Trial and Honor Part Two
The warthogs made their way to the designated watering hole to witness the competition. As usual, the contestants scanned the area for their clan's colors, eagerly awaiting the sound of the horn. Each female stood close to the painted wooden poles rising from the water's edge.
The tributes stood close to the kings; their horns poised for action. They awaited King Muck's signal. When the moment arrived, the horn blared, and the warthogs plunged into the warm water. The females remained submerged for more than a minute before the first one emerged. It was Zeema, who, regrettably, had lost the challenge. She was the first to surface, earning no points for her clan. With determination, she swam back to shore in search of a dry spot to rest. After a few seconds, Izumi emerged from the water, gasping for air. Other tributes rushed to her aid, helping her reach a dry spot by the water's edge. As the minutes passed, Aruba surged out of the water, frantically gasping for fresh air as well. She had believed she was victorious, but soon realized that Hazel had held on, leaving her in third place. Tributes quickly came to her side, while Tribute Roz swiftly dove back in to retrieve Hazel.
As she emerged, she appeared completely unfazed. She still had another minute of energy left in her. All her efforts had truly paid off. Hazel was overjoyed to have secured an additional five points for her clan. It was a triumphant victory. Purk beamed at her, and Hazel noticed his intense gaze, causing her to blush. His pride in her was evident. After congratulating the other three members, Purk stayed close to Hazel as they made their way back for lunch together. Today's lunch was prepared and set to be served. Featured on the menu were beetle quesadillas, accompanied by maggot rice and roach nachos on the side. Hazel and Purk discovered a comfortable spot to enjoy their meal, sharing a delightful time filled with conversation and laughter.
"Join me," Purk said. "I'd like to buy you something from the marketplace. Would you enjoy that?"
Hazel beamed with joy, nodded in agreement, and accompanied Purk toward the market street. They wandered among various vendors offering delightful gifts and distinctive foods. One stall, in particular, captured Purk's attention more than the others. It was a shop filled with stunning, sparkling jewels—true rarities in the Savannah. Among the treasures, Purk spotted a breathtaking blue diamond necklace. Its exceptional rarity and extraordinary beauty made it irresistible. He handed the merchant three bags filled with gold coins and, after acquiring the stunning piece, lovingly draped the necklace around Hazel's lovely neck. Hazel was moved by Purk's kindness. She nuzzled against him beneath his chin and strolled back beside him, enjoying their easy companionship.
They enjoyed a delightful lunch and a stroll through the marketplace, cherishing a much-needed moment alone together. Afterward, Purk bid farewell and set off in search of the other warthogs, eager to introduce them to his domain. He was keen to ensure he left no stone unturned, as he hoped one of these lovely females might become his future bride. They followed him closely, captivated by his charming eyes, and listened intently as he recounted his clan's history. It became clear to them just how much larger and more robust he was compared to the other male hogs they had encountered. The only other sizable and sturdy hogs they knew were aged members of their own clans. Purk stood apart; his strength and the sense of safety he exuded impressed them. As evening approached and mealtime rolled around once more, the group was so immersed in their day of fun that they were reluctant for it to end, continuing their festivities into the night.
Prince Purk escorted Izumi and Zeema back to the dining area before heading off in search of his parents. He intended to have an intimate dinner with them that evening. As he opened up to his mother, he confided more about his growing feelings, while his father listened attentively, choosing to keep this significant revelation to himself and not share it at the watering hole. It quickly became evident where Purk's affections lay—it had always been Hazel. His mother agreed that if Hazel made it to the final two, she would be an excellent choice, though only time would tell. She advised him to try to set aside such desires, cautioning that if Hazel didn't win, it would leave Purk heartbroken, and the new bride would surely sense his sadness, risking a shaky start to their future together.
Purk absorbed his mother's wisdom, finished his dinner, and hurried off to bed, taking a moment to say goodnight to each warthog he encountered along the way. He had started to gain a small group of teenage female warthog admirers who trailed after him wherever he went. Purk found it sort of charming in a sweet, innocent way. He made his way back to his room, taking care to move silently. Outside his door, he could hear Roz's hoof steps, ever vigilant at the entrance. Exhausted, Purk forgot to bid goodnight to his friend, a nightly ritual he always honored. Before long, he slipped into a deep slumber. Morning came again for everyone, marking the fifth day of the trials and the fourth game in the series of challenges. The week was racing by, with just one more challenge to go before the closing ceremony and the selection of the first mate, followed by the consummation ceremony.
Today's challenge was designed to assess their leadership abilities. In a game called "Follow My Voice," each princess would be tasked with guiding one of the King's tributes through a maze of obstacles. The tribute that could navigate out of the maze first would earn the most points. The night before, the tributes had worked diligently to assemble the maze for the challenge. Constructed from towering, thatched bushels, it would loom over the contestants below. The princesses would remain stationed on their elevated wooden platforms, directing their tributes from above. They would need to help their tributes safely maneuver over, under, and around the obstacles, all while keeping a keen sense of timing.
Tribute Roz stood by the hollow horn, anticipating the King's signal to blow it. As soon as the resounding sound echoed, everyone knew the challenge had begun. The princesses struggled initially to manage their tribute, often shouting over one another to direct their warthog effectively. They would need to master the art of truly leading their tribute forward. Before long, Hazel discovered a rhythm that worked exceptionally well. She and her tribute operated seamlessly together, as if they were of one mind. Her sharp vision allowed her to identify a clear path, setting her tribute on a relatively unobstructed route. In no time at all, they emerged first from the maze, making Hazel's achievement appear effortless. She felt a surge of pride; this victory meant more points and a stronger chance of securing a better final score. The crowd erupted in cheers, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. Purk bounced lightly in his seat, careful not to reveal his true excitement.
Meanwhile, Aruba's tribute found himself ensnared in a wall of tangled vines, close to a narrow exit but unable to navigate the mess. Aruba urged him to stop struggling and calmly directed him to bite through the weaker vines. With persistence, her strategy paid off, and her tribute managed to break free and exit the maze. To the left, Purk saw Zeema's tribute in a precarious situation, having mistakenly stepped into a mud pit disguised as a path of twigs and leaves. He had only seconds to escape before Izumi's tribute threatened to finish first. Zeema began to panic, and under pressure, her nerves took a toll on her tribute. Hazel quickly rushed over to Zeema's stand and urged her to take a deep breath and guide her tribute through the challenge calmly. Reassured, Zeema inhaled deeply and exhaled, scanning for a solution. She spotted a thick vine to the right of her tribute and shouted for him to grab it and pull himself free. With effort, he clawed his way out of the muddy pit, emerging just in time to sprint towards the finish line. He made it out mere seconds before Izumi's tribute could overtake him. It was a nail-biting finish, but Zeema's tribute secured the third spot. Filled with pride and gratitude for Hazel's assistance, Zeema celebrated her success. The female tributes had once again performed admirably. As always, the challenges seemed to end too swiftly, but they kept the morning filled with excitement.
While they waited for the score updates, everyone chatted amongst themselves. The final results were in and prepared for announcement. Soon, the tributes returned to the podium with the tally in hand, ready to share the news.
Roz announced, "Currently in the lead is Hazel from the Wimble Clan with thirteen points. Following her in second place is Aruba from the Ruff Tusk Clan with nine points. Izumi from the Harvel Clan holds third place with eight points, and in fourth place, with seven points, is Zeema from the Hollow-hoof Clan."
The crowd was roaring wild with noise. Stomping and stamping hooves. Squeals, grunts, and shrieks of joy for the contestants. They were having a blast. The crowd erupted in a cacophony of excitement, their cheers echoing wildly. Hooves pounded the ground, while joyful squeals, grunts, and shrieks filled the air in support of the contestants. Everyone was having an incredible time. As the days passed, the attendees settled into a familiar routine. They gathered for lunch after the morning events, with some opting for a swim and others wandering off to chat. Meanwhile, the shops were quickly emptying as purchases piled up. A few even helped expand Purk's fan club, and it seemed that no matter where he went, he was surrounded by admiring females. It was becoming overwhelming.
He needed to gather an additional tribute to ensure he had protection at all times. Roz remained his primary guard, but he had also brought in a new one: Tribute Haze. They were by his side around the clock, and he didn't mind their presence. What he found bothersome was the constant attention from the female warthogs, which felt overwhelming at times. He recognized that soon enough, everything would settle down, and life would return to a semblance of normalcy—though not entirely. Once this was all said and done, he would have a Queen and assume the role of their King, which was anything but ordinary for him. Shaking his head, he sought a tranquil spot to relax until it was time for dinner.
He eagerly anticipated tonight's meal, which happened to be his favorite: roasted chestnuts paired with crispy battered slugs. Who could resist such a delicious combination? The festival's menu had been nothing short of delectable and fantastic all week long. Meanwhile, at the watering hole, all the clan kings were basking in the sun and enjoying the cool water. They were engrossed in a debate about which daughter Prince Purk would ultimately choose from the final two candidates. Kings Zerk and Nodule exchanged playful banter, but they laughed it off in the end. Even if they could guess who the final two warthogs might be, predicting Purk's true feelings was another matter entirely. Only Purk himself or his father had that insight, and the latter wasn't saying much. Muck settled deeper into the water, listening to the warthog's squeal at each other. Occasionally, one of the kings would make a remark that made him grunt with laughter; this would prompt them to pause and ask if they had struck a funny chord with him.
He responded, "Of course! Why else would I be laughing?"
He lapsed into silence, immersed in the King's discussions and debates. Meanwhile, Purk found solace in a restful nap. In his dreams, he was transported to Hazel, who smiled at him while playfully swishing her tail. He could almost catch a whiff of her delicate fragrance, reminiscent of Arabian jasmine. During his slumber, visions of her beauty filled his mind. Upon awakening, he noticed a cluster of those very flowers blooming nearby. Inspired, he decided to gather a small bouquet as a gift for her. As the sun dipped below the horizon, signaling dinner time, he carefully pushed himself up onto his hooves. Eagerly, he moved back with his two tributes, only to discover that everyone was already seated and eating without them. His eyes scanned the crowd of hogs until he spotted Hazel sitting beside her father. With the Arabian Jasmine bouquet gently held in his mouth, he approached her slowly. Once close, he delicately placed the flowers at her feet, smiled up at her, and then turned to find a spot to eat. Naturally, he wasn't alone; his two tributes joined him. Together, they enjoyed the evening, watching the dancers and observing the females around them.
Even though he had, had a great mid-day nap, Purk called it an early night. He was escorted back to his burrow, which this time he made sure he told both guards to have a goodnight, before entering down to his sleeping quarters. All in all, his day had been well, and he was able to easily drift back into his sweet dreams with Hazel. He had really taken a liking to her the most. No matter what he was doing, something she always did would impress his opinion of her. She had his attention far above any others. He had to check himself often knowing his heart would be broken if she didn't win the final competition. Surely as the future King he had the right to overrule the end results. Feeling a bit anxious he quickly cleared the negativity away and focused back on Hazel. It wasn't long and he was drifting into his amazing dream world of infinite possibilities.