Chapter 41

"It would be great if you could leave us at Pedigree Village." Locke replied. "We'll stay at a relative's place there until things settle down in the city."

"Oh, it is on the way. That should be fine." The driver said sadly as he thought about the state of the city. "Does anyone know what really happened in the city?

"An invasion." One of the other passengers replied. He was young, in his twenties and his clothing wasn't bad either. His hair was blonde and face somewhat heroic.

"Are you a merchant?" Locke asked the young man. The man shook his head. "No, a traveler. I didn't think I'd witness a central city be invaded by the Fire Nation."

"Oh, uncle seems to know a lot." Locke said with a well practiced falsified awe in his voice. Selestia, who could now detect if any lie was told in her presence almost burst into laughter.

"Uncle..?" The heroic young man made a bitter face. "Brother, my name is Lamp. I"m only 20. Don't spoil my youth by calling me uncle."

"So how did you learn about what happened?" Locke asked.

"I'm a keen observer." The man called Lamp laughed. "Oi driver. Wait wait wait. I'll get down here."

"Here?" The driver asked. "There's nothing here but forest. What do you want to do here?" The driver became suspicious.

"Uh... Drop me to the next stop then." Lamp said while scratching his head.

"That's Pedigree Village. You can get down with the two kids." The driver said, still making a weird eye towards the young man.

An hour later, the wagon slowly arrived at a rather small village. However, the village did have an inn. Three people got down the wagon, thanked the driver before the wagon continued on with its passengers.

"What did you want to do in the forest?" Locke suddenly asked the blonde boy.

"Eh...nothing really." Lamp said.

"Terrifying News! Terrifying News!" A man holding a scroll was running around the village in panic, screaming at anyone who would listen to him.

"What happened old man? Are you talking about the invasion at Lum City?" Lamp asked the man.

"They are invading Lum City too?" The old man asked in fear.

"Too? What are you talking about?" Lamp asked.

The man thrust the scroll in the face of the three people. It had sketches of terrifying shadowy creatures which looked very dangerous. Attached with the sketches was the news in question. A terrifying plague had emerged from the Midwest. It was turning people, monsters...anything into monsters.

"We're doomed!" The man said while grabbing his hair in panic.

Locke ignored the panic stricken cries and grasped the scroll. From his pocket, he suddenly took out a scroll of his own, which he unfurled.

"Hey, how'd you do that magic trick?" Lamp asked, causing Locke to swear inwards.

Locke ignored him and unfurled the scroll the reveal a detailed map of the country. He looked at the news scrolls and made markings on the map. He then sighed.

"What did you find out kid?" Lamp asked.

"What do you know about Ghone Forest?" Locke asked him instead.

"Ghone Forest? Oh...wait, why does it sound so familiar? Oh, didn't the tribe...?" Lamp promptly shut up.

Locke made a circle on his map. He then drew a path to a spot deep in the jungle that already had a red mark on it. "Was this where you were headed, Uncle Lamp?"

"You...who are you?" Lamp asked with a frown.

"Just a keen observer." Locke used Lamp's own words against him. "So...is that where you were headed?" He asked again.

"No. Why would I head into a random jungle!" Lamp said while perspiring.

"He's lying." Selestia immediately informed Locke who began laughing.

"Take me to your Tribe Elder. I'm sure he wants to hear what I have to say." Locke discarded his hillbilly demeanour and regained his Noble atmosphere.

---

Two hours later, Lamp was leading Locke and Selestia through thick shrubbery deep into the woods.

"How do you know about our tribe?" Lamp asked Locke in exasperation. Locke had made Lamp cut through all the shrubs in their way.

"Don't you trade with merchants? How can your identity be hidden?" Locke retorted.

"Tch. I always told the Elder those Merchants couldn't be trusted to keep a secret." Lamp muttered.

Soon, the thick forestry suddenly cleared into a grassy terrain void of trees. A small lake lay to the left, surrounded by small tenements. Children were playing near the lake, tumbling into each other and giggling. The elders seemed to be working very hard, but they became very defensive, the moment they heard a disturbance.

Locke and Selestia could hear growls from around them.

"What village is this?" Selestia asked. "Why is it so hidden?"

"It's the village of the Lightning Wolves Tribe." Locke said.

"Lightning Wolves?" Selestia asked.

"We are a tribe of Beastfolk." Lamp explained. "Though I still don't understand how you know we are Lightning Wolves." He said to Locke.

Soon, the elders of the tribe stopped whatever they were doing and circled the trio. Some people came and slapped Lamp's shoulder, others grabbed his arm to bite it while keeping a vigilant distance from Locke and Selestia.

"Wolf tribes bite the hands of a returning tribe member from a mission to check if their bones are fine. It is a cultural thing." Locke explained to both Selestia and Ghost.

"I know. I read it in that book." Ghost mentally rebuked, refering to a book in the magical sack.

"You know a lot about our tribe." A giant muscular man, whose head and body hair were blue in color walked out of a hut. His eyes glinted like they had electricity running through them.

"Sharp ears." Was Locke's first assessment, followed by terrifying strength.

"I consider that a complement." Locke replied. "I am Locke Mith, a humble Baron whose lands are not far from Merunia Forests. This is Selestia, the daughter of the Duke of the human territory that considers this region their own."

The muscular man nodded as he scratched his wild beard. "You know of our ways well, human pup. Much better than others of your ilk."