When Wendy returned to the village everyone she encountered took a moment to kneel before her in a respectful manner, as they were supposed to do when in the presence of the future chieftess. Wendy then greeted them each graciously and continued on toward the grand estate of clay and straw where she lived with her uncle and her nurse Grandeeney. Now giants are not as you have heard them, for one thing they were not so tall that they could reach the shy, but they were quite tall. 9 feet tall to be exact and very strong and muscular, but normally peaceful creatures who only fought when it was required. This personality was why a giant had been chosen to be Wendy's nurse after her mother died.

But Grandeeney was also chosen because she and Wendy's father had been good friends for years. They met when she was a teenager and he was a child, and he was hunting alone in the savanna when suddenly he was bitten by a venomous snake. Grandeeney was the one who found him and nursed him back to health, since then the two became close like family. Like brother and sister. So naturally, when Gradeeney was asked to raise the late chief's daughter, she became bound and determined to bring her up perfectly.

"Wendy there you are!" The giantess said rushing to embrace her. "Where in the world have you been? You had me worried sick, and just look at you! You're filthy!"

Grandeeney quickly soaked a rag in some water and proceeded to wipe the girl's face.

"Grandeeney I'm fine." Wendy replied.

"Jellal told me that you fell from a tree. Did you hurt yourself? Break any bones?"

"No. I'm alright, really. I was just having a little fun with Romeo that's all."

"Jellal told me that you and Romeo were in the jungle alone and unsupervised. You know that children are not allowed to enter the jungle or the savanna unsupervised."

"I know but we didn't go that far. I didn't think anything would happen."

"But something did happen, and if Jellal had not been there...Oh I can't even think about it."

"I'm sorry Grandeeney. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I know you didn't, but Wendy you can't keep doing this. You're not so little anymore, you're getting older. Soon the time will come for you to be responsible and your rightful place as chieftess."

Then a nervous and insecure expression appeared on Wendy's face. Again, she was reminded of the role she was chosen to play since birth. A strong, responsible, and dignified leader who was supposed to guide and protect the tribe. Someone to ensure that her people would be safe and fed, keep the sacred laws. Unfortunately she didn't believe that she could meet such high expectations. After all, she wasn't a great warrior like Jellal or a mighty ruler like her father had been, she was just a girl who was in love with the wildlife. What did she have that made her so special? So deserving of her title?

"Grandeeney." Wendy said as her nurse picked leaves and twigs out of her hair. "Do I really have to do this?"

"Now dear, un-kept hair is nothing to be left unattended."

"Not that. I mean this whole chieftess thing. Do I really have to do it?"

"Well you are your father's only child. His only heir. According to tradition, it's your birthright."

"But I don't think I'm up to it, and it's not like I asked to be my father's only heir."

"I understand how you feel, I know that this all seems so hard and even scary. But that's because of your age and the fact that you're still unprepared. In time, when you're older and you've completed your training, you'll be ready. I promise."

"But what if I'm never ready? What if I fail?"

"Everyone has those fears Wendy. Even I do."

"You do?"

"Yes. When you were a baby and your father first entrusted me with you, I was terrified out of my mind, even more so after your father died."

"Why?"

"Well what if I didn't do a good job taking care of you? What if you grew up feeling unloved? Or what if I didn't give you the proper guidance? I still struggle with that fear to this day."

"I think you're doing fine."

Grandeeney smiled at Wendy.

"Thank you sweetie. So you see, we all get scared sometimes. We all doubt ourselves sometimes. But in the end, we learn that our fears and doubts are all for not. It'll be no different for you, I'm certain."

"I hope so." Wendy sighed, still feeling a little unsure.

"Now I have a meeting with sub-chiefs. When I return, we shall have dinner but until then, I want you to work on your training."

"Again?" Wendy whined.

"Yes again." Grandeeney chuckled before giving her forehead a kiss. "Now get going."

"Oh alright."

Grandeeney loved Wendy with all her heart and tried her best to raise her the way her late father would have wanted. She was proud of Wendy's devotion to the land and its creatures but felt frustrated with her stubborn refusal to accept her destiny as the next leader. Even more so due to whispers among the tribe that say that Wendy's birthright should be revoked and that her uncle should continue leading the tribe. The giantess knew that would be a dreadful mistake.

"That girl will never be a suitable ruler." Said Ajeel one of the sub-chiefs. "She's too naive and headstrong!"

"She is still just a child." Grandeeney argued. "Her father was the same way as a boy, but he grew out of it. Wendy will too, we just have to be patient with her."

"How much more patient can we be? In one year she'll be thirteen, at this age she should have at least finished her schooling, but she's barely through it. And what of the rumors of war from the Tiānkōng Empire? They could strike at any minute and this child would not be able to lead an army."

"I agree." Said Dimaria another sub-chief. "The tribe would fair better if we continued to let Chief Faust lead us."

"But we cannot simply ignore Chief Baldur's dying wish and break tradition." Objected Warrod the third sub-chief. "The first born child succeeds the chief upon reaching maturity."

"Unless said first born proves to be inept." Said Jura the fourth sub-chief. "Which she is, and while I respect tradition and Baldur's wishes, if war is in our future, we must do what is best for the tribe. Even if it means breaking tradition and defying Baldur's last request."

"Now, now, everyone." Chief Faust said calmly. "We mustn't be so quick to dismiss my little niece. After all, like Grandeeney says, she is still just a child. Who knows what time will change her into. And if my brother had faith in her abilities, then why shouldn't we? Let's give it a few more years and see how she matures. That's quite fair don't you think?"

The sub-chiefs all nodded.

"In that case, this meeting is done. Jura, Warrod, see to the hunters and gatherers now, Grandeeney, proceed with looking after the young heir as usual, Ajeel and Dimaria, come with me so we may discuss the plans for tomorrow's events."

The group separated and left to do as they were told. However Faust and the other two sub-chiefs were planning more than just the usual events for another day.

"Quite the convincing speech you gave there sir." Dimaria said. "You almost had me believing that you actually hope your niece will succeed you."

"Don't make me laugh." He sneered. "As if I would ever let that damn brat take this tribe from me. Ever since my brother was made chief, I've waited and waited for the opportunity to take that position, which at long last arose when I invited Baldur on that hunt nine years ago and he had that accident."

Ajeel and Dimaira cackled wickedly at the phrase "accident" knowing full well no such thing caused the former chief's death.

Unknown to everyone else in the tribe, Faust had secretly murdered his brother by leading him away from the other hunters that day and brutally stabbing him to death. Then he craftily made it appear that the former chief had been killed by lions Of course since no one else was there with the murder took place, nobody could dispute the treacherous man's lies. Nor could they ever suspect that for the last nine years he had been secretly plotting to kill his niece so he could remain chief.

"It was pretty brilliant." Ajeel snickered. "You did an excellent job making those stab wounds look like the claw marks of a lion. To this day no one has ever figured out that it was you who killed Baldur and not the lions."

"Someone will if you don't shut up about it!" Faust practically roared at the traitorous sub-chiefs. "How many times must I tell you fools never to speak of what happened that day?! Do you have any idea what would happen to me if the tribe ever learned the truth?! Or rather what would happen to you?! You know the penalty of high treason! And if I die for it then so will the both you!"

"Yes sir! Sorry sir! I'm an idiot sir!" Ajeel said trembling.

"This tribe rightfully belongs to me. If only that brat had been stillborn like I had arranged, but someone poisoned my brother's wife 'after' she went into labor instead of before." He said turning to Dimaria.

"Forgive me, but throughout the birthing process, I couldn't get close enough to the chieftess to give her the poisoned brew. Too many mid-wives got in the way." Dimaria said.

"And for twelve years you've both failed to dispose of Wendy. Why? Just how hard is it to kill a little girl?"

"Harder than you think with a giantess like Grandeeney and a warrior like Jellal always there to protect her. We can't exactly commit murder right in front of them."

"Especially not in front of Jellal." Dimaria added. "He was out hunting with you that day your brother died and I could be wrong, but I think he's always suspected foul play."

"Jellal." Faust cursed his name. "That meddlesome youth has been a bigger thorn in my side than my niece. Of course he knows nothing of the truth but whenever he looks at me, I can see the distrust and suspicion in his eyes."

"So why didn't you kill him too?" Ajeel asked. "He was only ten years old at the time, you could have easily eliminated him."

"Because fool, the other hunters were returning and they would have seen."

"Well now he's far too strong for anyone to kill him."

"Is he really too strong or are you two just too useless?"

"If getting rid of them is so easy, why don't you do it?" Dimaria said.

"As a matter of fact I've already come up with a plan to do so." Faust said. "Pretty much half the tribe thinks that allowing Wendy to one day lead them is an extreme error. So much so, that they would probably be interested in starting an uprising. One that will overthrow loyalists like Jura and Warrod, and make me chief permanently."

"I don't know about that sir." Ajeel said. "Just because they think you'd be a better chief, doesn't mean they'd betray Baldur's memory by harming his daughter."

"Perhaps not, but I plan to use that loyalty to my advantage."

"How so?"

Faust's mouth turned into a sadistic and cruel grin, as he drew his henchmen in to discuss his new, secret plan.