Vokk’Za stared at the three hunters that had been brought before him. They all wore the gray mud of the Trehn’Qualt, but even without that detail it was obvious who they were. Krone’Dahl was recognizable to anyone that had dealt with their tribe. His braided topknot, the oddly shaped split through his chest muscles, and his iridescent blue eyes that seemed to emit their own light were enough to ensure his identity.

“Tell me again why you’re in our territory.”

“We had need to escape the Kiichi, and in our flight found ourselves within your people’s land. This is something covered under the treaty of the four, and you have no right to capture us as you have Vokk’Za. I find it hard to believe the Trehn’Valya would treat fellow hunters in such a manner.”

Vokk’Za sighed inwardly. Dealing with Krone’Dahl was such a pain. He personally detested having verbal sparring matches with anyone. Much easier to state your business and get it all over with. He looked at the leader of the group that had captured the trespassers with a single eyebrow raised.

“By the time we found them, no, they were not being chased.”

“And were they leaving?”

“No sir, they seemed to be searching for something else.”

“Are we denied the right to search for our comrades, our dear brothers…”

“Silence you.” Vokk’Za nearly backhanded the silver tongued snake, but caught himself in time. Taking a deep, steadying breath he approached one of the other two trespassers.

“What were you doing here?”

“As I have already stated before Vokk’Za, we were…” This time, the strike was not held. The back of Vokk’Za’s hand caused Krone’Dahl’s head to whip to the side.

“Never have I met such an insolent brat as you. Perhaps your father believes everything you say and you are free to get away with whatever you like thanks to your position. But here, we believe in uncovering the truth. Now, you will only speak when spoken to. If you speak out of turn you will be punished accordingly, am I clear?”

“You would think to strike me? The son of…” Again the hand made solid contact, and this time Krone went silent after spitting out a wad of blood. Vokk’Za eyed him angrily, waiting for another outburst. Only once he was satisfied with the silence did he look back to the others.

“Now I will ask you both again. What were you doing here? And keep in mind that under your precious treaty of the four, you are subject to our laws while you are within our borders.” The two hunters that had been addressed looked at each other warily, before the female finally spoke up.

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“Earlier today we came across a…”

“SILENCE SURI’YA!” Vokk’Za found his fist digging into the side of the annoyance’s head even before Krone’Dahl had fully finished his two words. He was sent flying across the ground, skidding to a halt at the feet of a sentry.

“Take that little shit somewhere else. I don’t care how you treat him, just don’t let him die.” He only waited for the nod of confirmation before turning back, “Continue.”

“We found one of your hunters in our lands, so we chased him. Zulta Krone’Dahl challenged him to mortal combat, but the fight was interrupted by pack of Kiichi attacking. We had just escaped them when your men caught us.” Her eyes had held fearful contact with Vokk’Za until the last sentence when they dropped to the ground. So she was telling only part of the truth. Had she been under his command this would have been completely unacceptable. But given that brat was her current superior, it made sense she would be less than willing to open completely.

“Sul’Zul!” A rather thin and lanky hunter stepped forward.

“Yes sir?”

“Was everyone accounted for at midday?”

“Indeed they were sir.” That was odd. If all his men were accounted for, then there should be no way anyone from the Trehn’Valya would be close enough to the border to get lost. Unless…this time he sighed audibly.

“When was Bato last seen?” Out of the corner of his eye, Vokk’Za could see the two intruders flinch upon hearing that name. That itself was enough to convince him.

“Two days ago sir, crossing into no man's land. He might have taken a different route home, but I find it unlikely that nut would return so quickly.”

“Without solid reason, no I too doubt it.” He looked back at the two intruders. “Judging by your reactions, I’m correct in assuming Krone’Dahl had a spat with Bato, yes?”

The female Hunter glanced up for only a moment, before slumping forward and nodding. Another sigh escaped Vokk’Za’s lips. That boy. He was simultaneously their tribe's greatest asset, biggest problem, most loved, and least accepted. His name was fitting. He was an outsider through and through.

“Yall’Dehl will be upset if anything happens to that ‘nut’ as you put it Sul. We’re going to have to at least make an attempt at finding him.”

“Are you sure that’s necessary sir?”

“I’m sure. He may be an annoyance, he may cause trouble unlike anyone else, but he does try his hardest to help. That’s more than most others can claim. His tinkerings and useful contraptions would be sorely missed.”

“As you command sir. I will have a small party begin searching tomorrow…”

“No, send out two parties after supper. If he was chased from the same direction as these lot, he would have headed straight towards us. And if he is not back something will have likely happened to him. We all owe Yall’Dehl enough to warrant putting our best foot forward for her adopted son.” Vokk’Za rubbed his temples. Despite how he might sound, he actually liked the little rascal. Yall’Dehl’s love for the boy must have rubbed off.

“I will take direct control of one party. You will see to the other.”

“As you command sir.” Sul’Zul gave a slight bow before retreating to make preparations. In less than an hour, two fully manned search parties left the gates of the outpost Sun’Zul’Yat. Their goal; to find the Trehn’Valya’s tinkerer, Bato.