"RUFUS IS THE TRIBAL LEADER NOW, AND HAS TO FIGHT THAT MONSTER!?" Haley yelled.

Amala had just explained what had happened in the great tribal hall to Haley, Doreen, and Edward at their camp since they didn't speak grey skin language.

"Why would you do that? I am no leader," Rufus said to Amala.

"It was the only way to save you all. Tride would have had you killed in the great tribal hall then and there," Amala explained.

"But still. Did I really have to become the leader of the Dechen tribe?"

"It was the only way and I didn't lie about Tenzin asking you to take care of all of us. Our tribesmen gladly have accepted you as their leader without caring about your race."

"But I am no leader," Rufus yelled at Amala.

"Weren't you some kind of boss or leader back in the capital?"

"Yeah, I was a gang leader but didn't do much leading. Back then I didn't want to be the leader in the first place either."

"You are now the leader either way. You have to understand that we need you and you need us."

Rufus couldn't contradict that.

"This was also a chance to get those elders to accept you as a candidate to be the raja. I know it is a long shot, but that way we could keep my brothers dream alive. A dream of creating a nation the previous generations failed at. Unfortunately, Tride now has full control and even the elders can't oppose him," Amala said with a worried voice.

"That may not be true," said Tashi who joined in on the conversation.

"What are you doing here Tashi?" Amala asked.

"I also wanted to go with Tenzin's plan and always believed in his dream. He was the only one able to lead us. I do not question Tride's resolve, but Tenzin was right. He would lead us to doom. The other kingdoms would drive us out and we would just cause rivers of blood without achieving anything," Tashi said.

"What can we do? Rufus doesn't have a claim to be the Raja," Amala said frustratingly.

"No, but he might. Have you heard of the Seng?" Tashi said.

Both Pema and Amala went quiet. When the Dechen tribesman heard it also went quiet.

"If Rufus would be able to slay it, he may have a claim to be the Raja," Tashi explained.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"That is crazy. It would be suicide," Amala protested in a mad tone.

"What is he talking about? Translate to us," Doreen asked.

"Seng is a creature that has haunted the mountains for over eight years. It is a monster of unimaginable scale. Many hunting parties that have tried to go and take it down have been killed by it. Even many tribal leaders have fallen to it. I would say that even Tride would think twice before engaging it," Amala explained to everyone.

"The Seng has apparently been seen near the capital. It is a long shot, but not impossible. I heard Rufus is pretty strong and has strong people with him. It has been causing chaos for eight years already. Many tribal leaders would maybe acknowledge even humans claim to be the Raja if they are able to bring back the monsters head," Tashi explained.

"This can be the only way. Tride would cause a massacre of the Jacob kingdom. Many would die. You all would die very likely," Rufus said.

Amala was disappointed. She was very reluctant on going to hunt down for the beast but she knew there was no other option. Even if Rufus would manage to kill Tride it would amount to nothing after and the grey skins would still be forced to suffer. Worst is that now Rufus being the Dechen tribe leader all their tribesmen would be claimed as traitors making a human their leader. Rufus had to prove himself to the other grey skins.

"Did you want me to run away rather? If there is one in a million to save someone, I would rather do that than flee and think later that I could have done something," Rufus explained.

Amala forfeited. He knew Rufus's mind was set. There was no helping it.

"I guess we have no choice. You will though not go hunt that beast alone. It is nowhere near your average Rukh. This beast is a force of nature. It has even killed entire villages. Killing it might be even a bigger stretch than winning against Tride," Amala explained and made sure Rufus was ready and knew what he was up against.

"We will leave then tomorrow morning. Haley, you will stay here with a couple of Dechen tribesmen," Rufus said and looked at Haley.

"Why? I have always come with you until now," Haley objected.

"I am sorry Haley. If this Seng is really that dangerous I can not risk something happening to you."

"I have been to dangerous situations so many times before. What makes this so different?"

Rufus clenched his fist. He knew he was about to say something he hoped he would have to never say.

"I didn't want to use this, but only those with a divine power or hunting experience should go," Rufus explained while trying not to look Haley in the eyes.

Haley felt again useless. She was still unable to control her powers and she was only able to manifest them once with the help of Tenzin. She walked away and Rufus let her.

"Is this fine?" Doreen asked.

"This for the best."

~ ~

The Dechen tribe left to hunt down the Seng. Rufus was accompanied by Doreen, Edward, Pema, and Amala. They were also accompanied by eight of the Dechen tribesmen. A few of the original entourage of Tenzin stayed behind to make sure Tride would not send anyone to attack Haley.

They left the capital and started a long hike north of Lehasa. According to Tashi the Seng was spotted roaming some fifty kilometers from the capital in a large canyon. They had to act fast. In a week, Rufus would have to face Tride himself and before it, he would have to get the approval of not just the Dechen tribe, but of many other tribes.

The Seng had already become almost a divine beast to many grey skins. They offered offerings to it so it would spare their villages. It left almost no trace so few people didn't even know what it looked like.

"Has there been ever records of these kinds of monsters before?" Doreen asked Amala.

"A few, but they appear only once a generation. Some villages have had some occasional problems with some creatures from a very persistent wolf pack or rukh flock. This Seng is a first of its kind we have ever had to deal with among us grey skins," Amala explained.