The whole Vulcan tribe was in celebration mode because Harry was able to bring back meat on his first day. It was supposed to be an auspicious sign from their Lord, Leh. People of the tribe were dancing and shouting around him, while he was lost, sitting in front of the fire.
Harry didnt know that being able to hunt was a very big deal for the tribe. Because as soon as he and Karina came back with the primate in tow, Karina ran straight to Groga. And before Harry knew it, he was being thrown in the air by people, people of the tribe started cheering for him. He was then made to sit by the fire, while everyone in the tribe came one by one and covered his skin with various colored powders for some ceremony.
Dinner was served soon, and he was treated as a VIP. The food was brought to him in copious amounts, he was not allowed to eat by himself or stand up. One of the women of the tribe also passed him a leather pouch filled with liquor, which he gracefully rejected.
Harry also saw his mother, Gremla, from time to time. She would always stand far from him, watching from a distance. She didnt pass him words of congratulations, nor did she pass him some sort of acknowledgment. She would just come from time to time, look at him with suspicion, and they would go back to her hut.
And that was the thing that had been bugging him.
Does she suspect something? Harry thought, noticing her strange behaviour.
He knew that one day someone or the other was bound to be suspicious of him. After all, he didnt believe for a second that he would be able to play the role of a child, without raising some eyebrows. There was no way that he would be able to fill late Adui's shoes. But being suspicious of him in just three days? That was just impossible, or so he thought…
For most of the night, Harry sat in his place, thinking about the possible repercussions that he could expect in the future. He was living with barbarians, and these bush huggers were bound to make a hurdle in the future. They might see him as a demon or something and would persecute him.
He knew it.
But with his mother being suspicious of him now, he knew that thing was bound to happen soon. And he didnt want to stick around when actions are taken against him. Which was why he decided that he should accelerate his learning process, and get everything and anything that he could know about this world from these people.
Then run away from this place until he is strong enough to end their tyranny and free the slaves.
Someone sat beside him, abruptly breaking his chain of thought. He looked to his left to see Elder Joron had sat beside him. "What are you thinking about boy?"
"Nothing," he simply said.
"It's gotta be something," Elder Joron said, "You are being celebrated by the whole tribe. You are a hunter now, with a blessing from Lord Leh himself. And yet, you seem lost… What is it, my child?"
With the same nonchalant tone, Harry answered, "Nothing at all."
It is then a gleam of excitement appeared on the elder's face, "Oh.. I know just the thing that could cheer a man like you up." Then the elder came closer, "Remember the slave that you had your eyes on? Her cherry is not popped yet. And today my boy.. Is your lucky day,"
Harry remembered the girl. But he was not interested in sleeping with her in any way; he was interested in talking to her. Before he could convey his message to Joron, the man stood up. "VULCANS!" With a shout, Joron was able to get the attention of all the tribesmen.
With the elder's shout, the celebration came to a stop. Everybody turned towards Joron, who further added, "Today, we got ourselves a capable hunter. And I am feeling very proud to announce, the proud hunter of the day is going to become a man tonight. He is going to sow his seed into a slave, and maybe bring more proud hunters to the tribe." With the announcement, the tribe started cheering for him.
Someone grabbed Harry from behind and swung him onto their shoulders. With cheers and shouts, the people of the tribe hoisted him up in the air. They started a procession, which had everyone from adults to kids. With all the noise they could create, they took him up the rock. To his surprise, there was a rather huge tent erected in one of the empty parts of the rock. The entrance of the tent was filled with flower petals, and a fresh fruit basket was beside the entrance.
Harry was put down, and Joron came and stood beside him. "Go, boy. Give this tribe an offspring." With a slap on his back, he was pushed forward. "To give you some privacy, we all will go down,"
The procession then started going back, cheering him on. It was only when he saw that everyone was gone, he turned towards the tent.
Inside, he saw the girl waiting for him. She had been bathed, and he could smell a flowery scent in the air. The girl looked distressed and wasn't able to look in his eyes. She was scared, and he couldnt blame her.
Harry came and sat in one corner of the tent, and then asked, "Do you understand me?" Not meeting his gaze, she nodded. He then further enquired, "What is your name?"
"T..Tina," She said in a rather low voice.
"Tina.." He said, then stood up. The girl flinched as he stood up, but he ignored her. He went and grabbed the nearest fur, and went and wrapped it around the girl's body. Then he sat down beside her, "You dont have to fear. I am not going to do anything to you. Yet."
Harry then sat down in front of her, she was still looking pretty scared. He then added, "I just want to ask you a few questions. Answer truthfully, then you can have the fruit basket and go to sleep. I am not going to touch you. Do you understand?"
She nodded, "First. Where are you from? You clearly were not born with the Heks." Her pale skin was a very clear giveaway, she didnt belong to these plains.
She opened her mouth, "Me.." Swallowed hard, "I lived in Pale Men country," Her accent and formation of sentence told him that she had recently learned the language.
"Where is that?" he asked.
"Beyound the moutains. Beyond the great wall.." She said.
He then asked, "Tell me about the scar on your belly button. Someone stabbed you?"
She nodded, "Tina lived with father. Aqua tribe attack. They kill father. Took me by stabbing me there," Her speech pattern told him that she didnt have the command of the language of the Heks.
"How long ago was this incident?"
"24 moons ago," she said. She had stopped shaking, but still looked scared nonetheless.
Twenty-four moons means two years approximately. He thought. He then stood up and brought in the fruit basket, and gave it to her. Without showing any reservation, she quickly started munching on berries as if it were her last meal.
Harry let her eat something, then he further enquired, "Were you able to use Vita before you were captured?"
She nodded, "Pale men, call vita, Vis,"
He raised his eyebrow, "Vishuh.." He then further added, "Did you know how to use.. Vis?" She nodded her head as she took a big bite of Sweet Roots.
"How?" He asked. It was something about his tone, maybe he was being too assertive, that Tina stopped eating. She put the half-eaten fruit down and started explaining to him how her father had trained her.