Chapter 36
"Sun, let's go." Smoke nudged Sun.
"Yeah, let's go."
The brothers walked away. They left for the western forest to continue drawing their map. They got a general idea of the surrounding area, but they are still don't know the direction they should be heading to find human civilization and the easiest path to get there. It's a foggy morning making it more difficult for the brothers to map the area.
Meanwhile, inside the building with the red roof, Cala sits on his throne. Over his head is a set of antlers pinned to the wall. A goblin is cleaning the skull of the dead deer of dust. Cala's veins were popping out of his forehead, his nails were clawing into his armrest, and he gritted his teeth. He heard from his followers that Sum survive the night. And he knows precisely why he survives.
A goblin came in bringing with her Cloud. Cala told his goblins to leave the two of them alone. Once the goblins leave the room, Cala lunges at Cloud. He grabbed his neck and lifted him in the air. "You motherf.u.c.ker!" He yelled.
Cloud's legs flail in the air as he struggled to bring himself up. "Chief I can't,"
"You told Sum about the bomb."
"I thought he needs," Cloud tries his best to gurgle out his words. "To know how to do the plan."
Cala throws Cloud to the floor, "The plan was that he dies with them, you dumba.s.s!" Cala paced back in forth. "He was supposed to die. You were supposed to have him stay with those cretins, throw the bomb through a window, and then they all die from the explosion and fire. That's the f.u.c.king plan. And you f.u.c.king ruined it!" Cala grabbed his sword and struck the ground near Cloud's lying body.
"Please, your greatness, I don't understand. Sum is a very loyal and strong follower. What will you gain from killing him."
"So, I can have her."
"Pardon."
"So, I can have Dawn." Cala lets go of his sword and stumbled back to his seat.
Cloud knew this was Cala's plan all along. Cala doesn't like confrontation unless he knows he can win or if his emotions overcome his better judgment. He plans out his actions with great care and consideration. Because of that, Cloud believed that Cala's schemes are
The Chief's power could not be underestimated. The goblins watching the ma.s.sacre always betted on the chief. They were sure that the challenger entering the ring would lose and die. Then Tama stood in the circle, and everyone's opinion changed. Unlike the other challengers, Tama's body was built like a bull. He had a strong upper body, and he was a ferocious fighter.
Cloud watched in amazement as Tama traded blows with the Chief. Meanwhile, Cala was biting his teeth. Unbeknownst to Cloud, Cala drugged the Chief with a toxic elixir that he convinced Flute to make. He promised her the highest authority among the caretakers by placing her as part of his entourage. She fell for him ever since and believed in Cala's promises.
But the elixir was not showing any signs that it's working. Cala was growing anxious, but as long as Tama dies, he would at least gain something from the Tina Bökh Fight. Tama is the only rival Cala has to win the heart of Dawn.
Cala watched as Tama begins to struggle against the Chief. He was a muscular goblin, but he can never compete against a redskin. After a b.l.o.o.d.y round, Tama fell on the floor, granting the Chief victory. Then he shocked the crowd when he decided to spare Tama and make his new retainer.
Cala's was enraged by the decision. He ran into the ring and sucker-punched the Chief, and the spectators gasp after witnessing Cala disrespect the Chief. Cloud and Sum ran after him. When they got to the scene, they noticed Tama was still lying on the dirt unconscious, so they grabbed him and dragged him out of the way.
Cloud looked out at the ring and saw the Chief anger boiling the air around him. Fear took hold of Cloud, like little hands grabbing on his legs, preventing him from running. Cala had a similar experience after hitting the Chief but in reverse. Instead of little hands planting him on the ground, those same hands were trying to pull him out of the ring.
Retreat was the only appropriate response. But despite fear's insistence to retreat, Cala remained in the ring. His fear be d.a.m.ned; he must kill the Chief to win Dawn's heart. He dashed back at the Chief and punched him on the stomach. The Chief tried to dodge it, but he couldn't move his legs. He barfed out blood, fell on his knee, and cried out in pain. The elixir was beginning to work, but the Chief still had some fight in himself.
The Chief slammed his head on Cala's head. Both parties' sense of balance got destroyed. But the Chief regained his balance much faster than Tama because he was on his knees. He stood up slowly and took a deep breath. Then he roared at Cala, "You're dead!" Cala s.h.i.+vered in response.
He ran to Cala with his hands open, ready to grab him and tear him apart. Cala fell on his back as his fear grab hold of him, pulling him out of the ring. But instead of following the hands - his fear, he pulled his legs close to his face. Cala's neck began to glow blue light while waiting for the Chief to come closer. When the Chief got close enough, like a spring, he kicked legs up, hitting the Chief on the jaw. The glowing blue light ignited into flame. The blue fire engulfed Cala as his foot push the Chief up in the air.
The Chief fell on his b.u.t.t, dazed and confused. He would have gotten back up and continued the fight, but the elixir finally took his ability to move. He sat there watching as Cala's body quickly disappear into the fire. The Chief saw this before, and he knows what's happening. The crowd watched in astonishment. Inside the flame, Cala's body contorts and stretched, his muscles grew more prominent, and his height grew taller.
Finally, the fire subsided and revealed to the world Cala's new body. He turned into a redskin. That was far as Cloud's memory could go. He pa.s.sed out the moment Cala turned into a redskin. When he woke up, Cala was already the Chief.
The silence in the room was broken when Salicity entered. Cala stood up but before he could, Salacity spoke. "Why not order Sum give Dawn?" He grinned from ear to ear, "Since Sum so loyal to Chief, he will do what chief ask."
"So? How will that capture Dawn's heart? She will hate me."
"Easy, Chief make it Sum's idea."
Cloud stared at Salacity and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Salacity spread rumor so Dawn hear rumor. Rumor is Sum 'selling' her to Chief to gain back favor. Not secret to tribe that explosion last night is to kill Sum's followers." Salacity giggled a little, "Salacity know Dawn will hate Sum for 'selling' her and Chief take chance to comfort her. Good plan, yes?"
"That's not a very good idea. Dawn isn't stupid, she will find out about this plan."
"Cloud," Cala gently said. "Shut up." Cloud was shocked that the Chief was telling him to be quiet and is actually taking Salacity's plan. "Guards, call for Sum. I need something from him."