–I'm sorry, but what legends?– Jenn asked, feeling like she just really stepped in something here that she didn't even know existed. Though, she supposed that in a way, wanting to remain true to Alex was a kind of belief or something. At least if you looked at it that way.
–The legends that call us ogres. That we eat others because we have no morals. That we rape and pillage because we're monsters. That we have to be hunted down to keep them safe from us.– the chief answered, his mental voice growing louder with each word, making Jenn feel like the cavern should be shaking from the noise inside her head. Although, she supposed that it was a good thing that he wasn't speaking out loud at that moment. If he had been, she suspected that he probably would cause a cave-in here.
–So, because you are like them, we will have to end the threat you and your people pose.– he finished, his declaration making Jenn feel like she didn't have a choice. She'd have to show him her entire past, no matter how much she felt like she became diminished as a result.
–Would you give me a minute to respond?– Jenn asked, hoping to not just spring this on him out of the blue. If she did, she had a feeling she might make matters worse. –I'm here alone, so if you listen to what I say, even if you disagree with it, what would you stand to lose? You'll still be able to move on with whatever you'll do to my people and it's not like I could stop you then.–
The chief glared at Jenn, making her wonder if she'd have to use her magic against him. If he was going to try and kill her, she wasn't going to go down without a fight. Not to mention she was pretty sure that she'd have an advantage over these creatures with her magic. She just hoped that there was a means to get out of this without having to resort to a confrontation like that. As even if she managed to subdue them without killing any of these creatures, she suspected that she'd still technically lose.
–Share with me and I'll know what kind of person you really are. If you don't show me, then I'll have to assume you really are like the legends of other peoples. If you are willing to share, then you should make the first move and start removing your clothing.– the chief said. The way that he looked at Jenn at that moment. made Jenn feel like he really had no ulterior motives. That this act was just how his people conducted business.
Then, as if in an afterthought, he added. –I promise I'll go easy on you. I understand your body might not be accustomed to my size, so I'll do my best to not harm you as we share.–
Even though she accepted that he meant what he said, she wished that he was willing to accept alternative means. After all, she had told him about her magic being able to possibly allow them to 'share' like he was used to, but she wondered if maybe the problem was the fact that he was much older than she was, and so more set in his ways. That he was less likely to consider alternative means of accomplishing the same thing.
–Would you let me try one thing before I strip?– Jenn asked. If this didn't work, then she'd let him screw her. If only to save her people. She hoped Alex would understand if it came to that. She wasn't sure she would.
–What is it?– the chief asked, warily. –You're not thinking of trying to run, are you?–
Jenn shook her head. She wasn't going to do that. If she did, she was confident that it would merely confirm the chief's fears and would spell the end to one of their peoples. Which wasn't something she'd like to have on her hands, even if only in part.
–Not that.– she answered calmly, hoping that it would work. –Just an alternative means to share. I'd use my magic and we could see if we could share that way. Even though I'm not sure if it would work quite like that. Or if it'd be the same.–
The chief didn't respond right away. Jenn wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not, but decided to consider it good. She didn't want to find out later that it was a bad sign.
–Fine. Do what you will, but if it doesn't work, you better start stripping or I'll have to take it that you're hostile to my people and it will be up to me to protect them from you and your people.–
Jenn wished there was an alternative method in the chief's mind. Part of her felt like everything would be fine if she just let him do his thing, but she also considered that it would set a bad precedent. That if she let him have his way with her that it might not be such a good thing later on if she encountered more groups of these creatures.
However, Jenn didn't let herself worry too much about it. Instead, she pulled on her magic and sent a thread of it out to the chief's mind. Part of her recalled what happened with Tchisa when they'd both done the same thing, though she wasn't sure if this would work quite the same way with this creature.
She had her fears that these creatures could have a different effect with her using her magic on them to look into their minds, but at this point, she recognized that if she didn't do this now, she'd have to sleep with the chief in order to not only guarantee her promise to Haln, that she'd return safely, but also to keep her own people safe.
Especially if they continued to live on this world, where she didn't know how many groups of these creatures lived here. Which would mean that she might need to find a different world for her people to settle on, regardless of how promising this world have been up tot this point.
As her magic touched the chief's mind, it felt like a power surge shot through her. Almost like every nerve ending in her body was being activated somehow. It didn't hurt, but she felt like it probably should be hurting her despite the lack of pain.
She could see that the chief had a similar reaction and she felt like even though she hadn't taken any of her clothing off, that he could see her body as if she was standing in front of him naked. Just as she could see him in the nude, despite knowing he had put a loincloth on himself.
–Where are we? This isn't the sharing room.–
Jenn looked around. As far as she could tell it was. Though, suddenly she realized that the girl who had been 'sharing' with the chief earlier wasn't there anymore. In fact, there wasn't any sign of her at all.
–I'm not sure what happened myself.– Jenn answered. –All I can say is that I used my magic to touch your mind.–
–Yes, yes. You were going to send me everything about your life through your magic. Just like what happens when my people and I share. The way that we know to communicate with each other in a way that prevents any deceptions from forming. That's what's started here.–
Jenn suddenly wondered if they didn't consider their family relations when it came to 'sharing' like that. Which if that was the case, she could understand why so many people would object to it.
However, even if the didn't, it wasn't her place to judge them. The only thing she had concerns about was in regard to age. She hoped that they had some age that was considered 'too young' to participate in the 'sharing' like that. Even though she knew it wouldn't be her place to say or do anything in the even that turned out to be the case.
–Would you like to begin?– the chief asked, the words suddenly making Jenn feel like she was in a dream conference with her friends. Which also made her wonder if that's where they were somehow.
–Uh, sure.– Jenn answered, wondering if she should take some time to explore this point. If it was the same place as where she had her dream conferences with her friends, then did that mean the same rules applied?
However, she didn't think that it would be important to think too much about right then. Especially if it wasn't. As in that case it'd just be a waste of time at this moment.
As soon as Jenn had made her statement, she suddenly felt like her mind was being flooded with information. Just as things were flowing out of her mind in the same manner as when this had happened with Tchisa. Although in that case, it felt more like a short burst of information, where this felt like she was having a movie downloaded into her brain. One that either was taking a while because of a bad connection or because there was just so much data that it was just going to take a minute.
Though, during that time, she could see the chief before her, but she couldn't move herself. She felt paralyzed, but still aware of her surroundings. Though, she couldn't say if the chief was also experiencing the same thing she was. She supposed that he might not, since he was likely more used to this than she was.
What she learned from the chief was mostly trivial things about his people and their daily lives. There wasn't anything that she truly found objectionable, though the age they considered a member of their tribe to be 'of age' felt a little young o Jenn, but at the same time, she could tell why they found it necessary. As she saw how often avalanches struck these people. That the age the chief had reached was solely based on the fact that he rarely left this cavern. Simply because of how important he was.
Though, on occasion he did 'share' with chiefs of other tribes of these people. Not all chiefs were men, but the method on which they 'shared' remained the same. Why it was necessary to have intimate contact with another wasn't clear, as Jenn could see that they didn't understand why either. They just accepted that it was necessary.
The area that Jenn had her people start to settle wasn't anywhere of any importance to this tribe, but finding Jenn's people there was a surprise to them. Which they didn't like. Primarily because of how often surprises didn't turn out too well for them. Aside from the fact that Jenn's people had been seen as the legends of those who sought their destruction. That Jenn's people were a possible threat, although the chief refused to agree to let them 'deal with' Jenn's people without first verifying, or at least giving them a chance for them to verify, how dangerous they really were.
Jenn couldn't say how long the exchange, or 'sharing,' lasted. It felt like moments and hours at the same time. It wasn't that Jenn thought it hadn't taken much time, it was more that she couldn't help but feel like it had worn her out and she'd likely need to rest before continuing on. Despite the fact that she otherwise felt just fine.
"The gates are open again?" the chief asked out loud.
"You sound the same when you speak in my mind as when you speak out loud," Jenn remarked, wishing immediately that she hadn't said anything. Especially since she couldn't be sure how he'd react to her comment.
While she'd essentially learned everything about him, she still needed time to process his entire life. Much like she had with the unsettled emotions she'd helped the Lost deal with.
The chief's heads blinked. It was the first time Jenn saw any synchronized movements between them. "How is this possible? Shouldn't I be sounding like the others of my tribe sound to you and your kind?"
Jenn had a few ideas, mostly from the fact that this place felt like the space where her dream conferences were held. Which meant that they were likely in a space created by her magic. Meaning that they were essentially connected the way two computers were when it came to the internet.
Explaining that to someone who didn't know squat about computers, however, was certainly not going to be an easy task. Which meant stalling or bluffing would be better for her. Simply because she wasn't sure what he was going to say in response to any explanation she might try to give.
"Let's just say that our minds are connected through my magic and even though it feels like you're talking without using your magic, you're still using it," Jenn answered, hoping her explanation would sound believable.
"You mentioned this 'magic' before, but you never explained what it is exactly," the chief remarked, apparently not bothering to question her explanation.
"Uh, let's just say that it's an ability I have and had since I was born, even though I only just became aware of it," Jenn said, feeling like her mouth was moving before she had a chance to even stop it from talking. "So, I don't know as much as I'd like to about it. Otherwise I might understand why my magic was needed for some of the various things that I can do with it as well as show to replicate a few different things about magic."
"Uh, let's talk about that later then," the chief said, as if he was nervous about something Jenn had said. "What I want to know is what your intentions with your people are? Why did you move through the gate that connected their world with mine?"
While Jenn had expected the question, she still felt like she didn't have an answer that he was going to like. Although, she couldn't say that with certainty, because even as she opened her mouth to give what answer she could give.
"My people came looking for a place that they'd be safe. They'll move as I tell them to, and we were getting ready to leave for winter and return again when spring is back," Jenn said, bracing herself for any reaction she didn't find in her favor. Such as if the chief decided to attack her.
"I see," her responded conversationally, shocking Jenn. "How many of your kind, or people, have come through that gate already? How many have moved to this world and now live here? Although, yours are peaceful, I can't be that confident about any others. If you can let me know, I can make sure that your people don't get mixed with the others?"
Jenn wasn't sure how to respond to that question, partly because of how he worded it, but largely because she didn't know if someone else had come through between when she'd first arrived on that world with her friends and now. However she knew that she shouldn't worry about those that didn't threated her people, even if it was dangerous for any other group of humans. As she didn't know the price acquiring some of that information would cost.
Especially if any other group had somehow come through the gate and then taken the time to acquire a place to stay that wasn't the same she had her people building on. Though, she suspected that if they did, her people would have likely found any kind of evidence of them. Even if it was a set of tracks or something before she'd even arrived from helping the Lost a second time.
Eventually she figured she'd have to be blunt. She planned on bringing a lot. Not just a few, but a whole lot. While she couldn't be sure what the chief would think about in regards to the numbers, she was pretty sure that he wouldn't be happy with them. If she planned on merely doubling the amount of people she'd already brought through, she suspected that he probably wouldn't have a problem with that.
However, since she was already paving streets with stones and creating cities in these mountains, despite the risks of avalanches that she'd mentioned before, in her mind, doubling those under her command and rule wasn't going to be enough. Not with what she had in mind, despite the fact that just thinking about it made her feel a little light headed. As it felt like she was merely overreaching in her fantasies about what she would be able to do with her people.
"I'd like to say that I wasn't going to bring too many people," Jenn said hoping it'd go over better than she worried it would, "but as I'm sure you can see with what you learned about me, that I plan on bringing in a lot of people. I'm not sure how many you'd be comfortable with, but I will be bringing them to this world. Whether you're okay with that or not is really up to you."
The chief nodded, and sat on the stone floor, making Jenn wonder if it was as cold as it looked. After all, this was like the dream conference, so It wasn't like the stone was real. Though, Jenn couldn't put out of her mind that because it looked cold to her that it would feel cold as well, even if it didn't actually have a temperature of it's own.
"I understand," he said. "The question is what'll we do about it to make it so that we can be without conflict between us."
"If you'd like, you could have someone come to stand guard over me, or whoever I have as a stand-in at that time," Jenn suggested. "That way if anyone comes through and sees that, they'll know that they're considered to be trusted. Or at least that I trust them enough to let them protect me."
"Uh, what do you mean 'stand-ins?' Can't your kind tell who can share and who can't?" the chief asked, looking rather bewildered.
Jenn merely shook her head. "Not really, no. For us, 'sharing' as you know it isn't something that we do. Even using this method isn't a common one for my kind."
The chief gaped at Jenn. "Then how are you able to know when someone is lying or not?"