Part 4
"Oh, Hancock, I really wanted to hear another story… "Sandersonia whined while she trotted behind her sister through the shaded paths of the village. Hancock's sole answer was a piercing glare, it was enough to silence her sister for good.. Hancock was obviously in a very bad mood… they had to choose their next words with care. The sisters walked behind her in silence. The only sounds they could hear now were those of their own light steps and the odd scream of an exotic animal coming from the jungle. Finally Marigold dared to speak again
"So, Sister, how was the hunt today…?"She asked tentatively.
"The hunt, you ask?" Hancock breathed in sharply, her arms crossed in front of her."It was a catastrophe…"
Marigold regretted her question in an instance.
"We were hunting down a wild Rhino. Of course I was able to beat it with one hit," Hancock remarked, not without great pride
"But then that little coward called for help and we had to deal with his relatives. Somehow Dahlia gave me the responsibility for this mishap. You do not know what a real warrior is, she said. It is just so humiliating…"
Hancock sighed and stopped walking, her sister did the same.
With a quick jerk Hancock faced her sisters, who were now perfectly still and stared at her with big eyes. The two of them where prepared for everything, an angry outburst, a hissy fit, even a breakdown... Instead Hancock looked at them with friendly eyes; her voice was calm; almost mellow as she spoke
„Sisters, I need your help"
Now that was unexpected...
"You need OUR help?" Marigold asked. Normally Hancock wasn't the one to ask for support. To her it was a sign of weakness…
"Yes I do, sit down and I will tell you my plan." The three girls stopped under the shadows of a tree. After they made sure nobody was watching or listening Hancock started to speak.
"Dahlia thinks I do not have what it takes to be a real warrior, so will just prove it to her. I am going to the Serpents cave, this very night."
"The Serpents cave!?" Sandersonia shrieked. Her gaze drew so wide, it looked like her Eyes would pop out any second.
"You might want to blurt it out a little bit louder? I do not think everyone has heard us yet." Hancock snarled at her sister.
"I...I am sorry but why would you want to go there? It is dangerous…"Sandersonia answered with a frightful whisper.
"It is the best way to prove you are warrior, is it not?"
It was true; the sisters had heard much about the Serpent's cave. For as long as the history of the Kuja-warriors dated back, the cave was part of an ancient ritual. By entering the cave the young members of the tribe would prove their courage and strength.
They had to descent deep into the den, and obtain one of the rare serpent eggs hidden in its shadows. Once they had fulfilled this task they were officially declared part of the royal Kuja-warriors. From then on they were allowed to carry their own personal snake. It would hatch from the egg they returned from their adventure.
"So, what do you say? You are in?" Hancock challenged her sisters.
"But it is strictly forbidden for us to enter the cave alone…" Marigold objected gently.
"That is the reason why you two are accompanying me…"
"That is not what I meant; we are not allowed to enter without a full-fledged warrior by our side…"
"There are three of us what, should happen? You know that I am strong, I will protect you..." Hancock cocked her head to the side like a small puppy. There was a warm anticipating glow on her face.
How they hated that expression, but it was too cute to resist…
"We will come with you…" The two sisters finally surrendered in unison.
"Good, then it is settled!"