Dark Silver: Chapter XI

Chapter Eleven: It Ends

David had never been so cold in his life, even with the fur coat and pants that Maiara and Wyanet had made for him. Takoda also made a hat out of a raccoon pellet and Wematin made some slippers. The winter here was even more brutal than it was back at the orphanage. Everyone else, however, seemed to be happy as a clam in this weather. Their fur was so unbelievably thick. In addition, Wyanet’s and Maiara’s coats had turned from having a light shade of gray to pure white.

Since there weren’t any fires during the day, David would have to find ways to keep himself moving around. Hunting was the best way to stay warm. The animals that he got managed to keep him warmer, but only a little. He would thank God everyday for not catching a cold, let alone pneumonia.

One day while he was walking around camp he saw these two adult Tokala participating in some strange activity. It involved both standing on an individual wooden post sticking out of the ground and pulling on a rope; almost like a tug-of-war game. David walked up to one of the Tokala that was watching.

“Excuse me, but what exactly are they doing,” asked David, “I’ve never seen this before.”

“It’s called Hevataneo,” said the Tokala.

“Hevatno?” David had never heard such a thing.

“Hevataneo, it’s an old game.”

“What’s the object of this game?”

“Watch and you’ll find out soon enough.” David did just that. He realized that neither of them were trying to pull on the rope until the other ran out, but rather trick the other into falling off their post. ‘How come I’ve never heard of this game,’ thought David, ‘all this time I’ve just been teaching others how to play games that I know, never bothering to find out if the Tokala had ones of their own.’

“You should try it out, dude,” said Wematin, walking up next to David, “I bet you’d do very well.”

“Yeah right, I haven’t won a single thing other the appreciation of others here. There’s now way I would end up being the victor.”

“Do you want to know the secret of the game?”

“What, is there some special method that you guys use to make the rope?”

“Not exactly, the trick is to use the other’s strength against them. Cause them to loose balance by pulling hard when they have a tight grip, or by loosening your own when they pull hard.” Using the other’s strength against him, it sounded just the kind of game that David would absolutely dominate.

When one of the contestants had won, who happened to be the largest Tokala David had ever seen, he asked for another challenger. Wematin called out and shoved David into the open.

“Come on, dude,” Wematin encouraged, “just give it a shot.”

“Are you serious? That guy’s over eight feet tall. What chance would I have against him?”

“What’s the matter, David,” asked the victor, “are you afraid that you’ll loose at one of our games as well?” He then gave one of his buddies a high five. ‘That’s it,’ thought David.

“Not at all. I just don’t want to humiliate you in front of your entourage and send you crying to your tepee.” David stood next to his post. “How about we make it a little interesting?”

“Oh really? What exactly did you have in mind?”

“The winner gets the loser’s rations for the day, and the looser has to sleep outside tonight,” David was so sure that he wouldn’t take it, David’s cooking was too much for anyone in the camp to resist, “but I can understand if aren’t willing. It’s okay to be afraid of the dark.”

“Alright David, get ready to starve and freeze.” The Tokala was clearly getting pumped.

“Oh, and by the way, what’s your name?”

“Bidziil. Why do you ask?”

“I just wanted to tell everyone who I destroyed today.”

Both took a firm grip on the end of their rope and began. David soon began to think that he would certainly loose. He had so many close calls while Bidziil hadn’t even stood on one foot yet. Suddenly, David remembered that he was supposed to not over power his opponent, but use their strength against him. When the Tokala leaned forward to tug once more, David yanked the rope and sent the giant fox face first into the snow.

“What the hell,” Bidziil couldn’t believe that he had lost, “how did you beat me?”

“I guess that I’m just better than you.” David was doing a little victory dance. He had finally won at something.

“I shouldn’t have made that wager.”

“Oh, about that,” David stood in front of his new friend and helped him up, “you can sleep inside and have your shares tonight.”

“What, why do you say that? You won.”

“Because I wanted to make sure that you did your best.”

“I went easy on you.”

“No you didn’t.”

“How would you know?”

“Because I know that you wouldn’t risk loosing our wager. Or did you seriously and intently give up your rations and bed? If that’s the case, then I’m willing to give you a second chance.”

“Don’t patronize me.” Bidziil laughed a little, and wouldn’t you know it he held up his palm.

“Uhhh, I think you’re cool and all, but I’m pretty sure that you’d shatter my hand.” Bidziil then lowered his hand and patted him on the shoulder instead. “So,” yelled David, “is there anybody who wishes to challenge me? How about you, dude.” He was pointing at Wematin.

“Me? Why would you want to challenge me?”

“You are the one who got me into this game.”

“Fine, but don’t expect to get a winning streak going.”

“I’m not going for a winning streak, rather a domination streak.”

David did the exact same thing to Wematin that he did to Bidziil. Except, he sent him falling on his back instead on his face. As David kept on winning, more Tokala gathered around to watch the new Hevataneo champion at work. All that challenged him did not last for more than a few seconds. ‘I guess that being the weakest one here isn’t so bad after all,’ David thought.

Just when David was really enjoying himself, nobody else dared to step up.

“Oh, come on guys, is there no one else?” He then realized that there was at least one more who he hadn’t fought yet.

“I challenge the chief.” Silence filled the atmosphere.

“And why would I accept,” Gahege appeared out of the crowd, “what happens if I win?”

“If I loose,” said David, “then I will leave your tribe without your daughter and never return.”

“David,” exclaimed Wyanet, “what the hell are you doing? You know that he’d love nothing more than to get rid of you.” David looked at her and winked as if to say, ‘trust me’.

“And what happens if you win?”

“You will allow me to refer to you as Gahege, not chief.”

“That seems a little unbalanced. Are you sure that you don’t want anything else?” David nodded his head. “Very well.” Gahege took his spot and grabbed his end of the rope.

“I’m really going to enjoy this, David.”

“I hope you do chief.”

Immediately, the two of them began their little mind game. It lasted for so long that David’s palms began to blister and bleed. He wasn’t sure how much longer it would be before he let go. Gahege, on the other hand, was doing just fine, he was as calm as David had ever seen him, and his eyes had the look of a predator about to catch his prey. David wouldn’t loose, he couldn’t, not when everyone still needed him, Gahege most of all.

“Why don’t’ you give up,” asked Gahege, “You haven’t got what it takes to be a Tokala.”

“If that were the case, I believe it’s you that could never be a human. Even though you want to be.” David knew that he had really pissed off the chief, which is exactly what he wanted.

Gahege pulled as hard as he could, but not before David had released his grip on the rope. David was the victor. However, nobody cheered, there were too afraid to celebrate their leader being defeated by the one he hated most of all.

David walked over to his defeated opponent and held out his hand to help him up. But he got up without accepting any assistance.

“Know, you pathetic whelp, that just because you think you’ve earned calling me by my name, don’t think for a second that you’ve earned any of my respect.” Gahege pushed David aside and walked through the crowd, with David right behind him.

“What the hell do you want from me, Gahege? Just tell me what you want me to do that make you see, even though you say all these things about me, that you care about me and that you are thankful for what I have brought to this tribe and I will do it.”

“There’s nothing you can do. The damage you’ve done is beyond repair.”

“You’re right, there’s nothing I can do because I've already done all that I can do.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong, David. You can still leave this place and go back to where you came from.”

“Go back? That might be what you think you want, but I know that if I left you would do nothing but regret it for the rest of your life. And you say that I’m the pathetic little whelp. Look at what’s going on. Your own wife and daughter love me more than they could ever love you.” Gahege turned around and backhanded David in the face, causing him to fall in the snow. David shook it off and got back on his feet.

“You’ll shut that mouth of yours if you know what’s good for you.”

“I do know what’s good for me. You, on the other hand, don’t even know what’s good for your own tribe. Threaten me all you want; I don’t care.”

“I’m warning you David.”

“Go ahead, warn me all you want. It’s all you’ll ever do.” Gahege turned around to hit David again, and again he got back up. “Wyanet told me about the history of your people with the Tahopka, how they lost their title after they had gone too far with humans. I’m beginning to think that you’re no better than them. We should call you a werefox after becoming the lowlife that you are.” Gahege had enough of David’s insults, turned around and picked him up by the throat, choking him.

“I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU,” David could tell that he had sent Gahege to his breaking point and even further, “I am going to do what I should have done the first moment I saw you.” Gahege tightened his grip around David’s neck. He tried to call for help, but nothing but choking sounds came out of his mouth. ‘I’m going to die,’ thought David, 'He’s really going to kill me.’

Suddenly before David blacked out, he fell to the ground coughing and gasping for air. When he looked up, he saw that Wyanet had knocked out her own father to save him.

“Thank you.” said David, “he was really going to kill me.”

“And by what you said it seemed like you wanted him to try,” Wyanet was very angry with David, “You knew that all he needed was an extra push. Now, any chance that you had of gaining his respect is long gone.”

“It’s all part of the plan, Wyanet.”

“What plan, to have my own father sentenced to death for attempted murder?”

“That’s exactly what I wanted.” Wyanet slapped David where Gahege had hit him on the face.

“You don’t understand, this is the only way that I can show him the kind of person I am, one that will not let any of you die.” David could see that he had confused Wyanet. She had no idea what he was talking about.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, David. And I don’t think I ever will.” She then walked off and had a few of the other Tokala carry her unconscious father to her tepee and tie him up.

“You’ll see, Wyanet,” said David, “you’ll see how this will work out for the better.”

Later that night, the tribe gathered in the central hut to discuss what had happened earlier and what actions needed to take place. Nearly everyone was against David, believing that his actions were unforgivable. Even Wyanet was sitting on the opposite side of the table from him. However, Maiara was sill on David's side.

"How can you take his side," demanded Wyanet, "Even though David has brought out the best in all of us, he provoked our leader to attempt murder, which we all know is punishable by death."

"Because," explained Maiara, "your father was given much reason and time to change. All David did was tell Gahege the cold hard truth."

"What he has done," Wematin interjected, "is only prove that the chief was right. He is just the same as all humans and could never be one of us. Even though it is hard to believe, I still think that David no longer belongs here."

"Why can't any of you see," said David, "that what I am doing is what needs be done. Do you really think that I don't have a good reason for not doing what I have?"

"How could we?" asked Bidziil.

"I've had enough of your narrow mindedness," said Maiara with much frustration in her tone, "The fact that I've taken his side should be enough for all of you. David has only tried the whole time to win Gahege over, while your so called leader has wanted nothing more than to feed him to the werewolves and happily watch."

"So what," said Wyanet, "I think I'd enjoy that, too." Even after what he had done, this really hurt him. It's true he let his emotions get the better of him, but he would have never wished such a gruesome death on anybody.

"Okay," replied Maiara, "let's say that I, the one currently in power here, send David to his death, what then? Will we turn back to our old ways of hatred and prejudice, are we to become no better than the werewolves?" Everyone went silent. "Does anybody have a reason?"

Wematin stepped up. "What about you? You have the ability to pardon your husband and save him from execution. If i didn't know any better, I'd say that you're the one who is blind and the one who has fallen under David's spell."

"ENOUGH!" Maiara couldn't take this hatred any more, "Here's what I'm going to do despite all of what you think: I'm going to name David new chieftain and expect all of you to give him your unflinching loyalty for at least till the next full moon. If none are still unable to concur, then I will send David into exile." All were more than reluctant to agree, but in the end they decided to do as they were told.

The next morning, Gahege was to be executed for his actions. But before he was, David entered into Wyanet’s tepee to talk with him. When he entered he saw that Gahege was in his animal form with a strange instrument around his torso that seemed like it would puncture his heart if he morphed.

“What do you want?” Gahege demanded

“I just wanted you to know that this is the end of it all. This is where the fighting ends.”

“Ends? The fighting has just begun. Those still loyal to me wont let you become chieftain of this tribe.”

“They already have, Gahege. Maiara made me chieftain last night when it was made to be that I carry out your sentence.”

“So, you’re going to be the one who kills me.”

“It was your fault that you tried to kill me. It was your fault that you didn’t accept me into you’re tribe. Even worse, it was your fault that you’re still unable admit how you truly feel about me.”

“My fault? How could anything here be my fault? This is all you’re fault for not going back to your cabin the first day you recovered, that Wyanet no longer loves you, that she finally sees you for the monster that you are.”

"You're the one who nearly killed someone yesterday. If i recall correctly, you tried to kill me. You should be thankful that i haven't stabbed you in the heart."

"My heart is already broken beyond mending."

“As I said before, Gahege, the fighting ends here.” David walked back outside to leave Gahege to his thoughts for a few hours. Everything was going perfectly.

“I can’t believe that father was right about David,” Wyanet was pacing back and forward talking to Maiara in her hut, “he’s turned into a complete monster.”

“You must trust David on this one, Wyanet,” Maiara was trying really hard to calm her troubled daughter, “I have a feeling that what he has planned is the best thing we could possibly ask for.”

“What are you saying? Are you not upset that he has condemned your own husband and my father?”

“Listen to yourself, Wyanet. David has never even try to kill anything except the werewolf that attacked you two. Do you really think that David, loving and kind as he is, would really follow through with killing Gahege?”

“Not only that, but he’s taken over leadership, leadership that you yourself granted. What makes you so sure that he’s doing the right thing?”

“I just know, and you should too.”

Everyone gathered around the area at which the execution would take place, even Maiara and Wyanet. David appeared with a huge chieftain axe that was nearly too big for him to use, and motioned for Wematin and Biziil to carry out the prisoner. David stood in front of Gahege and lifted his head using the axe handle.

“Is there anything that you’d like to say?” Gahege stood there without saying a word. Again David asked him, “anything at all?”

It took him a while, but Gahege eventually looked David in his eyes with tears in his own. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for, not killing me, not being even more mean spirited?”

“I’m sorry that I didn’t give you the chance you deserved, for not seeing the goodness that was in your heart, and for failing to accept help from anybody who offered.” When he was finished, David pointed at the spot where he wanted Gahege to kneel down and took a long pause.

Then, holding up the axe, David said, “It ends now.” The axe came down and everyone looked away. When they all looked up, what they saw was nothing less than the surprise of their lives. David had missed Gahege’s neck by inches. Shocked the former chieftain looked up at David. “Why haven’t you killed me?”

“My goal all this time was to make you see the error in your actions, and it seems that everything went according to plan.”

“But why,” asked Gahege, “why go through all this trouble just to prove a point.”

“I wanted you to experience what I did before I came here: nearly killing someone out of blind rage. I wanted you to see just how horrible of a thing unjustified wrath is and how it leaves nothing but regret and sorrow. I know this because I too was willing to take that extra step.”

“What are you talking about,” asked Wyanet.

“Remember the story I told you about that night my life was saved by a she-wolf? Well, there are some details that I left out. Details that all of you need to know, and will help you understand my actions.

“The ones who killed my friend forced me to watch. They then threw me in front of the wolf’s lifeless body and tore up a drawing i made of her. It was the only thing i had to give me any happiness in my miserable life. I completely lost control and attacked the murderers. Despite their efforts to hold me off, they all ended up on the ground. In the end I had the life of their leader in my hands. I held a rifle in his mouth and begged him to give me one lousy reason he should not die then and there. When he failed to give me one I pulled the trigger. Luckily, it didn’t fire because there were no more bullets left. Everyday I thank God for that.

"It was then that I realized that I had become that which I hated, that I was willing to go the extra mile just to feel a moment of delusional happiness. After that I swore to myself that I would never attempt to take the life of another out of misplaced emotions.

“I figured that if that experience worked on me, then I believed that it would work on Gahege as well.”

“What if it hadn’t,” asked Gahege, “what if it didn’t work?”

“Then I guess that I would have needed to find another way, and I’m glad that I don’t.”

Gahege knelt in front of David and wrapped his arms around around his savior. “Thank God for you David,” he began to weep, “thank you for saving me from myself.”

“It’s not me you should be thanking, but you wife. If she hadn’t agreed to make me chief, then this would have all failed and you would be dead.” Gahege got up and wiped the tears from his face.

“So, I assume that you’re going to keep the title that was once mine.”

“Are you kidding,” said David, “I know nothing about leading a tribe, I’m only seventeen years old. Any leadership skills that I have would suck compared to yours, especially after your little change of heart.” David handed Gahege the axe to give him what was rightfully his. He then walked up to Maiara and kissed her on the cheek.

“Thank you for believing in me, mother,” said David, “even when nobody else did.” She smiled and nodded without speaking a word, but David knew exactly what she was saying. And finally David walked up to Wyanet with a look of shame on his face.

“I suppose you’re still a little upset with me, huh.” Just like her mother Wyanet didn’t say a word. However, she did much more than nod. She first slapped David across the face agian, but then picked him up, brought her face to his and gave him a little kiss, with tears of sorrow in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry that I didn't trust you," said Wyanet, "I should have known that you would do nothing to bring anything but hope into this tribe."

"It's okay," said David with a smile on his face, "Sorry about having to make my intentions so shadowed. I just thought that the element of surprise was the best method. And if it makes you feel any better, I likely wouldn't have trusted me either if I was in your situation." Gahege walked up behind David and turned him around.

"How can I repay you, David," Gahege brought himself down to his new friend's level, "What can I do?" David knew exactly what he wanted.

"Well, ever since I first came here, I have many to call a friend and even one to call mother. But there is still one thing I don't have, something that I've desired my entire life." Gahege was flattered beyond words.

"Welcome home, my child."