A month passed without incident. Three months from the first event and I decided to take a weeks vacation. I should have known I wouldn't get to enjoy it. The Friday after work I found myself shifting. I ended up in a forest of thick trees on what would be the outskirts of my town. No buildings in equivalent locations. I touched one of the large scaly looking trees. These things looked durable. When I tried to cut one with my axe it barely went into the bark. Ironwood is what I'd call this place. I marked it on the pink circle on my little "map" before walking my way to what would be the center of town.

It took me a few hours to reach what should have been the edge of downtown. Still no buildings or signs of life. I stopped to pull some water and snacks out of my bag and took a break to munch and rehydrate. After sitting at the base of the tree for a few minutes I hear the snapping of a twig. Looking around I didn't see anything. "Hello, is someone there? I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just.... Kinda lost." Without landmarks I couldn't even be sure where I was exactly.

A distinct buzzing was heard as people with dragon fly like bug wings on their back flew down from the trees pointing spears at me. There were four different skin colors and factions among the group that surrounded me, indicating they were originally from different tribes or cultures. All the creatures were tall and extremely slender humanoids. Having limbs that looked unnaturally thin by human standards. One group had pale alabaster white skin and hair, with long flowing white silken robes with long sleeves. They had large eyes with black sclera, rather than normal iris there were lines and dots of color in a circle with gaps rather than a solid looking circle. The second group had yellow to brown skin and hair, wearing outfits of leaves and bark. Their iris being yellow to green in color. The third being purple skinned and white hair with purple iris in short sleeved robes that showed more skin revealing some light tribal tattoos. The last were black as the ace of spades with black hair and purple iris. The women in dress skirts and bow tie tube tops and the men being topless in what looked like Japanese style curtain pants like samurai wore. Members having white tribal paint and piercings. These were the least human looking of any people I have met.

They looked at one another, muttering among themselves. Then one of the male pale ones spoke. "We'll take you to the village elders. They'll choose what to do with you."

"Look, I don't want to hurt anyone. Hell, I don't even want to be here. I've been jumping worlds. I have no control over it. Not counting my home, this makes three."

My words met only silence as I was taken to a group of buildings built right into the trees.

They had to lower a rope for me to climb up to get to the massive tree fortress where they took me to the building in the center. One went in for a bit and then I was instructed to go inside. There were four old people sitting at a table, one member of each of the four tribes. One spoke up first, the elder of the pale tribe.

"Greetings strangers from another world. It's been a long time since we've had a visitor. If not for your claim to have come here unintentionally, I'd think you were an emissary of the Golden Citadel. Even though I heard rumors it fell in the war."

"I'm from the world in the center." I pull out my little makeshift map of worlds and points. "Right here."

There is some murmuring among the elders before I'm addressed again "You don't look like a warrior of the middle world from the stories."

"Well I'm not a warrior. Also a lot has changed in the last five thousand years."

"We have no reason to take you at your word and trust you, but you've given us no reason not to. While you are here you'll be watched, and swift action will be taken to prevent any aggression."

"Right. I'm guessing you'll answer any questions I have as long as you don't see a threat in giving me the information."

"Your curiosity is understandable. After all, any records of other worlds are likely nothing but myths where you are from as well."

"Yeah. I read a bit about this world in a book I found in another. From what that said the tribes of this world didn't cohabitate like this."

"Even to this day they normally don't. The kingdoms of this land wouldn't approve of us. We live outside the laws of the Ivory Towers and the Ebony Depths. We fend for ourselves without support, outcasts."

"Well I'd rather interact with you then those in the city. You are all the same species or race or whatever. Then again the people of my world aren't much better. Sure people of different color and creed cohabitate often, but there are enough that think they shouldn't be a problem."

"We wish those in charge would let go of the grievances of the past and find peace. The light and dark tribes have been in and out of war for three cycles. Fifteen thousand years or so. The twilight and woodland tribes have simply stayed out of the wars for the most part."

"Yeah. I've noticed little sign of any environmental complications here. Every other world has had issues."

"There is something like that here too. Regular storms make it difficult to live. These areas flood somewhat regularly as well as winds too strong to navigate."

"I read about the cycles. It's crazy to think that there is some cosmic cycle that causes big changes every five thousand years or so. Just three cycles ago my people were only beginning to build primitive civilizations. I can only imagine how advanced your city must be."

"Things there have mostly stagnated since the big war. Besides the storms it's basically the same now as then. Those in charge simply pretend everything is fine and the world isn't falling into chaos."

"The people in charge of my world are kinda doing the same thing. Acting like everything is fine while it all slowly goes to crap. If you don't mind I'll just be hanging out with people around here for a bit. I'll ask them any questions I have and let you elders get back to whatever it was you were doing before I got here. Gotta keep myself busy till I go home."

The elders nod and gesture to the door. I exit and start taking a look around the village. The people I pass giving me looks and whispering among themselves. I probably look as strange to them as they are to me. Technically speaking, I'm the alien here.

It took me a bit to notice but one of the purple skinned ones, a member of the twilight tribe, was following me. The elders said I'd be watched but it still felt strange to be followed. She looked rather young to be tasked with keeping an eye on a stranger. If I wanted to, I could easily overpower her and run. I have no reason to do so and nowhere to go anyway. Though if I tried something I doubt I'd get away clean. I found an area with what looked like a hanging garden. Plants in pots hanging from trees. With a rope going from the bottom to anchor it. It looked like they grew herbs and edible plants there. Medicine and food, grown right in the village for use.

"I'm guessing with the storms and floods this must be how you do your farming."

The young lady responded "Yeah. We also send hunting parties to hunt and gather food. If you go over there we have mounted harpoons. When the area floods it brings fish from the nearby river to below the village. This entire setup is self-sustaining even in long storms. It's really amazing how we've managed to survive."

"What about the big city? I imagine it's got a massive wall."

She nodded "They set it up so a canal runs through the city when they built the wall. So everything can be powered by the regular floods."

"Wait... You mean they have a massive hydro electric dam that takes advantage of the rushing flood waters in the storm? I'm guessing they have windmills as well if the winds are like you say."

"Yeah. The light tribe's main cities have quickly adapted to take advantage of a bad situation. However even with changes to not just minimize the bad but gain something positive, they still struggle with proper farming. Indoor farms can be difficult. So even with them taking advantage of slopes and gravity to get the water into the canal to power the city it's not perfect."

"I see. What about the wood? These trees are extremely tough compared to the ones in my world. I'd probably need specialized tools to cut them. Yet this village is made of it."

"There is a trick to cutting them. A special stone found at the river bank. Get a large enough or sharp enough one and you are set. It's that or rigging something up to get the trees to grow in the shape you want. While growing new parts it is softer and putting something in the way will cause it to form where it is."

"So you grow a foundation then nail boards to it that have been cut with specialized tools. I can also see you have the border of the village set at aerodynamic angles with blinders that come down so the wind is cut and goes around rather than pushing the town. I'm guessing you have horns you use when a storm is about to hit so you can call back hunting parties."

"Yeah. It's not perfect though. Sometimes a storm will hit out of nowhere and catch us off guard. Not everyone makes it back, and we've lost a few people permanently. "

I nod and go back to taking in the view. For now the sky was clear and everything was beautiful.

After a bit I felt a wave of exhaustion. The fatigue was starting to set in. So I found a place to sit. I then saw a hunting party getting ready to head out in the distance and ran over.

"Are you guys getting ready to go hunting?"

They look at one another before confirming.

I looked at the lady who was my escort then around. I closed my eyes and took a breath and smelled the air before addressing the lady. "You have to tell them to cancel the hunt, and recall everyone currently out. Right now."

"What are you talking about? The sky is perfectly clear. There is no reason to-"

"You are going to have to trust me on this, but despite how the sky looks, we are about to get hit. Hard. We've got a half hour tops."

"Are... Are you sure? How can you tell"

"I... I just can okay. It's a sort of gift I have. If you act and I'm wrong then it's just a false alarm and no one gets hurt but-"

"If you're right and we ignore you, people will die." She then gives the order to cancel the hunt and recall the parties already out. Horns are blown sounding off like air raid sirens.

It quickly started getting cloudy and windy as thunder started to roll. The last hunting group got back just a bit before the rain started dropping and the wind blinders were dropped just in time. I ended up collapsing on the floor from exhaustion. I woke up on a makeshift bed with the sound of heavy rain, wind, and thunder in the background.

"Are you okay? You just collapsed out of nowhere."

"Y-yeah. A fatigue hits me shortly after I shift. Jumping worlds is apparently exhausting. Did everyone make it back in time?"

"Yeah, they made it back just in time. Thanks to you and your gift."

"Thanks. Never thought it would help save lives. I mean in my world we have ways of knowing it'll rain or storm days in advance thanks to the use of tools. So the best I've ever been able to do is know it's going to hit soon while outside and the storms back home are never this bad."

She nodded "As soon as you are ready to move, the elders want to see you again. Probably to offer thanks for your help."

"it was nothing, really. But I guess if they insist I won't turn down a humble thank you."

I shuffled up and walked my way to the hut that the elders were in. Once again in front of the leaders of the village.

"We heard about how you helped our people earlier. We can only offer our humble gratitude for such aid, as we have little to offer."

"No need to thank me. I'm just glad my silly little gift was helpful for a change."

"Silly little gift? I'm guessing where you come from you never needed it, let alone used it to save a life. I am curious about your gift however. Is it hereditary?"

"Kinda." I shrugged "it's stronger in me than anyone else in my family by far. It has something to do with electromagnetic frequencies. I'm sensitive to changes in ions or something. I also mess with antennas and other electronics sometimes, though I guess stating that would have little to no meaning to you."

"We understand well enough. Does this... Gift have anything to do with your world shifting ability."

"I.... Honestly I have no idea. Maybe? I've had the gift my whole life but the world hopping is new."

The elders mermer among one another before one speaks up again. "Well we'd like to offer proper thanks and honors. As part of the custom of the Woodland tribe we etch the name of the person we are honoring on a leaf. So stranger, what are we to etch on your leaf?"

"My name's Hunter... Ericsson."

There was some murmuring among the crowd before the twilight elder spoke up. "Then we offer our official thanks Hunter, son of Eric."

I wanted to correct them, but explaining how surnames work felt like it would be a wasted effort. I did a light bow and was excused from their presence. "They seem weary of me. I mean I don't exactly blame them. I'm a stranger to this world, an alien to its people. It's only natural they would distrust me."

"There are stories of the Mid-Worlders that have passed through my people. They tell of a pale well belt clan of warriors. Loud and fond of drink. Though some were honorable, others not so much. Stories tell of savagery and violence, a primitive civilization that worshiped the Guilded Ones. Molded by them into a people that would gladly serve and lay down life and limb for the King of [Crows]."

"That was five thousand years ago. My people at best only live a hundred. There is also the fact that transit seems location relative meaning this clan was just one in a specific location. In fact not everyone is pale like me. There are people on my world that have darker skin more like the Dark Tribe here. We come in about as many colors as you, and there are hundreds of thousands of cultures."

"Really? So much how not every [untranslated] is the same, not every Mid-Worlder is the same? I guess that makes sense. I mean every other world had multiple tribes in the stories. It would be strange for yours to be an outlier."

I nodded "Well at least your people didn't threaten to kill and or eat me. It's actually strange that everyone I've met has been relatively calm around me. Curious or even friendly. I've yet to encounter a crazy person who would shoot first and ask questions later or freak out when they see me before running for their life." I went back to walking around and watching what people were up to. Tending gardens, making clothes and weapons, some were preparing the fishing area. Water had already started flooding over the grass. In just a few hours it was deep enough for fish to migrate across the area. I saw a few hopping in and out of the water before the fisherman started tossing the harpoons and spear fishing them right out of the rushing flood waters. "I'd offer to help fish, if just to give myself something to do. I've never been spear fishing so I doubt I'd catch anything."

"Even if you were good at it, it's not necessary. You've already helped a lot. You don't have to pitch in."

"Yeah, I know. I can't just sit around and do nothing though. Keeping busy helps time go by faster. Spending all day doing nothing would be boring."

"Well if you want something to do.... I guess I could find something." She took time thinking for a bit.

I then saw a group of children and elderly weaving baskets to carry things in for the hunters and gatherers and point them out. "We could always have a sit and do basket weaving."

"That's... Normally for those too old and too young to hunt. Occasionally those with injuries making them unable to fish, hunt, or tend garden. It's not exactly something we have a grown and capable man doing."

"I'd just be in the way if I tried fishing. So it's this or helping in the garden."

"With how much time we have we could do a bit of both I guess "

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"Right." I then sat with the group and started weaving baskets. "I have nothing better to do until I jump back home anyway. Who knows when that'll happen."

She sat next to me. "Is that why you always carry that bag? It must be heavy."

"I've gotten used to it by now."

We sat weaving baskets for a while, I started to get a bit uncomfortable with all the staring from the kids and elderly so I stood up and declared it time to check out the gardens. The hanging gardens were not exactly made with humans in mind, many pots unreachable without wings or something. "Not getting much done here either.... It's hard to get comfortable doing anything when everyone has their eyes on my back."

"No one alive has ever seen a Mid-Worlder. Till today they were just stories. They're just curious is all."

"Maybe I should have tried spear fishing. Then again I'd probably get laughed at for being really bad at it."

"It's not something you ever needed to learn. I wouldn't worry about it much. I'm sure there's something you are good at no one here can do. You know, besides the storm thing."

"Honestly.... Probably not. I don't really have any special skills that your tribe wouldn't have. There are things I know how to do that many on my world don't, but they are things that are more common for you. Things like using a bow; hunting and tracking deer, elk, or stags; cutting, cleaning, and cooking what you hunt and catch... Stuff like that is actually rare knowledge where I'm from. Most people get their food from farms. Something you guys can't do on any sizable scale because of the regular flooding."

After a while trying to be helpful to pass the time I had kinda given up and decided to go back to the area I was sleeping and just laze around for a bit with the young twilight tribe lady just sitting and keeping an eye on me. "You know, I told you my name but I never got yours."

"Oh, right. I'm [Lilac], daughter of Dusk."

"Well it's nice to properly meet you, Lilac Duskdaughter." I chuckled as I laid down. "I'm going to sleep now Lilac. You're free to go."

she nodded before leaving and I drifted off.

The next day I got up and knew exactly what I wanted to do. I gathered fibers and started braiding several thick ropes. Lilac followed me and even joined in with nothing better to do. I spent the next three days braiding ropes, all but two the same length. Two being longer than the rest by a set amount. I then laid the two longer ropes down on the floor a bit shy of the shorter rope's length apart. Then I tied ropes to the longer ropes connecting them at length horizontally before weaving a second set vertically parallel to the two long ones. Making a net.

"So what's this for anyway." Lilac asked.

"It's for catching fish." I then took the net out and set it up. I waited a bit after casting the net before having it pulled up. In just minutes it was full of fish.

"There has to be more fish in that net than what we catch in a day."

"I'm surprised you guys didn't already have nets set up."

"Well the floods are relatively new, so we are still adjusting to this new setup. There were fishing boats that used nets like this though. I guess since we did fine with spears we didn't go for nets. Also the hunters wouldn't have anything to do during storms otherwise."

"There's enough space to set up practice areas to train and keep sharp."

After thinking about it for a bit she nods "Tomorrow you can help me set up a space with targets. We must have spent most of the day making that net. Only stopping to eat."

And just like that, I headed back to the building to sleep again.

I woke up and spent the first half of the day setting up a training area. "Four days... I've been here for four days now. This is the longest I've ever spent in a different world."

"Really? What was the record before?"

"Three days. I spent three days in the Shroomlands. Hiding in a building from the spores with a bunch of tan people with golden or green eyes."

"Ah, that sounds like the land of the Lords of Water and Wood. Closest allies of The Gilded Ones, once worshiped as gods in many of the worlds alongside The Gilded."

"Right. Well we still have half a day assuming I don't jump today."

"Well it's up to you how you use that time. I'm just here to keep an eye on you. The only reason I join in and do stuff with you is because I don't have anything better to do. So don't look to me for suggestions. I've already gone over everything there is to do while a storm is active."

I nodded and decided to spend the rest of that day in the new practice area.

I slept in the next day, not having any ideas for anything to do to keep myself busy I just kinda did nothing for a long while. Eventually there was a knock on the door. "Come in." I sat up.

"You haven't left this building all day. Are you feeling unwell?"

"I feel fine. Just out of ideas for things to do to keep busy."

"Well I came over to give you this." She handed me a small piece of leather with an imprint on it.

"What is this?"

"Well since you've continued to help they put your name on leather rather than a leaf. There was even talk about making you an honorary citizen of our community."

"I'm not doing these things for any kinda reward. I've just got a lot of time to kill and like being helpful."

"I know. That's exactly why I suggested to my father you be given a reward. Because you've done this without expecting one."

"Your father? Why would telling Dusk do anything?"

"You didn't know this because he never said his name but he's the chief elder of my tribe."

"Ah, one of the guys in the meeting room. So you're the chief's daughter."

"Y-yeah. My dad still doesn't exactly trust you. All the elder chiefs have doubts. But they haven't spent time with you like I have."

"We've known each other for like five days. Granted we have spent full days with nothing better to do than odd chores and chatting." I get up and stretch. "I guess if there is something you want to do today, I'm down for whatever."

"Well there was something I could use a hand with. Since you have nothing to do I doubt you'd object."

"Sure thing, whatever it is I'm happy to help."

She then led me to an isolated garden area behind a building. Set up with an automatic watering system that looked made by hand. No food or herbs, just flowers that looked pretty. "I set this up myself. It took me a while but I wanted to save plants that weren't useful but looked pretty. My own personal garden behind the family home. But pruning it takes a while, so I only do it once every other week or so. Every second Wodensday."

I sat silent for a bit, blinking. "Right, I'll help you prune the flower garden."

We had almost reached the end of the chore when I unintentionally touched her hand whilst reaching for the same plant. I froze for a bit awkwardly before drawing my hand back and stuttering out "S-Sorry" there was a pause. "W-well looks like we're done here. I'll uhhh see you around. ... I guess." And I practically speed walked back to my area and shut the door. Muttering to myself. "Why the fuck am I such an awkward noodle.... That... That was nothing, just a harmless little bump." I let out a sigh "I'm not some teenager, I shouldn't be overeating to small things like that. I've been stuck here too long..."

The next day was uneventful at first. I was able to walk about unsupervised for some time. I wondered where Lilac was, but figured maybe it would be better if they swapped her out for another Elf. That's when I spotted her, arguing with a male member of the dark tribe.

"You forget your place Duskdaughter, our parents have already made the arrangements. You already belong to me, even if the ceremony has yet to officially happen. I won't stand by as you... Galavant around with some outsider!"

"I'm only doing what was asked of me."

He grabs her by the wrist. "You were told to observe him. Something that could have easily been done from the shadows. Yet you choose to converse with him, spend time close to him. You've come far too familiar with the outsider. Even befriending him could be bad for you. Our laws are clear, if the elders found out about you getting hands on with an outsider it could mean banishment. Think what you will of me, but I would not wish such a fate even to my worst enemy."

I walked over. "Is there a problem here Lilac? If you need help, all you have to do is ask."

The guy spoke up first. "Stay out of this outsider. This is none of your business."

"You are clearly hurting her, ease up man. Take a breath and calm down. We can handle this like reasonable people."

"Lilac's hand has been promised to me, I'll do as I please with it."

I looked to Lilac "You didn't tell me you were engaged. Congratulations... I guess. But do you... Really want to marry this guy?"

"I said back off outsider."

"I wasn't talking to you."

Lilac looked away, clearly not wanting this. "N-no. But it's not up to me, it was arranged-"

"Yeah... No. Arranged marriages suck."

"I'll forgive you for ignorance as to whom you are talking to outsider. I am Nightshade, son of Shadow. I'm the head warrior of the dark tribe."

I sat in silence for a bit then looked around. We gathered a crowd. "Head warrior eh? Okay then. I, Hunter Ericsson of Mid-World, hereby officially issue a warriors challenge. I challenge you to honorable combat, and as a prize, I choose Lilac's hand."

The crowd gasped and murmured among themselves.

"I don't have to accept a challenge from an outsider."

"Oh? Are you declining then? Too cowardly to face me in fair and honorable combat?"

He grumbles loudly. "FINE! I accept. By the sacred rules of challenge I hereby accept. As I am the challenged it is my right to choose the mode of combat. I choose... Sky jousting. I will inform the elders and everything will be set by tomorrow." He lets go of Lilac and storms off.

After a bit I spoke up. "Just to be clear... I don't intend to marry a total stranger I might never see again after I leave. I... I have a plan."

Lilac rubbed her wrist. "I... Guess I have no option but to trust you since Nightshade already accepted the challenge."

"Just make sure to be there. If this works like I think it does I'll need you present during the challenge."

She let out a sigh. "Nightshade isn't just the head warrior of his tribe, but the best warrior in the village. Are you sure you can win?"

"He's never fought a human before. I have the element of surprise."

"I should probably explain the rules of sky jousting. Normally two warriors fly around in a designated area. If one leaves the area or touches the ground they lose. They fight using sticks with big poofy balls on the end. Intended to be non fatal. That said, creative people have killed during these matches. It's not unheard-of."

"Ah, we have a similar ground based thing back home. It's fun. I have the rest of today so since I have time you wouldn't happen to have a museum in the village would you? A place where the history of the land is kept. I'd like to see it."

"Yeah, I'll show you where it is." She starts walking and I follow.

She takes me to an area with painted leathers hung up in rows. I spotted one that seemed to depict my arrival. "This is the newest one I assume." I then moved backwards down the timeline. Different events depicted, five years back the start of the floods. Five thousand years back, the big war. The records went farther back. I kept going. Twenty five thousand years back, the fifth tribe was banished. Some invading force, the fifth tribe sided with them. The leather depicted strange snail looking things in the sky. "What are these?"

"The Nautilus. These ships in the sky brought forth strange creatures. The sky ships themselves were alive. Stories say they came from beyond the veil. Outside the known worlds."

"To be fair you thought there were nine when there are actually fifteen from what I read in the library in Rust."

"So they could just be from one of the five or six we don't know about? I guess there's no way of knowing unless you wind up there. Even so we have no idea how they got here without a Bifrost bridge."

"I got here without a bridge."

"Yeah, but you're human. From the Mid-World. For all we know they had a bridge or another way of traveling. Stories do say that the Guilded Ones had a sky ship of their own. It was able to go from realm to realm. So maybe there's like.... A back door or something."

"No point in overthinking it now I guess. Without having access to the sky ship and knowing how it works compared to the Bifrost it won't exactly help me understand how I do what I do. Anyway, I should probably get some rest before my fight tomorrow."

"You better know what you're doing Hunter."

I gave a simple wave as I made my way back to my area to relax before sleeping.

I awoke the next day and stretched. I did my best to clean myself up a bit and put on fresh clothes and went outside where I was guided to an area where a large wooden disk was suspended in the air by ropes then anchored to the ground by ropes. Similar to the pots for plants in the garden. Under the arena was a bunch of winter furs laid out. One person had a horn they used like a maga phone to talk to the crowd. "Hello citizens of our fine united community. Today we have a special challenge. The human from Mid-World, Hunter son of Eric, has issued a challenge to Nightshade son of Shadow. Nightshade has accepted this challenge and legitimized it. There are no rules preventing this challenge once accepted despite the fact Hunter is an outsider. As the challenged, Nightshade has chosen Sky Jousting. This challenge sport has been altered to ensure the fight starts on even ground. Nightshade has had his wings bound. First to die or hit the floor, in this case the area with the winter furs, loses. The winner takes the prize at stake, the hand of Lilac daughter of Dusk. All other rules are still in place. Once the fight has started the fighter may use anything on hand but will only be given the sky jousting sticks and are forbidden from wearing any armor. We will now set up the fighters and everything will begin when the challenge horn is blown. I wish both fighters the best of luck. May the holy triad watch over you."

I then had to climb a rope to get to the arena, the disk shifting a bit under my weight.

To prevent my glasses from being busted I tossed them to the referee after saying "here, hold these for me."

We were given our padded sticks after getting in the arena

"Okay, are both fighters ready?"

We both confirmed and he didn't hesitate to charge right at me as soon as the horn was blown. I move forward as well to distance myself from the edge. The arena was shaking underneath us as we moved. He made a swing at me and I managed to evade it, using my staff to trap him under my arm as I ran in and kicked him in the gut. I then punched him in the face with my left hand before he managed to kick me away and free his staff. He quickly recovered and bapped me on the face real good with the padded end. Despite the padding, it still stung. We exchanged blows for a while back and forth, with me often using my staff to knock him away to make openings. He got visibly frustrated and became more aggressive, coming at me harder and wilder. I managed to perry his staff in one blow and get in close, putting my staff behind him and trapping him lightly in what was not exactly a grapple. I head butted him a few times before he again pushed me off. I took a few steps back but he rushed me. I used his momentum against him.and flipped him over and slammed him to the floor. He popped himself back to his feet, swiping my legs, making me fall over in turn. He quickly grabbed me and lifted me up before tossing me at the edge. I managed to grab one of the ropes and swing myself back up, kicking him on my way. The arena shook violently, we both had to regain balance. As he made a new swing I sent his staff to the ground and stomped on it, snapping it in half before raising my foot up again and kicking him in the chest, sending him to the other side of the arena.

His staff being broken did nothing to detour him from attacking me, when he charged me once more he thrust the pointy end at me a few times as if it was a spear. A grazing hit to my hands caused me to drop my staff, the dark elf kicking it off the arena. I started walking backwards while doing my best to avoid getting stabbed. I took several grazing hits to my arms and sides as I weaved between attacks. I eventually managed to grab and wrench the staff out of his hands sending it off the arena and pushed him back. My feet right on the edge. He charged at me once more and I used his momentum against him once more to send him over the edge, almost falling off myself with my arm around a rope. I pull myself up and I hear a voice say something. Without the translator I don't know what. The referee then talks, his words translated by the glasses I handed over to prevent them from getting busted. "Though his wings were bound to even the playing field, use of wings is not prohibited. The removal of bindings and use of wings is allowed."

I looked down to see him fluttering there, his wings buzzing. I gripped the rope under the arena and put my feet on the bottom of the arena, kicking off with force. My arm in front of me I slammed into him with my body sending him into the floor with the arena shaking violently from my move. I raised my fist and made what could be considered a war cry, ready to slam it into his face when the referee interrupted. "Nightshade has touched the fur first, and as such has lost the battle. The winner is Hunter, son of Eric!"

I got up, Nightshade coughing from the fact I knocked the wind out of him. I then grabbed the translator glasses and the megaphone horn. I cleared my throat and spoke. "I, Hunter Ericsson, hereby forfeit my prize and give it to another. I declare my gift to be given to Lilac Duskdaughter, so that she may choose who her hand goes to."

One dark elf stood up "This is outrageous, he can't do that! It goes against generations of tradition."

Dusk was hiding his face with his hands, covering up an otherwise obvious smerk. "What Hunter just did is fully within the sacred rules of challenge. Although it is definitely unprecedented, not even the counsel can debate the legitimacy of what he just did. We have no option but to accept it."

The angry dark elf spoke again "Clearly you can't allow this tribe elder, there must be something you can do."

The dark tribe elder, a female, failed to contain her own laughter. "Hahaha, are you kidding? If it weren't for the fact I must remain a measure of professional decorum, I'd be leaping over this table to give this human a big hug. Not only would I allow this, I hereby overturn my vote to abstain in the matter of whether or not the human gets honorary citizenship and change it to an approval."

The woodland tribe elder spoke up and said "I do the same"

The light tribe elder followed with "and I change my vote from denial to approval."

Dusk then said "The vote is unanimous and the motion passes. Because it's unanimous the vote cannot be challenged for at least five years "

I helped my opponent off the floor and he grabbed the megaphone from me, after coughing a bit he spoke into it. "I, Nightshade son of Shadow, herby forfeit my right to a rematch. As head warrior of the dark tribe I hereby declare that no warrior of my tribe is to seek revenge on my behalf or to otherwise challenge Hunter or his citizenship on my behalf. I gave the fight my all and was bested. This human has earned my respect, both as a warrior and as a person. He is a man of honor and it is my hope that from now on he can be welcomed among us as a friend and ally."

This took me a bit by surprise and then Dusk declared "let us celibate getting a new member to our community with a feast. Well show our newest citizen how we throw a party."

A solid present of the crowd cheers and members of the village start to set up the feast. In a matter of hours there was a plethora of foods and drinks on tables with everyone going ham on the festivities. I sat with Lilac and Nightshade and was able to talk to them during the party.

"You know you really surprised me Nightshade, you came off as such a misogynistic prick when I first met you. In reality you really aren't that bad."

"I... Apologize for how I acted. Warriors, especially males, are expected to show dominance in all things. More so for the head warrior. Backing down is a sign of weakness, and refusing a gift is seen as rude."

"Yeah... We have a term for the crappy way you acted where I come from. We call it toxic masculinity. People aren't property and no one is ever entitled to anything from another person."

"I never even wanted to marry Lilac. I didn't want to be tied to a stranger. My father set it up, and because refusing the offer would potentially cause conflict between the dark and twilight tribes I'm guessing Dusk had little choice."

Lilac nodded "unfortunately it's how things have been for some time.

"You've already challenged and changed the segratory traditions of those in the cities, perhaps it's time to take a good hard look at others. If it's not helpful, or downright toxic, it should probably be looked at if not outright removed."

They both nodded and Lilac spoke "I'll talk to my dad and we'll definitely be rethinking how we live. It's hard to ignore the issue with how loud you were about it."

"Well at least I made something better somewhere. So, what are you two going to do with your newfound freedom."

Nightshade spoke first "I've kinda had my eye on one of the female warriors of my clan. I'll try to spend time with her and see if we work together as more than hunters."

Lilac spoke next "outside my garden I don't know what I really want to do with myself. I haven't really taken the time to think about any males I might be interested in. It's not something I ever had to think about before. What about you Hunter?"

"What do you mean, what about me? I've always been free to choose."

"No I mean, back home, do you have anyone?"

"Nah. As useful as my survival skills have been since this started, they aren't exactly a necessity where I come from. Although I've been outspoken here, back home I've always been quiet. I tend to keep to myself."

Nightshade then spoke up again "and here I thought you'd be a leader or head warrior of your tribe with females practically throwing themselves at you."

"Nah, I've never had any luck with females back home."

"Well you're bound to be a hit with the ladies here, right Lilac?"

She shuffled around a bit "He's.... Not one of us Nightshade. With how different he looks there is a bit of a barrier. I mean.... You know how there are men who will talk about how pointy an ear is when it comes to picking a female. Females can be the same way. Compared to an Alfar, I'm not sure how many females would find him aesthetically attractive. They would have to be the type to favor marit and character over looks."

Nightshade thought for a bit "I guess. Anyway, I'm going to rest now. Heal up." Nightshade got up and headed to his home.

I shifted a bit "maybe I should get some rest too. The party and food were all great, so thanks. I'll see you tomorrow.... Maybe."

"Actually about that.... Even if you don't shift back home I'll no longer be assigned as your overseer. Now that you're an honorary citizen, it's no longer necessary. I'll likely be reassigned to something new tomorrow."

"O-oh. Right. Of course. The only reason you were spending any amount of time with me was because it was your job to make sure I didn't try anything because the elders didn't trust me. It only makes sense to have you move on to something important now that I've gained their trust. Either way I'm going to get some rest." I got up and went back to my little area to lay down and relax for a bit.

After a bit of relaxing there was a knock on the door. I let out a sight before saying "come in"

It was Lilac, she shuffled around as she entered. "Hey. I just wanted to apologize. I didn't mean to make you feel.... Unattractive. I'm sure by human standards you've got a lot going for you."

"Not really. I mean I'm not ugly but I'm not winning any contests either. It's fine by the way, I'm used to it. I got bullied a lot as a kid and I've never exactly had much self esteem or confidence. Even as an adult I'm used to feeling unattractive or like an outcast. I've never felt like I belonged. When I was a kid I always had this feeling I was meant to be somewhere else, be someone else. A feeling like I had something important I was meant to do, and that my true calling was somehow taken from me. I would dream and fantasize about how somehow someone would come along and take me to where I was supposed to be. I gave up on those thoughts long ago. I don't know if I have some great destiny waiting for me, I'm just going day to day. Though it is strange, that feeling like something was missing never actually went away. I learned to ignore it. However every time I go somewhere new among the realms I feel like.... Like I've regained a part of myself. I'm not sure if it's because traveling the realms was something I was always meant to do or I just feel better thanks to the euphoria of seeing someplace new. Either way it's not all bad. Still sucks when the first person you've actually gotten to know in a while only spent time with you out of obligation. You don't have to apologize and you don't owe me anything."

She shuffled around a bit before handing me a paper "Well I still feel a bit bad either way. Here. I wrote down our written alphabet and some basic sentences. Maybe.... You could actually learn it. I know you don't have control over when you leave or where you go, but I'd like it if we became proper friends. I may have only originally spent time with you out of obligation but I enjoyed it. It would be nice if we could talk without that device."

I grabbed the paper. "Thanks, I'll try. I guess I can say I have two friends here. You and Nightshade. I'm going to rest now, see you around."

"Yeah, later."

She left and I quickly dozed off.

I woke with a start, practically jumping out of my bed roll. "What the..." Whatever I had dreamed faded into the background now and I couldn't remember what it was that got me worked up. "Ugh...." I got up and got dressed with a groan. I went over to the warrior practice area I helped set up and saw Nightshade making use of it.

"Oh hey Hunter, how are you doing? You look like crap "

"I feel like crap. Do you know what they assigned Lilac to do?"

"Ummm... Garden and farm crew. Want to practice combat with us?"

"Sure, I'll do some light practice then move over to gardening. My body hurts."

He nodded "I'm a bit sore myself. You know, I've never seen anyone fight the way you do. Are all human warriors like that?"

"I'm not a warrior, also no. I simply took some combat classes when I was young and built on them with self training."

"If you have the time I'd like to learn a few of those moves."

"Another time maybe." After a bit more practice I moved on to the gardening area.

Lilac was tending some sort of plant, which looked like a kind of berry. I walked over to her. "You need help over here? My body aches too much to practice with the guys."

"We can always use an extra hand I guess."

With a nod I started helping. Close to the end of the day I left for my area with a wave. As I was getting ready to relax for the rest of the day I felt the tug. I found myself standing on top of a building downtown in my city. I climbed down and walked home in a light rain. I passed out in my bed after undressing.