Tribal

22

Clover sat up in bed and saw Stan playing with Markus as Haley and Reed prepared food. She felt useless. They were all working hard to keep her safe and comfortable, but she wasn't doing anything. She was so constantly tired now that she had to walk with a cane to keep her balance. It was embarrassing. She could not go anywhere without Reed's help. She liked having him around so much, but she still wanted to be able to do things on her own. She tried to stand but was exhausted and fell back onto her bed. She felt a wave of what felt like pins poking into her skin. She just so happened to fall back onto her thorax, and it hurt, to say the least. In the coming months, it would become harder and harder to move. Eventually, she would not be able to get out of bed at all, even with Reed's help.

"Sweetheart? You alright?" Reed walked over.

"No. I tried to stand and I fell back," Clover said, embarrassed. Reed laid down next to her and held her head close to him.

"Shh, it's ok. You'll be alright. Just give yourself some time," Reed reassured her, not wanting Clover to overexert herself.

"Reed, is there anywhere else we could go? I don't feel comfortable in the village anymore. Ever since your fight with Ash, I get strange looks from the townsfolk. I don't feel safe," Clover admitted, hesitant to blame Reed.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I've had to fight off a few groups of rioters who believe that hunting Acacia is the right thing to do. I think it is the right decision," Reed said. "But where would we go?" he asked.

"I just recently learned that my father lives in the Howling Cliffs. We could go to him. It's far from people, and I'd be surrounded by family and friends," Clover suggested. Haley poked her head into the room.

"We could go with you two! I'll be honest, Stan and I get the same feeling. This place is turning violent. It's not a place I'm comfortable keeping Markus. I have an unnerving sense that something horrible is going to happen soon, and I want to stay away from the cities and populated areas. The Howling Cliffs are far, but there are safe spots there," Haley added as she walked in, holding Markus.

"I wanna go with Aunt Clover!" the boy said. Clover sat up and held her hands up.

"Come here, little one." Haley placed Markus in Clover's arms, and the little pillbug fell asleep quickly. Haley sighed.

"Thank you so much. I can never get him to sleep like you do," Haley said. Stan walked in, wheezing.

"You get that kid settled down yet?" He looked up and saw Markus asleep in Clover's arms. "Thank you. That kid has more energy than the sun, I swear," Stan remarked. Clover laughed softly.

"I can only hope I am this well with my own children," Clover mused.

"I'm sure you will be," Haley replied warmly.

"I don't want to interrupt the mood, but dear, how do we know that your father will allow us to stay with him?" Reed asked.

"I don't know. I never considered the fact that he might not wish to have us around. But it's our only option as I can see," Clover answered. Reed sighed.

"Alright, we will go. But we will do so after the rest of the village has fallen asleep. I don't want us to have to get through crowds of violent bugs. Haley, Stan, can you keep us safe?" Reed asked.

"I got your back," Stan affirmed.

"I'm no fighter, but I'll help Clover get around. Maybe it's best if you and Stan guarded us," Haley suggested.

"You're correct. Very well, Stan and I will guard these two as we leave. Everyone, get ready. We leave at nightfall," Reed decided. Haley, Stan, and Markus, now being carried by his mother, left to pack their tent.

That night, Clover, supported by Reed, walked out of the hut and met up with the pillbugs. Haley helped support Clover, and Markus was in a sack tied around Haley so she still had access to her arms. The women walked slowly while Stan walked ahead, his keen eyes keeping watch on the path in front of them, and Reed followed behind. They walked quietly until they reached the exit gate, where Ash was standing.

"So, first you disobey my orders. Then you talk back to me. Now you desert your tribe when they need you the most. I thought you were better than this, Clover," he said with spite in his voice.

"Move aside, Ash. We are leaving," Clover demanded.

"Know that if you do this, you will be marked a traitor, and we will hunt you down as well," Ash said hatefully.

"Very well," Clover said firmly.

"So you have chosen... death." Without another word, Ash leaped at Clover, but he was flung into a nearby wall by Stan's club. Reed stood next to him, ready to face Ash.

"YOU'RE ALL TRAITORS!" Ash screamed. He dashed forward wildly and tried to attack Reed, but he dodged and hit Ash in the side of his head with his foot. Stan grabbed Ash and threw him across the path. Ash stood again, blood coming from his forehead and he charged at the two again, Reed appeared behind Ash and sent his face into the floor with a swift kick, Ash stood trying to attack but Stan hit Ash's side with his club, a cracking of ribs could be heard as Ash doubled over in pain. Reed sent a powerful uppercut to Ash's face and he flew into the air. Stan leaped and drove Ash's body back into the ground, Ash turned over and got on his hands and knees and coughed up blood. The two left him as he called out to them.

"YOU WILL NEVER BE SAFE! I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND I WILL KILL YOU, I'LL KILL YOU ALL! YOU, CLOVER, THE WEAK PILLBUGS THOSE FILTHY CHILDREN AND I'LL HANG ALL YOUR HEADS ON MY WALL!" He screamed and screamed but none would listen, the gate was closed and Ash was alone.