Chapter 2

Floran should have known better, fish girl doesn't know the forest like Florans, but Floran is still surprised that she's still alive. Florans always stab first, and eat later, because it's easier to eat meat when it's not screaming. The fish girl has her hands free, but can't free herself from the hunter. It's not surprising, Florans are strong, hunt is our life, always fighting prey, makes Floran strong. The hunter dragging her throws her next to the dead fish men. The fish girl get on all four, and looks towards the dead fish men. She immediately sits on her legs, and puts her hands on her mouth. No one else seems to notice, but Floran notice the tears in her eyes, and Floran feels something for the fish girl. Floran doesn't know what it is, it's not a desire to stab her, but it's something that Floran can't put her finger on. Then, the door of the chief's house swings open, and it gets everyone's attention, even the fish girl. There, on the doorstep of his house, stood Adjoda, chief of the Floran tribe. He's respected and feared as a strong hunter, he's known to have won The Hunt with his trusty hammer. He looks at the crowd around his house, and looks down at the fish girl, who cowers in fear.

"What is the meaning of this?" asked Adjoda.

"Chief, we have brought some fish people to throw a feast for the tribe," said Rak.

"Then why didn't you stab the fish girl?" said Adjoda as he points at the fish girl.

"Floran brought this fish girl all for yourself, chief. A gift from one of your most loyal hunters." Adjoda looks back at the girl, and starts walking towards her. The fish girl doesn't move, she can't move, Floran can see that she's shaking in fear. Adjoda stands in front of her, looking at her for a moment, before grabbing her by the shoulder, and pulling her to her feet. Adjoda was a little bit taller than other Florans, but compared to the fish girl, he's a head taller than her. He grabs her chin with the other hand, and turns her face from side to side. Everyone was quiet, but Floran could see smiles on their faces, some licking their mouths, barely holding themselves from tearing the dead fish apart, and cook her parts. Then, the silence is interrupted by a familiar voice.

"What's going on here?" asks Idalla, who pushed her way through the crowd. She looks at the dead fish men in the ground, and gasps. The chief looks towards the Greenfinger, and smiles.

"Idalla, glad you could join us," said Adjoda, Floran could hear the delight in his voice.

"What happened here? Why are these men dead?" Idalla sounded angry, and Floran knows why. She had always tried to teach Floran to stop hunting what she called, people. Florans never paid attention to that, and ignored her.

"The fish men were stabbed, but this one was offered to Floran as a gift."

"These are Hylotl, not fish men, and I demand that you let that girl go!" Floran was afraid of Idalla trying to start a fight with Adjoda. Everyone knew what would happen if they fought.

"Oh, Idalla, you're still the same old Greenfinger, the same Greenfinger who lost her position as chief." Adjoda lets go of the fish girl, and walks up to Idalla. "Because of your weakness."

"Respecting life is no sign of weakness, Adjoda. Now, realease the girl, and let her go back to where she came from." Many Florans hissed at the suggestion, but a wave of Adjoda's hand made them go silent.

"Idalla, you misunderstand, just because you're a Greenfinger, doesn't mean you have any authority here. Sure, Floran haven't exactly killed you, but that's only because of your skills, and nothing else." Idalla kept glaring at Adjoda. A Floran approach the chief, and offers a spear in his hand. Adjoda reaches for the spear, and Idalla looks at the hand, but it stops. "However, Floran just ate, and Floran's stomach is full. Killing her right now would make the meat spoil much faster." He calls a Floran named Luliku, who has a purple flower on her head, with a few blue leaves coming down from the side and back of her head, and light blue skin. She also works for the chief, and Idalla called her Adjoda's left hand once, but Floran doesn't understand what that means. "Take her to a cell, and make sure no one eats her." Adjoda is the chief, and a very strong chief, but hunger is stronger than fear. Idalla looks worried, looks around, Floran doesn't know why, maybe to hit Luliku. Then, Idalla looks at Floran, and smiles, not like other Florans, but a different smile.

"Wait!" yells Idalla, and everyone stops what they were doing. Everyone look at Idalla, and she looks at the chief. "I have a proposition."

"And what would that be?" says Adjoda.

"There's a particular Floran, who I would like you to give the opportunity to prove herself to you." Adjoda looks curious.

"Which Floran are you talking about?" Idalla points at Floran.

"Her." Everyone looks at Floran, and those around Floran back away. Floran just points at herself. "Yes, you, Seba. Get over here." Floran leaves the crowd, and some of the Florans hiss at Floran. When Floran gets to Idalla, she puts an arm around Floran. "I'm sure you've heard of this particular Floran." The chief looks closely at Floran.

"Ah, yes, Floran have heard of this one, a very strange one." says Adjoda.

"I prefer unique, and I'm sure you want to keep the Hylotl alive for later, right?"

"Yes, that was the plan."

"Well, you must have heard about Seba's reluctance in stabbing certain prey, right?"

"Yes, that's why she's strange, not very Floran."

"In a way, which is why I think she would be a very good choice in keeping an eye on the Hylotl. Since, you know, she doesn't like to stab, and it would be a big favor for me, if you can give her the chance to prove herself as a good Floran." Floran doesn't need to prove anything, Flora is still Floran, Floran just doesn't want to hunt certain prey, especially one who doesn't want to fight. Adjoda seems to be thinking about it, because he starts to rub his chin. Floran doesn't think he will agree, he has two hunters working with him closely, sounds like a better idea to put one of them.

"Very well, she will guard Floran's prisoner," says Adjoda, and Floran has no idea why. "Now, take the prisoner to her cell, and make sure no one eats her, or Floran will smash your skull, and feed you to the tribe, understood?" Floran looks behind her, and sees some Florans licking their lips. Floran knows who Idalla feels about our tradition, so Floran knows that she's upset at the very idea. Floran looks back at the chief, and has no choice, but to nod. "Well, get on with it. As for the rest of us, we have some meat to prepare." The Florans around us cheer, and start to drag the dead fish men away. The fish girl looks at the dead fish men for a moment, and when a dead fish men's arm is cut off, she looks away. Floran walks up to the fish girl, Floran grabs her arm, and she looks at Floran. Floran thought she would struggle, but she gave me a weird look, and Floran pull her up. What Floran don't know, is why Floran did it gently, Floran usually drag prey, mostly when it's dead. So Floran don't know why Floran pulled the fish girl gently. What's the most surprising, is that the fish girl didn't put any struggle, she just got up, but Floran still had a hold of her arm, just in case. Florans around us hiss at us, or maybe at the fish girl, and some of them suggest to make the fish girl to walk on her own by stabbing her. There was no need to do that.