Legend of the Chezamon
Chapter 12- The Arrival
"So, the Tribes arrive at Mist Forest today?" Kaz inquired as he took a sip from his milkshake.
"Yeah, and Kaya and the others are supposed to escort them to the Underground Den," Luna replied, "I can't wait to see their faces!"
"I just hope they won't be at each other's throats for these three seasons."
Peyton, Sarah and Tom paid them no heed, they were simply checking the scanners they had gotten in the Underground Den. Not all of the Chezamon they met had allowed them to take scans, but they had gotten a good number of location scanners, even though most Chezamon they scanned were Hunters or Healers.
"Take a look at this!" Peyton snickered as he showed his friends a scan of a bulky chezamon whose fur was of black, white and gray tones, "I managed to scan that Noble without him noticing. He's so cool, I can't wait to use him!"
Sarah smirked as she showed him a scan of Fen, "That's nothing, Princess Fen let me get a scan of her. She is much stronger than that pup."
Peyton looked down with a point, "Show-off."
"Just wait until you see this," Tom searched through his scanner and finally found the one he was looking for, "I managed to convince Hukaro to let me scan him, but I had to enlist a random Hunter's help for that."
Peyton and Sarah watched Hukaro's scan, and noticed he had very good stats.
"Guys!" Luna crossed her arms, "Instead of seeing who got the best Chezamon scan, we should go to the edge of the Forest of Life! I think it's already the time! Besides, we promised the other Creatures we would explain them some of the Chezamon customs while they got there!"
The trio sighed, remembering their promises as well. The group stood up from their table and headed towards the port court.
Syena stared at the grassless terrain that extended seemingly endlessly from the edge of the Forests of life, seeing nothing more than rocks or pebbles. She was put in charge of the 'Tourism Operation', as the Hunters had dubbed it a few hours before, which made it wonder if the Hunters named all the missions after all. Unfortunately, the only one who seemed to be taking this assignment seriously was Rocket.
Kaya was taking his third nap in the day, Jerome was pacing nervously next to him, Shaoran had climbed unto the tree and was staring back into the Forest of Life towards the location of Mist Forest and Toba was playing around with anything he found.
"I can't believe I had to bring this squad with me," Syena sighed in dismay, "I would have rather brought Xetas's squad."
Almost simultaneously, the Hunters twitched their ears and turned towards the lieutenant, "We heard that!" they said, offended.
"Sorry, guys, but you should be here helping me look for the Tribes' vehicles instead of losing your time!"
"Come on, don't be like that!" Kaya let out a big yawn, "If they wanted to come to Mist Forest, they have to ask for our help, anyway!"
"That's if we don't get lost on the way back" Jerome commented, "We barely got here!"
Syena narrowed her eyes, twitched her ears and looked around; she was hearing the faint sound of buzzing that disappeared within seconds. Recognizing the sound of the humans when they appeared in the middle of places, she looked towards the source and stared as Luna's pack walked towards them, this time without the need of constantly look around to look for Hunters in patrol or worse.
"So you guys actually managed to get here without our help after all?" Sarah inquired, to which Shaoran reacted by jumping back to the ground from his tree and landing right in front of her.
"It was harder than you said it would be," he muttered, "And we had to look for Chamils as we came."
"What's a Chamil?" Tom asked
"Believe me, you don't want to know," Kaya sighed as he looked away.
"I can't believe we're actually letting Creatures from other Tribes come into our territory," Rocket joined the conversation, "This is going to be recorded thoroughly in our history records."
"That's nothing compared to the Galliac attack last year," Jerome replied, "It was a complete massacre!"
Suddenly, Syena's pupils became slits and she looked into the distance, pointing her ears to the front and coiling her tail like a Siberian husky, but the humans decided not to bring it up, knowing the Chezamon would not know what they talked about, anyway. The Chezamon Hunters turned their heads towards the spot their lieutenant was looking at, and soon their slits became pupils as well when they spotted what she was looking at.
Four tiny clouds of dust were approaching the Forest of Life; although the humans saw only clouds, the Chezamon had keener senses and they spotted unfamiliar vehicles approaching swiftly. Almost immediately, the Chezamon took defensive positions, just in case those were hostile Creatures seeking to conquer their territory, but Luna stood between them and the outskirts before they could charge.
"No, no, no!" she yelled, "They're the delegates! Besides, if you try to attack Dread Treads, you're going to lose all of your teeth!"
Toba tilted his head, "Dread Tread? What's a Dread Tread?"
"You'll discover soon enough," Peyton grinned, "They're arriving."
The humans emerged from the Forest of Life to receive the Creatures, but the Chezamon were still wary and chose to stay hidden until they were sure the Creatures were unarmed.
When the Dread Treads finally arrived at their destination, they stopped in mid track, and the humans and Chezamon alike noticed they were marked with the respective four Tribes symbols. When the Creatures started to come out of the vehicles, the Hunters' fur bristled in curiosity, but Syena kept her calm; they watched as each Chaotic player went to their respective favorite Tribe group to explain them the course of action.
Bodhal was the first to emerge from the Overworlder's Dread Tread, carrying a whole bag filled with notebooks, pens and ink, probably for his 'research', and he was soon followed by Intress, Frafdo and Tangath Toborn. He immediately looked around, searching for the Sixth Tribe members.
"Where are they?!" he spoke rather loudly, "I want to see them! I need to ask them about the Roth shards!"
"Seriously, Bodhal," Frafdo sighed, "Can't you spend one single day without wanting to take notes?"
"Who would have though the Forest of Life has harbored a sixth Tribe for all of these solems," Tangath sighed as he looked into the depths of the Forest, "If only they had been present during the M'arrillian invasion, the outcome would have been turned for the best."
"They are waiting," Tom explained, "Remember, don't freak out if they approach to smell you, it's some king of…" Tom looked away in embarrassment, "… Greeting."
Luna had decided to wait until the delegates were ready, and decided to see which Creatures had come. Bodhal, Tangath, Intress and Frafdo had come in name of the Overworld. The Underworld had sent Takinom, Agitos Nivenna and Rothar, but she thought Rothar was a bad choice, he wasn't precisely the most patient Creature in Perim. The Mipedians who had come were Sobtjek, Ario, Vinta (Kaz had told her about their little adventure with the three Mipedians in Hunters' Perimeter), and Siado, but apparently there was one Mipedian who had yet to get down the Dread Tread. The Danians had chosen Odu-Bathax (he had probably come on his own account), Aimukk, Wamma (much to her surprise), Faash and Bierk. To think the Creatures would have to live there and not be at each other's throats.
"Alright," Odu-Bathax snapped as he pushed Sarah aside and looked around the area, "Where is the Chezamon who called me 'bug'?" the Mandiblors sighed in frustration at that comment.
Sarah joined them, "He's not here, he's in the Den, but do what you do, don't make him angry."
After a brief retelling of the Chezamon's rules, the four groups were led in front of Luna, and she gulped when she noticed most of the Creatures gave the other Tribes soft glares or 'I-so-want-to-kill-you-but-I-can't' looks. When all looks were on her, she looked back to the Forest of Life and called out for the Chezamon.
"Guys! They're all here! You can come!"
The four Tribes alike froze in place when they saw the wolf-like beasts emerging from the bushes, giving them cautious stares; their pupils were slits, their tails were held up high and their ears were pointing forward.
Nobody noticed, but Faash and Syena gave each other a glance; the Mandiblor and the Lieutenant thought the other seemed familiar or something, but they couldn't recall it. After all, they had never met until now.
"So…" Syena's voice spoke, "This is what the Tribes sent over here?"
The Deep Mines had never been so quiet.
After their defeat, the M'arrillians returned to their former home to seek refuge, the few M'arrillians that kept their sanity intact, at least. When their leader was presumingly killed, Phelphor took command of the M'arrillian army, but not even he was reckless enough to attempt to conquer Perim with the few resources his Tribe had left.
But the M'arrillian did not give up; in the ancient records left from solems ago, during the M'arrillians first invasion, he had come across a scroll which spoke of a Tribe of animal-like Creatures, with the instincts of a beast but the intelligence of a Creature. Apparently, they had fled during the first M'arrillian invasion for unknown causes, and they went into hiding permanently, losing touch with the outside world. They headed into the Forest of Life, then disappeared, never to be heard from again.
According to the scrolls, this Tribe were formidable enemies; they were fast and agile, like a feline, but strong and smart, like a wolf. Phelphor was surprised to learn that their Tribe wasn't able to brainwash this Tribe for some reason, but assumed they had left before the M'arrillians had a chance. After all, who was able to resist M'arrillian Mind Control?
He had already sent a scout to the Forest of Life to see if this Tribe was truly real; if it was, it could be another chance to conquer Perim, and if they refuse to form an alliance, well… the M'arrillians still had their methods.
The Overworlders tried to accommodate in the chamber assigned to them, after being explained by the wolf-like Creatures which areas were free to roam and which were completely off-limits to them; it was rather awkward to sleep in the floor on a straw bed. Bodhal had been assaulting every Chezamon he came across about their culture, and over all, the Roth shards. However, the Hunters, as they were referred to by the higher-ranking Chezamon, were not allowed to disclose such information, and the Roth Shards were unfamiliar to them, apparently.
"Seriously, Bodhal," Frafdo sighed as he took a peek into the green man's notebook, "Sketching is not your forte."
"Please, it's just an average drawing so that when we come back, Maxxor will be able to identify them," Bodhal spoke rather loudly with indignation, showing the bird-man his notebook and the drawing in it; a pathetic excuse for a chezamon sketch, in Frafdo's opinion.
"Why is their head on the wrong side of their body?" he inquired.
"That's its tail!"
"When did they say their leaders would meet us?" Intress asked s Tangath Toborn tried to fluff the pillow.
"In five moons, I think."
"If you ask me, I think these Creatures need to be a little more polite," Bodhal commented, going back to his notes, "I mean, they didn't even give us a single smile!"
"What were you expecting? It's the first time they have had outsiders in their homeland. They don't know how to treat us."
"As long as we are here, we must learn to tolerate the Underworlders at least until the chezamon make up their minds about the alliance." Tangath told the group.
"That's going to be hard, considering it's the Underworlders who are always looking for a fight." Intress replied, looking away.
"Would you knock it off, Odu?" Bierk complained as the Battlemaster paced around the room, "Why don't you wait until tomorrow to look for that… Sorka guy?"
"He called me a bug!" the Battlemaster replied in anger, "You expect me to simply sit down and do nothing?!"
"Don't take me bad, but I think you're taking it too seriously," Aimukk commented, just to receive an angry glare in return, "Forget about it."
""Would you guys argue in low voice? I'm trying to sleep," Wamma spoke from his straw bed, and covered his head with his cover, "And would you mind turning off the lights?"
Aimukk snacked his forehead in frustration, "Wamma, you slept all the way here and you're still tired?"
"Hey, sleeping can be tiring too."
Odu-Bathax wanted to launch a Rock Wave at Wamma so badly, but repressed for the sake of the alliance.
Faash said nothing to his Tribemates; he was already in bed, like Wamma, but unlike the obese Danian he had trouble sleeping. He couldn't stop thinking about that female, Syena; he felt a strange attraction to her, as if he had known her before, something he couldn't explain. On the way to the Underground Den, he had never taken his eyes off her, but would look away quickly when she looked back at him.
He couldn't believe he could actually mate with a member from another Tribe, but he didn't think he had that kind of attraction to her… did he?
Sobtjek, unlike the rest of his comrades, had preferred to take a look around Underground Den before going to sleep; the terrifyingly eager Hunter, Toba, had offered to give him the 'Grand Tour', much to the other Chezamon's dismay. Despite the warning that once Toba started to talk he never shut up until he was actually done talking, the Mipedian thought it would be impolite to decline the offer.
"This is where Ryuu keeps his samurai Clawder armor collection," Toba said while pointing to a chamber, which, unlike most of them, which had small leaf-woven curtains to act as doors reminiscent of those in a tent, had a solid wooden door, "But he doesn't like anyone getting in. Believe me, I learned it the hard way."
Sobtjek couldn't help but chuckle softly, "He starts to sound like Prince Mudeenu."
"Hey, speaking of which, that Mipedian with the red cloak… is he friendly? I mean, when you guys arrived he didn't look happy or excited, he was serious, and the only other Creature I have seen so serious is Torimaku when he is having a bad day."
"Ailav?" Sobtjek sighed, "No, it's just that he doesn't feel comfortable around other Tribes. Conjurors do not even fit in our Tribe, I'm afraid, and they have become very reclusive because of this. I'm surprised Prince Mudeenu told us to bring him."
"Well, maybe he is being wary. I mean, a lot of things can happen in Mist Forest, and you're lucky we didn't run into a Chamil or worse."
"Would you mind telling what a Chamil is? You have been repeating it all day, but we do not know what they are."
Toba shuddered, "They are the meanest, biggest, most dangerous predator you can imagine! Their tails are covered in spikes, their fangs are pretty sharp and they are not friendly! One his with their tails and you're done for!"
"So… You mean to say your Tribe has… predating problems?"
Toba nodded as he led the Mipedian back to the Mipedian's chambers, "Yeah, we don't like it but hey, it's home."
Sobtjek nodded, understanding, "Yes. Home."
Takinom found it hard to accommodate on the straw bed; her wings got in the way no matter which position she took, and her fellow Underworlders had already fallen asleep not long ago; they were exhausted by all the walking they had to do. The humans had mentioned they had mounted Shaoran and Rocket on their way to Silver Cliffs, but the Chezamon refused to carry the outsiders on their backs; they were no 'skeletal steeds', they claimed.
The only exception had been Agitos, who wasn't able to keep up with the group, and Jerome was forced to carry him. Takinom would never forget the face Agitos had when they helped him up the Chezamon's back, nor the look on Jerome's face when Agitos's spikes pinched against his skin.
Then she had learned there were winged Chezamon living on the cliffs nearby, and she wanted to go and meet them to see for herself, but the Overworlders Frafdo didn't want to stay behind and the two would have fought hadn't Kaz and Tom convinced them that the winged Chezamon, or Skyguard, were busy right then. However, they did meet the princess of the Tribe, a female pink-furred winged Chezamon named Fen, and she was surprisingly eager to meet them. In fact, so much that despite the Clawders' attempt at stopping her, she managed to 'learn the scent' of the newcomers before she was taken away.
After finally finding a comfortable position to sleep, Takinom closed her eyes and fell into slumber.
"OW!" Jerome cried I pain as one of the Healers took the spines Agitos had left on his back off his skin, "Be careful!"
"If you stopped moving, it wouldn't hurt so much!" the female Healer replied in annoyance as she removed yet another spike.
"I wouldn't move so much if you did your job better, you know!"
Offended, the Healer smacked the Hunter's back, where there were still a few spines stuck, making Jerome howl in pain.
"I have to admit, they're not all that bad," Kaya commented, trying not to snicker at Jerome's misery.
"They're not all that bad?!" Shaoran snapped, "They're outsiders! And they're living here!"
"Come on, Shaoran!" Hikari gave him a hard stare, "You have to give them a chance!"
"Why should I?"
Suddenly, a passing by Hunter took a peek into the room and gave the other Hunters a mocking stare, "Well, well, look who sat down on a hedgehog."
Jerome groaned in dismay, "Oh, great," he muttered, "Xetas."
Xetas, unlike the other Hunters, had a slightly bulkier build and his fur was much more glossy, making him think he was above the other Hunters in terms of beauty. His fur was a brilliant azure, almost like Rocket's luminous vivid azure fur, and he had curve-shaped markings colored of a pale cornflower blue, and pure white undercoat and paws. His eyes were a dark grayish violet, and they were giving the group of Hunters an mocking glance.
"Come on, don't tell me you are complaining just because of an Underworlder's spines. I thought you liked sitting on hedgehogs, this one was giant."
"Go annoy the Nobles, Xetas!" Rocket snarled, baring his teeth.
Xetas didn't bother to reply to that, he simply turned around with a grin in his face and walked away with his tail held up high.
"One of these days, I swear I'm going to feed him to a Chamil!" Shaoran muttered, "I can't stand him!"
Rocket sighed in frustration, "Welcome to my world, Shaoran."