"Damn Chichika, is he using witchcraft on me? Why would I feel grateful to him..."
Chichika gave a faint smile, nodding, then turned to look at the Red Deer Chieftain.
"And you, Masate, the Red Deer Tribe fought hard, suffering heavy casualties. You too, lead your people to the rear camp to rest for two days. After we repel the Cactus Tribe, and return to the Valley, I will replenish your losses!"
"Thank you, respected Great Chief! The Red Deer Tribe is willing to fight for you!"
Masate was quite grateful, and also paid his respects.
Chichika nodded with a smile, and even tugged at Masate’s hair. Between punishment and reward, he distinguished the majesty of a Great Chief. The tribe leaders inside the tent looked on in awe, all bowing their heads in submission.
Amoxtli stood in the corner of the large tent, silently observing everything. The newly appointed Red Crow Chieftain’s gaze was deep, etching every moment into his memory. In the days he had followed Chichika, the door to a new world was slowly opening to him, silently transforming him.
A moment later, he silently looked outside the camp. Although the great wildfire was gradually extinguishing, the flame in his chest had just begun to ignite.
"The truly powerful warrior is the leader who commands all warriors, the Wolf King who drives the wolf pack!..."
Not long ago, a wildfire had struck, causing chaos. Amoxtli had thought about escaping amidst the confusion, but ultimately did not. Because the tribe’s warriors with red hair stayed in the army’s rear camp, including Alan, together with the Red Salamander warriors they acted in unison, tangling with each other, making it difficult to break away. Ever since he had last saved Uman, Chichika had not turned his anger on Amoxtli, instead, he began to trust his abilities, intending to promote and cultivate him. This important military council, he too was allowed to attend.
"My chiefs, my warriors!"
After punishes and rewards the two chieftains, Chichika stood tall. With an exuberant tone, he confidently shouted at everyone.
"Although our camp was burned in the wildfire, it also gained us precious time! Now, this newly built camp controls the valley passage, the mountain is majestic and towering, the terrain even more dangerous! As long as we hold this place, neither the weak Otomi dogs nor the barbarously brave Cactus Samurai can do anything!"
"Our old camp, Pamus Valley, is just fifty li behind this camp! Now, our food is no longer scarce; we harvested a lot of corn. You all heard from the tribe’s Messenger, the farmland’s yield in the Valley greatly surpasses that of the Wilderness! Such fertile land, we must hold on to it and claim it as our own!"
"The wildfire came, and some warriors were demoralized, but the Southern Tribes too suffered greatly in the wildfire, also suffering heavy losses! Now, I have already sent out Envoys, drafting warriors stationed in various tribes from the Valley, gathering ten thousand reinforcements! With enough food and brave warriors, we can hold this mountain stronghold until the enemy dies of old age!"
"...Warriors, I will not say more of these trivial things! As long as we repel the Cactus Tribe, our fierce Guajili people, can stay in the rich Valley and establish a powerful City-State Alliance! At that time, all losses of the tribes, can be replenished through looting. I will lead you all to the south, to grab more food, skilled craftsmen, and the tender southern women! Howl!!"
"Listen to the Great Chief! Repel the enemy, take over the Valley! Howl! Howl! Howl!!"
Hearing Chichika’s call to war, the large tent immediately turned chaotic. The Red Salamander and Red Monkey chieftains were the first to shout in agreement, followed by the Red Deer and Red Monkey. All the tribe leaders roared aloud, even the punished Ozoma yelled hoarsely.
"Grab food, grab craftsmen, grab southern women!!"
The frenzied shouting echoed in the large tent, even the shadows flickering in the campfire, changing into greedy shapes like fish hooked by desire.
Shadows cast over Amoxtli in the corner, covering his face, making him lower his gaze. He once again thought of Kakalo, recalling the old Chieftain’s parting words.
"Aximo, the world of the Wilderness is vast. The tribes are constantly migrating, the eagle flies far away in its flight, everything is for the sake of vitality and hope, for heritage and continuation... We cannot resist the shadows, it’s time to leave..."