The Seven Tribes

Art by Ian Piexoto - 2024

Introduction

Why, hello! It's me, The Vagrant. I'm here to provide some witty commentary on this particular story I've managed to dig up from my own archive. This might include clarifications, notes, and descriptions of elements that were lost during the story's move from its handwritten notebook to a digital document. For more reflection, commentary, and bonus content, please check out the companion article for this piece!

And remember, all typos, errors, and formatting is pulled exactly from the original source!

Archive Data

Year Written: 2013-2014

Author's Age: 11-12

Original Format: Blue, five subject spiral notebook

Length: 5109 words

 - Prolegue -

“SHH!” hissed a voice, “don’t wake him.”

Three figures stood in a gloomy forest with fog looming everywhere. One figure rode on a black horse. His eyes were shut, and clearly he didn’t want to be disturbed.

His eyes flew open, “We are in Tantalis now, I sense it. Captain Taren will be pleased when we arrive. He needs anyone on his side.”

“What about the prisoner back in Lupa?” another asked worringly.

“That man isn’t a threat, yet,” the rider said, “he will only be a threat when his captain comes and I know that will not happen. He is far from that area.

“Now, can we continue?” The others nodded.

So they began walking and riding through the forest of Tantalis. They stopped when a figure jumped from a bush.

“Are you the ambassadors the captain needs,” it asked.

“Yes, we are.”

The figure smiled, “welcome to a new world.”

A Mysterious Beginning

I'm still quite proud of this prolegue. Ok, yes... don't worry. I now know how to spell prologue. I only wish I had expanded on my descriptions of the surroundings. This is the reader's first taste of the world, and I didn't do much to establish the setting for them. I do enjoy how mysterious this is, and my plans for the rest of this story would have explained this scene really well: The Royals are beginning to recruit, and the peace between the tribes is beginning to falter. So while I don't establish the setting enough here, I make up for it by effectively establishing the plot.

Chapter I:

Tarfull

“Seriously Leap? A vibro-blade?” Tarfull turned the object over and over trying to find something intresting about it.

“It’s a gift from King Sarux,” Leap protested.

He grabbed it from Tarfull and sheathed it, “it was for retrieving the money that was stolen.”

Tarfull rolled his eyes and looked at the valley below. A humungous castle peacefully stood there. The Castle of Beasts. King Sarux was probably waiting there wondering when they’d return from the mission he gave them.

“Leap, we should probably be going ba--” but something interupted him.

A sheer battle cry echoed in the distance.

Leap quickly unsheathed his vibro-blade. Tarfull grabbed for his pistol. Wait, where was it? He’d left it on his belt!

“I’ll do this the old fashion way,” he thought.

Just at that moment a figure burst out of nowhere and the last Tarfull remembered was a leather cloak, a flash of maroon and complete darkness…

***

Tarfull woke up to pain. Pain beyond pain. It was like a million daggers were puncturing his left arm. He was about to stand up but a soothing voice said to him, “I wouldn’t do that.”

His eyes were closed so he couldn’t see where the voice was coming from. He forced himself to open them.

His vision was blurry but he could see where he was still. He was propped up in a wooden chair next to a mahogeny table that had herbs fruit and a small dagger on it. On the far side of the room a campfire and some cabnits formed a small kitchen.

Standing by the fire boiling some herbs was a girl around 17 with long brown hair flowing to her shoulders. She wore a black cloack and some ripped and dirty jeans. Two small braids were on the top of her hair; she was a loner.

“Where am I?” Tarfull damanded.

The girl looked up from the stove, “you’re in the Caves of Elkesef located on the northern side of Elmested.”

“Elkesef,” Tarfull mutterd to himself again, “who are you?”

“I’m Arané Cos,” she replied, “I’m a loner. I was banished from my tribe.”

Tarfull nodded, “I’m Tarfull Hypnos, Captain of the Hunters.”

Arané almost dropped her pot, “what money do I owe?”

“None,” Tarfull answerd, “although your name does sound familiar.”

Arané gulped.

“What happened to my arm?” Tarfull asked, deciding to change the subject.

“It was a poisoned blade,” Arané replied, “I think Tult’s.”

Tarfull winced, that’s why it felt like acid.

“Where’s my partner?” Tarfull said.

Arané answerd, “I think Scorpion Warriors have him.”

“Is there any way we can get back?” he asked.

“First, let me heal your arm,” she threw him a riffle, “then, suit up, we’ve got Scorpions to hunt.”

A Name Game

I'm pretty proud of the name King Sarux, but Leap and Tarfull are lacking. Tarfull is stolen from Star Wars, as is a lot of stuff in this story, and Leap is alright until you learn his full name. Seriously? Leap is short for Leaperious? I nearly died from laughter rereading that moment. Arané on the other hand, is a great name. It should be mentioned that it is much easier to write an "é" on paper than it is on a keyboard...

Chapter II:

Tarfull

Good news: Arané had two well fed horses in a stable by her cave. Bad news: she didn’t have any saddles. Riding throught the bumpy terrain on a scratchy horse was a nightmare.

“So, you’re a bounty Hunter,” Arané said.

“Yeah,” Tarfull replied, “I mostly work for Sarux of the Beasts.”

Arané smiled and Tarfull felt a warm feeling zap through him.

“Do you have any family?” Tarfull asked.

Arané stared at him darkly, “my family is one that is not to be spoken of.”

They rode on through Elmested jumping over rocks and fallen logs. When they finally stopped Tarfull had cramps all over. His arm had healed more which helped but his legs hurt like crazy. When he unmounted his horse he was relieved, until he saw the black stone wall about ten yards away; the Wall of the Scorpions.

***

Leap

Leap woke up sprawled on the floor. He was surrounded by metal bars that formed a cell, he was a prisoner. His feelings battled each other so it was hard to think. A million thoughts raced through his mind. Where am I? Why am I trapped? Who imprisoned me?

“Oh, you’re awake.”

Leap turned to the voice and found a man around 25, (depends on his species) with a pilots helmet on. A gold visor covered his face which made him look mysterious.

“Who are you?” Leap asked the man.

“I’m Argus Leench,” the man replied, “I’m one of the Hunters.”

“I’m Leaperious Colrus,” Leap said, “I also am a hunter.”

“In Tarfull’s team?” Argus asked.

Leap nodded, “what’s your species. I’m Elven.”

“Unknown,” Argus replied vaguely.

“Where are we?” Leap said while looking around.

“We’re in the Scorpion Tower in Lupa. The wall stretchs around the North and west sides of Elmested,” Argus scratched his head, “I believe the Royals want us.”

“Why--” but then Leap realized it, “They want the Hunter parnels don’t they?”

Argus nodded, “they only want one tribe standing, the Royals. The Scorpions and Pirates have already agreed to join, but others are fighting back.”

“Like the Elves, Hunters, Beast Warriors, and Time Travelers?” Leap guessed.

“Yes,” Argus said, “Plus, the Time Travelers have found something more shocking,” Argus turned his voice to a whisper, “there may be an eighth tribe of Polut. There is a rumor that they used to live in Jerichio but just like their castle they fell.”

Leap was frozen with shock from the news. And eigth tribe? As long as Leap rememberd there has always been seven. No more, no less.

Then, something interupted his thoughts. An explosion rocked the tower. Leap knew, it was time to run…

Footnotes Footnotes Footnotes

The original, handwritten version of this story has several footnotes, which was inspired by Tolkien's lore notes in Lord of the Rings. They often provide worldbuilding-related definitions. Upon review, these were mostly unnecessary and were likely added because footnotes just look really cool. The original footnotes from chapters will be provided in these commentary boxes, also unchanged and unedited. References to page numbers have been omited.

Footnote No. 1 - Parnel

Elven word for dimond.

Special note: This footnote is added every time "Parnel" is written, not just its first appearance. For the sake of brevity, only one has been left in. And yes, diamond is misspelled everytime.

Footnote No. 2 - Polut

The island in the Caribean in which the 7 tribes live on.

Chapter III

Tarfull

Geting in was easy, but geting out was the problem. Arané found a small crack in the wall big enough to put a small dynimite stick in. How she found this was unknown. Actually, everything about Arané seemed to be a mystery.

While Tarfull lodged Arané’s homemade grenade in the crack, Arané checked the rifle for amo.

She passed it over to Tarfull, “ready?”

Tarfull nodded, he’d done this many times.

Arané put her hand on the wall and pulled the pin.

A small fire burst from the grende and burned a small hole in the wall.

Arané ducked through the hole with Tarfull close behind. She put her finger to her lips and pointed down the corridor they had stepped in. Tarfull understood the gesture. A Scorpion guard stood by a metal door.

Arané unsheathed her dagger and threw it at the guard. It impaled into his chest and he collapsed over.

Arané calmly walked over to the guard and pulled the dagger out of him. She wiped it on the ground and sheathed it.

Tarfull tried to open the door but it was locked. Arané stepped forward.

“I can do this,” she said.

She put her hand on the door and a bolt of electricity flew at it causing the door to completely fall off its hinges.

“How--” Tarfull started but Arané interupted him.

“I’m an Electron,” she said, “I control electricity.”

Tarfull raised his eyebrows in astonishement.

He reloaded his gun, “You ready?”

“Ready.”

Tarfull waked through the door and found himself standing in a small room with a ladder leading to a trapdoor. He signaled for Arané to follow and started climbing. When he pulled up the trap door he found himself squinting in the sunlight. He hoisted himself onto the ground and relized he was on some sort of archery tower.

Tarfull found a twinge of pride zap through his body. He’d done it. But as his eyes ajusted to the light he relized he wasn’t the only one to come across the tower. A figure stood a few feet away from him with a bow and arrows strapped around its back.

Chapter IV

Arané 

Revealing that she was an Electron was hard enough but finding an old friend was harder. When Tarfull climbed through the trapdoor Arané already felt another presence. She gasped when she found a girl around twelve aiming her bow at Tarfull.

“Purin! What are you doing here?”

The girl lowerd her bow, “Arané? Is that you?”

“I thought you were dead!” Arané exclaimed, “You never came back!”

“That’s because I was trying to find home,” Purin said.

“You can’t go home!” Arané said, “unless--”

“I still have the mark of the Elves,” Purin finished. “And I do.”

Purin pulled back her golden hair to reveil a long braid with strips of gold intertwining through it.

Tarfull stood up, “Wait, you know her?” He nodded aprovingly, “I see. You have a lot in common, you both hate me, you--”

“Um… as I was saying,” Arané interupted, “why are you here?”

“I heard rumors about the Elf, Leaperious Colrus, being trapped here,” Purin answered, “I also heard the Hunter Argus Leench, a close friend of mine, was also held hostage. They are trapped for their Hunter Parnels.”

“You know Leap?” Tarfull asked in suprise.

“Of course I do,” she replied, “He’s my brother.”

“Wait a second,” Tarfull said, “You’re Leap’s sister? That makes you--”

“--the Princess of the Elves,” Purin finished.

“I thought the code clearly states that you have to be over 20 to be an heir to a throne,” Tarfull said suspiciously.

“In case you’re wondering,” Pursin said, “I’m 24.”

“Oh yeah,” Tarfull muttered, “Elves age slower.”

“Enough chit-chat,” Arané said, “We’re both here for one reason: getting those two hunters out of the tower.”

Tarfull rose his hand, “One question, how do we get down.”

“Good question!” Arané said while gazing down at the valley below. The tower they were on was atleast twenty feet high.

The main tower where prisnors were held was on the complete other side. Then an idea sprang to her.

“Purin shoot that archerer!” she said.

Purin obeyed and drew back the string on her bow. With a sharp THWIING she released it and sent a silver arrow whizzing at the archerer. He fell from the tower with the arrow sprouted from his chest.

Tarfull looked at the warrior on the ground, “nice shot,” he mutterd.

Arané turned to him, “Is there a way you can get to the main tower?”

“Sure,” Tarfull replied.

He turned to Purin, “are those arrows make of metal?”

She nodded.

“Can you shoot one to the top of the tower?”

Purin nodded again, “Why do you--”

Tarfull rose his hand, “just do it.”

Purin looked perplexed unlike Arané was but obeyed and drew an arrow from her quiver. With another THWIING the arrow hurtled through the air and landed on the top of the tower.

“Now I just need the right wind speed…” Tarfull looked at the sky.

“I’m a Snow Elf,” Pursin said, “I’ll handle that. But how are you going to get over there?”

“I’m a Magnitism,” Tarfull replied, “I have a magnet built into my back. If I concentrate I can enable it to attract to your metal arrow with a little help from the wind.”

Arané wasn’t suprised. She knew she’d hit the gaurd they encountered earlier to easy. Her dagger is made of metal so he could’ve easily helped.

“Here goes nothing!” and he jumped off the tower.

He awkwaardly flew over to the arrow that lay on the tower. The wind picked up and she saw that Purin’s calm dark eyes had turned an icy blue.

Tarfull landed on the top of the tower with Purin’s arrow stuck to his back. He gave a thumbs up to asure them that he was okay.

Suddenly, a Scorpion Warrior burst through the trapdoor.

“What--” he stutterd, “Intruders!”

The word echoed across the valley. The warrior drew his sword and swung at Arané but she crouched to the ground. With a THWIING Purin sent the gaurd tumbling to the ground.

“Up there!” a warrior in the valley shouted pointing at Tarfull.

All at once, an explosion burst from the bottom of the tower and Arané knew it was time to run…

When Lore Just Happens

Throughout this story, lore dumps are incredibly obvious and clunky. When characters introduce themselves, they spell out their entire backstory and power set, but for some reason also keep some weird secrets that are revealed like two seconds later. I think Purin's introduction is the most egregious example of this. And don't try to make sense of the "over 20 years old to be an heir to a throne" rule. It doesn't make any sense to me either, and it has no affect on the story going forward.

Footnote No. 3 - The Code

The rules that all the 7 tribes agreed to live by. Breaking the code leads to severe punishment.

Chapter V

Leap

“They bombed the tower!” Argus managed to say through the smoke, “but why?”

Leap knew what was happening. Help was here… A dark figure emerged from the smoke with a riffle strapped to its back.

“Long time, no see,” the figure said. I was Tarfull!

Leap coundn’t beleive his eyes, “How did you find us?”

“Arané Cos,” Tarfull said, “she’s a loner with unusual skill. She told me you both,” he gestured to Argus, “were trapped here.

“Your sister, Purin, also helped. She said you’re held her for your Hunter dimonds.”

Leap nodded, “all of our stuff is in the weapon storage down the corridor.” He pointed to the left.

“Then I better go,” Tarfull said, “I bet the key is there, too,” and he rushed in the direction Leap pointed.

Tarfull came back a few minutes later and another explosion rocked the tower.

“We don’t have much time,” he said while unlocking the cell.

The smoke thickend, so they could barely see. Flames wrapped around the wall turning the wood black.

Tarfull tossed Leap and Argus their stuff. Leap was releived to see his parnel in one piece.

They climbed the stairs up to the top of the tower. They were greeted by a black object that was stuck in the stony ground. A dashboard read 15 seconds.

It was a time bomb.

14 seconds

“Tarfull!” Leap yelled, “they’re going to blow the tower!”

13 seconds

Tarfull closed his eyes.

12 seconds

“No time for sleeping,” Argus yelled at Tarfull.

11 seconds

Tarfull opened his eyes, “We have to jump!”

10 seconds

“Are you crazy?” Leap yelled.

9 seconds

“We’ll get killed!” Argus said.

8 seconds

“Leap,” Tarfull said bravely, “I’m suprised you don’t know what to do!”

7 seconds

Leap shook his head, no.

6 seconds

“Your sister is a Snow Elf,” Tarfull said.

5 seconds

“She can soften our fall!”

4 seconds

“PURIN!” Tarfull yelled to the other tower.

3 seconds

Purin saw the problem and understood imidiatly.

2 seconds

Her eyes turned an icy blue.

1 second

Snow fell to the ground forming a ring around the tower.

Zero

BOOOOMM!

Leap, Argus, and Tarfull hurtled off the tower. They landed in the snow Purin had created; it was softer, but wet.

Scorpion Warriors burst from the castle walls with weapons drawn. An arrow flew from a nearby tower. Leap looked up to see his sister along with another girl around seventeen. He geussed this was Arané, the loner Tarfull had described earlier.

Leap drew his vibro blade which imediatly started shaking vigorously. Tarfull unslung his riffle while Argus drew an ion pistol.

They were ready.

***

Arané

Arané was beginning to slow down. The gaurds just kepy coming. Purin shot volleys of arrows, but they kept coming.

The gaurds dressed in steel armor with red and black markings. Their faces were scarred and swollen from previous battles; one even had a peg leg. They held battle axes, swords, and chain whips.

Arané had a quick second to glance a the valley bellow. It appeared that Tarfull, Leap, and another man, probably Argus, were holding back the elite forces, which included serveral charriots and charcol black horses.

An arrow whizzed past her ear. She looked at the far tower to find a gaurd armed with crossbow.

“Purin!” she shouted, “the gaurd has a crossbow!”

Purin aimed towards the gaurd with her bow but it was too late. Arané gell to the ground wincing in pain.

The archerer had shot his target.

Storytelling for the Screen

The entire sequence with the time bomb is formatted so weirdly. I can't help but think it plays out on the page more like a screenplay.

Chapter VI

Tarfull

They had to get out. Arrows whizzed in all directions, spears flew.

“Leap!” Targull shouted, “hold them back!”

He nodded and sent a fireball blazing at a chariot which burst into orange flames. A wave of confusion shot through the army but Tarfull wasn’t confused. He knew Leap was a Fire Elf.

A warrior swung a sword at Tarfull, but he ducked and wacked his challenger on the head with the barrel of his gun. Another advanced towards him but he made the gaurds spear fly onto his back using his magnet.

“It’s good to be a Magnitism,” he thought.

But then a sword sliced through the tip of the spear and the impact sent him tumbling to the ground. A figure with one crippled arm stepped up towards him armed with a chain whip. He pulled the chain back to swing but an orange light burst from a wall--

--and Tarfull passed out.

***

Tarfull woke up to the sound of birds. He opend his eyes to see tall grass and a few flightless, colorful birds, known as Avarslees.

Purin and Leap were a few yards away, talking intensly with Argus and Arané off to the side eating their Dionlum silently. Arané’s arm was wrapped in bandges.

Tarfull got up and sat by Argus.

“So, what happend?” He asked him and Arané.

“Well you passed out,” Argus answered, “and Purin threw one of Arané’s homemade grenades at the wall.”

“I zapped some electricity at the ground,” Arané said, “it blew up the tower me and Purin were on.

“We jumped off, met Argus and Leap who were caring you and retreated.”

“What about the man with the shriveled hand?” Tarfull asked.

“That was One-Arm,” Argus answered, “he ran when he saw the explosion.”

“So then we ran away and decided to stop here for Dionlum,” Arané said, “want some parsel?”

Tarfull frowned, “where are we exactly running to?”

“Zios,” Argus replied. He nodded to Leap and Purin, “That’s what they’re arguing about.”

It did appear that the two Elves were arguing about something. Tarfull saw Purin show Leap her Elven brade. The Leap nodded and the two of them got up and walked over to the rest of them.

Leap nodded, “We’re going to Zios. They’ll tell us what’s going on.”

Everyone else nodded in agreement. They all packed up for the long and dangerous trip ahead. They were ready.

***

Leap

Leap walked along side his sister for what seemed like hours. They talked and caught up with each other. Purin explained that she had gotten banished because of accidently freezing a whole elf temple. There father forgived her and left her with the brade so she could find her way back to Zios. They also organized a plan to get into Zios and visit their father or the Elf King without revealing her identity.

After they’d talked for a while, they came across a gold bridge that went over a glistening ricer.

“The Golden Bridge,” Keap whispered.

They all crossed the bridge, enjoying the trees and flowers that grew freely.

They were in Zios of Persephone, the land of the Elves.

In the Heat of Battle

Tarfull getting knocked unconscious and later having the aftermath of battles explained to him is a weird recurring story beat in these first few chapters. You can tell that all I wanted to write was the battle itself rather than the quieter moments that frame it. Nowadays, I almost find the opposite to be true.

Footnote No. 4 - Dionlum

The only meal citizens off Polut eat each day.

Special note: This little piece of worldbuilding was added in solely because I thought there needed to be a reason for why they hadn't eaten in the story yet.

Footnote No. 5 - Zios

The city of the Elves.

Chapter VII

Arané

The group continued walking through the beutiful scenery trying to absorb all surroundings. The tree’ leaves looked like they were made of pure gold. Leap told them they could heal any wound. Flowers burst from the soil showing off their plethera of petals. Something in the beauty still felt wrong though. Something wasn’t right…

…Suddenly Leap froze in his tracks and leaned over to pick up a small necklace. A small rose shaped charm clinged to it. Leap’s eyes darted ahead along with Arané’s . Then, she saw it. A few feet away was a yellow puddle that bubbled, turning the soil a light shade of black.

“Tult poison,” Arané whisperd in horror.

Purin imediatly drew her bow. Tarfull loaded his riffle and Arané drew her dagger.

A scream echoed through the woods. Purin and Arané ran to the sound, the others close behind. A girl about seven lay on the ground, flowers decorated her hair and a small braid.

Her amber eyes looked at Purin pleadingly, “they’re here…”

A creature burst from the trees. Its slick body resembled a frog. It made a growling noise. It was calling for backup.

Tarfull shot it with his riffle but the creature dodged the blow and spit an acidy substance from its mouth.

More creatures burst from all derections. They were surrounded by some of the most fierce creatures of Polut. The Tult.

The Tults closed in on them.

“Alysia!” Purin whispered. Arané relized she was talking to the girl laying on the ground. “The trees.”

“Too… far…” Alysia gasped.

Purin slowly crouched down, trying to avoid eye contact with the Tult’s closing in on them. She carfully tucked her hands under Alysia’s back, ready to carry her.

“Leap now,” Purin whipserd. “NOW!”

She burst into a run, carring Alysia with her. Leap formed a fireball in his hand and threw it at a Tult which growled stubbornly. Arané sent a big bold of electricity blazing at another who spit poison in return.

Purin ran with Alysia in her arms to the nearest tree. She placed her at the bottom of the trunk. Alysia put a shaking hand on it. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. The roots of the tree burst up from the ground and grabbed a Tult. The branches thickend and wrapped around others. Thorns burst from the soil and clawed at the Tults.

When everything was safe the tree shrank back to normal and the thorns sunk back into the ground.

That seemed to give Alysia some strength because now she was on her feet.

“Welcome to Zios,” she said grinning with pride, “the land of nature and vegitation.”

***

Leap

Alysia lead the rest of the way, guiding them throught the lush vegitation.

The young elf happend to be the gatekeeper. She had heard them approach but the Tults found her first. She was pale still, but the nature seemed to fill her with strength. All the flowers and trees seemed to bow down to her. The trees rustling seemed to whisper “Alysia, Alysia,” continuously.

They soon came to a set of large metal doors which would lead them to the other side of a large wall that stretched on for miles. On the doors was engraved this:

コXФነ   Фነ   ∀Xρコ

Пρコ⋌ρε    ב⋌↾ነ   ρП△

ነП∞∀   Xρ⋋ε   コ∞

下ρФПҐ

Purin and Leap, of course, knew the language by heart. It was Elven. Elvin is a written language in which all Elves must write in.

Alysia placed her hand on the doors and they imediatly opend.

“I’ll have to leave you here,” Alysia told them, “if you take the main path, that will lead you to the castle.”

They all thanked her and took the main path up the castle.

“Purin,” Leap whispered, “your cloak.”

Purin imediatly put the hood of her cloack over her head. The shadow covered her face completely.

They all continued walking until they came to another set of doors. The doors had this carved into it:

Xερε   Фነ   ∀Xερε

コXε   εב⋋εП   中ΦПҐ

ρεነコነ   ФП   φερҐε

Purin took a deep breatch and opend the doors. Suddenly, a gaurd burst from the courtyard, bow ready.

“Arané Cos! Please step forward,” the gaurd commanded.

Arané stepped forward. The gaurd was about to speak but Arané interupted.

“I’m a loner now!” she said bravely, “Those days have passed!”

The gaurd bowed, “welcome to the nation of the elves.”

Arané looking a little shaken proceeded with the others into the beautiful courtyard.

Secret Code

The symbol-based language of the Elves was meant to be my own version of Tolkien's much more fleshed out Quenya language. My version of Elvish isn't much of a language and is more like a secret code. Each letter of the standard English alphabet is given a corespnding symbol, like Aurebesh from Star Wars. This code was also used to pass secrets notes to friends during class.

These symbols translate to "This is what nature, lucs, and snow have to bring" and "Here is where the Elven king rests in peace". Some of the symbols were modified to fit with coresponding digital characters.

Chapter VIII

Tarfull

Leap and Purin lead them to a large tower where a meeting was supposed to be held because of their apperance. They climbed up a set of stone stairs. They ended up in a room with chairs all around a small fire.

A gaurd escorted them to their seats. Tarfull looked at Purin, worried her identity would be revealed, but she was hiding her face with the hood of her cloak.

A figure entered the doorway. He was dressed in royal robes of amber and gold. Everyone stood and bowed as he walked past. Behind was his gaurd who sat next to him.

The other members of the Elven council came in behind their king. Lastly, Alysia came in with a small candle held in her hand. She used it to expand the fire and sat down in her seat.

The Elf King rang a set of brass bells and the room fell silent.

“Because of the appearence of Captain Tarfull Hypnos, Leaperious Colrus, and Argus Leench, the council has decided to hold this meeting,” he said, “first, Argus Leench.”

Argus stood up, “I was traveling through Epihany and heard rumors about an eighth tribe possibly living in the lost caves. On my way back, Scorpion Warriors captured me and Leaperious Colrus for our hunter dimonds.”

The Elf King nodded understandingly, “this means that the Royals have declared war--”

Whispers erupted through the room.

“--and this eighth tribe is even more shocking,” he stared darkly, “this means chaos.”

More whispers.

“To prevent this war, we will send a few people to Epihany to see if these rumors are true.”

The other council members nodded approvingly.

“These people are obvious,” the King said, “Tarfull Hypnos, Captain of Hunter team 4, Leaperious Colrus, Co-Captain of Hunter team 4, Argus Leench, Assassin of Hunter team 4, and Arané Cos, Ambassador of Elksef.

“This leaves the ambassador for the Elves.”

And that’s when Purin stood up and took her cloak off, “I volenteer!”

Confusion, fear, and joy erupted through the room.

The king smiled, “Purin Colrus, long time no see.”

“But she was banished!” a council member burst out.

“No she didn’t,” He explained, “she still has the Mark of the Elves.”

Purin showed the braid.

“How--” but the council member stopped when the king gave him a hard stare.

“Well, it seems that we’re all coverd, shall we continue?”

Tarfull rose his hand, “I would like to recomend someone for the trip.”

He looked for the Elf King’s approval to continue. He nodded.

“I think the whole Hunter team 4 should go on the trip, together. So, I recomend Dr. Deduld Hephase to go on the journey with us.”

The king nodded, “I agree. I’ll send a letter to Dr. Hephase telling him of this news. You will travel to Kafar to grab him, then go to Janus city.

“Any objections?”

Everyone shook there heads.

“Then it is planned.” The King said.

“Oh, and I’ve got a few parting gifts for you.”

He whistled. An artic fox entered the room, swinging it’s busy white tail from side to side.

“This is Khione,” the King said while brushing it’s fur, “He is yours, Purin. He’s trained in combat and sense of direction.”

Khione sprinted to Purin and lade on her lap. She carfully pet it’s snowy white fur.

The king turned to Leap, “Leaperious Colrus, I give you the necklace of lucs.” He then handed him a gold, chain necklace which had a charm in the shape of a flame.

“Tarfull Hypno, I beleive Dr. Hephase has a gift waiting for you in Kafar. Same to you Argus,” the king said to them.

Tarfull wasn’t suprised. Deduld had been working on a new gadget for him for almost a year.

“Arané Cos,” the king pulled out a gold spear from a case, “This is Iapetus, it was forged in the golden river and can whithstand and absorb any amount of electricity.”

Arané took the spear staring at its brilliant color in awe.

“And now, there is something important--”

Suddenly a warrior burst into the room wearing dark blue and gold armor, his face blood and scarred.

“Chenc,” Tarfull said under his breath recognizing the ruffled, blond hair.

“Pirates,” Chenc gasped, “I was on my way to trade and I saw them--pirates. And Bu--”

That was his last words before toppling over onto the ground, blank eyed and pale.

Footnote No. 6 - Lucs

Elven word for fire.

Chapter IX

Leap

Chaos broke through the room. But The King calmly stood.

“Settle down,” He said, “Carsh, set a perimeter around the castle, Dareln, evacuate the villages and take everyone to bunkers 9, 8, and 9. Alysia, escort the team to the gate where they’ll begin their journey.”

Everyone quickly went to do their jobs. Alysia lead Purin, Argus, Leap, Tarfull, and Arané out of the tower. Warriors, which Leap recednized as Beast Warriors were helping the Elves protect the castle.

One paticular warrior was holding an axe and calling orders. Leap knew this was Butch Romoulus, one of the best Beast Warriors.

Wolves known as the Wolves of Lupa were howling and charging at the gates with Beast Warriors on they’re stone gray backs.

Suddenly, the gates flew open and Pirates burst through causing Elves and Warriors to fall.

“Hurry!” Alysia gestured toward a small door that lead outside.

Before desending through, Leap caught a glance of Butch. He was protecting his father, Reyes (the Elf King). The king was safe.

But were they?

Leap went through the door. The group ran into a pirate with a large club who grinned. He pulled the pin of a grenade a tossed it.

It exploded with a band and sent Alysua flying in the oppisite direction.

The pirate swang the slub and she winced, falling to the ground. Unconscious, alone.

An arrow shot the pirate square in the chest. He fell to the ground in pain.

Purin rushed to Alysia and heaved her onto her back, “she’ll have to come with us!”

Together the team ran to the golden forest ahead. Now, the followers seemed to droop. The sky was turning darker by the second.

Then Leap relized this was the first night since the encounter with the Scorpions. It seemed to long ago.

Purin whistled next to him. He saw a white shape descend from the darkness. Khione snuggled up next to Purin and they soon fell asleep. The others except Tarfull were asleep too. Tarfull seemed to be on gaurd, scanning his eyes across the horizon.

Leepa started to relax a little and before he new it, he fell asleep.

***

Tarfull

The sound of a horn echoed through the forest. That meant the city was safe.

Tarfull leaned back and fell asleep.

Butch Betrayal

If the story were to continue, it would have been revealed that Butch was secretly working for The Royals as a spy, which is most likely why he was specifically mentioned and referred to as a great warrior they could trust.

Looking Ahead

The Seven Tribes is obviously left unfinished. The story would have taken our adventuring party across Polut to confront The Royals, the leader of which would be revealed to be Arané's father. The Time Travlers’, the only neutral tribe in the conflict, would have been fought over. At some point, it would be revealed the origins of Polut as an isolated island of magic on Earth, with the rest of the world knowing nothing of its existence. A plan for a sequel would have featured a convoluted time travel plot where Purin is implied to be the creator of the iceberg that sank the Titanic (don't ask).