Chapter 22: Scuffle

"There are only patterns, patterns on top of patterns, patterns that affect other patterns. Patterns hidden by patterns. Patterns within patterns.

If you watch closely, history does nothing but repeat itself.

What we call chaos are just patterns we haven't recognized. What we call random are just patterns we can't decipher. what we can't understand we call nonsense. What we can't read we call gibberish.

There is no free will.

There are no variables." —Chuck Palahniuk, Survivor

"Chaos is what we've lost touch with. This is why it is given a bad name. It is feared by the dominant archetype of our world, which is Ego, which clenches because its existence is defined in terms of control." —Terence McKenna

"I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then men create out of the chaos. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Of all these the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art." —W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil

***

It was not that long until the hungry Balmackians arrived at the foot of the mountain, marching towards the Sultenian's land.

Screams for blood and food roughly echoed. Everyone has their eyes locked on their goals, and all of them understood that the problem was none negotiable, thus resulting in a chaotic day for both parties. Such a large-scale fight between two groups had never happened before. And this was occurring because of the lack of food, and scarcity of supplies, which was cut off from the main city.

Foolishly, the tribesmen and the Balmackians resorted to violence when they could have talked things out. The townspeople could just fish for food and cultivate some flooded nutritious land to grow root crops.

They both needed leaders that would lead them. Among the people from the Balmackians, people nominated Grenoble as their leader, dearly asking him to lead two hundred people for food.

Having been put under immense pressure and expectations, Grenoble could not refuse the stupid request. Doro, on the other hand, wished to have nothing to do with the movement. That was because he knew he could find food in the woods, fruits from this strange tree that has a juicy and nutritious bitter taste.

Someone who always shows feelings through her actions kept making herself stand out in front of Grenoble. When she heard that the townspeople were going to the mountains, Dasha deliberately asked the man to bring her along as his second in command.

A major encounter between both parties finally happened. Large groups of the townspeople and the tribesmen immediately steeled themselves, raising their guards as bloodshot eyes were thrown at each other.

"None of you are getting past us!"

"No more sullying our land with your dirty beings!"

The Balmackians came for food wherein the tribesmen arrived to fend off the people they deemed as trespassers of their holy land.

"There is no need for chaos to break out. We only want food."

Grenoble's eloquence trait did not seem to work on the unwavering resolve of the tribesmen to defend their lands from invaders. All of them were going to stick with their conviction.

Some of the Balmackians felt belittled by the insulting gaze of the tribesmen as they were being looked down from the slope, leading further into the Sulten Tribe's lair.

"Shut your mouth, Grenoble! You damn mutt! You're a disgrace to all Sultenians!"

Baron—a proud and strong fighter of the tribe—revealed private information about Grenoble. His words came in shock to every Balmackian, unaware of the bloodline Grenoble comes from.

"I'd rather not talk about me, Baron."

Grenoble could feel the eyes of the townspeople behind his back. He did not dare turn to look at every one. Maybe because he does not have the strength to do so.

"Is it true, chief?"

People started questioning him about his race. They wanted an answer, so he gave them what they needed to hear.

"Yes, I am indeed part Sultenian. My father is one of them while my mother is a Balmackian."

This time, Grenoble looked back at everyone, some were having a scuffle while most of the Balmackians were in surprise. They have known people in the past who were half Sultenian and half Balmackian. What shocked them was that they did not expect Grenoble to be a Sultenian, for he came to the island by boat.

"Looking back, we have never known where you actually came from, Grenoble."

"That's because no one bothered to do so."

The state of confusion and shock was disrupted by a single striking scream from one of the townspeople. How fast each head turned to look in that direction.

"M-My arm! H-He fucking cut off my limb!"

Blood spurted everywhere from the wound, splattering on the dirt and dried leaves on the ground. Then something just snapped in everyone's head. The event acted as the trigger that pushed forward the hesitant actions of both parties.

Clenching tightly on a blunt wood in his hand, the man smashed the Sultenian that chopped off the arm of the woman. On his hands, with both of them holding onto his weapon, felt the recurring surge of vibration as the wood cleanly hit the Sultenian on his head.

And like an epileptic adult experiencing seizures, the Sultenian went stiff as he fell on the ground, trembling with his eyes rolled back.

"Hanak!"

"You bastard! I'm gonna kill you!"

His action was the leverage that was holding their insanity at bay. Once the limiter inside their head was removed, every rageful mind unleashed an unhinged beast with nothing but hatred as their emotions. All kinds of weapons and potential weapons were wielded by both parties.

"Take a run for it!" Grenoble screamed at the top of his lungs, dispersing their large groups as he realized how bad things had become. "Dasha, keep close! The Sulten Tribe might be instructed not to kill, but they will do anything to defend their land. As long as they don't kill you, they will do anything for the sake of their own peace and security!"

It was pure chaos. If one wants others to hear them, they must scream, for the uproarious voices of every individual would mask off even yells.

Grenoble and Dasha only have what they always use when patrolling the island. A baton. And their enemies wield bows, swords, and shortswords or knives. Even spears.

"Hide behind trees!"

Above them was the wave of descending arrows fired at everyone at high speed. The dispersed individuals sought shelter behind trees, saving them from such a dangerous attack. Of course, casualties were bound to occur.

"Agh!"

"H-Help me! It hurts!"

While the townspeople somehow outnumber the Sulten tribe, the latter has the upper hand against the Balmackians regarding weaponry and tactics. Forging their path toward the mountain proved to be a hard one with a huge wall blocking them as the obstacle to success.

"Face the consequences of your actions, Balmackians. You've come here, knowing that all of you could get hurt, yet none of you decided to go back. Now, know that wreaking havoc on our land comes with great detrimental."

***

One hour earlier...

Everyone, who was willing to endanger themselves for food, had gathered around Grenoble as the man was about to discuss their plan.

"Shown on the map is the mountain's layout. We are currently here above fifty meters away southeast from the foot of the mountain."

The mountain was actually located at the east part of the island where a fifty-foot waterfall meets the face of the mountain.

"This is where the Sulten Tribe resides, at the top of the mountain. It was actually a flat land with rice fields and terraces. Moreover, the tribe consists only of around 200 people, including their princess. The Lakambini."

General knowledge about the Sulten Tribe was already known for years. Never have they ever thought that rice field terraces exist in the mountains, though. It has always been surrounded by thick low clouds and trees.

"The plan is simple. We split into four groups, 50 people in all directions. 10 people per group will be assigned to forage."

***

Although his family was unaffected by the fire, Xenia's family felt the disturbance that had occurred. A few people arrived outside their small house.

"Hey, we can have that goat for lunch!"

The goat that was put on a leash outside their backyard was targeted by this small group. There were six of them, and they were all men.

This group was quite infamous for causing trouble in the town, always meddling with other people's business and messing with poor people. And now that all of them feel hungry and found no food to eat, stumbling upon a goat that was Volcom's property was heaven sent for these guys.

"Big brother! A bunch of men is outside our house. They are eyeing our goat!"

Volcom was out fishing with his tiny boat he made himself. Xenia was the only man in their house, and everybody else was a woman. So, the responsibilities fall under his hands.

The goat cried for help as the group of men began to approach and remove the leash.

"Dimwits! Get your hands off our goat!"

"Huh? So, these are those monsters' houses? Well, this goat is ours now because monsters like you deserve nothing but death!

~