Tribe Rules - S01 E01

Story 2 months ago

Tribe Rules - S01 E01

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

Tribe Rules

The sun was slowly setting behind the big green hills. It looked like a giant orange ball dipping into a bowl of golden light. The sky was filled with colors of pink, purple, and gold. Usually, this was the most peaceful time of day in the land of the Sun Tribe. But today, something felt very different. Prince Jide was standing at the edge of the Great River. He was a very tall and strong man with skin that looked like polished bronze. Everyone in the Sun Tribe knew him as the most handsome man in the land. He was also very brave, but right now, his hands were shaking just a little bit.

He looked down at the water. The Great River was usually clear and bright, reflecting the blue sky. But suddenly, the water began to change. It happened so fast that Jide rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not dreaming. The water turned as dark as ink. It was deep, thick, and black. It looked like night had fallen inside the river itself. Jide felt a cold shiver run down his back. It was the kind of cold that makes your bones feel like ice. The air became very still. Even the birds stopped singing. The silence of the forest felt heavy and strange, like the trees were holding their breath.

Jide was waiting for someone. He was not supposed to be here. The rules of the Sun Tribe were very strict. No one was allowed to go near the Great River after the sun began to hide behind the hills. And no one, especially not a prince, was allowed to talk to people from other tribes. But Jide did not care about those old rules today. His heart was leading him to this spot. He kept looking at the bushes on the other side of the clearing. His heart was beating like a fast drum against his chest. It went thud, thud, thud, so loud that he thought the whole forest could hear it.

Suddenly, the bushes moved. It was a soft sound, like a secret being whispered by the leaves. Jide quickly reached for his silver knife. The knife was shiny and sharp, a gift from his father, the Great King. Jide held the handle tight. He was ready to fight if a wild animal or a forest monster jumped out. He stepped back from the black water, keeping his eyes fixed on the moving shadows.

But it was not a monster. Out of the shadows stepped Elena. As soon as Jide saw her, his hand relaxed, and he almost dropped his knife. Elena was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was from the Rain Tribe. The Rain Tribe lived on the other side of the dark mountains where it always rained and the air was always misty. Her people and Jide’s people were not friends. In fact, they never spoke to each other.

They lived apart, separated by the mountains and by very old, very angry rules. The elders of the Sun Tribe said the Rain Tribe people were dangerous. The elders of the Rain Tribe told their children that the Sun Tribe was full of pride.

But looking at Elena, Jide did not see an enemy. He saw a girl with eyes that were full of light, like two bright stars trapped in her face. She was wearing a dress made of soft blue fabric that looked like the sky after a storm. Her hair was dark and long, and she had a gentle smile that made Jide forget all about the scary black water in the river.

Jide stepped forward, his feet crunching on the dry leaves. Elena took a step toward him too. They met in the middle of the clearing, near a large old oak tree. The forest was still very quiet, but it did not feel as scary now that they were together.

Elena, you came, Jide said in a very soft voice. He did not want any wandering spirits or hidden guards to hear him.

I told you I would, Elena whispered back. Her voice was like the sound of a small bell. I had to climb the hidden path through the mountains. My father would be very angry if he knew I was here. He says the Sun Tribe people are like fire, and fire always burns.

Jide shook his head. I am not fire, Elena. And you are not a cold rain. We are just people. I do not care about the old rules of our tribes. I do not care about the wars our grandfathers fought. When I look at you, I only see someone I want to know forever.

Elena looked down at her feet, then back up at Jide. I feel the same way, she said. It is like there is a golden thread pulling me toward you. Every time I am away from you, I feel like a part of me is missing.

They stood there for a long time, just looking at each other. The orange light of the sun was almost gone now. The forest was getting darker and darker. The ink-black water of the river bubbled softly, but they were too busy looking into each other's eyes to notice the strange things happening in the water.

They began to talk more. They told stories about their homes. Jide told her about the big feasts in the Sun Tribe, where they ate golden honey and sweet fruits. Elena told him about the beautiful silver fish that swam in the mountain pools and how the rain felt like a soft blanket on the roof of her house. They laughed quietly, sharing secrets that no one else knew.

We need a plan, Jide said. We cannot just meet by luck. We need to know when it is safe.

Elena nodded. The moon will be full and high in three days, she said. My people will be at the Great Dance in the valley. They will not notice if I slip away.

I will be here, Jide promised. I will wait for you right by this oak tree. When the moon is at the very top of the sky, look for me. I will bring a small lantern so you can find your way through the dark.

Jide felt like the happiest man alive. He felt like he could fly over the mountains and touch the clouds. He forgot about the strange shiver he felt earlier. He forgot about the dark water and the heavy silence. All he could think about was Elena and the secret they shared. It felt like they were the only two people in the whole world.

I have to go now, Elena said sadly. The path back is long, and the mountain lions start to hunt when the stars come out.

Wait, Jide said. He reached out his hand. He wanted to touch her hand just once before she disappeared back into the shadows. He wanted to feel if she was real or if she was just a beautiful dream made of moonlight.

Elena reached out her hand too. Her fingers were just an inch away from his. But just as their skin was about to touch, a loud noise broke the silence.

It was the sound of a very heavy branch snapping loudly right behind them. It sounded like a bone breaking. Jide and Elena both jumped and turned around. Their hearts were pounding so hard they could feel the vibration in their throats.

In the thick shadows of the forest, near the edge of the black river, a figure was standing. It was a very tall and very dark figure. The person was so still that they looked like a statue made of coal. Jide could not see the person's face because it was covered by a hood, but he could see their hands. The figure was holding a long wooden staff.

The staff was not normal. It began to glow with a ghostly, pale light. The light was green and white, and it made the trees around it look like skeletons. The glow was so bright that it reflected in the black water of the river, making the ink look like it was moving and crawling.

Jide stepped in front of Elena to protect her. He pulled out his silver knife again, but this time his hand was shaking more than before. The figure did not move. It just stood there, watching them with invisible eyes. The ghostly light from the staff got brighter and brighter, filling the clearing with a cold, spooky energy. Jide wanted to speak, he wanted to ask who was there, but his voice was stuck in his chest. Elena gripped Jide’s arm tightly, her breath coming in short gasps.

The dark figure raised the glowing staff slowly, and the ground beneath Jide’s feet began to tremble. The secret meeting was no longer a secret. Someone was watching. Someone knew the Prince and the Rain Tribe girl had broken the rules. And whoever it was, they did not look like they wanted to say hello.

Who do you think is hiding in the shadows with the glowing staff? Is it a guard, a wizard, or someone else?

Do you think Prince Jide and Elena will be able to escape, or will they be captured?

What do you think turned the river water into black ink? Could it be magic?

If you were Jide, would you stay and fight or run away with Elena?

Do you want to know what happens next in the land of the Sun and Rain? The mystery of the black river and the dark figure is just beginning!