Xeno and Visha led the people who decided to leave for the marsh. Visha could feel their uncertainty. They weren't sure where they would go. She could also feel their blame. However, she didn't mind. She knew there was bound to be some.
While she may have accepted the two men, she knew the rest of the people would not find it so easy to accept her.
She asked Xeno to make sure no one was following. If those people knew there was somewhere else to live, they would riot.
The leader, after letting them leave, had someone follow them. He noticed the direction they were going was the same direction they had come from. As for the people in the cave, he wanted to have a nice chat with them.
Entering the cave, he saw the people, five of them. There were only two without injury. A broad man and a pregnant woman. Sweeping over them, he noticed the cave was warm.
It piqued his interest. He walked inside and saw the small fire pit. He was immediately alert. A fire means there is a priest here.
He looked around at the people, wondering which one of them was the priest.
Pointing at the fire pit, he asked, "Who made this?" His voice boomed with excitement.
The people in the cave looked at each other. Grik stood out, ready to take the praise.
"I did," he said proudly with his chest puffed out.
The leader looked at the man. He couldn't see any of the wisdom or compassion his priest had told him about. The reason they ventured so far, even risking their own lives, was because the priest asked them to.
Bram, the leader of the group, was one of the best fighters of the Bear tribe. They had a fighting chance to live through winter with him here.
The priest asked them to venture out to find someone who would save their continent. From what? Bram was not sure. However, at the last priest meeting, the priest came back downtrodden.
None of the priests of the other tribes would say anything. They could only go according to the vision their priest had.
So, they ended up here.
Looking at this man, who looked self-righteous, Bram felt that if their fates were left to him, it would be a bleak future.
"Do I look stupid?" he barked. He would prefer to risk offending the priest to make sure than not save his tribe. He looked around the cave again.
He saw the potatoes and meat that had not been hidden.
"You can't have those," the man with a limp said quickly, walking over to pick up a potato. "This is our ration for the winter."
"Why would I want your rocks? I can hunt if I want to eat."
The limping man nodded, agreeing. As long as he doesn't take the sweet potatoes, he doesn't care.
"I'll ask again, who made this fire?" This time, he didn't even glance at Grik; he looked at the man holding the rock. "Do you know who made it?" he pointed again.
Peeking at Grik, who glared at him, he said, "He did it." The girl was already gone; there wasn't any reason for him to mention her.
Plus, people here really do take turns stoking the fire so it doesn't go out. Visha taught them how to make it.
Bram had no choice but to acknowledge Grik as the priest.
He made a salute, putting his arm over his chest, and addressed Grik.
"My apologies if I offended you, priest. I needed to make sure. Our priest has had a vision of someone who would be able to help our tribe. I ask for your forgiveness and assistance. If you accept, we will go to the tribe after winter. You will be greatly welcomed. "
Grik hadn't expected this kind of windfall. If he knew making a fire could give him status as a priest, he would have snuck around to find out how to make one before.
The only thing Grik heard was that someone would welcome him with fanfare. He didn't think about what would happen if they found out he was not the person they were looking for.
His pride swelled. He decided to pretend to be aloof.
He would wait until he got to their tribe, then see what he needed to do.
While Grik was planning his grand procession in the Bear tribe, Visha and the others had stopped halfway to the marsh.
Xeno told her someone was following at a distance.
The people suffering from Blight were tired, so she took this as a chance to rest and find a way to get the person to stop following.
This time she did not take the responsibility on her shoulders. She asked others for advice.
"According to Xeno, there is someone following us. It's the people who came to take the cave. I know there are sick and weak people here, but we need to come up with a plan."
"Why are we planning anything? We don't know where to go." Heta grumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Who says we have nowhere to go?" Uri spoke up. "After everything she has done for us, do you think she would allow us to leave without a place to stay?"
He sat on the ground, looking weak. But his voice showed no weakness. He looked at Heta, who had a sour face since leaving.
"If you don't believe her, go back to the cave." He steeled his eyes, looking directly at her.
Whatever she decided, he would not care. He knew Visha well enough to know she wouldn't displace them without a valid reason. Did Heta expect them to fight for the cave while ill?
He shook his head, wondering if there was something wrong with her brain.
A smile crept up on Visha's face watching Uri defend her. She nodded in agreement. She wouldn't stop Heta from leaving. She didn't want to have extra trouble to deal with.
Clapping her hands, she addressed everyone again, "So, anyone with any good ideas?"