The Seven Medallions

Episode 17

The Tribe, part 3
Piper's POV

Chief Exodus lead me through the camp, swirling past the sick and injured once again. All eyes were on me as we walked through the tents. I felt uneasy at their gazes.
We finally stopped at the edge of the camp. It was the boundaries of the jungle, opposite to the side I entered from.
Runt, who apparently followed us, ran ahead and scouted. We heard a bird like warble, and with Runts signal of safety, Exodus continued the trek.
We passed grove after grove, tree after tree, root after root. My feet began to ache as we trudged through the dense forest. Suddenly, we stopped.

In front of us there stood an ancient temple. It was magnificent, with mosaics and ancient text engraved into the walls. It looked about three stories high, and was built into a massive mountain. Chief Exodus glanced at me, smiled, and went into the temple. I followed silently with Runt and Link close behind.

As we continued our journey through the temple, I looked to the walls. On them were great pictures and images of a mink holding an ancient jeweled box. Hey, I thought. That looks like me! But it wasn't me, that was for sure. Yet, the resemblance was uncanny.

"Long ago," Exodus suddenly began, "our people were prosperous. We were a great nation, with many kingdoms and territories. The Earth Coyote Tribe was the dominant species, because of our princess, the Princess Philimena, and her special treasure." He looked at me and pointed to the picture I was looking at.
I gulped.
He pointed at the pictures that followed and continued. "With her and her treasure, we were great in luck. But one day," he pointed to a picture of the princess in the sky, "she died."
He bowed his head in remembrance for so long I was afraid he had died. I was about to shake him when he jolted upright. "We were then cursed with bad luck. Our people die everyday from disease, injury, and more. Without her, we became weak."
I remembered all those sick people from the village. That was all because of one girl?
"The ancient prophesy stated that Philimena would return to us one day, and if we offered her as sacrifice with her treasure she left behind, then the luck would return to good."
Wait. WHAT?
"Sacrifice??" I gurgled, not finding the right words or tone for it.
"Yes," Runt butted in. "With your first death, you have us bad luck, because your treasure still was here on Edenia. But with your second death, WITH your treasure, the prophesy states that it will be reversed."

"But.. P-prophesies can be wrong, no?" I squeaked, backing out of the temple. "I mean, what if it was a misunderstanding? Or a typo? Darn, those typos.. heh heh.." I bumped into a wall.
Chief Exodus looked furious. "I know your memory is gone, but this is an HONOR! YOU ARE THE PRINCESS!"
"That's the thing." I said, moving faster. "I'm not the-"
"But you are!" Runt covered my mouth and pinned my arms to my back. I cried out in pain.
"Runt!" Link growled. "Let her go!"
"SILENCE!" Exodus howled. "Link, bring her to the offertory. Runt, gather the people of the village. Today, our story is rewritten!"
Runt pushed me into Link and yelled out in glee, running out of the temple.
I gulped as Exodus dragged me out of the room and pulled me up stairs into the offertory.

It was then that I realized, we were not in a mountain, but a volcano.

The offertory was a room with a cage off to the side. It had one other route to enter in, across the room. In the center was the lava.
What's a volcano with out its magma, amirite?

"Father, this is wrong!" Link said, pulling me from his grasp. "She isn't the prin-"
"Shut up!" Chief Exodus growled at his son, his teeth bearing.
"The princess isn't real! It never was! You are insane!"
"SHUT UP!" Exodus bit Link in the arm.
Link whimpered in pain and fell to the ground.
"Link!" I called out.
"Silence!!" The old coyote called out. He tied me up with some ropes and threw me to the ground. I cried out as my bad arm broke my fall. It never truly healed from my battle with Metal Sonic, and now, I doubt it ever would.
A splintering pain bit my arm and traveled up to my shoulder. Tears formed as I laid on the ground, whimpering.
Chief Exodus, filled with rage, picked up his son and threw him into the cage along the side of the pit.
"STAY HERE AND DO NOT MOVE," Exodus yelled, insanity reflecting his gaze. "I'll be back...."
And with that he left.

"Piper, are you ok?" Link whispered across the room to me.
"Never.. Better." I gritted my teeth and spoke through the pain.
"I'm sorry about my father. He is just desperate. He wants to heal his people, and has gone to actually believing these fairytales and making others believe them too."
I looked at Link. He stared at me with worried eyes. "Do not worry, I'll get you out of here, Piper. I'll get you out. You'll be fine."
And at that moment, I questioned how. It seemed hopeless.

Cmon Sonic... Where are you guys!?🌟

Authors note- Wow ok so that's why the old mans crazy ok ok
Sooooo there will be only one last part to this crazy adventure. The big action scene. I'm getting sweaty just thinking about it.