Under the Burning Sun: The Beginning of the End

by Xiomari

(Minimally AU) Tells the story of the last 27 years of Planet Vegeta's existence. The tsufuru invade the saiyan's home world, prompting them to unify underneath Vegeta, the son of a tribal leader. After years of war, the saiyans successfully overthrow their would-be conquerors. But their freedom may be short lived when Frieza takes a sudden interest in the saiyans. (On Hiatus.)

3. Chapter 2

Under the Burning Sun:
The Beginning of the End

~ Chapter Two ~

Age 712, Rebirth Season

The winter season had officially come to an end only a few days ago. Winters were not particularly harsh for the Vegetabyl Great-tribe. The weather was cool enough that the trees lost their leaves. Once or twice a winter, they would experience a trace amount of snowfall; never so much that it wouldn't melt within a day or two. Although their winters were colder than the other seasons, they were not unbearably so. But they still had to stock up their supplies to last through the cold season since crops would not grow and large game animals usually went into hibernation.

From the very first day of the rebirth season, the villagers were busy with the laborious task of preparing their farmland for that cycle's crops. On this particular day, the adults continued tilling the field while the cubs removed cumbersome rocks and stones. Because the crops would feed the entire village, all the members of the great-tribe were required to contribute, with the exception of the hunters who had already left the day before to go on the first hunt of the new cycle. Not even the great-tribe's leaders were exempt. Only the very youngest and the very oldest members were not expected to participate in the effort to produce food.

Chieftain Tarve walked south along the eastern edge of the field with Shaman Tabos. The village's spiritual leader had seen more cycles than any other member of the great-tribe. Tabos had been the village's shaman for so long that Tarve could not remember there ever being another shaman. Because of the shaman's age, the trek along the borders of the planting field was slow going. But the chieftain didn't mind. It gave him the opportunity to oversee the villagers' progress. Occasionally, one or a few of the tribe members would approach him and ask for his input. How much of the field should be allocated for grain? How much for vegetables? What types of vegetables should be planted this season and how much of each? And so on.

When the chieftain and the shaman reached the southeast corner of the field, they stopped. Inquiries from the villagers stopped as well. They gave their spiritual leader plenty of space, respecting the ritual he was about to perform. Tarve retrieved the last four fist-sized, polished stones from a pouch tied to his waist. Each stone had a different engraving on its surface; fertility, nourishment, nurture, and growth. He handed the stones, one by one, to Tabos.

As he had done previously with the other three corners of the field, Tabos knelt down onto one knee. He accepted each stone, one at a time. He took great care arranging them on the ground, forming a circle with the stones. The shaman then grabbed a fistful of soil and raised it to his forehead. He gave a silent prayer, beseeching d'Mele gu Saiya for a plentiful harvest this cycle. The previous day, he gave a similar prayer to d'Jitaba Saiya on behalf of the hunters, asking for a cycle of safe and successful hunting trips. After Tabos finished his prayer, he sprinkled the soil on the circle of stones and then slowly rose to his feet.

"It is done," the shaman announced. "Of course, we will not know if the Goddess will heed our prayers until the harvest season. However, if you do not wish a repetition of our struggles during this past winter, I highly suggest gifting the Deities with larger offerings to gain their favor."

Tarve nodded. "Thank you, Tabos. I will personally see to it that the offerings are made."

Tabos thanked the chieftain before heading back into the village proper alone. Tarve remained behind, taking a moment to view the full scope of the tilling activities. Almost immediately, his eyes fell upon his two children, halfway across the field. Like the other cubs, they were busy filling a tall wicker basket with upturned rocks.

Neither one seemed to be working too terribly hard at the task. As children were wont to do, they made a game of the chore, each in their own different way. Vegeta appeared to be taking his time while selecting rocks. Whenever he found one, he tossed it towards the basket from where he stood, testing to see from how far he could be successful. Aleguu, on the other hand, seemed more interested in the rocks themselves than getting them into the basket. She inspected each one she picked up and tossed the rejects into the basket. Occasionally she would find one that suited her fancy. She would enthusiastically show it to Vegeta who would humor her with an encouraging comment. And then she decided whether to put the stone in a small satchel strapped to her back or to discard it with the rest.

As Tarve watched his cubs, he reflected upon the changes in their behaviors since the incident with the strange demon-bird. Almost two full cycles had passed since the event. While no further sightings have occurred, the encounter had still left different impacts on Aleguu and Vegeta.

Before the experience, Aleguu had been very fond of her brother, following him where ever and whenever she could. But afterward, Tarve noticed that she had become literally attached to her sibling. She stuck close to his side. When the seven-cycles-old girl wasn't with Vegeta, she was under her father's feet. Unfortunately, her constant presence was becoming an annoyance. It was difficult to conduct village business with her constantly underfoot. On several occasions, the chieftain tried to leave the girl with extended members of their family clan, but she would have none of it. While Aleguu appeared perfectly fine and content within the presence of her father or brother, she became a terrified, whimpering mess whenever she was away from them.

Tarve worried for his daughter's sake, wondering if she would ever get over the anxiety issues she had developed. For several fortnights, anytime the girl-cub heard any loud noise, she would panic. A felled tree or the roar of a wild beast would trigger her flight mechanism. It didn't matter if she was with a family member or not. If she heard something loud and terrifying, she would immediately run off and seek a hiding place. Usually this was her family's diyando. Sometimes, she would hide in one of the ground level huts. Once in a great while, she would be found in the diyando of another member of the great-tribe.

The biggest problem with Aleguu's extreme fear was that she was unable to prevent the projection of this fear through the kinship bond with her father. While the chieftain was able to control his own reaction to such utter fright, her terror attacks came so sudden and unannounced that, at best, they were extremely distracting. At worst, they required him to dismiss himself from whatever business he had been conducting to go find her and reassert his reassurances to her.

If Tarve could identify at least one improvement in Aleguu's behavior since the incident with the demon-bird, it was that she had left the village on her own not even one time. As a matter of fact, it had taken her several days to get her to enter the forest at all. The first few times she dared to venture beyond the village limits, she absolutely refused to do so without her father. Even then, she refused to go very far. She insisted on staying close enough to the village where she could either see, hear, or smell the sights, sounds, or scents of her home.

To the chieftain's relief, Aleguu regained her confidence little by little as time went by. Eventually, she didn't mind being left with other members of her clan when her father and brother were unable to watch over her. Loud noises, while they still startled her from time to time, did not drive her to find a place to conceal herself. And she became more confident, daring to venture further and further away from the village. She still refused to go out into the wilderness alone, but she no longer required the presence of several adult members of her great-tribe just to travel beyond the village proper.

Vegeta, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened. Tarve noted that outwardly, his son gave no indication that he had ever experienced the incident with the demon-bird. He carried on as he normally did prior to the event. He spent his days minding his chores, whatever they may be, depending on the season. On occasion, he attempted to get out of his responsibilities. But the chieftain observed that the boy didn't slack off as often as he used to.

Unlike Aleguu, Vegeta continued to venture into the forests surrounding the village. Tarve almost always knew when his son had wandered into the forests; the boy would unknowingly and subtly transmit feelings of relaxation and contentment when he did. Vegeta still valued the peace and serenity nature provided. For several fortnights after the incident, the only way the ten-cycles-old boy could get some time away from his sister was to take a stroll into the forest. Tarve envied his son and his moments of solitude.

The trees of the forest were Vegeta's playground. The chieftain knew that there were a handful of particular trees that his son fancied. The boy-cub could often times be found perched in one of them. Sometimes Nappa joined Vegeta during these retreats into the forest; sometimes not. Whether with company or without it, Vegeta was undeterred from leaving the safety of the village. Tarve took notice, however, that despite his son's frequent jaunts into the forest, the boy no longer traveled as far away as the boundaries of the great-tribe's territory.

Despite Vegeta's outward portrayal of a carefree child, Tarve knew his son had been affected more greatly by the demon-bird than he let on. For the first several seasons, the boy was constantly on alert. Like his sister, any loud or unusual noise grabbed his attention. To the chieftain's relief, these disturbances didn't drive Vegeta to flee like Aleguu did. But the boy would stop what he was doing and divert all of his attention to the source of the noise. Tarve knew that his son was analyzing the disruptions, likely comparing them to his memories of the demon-bird, and then dismissing them as false alarms. Tarve knew that Vegeta was watching for evidence of the creature's return. However, after eight seasons without any signs of the creature's existence, the boy's diligence had gradually diminished.

On a positive note, the chieftain was pleased that Vegeta appeared to be more tolerable of his sister's presence. Certainly, there were times when Aleguu would get on her brother's nerves. Those were the times that Vegeta would retreat into the woods where the girl wouldn't follow. But for the most part, the boy-cub allowed his sister to remain by his side. In truth, Tarve knew that his son's generosity stemmed from the instinct to protect her. The chieftain saw how Vegeta kept a close eye on Aleguu. And word frequently got back to Tarve about how attentive his son had become towards the girl.

While Tarve reflected on the changes that the demon-bird wrought upon his children, his thoughts wandered to the impact that it had had on Nappa as well. With the older cub, Tarve lacked the kinship bond that gave him the insight he had with his own cubs. With Nappa, the chieftain could only observe and infer. But with the older boy's boisterous behavior, it was almost easier to figure him out than it was to understand Vegeta.

Tarve suspected that Nappa was just as traumatized by the experience with the demon-bird as Aleguu and Vegeta were. But the older boy portrayed a strong and confident composure. He became very cocky and, at times, very obnoxious. Often times, the almost eleven-cycles-old boy would try to pick fights with other cubs – those that were older or larger or both. Tarve suspected that Nappa did this to try to prove his strength and courage. Most of the time, the other cubs would ignore Nappa. But when he did manage to goad another child into a spar, he would frequently end up with a bruised body and a wounded ego. Yet, this didn't stop him from doing it all over again after a few days.

When the boy-cub began to harass the tribe's hunters to allow him to join them, it came as no surprise to Tarve. Shortly before the incident with the demon-bird, Nappa had been allowed to accompany them on a single hunt; an overnight excursion where the game had been small. After the event, he insisted that he was ready to go on longer trips and hunt larger game. The hunters initially declared that he was no where near ready after only one hunting trip. And Tarve agreed with them.

But Nappa was persistent. Whenever the hunters prepared to go on a hunt, the boy hounded them until their departure. He observed their preparations, watching what they packed and where they planned to hunt. He came to memorize their rituals to the point where he would perform the tasks for them, without being asked to do so. When the hunters returned from each trip, Nappa would be the very first to greet them. He raptly listened to the tales of their latest catch while they cleaned their hunting gear. Again, the boy would pay close attention to their duties until he was able to assist them.

Eventually, the hunters agreed that perhaps it was time to take Nappa along with them. Over the course of several fortnights, he had proven his desire and sincerity to learn from them. Tarve had been present when the hunters had approached Kailan to request his permission to teach Nappa the ways of the hunt. Kailan gave no objection to the proposal to train his son; he, too, had been a hunter before becoming a warrior and then later, earning the title of War-adviser.

Nappa's exuberant reaction to learning that he would become a hunter was enough for Tarve to know that the decision had been the right one. Despite being made an apprentice hunter, the boy-cub wasn't allowed to accompany his mentors on most of their trips. Most hunts were of large beasts that could easily take out or severely wound even the strongest hunters if they were not careful. During the hunts that Nappa could participate in, he wasn't allowed to do much more than watch and learn. But it was enough for him to simply be allowed to go and to have the opportunity to absorb as much knowledge as he could. After nearly a full cycle of studying the ways of the hunt, Nappa's mentors decided to take him with them on the first hunt, one of the biggest trips of each new cycle.

The changes in the three cubs' behaviors hadn't gone completely unnoticed by other members of the great-tribe. Aleguu's behavior, in particular, had roused the curiosity and concern of at least a dozen villagers. A few of them came to Tarve with their worry for her. He was able to reassure them that the girl-cub was merely going through a phase after having experienced a small fright deep within the forests. He never indicated what the source of that fright had been. And so far as he could tell, the cubs never revealed that secret either. As the days turned into fortnights and the fortnights turned into seasons, the cubs' behaviors eventually receded back into normalcy and those that didn't recede were gradually accepted as the new norm. It became as if the incident with the demon-bird had never happened in the first place. For the three cubs, life was simply moving on.

While the children carried on with their daily routines, as if they were no longer bothered by their brush with the beast, the knowledge of the creature continued to weigh heavily on Tarve's mind. He hoped that the incident was an isolated one, but his instincts told him that as more time passed since the encounter, the likelihood that the creature would reveal itself again grew greater. And since the demon-bird's intentions remained a mystery, he couldn't be certain that his people would be safe if – no, when – it returned.

This burden was added to the many other issues that Tarve had to contend with coming out of the winter season. Foremost on his mind was the smaller than usual yield on the previous crop harvest. They had experienced an unusual drought during the monsoon season of the last cycle. The season wasn't completely without rain, but the precipitation was far less than usual. The drought was so noticeable that the river had dropped nearly a foot in depth and the creek that normally flowed into it had completely dried up. The villagers had spent most of the growing season hauling buckets of water into the field. They managed to save about seventy percent of the usual yield, but the shortage was enough to be felt by the villagers in the form of food rationing throughout the winter season.

Tarve could only hope that the Mele would hear their prayers for healthier crops this cycle. If they experienced a repetition of the same weather conditions this cycle, then he knew they'd be in far greater trouble this upcoming winter. His village, while being forced to ration supplies during the winter, had not been near starvation levels. Their salvation – and curse – had lay in the fact that there had been a significant reduction in trade during the previous cycle. The lack of goods exchanged had resulted in them having more crops for their own village's needs.

Unfortunately, with the reduction of trade, the Vegetabyl Great-tribe didn't receive certain goods needed to survive comfortably through the winter. Most of crucial items came from tribes to their west and northwest. From the Bafalyl Great-tribe to the northwest, they received medicinal herbs. Even further to the northwest lay the lands of the Karofyl; they were they makers of cheeses which had a long shelf-life and were rich in protein. Directly to the west was the Vegetabyl tribe's strongest ally, the Steridyl who possessed the largest salt deposit.

Items that were less critical to their winter survival came from the south. Pottery came from the Zinibaryl Great-tribe to the southwest. Acquired from the Aposyl, directly to the south, were fruits which unfortunately had a short shelf-life. And cloth was bartered from the Malpifyl who resided to the southeast. Trade from the south had remained steady, but it was items from the west that the Vegetabyl Great-tribe needed most and had received the least over the past cycle. Seeking trade agreements from the Malvakyl to the north and the Kurkurbityl to the east were completely out of the question since they were both bitter rivals of the Vegetabyl people. Thus, trade was another concern Tarve had for his tribesmen.

The chieftain was pulled from his thoughts when he noticed that a few of the villagers were having difficulty with the furro they were operating. Without giving it more than a moment's thought, Tarve approached them to give them some assistance. An adult male that had been pulling the plowing device removed the leather straps from his shoulders. The female who had been guiding the tool's direction walked around it to join her counterpart just as Tarve arrived.

The device's two stone blades had snagged on something beneath the soil. The three of them worked almost wordlessly as they cleared away the dirt. They uncovered a root, old and dead from a tree cleared away long ago. A few chops with an ax at the cumbersome plant remnant and the villagers were able to continue their task. The man strapped himself back into the furro while the woman took her place behind it, grasping the two wooden handles. They were still a little hung up at first, but with the extra push from Tarve, they were on their way. The duo thanked the chieftain for his help. It was his willingness to lend a hand, no matter how large or small the task, that earned Tarve the continued respect of his great-tribe.

"Lo! Chieftain!" Alaria called out as she approached from the west end of the field.

Tarve walked towards her. "Lo, Alaria."

The peace-maker joined his side as he continued walking towards the direction of the village proper. "A Steridyl messenger arrived this morning," she said.

The chieftain quirked an eyebrow. "So soon? I would not have expected that one arrive so quickly after the end of winter. He must have spent the entire season traversing the mountain pass."

"I thought so, too. And she arrived alone. We offered her an empty diyando so she could rest, but she politely declined. She asked for your council immediately upon her arrival, so I assume that she brings matters of importance."

"I shall see her at once, then."

By now, they had reached the creek separating the field from the village. Tarve turned back towards the field for a brief moment to get one final assessment. In truth, he was checking on his cubs one last time before leaving them with the other villagers. His eyes fell on them as Vegeta hefted their full basket onto his back and carried it towards the river. Aleguu followed dutifully behind him, hopping playfully over the trenches that had been plowed. Satisfied that they'd be alright on their own while he attended the meeting with the visitor, the chieftain continued onward into the village.

A few minutes later, Tarve and Alaria entered the salarg. The chieftain would have liked to have had his other two councilmen with him while meeting with the messenger, but they were busy with other matters. Tabos continued his important task of earning the favor of the Deities. Meanwhile, Kailan was leading the hunting party that had departed the day before and they would not likely return for at least a few days.

When the duo entered the salarg, the Steridyl female was seated on a bench with her back facing the doorway. She seemed to have heard them as soon as they had entered; she immediately stood up and turned to greet them. She was fairly young, had long, brown hair, and a comely face. The chieftain didn't recognize her. It was likely that she had only recently been appointed as a messenger.

"Are you Chieftain Tarve?" she asked.

"I am."

In response, she bowed respectfully to him as was proper for his position, her right hand fisted over her left breast as she did so. "Thank you for granting an audience with me so quickly. Please forgive me for pulling you away from your many important duties."

Tarve noted that the traveler was very well trained in diplomacy. "Please, rise," he beckoned. She obeyed. "I imagine your journey was not an easy one given that you crossed the mountains between our lands during the winter season. Are you certain you do not wish to rest first?"

"Thank you for your concern, Chieftain. But no, I will rest after I have delivered my message."

Tarve nodded. "Very well. Let us have a seat then."

The chieftain and the peace-maker took their seats at the front of the salarg while the traveler reclaimed her spot on the bench. Alaria offered the woman a cup of water and a dish of smoked meat and cheese. She accepted gratefully.

"My name is Arra," the messenger began. "My chieftain sends his apologies for the disruption in trade this past harvest season. It was not the intention of the Steridyl Great-tribe to create unnecessary hardships on your people."

Alaria offered forgiveness. "Please let Chieftain Matilo know that we bear no ill will towards your great-tribe. While we were concerned by the reduction of traders during this past harvest season, we also assumed that said absence was not without a good reason."

Arra nodded gravely. "As you may or may not already know, all communication with the Karofyl has ceased. The last to have heard from them was the Bafalyl during the final fortnight of the monsoon season two cycles ago. During the first fortnight of two harvest seasons ago, the Bafalyl sent a small envoy into Karofyl territory to investigate the cause of their silence. Winter arrived before that envoy returned."

"Winter settles much sooner in the northern lands," Tarve stated, "and is much harsher. Were the Bafalyl travelers forced to remain in Karofyl lands until after the winter season had passed?"

"If only that were true," Arra refuted. "When last cycle's rebirth season came and still no word or sign of their delegates was heard, the Bafalyl began to suspect that something foul had transpired. The speculation was that the Karofyl had solidified an alliance with the Malvakyl and had cut ties with the other great-tribes. The only conceivable explanation for the disappearance of the Bafalyl envoy was the possibility that they had been taken prisoner by either the Karofyl or the Malvakyl."

Tarve found this news to be disturbing. For generations, the Karofyl had carefully maintained complete neutrality with all of their neighbors. To hear that they had suddenly chosen to ally themselves with one of the enemy tribes was surprising and unexpected. This alliance, if indeed it had been forged, could be troublesome for the Vegetabyl Great-tribe and their allies.

Alaria repeated certain words. "'...speculation...' '...possibility...' You use terms that allude to the Karofyl's treachery yet you hesitate to convict them of any wrong doing."

"You are correct," confirmed Arra. "The Bafalyl sent a group of warriors – a recognizance party – into Karofyl territory late into last cycle's rebirth season. They admitted that the decision was dishonorable, to show such deep distrust with an act of espionage. But the decision was warranted.

I was in the Bafalyl village when those warriors returned three fortnights later. The news they brought was disturbing. Five days after crossing into the Karofyl lands, the Bafalyl warriors discovered that many of the forests had been destroyed. Burned to nothing but ash."

Tarve was alarmed by this news, but kept his features stoic. "Not an alliance, then. An attack by the Malvakyl, yes?"

"What of the Karofyl? What happened to them? Why did they not send for help?" Alaria inquired, equally shocked but unable to suppress her emotions.

"Please, you are jumping ahead," Arra answered. "At that time, the Bafalyl did not venture far enough into Karofyl territory to learn their fate. With evidence of war in front of them, they thought it was wiser to return to their lands and assemble a battalion. Their Chieftain, Tepari, requested that when I returned to my village that I implore Chieftain Matilo on his behalf for a regimen of warriors to supplement his own."

"Why did I not receive the same request?" asked Tarve. "I would have gladly offered the assistance of my great-tribe."

Arra explained, "I did not return to my village until after last cycle's Mid-Summer Feast. By then, the last group of our tradesmen had already departed for your village. We did not know at that time that that would be the final trade delegation we would be able to send to you for several seasons. It was my great-tribe's contribution to the battle effort that resulted in our temporary severance from you and your people."

"How did the battle unfold?" Alaria queried.

"During the first fortnight of the previous harvest season, our two battalions traveled north into Karofyl lands and then turned east towards the Malvakyl territory, assuming it was they who had attacked the Karofyl. When they reached the Malvakyl border, the two armies found that it was heavily fortified with Malvakyl warriors. War almost broke out that very instant. But one very important factor prevented a confrontation. The war-advisers of the Steridyl and Bafalyl great-tribes noticed that the Malvakyl army was not in a position for attack, but rather, for defense."

"Defense?" Tarve repeated.

Arra nodded. "Yes. Defense. The Malvakyl Great-tribe had fortified their western border in response to the events that had unfolded within Karofyl lands. They were not responsible for the destruction of the Karofyl forests after all."

"Then, who was?" inquired Alaria.

"That remains a mystery," Arra replied. "The story that the Malvakyl supplied was a bizarre one. They claim that strange creatures came down from the sky. A group of Karofyl hunters attacked the creatures. They retailiated by breathing fire onto the forests, turning them to cinder. The fate of that hunting party remains unknown, but is likely not a good one. After the appearance of these fire beasts, the Karofyl Great-tribe disappeared. The Malvakyl also say that a new range of peculiar mountains have risen where the Karofyl village once resided.

"Of course, the word of the Malvakyl can not be completely trusted, if at all. And none of these claims have been verified by any other source. Not to my knowledge, that is. I began my journey here early this past winter season – as you correctly assumed – barely a fortnight after our warriors returned from their excursion. Not at all enough time for a scouting group to investigate and return with their findings before my departure."

As Arra finished her tale, Tarve sat quietly to reflect upon what she had said. What was most troubling, and what he focused on, was the story of the sky creatures with the ability to manipulate fire. It was a vague description, but it was one that matched – if loosely – the description of the demon-bird that Vegeta and Nappa had witnessed almost two cycles ago. If the two different creatures were indeed the same, or similar, then Tarve knew that not only was the cubs' personal experience not an isolated incident, but that the creature they had witnessed was extremely dangerous. He felt an icy chill fill his gut, knowing that his children and Kailan's child had come so close to such a terrible threat.

Alaria felt the same dread, though perhaps not with the same magnitude that the chieftain felt. Tarve felt tendrils of her trepidation via their pack bond. Along with her fear, he felt her uncertainty. She gently implored the chieftain whether or not they should share what little information they had with the messenger. That was a good question. Tarve felt that divulging their knowledge would provide the confirmation the other tribes needed to verify the Malvakyl claims as truth. However, there still remained the possibility that the two tales were isolated and unrelated to each other. Sharing their experience might lead their allies to false conclusions. Yet, he found that he couldn't take that chance.

Tarve took a steadying breath and then spoke. "This sky creature... I believe... a few members of my great-tribe may have witnessed something similar... if not identical."

Arra's eyes widened fractionally in awe and disbelief. She hesitantly asked, "May I speak with these tribesmen? To hear their account of the creature?"

The chieftain rubbed his bearded chin as he contemplated the request. "I do not know if that would be best," he finally answered.

But the Steridyl female didn't like his refusal. "Forgive me for disagreeing, but I do not understand how an interview with these witnesses would not be for the better. Any knowledge that I can report back to my great-tribe may make the difference between protecting our lands or suffering the same devastation as the Karofyl."

"You misunderstand me," Tarve answered with patience despite the woman's blunt argument. "I completely agree with you that additional information could be vital. But it is for the sake of the witnesses that causes me concern and coerces me to decline your request."

Tarve's concern was for the impact such an interrogation would have upon his cubs. They had both been deeply effected by what they had seen and it had taken them both several seasons to overcome the aftermath of the encounter. He feared that forcing them to recollect the occurrence would rekindle Vegeta's paranoia and Aleguu's anxiety. The last thing he wanted to do was to cause further harm upon his cubs. And if Nappa had been present in the village at that time, Tarve knew he wouldn't have subjected the older boy to the messenger's questions either.

"I see," Arra replied. "My apologies. I suppose it is enough simply knowing that my great-tribe's most valued allies have provided proof that these creatures do indeed exist."

"Thank you for understanding," Tarve said.

He felt bad for denying the visiting female an audience with his cubs. Her last statement exacerbated his guilt. The chieftain didn't know if the effect of her words had been intentional or not, but they served to remind him of the strong dependence and deep trust that his tribe shared with the Steridyl Great-tribe. To withhold information that could help them later on didn't honor the sanctity of their alliance. But Tarve had to put the safety and well being of his cubs before that of an outside tribe, alliance or no.

Arra changed the topic of conversation. "Chieftain Matilo wanted me to reassure you that we will honor the trade agreements our great-tribes negotiated last cycle. He cautioned, however, that should war become imminent, he could not guarantee the frequency that the exchange of goods could be made, but our intention is to resume trade to the best of our ability."

The chieftain nodded. "I would not expect your chieftain to overtax your great-tribe. If your chieftain finds that he is unable to spare as many tradesmen, then I shall supply more of my own tradesmen to ensure that the flow of supplies is interrupted as little as possible."

"I am certain that Chieftain Matilo will appreciate the offer," the messenger replied.

"And if matters should come to war," Tarve added, "please do not hesitate to send word to us. Although my war-adviser is not present on this day, I know that he would gladly lead a regimen of warriors to aid you."

Arra bowed her head. "You have the gratitude of my great-tribe. I pray to the Deities that events do not lead to war, but if they do, we will graciously accept your support."

"My people have not forgotten when you came to our aid eight cycles ago when the Kurkurbityl Great-tribe nearly conquered our lands. We have been in your debt since that day."

"Chieftain Matilo is not keeping score. Please do not do so for yourselves," the Steridyl woman admonished.

Sensing that the discussion was coming to a close, Alaria offered hospitality to the visitor. "Please stay as a guest of our village for as long as you wish. Your journey was a long one and we cannot in good conscious allow you to continue on your way without first alleviating yourself of your weariness."

Arra bowed her head again. "Thank you for your kindness. I shall not remain long. It is imperative that I return to my village as soon as possible."

"I understand," answered Alaria.

Arra rose to her feet to leave, but she was interrupted by Tarve.

"One request before you dismiss yourself. My tribesmen have not yet been made aware of these sky creatures. I do not wish undue alarm to come to them. Please keep to yourself the information which you have provided to Alaria and myself."

"Surely you do not intend to keep your tribesmen ignorant of the danger?" the messenger queried.

Tarve's tail bristled at the accusation. "Of course not," he rebutted. "But as I mentioned, my war-adviser is not present. When he and his hunting party return in a few days, I will divulge this information to my great-tribe."

"I see," Arra replied. "Please forgive me for questioning your intentions."

Alaria came to the other woman's rescue. "We understand your concern. Thank you for your council. We will use the information wisely."

The two Vegetabyl leaders watched the Steridyl messenger exit the salarg. They were quiet for a few moments after she was gone, silently pondering over all the news she had brought with her from the west. Tarve scratched at his beard, deep in contemplation. The information about these sky creatures, these demon-birds, was limited. Loud, large, and terrifying. Influence over light and fire. Capable of destroying entire forests. But also known to leave other forests undisturbed.

The conflict between the two different stories was what was strange about the creatures. Why would they leave one forest alone but decimate another? What was the difference? In the incident that Vegeta and Nappa witnessed, the sky-demon was hovering over Malvakyl land and had left it untouched. Was it possible that the creatures had an alliance with the Malvakyl? No. It couldn't be, Tarve refuted. If they were, why would the Malvakyl warriors take up arms in defense of their western borders? And if there was an alliance, the Malvakyl would not have divulged so much information about them. Unless they wanted their enemies to falsely believe that there were no alliance.

But that is just paranoia, Tarve realized. So why leave one forest unharmed and burn the other to the ground? During Vegeta's and Nappa's experience, the creature was left unmolested, but the tale from the incident in Karofyl lands describe a hostile confrontation. Was that the difference? If the sky creatures were left alone, would they respond peacefully? It was a possibility.

Then again, when Vegeta described the demon-bird's actions, he said that it appeared as if it was searching for something. Maybe its objectives were different than those of the sky creatures that destroyed the Karofyl forest? Tarve theorized that perhaps the single demon-bird witnessed by the boys had been a scout, of sorts. Send a single person – or, in this case, creature – to discover the obstacles that lay ahead. Then the main infantry can infiltrate and attack at a later point in time. That explanation made sense. But it was also the most troubling explanation. If this were indeed true, then it would denote that these creatures were not only intelligent, but were also planning to conquer lands for themselves.

Tarve felt a paralyzing fear race up his spine. He trembled visibly. His tail fluffed up to twice its size against his will. But this was not his own fright that he was experiencing.

Alaria had immediately noticed his sudden shift. "Tarve, what is the matter?" she fretted, neglecting to address him more respectfully.

The chieftain ignored the faux pas. He could feel Alaria reach out to him through their pack bond and gently brush against his mind. He ignored that as well, concentrating on the source of the distress. He followed it through the kinship bonds he shared with his cubs. In the span of half of a moment, he was seeing and hearing through the eyes and ears of both of his children.

Through Vegeta's perspective, Tarve could see the boy urging the villagers to seek shelter within the forest. But most of them weren't paying him any attention. They were staring at the sky with either a dumbfounded expression or a hostile stance. It was through Aleguu's perspective that he felt the unbridled terror. She was frozen in fear, staring up at the sky. Overhead, a pack of three bird-like objects were streaking across the sky leaving long trails of smoke behind them. Tarve quickly retreated from his cubs' minds.

"They are here!" the chieftain gasped, jumping to his feet.

Tarve raced out of the salarg. Alaria watched him go, startled by his sudden urgency and unsure what he had meant. But she remained in her seat for only a moment before she quickly followed him to the exit. When the duo stepped outside, they nearly ran into Arra's backside. She had stopped just outside the salarg and was frozen in place as she watched the bizarre events unfold. Like Arra, the villagers had stopped in the midst of their duties to stare into the skies.

Tarve followed their gazes. Just as his eyes found the three creatures cutting through the otherwise unblemished lavender sky, a gentle peal of thunder rumbled over them. The sound was not at all like the roar that the cubs had experienced two cycles ago. This one was quiet, reflecting the considerable distance between the village and the creatures very high overhead as they traveled towards the southeast.

The chieftain returned his attention to the village around him. He headed for the planting field in search of his cubs. As he did so, he pushed feelings of comfort and reassurance through their kinship bonds. When he found his children, Vegeta was still trying to urge his fellow tribesmen to take cover. He was yelling at them angrily and in desperation. But very few had heeded his advice. Even those that had taken to the forest had only gone so far as the very edge. Curiosity tested their temptations to peer out from the perceived safety of the forests to watch the mysterious creatures streak across the sky. Meanwhile, Aleguu stood frozen in place among the tilled rows. Her eyes were wide as saucers and her entire body trembled.

Tarve went to his daughter first. He knelt down by her side, checking her over to make sure she was unharmed. The act was irrational given the fact that the demon-birds were far overhead and hadn't come even remotely close enough to have caused her any physical harm. But the waves of terror she gave off countered this logic. He tried to gain her attention, but she was transfixed by the sight of the creatures. Alaria crouched down beside them only a moment later.

"Watch over her for me," Tarve asked and commanded in one breath.

Before Alaria could give the chieftain her confirmation, he rose to his feet and rushed to his son. The boy was demanding a small cluster of onlookers to retreat. But who would listen to a child, even if that child was the chieftain's son and future leader of their great-tribe? Instead of seeking shelter, this group, like several others, had taken up their weapons and intently watched the creatures, preparing to strike at them if need be.

When Tarve reached Vegeta, the boy turned to his father in exasperation. "They will not listen to me, Father! They do not know what the demon-birds can do!"

"Neither do you," the chieftain said.

Vegeta paused and gave his father a confused look. "But... I saw one before... I saw what it did..."

Tarve stared sternly at his son. He reflected on the information he had received from the messenger less than an hour ago and his theories about the creatures' behaviors. What his son saw was perhaps – no, likely – only a fraction of what the demon-birds were capable of. The boy had no knowledge of the ravaged forests of the Karofyl territory. His one experience did not make him an expert.

"You are causing unnecessary turmoil," Tarve scolded. "And you are terrifying your sister."

"But, Father, it is not I who is terrifying her! It is the demon-birds!"

"Go to your sister. Bring her to our diyando. Take care of her. I will settle matters here."

Vegeta's shoulders fell at the dismissal. "Yes, Father."

The ten-cycles-old child left his father's side to retrieve his sister. The chieftain watched him go. After the boy had collected his sibling, Tarve looked back upward to the sky. The sky creatures were just passing out of the villagers' line of sight, flying beyond the treeline. The soft rumble of their passing faded until only the sounds of nature remained. The streaks of smoke across the lavender sky were all that remained of their presence. While the threat diminished with every passing second, the villagers relaxed their stances and lowered their weapons. But they remained on alert. Some had finally noticed their chieftain's presence and looked to him questioningly, wordlessly asking him for the next plan of action.

Tarve cursed inwardly. This was not how he had wanted to break the news to his tribesmen. The last thing he had wanted to do was to create widespread panic, nor did he want his people to jump into a battle mindset, especially if the creatures were docile until provoked. Fortunately, the demon-birds had flown so high over their village that provocation was not only avoided but also impossible. He had wanted to wait until all three of his advisers were present to conduct a meeting with the great-tribe. Unfortunately, due to this event, he would have to push that meeting sooner than he had wanted. He would have to have the meeting with his tribesmen that day – almost immediately.

What a disaster this is turning out to be... No, not a disaster, Tarve corrected himself. What had occurred in Karofyl lands was a disaster. This is merely an inconvenience. A burden. But not a disaster. As the chieftain, it was Tarve's duty to bear the burdens of his great-tribe. And if the great-tribe never had to contend with such trials every now and again, then there would be no need for a chieftain.

Alaria approached Tarve's side, quietly waiting for his instruction.

"Spread the word amongst the villagers – we will conduct a meeting after the mid-day meal. All are welcome to attend. The salarg will not be large enough to host all the tribesmen. We will meet beneath the Statues of the Deities."

The peace-maker nodded. "As you wish."

"Have Tabos assist you. And locate the Steridyl messenger. Make certain that she does not leave the village. Inform her that her presence at the meeting has been requested. Her account of these creatures and their activities are closer to the source than our own. I suspect that the tribesmen may want to hear from her directly."

"Yes, Chieftain," she said, turning away from him to carry out his orders.

Tarve scratched his beard. The task of sharing the knowledge of the demon-birds with his great-tribe without creating widespread panic was a daunting one. He had to mitigate their fears while also making them as informed as possible of the danger. Fortunately, he had a few hours to prepare. But given the way the villagers were beginning to gather around him in search of answers, he knew that a few hours wasn't soon enough. Still, they would have to wait.

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Story Notes:
furro – from furrow, meaning a wrinkle or line. A furro is a plow-like tool, having three stone blades, steered by wooden handles and pulled by leather straps.
Arra – from arracacha, a root vegetable found in the Andes.