Chapter 8

As the First Elder and his entourage headed back to the village, they hunted some game along the way, ensuring that they had something to bring back and would blame bad luck for the small amount. Despite the plan they manage to bring back enough food to feed the majority of the tribe. With Vireon's group covering nearly half of the tribe's daily food requirement and Vir and Eo's group bringing back the other half, the tribe had enough food to begin stockpiling once more. While the tribe only had a few members, they could grow very quickly with excess food.

As the last light of the sun and the first moon rose, the Council had another meeting. This time however Vir, Eo and Vireon were there. The First Elder fidgeted around while waiting for the rest of Council to arrive. Vir and Eo sat in grim silence off to the side and Viroen was in the same spot as last time looking around cautiously. After a few minutes the council had all gathered, and as they began the mysterious figure walked in once more. However this time it didn't even give the young man so much as a nod of acknowledgment, instead the figure stood in the middle of the room waiting.

"So what did that Gett say about the creature Vireon encountered?" the Third Elder asked impatiently.

"Nothing good I presume from the way he's fidgeting around" said the Fifth Elder. She looked at the First in amusement. She then grinned. " However it is very funny to watch you fidget like a child in trouble."

The Fourth Elder spoke in a serious tone "Why can't you be serious for once, you old hag."

The Fifth Elder slowly turned her head and looked him in the eyes and with a fake amiable smile and cruel eyes, she slowly spoke " what's the point of living if you cant have fun. Maybe with how serious you are someone should show you to the grave early. If you need a guide I'll be happy to show you a nice hole in the ground."

Before the Fourth Elder could retort, the First Elder finally spoke. "Enough, we have more pressing matters to address before you guys start fighting." he paused to glance at them both with an odd look. " If you plan on fighting, do it on your own time, and I don't want to be around for either kind of fighting you plan on doing."

The Fifth Elder flirtatiously winked at the Fourth Elder while he glared back at her.

The First Elder sighed, "alright enough messing about, we have work to do. The Second Elder and I went to speak to the leader of the Lowland Clan, well more like I did all the talking and the Chieftain and his daughter were at least kind enough to join me." he glared briefly at the Second elder, who just shrugged. "Regardless, He told me that the entity or creature that Vireon encountered was new, and that one was spotted heading up the mountain. He also mentioned a creature that had made its residence up there, a scaled bi-ped. It has killed at least two Gett of the Windless tribe."

The five elders then went quiet. Of the many Gett Clans, the Windless Clan was the strongest individually. It didn't have as many members as the other Clans but it was one of the stronger Clans. The silence went on for a few moments before one of the elders from the middle council finally spoke up.

" Are the two connected? I personally find that unlikely. The Gett may be strong, but they hunt alone. If we worked together I'm sure we could kill whatever that creature is, should it come find us we will be more than capable of killing it, no?" he said

The First Elder nodded, before speaking "we would most likely win, however it would be a costly victory." He paused and looked at the other four core elders. "I think we should consult the Tribe's Spirit. It can provide insight into what our plans should be."

The rest of the council softly whispered to each other before they all began to nod. The First Elder smiled, the council then began to disperse each going back to their huts to grab materials for the ritual to summon the Spirit. The mysterious figure watched on in silence before turning to Vireon. It slowly nodded then shook its head, then it approached Vireon.

"Hey kid, I need your help with something," Vireon shivered slightly before looking up. "Oi I know I sound weird but I don't think I deserve that kind of reaction." the figure said.

"I shivered because you asked me for help, not your voice. The concept that you need me for something is a terrifying thought, what do you want?" Vireon whispered.

"So… I have no clue what that creature was and if they ask me what to do, what am I supposed to say? Do I tell the truth and say good luck, cause I have no idea! Or should I lie and say, don't worry it's gonna be fine. Or run away, it's gonna kill us! I have no clue what to say."

"Aren't you the Tribe Spirit, not me? Why ask me for help on what to say? They want to know what to do next, not whether it's a dangerous creature. Why don't you go take a look at the top of the mountain and then come back, surely it can't be that hard for you to scout something out." Vireon harshly whispered.

The Spirit stood silent for a few tense seconds. Eventually It spoke in an irritated tone. "If I could do that I would, you see I'm a Tribe Spirit and as such stuck with the tribe. That said not this tribe originally, but your fathers tribe. I was transplanted here from the old tribe, when it eventually succumbed to internal and external conflicts." It paused to savor the surprised face of Vireon before continuing. " I had an ability that would let me create a temporary clone to do things for me, but the transplanting took a toll on my energy reserves, and to use it requires half of my max energy. I barely have thirty percent of my original power. I could send the original Guardian spirit of this tribe to go scout though… That's a great idea kid, you're a genius!" The Spirit spoke excitedly.

Vireon just nodded and smiled like he understood what was being said. He still had to process that this wasn't the tribe his father was born in. It made him question where he was born, and the story behind his father's tribe.

As the last moon finally showed its dull gleam, the Council began the ritual to summon the Tribe Spirit. They began by getting a great bronze cauldron, and filling it with water and animal blood. Then they added a few concoctions and ingredients. Each one was valuable and meant to increase one's Aura allowing them to become higher level hunters, or heal grievous wounds. Then they each channeled some of their Aura into the cauldron. Then as a dark greenish smoke began to slowly flout out, the Council began to chant and dance. Their words and bodies were imbued with Aura. After the chanting and dancing finally stopped. The smoke coalesced into an indistinguishable figure.

The figure spoke with a voice made of many others at once. It was impossible to determine the gender or age of the figure as they sounded like every age and gender at once. " You have called for me, and I have answered. You have a request, one that I can't help you with just yet. I have sent the other Spirit to scout the mountain and I will have your answer then. Also Vireon can speak and see me without the ritual so don't waste your time, ask him to relay the messages back and forth."

The smoke then condensed into a small ball of smoke and slowly vanished, the cauldron was not empty and the ritual complete. However the council wasn't lamenting the loss of valuable resources but staring in awe and slight annoyance at Vireon, who sheepishly smiled in the corner.

"I hate you so much!" Vireon said to the Spirit who was laughing at him in the corner. He then prepared for the onslaught of questions and angry words.