Scarlett and Zen witnessed a gang of creatures moving towards them. They had two legs and a pair of arms. Many emerged from the forest. The number multiplied. As they came closer, they had pretty eyes and fluffy lips.

They were humans.

The men and women clad in run-down cloaks had blood-red tapes tied to their skulls. Little kids who were half-naked strode before them with huge crimson banners. The elderly men clenched spears and knives and sticks. Men and women marched towards them like intoxicated wild beasts.

When Zen raised his head, he saw men blasting those huge trumpets, some reared their arrows at them both.

"We are harmless!" Zen raised his hands as evidence.

'What is up with all these colours' Scarlett's brain asked her.

"I suppose we should have drowned in the oceans, better than getting whipped and devoured by these beasts! Let's die in peace, run!"

"Zen, NO!! STAY"

Her darting eyes detected a frayed white ribbon stuck in the thorns. Its edges were engulfed by the green undergrowth. Scarlett was sharp to bend over and untangle the tape from the spikes. She fastened it around her forehead. Scarlett stood in front of Zen, shading his tall figure.

At this moment, the trumpets paused bellowing through the woods. An aged man, dressed in a wine-spilt cloak stepped out from the furious crowd. Two young men with spades and chains followed the elderly man. The old man carried a royal, dreadful aura. The wounds on his face showed he was a warrior in his youth.

"Do you come in peace?" His cold voice wrecked their brain. Scarlett took two steps ahead in an attempt to cover Zen. Certainly, both were bewildered by his English with a touch of his dictatorial attitude.

"Yes!" She rooted her eyes into his.

"Not you, lady, I addressed. You have tied the band of peace. The fella behind you shall answer."
Scarlett moved to the side, revealing an awkward Zen.

"Yes, yes, I do too."

"Then tie this." He pulled out a white ribbon from the depths of his purple cloak pouch. Zen instantly wrapped it around his forehead declaring peace.

The giant man turning towards Scarlett fell on his knees. He brushed the mud on the earth, staining it on his palms. He rose and said, "the dust on this pristine earth, my people around are witness to this: we trust you and are welcoming you to this island!" He then dusted the dirt on Scarlett's feet.

"I'm Opeul, the caretaker of this island!"

Scarlett reflexively stretched her hand out only to pull it back with remorse.
"I'm Sally and this Ayden." She slapped herself internally at the name she just christened Zen with.

Opeul paced back towards the crowd, crunching the leaves behind. Among the people, solely the small lad with mud smeared everywhere wore sandals and that looked like cement blocks.
Opeul yelled something to the crowd. The spears and weapons were hauled down. The atmosphere turned into a warm friendly one. Tension drained from the faces. Yellow tapes and banners were tied. Mustard emblem inched every corner. The islanders donned a welcoming smile at the young lasses.

"Come on over!" Opeul shrieked from afar.

"That was close!" Zen said adjusting the heavy gear he was carrying. Of course, he was carrying all the weapons.

"Thank me!" She tossed her hair back.

"And thank Opeul more for his sympathy!"

"My timely action erupted sympathy in him. Or else someone would have been drowning in the ocean by now, Zen!"

"Ayden" he corrected, "he could have killed us nevertheless. A mere ribbon cannot advent sympathy." He loved fiddling with her words.

"How crazy can you get! You don't find the significance of colours on this island!"

They reached the crowd now delighting. Gorgeous women carried copper vessels filled with flowers. Among them, Dandelions stole the show.

"A fight is what I saw huh?" Opeul asked.

"Fight? No, we were just debating on which tree is best to drink coconut water from."

"Kid, don't you worry about that! All the trees produce excellent yield!"

Then, he turned towards the crowd, declaring something that resulted in heavy screams looming over the remote island. Later, the mob dispersed like tipsy bees.

"A brutal first impression, isn't it? Were you planning to run away?" The leader inquired.

"Us? Nah! We were planning to camp here!" Zen teased staring at the ground, making sure only Scarlett heard that.

"Pardon?"

Scarlett slammed Zen's feet. "Yes! We were terrified, sir!"

"It's been hardly a decade since our men smelled freedom. It's the nightmares of those days that haunt us on any foreigner stepping on our land. Independence scored the tough way will be preserved in a tougher way!
Come let me show you around."

They placed their bags under the banyan tree as they walked into the island. Zen and Scarlett sighted thatched houses adorned with bright colours. Coconut trees shadowed the kids playing around. The sludgy road captured their shoe prints. Seagulls grumbled with the morning wind, they seemed to complain at the speed of the wind. A dark chameleon ran over the moss-covered gravel. Tanned men carried coconuts on their shoulders followed by enthusiastic young lads.

"What's that?" Scarlett said pointing at a house painted black. It looked like it was dipped in charcoal dust. The entrance was covered in black clothes.

"That? It's the house of that traitor. Reso. A thief to be accurate. He plundered his neighbour's cattle. Three fattened sheep. He got what he earned!"

"What did he get?" Zen asked.

"See that ring there? He was executed there three days ago!"

Both of their jaws dropped on hearing it. This isn't a tale of ancient times rather an incident that occurred three days ago.

"It was his third time stealing. It isn't clever to steal, kids!"

'They didn't steal lambs but stole us, Opeul! What punishment would you give them!' This thought brushed her head.

"This island honours colours. As you might have already seen, colours are emotions and emotions are better seen than said. We believe vivid colours tackles our hurdles - language, gender or sentiments! Nature communicates with colours. Look at the vast sky, it is deep blue until it wants to rain, it boastfully wears a grey one. The fruits when ripe, tell us through their brilliant colours. Colour is our language and its shades are our accents."

"That is terrific!" Zen commented.

Scarlett was absorbed by his words. She felt it inside her soul. Today her life was indeed saved by colours! The white band showed peace and innocence.

A stout man galloped towards them delivering Opeul a message.

"Ah! Enough for today. Your abode is ready for your stay. Shame we couldn't afford two separate rooms for you. In fact, a family of four lived in that room. We had to shift them for your amenity. It's not like we often receive guests. Most of them taste death before they get the chance to get into the island."

"This isn't necessary, sir! We will stay outdoors, anyway, we will be leaving soon. Don't trouble that family." Scarlett refused. Zen glared at her.

"Nay! You can't stay out. I insist you! Accept it before it turns into an order!"
'It already sounded like an order. How bad will his actual order sound like' they thought?

After a while, they reached their room.
A slacked hut with thousand patches. The lawn shot excellent flowers and herbs. It was a simple room with a mattress and some cooking supplies. How many lived here?
Still, it all looked too colourful!

Presently, Scarlett and Zen got all they yearned for - protection from those smugglers and a mattress to stretch their spine on something fluffy. What did they care more about? They fell flat onto the bed on the floor.

♥♦♥
The chapter was not too intense, light and fresh✨