Lukho's return to camp was announced by a crunching of the leaves upon dirt, his immediate arrival drawing eyes to himself. The area they had setup in didn't allow for much space between different camps, but it was the benefit they had traded for safety. Though they were a separate group during the hunt, at night, the time of danger, they reverted to the strength offered by numbers.

It was not quite dark yet, the summer sun still persisting well into the day's nineteenth hour. The eyes that had turned to him returned to the drinks in hand, mouths bubbling with conversation again. He moved around the groups he was not familiar with, heading to the table occupied by seven others, one of whom was gesticulating wildly with his arms as he told some story and Lukho could tell without any context it was a good story - one he already regret missing.

He knew it was a good story from the first tell: the narrator, Zuko, was a gifted embellisher - he could make you agree that a silver spoon was gold. The second tell was Lwazikazi with her scowling and murderously judgemental expression. Lukho could hear her complaints about Zuko's constant stories, ' "He's lying! You know he's lying. Lying is what he does!" '. He laughed at the thought. The last tell was also the most obvious. Asive. The woman did not deny herself the simple joys of life, she found laughter in everything, finding moments to fool around everywhere. She was laughing her head off! Face tilted towards great Sky saluting him with infectious joy. Others around them looked over curiously, feeling like they were missing out on something important. He sat down as she let out one of her uproarious crescendos, Zuko with a bright smile and joining laughter.

Lukho sat next to the only other person who wasn't laughing at the joke, at least he wouldn't feel so bad at missing it. "He's lying Lukho," Lwazikazi said with her face shaking behind her hand. "He's lying and she knows it. Even he knows it."

Lukho tapped her on the shoulder, "we all have our strengths my friend." Apparently that was the wrong answer as she slapped his hand away and slinked off to her tent.

"Suka!"

"Oh Lukho," the man addressed turned towards the lilting voice in expectation. "You should have heard him, he said," a cackle. "He said", another cackle and then the dam broke. More laughing ensued, even from others at the table. He had no idea what the joke was but it was obvious to him that only idiots laughed like this so he started giggling to himself. Laughing at them.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

***

After the mirth had subsided and some form of mature decency had been resumed, the practitioners met in one of the larger tents with others of their sect. While it was not expected of them to get along with every sect member it was wise to stick to the devil you know when surrounded by the horde.

There had been many an information gathering and sharing over the past weeks and this one was no different. An older man among them brought their attention to the fore, getting up from his feet and holding up a closed fist in the air. Voices started to dwindle towards quiet until silence reined in the crowd.

"Right," he began, "I thank each and every one of you who has decided to grace us with their presence once again. To all scouts and curious observers who go out to find out what is going on out there in the wild I thank you. And a thank you to all who continue to honour this tiny accord we have made for ourselves; may we all receive the blessings of great Sky." He tilted his head up for one second then looked down at his feet in silence, the assembled repeated the motion, all in quiet observance before moving on again.

"To those who have decided to join us for the first time since this journey began my name is Edo of the Gliding Leaf sect, I stand below heaven a struggling farmer, staring at humble fields from a three tiered peak." The gathered practitioners received the greeting in the manner it was given, with humility and respect, in return they gave patient ears and quelled tongues.

"I have with me reports of the last twenty four hours, detailing any interesting observations up to now. Sadly, there isn't much excitement at what I'm looking at. Though the forest remains chi rich we have yet to encounter those dividends in the flora and fauna of this landscape. It is as if the sentient creatures of this place have been driven off - by what or whom we have yet to know. Unfortunately, that barren streak has left us with monsters of men as the only animals to guard against. While we cannot police those hunting our fellow sisters and brothers we can however provide descriptions of those to be wary against. There is a silver lining however, as among the reports there stands out multiple sightings of these troublesome groups withdrawing from the Hunt. We may have found nothing for now but I encourage patience. There is no reason our headmasters and headmistresses would setup a meeting of ten schools for nothing."

From there it became a report of logistics and then trade, after. At the end of it everyone dispersed to their own tent with some resting for a few short hours before beginning their favourite part of the day.