Chapter 35 Tribal Colours

The next week passed in a blur. The Warlord honoured his word, as I knew he would. A temporary truce, no attack from him or his Skybreakers. I would need to give him an answer soon, and I had decided I would after the journey. I would focus on Miggy, and the Komo tribe. After that…

The week had to be one of the best I could ever remember, and I was starting to understand why Miggy would want to remain. The days were spent hunting, fishing, foraging. I used the time farming for materials as well, making sure I was fully stocked up. I was now able to craft shaman’s poultices, which were far superior to the regular ones.

I was able to craft horn arrows too, superior to bone ones. I tried to give some to Miggy, but they were level locked. We spent a pointless hour trying everything we could think of, dropping them on the floor, trying to get Miggy to catch them before they fell. Trying to fire one really slowly at Miggy and getting him to catch them. That was the dumbest one of all and had immediately used up three shaman’s poultices.

It didn’t matter. It didn’t feel like wasted time. Likewise, I spent more time with Ayla. I didn’t know how dating worked in the Stone Epoch. Well, actually, I had no idea how dating worked in the modern epoch. But I knew how I felt when I was with her. Fighting alongside her, hunting, foraging. And by the look on her face, she felt the same way.

I was still too nervous to do any more than some gentle hand holding. I had noticed Miggy leaving one of Ayla’s cousins’ tent in the early morning, but I was too embarrassed to ask him for advice. He was a teenager. I was an adult. Supposedly.

It looked like the entire village had come out to see Miggy off on his path of the journey. Everyone was adorned in war paints, including us. I had been awoken early that morning, my sleepy mind wondering, well, hoping it would be Ayla, only to find her young cousins. They had painted my face in the traditional tribal colours, red and white paint.

We stood by the gate entrance. If Miggy was nervous, he didn’t show it. He looked every bit the capable warrior, bow in hand, war paint on face. Game face on. Ayla had kept her word, with her spear in hand. I would need to keep my eye on her. Her fighting spirit was without question, but she was still only level three. It didn’t seem like the natives could advance in levels the way avatars could. She grinned at me, misreading my look, and I grinned back.

Even Larry had been adorned in war paint. He seemed a little grumpy about that, but was adored by the Komo tribe by this point. He was still three hundred pounds of pure jungle predator muscle, though. This would actually be the first time we would be fighting alongside one another since forming our Beastmaster link.

I felt his mind within mine, but it was either too quiet or not thinking about anything at all, so I did not sense it.

Oma appeared, ambling to stand before us, just as we headed to the gate of the village. She alone was free of any tribal paint.

‘Today you will set out on your journey,’ she announced. Her voice was quiet and serene as always, but still seemed to carry nonetheless. ‘Miggy. Reaver. Will you accept this? Will you accept the danger of entering the beast warren as those of the tribe before have done?’

‘I accept,’ said Miggy, almost before Oma had finished speaking.

‘I accept,’ I said. Her eyes flashed a little at my answer, and I did my best to look stoic. She turned to Ayla and then to Larry.

‘Ayla, you too will undertake the journey. Today you will be their tribe. Their brothers and sisters in arms. Do you accept?’

‘I do,’ said Ayla, her hair fluttering ever so slightly before her face. Larry gave a growl, which I took to mean yes.

‘Then go,’ said Oma. ‘With the blessing of the tribe and return as full members.’

I couldn’t fail to notice that Balar and a few of his more staunch followers were absent. It didn’t matter. After today, Miggy would have a home. He would finally belong somewhere.

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He had made his choice. And the truth was, so had I.

[Tribal Colours – You have fought alongside those of the Komo tribe. Now they have become your own. Wear their colour, descend into the warrens and retrieve the sacred relic. May your ancestors guide and watch over you. Today you become a full member of the Komo tribe.]

[Reward – 12,000xp, Factional reputation: Komo tribe, Rare or unique armour piece.]

I had sort of felt like this was an unnecessary side quest, until I saw the rewards. 12,000xp and the potential for a unique armour piece was definitely nothing to sniff at. I smiled inwardly. I was such a loot goblin. There was basically nothing I wouldn’t do for that sweet loot, especially as in all my time in the Stone Epoch I’d never come across any named armour pieces.

Unfortunately, I’d had to relinquish my Vandal’s Shard. It was too low level for me, and besides I had used it so much that its maximum durability was about ten percent. It was basically a glorified glass cannon, not even worth giving to Miggy.