~The Tribe~

When Rafaela returned to the boat after having gone ashore to collect some wood, plants, and berries, she arrived to find the boat deserted. Her first moment was panic, but then, she realized she recognized the situation - the telltale signs of her people, her tribe.

Well, at least she knew exactly where to go. She had charted her way through this jungle all her long life - it was her home.

"WAIT!"

Several minutes later, she found herself bursting through the trees and into the camp, where some sort of ritual looked to have been staged (another one of Frank's tricks). Her actions abruptly halted the scene before her.

Lily stood facing Sam, who was dressed up in a bright-coloured outfit and bone mask. Lily held a spear in her hands, looking a mix of afraid and confused. Frank and MacGregor stood nearby, still 'captured'.

Sam heaved a sigh. "Seriously Frank, I'm going to have to start charging you more for all this booga booga nonsense."

"Sam, we had a deal-"

"No, no, I'm tired! Of all this, and these ridiculous costumes! You said this was a nice English lady-" Here she gestured to Lily, who was still threatening her. "-And her wimpy brother, and that she was going to get herself killed!"

"Yeah, I know, because she's crazy!" Lily swirled around to look at him, spear coming with her. "She's crazy determined. Look, Lily, the truth is, I didn't get a chance to call this entire thing off. I mean, Rafaela practically beat me to it! But remember: it's only a scam if you fall for it."

SMACK!

Lily wasted no time in giving him another one of her punches before stalking away.

"Strong form..."

"Wimpy eh?"

SMACK!

MacGregor wasted no time in following suit, delivering a punch as well.

"Strong form - the whole family has strong form..."

SMACK!

"What the - you too?!" he cried when Rafaela delivered a punch as well.

"That's for making my people look like barbarians to outsiders once again!" And with that, she stalked away herself.

Back with her people now, pretty soon she was dressed and pained in the traditional way, and did it ever feel good to be back!

"Welcome to the village of the Puka Michuna tribe," she welcomed the brother and sister.

"Amazing," breathed Lily.

"Thank you, Lily. Don't be fooled by outsiders' perspectives." This was directed at Frank.

"You've already met the Tribe Chief, Trader Sam."

"Just so you know, I think you are very nice and not wimpy," said Sam.

"Thank you..."

"Hey, MacGregor, you going to finish that masato?" Raf asked.

"The spit beer? No, please, be my guest." He handed over the mostly-full mug.

"Gracias." And she drank the rest in one gulp.

Arriving at Sam's own part of the village, Lily handed over the arrowhead so the chief could inspect it as well. Lily had taken to ignoring Frank altogether now - in fact, they pretty much all had.

"We know where we have to go now: La Luna Rota. How long would you say it would take us to get down there?" Lily asked Sam.

"Two or three days." Sam shrugged.

"How about via canoe?"

"Excuse me?" said both men in unison.

"Please inform captain Skippy that I will no longer be traveling with him from now on."

"You're never going to make it alone, Lily-"

"Oh I won't be, I'll have Rafaela with me. She who I do trust. Also, you misjudge my determination, and also my driving skills."

"Please tell Doctor Pants that what's out there in the jungle she's never read about in her little textbooks," Frank told Sam.

"I'm not here to speak for either of you," the chief responded.

The two continued to argue with equal fervour.

"Well I'm not going to be falling for any more of his ludicrous tricks, that's for sure. They're getting very tedious."

"If you go upriver with that thing around your neck you're never going to make it out alive."

"Really?"

"Yes, we have to stick together."

"Oh do we?"

"Yes, we do," Frank insisted.

"Well you know 'we' is an interesting word, Frank, because it sort of implies a bond of trust and honesty. Neither of which you know anything about because you are a liar, Frank. You are selfish, you are arrogant, and I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you which clearly isn't very far because you are huge! So there is no more 'we', in fact I think there never was. Actually, here's the rest of your money - oh, and here's a tip for such wonderful service." She tossed some bills at him half-heartedly.

"You'll need a boat - we have boats," said Sam. "You can take one - but Trader Sam does love a trade."

"Oh I bet - And your English get very exact when you want something." Sam eyed a hat box. "You like the hat? You can have the hat." In fact, Lily seemed rather glad to be rid of it. "Not sure why we were lugging that around with us anyway."

"That's my hat!" cried MacGregor.

Sam slipped the hat from the box and placed it on her head, adjusting it. Satisficed, she gestured for them to join her. "Come on then, let's find you ladies a boat-"

"No, this is ridiculous!" Frank intervened once again. "I can't let you do this-"

"This really isn't your place to intervene," Lily shot back. "Not anymore. And besides, why do you even care."

"I am not letting you and my wife sail across the Amazon with that arrowhead alone!"

Shocked silence followed his outburst.

Lily gawked back at him. "Your wife?!"

So happy to be back with this story! ;) More to come soon!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)