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Tribal Lore

Act: IV

~ To A Nest, Anew~

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Stunned, the perplexed creature stopped his advance, as if gripped in the swagger of something I'd bespoken. Clutching away, I held the handle of my weapon that little tighter. Chattering, my teeth remained worked on the reflex of fear that ran me through. The teary eyes I held did nothing for me, but distort his figure. I was left the whelp with only my pants and sobs, it....

No, they, couldn't be helped.

Am I naught now but the weeping Mareep to the slaughter?

Reconciling, he spoke loudly, condescendingly. "Savages of the human race know naught of communication with Pokemon, so how is it I understand you, and you of me . . . . savage?" His words had placed some spice upon my tongue for having the audacity to imply I was no more barbaric than that of lower tribes. Compelled to retort, I forced a heated recitation of my 'very' own.

"Dare not to further insult me by making such assumptions of my nature, and ones that would be comparable to 'them'. My tribe is attuned to all that would be around us. Uncivil you cry? We kill not needlessly, which you so wrongly intend when seeking to purge the alien threat before you, but be not deceived for I too have a sting."

Sniffing away, and with a runny nose I inelegantly, even with the small loss of composure had demonstrated my desperation, but did I so blindly believe in my own threats to hold any power? The answer was simply no, as I faltered.

My actions had left me to only brood over those words I'd expelled. The scare factor remained persistently adamant. I trembled profusely knowing my tongue was as sharp as ever but sorely misplaced considering my circumstance. Heartily he laughed at my comment, with his chest rising and falling, it sounded like the call of the executioner. Was it merely joy that he felt when grimacing on granting me the deciding blow?

Or worse still, was it in sheer defiant mockery?

How dare he....

Flapping his wings as if to flex them, he once more sent my hair fluttering to the wind before he replied. "In abundance is your rage petite framed one, despite your terror of me. I applaud the backbone you've conjured knowing full well you stand not a chance against me." To emphasise the validity to his point, a slightly harsher flap of his wing was all that was needed. I felt it.....

An invisible impact came so abruptly with bone shuddering effects upon my father's weapon, invariably with a harsh twanging sound, and so much so, that it sent rattling pangs through. It caused me to cry out loud enough to leave a ringing to my own ears. Painfully with much reluctance I relinquish the grasp over my only defence. Disarmed I fell back, and kicking, I shuffled on my hind away from him. I then stopped, defeated, knowing I could not flee the way I'd come. Helplessly I gave into more of my pathetic whimpering and sobs, wanting to ask of what reaper shall slay me tonight?

"Before you kill me, of what species are you?" With fleeting tears I forced out my disdain, with the emphasis of what I thought him to be, ".... Monster!" Once more his laughter came, amused with me, it tormented me as the impending doom itself. Unrelentingly the cruel rain maintained its adamant downpour, pelting me hard. Soaked wet, I could feel cold set in harshly, so deep that my very bones had given residence to a dull ache that had began to settle.

"Braviary, the avian lords of the skies." He boasted pridefully, it sickened me. Was killing something he savoured? "Alas, I do not wish to take the life of the civilized, as it would be belittling of me, but to prove this, tell me of your name and of what tribe you hail from? Thus I may pass sentence fairly, after all you have trespassed!"

Startled with his response, he'd taken the hard words right out of me. Why had he not killed me yet, was I no more than a thing to toy with now? My predicament remained ever present, it mattered not if he knew of me or not, for even I would at least prefer a name and origin to be placed upon my burial mound.

"I'm . . . I'm Mika daughter of the highest peer of Weayaya the 'Setting Sun' tribe, but of what curiosity is your wish to know of my people? Stitched are my lips to anything that may jeopardize their safety, so ask with thought in mind, but information that may lead to betrayal is something you shall not disclose of me."

"I ask not to seek advantages over you, and to exploit you is not my aim, but you should be more concerned for your life, after all it's your hearing pending judgement." I swallowed against the knot within my throat, it hadn't till now occurred to me that this creature was trialing me for my right to live. "And you obviously are one of their young. I'm thrice your senior, would this be a display of the same courtesy in which you speak to your own elders?"

It appeared he was far more dignified than I would have thought. I lowered my head from his gaze to pay him some respect, for all elders regardless of man or Pokemon should still be given this. I awaited further questioning and also for his watchful eye to bare its scrutiny over the fallen.

"That's much better, tell me of your beliefs, and of you, but before that, let me speak out first to lay you some ground to walk."

I nodded, but not breaking the sight of soil to meet his gaze.

"My flock and I hold our heads up in pride, we are avian creatures created from he our one god Arceus who we hold responsible as the divine creator of all. To Arceus we pray and to him and his created lesser gods Zekrom, Reshiram to name a few. All civil creatures establish some form of structure and rule in which we may gain better livelihoods. We strive to fight nobly against oppression to us, and the would-be benefactors being those Pokemon in which reside within our territory, therefore making them liberal. This land you see, we tribute our lives to, one we call our own and thus defend. We raise and educate to integrate others in this way, inspired to the note of upholding a peaceful community, but what of you?"

The skies tore open further bellowing loudly as surging lightning arced away. The rain way no ally as it redoubled its assault to my skin, hurting me now. Heaving, my deep gasps for air came heavy with anxiety, it took a moment before I could even reply between them, but a little calmer having received a glimmer of hope to quell some of my rampant emotions.

"We are those beings raised to believe in the benevolence of spiritual deities, for the sky, the earth, the mountain, and to many others we hold as almighty. We educate ourselves to how we must all harvest the fruition of what harmony and balance bestows upon us, thus we may form a union with all living creatures, the elements and of those spirits that we hold so dear. You speak of education and integration of others, I speak of integration of ourselves into what resides around us. We are opposites of the great sea, but like it, may mix well together."

"Intriguing," he replied "Opposites attract as such as with all things including mates to the physical union."

I flushed a little with surprise at his unique choice of words, but these were not intended to woo, for it wasn't an intention he was proposing but a mere statement of factual values. It bemused me to an extent hearing such samples of profanity even though I shook like a mid-autumn leaf. I needed to impress, if I were to be given a new lease of life. Still, with what was needed, and still scared, it was harder found. "It is of our belief that when our souls pass from this mortality, we are shunned to the next, reborn to a noble host, hence I should worry not of dying. But yet, it remains daunting. Or would you have me believe this to be wrong?"

"It is not my place to judge if my beliefs are any more righteous than that of your own. I seek only to understand of you, but alas it has come to light that I can not slay a creature with such a beauteous culture as yours. It is faith we need and of course it is to which makes us humble and stronger" He nodded agreeably with his own comment. I finally found some of that elusive relief.

Left in newer contemplation after having escaped the noose that teased, I conversed with him in hopes to further impress upon him, less he imprison me still, or other. Consolidation was illusively not found and my anxiety continuously streaked through me, but fairing better now, I played a little of my charm. "No less than savages we would be without it, gaining order over chaos," I replied.

Yakez's companion took a few bounding flaps towards me, but his intent was to observe me closer, for he had never seen a human. Likewise, these creatures were just as alien to me. The instrument that would be fear still played me to its note, but I placed my face before them, and showed less of its demeanor. I did well to try and hide my fear now, standing my ground with new boldness. Impressions can be lasting, and of the weakness I displayed before, I wished to show less of it now to be seen as equal. I gave my ear to hear by the moment becoming more at ease.

Yakez's subordinate from what it seemed spoke his own inquiry, just as much bewitched with me. "So you do understand how to balance your life, to give with one hand and to receive with the other?" He asked, still as they both still testing me, although it wasn't the trial for life any longer.

For a moment that swept by, my sight wavered, and blurred from my exhaustion, having been exerted by both physically and emotional strain, but I answered with the shrewd words ever present within me. "Great mountains topple, but the earth remains, in this way we are of the earth, be not the mountain and you will see better, for how do we see a new view if we remain still and solid. Seek whatever wisdom you wish from me, draw newer wisdom, for not all mankind are savages." Maybe I was seeking to fascinate him further, for I knew not what lay ahead, even if my life had been spared.

With my answer given, the secondary Braviary nodded agreeably, whilst the benevolent Yakez responded. "Very wisely spoken young human, as for formalities with elders, yours is amicable, lets speak less formally." Had he not stopped the exchange of proverbs and rich prose, I fear I may not have had the wit in which I could submit further replies, or at least not in my state.

"Confessing, and holding no lies, should we have continued then I would not have kept with the pace of your wisdom. Regrettably I'm not as endowed with such intelligence of speech as of my own elders and you of course. Of the things I spoke were just the kind words my father had spoken to me, and came often pending our evening meal time together." I was humble with my reply, but to be humble I also accepted my limitations of inexperience.

"A very wise human he must be then. You did very well, negotiation for life and first impressions have been pleasing, I may seek to pursue future alliances to broaden my relations as your own and mine seem to mesh well in culture..... And of course, in how you say you integrate." This creature had captivated me as much as I have done with him. Having thought no other culture compared to that of our own, I'd been poorly misguided, and his own rivalled that of mine. He fascinated me to no ends, and my fears before him have diminished to feel a essence of safety which I hadn't experienced in a long time since I set out.

I drew heavy air to my laboured lungs, my sight once more distorted the world around like an encore to the previous. In addition from the last blurs, added emphasises came with my head also lightened as if not attached to this body of mine. Placing my hand to heart I spoke with sincerity.

"I am humble before you, but you too have been very impressionable upon me, hence I have a all but a modest request of you before I depart." I hid that I was no longer of my own people, tactfully I ventured to move on.

"What would my newly acquainted desire to ask of me?" He replied with smoothed words raising a brow.

"Sanctuary for the night and a simple deed for one such as you, the simple joy to seek your audience tomorrow as guidance to newer lands I must seek." Trying as I might, I may have tried to hard in flirtatious words to win favour.

"Flattery is seen through, but your intent is needy in aid, and I grant you my audience. I find you" he stalled as if he were pondering the right word, "Interesting"

"I mutually find you just as much interesting."

"A word to bare, you shall always find me here a hour to dusk. Farewell, and peaceful rest you may find here, but dare not cross the clawed trees they mark the end of our territory, and other dangers you may find, or more precisely they might find you. Hopefully the lost such as you may find the right steps in which may you find a swift journey home"

"I will strive to make our acquaintance again in further meetings too should I be still be alive, but it isn't home I seek to return. My journey lies further than the wake of your land."

"Alive?" He asked asked confused, once more his expression fell upon the gloom of seriousness.

I couldn't leave him with false promises of gaining any form of alliance as I was no ambassador to such examples, or fitting to serve as one, and far from anything so exalted.

"Please do not think harshly of me. I have not been entirely forthcoming. I'm that of no home, a disgraced outcast. I seek to claim the stature my people sing of in our songs of glory and honour. In order to do this I must accomplish a feat of bravery, only once completed, would give me peace in the knowledge I would restore my identity. Hence it is not to return I intend, but to further journey to Algoma."

A frown met the already gloom to his face. Almost as if to speak in anger, or scold the young. "You have no clue to the perils you dare to provoke by going out there, should they hunger enough, they would break you in two. You know not of these lands, and for the wise hour of intelligent words we exchanged, you show reckless youth now. I place fault within my own assumptions for not asking why you are here, but I became childishly lost in the prose we swam within for you are well spoken."

I felt the embarrassment, had I bore him disrespect? I needed to make amends for the words I'd carelessly thrown to the wind. Suddenly hit with a gush of wind, I cried to carry a whelp through the night air. Regaining composure I spoke. "Forgive me, I have no place to which I may return, thus I intend to pave forward. It is all that remains for I with no home. Now ashamed, to burden you is to much, I shall pain you no longer with my presence and swiftly move on."

"Intrigue you gave, and amused I offer you asylum for the night still, and would find myself far more disrespected should you not accept." The secondary pokemon moved away to retake Yakez's side.

"Unquestioningly generous you truly are, however, an outcast like myself would be one that would foul your land by staying the night. It would be better if I were not to dishonour you with the presence.... As I am one that has lost all dignity." Inviting as his offer of asylum maybe, I must move on, but aim to return tomorrow should I not have drawn my last breath. By then I'd hoped to have redeemed my pride and found my womanhood, for he held my interest.

"It matters not to me if you are an outcast, but for now I urge you to stay. We would speak of what acts drove your people to banish you tomorrow. You don't appear to be a killer or anything which could be of any harm to my people. For now, once more I must remind you of the hazards, failure to listen to an elders warning only ensues to salvage one thing, you being a reckless youth. Heed my words. You seem in no fitting condition young one, should your legs fail you, from what it seems they may, then the carnivores of the outer lands would rip the flesh from your carcass, for I know how cruel they can be." Shivers took me at that moment, the dangers of which I knew were real, scared me to high Arceus. I staggered forward, becoming one of little control to my own faculties, as if the body that hosted me were not of my own. Reconsidering the kind offer, rest would serve me of a better purposes.

Eventuality struck, and I choose to remain. He had so sparingly granted me shelter from the unseen dangers that would lurk in the shadows of the night. "For one night it shall be, I thank you for the kind hospitality" Doubling over, I bowed to convey my gratitude.

"Think naught of it, walk with me from this rain where you would catch deaths path." I nodded, obliged but swayed as a drunkard would. Blinking to focus my eyes, it ailed not to remedy the shaking and loss of proper balance my body was capable of. I shook, cold and drenched with the sky spirits tears still pouring.

Was I burdened to sickness?

I mused on the thought that I surely must have bared resemblance to walking dead with such cumbersome movements. Maybe these small muses were the result of a fever. I failed to gauge how sick I could be.

I began to toddle as if a infant learning to walk, such clumsy actions. My head was not itself now either, having less recollection of events that transpired, even the words we exchanged. I felt as if I were an oaf.

I toppled as the grand oak would when cut down. No sooner had I hit the ground did I find the darkness.

....Am I dead?

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Yesterday, was day in a life behind me, a fragment in time. But unlike any day, it was still a day in which I found a new welcome discovery.

Yakez.

I was chirpily pleased with my new found acquaintance, clearly a noble creature of cultural variety comparable to mine. But was this newer bond something to last the ages or thinned gradually from the wear of time. I sat up lazily resting on soft laid straws with neighboring leaves that overhung, sheltering down upon me their protective shade. A simple design but one that had fulfilled its role in safeguarding me from the elements that beckoned the night before.

Splendid to the naked perception and surrounding like a shroud from prying eyes, were the vine knitted leaves that meshed into walls of varying greens to encase me. Feeling so protected, I wondered where I was. The straight structures fared of a different craftsmanship to our oval wigwams and that opting of a square construct. The design of this habitat was unfamiliar but well built.

My heart jumped, did someone else reside within here with me? "Eeee." I yelped

"Ah you have awakened, Yakez drew much concern to your health as you collapsed part way here" He could have torn my heart away. I was confused, then it began returning.

Had I collapsed?

Strenuous was the night gone where I was drowned within its sea of emotions. That as well as the physical ordeals must have played their hand to my fall. From the lack of water to drink, to the pain of abandonment from my own people, and not to forgo the mention a close a run in with death. Under much strife had I been then, I felt eased somewhat, but not in it's entirety, the greater task of redemption still remained.

"Forgive my reactions, this place is all too alien for me. You merely startled me is all. Was I not sick?" I wondered with a pant.

"No need for apologies. I would assume your mind must be at a loss not knowing how you found yourself here, and where here is. To clarify, it was 'he' that decided for you to be brought here, but to answer in your curiosity he gave you some of our harvested secrets, chewing those berries for you before regurgitating them into your mouth. It took care of that fever that overcame you, cleansing your body of what ailed it fast, and as such is its power. To mention another positive note it should keep hunger at bay for an entire day whilst strengthening you."

The sheer thought of salivated vomit entering my mouth rallied churning within the pits of my own stomach, but it was short. Whelping it suddenly came to my attention that I lacked any of my clothing. And who was this creature anyway?

As hasty as always, I shot forth the first spat of my logic as to what he may have done in my vulnerable state. I cried out questioningly. "Who are you? Where are my garments, and have you preyed upon my decency or taken advantage?"

He raised his head bringing a wing just under his beak and rubbed away.

"Hmm, gratification of removing those wet garments so you may not catch pneumonia is surely not returned by accusations of one like I to have taken advantage in your vulnerability. I'm Takoda meaning a friend to everyone." I cupped my bosom to eclipse the pointed golden brown protrusions of my breasts from his eyes, and crossed legged I stared at unease.

"But if you please, my garments?" I urged. With a small laughter it seemed he did eventually oblige. From somewhere to the side he placed them within his beak, and with a quick jerk tossed them to me. Hastily, I secured the bra and nether attire to veil those areas of my decency.

"To what nature would you seek to hide them? Something pretty of a species trait as those are something we parade proudly as our individuality, why not of you?" He asked from curiosity.

"Parade? I will do no such thing. These are sacred to males of my species and furthermore my attire offers support if I were to take to dashes of the foot. They are not meant to be unveiled for your unworthy eyes." I retorted with being offended.

"I noticed you are fur-less barring the very long fur on your head and the tuft of wild curly fur around your cloaca" He said, I knew what he was referring to immediately, as crimson shades lavished my cheeks. "I didn't know your species had one too, do males also have cloacas.?"

"Don't be ridiculous it's not a cloaca it's a . . . ." I gave up out of embarrassment "Your words are not of gentlemanly nature, and I find them to be offensive and very obtrusive."

"I have not the desire to insult you and if I have accidentally placed myself in a position where I dishonored you then I am truthfully sorry. I only wished to aid you, and learn a little more of you."

My defensive nature slowly subsided. Was I really so different to what he has seen before? Any examination of my body he may have done stemmed from innocent curiosity. Why needn't worry myself of such things, for I was probably unattractive to him with such contrasting physical difference, or at least I would assume.

I wondered where my saviour was. "You're forgiven, and it is not your place but mine to apologize as you did not intentionally seek to dishonour me. With that behind us, there is something else I wish to ask of you." He made a 'mmm' sound to go on., "To where may I find Yakez?"

"He will be here shortly, and you have been unconscious to two day and two nights. Even now, the day draws closer to dusk. Yakez grew great worry for you."

It was then a gust blew its coolness to me, and setting down before me was Yakez. It then occurred to me in the darkness of the previous night, and the shadows of the trees that befell the clearing, I had not taken much interest in his looks till now. His features stood valiantly more prominent. A countenance of striking blues lavished his underside, whilst his firm feathered back and dorsal side of his wings a darkened red with lustrous sheen. I knew him to be battle hardened by peering upon his many scars where he must have suffered numerous wounds, they stood pridefully as reminders of past victories scattered across his body.

It had just occurred in my timidness around him, that his height seemed taller than that of his lesser peers, and even a inch over mine. This would be a fact I hadn't noticed till now, but I was short and held a flimsy petit build, barely any meat to layer my bones, Alas I had better graces in which I had virtuous qualities too to compensate. My strength, stamina and speed came in bountiful wealth and surely hereditary to me by my father, but my slendertone of womanly shape came from merits of my mother I would assume.

This creature's presence truly beheld a bewitching power over me. So powerful. So Strong. Truly a magnificent creature worthy of being a chieftain.

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End notes - Coming up with phrases and inventing my own proverbs throughout this chapter was extremely fun, but came easier than I imagined it would be. I really liked this, and of course

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