That made no sense whatsoever. Why would anyone cross the vast distances of space just to see her and Zigma? Zarah could kind of understand coming to see Zigma, especially if it was rare to find just one Aeva, not that she had any more ideas as to what that was. Lyra was being maddingly unhelpful, dropping crumbs of information like that was enough to get Zarah to trust a stranger from the mythical Terra. Trazie was mostly peaceful. She didn’t want to be the reason why they were suddenly at war with Terra or whatever this “horror that came before” was. Honestly that sounded like a story designed to keep kids inside at night. Zarah wasn’t a kid anymore. She had enough real-life terrors like bandits of colds. Colds were terrible, the absolute worse.

Zigma popped back into telepathic range, [i][color=63e42d]“Zarah. Headman Kilpatrick says to bring the stranger down. Well, what he actually said was, “Have Zarah bring your guest in for the night,” but he looks all types of tense. He’s muttering about calling for a meeting of the clans.”[/color][/i]

Zarah called back, [i][color=c2be89]“We’re on our way. And tell Headman Kilpatrick that that might not be a bad idea. I asked her why she was here and she mentioned some horror from before and said she would tell the leaders why she was here.”[/color][/i] She paused for a moment, [i][color=c2be89]“ She also says she’s here because of you. Don’t tell the headman that.”[/color][/i]

Zigma’s mental tone was one of mental disbelief, [i][color=63e42d]“Me? But that makes no sense.”[/color][/i]

Zarah’s fist clenched tightly, [i][color=c2be89]“I know. We need to be careful. I’m on my way. I’ll meet you there.”[/color][/i] Out loud she said, [color=c2be89]“You’ve been invited to Mountain Lake Tribe for the night by Headman Lu-Is Kilpatrick.”[/color] She pointed back down the path in the right direction this time, [color=c2be89]“The sun is about to set. We should hurry.”[/color]

Zarah walked in silence for the rest of the trip. She didn’t like this. She didn’t like this two people coming and ruining Trazie’s peace. She [i]really[/i] didn’t like Lyra asking so many questions about Zigma. Zigma may not have been human, but he was still human, and he was Zarah’s best friend, practically family. He wasn’t some sort of experiment or curio to be observed. If Lyra and Jessica wanted to hurt him or take him a way, they would have to deal with her. Zarah wasn’t one hundred percent sure what she would be able to do about it, but hopefully at least the rest of the Jameson Family would help her.

When they got back to the town Headman Kilpatrick was there along with a few other important people: a handful of elders, the owners of important shops, respected adults. Zigma was there too, hovering behind Samuel Jameson, her father. He was standing a few feet behind Mikal Honestmen, the village blacksmith who was holding his forging hammer in a way that brokered no argument. Looking closely Zarah could see that this was no friendly welcoming party. There were no visible weapons except for Mr. Honestmen’s hammer and Mrs. Traveil’s kitchen knife, but then again there weren’t very many weapons just lying around in the Mountain Lake Tribe anyways.

Headman Kilpatrick spoke and his tone brokered no argument, [b]“Ms. Jameson, to your family.”[/b] She quickly crossed to her father and Zigma as he continued speaking to Lyra, [b]“Ms. Lyra of Terra, Ms. Jessica of Terra, Ms. Jameson and Mr. Zigma had informed me that you are seeking to summon and meeting of the various clan leaders, but aren’t explaining further. So, I ask you a simple question, are either of you, or Terra, a threat to the peace that Trazie has managed to acquire and keep?”[/b]