Ch 12 The Four Clans

      The Four Clans



  The kings and their daughters approached King Muck and Queen Torlia with a dignified trot. Purk's gaze roamed over each woman as they came forward to bow before him. King Nodule of the Ruff Tusk Clan was the first to kneel, with his daughter Aruba gracefully curtsying beside him. She kept her eyes fixed on Purk's sturdy physique, not wanting to look away. The fiery red warthog batted her beautiful almond eyes towards him, as Purk took close notice. He felt a surge of desire heat his body to the next level. What was happening to him?   He was frightened and a  bit embarrassed simultaneously. Never had he knew the feelings swirling inside. He managed to calm himself before any took notice.  Aruba and her father stepped quickly aside to make way for the next clan.

One thing was clear: Purk was eager to discover more about her clan. They were not your typical warthogs seen in Africa. There was a rich historical background surrounding them that he couldn't quite pinpoint. Never before had he encountered warthogs in such striking shades of vibrant orange and reddish hues. King Wartin of the Wimble Clan was next in line, accompanied by his striking daughter, Hazel. Just like the king before him, Wartin offered a gracious bow, while Hazel bashfully curtsied toward Purk. Not wanting to linger too long in the spotlight, she quickly darted over to stand beside her father. Their wiry white hair contrasted beautifully with their dark skin. Purk gazed into Hazel's eyes, reminiscent of Aruba's, as they were mesmerizing crystal blue, glimmering like beautiful pools. 'How lovely they are, shining so vividly against her dark complexion,' Purk mused, appreciating her appearance. Hazel was petite, similar to the queen, proving once more that big personalities often come in small packages—a lesson he had learned well from his own mother. King Wartin consistently arrived bearing gifts of wealth. His treasures never failed to impress. His clan ranked as the richest in their realm. Dazzling diamonds and sumptuous caviar, accompanied by delicately sweet dates, were presented on golden trays by the king's emissaries before the King and Queen of Hog Hill. King Muck graciously bowed his head in gratitude for the exquisite offerings.

Purk found himself in a predicament—how much longer could he hold back? Surrounded by so many alluring females, the primal instinct within him yearned to indulge, but such desires were not acceptable in his Clan or any others, without ceremony. He redirected his attention to the approaching warthogs. The Hollow-hoof Clan was next in line, represented by their King Banola and his daughter Zeema. Once a modest clan with humble beginnings, they soon rose to prominence among their fellow warthog clans. King Banola made astute decisions in trade, which brought him considerable wealth. From that moment on, they dedicated their hearts to assisting their fellow clan members. The king transformed ashes into beauty, and not only were their deeds admirable, but they themselves radiated beauty as well. Their light almond skin was a refreshing sight, distinct from the usual dark hues that warthogs possessed. Purk traced the elegant curves of each female, his gaze eventually landing on their eyes. Zeema's were particularly striking, a vivid emerald green that sparkled in the sunlight.

Purk saw her smiling up at him as he gazed at her. He returned her smile, a fire of desire igniting within him. He eagerly anticipated the upcoming battle among the princesses vying for the title of his Queen. Gradually, they moved to the opposite side, positioning themselves in front of the first two clans. Purk remained focused on the scene as the final clan stepped forward.

The Harvel clan was the last to arrive at the gathering. Leading the way was King Zerk, closely followed by his daughter, Princess Izumi. They approached to greet the assembled leaders, and King Zerk was the first to bow, with Izumi curtsying right after. This clan was an extraordinary pair of warthogs, sporting stripes of light gray and ashy white across their skin. How strikingly beautiful, Purk thought. He scrutinized the female closely. Unlike the others, Izumi was slender, setting her apart with her petite figure. Her cool gray eyes mirrored the hues of a light stormy sky. She wore a perpetual, gentle smile that radiated a humble spirit, unexpected from someone hailing from such an affluent family. Once the Majesties had been properly greeted, the Harvel Clan King and Princess moved to the right side of the arena, joining the Hollow-hoof Clan. Every Clan was present and accounted for.

King Muck rose from his throne and began to speak in a commanding voice, "Welcome, my brethren, to my realm. Hog Hill is delighted to host you for this significant occasion. My reign as King has reached its conclusion, and my heir, Prince Purk, is prepared to ascend to the throne. This week, he will select a bride—one of your lovely daughters—to become our new Queen and lead our Clan. It is my hope that he will someday do the same for his future successors. May we all witness our grand piglets thrive and our Clans unite as allies. I wish you a wonderful stay here this week. Additionally, may the other kingdoms arrive safely to join us for the festivities. Best of luck to the ladies and may the competition for the throne be fierce."

With those words from King Muck, the arena erupted with joyful hoof stomping, grunts, and squeals. The visiting warthogs were ecstatic to be a part of this big week's event. The crowd of warthogs was dismissed, buzzing with excitement for the trial games set to take place in the coming week. Meanwhile, King, Queen, and Prince Purk of Hog Hill remained in their seats, observing the four contestants and their fathers, who waited expectantly in front of them. They held their breath for the last warthog in the crowd to leave the arena, signaling the moment when the King's tributes, would escort their esteemed guests to their temporary burrows for the week. The King had prepared four spaciously excavated holes, each offering two vacant rooms and a sizable living space for their royal visitors.

They would stay inside until that evening when the late dusk celebrations would be arranged in their honor. Swiftly, the King commanded that additional tributes begin preparing the feast. Meanwhile, Queen Torlia set out to organize the evening's entertainment, while Purk went off in search of a cool spot to refresh himself. He needed to clear his mind of all the enchanting females.

"Snap out of it, you big oaf!" Purk shouted at himself. His thoughts were in turmoil. He had never experienced such an increase in testosterone before. It surged within him to the point where he felt bold enough to face a lion. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, intensifying with each passing minute. Filled with conflicting emotions, he cherished the games yet longed for the week to end. He yearned to be close to his bride, nuzzling by her side. As he contemplated this a bit longer, he considered whom he would choose. All four warthogs possessed their own unique beauty, but he was wise enough to recognize that appearances could be misleading. He needed a strong partner to rule alongside him—someone who was kind yet firm like his mother. If she happened to be attractive, that would simply be an added bonus. Content with his thoughts, he settled back in the water hole, daydreaming about them.

"Hazel, oh beautiful princess," he mused, realizing she held a special place in his heart. How could someone he barely knew capture his heart so suddenly? His heart longed for her, and regardless of what transpired in the end, he would do everything within his power to claim her as his Queen. He quietly rooted for her above the other three. Only time would reveal if she was destined to become his new Queen. Unfortunately, beauty alone wouldn't secure her success in this competition. He hoped she possessed the strength needed for the challenges that lay ahead, just as much as she embraced grace. It was going to be a grueling week for all four females, but they had been preparing for these games for months prior. Each female had her own unique skill that she excelled at, but in the end, it was anyone's game.

Whoever Elohim had selected for Purk was destined for the task. He felt a greater sense of calm, assured that the creator was preparing the right warthog for him.

The next morning arrived quickly, bringing a stream of new guests from the Clan's kingdoms. Local merchants had set up small booths, eagerly prepared for the visitors. The previous evening had been incredibly delightful, leaving the clans excited to continue the festivities. Hog Hill offered them a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Purk could barely recall the details of the night. After consuming so much hog mead, his head spun as if it were among the stars. He only remembered the excitement of embarking on an enjoyable evening with friends and beautiful females dancing by his side. The rhythmic beats of music captivated the other warthogs, filling the air with enchantment. Queen Torila had selected exceptional musicians who played wooden instruments while they indulged in a delightful buffet of various bugs. Visually, they were surrounded by exotic warthog dancers, who performed specifically for the King's amusement. Male warthogs twirled and swayed with the females, and Purk, the luckiest pig of all, had all four ladies dancing in perfect harmony with him.

After hours of drinking and indulging in a lavish feast, Purk felt relaxed and quite sociable. He was engaged in conversation with all four princesses, making numerous promises he would probably forget by morning. Thankfully, his friend Roz was sober enough to keep him in line, ensuring that Purk didn't find himself in any inappropriate situations that evening, including a fleeting encounter with any of the females. Observing the situation taking a concerning turn, Roz swiftly led his friend, the prince, back to his throne for some much-needed rest. Throughout the evening, he remained watchful over Purk. As the celebrations gradually subsided, Roz accompanied the prince to his burrow, where he would watch over him during the night. Roz intended to stand watch until the dawn ushered in a new day. As the night deepened, a tranquil calm would envelop the burrows of Hog Hill. True to his plan, he diligently fulfilled his duties, keeping a vigilant eye until the sun gently touched the horizon. Earlier that morning, King Muck had dispatched his finest tributes to ensure the safety of the other four guests.

They were guaranteed a peaceful night, with vigilant guards keeping watch. King Muck and Queen Torlia were noble and generous rulers. As they prepared for their final event, the King and Queen were determined to make it an unforgettable occasion, pouring their hearts into hosting the finest celebration possible, that was precisely what they had achieved on the first night, with six more nights remaining. Inwardly, Queen Torila had devised a plan to support Purk and his new bride in all upcoming events. She yearned to play a significant role in the clan's decision-making, all while respecting her boundaries. Understanding that her son would require her guidance during his first year, Torila also recognized her responsibility to assist the new Queen with her duties. She believed she was the ideal mentor to help navigate the newcomers through this transition.