Trial and Honor Part One
The orange horizon illuminated the dark outline of the landscape. Nearby, golden weaver birds chirped and flitted about. Their cheerful melodies were soon drowned out by the blaring of a horn cutting through the air. It was time for the first event, and a crowd gathered at the arena, eager for the challenges to begin. The inaugural event was the stone launch trial, where all the princesses would demonstrate their strength. Their task was to hurl a hefty stone across a dirt patch. The princess who managed to throw it the farthest would earn five points for her clan, while the second and third places would receive three and one point, respectively. Those who finished last would walk away with nothing. The total points accumulated by the end of the week would play a crucial role in securing advantageous prospects for royal matrimony.
The three royals rested easily on their thrones, while an additional four were introduced overnight for the other kings. Meanwhile, off to the side of the stage, the dealer contestants waited patiently for the proceedings to commence. Tribute Roz and his companions guided the warthogs into the arena. The crowd erupted in grunts and stomps as the first princess stepped up to the starting line.
Izumi took her position, balancing herself before lifting the first stone onto her nose. She steadied the rock and then dashed forward, launching it high into the air. The stone soared before coming back down, landing a solid eight hooves away. The King's tribute rushed to place a yellow-dyed branch at the spot, marking it as the Harvel Clan's achievement. Satisfied with her throw, Izumi stepped aside. Next up was Zeema, who followed in Izumi's footsteps. However, when she threw the stone, it lacked the same vigor as Izumi's. Zeema's throw went only six hooves out, and she marked the spot with a white branch to signify the Hollow-hoof Clan. In third position was Hazel, while Purk fidgeted in his seat, brimming with excitement and wishing her the best of luck. When it was her turn, Hazel took a different approach than the others. She quickly sidestepped, threw her head to the left, and launched the rock in a perfect arc. The stone soared past Izumi's distance, surprisingly landing ten hooves away. With that, the rankings shifted, and Hazel claimed the lead.
Hazel felt a mix of satisfaction and anxiety, knowing she still had one hog left to face. Purk was thrilled with the results thus far, and when he flashed a smile in her direction, Hazel's cheeks turned pink as she turned slightly away. The tribute quickly marked her position with a teal-dyed branch, representing the Wimble Clan. The trial progressed rapidly, and it was no surprise that the fourth female was already ready to compete. Princess Aruba approached at a measured pace, her soft red skin shimmering in the sun's warmth. After a moment of careful consideration, she selected her stone and retraced her steps, evaluating her best options. Of all the females, Aruba took the longest, fueled by her determination to win.
Purk hoped that her method would be worth the wait. The mounting anticipation was making him feel a bit queasy. Soon, Aruba spun into a whirlwind and launched the rock into the sky. She halted her swirling just before plunging into a dizzying abyss. The rock seemed to magically sprout wings and soared the farthest. By thirteen hooves, she had secured first place. The time spent perfecting her technique earned her the victory. The tribute marked the winning spot with a pink-dyed branch. He double-checked the mark to ensure the measurements were accurate. A second tribute hurried over to assist Tribute Roz in measuring each flag with a freshly twined vine. With the final report in, the winner of the stone launch trial was declared to be the Ruff Tusk Clan.
Princess Aruba was overjoyed. Her clan had scored five points and was leading the games. The day's trials had concluded, and a quiet lunch was waiting to be served beside the watering hole. As everyone, including the royals, exited the arena to savor their meals and spend time with friends and fellow clans, Purk felt a mix of emotions. While he was genuinely happy for Aruba, his heart was with Hazel, hoping she would triumph. Nevertheless, he made his way to Aruba and offered her a warm congratulations on her success.
They strolled together, engaging in conversation as they made their way to lunch. The other princesses observed with envy, knowing that Aruba had captured Prince Purk's attention. Hazel felt a pang of disappointment that it wasn't her walking by his side, yet she couldn't help but feel proud of her own achievements. After all, finishing in second place wasn't too shabby. She had secured three points for her Clan, and with the competition still open, anything could happen in tomorrow's challenge. Who knows? Maybe she'd claim first place in the Mud Hollow Race—at least, that was her hope. After departing from Aruba, Purk chose to keep to himself for the remainder of the evening, refraining from hog mead unlike the night before. He returned to his burrow to rest, his hunger subsided, but a persistent headache from the previous night still throbbed. Arriving at his burrow, he discovered a tribute awaiting him; Roz stood outside his door, ready for another night watch.
"Goodnight, friend," Purk called out. Roz smiled and let out a low grunt in response.
"Goodnight, my Prince. Sleep tight and watch out for those bedbugs," he said with a mischievous tone.
The prince chuckled at Roz's wit. Purk soon fell into a deep sleep, only to awaken to another morning. Although he felt a bit uneasy, he persevered through the day's obstacles to assist the contestants. This marked the third morning and the second trial challenge looming ahead. Just as Purk had predicted, it was time for the mud hollow race. He couldn't wait to see the females compete, as this challenge would genuinely test their speed.
All the females gathered at the starting line, identifying their clan's colors and waiting patiently. As time dragged on in anticipation of the majesties' approval to commence, the contestant's anxiety grew Roz stood silent with all four vibrant flags draped over his tusks—pink for Aruba, white for Zeema, teal for Hazel, and yellow for Izumi—with a nod from King Muck Roz readied himself, crouching into position. The King's tribute stepped onto a wooden platform constructed specifically for him at the far end of the mud run. He turned to the crowd and blew into a hollow horn, which had been set up on a wooden stand the night before. The horn vibrated sending a low rumble echoing through the gathered spectators. The sound made the females heart thump hardly with excitement.
With intense focus, the princesses sprang into action. The first warthog to complete the entire oval track would earn five points, while the second-place finisher would receive three points, the third would get one, and the fourth, as always, would not earn any points. They were required to run the course a total of four times to secure victory. Purk straightened his posture, captivated by the sight of the females splashing through the thick, muddy mess. Their once graceful forms quickly became caked in the cold, sludgy muck. The leading warthog sent sprays of cold brown mud flying into the faces of her competitors, blurring their vision. Unfortunately, this crippled Hazel and once again she found herself in last place. This time, Zeema took the lead, her speed making her appear as a blur as she raced around the oval. Round after round they ran, but it was the final lap that would determine everything. Hazel had made a comeback during the third lap, closing in on Izumi. However, just as the finish line came into view, Aruba surged ahead, prompting Izumi to reclaim her second-place position. Fortunately for Zeema, she maintained a significant lead over all three warthogs. She crossed the finish line first, followed closely by Izumi in second, Aruba in third, and, regrettably, Hazel in last place. Disappointment washed over her as she reflected on her performance, hoping for better luck in the upcoming trial games. Feeling a bit disheartened, she left the trial arena with her head bowed. Hazel had genuinely believed she had a good chance, but she never imagined ending up in last place. However, she was resolved to improve the next day; her aim was to become Queen and reaching the end to be part of the final two princesses still standing, was crucial to maximizing the points her clan could earn.
"Oh well, better luck on the next challenge tomorrow," Purk said to himself quietly, as he thought of Hazel.
The crowd erupted in a frenzy of excitement as Zeema's clan joyfully celebrated their victorious win. The tributes hurriedly worked to update the scores, darting around to tally the new numbers. At last, they completed their task and brought the scores up to date. Aruba was leading with a total of six points, followed closely by Zeema with five. Izumi was in third place with four points, while Hazel trailed behind with three. However, that could all change before the week was out, as there were still several challenges ahead, and the final victory could belong to anyone.
The trial games for the day had concluded, and the contestants were in need of a refreshing bath. This time, Purk chose to join them. He wasn't shy; he was eager to learn more about them. He spent the evening exploring their clans and cultures, discovering that Aruba's breed originated from Argentina and had been brought to Africa by boat trade many years ago. They were genuine Latin warthogs, which explained their dark reddish skin. Gradually, he delved into their minds and values. Before they realized it, it was time for dinner. Fireflies danced in the twilight, their tiny lights illuminating the night in a breathtaking display, as if the cosmos had descended to earth. The twinkling lights sparkled in the princesses' eyes. The melodic sounds floated over Hog Hill, where the warthog princesses danced with their fathers and then with Purk, the future king. Tonight's feast featured a warm larvae stew accompanied by hot cakes, the King's beloved dish.
Everyone reveled in the banquet and the entertainment late into the night. After six hours of festivities, the cheerful atmosphere came to an abrupt end as it was time to turn off the lights at Hog Hill. One by one, everyone returned to their burrows to sleep. The warthogs nestled into their cozy underground spaces, some dreaming of their past performances in the trials, while others snored loudly in the darkness. Purk settled comfortably into his straw bed, enveloped by the warmth of his burrow, as a cool breeze gently swept across the ground above.
As swiftly as the sun had set, it rose once more, ushering in the fourth day and the third challenge trial. Today's contest would measure the warthog's endurance, with the princess tasked to remain submerged underwater for the longest duration. However, the stakes had changed. This time, no one wanted to be the first to surface. The points were awarded differently: first place would earn nothing, second place would receive just one point, third would get three points, while the last one to emerge would claim a substantial five points.