The trip took longer than she remembered. She had forgotten it wasn't a short travel—this distance was partly why Nebo was always gone. The ride alone was exhausting. Why anyone would find this fun to do all the time was lost on her, yet her brother never seemed to complain.
There were random supplies in the back. Some were hers, but most were provisions Nebo wished to bring to help the tribe—mostly potions and bulk food. She was able to wedge herself among them and rest a bit.
Nebo kept driving along. Even as the days passed, they did not talk much. Despite his love, he was still the same solemn brother as before.
The distance rolled on. She woke once more from a restless sleep, random thoughts of Wolf and the family floating through her mind. She tried not to dwell on any of them.
No. She had sealed her fate. Now she was going to be an idol? An elder? Hopefully a nobody. Nebo didn't know what he was talking about. People liked gossip; that wasn't the same as the person showing up.
Yeah. They didn't even know she was really coming. What could they do with such short notice?
She was feeling better when she climbed to the front to stretch and check their progress. They had passed the kingdom days ago, so they had to be getting close. The tribe tended to move, so the exact distance was always hard to know.
In fact, how did *they* know where to go? She was about to ask her brother when an odd sight spooked her.
In the distance, a man was rushing their cart. No—not a man. A catkin? Why would a beastkin attack them?
Her fist turned to stone more from instinct than desire as she remembered what the ogre could do with wind. She was unsure how to handle a fellow tribesman attacking them.
As the figure kept closing, Nebo slowed down, but he seemed unfazed. Was he not seeing this as a threat? This wasn't normal.
Nebo glanced over with an indifference that seemed more about scouting the area. He saw her face and his morphed to concern.
"Are you okay?"
"How are you not freaking out? That man is rushing us!" Nna replied to his absurd calm
Nebo looked around, confused. He clearly saw the catkin closing the distance and didn't care. "The scout? He's here to guide us. Did you see someone else?"
Nina's ears went flat and she pursed her lips. How was a random beastkin rushing their cart going to guide them? It felt like a trap. But she knew her brother would not lie, and it was rare for beastkin to hunt each other.
"HEY!" the catkin shouted, waving as he finally came within range. Slowing to a walk, he spoke calmer. "Here for trade, or just to visit?"
"My sister wishes to live here. And I do have supplies for the tribe," Nebo replied calmly.
"OH! THAT'S GREAT!" the scout replied excitedly. "The Wild Tribe is the closest." He scratched his cheek, looking into the distance before going on. "It's most welcoming, and where I'm from, I suppose. If you're adventurous, there's the Wolf Tribe, but they're more rigid. There are other tribes, too, if you're looking for something more specific?" He turned back with a smile, waiting for their response. He didn't seem much of a threat now that Nina got a better look. He had a spear, which bothered her, but he held it casually and never in a threatening way.
"We're from the Wild Tribe, actually. I tend to trade there mostly, though it's been a while since my last visit."
"Now that you mention it, you remind me of that one guy… uh… Nebo?" the gaurd asked watching Nebo.
Nebo smiled and nodded.
"Haha! I remember. You're the brother of Nina the Hero! They said you're always out here trading. I just have… not got…" The words trailed off as he stared at her, dropped his weapon, and looked like he was about to have a panic attack.
"OH MY… UM…" He bowed. "THANK YOU, HERO!"
Nebo laughed, and Nina blushed. She wasn't sure what to expect, but it seemed Nebo was right—they did see her as an idol.
Nebo mirth calmed soon after, but the bowing from the guard never stopped so nebo gently asked. "Can you point us to the tribe? It's been a long journey. We wish to rest."
"RIGHT!" the Scout slapped his head. "How stupid! I need to guide you!" He started to run in a direction, stopped, came back for his spear, started to run again, and then stopped, realizing he'd told them nothing and just assumed they'd follow.
The look from the gaurd wondering if he could go was met by a nod from nebo agreeing with his assessment. they would have followed "Sorry! I wanted to run ahead to prepare. Head due west," the guard said while he pointed his spear the way he was about to run, "can't miss it. Should see smoke not far from here. I've got to go! We can't welcome you like this!" He dashed off, leaving Nina bewildered beyond embarrassment.
"Well? Do you still doubt they will welcome you?" Nebo teased.
Nina's ears went flat at Nebo's remark, her face giving him her answer even as she glared. His unmovable grin told her exactly how he felt.
The distance was long enough for her anger to cool and her anxiety to set in. She finally saw the smoke the scout had promised, and the distant tents looked like a normal, peaceful scene. She even started to relax. Maybe one or two people would make a big deal, but from here, everything seemed... ordinary?
"You'll be fine," Nebo spoke out of nowhere, startling her.
Nina slapped his lap lightly for the scare, and he gave her a mild glare.
"What? You spoke out of nowhere! You know I'm nervous..." she tried deflecting, looking away. There was little room to move in the cramped space, and she had long since grown tired of resting in the back.
A sigh sounded beside her. Her brother was finally starting to grow weary of being so supportive, and she regretted it a little.
"Sorry," she said, knowing she was taking it too far.
"It's fine. I assumed too much. This might be too much for you." He stared ahead for a bit before continuing. "I assumed you wanted love and support. They will give you that."
She wanted to shake her head. He was so close to being right, but he didn't understand. The love and support she craved was not worship or praise, but an emotional need. It was different, and he couldn't see that. None of them could.
"It's fine, brother. It's probably what I need. I just... don't like change."
A mild laugh escaped her brother's lips as he shook his head and stretched. The trip was getting to even him; he had rested less than her, trying to get her there sooner.
"If you did not want change, we never would have left this tribe for the village. No, you just have your quirks, and you don't like when people change." He looked over at her, smiling, but she was too confused to know how to respond.
He saw the dazed look on her face, and his expression grew more solemn. "You don't reach out to many people, and when you do, you want them to feel the same. So when they change, it breaks you. Tribe life taught me that everything always changes, even as we stay the same. It's why I love traveling—something new, nothing the same. But for you? You want it all the same, forever and ever. And that's fine. But people change, sister."
She glared at him, her ears flat against her head. "So what? I should just accept that I will always be an afterthought when they find new things?"
"No." His voice was firm. "But you do need to understand we all change. Not that we love you less or don't need you the same. We just show it differently."
That stung more than she thought it would. She'd never had this talk with Nebo, never realized he saw her so clearly. It was always just them doing whatever came next.
Maybe... Maybe he and Wolf did love her the same. But it was still a loss, and it still wasn't the same.
A series of horns blared in the distance, breaking her from her sad thoughts. She saw twin flames rising into the air, forming into dancing serpents, followed by versions made of shimmering water. A crowd was gathering as the sequence repeated.
"Aha," Nebo said, starting to laugh. "It seems they're trying to give you a show as a welcome. Very impressive for such short notice."
She hated to admit it, but she was getting lost in the presentation. It was hard to stay sour when it was all done with love and no malice. They were trying to welcome her.
Wasn't that exactly what she wanted?
So why did it still not feel the same as being home, or standing in Wolf's shop?
She was not given time to dwell on those thoughts. The sounds only grew louder as they approached, and she never knew there could be so many beastkin in one place. She was used to seeing ten or so at once on the best day at an inn.
Now? Hundreds.
All of them tried to gather at the front, and those stuck in the background made a scene to be noticed. What was more bizarre was that not one of them watched the spectacle of magic or the music now playing—she could even see dancers performing—and still, no one looked.
No. It was all focused on, and for, her.
She was never shy; she loved everyone in a way. But this was just a bit… much.
Still, she forced a smile and waved. Maybe that wasn't the right move. The roar that followed—an excited cheer that she was acknowledging them—was crazy. It was so absurd she almost wanted to stand up in the cart and shout "Kneel!" just to mock them, but she got scared they might actually do it...
No, they would.
She was starting to feel sick. This was absurd, and it did not lessen as they parted for the wagon to pull through. All it did was give them a reason to circle closer. They were all kind, to a point, each wishing to wait their turn but getting too excited, trying to be the first she talked to as their voices blended into one.
"IT'S REALLY YOU!"
"I HEARD ALL THE STORIES!"
"I GOT EARTH MAGIC TOO!"
"WILL YOU REALLY BE LIVING HERE?"
"WHAT DO YOU NEED?"
"I ASKED FIRST!"
"I WAS ALREADY HERE!"
"MOVE!"
The voices went from pure support to starting to turn hostile. She was sure it was going to end badly and was tempted to turn to stone just to shut them all out—
"Enough."
A voice, loud on the wind yet also a whisper flowed among them, and broke through it all. Everything stopped.
They parted like a wave to reveal the Elder. Nina had never thought much about her or how she looked in the past, being too absorbed in her own future. Yet now? She seemed like a rare saint, guiding and controlling them all with a simple word.
She hadn't known the Elder had wind magic; she never boasted about it. But it was her voice that carried, wielded by her power.
The Elder wore the same clothes she always did—a simple robe despite her status. Her face held the same warmth Nina felt kinship with, as all did, though slightly more so being a fellow foxkin. The Elder's hair and tail were a blackish-grey; Nina assumed it was her age, but she'd seen it in younger foxkin, so it was hard to say. She loved the more pure white and black colors, though, versus her own red...
"It's good to see you again, Nebo. How long has it been?" The voice brought her back. Seeing the Elder now next to the cart panicked her a bit. How had she moved so fast? She was supposed to be old...
"Not that long. A month or so? I think the Wolf Tribe got my last shipment," Nebo replied casually, scratching his chin.
"Well, you're making our lives easier. So, thank you." The Elder turned to her after saying this. The warmth in her eyes was a comfort, but they also held an edge of worship that made Nina worry about what she would say next.
"Have you had a safe trip, Tribe Hero?"
She flinched. On a first-name basis with her brother, but she was just a label?
The Elder saw the pain and wasn't sure what prompted it. The people around them did not offer to explain.
"I understand," the Elder spoke calmly, though Nina had not uttered a word.
The Elder turned to the crowd. "We have misread our hero's desire. She came for a simple life on the plains. Let us remind her we understand the price of her fame and will let her settle. You know the drill. There will be time to celebrate when the hero wishes to share her fame."
Murmurs swept through the sea of people, and they all scattered easily enough. Soon, it was as if no one had been there. All that frenzy, gone with just a few spoken words... all summoned just because she was here.
"I welcome you to stay with me if you wish? Or we can have your own tent made easily enough, if that is your desire?"
She hated feeling like she was making demands when they were being so accommodating, but managed to squeak out her desire for her own place to settle.
The Elder agreed easily enough and said they would work out the details of thier coming here more tomorrow. From there, so many things blurred together. She wasn't sure how to feel. They gave her a nice spot on the plains, and she watched them build the tent. It was made as big as the Elder's—enough to house twenty people—and they kept trying to find ways to sneak in opportunities to talk to her.
"Do you need more pillows? Oh, and how long will you be here?"
"We used only the best material for the walls. Did you need it bigger? Also, is it true you're level four earth-blessed?"
"Hey, my name's Rex! Let me welcome you here!"
Granted, the last one was just a bold foxkin, but it added to the weight of everyone trying to get closer when she wasn't even officially settled yet...
She fixed her hair as best she could, brushing her tail in a nervous act to settle her nerves, even as people kept asking for a little more of her time with "necessary" questions that weren't really needed—until the Elder showed up. Then, mysteriously, they all remembered they had other things to do.
She would have laughed at how easily the Elder shooed them away without words, if it wasn't also so exhausting. But the Elder's smile was a mild comfort. She was loved and welcomed here...
Well, this is my new life. Let's see how it goes as I settle here.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqLdcTRtEi
Yet even with these thoughts, the unspoken words still hung in the air—the ones from the people she really cared about.
How are you doing without me, Wolf?
Do you even care I'm not there?
She went to bed early that night, despite their desire to have her join the feast, saying she needed time to recover. The only truth that followed her into her dreams was the tears she didn't let fall and the feeling that she didn't belong anywhere.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvpNhYz3OX
and then Add to home screen.