"It's been two weeks," Nyell took a deep breath. "Two whole darn weeks!"
Nyell was fuming. Allen went missing fourteen days ago, and there had been no sign of life since then. If it wasn't for the marks on Layla's and Myrven's hands, he'd have thought he was dead, his lifeless body rotting away somewhere in the jungle.
It was unnerving not to know what happened to him.
In the meantime, no one from the Black Moon tribe disappeared. The elders were overjoyed, smiling from ear to ear. They acted as though it was thanks to them. People paid them respect, not knowing that all they did was obstruct the White Moon tribe's delegation's investigation.
Nyell had the urge to beat the elders to a pulp, but he somehow managed to resist. He had a hunch they wouldn't tell him anything, even if he threatened to tear their limbs apart and kill them slowly.
Despite how frightened he had been in his dream, Tuppel didn't react to seeing Nyell in real life, politely nodding at him when they crossed paths, just like before. Allen had made it so that he wouldn't remember the dream, but the fact that Tuppel had been scared to death of Nyell was etched into the young man's mind.
What had he been so afraid of?
But now wasn't the time to ask questions. Nyell had other things to do, like trying to find a certain moron.
Myrven and Layla had grown nervous. They had stopped venturing into the jungle these past two days, staying in the village as if on guard against something. They eyed the paths slithering into the jungle, patrolling the different entrances.
Neither Nyell nor Isa understood why. Of course, they asked Myrven, but his answer had been a wry smile.
The question stayed on standby until uninvited guests showed up on the fourteenth day, walking through the main entrance as if they owned the place. They had white skin and blondish hair and were wearing exotic white clothes. They were obviously from the White Moon tribe.
"Hello?" A man in his late forties called, not minding the hostile gaze the people threw his way. "I'm looking for my young chief. As far as I know, he should be in your tribe."
Nyell's mouth twitched, a foreboding feeling twisting his belly. "May I know why?"
"No, it doesn't concern you."
"In that case, I don't know where he is."
Nyell was technically not lying. He honestly had no idea where the heck the bastard had disappeared to.
"You little…"
"You little what? You're waltzing into my tribe, acting all high and mighty, and you think you can ask and get whatever answer you want? You didn't even introduce yourself! I thought we were rude, but the White Moon tribe doesn't know much about basic courtesy either."
The man, named Lapis, was taken aback by the lad's sharp tongue. Meanwhile, Myrven had a hard time muffling his chuckles while Layla openly snorted, taking pleasure in the man's misery.
Hm? Were they not on good terms?
"It's a confidential matter," Lapis smiled coldly. "My name is Lapis, and I'm the Whtie Moon tribe's beta. Now, I'm going to ask questions. Where's the chief's daughter?"
"I'm here, why?" Isa responded, snuggling against Layla. She didn't like the heinous look in the man's eyes.
"You're just a kid," a woman chortled. "I can't believe he pinned his hopes on you."
What the heck were they talking about?
"Nye, they're getting on my nerves."
Nyell gently ruffled his sister's hair, but he was as annoyed. He glanced at Myrven, seemingly to ask what the hell was going on, and the man averted his eyes in shame.
Oh-oh. Nyell raised an eyebrow. Something unpleasant is about to happen.
"Whatever," Lapis waved his hand. "She's not of marriageable age, so he has no business left here. Tell me where he is, Myrven."
"We didn't come here only for that," Myrven grimaced. "The primary goal was to help with the disappearance cases."
"Oh, right. And what did you get in exchange?" Lapis asked, his voice filled with disdain. "It must be quite enticing for Allen, the chief himself, to lend a helping hand. He should have returned home after striking a deal with the Black Moon tribe's chief and sent an envoy to handle the aftermath. Don't try to cover for him. We all know Allen is deflecting from his duties as a chief and delaying the ceremony."
"We have enough of his whims."
"Tell us where he is!"
"Don't tell them," Nyell said, his eyes having turned cold. He didn't like how they talked about their chief, seemingly deciding things for him. It was as if they owned him. "Also, get out. You're not welcome here."
"What? Who do you think you are?"
"Me? The chief's son, aka one of the biggest pains in the butt you have to deal with in the jungle. I wouldn't mind showing you how I handle your hunters here and now."
The villagers had gathered around at the noises and started to laugh. Nyell was about to snap, and these men and women hadn't realized it, pushing their luck.
No one knew where the White Moon tribe chief had gone, as Corriel had only told them that he was out investigating. And if Nyell didn't want to tell these guys this much information, they also wouldn't. The White Moon tribe was still seen as unfriendly, and if the villagers could get on their nerves, they would do it with pleasure.
Lapis was about to snarl back something when Myven interrupted, "Even if the five of you jump him, you'll lose. Just warning you."
"Why are you taking his side?"
"Why shouldn't I? You're using an old law to push that ceremony onto Allen, whether he wants it or not. Of course, I won't take your side."
"It's for our tribe's sake."
"As if."
The White Moon tribe seemed to have forgotten they were out in the open, washing their dirty clothes before an audience.
"He needs a mate before the end of the month. The ceremony will occur when the two moons get full, whether he wants it or not. It is just a few days away."
"We have already found a perfect mate for him," another man added. "So he has no excuse left to avoid it."
The woman, who had chortled earlier, puffed up her chest.
"What the fuck," Nyell interjected. "You scumbags are forcing him to get married? Mates are for life; they cannot be chosen out of the blue! And someone else cannot choose them for yourself!"
"Shut up!" Lapis growled, having lost patience. "An outsider shouldn't meddle with another tribe's matters."
Then don't talk about it in front of said outsider!
Nyell inwardly rolled his eyes as he glanced at Myrven, whose facial expression was deformed by repressed anger. He could have mentioned that Allen had found his destined mate, but he didn't, even though it'd have put an end to the ridiculous drama. It was just that Myrven wasn't sure Nyell would follow Allen back to their tribe, and he wasn't about to put him into the spotlight only to throw off these annoying flies. Nyell could tell as much.
"Outsider, huh?"
Nyell smirked, too annoyed at Lapis to let things go his way. He owed Allen that much for saving his life and protecting his tribe–if no one had vanished these past two weeks, it was thanks to him. Myrven and Layla wouldn't sell him out, but it didn't mean he couldn't do it himself.
"Sorry to break it to you," Nyell's grin deepened, "but I think, as his destined mate, I do have a say in the matter."
A second of silence fell, then gasps resounded, and mouths fell agape.
"What?!"
"If you have a problem with that, complain to the god of fate. I already did, but the prick is playing deaf, so good luck."
Nyell shrugged, relishing in the shocked faces of the men and women before him. He dared to bring the bond he shared with the White Moon tribe's chief because Nyell knew he wouldn't stay in his tribe, for he couldn't entirely hate someone who jeopardized their own life to save his people. He had been trying to deny it these past two weeks, cursing Allen out and whatnot, but the reality was reality.
He already hated the man a little less.
But just a little less.