Dev walked beside the Mudbray I was on even when we entered the village. As we passed by the earthen houses, I could see people peering at us curiously, some even cautiously, from the smallest child to the most elderly. Like Dev, they wore leather skinned clothing, the men wearing skirts only while the woman wore skirts and leather shirts that were cut short. All of them were dark skinned like the rocks and well built, even the woman. Aside from the Mudbray and one or two Mudsdales, there were other Pokemon milling about. Drilburs, Roggenrolas, and a few I didn't recognize from my studies. 

Our large group made its way to what I assumed to be the center of the village, where a single house resided, leather hanging over the entrance. Dev held up his hands to stop everyone and proceeded alone into the house after grabbing a leather-skinned bag from a Mudsdale, lifting the drape over the entrance just enough to slip inside. As we waited, I felt more curious eyes on us as what must have been the whole village having gathered. I saw a young boy wearing nothing but a skirt wander forwards curiously before a woman, his mother probably, grabbed his arm and pulled him backwards, shooting me a warning glance. 

I tried to not let that bother me. From what Luna had told me, my people had brought much pain and destruction to the tribes, which seemed to include this one. It remained to be seen whether they would be like the Jungle Tribe or not. 

I glanced back to where Luna lay on the Mudsdale, catching Z's tired gaze. She shook her head. I looked to where Xera was still slumped against her Mudbray. Grimacing, I turned back to watch the entrance of the hut. Both of the tribes folk wouldn't be any help. It was up to me to do the negotiations. And with my luck, it would end with them wanting me dead.

Finally, Dev held open the drape, motioning to me. Hesitantly, I slid off the Mudbray, patting it on the head. "Thank you." The Pokemon brayed after me as I walked into the cool shade of the hut. Dev left, the flap swinging down, cutting off most of the light. As my eyes adjusted, I saw a man and woman sitting cross-legged in the center of the room on the hard dirt ground. The man wore a longer skirt than Dev, the leather decorated with colorful beads and artwork while his muscular chest was on display. I could see rough images of people with spears and Pokemon like Mudsdale mid-gallop sown into his skirt.

The woman sat a foots length from the man, her clothes similar to the ones the women outside wore. But like the man's clothing, hers included what I now recognized to be sparkling gems. She wore emerald earrings and had some sort of dark eyeliner that gave her a regal look. 

Laying in front of the man was my sword, which I had noticed was gone earlier. I had assumed Dev or someone had taken it for safekeeping, but I wondered why he brought it to who I assumed were the Chief and Chieftess.

I sat awkwardly, not sure if I should be saying something as three pair of eyes seemed to drill into me. I opened my mouth, then closed it almost immediately. This felt way different than meeting with the Elders of the Jungle Tribe. 

"What is your name, young one?" The man finally asked, his voice rough and deep. He had an accent similar to Dev's, but his English was much better.

Suppressing the urge to gulp, I answered, "Liam, sir. I, uh, I mean Chief." I bowed my head, hiding my fearful expression from them. Had I just screwed this up. A sound from the Chief startled me, only for me to realize he was laughing.

I raised my head cautiously, seeing a smile on his lips. "Do not worry, Liam. We will not harm you nor your friends. Knowing you travel with the daughter of the Chief of the Moonlit Tribe puts our minds at ease. She does not take to being with others so easily."

"So... you do know her?" I asked. "She hasn't spoken much of her time when she was with the Mountain Tribe."

"Dear Luna likes to keep much to herself," the woman spoke now. Her voice was kind and gentle, with just an edge of roughness there in her accent. "She spent a time with us before moving on to speak with the Chieftess of our tribe."

I blinked. "Wait, are you two not..."

"No," the man still continued to smile warmly. "We are simply the leaders of this village. The true home of our tribe lies deeper within the Central Mountains, where the Chieftess resides. You may get to meet her eventually, but for now, you and your friends must rest in out village. Unfortunately, our Healer is not present right now. However, I assure you your friends will be given the best of care until he returns. Now," he shifted slightly, regaining his serious composure. "Why did Luna bring you here? And with this no less?" He traced a finger across my sword's hilt, coming to a stop before touching the blade itself. 

I debated how much to tell them. Luna never said not to tell them of the prophecy or why we came here, but perhaps she never got around to it. Though, we did come here for answers, so telling the truth was probably the safest bet. 

"We came," I took a breath, trying to calm my nerves. "We came to know more about the Forbidden Light." I told them of the prophecy, how Luna took Xera and I to the Hall of Giants where we had found the sword and the words saying that the Forbidden Light lay beneath the mountain. 

Both of them exchanged glances before the man spoke. "We know not of this Forbidden Light, but that prophecy is familiar. I am sure the Chieftess will know more."

"Um, I was wondering," I said, glancing towards my sword. "Do you know of that sword?"

"Hmm," a shadow seemed to pass over the man's features. "Not personally, just tales. A sword crafted from the hardiest of wood, drenched in a dreadful poison."

I suddenly remembered leaping from the cliff and plunging my sword into Serperior. The purple vein-like lines that had swarmed Serperior's insides. Had that been the sword's doing?

"Here," he held out to me, which I grabbed it by the hilt. I slid it into its sheath on my waist, sitting back down. 

"If you ever have anything to ask of us, feel free to do so," the woman said kindly. "For now, go to your friends. I am sure you have been waiting to do so."

"I, yes, thank you," I stammered, standing quickly, bowing my head. "Thank you for being hospitable." I turned to leave, then turned right back to ask, "I never got your names."

"Ah, forgive us," the woman said apologetically. "I am Ruvain. This is my husband, Ahoirr. We are truly pleased to welcome you to our home. I am sure those of the tribe will welcome you soon enough."

I nodded. Before I could question myself, I asked, "Even though I'm an outsider?"

A ghost of a smile twitched on Ahoirr. "We have judged you thus far to be unlike those who've come before you. However, if we may ask this of you, please join us tonight for a meal. I'd like to know more of the circumstances that have brought you here to us."

I nodded, bowing my head once more before leaving. The sunlight blinded me for a couple seconds, and when my eyes finally adjusted, Dev was there. 

"You finish?" He asked, then said. "Come. Friends nearby."

I followed him from behind, looking around in utter fascination now that I knew I was welcome by the leaders of this small town. People still milled around looking at me, but most had gone back to their houses or were working about. Leather hung from dried branches on the sides of houses and a couple Mudbrays trotted by me.

We passed by a pile of rocks stacked atop one another, which prompted me to ask Dev, "Hey, what was that Regirock doing in the canyon?"

He gave me a blank stare. "Regi... rock?"

"Uh..." I rubbed the back of my head. Seems like he didn't know of its common name. "You know, it's a huge giant... stone creature... Like several boulders merged into one?"

He stopped, appearing to think hard. His face lit up. "Ah! You must mean Wandering Guardian. Yes yes, stone giant that protects all in the mountains."

"Yeah," I rubbed the back of my head, where I could feel a bruise. "Great guy. Must have thought we were intruders... Well, I guess we were, just without any evil intentions."

I said this just fast enough apparently that Dev gave me a blank stare, like he didn't understand. I shook my head. "Never mind. Are my friends near?"

Dev nodded. "Come come." He led me past a couple more houses until we stood before a bigger house, where I could see orange light flickering inside. Dev held the leather flap for me as I ducked inside. A candle sat on the ground against the wall opposite of the doorway. On the left side of the room, Xera was sitting up against the wall, looking agitated, her Grovyle, like usual, reflecting her mood. Dewpider scuttled up to me, rubbing against my leg as Yanmega buzzed towards me and settled on my head. I reached up, rubbing beneath his chin as Leavanny hugged me. To my right lay Luna on a small cot of sorts, her eyes closed. Some sort of discolored paste had been smeared onto her wounds and her clothes having been replaced with the leather clothes the women of the tribe wore. Z knelt by her side in Zoroark form, giving me a side glance before turning back to watch over Luna. 

I hurried over, kneeling on Luna's right. I grasped her hand, and with a growl from Z, quickly withdrew it. Her hand had felt a bit clammy, which didn't bode well.

"Where's the healer?" I turned to ask Dev. "They said he was gone?"

Dev shrugged and opened his mouth to say something when a shadow fell over the doorway. A woman slightly taller than Dev entered, her face seeming young. She wore sparkling crystal earrings and held a clay bowl in both hands. A small multicolored bird Pokemon clung to her shoulder, cocking its head at me and regarding me with a one wide eye on the side of its head. The woman smiled at me and I hastened to move out of her way as she replaced my spot next to Luna. She took out what looked to be some sort of soggy leaf and got Luna to swallow it. Then she held Luna in a sitting position with one hand while tipping the bowl against her mouth, getting her to drink. She laid Luna back down, who still slumbered.

Once the woman set the bowl down, she turned to me. "And how about you? Where are you injured?"

"I, I don't know," I said. Truthfully, my whole body ached and there were probably various cuts and bruises everywhere on me. Sighing, the woman stood and grabbed a different bowl that had been sitting in the corner and brought it over to me. She cocked an eyebrow. 

"Remove your shirt," she said bluntly. Too embarrassed to say or do anything else, I tugged my leaf-woven shirt off, saddened to see how Leavanny's work had been ruined. The woman inspected my upper body, smearing paste across both cuts and bruises alike. I finally found my voice when she told me I needed to remove my pants.

"It's alright!" I said, my voice coming out a bit squeaky. "I can do that myself thank you!"

She blinked at me, then seemed to accept it. "Only use as much paste that is needed to cover the wound, that is all." She looked back at Luna. "I can only do so much, but I cannot heal what is deep inside."

"What... what do you mean?" I asked.

She shook her head. "She will not wake. I do not know why, but perhaps our Healer will know."

"You mean... You're not the Healer?" I asked.

"No," she shook her head, smiling. "He is away right now." She frowned. "He has been gone for a little too long this time I must say. If he does not return by tomorrow, well, I will send someone for him."

She went over to Xera, and after checking her over quickly, left. I walked over and sat next to her. "How are you feeling?"

She rolled her eyes. "Golden." She moved her arm, flinched at the movement, then sighed. "I'm better than Luna, that's for sure." She leaned her head back against the wall. "What now?"

"Well, I talked with the leaders of this village." I explained my whole conversation with them to her. 

"So we got here only to find out we need to go somewhere else? Do I have that correct?"

"Uh..." I grinned sheepishly. "I guess so. And we can't go anywhere until Luna is better. She's the one trying to find this whole Forbidden Light thing."

"And you're not?" Xera asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged. "It interests me. But, to tell you the truth, I really only agreed to go along with this whole prophecy business because I could do the one thing I wanted along the way. The very reason I came to this island." I held out my arms wide, stretching my expression into a genuine smile, something I hadn't done for a while. After all, I was where I wanted to be. A place Ryan and I had sought after when we set out for unexplored lands. "This village, their tribal way of life, how they interact with Pokemon, all of it! I want to know everything I possibly can!"

In that moment I could feel the exhaustion of the days past being washed away. All the running, surviving, and fearing for my life, it had brought me here. For now, this tribe was a better place than the Jungle Tribe. For Ryan, I intended to experience all I could.

"You're strange, outsider," Xera rolled her eyes. "Go enjoy yourself then. It doesn't seem like Luna and I are in any immediate danger." She slid herself off the wall and laid down on her cot, turning over. 

I stood, smiling, before turning to Dev. "Alright. Can I get a tour of this place?"

When you realize you're the king of procrastination when you choose to write a fanfic over working on your essay for English. Yup... Nah, don't worry about me. I've actually sent in my rough draft for review, so I won't be working on it anyway until I get it back. I'll probably be updating Frozen Prayer next at some point in the future, or I may end up doing another chapter of this. I tell you, I started getting back into writing this story on a whim and it feels good to be back. All that excitement I had when I was writing the first book that had disappeared, it's back in full swing! Well, until next time my lovely readers. Toodles!