Brutes 3 [Nasale/Sitka/Osaka]

When the bell rang, everyone would stop in their tracks. One could've heard a coin drop to the stone floor with how silent everyone was. Headians and top-siders alike anticipated the result of the Brutes game.

Zarod would glide down off her perch, accompanied by another Brute member. Both of them counted the rock piles twice, and added up the totals from both rounds. There would be some whispering among them.

This just made Osaka, Sitka and Nasale more on edge. Were they going to disappoint this clan and be rejected from further information? Zarods face was so incredibly hard to read that they couldn't tell at a glance. 

But then Zarod would use her booming voice to address the clan. “We have ourselves a group of winners!” Taking a dramatic pause for effect, “The top-siders!”

Some among the Brute clan would applaud, others would seem weary. Those among the weary would shout out, “No way! They must have cheated! Count again!” Followed by a roar of “Recount! We demand a recount!”

“They don't belong here! Make them leave!” Another would chime in to add to the tension that was growing among the clan. 

Those that supported the vayrons win would attempt to challenge their words, “They won fair and square! Leave them be!” 

Nasale, Sitka, and Osaka would feel relieved at the win until the Brutes accused them of cheating. Nasale would scoff at the headians, “We didn't cheat! We were following the rules, and following your example..” the duve puller insisted.

Osaka and Sitka didn't speak out against the Brutes accusations. Neither male wanted to stir the pot more. After all, sometimes trying to defend yourself makes yourself look more guilty in the face of others. They didn't want to take that risk. 

“Cheater! All of you!” Another headian would shout at the group, the outroar of anger within the Brutes seemed to not go over well with their leader.

“We checked the results not once, not twice but four times between the two of us. There is no error! The above grounders have won!” Zarod would try to calm her clans worries, “We must not fight amongst ourselves like this. They won and they should be honored in the same way if any of you had!” 

Zarod would soon present each of the vayrons with a golden rock with an etched ‘#1’ upon it. The members that spoke out and claimed they cheated were now silent. The ones that supported it would clap in respect.

Nasale, Sitka and Osaka would each claim their winning ‘token’ and say a “Thank you” in return. They didn't want to cause any more trouble within the clan. But it wasn't like they killed someone, they simply played the game and used the environment to their advantage to win. 

Zarod would soon announce that the games were over for the day, sending the Brutes back to their work. She herself didn't want any conflict over the outsiders. They weren't the first to come through and they certainly wouldn't be the last. Just because others before them cheated didn't mean they were a party to it. 

“So.. what now?” Osaka would break the silence.

“I shall reveal to you information about our lovely clan here. A brief history and then I'll direct you myself towards the Tranquil where you can prepare yourselves for the journey ahead.” It seemed ominous to suggest they had to prepare for something but it was to be expected as well. After all this was only the second clan in their journey, Caliu had mentioned to them that there were 9 of them in total. So they had plenty more to go. 

Zarod would stay true to her word and reveal their history of being a working class clan. Telling them how they mined and carved into the rock and how they used this game to relax from it. It wasn't a complete history, but how could it have been with how little time they had to explain it in. With the information out of the way she would lead Osaka, Nasale and Sitka to the clan border, directing them how to get to the Tranquil.

When that was all said and done she would state a simple, “Goodbye for now.” Before turning back to her clan and going back to her duties as leader. 

“Goodbye.”

“Bye.” 

“See ya.”

They each would say after her, not sure if she even has heard their words. The three vayrons would soon start off towards the Tranquil. As they got further into the caves it was no longer just moss and mushrooms that they saw along the floors and walls. Soon grasses and larger plants would start gradually getting more abundant. The crystals remained as their main light source as they continued along.