Maybe there really is not a reason for hate

The three of them arrived back in the town. They were all beaten up, but alive. They brought back the feathers and the heads of the rukhs as proof they had killed it. The feathers and head were also prized trophies among the grey skins.

The grey skins of the town came to cheer the three brave hunters. Even the outcasts Rufus and Pema were celebrated. They all came to hug them and cheer their name.

"Rufs! Rufs! Rufs!" they cheered.

"What are they chanting?" Rufus asked from Pema.

"You name. I told them what it was," Pema said to Rufus

The three of them entered the tribal hall. There a happy Tenzin was waiting. They stopped chanting as soon as Tenzin raised his hand.

"It seems they didn't kill just one rukh, but three," Tenzin said trying to rile up the crowd.

The Dechen tribesmen all cheered.

"This is truly a time to celebrate. A vote is in order. Who would want to hold a feast for our great heroes?" Tenzin asked from all the grey skin tribesmen present.

The crowd cheered in a loud voice. Everyone voted in favor of a feast.

~ ~

Rufus returned to the house he was staying at. Edward came and jumped on Rufus.

"You little menace. You truly are one real pushover," said a happy Edward.

"You really are amazing," said a happy Doreen.

"You complete idiot," said a mad Haley who punched Rufus.

Haley was furious for Rufus going to hunt the beast. She was worried that he would lose his last family member. She hugged Rufus eventually and shed a small tear of relief.

"Thanks to you the people of the town view us much nicer. You really are able to get people to like you," said Doreen with a smile.

"Yeah. Maybe we could get our weapons soon," said Edward.

Later couple of female grey skins came inside the house. They giggled and pulled Rufus away from the house to go with them.

"Wait, wait. Where are you taking me?" asked a confused Rufus.

"Go, go. I'm sure you will enjoy it. Go be a man," said Edward and grinned.

"Like you know what is like being a man," said Doreen back.

"Probably every man who has been with you has regretted being a man," answered Edward back.

Doreen then proceeded to punch Edward.

Haley instead felt a little uncomfortable as the grey skin girls pulled him with them.

~ ~

Later the feast had begun. A large fire was lit at the center of the town. Many goats were being roasted on fires and local extremely strong wine was being served to people. Music was being played and the people danced while being extremely drunk.

Edward and Doreen joined in on the celebration. Haley also was there but felt uncomfortable until Rufus came there.

Edward and Doreen burst into laughter. Rufus was dressed into the feathers of the rukh and given a small beak on its nose. All in all, Rufus looked stupid and funny.

"Hahahaha. My stomach hurts. Hahahahaha," Edward laughed.

"Hahahaha. Why are you wearing that?" Doreen asked.

"I…apparently it is a tradition. Look at Pema there," said Rufus and pointed with his thumb behind him at Pema.

Pema was also dressed in colorful feathers and a beak on his nose. He also didn't seem much too happy or enthusiastic wearing that weird costume.

"Hahahahahaha. I can't. The always silent Pema," Edward laughed.

"So, you like didn't do anything with those girls?" Haley asked Rufus.

"No. Like what. They just dressed me up in this stupid costume," said an annoyed Rufus.

Haley felt relieved and happy.

~~

The party was in full swing. Pema and Rufus were made to dance close to the fire awkwardly while the other grey skins laughed at them. Tenzin also laughed at them.

The drinking grew and music was played even louder. Many grey skins came to offer food and strong wine to Edward, Haley, and Doreen. Amala came to talk with the three of them.

"Why aren't you dressed like that?" asked Doreen from her.

"I didn't kill any of the beasts. I don't get the honor. I am though happy to see Pema being accepted now by the rest of the tribe," said Amala happily looking at their dance near the fire.

Rufus was also drinking with Tenzin. Tenzin tried to get him drunk but only was able to get a small hiccup for Rufus while Tenzin passed out.

Amala looked at how many tribesmen going to talk with Pema to personally congratulate him.

"It is astonishing how for many years no one has been able to get Pema accepted by the other tribesmen, but Rufus does it so effortlessly," Amala said and looked at Pema who was being extremely awkward with all the other grey skins.

"Get used to it. That's our leader's second divine power by now," said Edward who proceeded to drink some hard local alcohol

"By the way has Rufus got a wife or a significant other back in your country," asked Amala from the three of them.

"No don't think so," said Doreen.

"If she had one she'd just push him around like crazy. Rufus would be so badly henpecked," laughed a drunk Edward.

"You would be happy to be even henpecked," said Doreen back who also was extremely drunk.

~ ~

After a few days had passed Doreen was once again being interrogated by Tenzin in the tribal building.

"Have you ever been to the great libraries of the Jacob kingdom?" Tenzin asked.

"I heard it was burnt and destroyed four hundred years ago when a great grey skin army raided the capital. Hundreds of old texts were lost," Doreen said.

"Not quite," said Tenzin.

Tenzin then took Doreen to a different room of the tribal building. It was full of rows of bookshelves. Many books and many scrolls filled the entire room. A true treasure trove of knowledge.

"We are not barbarians as many humans think. We also know the value of these. As a thank you for the knowledge you have given us, I give you free rein to go through these books and scrolls. I heard you a pretty fawned of knowledge yourself," Tenzin explained.

"There must be more books here than in the original library in the capital," Doreen said in amazement.

"There are. We also make and keep records and you might find stuff that might surprise," Tenzin said and smiled with a slight glimmer in his eyes.