Chapter 19 - More Members

A new thing I'm doing in my way of writing is this (-), that dash is basically a replacement for parenthesis in the sentence nothing too big, you'll see.

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'Well, there's no point to think too deeply about this and just go with the flow.' And with that, me and Magma began to follow the trail of footprints that lead towards my cave.

Day 3: 1:00 pm

It didn't take too long to follow the trail of footprints and end up back at my territory. When we were out of the forest, we could see a big organized group of monkeys sitting at the base of my hill all staring at one monkey in particular.

"SIR Yahweh, Your back! How are you! Are you okay, are you hurt, are hungry, any-" I held my paw out to stop the fluttered and rumbling Mungo before he went on for another hour.

"I'm alright Mungo. Thanks for your concern." I flashed a smile towards him, as warmth flowed from my heart and spread throughout my body. I always loved the feeling of being cared about, admired, and the sorts brought to me. Most of that came from my real family, and the opposite from my 'parents'.

I looked back from Mungo towards the group he brought with him from the village to my territory. The group mainly consisted of a.d.u.l.t monkeys and only a few children, no babies in sight, all of them added up only brought the number to 50.

As I looked towards them most of them flinched and the children stared at me with looks of curiosity, but some of them weren't looking at me but at Magma with looks of fear and agitation, like they would blast off at ever the slightest signs of a threat.

Without thinking too much on it, mostly because I wanted to get some things done and take a nap...mainly because of the nap, I walked straight towards them. As they saw me walk towards them, they subconsciously dropped a bit lower to the ground and stepped away, while the parents grabbed onto their clueless children. Even with all that I continued walking as they wouldn't run, at least not without a definite threat. Along with the aura, I was always subconsciously releasing was a non-threating one, but a majestic and welcoming one, one of a kind king.

I majestically paraded forward as the group split-like the parting sea-to let me through, and I continued until I was up the base of the hill and I turned around-looking down towards the group of monkeys-ready to say my piece.

"Greetings guests and welcome to my territory. Some of you may know why you are here and some may not, but that doesn't really matter as I'm here to explain the situation to everyone. Now where to begin?" At this point in time, I would now be scratching the beard I wish I had but don't, as I 'ponder' on what to talk about first. Well, first I should state where they stand now and then offer them my proposal.

"Alright, I guess I will be truthful with everyone one here. First I mean you no harm, if I did I would have let Magma continue to rampage around your village, and not risk my hide to save you all."

After stating that I could see that most of them relaxed a bit and weren't so jumpy, and some relaxed completely-mainly the children. While the ones that were ready to hop at any second relaxed from very suspicious and tensed states to slightly suspicious and tensed states. Overall, a huge improvement from the uptight and uncomfortable atmosphere from before, and now they can listen to me clearly and precisely without lingering fear.

"Second, your tribe is basically destroyed. You have no village, you have no leader, you have no protection, no order, and you most certainly have no place back in the Blaze Clan as you are now. The key phrase being 'as you are now'. Now before I move on are there any questions, if you do, raise your hand."

I could see many had questions but most were still too afraid and not comfortable with me yet to present their questions or problems to me yet. However, it looked like the jumpy and tensed ones were the brave ones-as they all looked straight at me with gritted teeth and determination-as one of them raised their hand.

"Yes? What is your question?" I pointed a paw to the monkey that raised his hand.

"What do you mean by we have no protection and that we have no place back in the Blaze Clan? The Blaze Clan are our protection, they had traded it for food and resources gathered by us."

"What is your name?" I wanted to know his name, as he has potential in him -I can tell- along with being brave.

"Luo...Luo is my name." I could see that he became more courageous and a bit more relaxed with me asking his name. As to most of the strong, he is subpar and insignificant, so why learn his name. Asking for his name is a sign of respect for him, even if only a little.

"Well Luo, I can only respond to what you said with, you are naive." My eyes stared straight at his, ready for another explantation that will be very much needed.

"What?" The monkey asked back, a bit ticked off for insulting him. But of course, there was nothing he could do about it, in case he offends me and loses his life. At least that was the thought process of the whole group here, thinking offending me -running away, speaking up, things like that- in any way would lead to their inevitable doom.

"You are naive to believe the Blaze Clan would generously provide protection for your small tribe just for a bit of scrap here and there, that is beneath in their eyes. Facts that prove that is, do they help you guys when Magma attacked?" The brave monkey looked down at the ground. After contemplating my words, he felt...ashamed of himself, tricked, and betrayed. Not only that he felt so stupid, why would the clan -they trusted- promise something and not deliver on it, and when they needed their help the most, they sat there and did nothing. Luo wasn't the only one going through that thought process but everyone here.

"W-What if they were just late by a bit, and by the time we left they got there?" I could see the confusion in their eyes, they were lost and were looking for answers and something to holding onto that tiny hope -like a small branch, that kept them from plummeting into the abyss- that they weren't abandoned. I knew what I need to do now.

"Well Luo, I'm sorry to break it to you but, after I defeat Magma and made it back to your village, there was no sign of the Blaze Clan at all. And also how long does it take for a servent or errand boy to pick up the offerings from your village?" That question seems to show him the truth of the situation, as his eyes and everyone else's -excluding the children- widen in shock and disbelief.

"A-About 10-20 mins as I remembered one of the children asking him about if it was possible to got to the Blaze Clan, and how long it would take." Oh, thank Nisha for that child then, as this would be a lot harder if not for them.

"Need I say more?" I 'raised' an eyebrow -just a bit of my eyelid lowering for one eye and raising for another- after saying that, as they should already get it by now.

"N-No need, I-I don't know anymore. I-"

"Don't think too deeply on it, all you need to know is that you were abandoned by the Blaze Clan, but that doesn't mean the end of everything you knew. It means it is time for a new beginning for you all!" I speak with passion and vigor as to get all of their attention and focus, and that it did. Now that I snapped off their branch -their last bits of hope-, its time for me to saw them that there was a tree right below them to catch there fall (AN: To cheezy or is this okay for an analogy?).

"W-What do you mean?" Luo raised his head -along with the rest, staring at me intensely and...passionately- his eyes gleamed for a second as a flame relit back in his eyes, for he seemed to catch the meaning of what I said.

"What I mean by a new beginning is that I want you guys in a new and upcoming clan, are you interested?"