((all Ziambii has been translated into English, any dialogs between one Ziambii and another is assumed to be spoken in Ziambii))
[SIZE=18]Home[/SIZE][/b]
He took a step off the boat. It had been three years since he left Gionda. He left as an outcast amongst the warriors. He remembered the pain he would feel as he was made fun of by the others in training. He could see the faces as he stood there on the shores of Gionda. In his mind he saw them pointing and laughing as he tried to catch a fish within the waters of the sea. He was bigger than them, but they all knew he would never swing the first fist. He wasn't a warrior at heart. He was to soft, for all of his gift given to him by Gi'jiam, he might as well been a woman. They called him the stone N'!oko, As any N'!oko he was tall, strong, and fierce looking, but just as a stone statue, that's all he was.
He looked across the tree line, he couldn't see any of the Zo'kodum but he knew they were there. They always were, that was their duty to always be there. He waited for them to come to him and question his wearing of a Giasuma, and he would show them who he had become. He was now, Tath Zo'layum Zo'kodum of the Ziambii Ki and Bear Warrior of N'i!a. He would challenge the Zoko to a duel and win. He was strong, he would lead the Ziambi Ki in the battles to come against the N'!okos, the Three tailed cats, and the Guatumas. He would help them hunt by being an animal amongst animals. He would show them, he would bring pride back to his father's eyes.
He stood there waiting, his crab shell shield and Ch'kra on his back. he was completely wet, but the cold did not bother him. He had spent half a year in the barbarian islands with no fire and only a cave for shelter with almost nothing on his back. He could endure a little sea water. He watched teh tree line and still nothing, no one came to question him. He took a step, still nothing. No one was at the tree line. He frowned beginning to walk at a hurried pace. when he reached the tree line he began sprinting. He couldn't see anyone in the forest, even in the darkness the Zoko'dum would have been able to see him. His heart began to race, why wasn't anyone watching the shore? His sprint broke into a full run. Leaves slapped his face, and roots tripped at his feet. It was only a small sprint to the tribe from the shore, but he could feel the forest growing just to slow him down. just as he felt he would never reach the tribe, he saw two Zo'kodum with spears. Instantly they assumed a fighting stance pointing their spears at him.
"Who are you? Beyond lies the Ziambii Ki, none may enter that is not one of us."
Tath stood tall making sure his hands were no where near the Ch'kra on his back.
"I am Tath Zo'layum, Zo'kodum of the Ziambii Ki, Bear Warrior of N'i!a, and son of Anakta and De'ev."
The Zo'kodum on the right stared at him in amazement, and Tath felt ashamed as he got a good look at his father's face.
"Tath? Why have you come back after all these years?"
He could tell his father wasn't happy to see him. He suddenly hated his father, it had been him who had wanted his son to go to the Mainlands, and all because he was ashamed. Ashamed that his son had been given the strenth and figure of war but had chosen peace.
"I have come back because GIonda is my home, and the Ziambii Ki are my family."
His father looked at him for a long time before sighing in disappointment.
"Very well, your mother will want to see you."
His father moved on and Tath followed. In two steps the forest cleared away and Tath could see why the patrols had closed in on the tribe. The Ziambii Ki was obviously at war. He could see a few ruined huts, there was blood on the ground, and form the smell it wasn't old. He couldn't understand what he was seeing. The Ziambii Ki was strong, he could imagine either of the other tribes being able to do so much damage. The looks on the faces of those he passed by told him already many had died. He frowned at the back of his father's head but didn't say anything. Questions could wait. First he had to deal with his family.
His hut was just a she remembered it, and the inside proved to have not changed either. his mother sat around a fire boiling stew within a stone pot. She looked up and knocked over the stew in surprise.
"Tath?"
She moved to him Tracing his arms and chest with her hands. Her eyes widened over some of the scars he had received over the years on the mainlands. she put both of her hands around his arm measuring his strength as best as she could. She had grown old, her hair was graying and she had a few wrinkles by her eyes, but she still looked strong. In the Ziambii terms she was beautiful. She was very tall, with a very strong body with hips that foretold of easy child birth and a chest that had more than enough milk. Many Ziambii Ki men were envious of his father, but they that her father had chosen him. Finally, she looked up at him, tears in her eyes. Despite her appearance, she was not a warrior. Her and Tath had been known to many as the Gentle Giants at times.
"You've come back. I knew you would. Gionda is your home, not the mainlands, and you've come back strong! look at you! No doubt you have been in many battles and given the Ziambii a good name on the mainla-"
"Enough! Who's to say that he has? Who's to say that he hasn't spent his time chopping wood to build his muscles? Who's to say he's no long weak and afraid?"
His father strode over to him angrily and looked up to him glaring in his face.
"I'm not weak or afraid father."
"Father! Father! How could YOU be MY son? You have the heart of a coward. You brought shame to our name that will take generations to right. Your brother even at his age has to bear the weight of being YOUR BROTHER"
His vision wavered. He had a brother? His father continued to yell at him, but he couldn't hear him. All he could think about is his brother. Had they given up on him, and in desperation to carry on the family name had another son?
"If your so brave and strong, prove it! show me, come outside and let the whole all witness how pathetic you are!"
Without waiting he stormed outside with his spear. Tath turned to his mother who just shook her head. It was the way of the Ziambii Ki. They were a tribe of strength, and as a child Tath had tried his best not to fight. Taking a deep breath he followed his father outside who was already yelling for everyone to bear witness. There was no turning back. He would fight his father.
"At least you have the courage now to come when you have been challenged. Before you left you did not even have that! So show me, great warrior of the mainlands, show me the strength that you have now. Draw your weapon."
Tath unclenched his fists and unstrapped the leathers holding his weapons and back pack. They all crashed to the ground loudly as metal hit metal. He stood there looking at his father. When it became obvious that he wasn't going to retrieve his weapon, his father stood up and sighed.
"Go back to the mainlands Tath. You only embarrass us further by coming here."
His father began walking away when Tath took a step forward.
"Wait! You want to see how strong I am? FINE!"
his last word was caught as a growl escaped and Strong paw began to take over. His anger had reached a boiling point and he could no longer keep back from changing into his bear form. Bone cracked and snapped, his muscles ripped and his skin bulged as his frame rearranged. The crowd watched in awe as the shifting ended in a loud roar. Before his father had time to react Tath ran and pounce don him pinning him to the ground and began snarling in his face.
NO! he is an enemy, he insults us and then challenges a fight, we must kill him before he kills us But he is my father,we WILL not kill himHe could hear Strong paw growling in his mind but he knew she wouldn't kill him. The two were one and had agreed to live by each other's customs. Slowly they backed away from De'ev and set their focus on his spear. He looked at the spear a few times before understanding and picked up to fight. the two circled each other waiting for the other to strike first. It was De'ev who threw his spear first. Tath swatted the spear braking it and rushed in swatting at De'ev, connecting a solid blow to his ribs and sending him into a tree. De'ev collapsed and didn't move. Strong Paw snarled giving a few grunts at De'ev, but after a moment they shifted into their human form again and Strong paw backed into Tath's subconsciousness. Tath hurried to his father's side and pulled out a flask of healing juice. He turned his father over and put the juice to his lips making him drink some until he could hold it himself. Tath watched him a moment before standing up to look at the crowd.
He could only imagine what they were thinking right now, he knew exactly what it was to have no knowledge of magics only to have such things thrown right in your face. He looked into the eyes of each man and woman there, then one of them dropped to a knee, and two followed, then three more, and finally almost every man there had dropped to one knee.
"Why are you kneeling"
"Becuase it is the custom of the Ziambii Ki to kneel to their new Zoko."
He turned around his father had drank all of the healing juice and was now standing smiling proudly.
"You were the Zoko? what happened to Malusoo?"
His father shook his head.
"You've been gone for a long time Tath. The Ziambii Ki is at war, and with a new enemy too. The mainlands have come to Gionda, they have come with small lizardmen, Men taller than our tallest warrior, and even some trees do not compare to their height, and they have also brought wolves with the body of men. Leading them are four mainlanders, two warriors, a sneak, and a mageecsmon."
