Kaara's face brightened and her tail thumped on the ground repeatedly at the prospect of spending time with her dad.

"I'll take that as a yes." Her father slung the kervaza over his shoulder and swooped down to pick up Kaara in the same way.

Kaara giggled, kicking her legs. "We're a three-headed monster now!"

Her father laughed, "So we are. It seems like we've infiltrated the camp too."

"Roooaaaar!" Kaara yelled, baring her fangs, and raising her hands in a threatening gesture. Her father did the same, raising both of their bodies as he bellowed, "Raaauuuurrrr!" Her father stomped around as he walked forward, "We will avenge our third head!"

"Roooaaaar! Beware, mortals!" Kaara said, flailing her arms about.

“What are you two doing?” Tiksu said as they approached.

"Stormin’ the camp," Kaara replied.

Her father dropped the kervaza's body on a table in front of Tiksu, "Kaara hunted this."

"A Kervaza? She managed to get close enough?"

Kaara nodded, her tail wagging about uncontrollably.

"I was impressed too. They're normally very cautious creatures. Kaara said you trained her well."

Tiksu looked it over, “This is a really good catch. Clean kill too. Well done, Kaara.”

“Thanks! Can you make it into a cloak for me?”

“I think so. The pelt is still fairly intact.”

"If you'll excuse us, Tiksu, this two-headed monster has some rampaging to do. Are you able to watch over the camp for a few minutes?"

Tiksu looked to his chief, and then to Kaara, who was still slung over the chief's shoulder with a carefree smile. He let out an exhausted sigh, "Alright. But don't take too long. I've got work I need to do too."

"Thank you, friend. I'll be sure to make it up to you." Tiksu waved him off, "Go on, Septis, enjoy some time with your daughter. She’s been working hard lately and so have you. I'll hold things down for a bit."

“Thanks again, Tiksu! I owe you one,” Septis said.

“I’ll add it to your tab.”

As they walked away, Kaara repositioned herself, sitting on her father’s shoulders. “It’s so high up!”

Her father chuckled, “You’ve climbed trees taller than me.”

“But trees don’t walk.”

“Not all trees. Although I suppose you wouldn’t want to climb those.” Septis stepped into the forest.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Huh? Tell me!” Kaara grabbed at her father’s horns and shook them.

Her father allowed it, his head rocking back and forth, “I’ll tell you all about it when we get there, sit tight kiddo.” he said, stiffening his neck so she couldn’t shake his head anymore.

The xia pouted, slumping her body between her father’s horns.

“Isn’t it beautiful? This forest?” Her father asked.

Kaara looked up, “Mhm.”

“You know why this forest is here?”

“Cuz a big Ingen tree loved another big Ingen tree very very much? ”

He chuckled, “Not exactly. This is a Tibur forest, Kaara. Do you know what that means?”

"No."

They approached a massive circle of ivory stones, which stretched around a radiant flower bed. Each one of the stones was triangular and stood near the height of the trees. Winter was non-existent within the center of these stone pillars.

As soon as they stepped inside, the temperature changed from a cold winter morning to a sunny spring day. Vines and trees hugged tightly to the jagged stones, cascading in a wall of viridian. They stepped between two of the colossal pillars, a pleasant breeze of warm air blowing into Kaara's face. She was awestruck by what she saw. Hundreds of weapons were buried blade first into the ground. Each of them was rusted, and weather-worn as if they had stood for longer than the trees themselves.

“A Tibur Forest is the burial ground for our kin. All the trees around, and every animal, is nurtured by the Aix of our deceased.”

Kaara noticed how many weapons there were. There were hundreds of them, and they all no doubt held a deceased member of her tribe beneath the soil.

"Don't be sad for them."

"Why not?"

"It’s a part of life. Their death gives way for new life to flourish. We Tibur draw from the power of those whose memories we keep. This forest wouldn’t exist without them, and we would not be standing if it wasn’t for their sacrifice. This is one of many places we bury our kin. And this happens to be where most of my family- and yours- are buried as well.”

“Don’t tell me not to be sad and then tell me my dead relatives are buried here! That’s mean!

Septis laughed, “Let's go meet your grandparents shall we?"

“But they're dead.”

“It’s still good to visit.” her father walked towards the center of the clearing, stopping in front of two crossed weapons. One was a war scythe with its crescent blade buried beneath the soil, while the other was a halberd with its spearhead sunk to its hilt. "The two of them were among the many who had sacrificed themselves here to keep us alive. They were gone before you were born."

“What were they like?”

"They were inseparable. Your grandfather was a very honorable xio. He was as stoic as a mountain and just as powerful. Your grandmother was the complete opposite. She was filled with mischief and hardly ever serious. I could hardly remember a time where she wasn't on the move, or planning a prank on your grandfather. She was a lot like you and Tulos."

"They're so different, though. Why were they inseparable?"

"Your grandfather found her mischief to be infuriating at first, yes, but he grew to love her adventurous attitude. Meanwhile, your grandmother had seen your grandfather as boring and dull but later came to see him as someone she could rely on. Someone stable in an ever changing world."

“How did they die?”

Her father breathed a deep, somber sigh, a bittersweet smile curling his lips, “When you get old you have two choices. Die a warrior at your peak, or live the rest of your days through The Waning. The two of them lived until the first signs of The Waning began to show. Then, they challenged a dragon and offered their flesh to her.”

Kaara gave him a look, “Why did they do that?”

“There is no greater death than to be felled in battle by a dragon at the peak of your power. And to a dragon, there is no greater meal. Just like the forest around us, they sustain themselves on our Aix. Everyone in this cemetery was consumed by Malikala The Sun Eater”