Tribal

17

Ash slowly opened his eyes, the sun shining into his face. He was confused, as last he remembered he was about to take out Acacia but then he fell asleep. It seems someone tended to his wounds too, as he was not even sore. He sat up, and without warning, the Hive queen was in his face.

"Morning, handsome!" She was up close to his face, he could feel himself heating up. He had never been so close to such an attractive female before, he could not help but admire her. She, of course, noticed. "Well now, do you like what you see?" Ash turned his head away and hid his face in his cloak. "Aww, don't be shy. I don't mind~." Ash could not help but almost pass out from embarrassment. "This one's a real cutie! Think I'll keep him~." She turned to Hollow, who Ash had just noticed.

"Keep your composure, your majesty. There will be time later. We have two fugitives on the run right now. We have a job to do." Hollow looked off into the distance, a deep sadness in his eyes. Ash stood and spoke.

"Acacia is our problem; we shall deal with her." Ash was not willing to drag the entire kingdom into his tribe's issues.

"With all due respect, my lord. Your exiled fellow lord is traveling with my brother, Ghost. None in your tribe stand a chance against him. This is a royal matter, should you wish to join you are permitted to." Hollow spoke harshly; he did not mean to offend the mantis's pride, but this was a delicate situation. Ash spoke back in a similar tone.

"With all due respect, your majesty, Acacia is not your citizen to judge. She will face judgment by mantis law, try to intervene and you will be imposing on official Mantis Tribe matters. You do not want us as enemies." Ash glared at Hollow, who glared back. Daisy spoke up.

"Well now, this one has some spunk too, come on sugar. Let's go fetch your little sister." Daisy had a very thick accent, most Hive did. Ash couldn't help but think that it was attractive.

"Wait, she isn't my sister, she is my cousin." Ash corrected.

"Sister, cousin, makes no difference, let's just go get her!" Daisy ran off quickly without another word. Ash and Hollow turned to each other, nodded, and left. Hollow had many different tasks to handle and would join the search party at a later date, Ash quickly caught up to Daisy and began speaking with her.

"So why do you act like that?" Ash wondered,

"Like what?" Daisy asked confused.

"Like that, it's not very noble." Ash responded.

"Ah, well I'll have you know that I am fully capable of acting 'nobly' as you put it, but I've always had a more playful side to me." Ash was so interested in the Hive queen, yet he didn't understand why.

"I don't understand, why hide yourself?" Ash pondered.

"Mother always told me to act like a proper woman, guess I still have a long way to go before I live up to her expectation." Daisy responded in a solemn tone.

"Well, I think it suits you better anyways." Ash said with red in his face.

"Oh? Flirting are we?" She laughed. "Keep it up hot stuff, I like that." Daisy leaned over and gave Ash a small kiss on the cheek and continues on. Ash, however, was rooted to the spot unable to understand what just happened; he was busy contemplating when Reed appeared behind him.

"Someone has a crush." Reed teased.

"Reed! Enough! You will not disrespect your lord like this!" Ash was redder than a scarlet flame, and he was acting like it too.

"What got you so wound up? I know the Acacia situation is serious but you seem so on edge, Acacia will likely end up under mantis law, there are only so many places to run. C'mon we have a mantis to catch." Reed hurried off, Ash contemplated his words then he heard a voice from the potted plant next to him.

"He is right child. Such stress will only cloud your already foggy mind." The plant spoke.

"Who are you?" Ash almost jumped out of his shell when the plant spoke.

"My name is not of importance now, but let me tell you this now, your mind is covered in a blinding mist. And it shall only get worse if you do not allow your cousin to go. You are head of the Mantis Tribe, you have many duties as a lord, concerning yourself with such a meaningless task will only make things worse for you." The plant was getting on Ash's nerves.

"Who are you to tell me how to conduct my business! Acacia is a murderer! And she attacked Clover!" Ash shouted at the plant.

"Do you know for certain it was her? And don't mantises engage in deadly sparring sessions often?" The plant made good points, Ash did not like that.

"Acacia will be judged under law! That is final!" Ash was very angry with the plant.

"Judge her if you will, but a horrible monster shall be released should she die. This is your only warning Ash. Stand down." The plant knew his name, for some reason that sent a fear down his spine. Ash took his blade and struck the plant in a rage, when he was done there was nothing left. Ash looked at the remains of the plant in front of him.

"I am a lord, I shall do as I please." with those final words Ash walked out of the White Palace, catching up with Reed and Daisy.

"Oh! Ash, I was just telling the queen here about your adventure to the palace just a short while ago, the one where you convinced the king to allow merchants into the village." Reed was standing next to Daisy.

"You have some stories don't you?" Daisy asked.

"I suppose. Come, we have business to attend to. Quickly." Ash kept his head down and moved to the stag station.

"What's his problem?" Daisy asked, a little annoyance in her voice.

"I honestly have no idea, he started acting like this after we found all those dead bodies outside the village, I think he is afraid of facing Acacia. He taught her everything he knows, the same with Clover and I. Acacia has all the knowledge of her fellow lords and my speed and reflexes, along with the fact that she is traveling with the silent knight. It is likely that none will ever be able to stop her." Reed said with a slight tinge of fear in his voice.

"Well, that's pretty scary, isn't it?" Daisy said.

"That it is." Reed said before the two headed to the stag station with Ash.