Dante sat and watched the small creature on the ground lie without movement, however, after a few minutes it seemed like there were signs of life.
Small black arms and legs sprouted from the rocky body, and it jumped up with a smile on its face, "Thank you for saving me, I would have been in real trouble if not for you."
This was the first conversation Dante had had in a while, so he was happy that he could speak to the creature, "It's no problem, always happy to help someone out if they need it. If you don't mind me asking, what are you?"
"I'm from the Glowing Tribe, my name is Cole, and I was created yesterday. The Tree People kidnapped me and used me as entertainment. If you don't mind, could you possibly escort me back home?"
Dante did not have any concrete plan, and he wouldn't mind meeting more people, so he decided that it would be a good idea, "Sure thing Cole, lead the way."
For around an hour, as he was unable to run with Cole in his hands, Dante was led by the small Glowing Person, and eventually he saw the environment change.
What had previously been green forestland was beginning to become much drier, and therefore hotter. After around another ten minutes, pools of lava began to appear in the ground, and the terrain became a lot more steep, almost like a volcano.
"We're almost there now, not much longer."
Dante was happy to hear this, as it was the slowest he had moved in ages. His happiness reached another level when they finally arrived a few minutes later.
Dante stood in front of a large rocky wall which had what looked like adult versions of Cole patrolling atop it. They spotted the two of them and shouted out, "Who are you, little pink bear? what do you want from our tribe?"
Dante shouted back, "My name is Dante, I have come to return a member of your tribe, I have been informed that he was kidnapped by the Tree People."
"Show me our tribe member, and you will be granted entry."
Dante held Cole up, and he waved towards the guards. Upon seeing this, the gates of the large wall began to open, and Dante walked inside excitedly.
When he entered, he saw an abundance of people who looked similar to Cole, all of them had rocky dark skin and faintly glowed, but they still somehow looked humanoid.
Cole jumped out of Dante's hands, seemingly slightly larger than before, although Dante assumed he was just confused. The small boy seemed to be happy that he was home, and he ran off to a female Glowing Person who looked incredibly happy to see him.
One of the guards who was previously on top of the wall came down and spoke to Dante, "Thank you for bringing back our precious Prince, he was recently kidnapped by the Tree People and we were unable to find him. The chief of the tribe would like to speak to you."
"Sounds good, lead the way." Dante was looking forward to meeting the Tribe's chief, so he followed the man.
The village was not huge, but still bigger than he had expected, and after a few minutes, he was led to a large building which had lava flowing around the outside.
The guard stopped, "I am not permitted to go any further than this, but you may enter."
Dante did as the man said, and walked through the large doors which were already open. The interior of the room was extravagant, and on the other side of it was an older man sat on a throne of lava.
He approached the man slowly, as not to make himself seem suspicious or dangerous, as he did not know of the powers of the people around him.
Once he got close enough, the man in the throne spoke, "I am the chief of the Glowing Tribe, I have been informed that you have saved my youngest Son. For this I am forever grateful, it is rare that our tribe is able to create a new member, and losing our family is a devastating blow to the Tribe's future. If there is anything I can do to repay you, I am more than happy to oblige."
Dante was happy to hear that he had done a good deed, and he was about to speak and ask for information, but before he was able to, a voice butted in.
"How do we really know you saved my brother? What if you're the one who took him?"
The Chief looked slightly annoyed, "Calm down Pyro, you do not want to accuse your brother's saviour do you?"
The same voice spoke again, seemingly from the second floor balcony of the building, "Who's to say he's not working with the Tree People? Do you really think that this tiny pink bear can defeat members of the people we have been fighting for centuries? I refuse to accept that this weak looking creature was able to defeat enemies that our guards were unable to."
Dante was slightly annoyed, as he didn't like being accused of things he hadn't done, even more so from people he couldn't even see.
One of his qualms was relieved though, as a fiery figure jumped down from the second floor, leaving burn marks on the floor in front of Dante. The increase in temperature was obvious when the voice's owner had jumped down, as a young man of the Glowing Tribe stood in front of him with an angry expression.
He was covered in fire, and despite being made of rock, seemed to have a trained body, unlike Dante's small and mascot-like body that did not exude an aura of strength whatsoever.
"I challenge you to a fight. If you win, I will accept that you were the one to save my brother, and if you lose... It will be the last thing you ever do."
Dante cringed at the words coming out of the person who looked around his own age, and spoke, "Do I have to accept?"
The Tribal Chief replied, "I have no doubt that you were the one to save my son, but his brother seems to think differently. Once a Prince of the tribe has made a demand, there is no way to go against it, especially if it is a request for a duel."
Dante sighed, "Fine, I'll fight you. I assume I'm not allowed to kill you though, so I'll go easy on you."
Dante could tell, just by the aura of the enemy that he would not struggle against him whatsoever, so he planned to go easy on him. There would be no reason for him to save a member of the tribe, only to kill one so soon after.
His enemy looked annoyed, and walked away, "Follow me, were fighting outside. Dad, I want the entire tribe to see the Tree People's spy get destroyed, call them all to the Arena."
The chief spoke to one of the guards next to him, and he hurried off, more than likely this was to go and gather the tribes people.
Dante followed the angry Prince outside, and made his way over to the Arena that he had spoken of.