching onto his shirt. It wasn't like she was stronger than him or anything… no… not at all! Dax was just giving her a…chance…uh yes! A chance to think she was better than him before he showcased his tremendous strength and power and made a fool of her before everyone. "Your word's your word."
Beyal stood up slowly from the grassy, dirt-covered forest floor and brushed off his cloak a little before straightening up and meeting Dax's narrow eyes gently. Chase, Bren, Jinja and Dax's eyes widened when Beyal pulled his left hand out from around his back and held it up for the group to see. Beyal gave a small apologetic smile and swayed his hand from left to right a little.
"Crossed fingers?!" Dax, Bren and Jinja exclaimed. Chase merely laughed and rubbed the back of his head.
"He, he," he chortled quietly. "I sorta taught him that."
"I have been told that crossed fingers are a sign of luck and holding back on one's word." Beyal uncrossed his fingers and let his hand fall to his side. It relaxed, fingers dangling loose.
"You taught Beyal how to lie Chase?" Jinja cried, setting a betrayed look Chase's way. Chase blinked, registering Jinja's words, before shaking his hands in front of his chest in comical way.
"No, no, no!" Chase defended, expression becoming a little hurt. "I would never teach Beyal how to lie." He let his hands fall into his lap and cast a pleading expression Jinja's way. "I just taught him that if he didn't want to lie or be untruthful, in the situation of being questioned by S.T.O.R.M or something like that, then he could cross his fingers and tell them an alternate form of the truth."
"That still sounds like-"Jinja began but cut herself off when she registered the words. Chase's way of logical thinking was quiet smart. Perhaps they could all learn something from that and the whole 'crossed fingers' thing. "Alright," Jinja said. "I understand Chase." Chase let out a sigh of relief and smiled thankfully.
"Thanks for getting it."
"No problem!" Jinja smiled back.
"Uh, 'xcuse me… best o' buds..." A voice interrupted. "But I'm gonna ask if ya can let me go," the voice cleared its throat. "Princess." Jinja simply tightened her grip on Dax and hissed.
"No! You're not excused! You can stay like this all day if I want you too!" Jinja said in his ear in a loud voice. "Or at least until I'm done kicking your butt, loser!"
"Peace, Jinja." Beyal piped up in his soft-spoken voice. Bren raised his eyebrows at Beyal, even though Beyal was not looking in his direction, and nudged Chase's ribs. Chase turned to Bren and raised his brow in question. Bren leant in close to his ear and whispered a short question.
"Did you teach him how to talk like a hippy too?" He asked. Chase shook his head, but laughed under his breath at the inquiry.
"Nope, sounds like a plan though, huh, B?" Chase whispered back.
"We do not need to settle this with violence or forms of brutality." Beyal said in a very calm tone.
Snickering, Dax flicked Jinja with his left pointer and bared his teeth at her in a toothy grin. "D'ya hear that Princess?" He asked in a taunting tone. "He called ya a brute!"
"Shut it Dax!" Jinja shot back. "You're as much of a brute as I…" She cut herself off, realising what she was saying, realising that she was calling herself a 'brute'. Dax however, had caught on too soon and had hung onto every word. The grin expanded across his face until it looked like his jaw would dislocate.
"So ya admit you're a brute too?" He teased. "What a happy life us to brutes could live together!"
"Shut it!"
"Be calm, Jinja." Beyal repeated, to which Jinja obeyed, simply because Beyal had said so. Dax's grin was still evident on his face, even though it fell a little when the attention was averted away from him. "Allow me to explain the reason behind the pervious crossing of my fingers, if it is not a burden to do so." Jinja shook her head and smiled at Beyal.
"Oh no Beyal, it's not a bother at all!" Dax flicked her again.
"I see," Beyal replied, before Jinja could make another fuss. He would bring peace to this situation and teach these two to become compatible with one another in a spiritual way. It would be better for the whole of the destined 5. Beyal needn't worry about Chase and his' bond as it was as strong as iron thanks to Chase's kindness.
Beyal also considered his bond with Bren to be quiet strong too. He was improving upon Dax's and Jinja's in the slightest. He was sure they could all be a big happy family if they communicated and understood one another more. "In any case," Beyal began. "The reason behind the crossing of my fingers was as a measure to ensure that a disagreement would not break out between any one of us." Beyal's grey hued eyes dulled a little. "Unfortunately, a disagreement did occur between two members of this tribe today. It has not only affected them, but everyone. When something bad happens, everyone in the tribe will suffer. That is the way of the tribes of our ancestors, and that of our own."
All eyes were glued to Beyal, mouths clamped shut as they listen curiously. "I was told by my great master of wonderful wisdom that the definition of a 'tribe' is related to that of a 'family'. He classified it as a group of people coming together and living as one."
Beyal fixed his eyes on Jinja and Dax. "Because we are a tribe, we are a family. My wager concerns that aspect greatly." Chase and Bren leaned forward in anticipation. Jinja stilled, eyed wide. Dax fixed his gentle eyes on Beyal's, eyes gleaming with questioning as the words sunk in to his mind. "My wager is that Dax and Jinja, two valuable members of this tribe, of this family, will treat one another like blood-brother and blood-sister until the next full moon."
(And there you go! Beyal's wager! Please review, I would love a few reviews. I can most definitely make Dax and Jinja do some fun stuff together as blood-brother and blood-sister, cause you see, sisters and brothers are as closely knitted together as peas in a pod, even if they don't get along all the time. Feedback please!)