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The rover raced through the wastelands of Prodosia, on its way to the meeting point with the Children of the Wolf. The crew of the Darkstrider watched the landscape speed by as the rover ate up the ground beneath them. There wasn’t much to see, aside from the ruined homes and craters that pockmarked the landscape. Alex stared at it in morbid fascination, wondering why humanity still had to be so cruel.

“It really opens your eyes, doesn’t it?” Dagan asked.

“I’m sorry?” Alex replied.

“The effects of the war and the Bombardment. It shows you the depth of humanity’s cruelty, does it not?” Dagan questioned.

“It does. You’d think with all the struggle and strife that humanity has endured over the centuries, we would have evolved into better beings,” Alex sighed.

“Well, compared to what we were and what we came from, we are better in some things. Other things ... there is still a lot left to be desired,” the captain agreed.

“So, just what are we walking into with these ... Children of the Wolf?” Kasumi asked over her comms bud.

“Nervous, dear lady?” Min teased.

“Apprehensive is more like it. I’ve done a lot of fighting in my life and I’m not exactly eager to go running headlong into another one, if it can be avoided,” the redhead told him.

“Worry not, as the Children of the Wolf are among the friendliest of the tribes out in the wastes. They might be a bit rough around the edges, but they are a hearty, fun loving lot,” Dagan reassured the crew.

“Would the Children see the true value of what we’re bringing them? While I don’t doubt they’d appreciate it, would they make proper use of all this produce?” Inari wondered.

“Of that, there can be no doubt, dear Captain Sunara. While the tribes do occasionally raid Tanith’s Gully and each other, their way of life is starting to become untenable. They have adapted much from what they used to be, taking to doing their own gardening and such,” Dagan stated.

“If they’re on the move, then how do they do their own gardening?” Priya wondered.

“Easy. They travel in large convoys, which have their own portable gardens and trees. As of late, tribes like the Children have been very interested in gardening and learning to grow their own food. Because most of the other settlements on Prodosia are too small or already overrun by other tribes, they’ve had to get creative,” Dagan explained.

“That would make a certain sort of sense, I suppose. Are resources that scarce on Prodosia?” Shazza questioned.

“They are. While the soil is starting to make a comeback, it is still a long way off from being able to grow enough crops to feed the planet. So, various tribes have followed the lead set by Tanith’s Gully and have taken large swaths of fertile soil and been enriching it with what nutrients they can get their hands on. It is a slow process, especially since many tribes are still stuck in their warlike ways,” Dagan went on.

“Are the Children of the Wolf able to hold their own against other tribes who would try to raid them?” Alex asked.

“Others would, if they were strong enough to complete said raid. The Children of the Wolf are among the finest fighters on Prodosia, rivaled only by the Death Eagles. Most other tribes don’t have the weapons to compete against the Children. Many don’t even have the numbers to even attempt a stealth raid, much less an open one,” Dagan went on.

“What about this other tribe you mentioned?” Korsa questioned.

“The Death Eagles? You do not want to deal with them. I tried doing so once, when I first arrived on Prodosia. I will not be trying such a thing again,” the captain said with a hard edge to his tone.

“Bad run in?” Alex wondered, seeing the anger and pain on the man’s face.

“Let’s just say that if I was to see them getting slaughtered down to the last child, I would shed no tears over them and let them all die,” he replied gruffly.

Alex took the hint and dropped the matter, as it was obviously a touchy topic for Dagan. Even Inari was surprised, as Dagan was rarely ever angry or broken up about anything or anyone. Whatever had happened during that encounter, it had a profound effect on the man. While his mood darkened for a moment, it was quickly replaced by his default, jovial smile, as the rover pulled through the ruins of an old suburb.

“The market square isn’t far now! Maybe another five minutes!” Min told the crew.

“Should we have our weapons handy?” Shazza asked, her fingers resting on her hand cannon.

“Yes, if you want to be shot, or at the very least, shot at,” Dagan chuckled richly. Shazza sighed and let her hand fall away from her weapon. The rover continued on, navigating the empty streets with ease as Dagan brought them to their destination. After another five minutes, they arrived at the remnants of an outdoor marketplace.

“As promised, another five minutes and here we are!” Min stated as he stopped the rover and killed the engine.

“OK. Now what?” Alex asked.

“Now, we proceed to the center of the market, on foot. Are those crates heavy?” the captain asked.

“They are a bit of a chore to carry, if you’re going more than a hundred meters,” Natalya told him.

“Lucky for us, I had the boys pack up a grav sled. Gentlemen, if you will,” Dagan instructed his men.

With that, Dagan’s men hopped out of the rover and made their way to the rear cargo hold. They fiddled back there for maybe thirty seconds before they came back with a grav sled. It was an older model from the ones they had on the Darkstrider, but they were still in good shape. Another few minutes saw the crates of food loaded up and ready to cart away.

“Why are we going in on foot from here?” Kasumi questioned.

“When dealing with the tribes, there are certain rules and traditions that must be followed. Especially if you hope to establish friendly relations with them, which is a requirement if you ever wish to speak with the tribes, nevermind trading with them,” Captain Min told her.

Nodding, Kasumi fell into step with the rest of the crew, who were right behind Dagan and his men, as they walked through the ruined market. Old and tattered tents, broken down stalls and old garbage littered the place, but Dagan just seemed to ignore this. Shrugging, the crew followed his lead and ignored everything around them as they made their way to the center of the area.

“All right, we are here. If they are to come and speak with us, we must build a fire and warm ourselves by it. It will send the signal to the tribe that we only wish to speak. Sitting by a fire with no weapon in hand is seen as a sign of wishing for peace,” Dagan explained to the crew.

“So, how do we build the fire? Leftover wood from around the area?” Alex questioned.

“That is the way it is done here, yes. Look around and see if you can find a neatly stacked pile of wood nearby. The tribes always ensure there is wood to burn, on the off chance any of them wish to have peaceful talks among each other,” Dagan stated.

“Is this the way it’s done with everyone?” Korsa wondered.

“Since the Bombardment, yes. Let’s find that stack of wood if we can and get the fire going,” the captain told the crew.

Nodding, the crew got into action, searching the immediate areas for the stack of wood. It was maybe five minutes later when a cry went up from Natalya and she waved her friends over. The moment they closed on her position, they found a large pile of wood next to where she stood. There was enough wood and kindling there to start a bonfire, which left Dagan smirking to himself.

“Something funny, captain?” Shazza queried.

“Just looking at this pile of firewood here, it’s clear that a major talk will be happening soon. The tribes don’t stack this much wood, unless there’s a serious conflict going on and it’s going badly for them. I just hope that the Death Eagles are the ones making this stockpile,” Dagan stated.

“The Death Eagles are rivals to the Children of the Wolf, then?” Alex questioned.

“Indeed, they are, in all things! It was a tooth and nail match at times, often with no one sure which side would come out on top,” Dagan said as he collected an armload of firewood.

“What tipped the scales? Last I remember, the Death Eagle were a ferocious lot, ready to die to the last man,” Inari commented.

“That was before their chief, the Deathslayer, was felled,” Dagan replied with a smile.

“Wait, the Deathslayer is dead? How? When??” Inari questioned, heartened by this news.

“We could tell you the story, but I think it’s best if you let the Children tell you the tale. It’s one they never tire of telling,” Zuzanna smirked as she scooped up some firewood as well.

“Spoilsport!” Inari grumped while she stuck her tongue out at the doctor’s retreating form. The crew had amassed a largish pile of wood and stacked it neatly by the firepit.

“I think that should be enough to call them out and keep the fire going for a while. I will start the fire, but everyone present who wishes to speak must lay at least one piece of wood on the fire once it’s started,” Dagan said to them.

“Why is that?” Natalya asked.

“It is a sign to them that you have a stake in these talks and want to be heard. If you don’t, you will simply be ignored as background noise,” Inari explained.

“What is so big about the fire? Why is it the method of drawing the tribes out to talk?” Kasumi questioned.

“The fire is a symbol of equality. As fire burns and harms everyone, it will also warm and give life to everyone. It does not discriminate, from high born to low, as all stand equal before it. To speak in front of a fire is a wish to speak to others, as equals, no matter your status,” Dagan told them.

“Hmmm. That makes sense. There is a bit of truth to fire being equal across all things. It is powerful, yet doesn’t take sides against anyone. It cannot be swayed, nor can it be fully controlled. You just do what you can to give it what it needs and respect the power it has and what comfort it can give,” Korsa mused, thinking out loud.

“That, dear lady, is exactly why the tribes do it! I don’t think I could have said it better myself!” Dagan complimented, as he set the kindling and ignited the tinder with a lighter.

A small flame went up before it expanded, consuming the tinder before catching on the kindling. Once the flames were stronger, he took a larger chunk of wood and laid it carefully against the small fire. It caught easily enough and started to grow, making the fire larger. Following his example, one by one, everyone there put a large piece of wood on the fire.

“Now what do we do?” Alex queried.

“Now, we wait. They will require some time to see the fire and decide if they wish to meet with us,” Dagan told him.

“So, it will take as long as it takes?” Luminia asked.

“Indeed. All we must do now is wait,” the captain told the group.

Alex looked like he was about to protest, but a few words from Natalya in his ear calmed the man and he sat down next to the firepit. Kasumi joined him soon, catching the look from Natalya and deciding that it was best just to go along with it. No sense in making a stink about something you couldn’t change.

The remainder of the crew joined them down by the firepit, a couple of them relishing this moment of pause. While they wanted to find the Shadow Dancers now and get their stolen items back, they knew it would not be easy. They didn’t expect to have to jump through hoops like this. But they were prepared to do whatever was necessary to get back the stolen Trinium and find what answers they could about Alex’s family.

“I think we may have some company,” Korsa observed, as she was pacing behind the crew.

“How long have we been waiting?” Alex questioned as he got to his feet.

“Maybe an hour? Which is fairly fast, all things considered. Normally, it takes upwards of two to three hours before anyone approaches us,” Dagan told them.

“Not ones for doing things in a hasty manner, are they?” Shazza questioned.

“Not at all. Especially since any decision made in haste will affect the entire tribe. So, when deciding on anything, the Children often like to think things through, before acting,” Captain Min told them.

“There’s a lot of them coming. I mean ... a lot!” Kasumi worried, her hand hovering over her sidearm.

“This is normal for them, so please, stay your hand from your weapon, or this will have been for nothing,” Dagan warned.

Kasumi hesitated, but upon hearing Alex clear his throat and glare at her, Kasumi lowered her hand and looked back sheepishly. She also caught a look from Natalya, which told her that there’d be some ... repercussions for this behavior, but later. For the redheaded soldier, it was a double-edged sword. There would be some ... highs to it, but she’d have to endure punishment before it was granted.

While there was a large contingent of the tribe approaching the fire, they were being led by two people. The first was a powerfully muscled black man who walked with an air of authority. His black hair and beard had streaks of grey in them, and he carried an aura of ... command about him. While his clothing and armor were a bit ragtag, it was well maintained, as was the large axe that rested upon his back.

The woman who stood next to him was white, and though she looked to be just as old as he was, she appeared no less fearsome. She walked with a measured gait, her eyes darting this way and that, always looking for something. What exactly it was, no one knew, but her green eyes had a hawkish glint to them. Her auburn mane of hair was tied into a basic braid and was also streaked with grey, but less so.

The pair were glued to each other, both of them looking at the other in fondest of ways. Such looks were the same types that were exchanged between people who were mates to one another. This pair looked like none of that fire had died since being together. Nor would it, by the looks they shot at each other. They finally stepped into the firelight and cracked smiles upon seeing Dagan and his men.

“Dagan! It’s good to see you out here! I thought you were done with trading for the quarter,” the man rumbled, his voice far deeper than anyone there had anticipated.

“Indeed, my friend! I initially was done, until these people arrived in town, with a quest in mind,” Dagan replied, as he clasped arms with the man. The retinue of Wolves surrounded the group, but Dagan’s men seemed at ease with it, so the crew of the Darkstrider kept their cool.

“A quest? What kind of quest?” the woman questioned, her alto voice almost having a musical lilt to it.

“The kind that surrounds ... family,” Alex responded.

“Your family, I would assume?” the woman asked, looking Alex up and down, sizing the man up. “A man as big as you, your kin would likely have been subsumed among the tribes. Gods know that such massive men are often best for training into juggernauts that make others piss themselves when facing them.”

“Likely not, as I learned, courtesy of Captain Min. They are part of one of the gangs that roam around out here. Hard to find and even harder to deal with, so I’ve been told,” the big man responded.

“What gang might that be?” the black man asked, curious about who Alex was looking for.

“The Shadow Dancers.”

“Now why would your family wind up with such a notorious and cutthroat bunch of misfits on this forsaken world?” the woman asked.

“Simply put, they were once like you two. Settlers and colonists, looking for a better life, but changed during the Bombardment,” Min supplied.

“Exactly so. They’ve had to do what they needed to survive and, given the circumstances, I don’t blame them for becoming what they have,” Alex replied.

“Just who is it you are looking for among the Shadow Dancers?” the woman questioned.

“Gloria and Matthias Renauld. They are my family and I want to not only ensure they are all right, but to help them. If they’ll accept whatever help we offer,” Alex told her.

“A noble reason, but not the main one, I’m afraid. We’ve dealt with Federation types before, boy, and I know a lie when I hear one,” the man stated.

“Alex? Maybe we should tell them about the why,” Natalya whispered to him.

“Do you really think that’s wise?” Kasumi queried, seeing a risk in exposing what they could all do.

“It’s not like these people are part of the galactic community. Even they wanted to tell someone outside of their tribes, who could they tell? From what Dagan told us, they won’t even go near a ship, unless it’s a wreck,” Natalya argued.

“Fair point. While it is a risk, it is a low one. Besides, it’s not like any one of them here could do anything about it,” Alex agreed.

“What are you three whispering about?!?” one of the attending tribesmen growled, not liking the quiet chatter going on.

“Just deciding on something,” Kasumi replied, with a note of sass in her voice.

“My friends, it is not polite to whisper among yourselves like this! Especially not in front of Leroy and Cara, the Alphas, who do not take well to people being secretive in front of them!” Dagan warned.

“Given that we’re revealing this particular secret, I’m sure they’ll forgive us for the whispers,” Alex responded, before he brought his hands together in a loud clap.

The clap startled everyone assembled for a moment, but then awe was etched onto everyone’s faces as Alex pulled his hands apart. Between them was the violet energy of the Aether which he commanded, and it spasmed and crackled as he brought into being. The collective awe that rose up among everyone there was enough to make them all stop and stare.

Not to be outdone, the other ladies went about their own ways to call forth the Aether. As they had studied the hermit’s journals, they had learned that the way to call the Aether into being varied from person to person. Just as every being in the galaxy was unique, so too was the way the Aether was brought into the physical realm.

Natalya put her hands together in a praying motion as her emerald energies blossomed from within her. Kasumi took a stance in what looked like she was expressing pure rage, as her ruby power enshrouded the woman. Korsa went into a complex kata from the Kha’varen, as gold energies moved with her limbs. Finally, Shazza stepped into a meditative stance, as her silver-white power flowed out of her like water.

“What ... what ... what?!?!” Dagan breathed as he watched his new acquaintances embrace this power. He and his men stared goggle-eyed at the five of them, beyond awed at what they were doing.

“We keep such knowledge secret for a reason, my dear friend,” Inari said to Dagan, as she chuckled at his consternation.

“You have friends like this?!? Who can ... do magic?” the man gasped.

“Not magic, but to those who don’t know any better, it would seem so. Such abilities aren’t just gifted to anyone, mind you,” Alex stated, as he looked at the man with glowing violet eyes.

“How does one attain such abilities?” the captain breathed.

“You are chosen. That is how you get them,” Cara replied, drawing everyone’s attention to her.

“How do you know this?” Alex asked as he brought his hands back together, stowing his power.

“We have tales which tell of these things, but they are often believed to be tall tales and the fancies of children. They do not speak of those who could use such abilities in real life,” Leroy responded, still awed by what he’d seen.

“This is why we are looking for the Shadow Dancers. Because they have knowledge of how to use such abilities, which we do not possess,” Korsa told the group as she finished her kata.

“You obviously know enough to make use of them!” Cara commented, who stared at the group, not in awe, but with a measuring gaze. It was as though she was trying to determine if they could be used to any extent.

“In a manner of speaking, yes. Though the Shadow Dancers possess the means in which to be trained better. Means which were to be shared amongst the entire family,” Alex said pointedly as the rest of the crew put up their energies.

“And you wish to find them, so they would share such knowledge with you? What makes you think they’ll even play ball?” Leroy scoffed.

“I’m also sure they’d like a few of their friends back, whom we have as our... ‘guests’,” Inari smirked.

“You captured a pair of Shadow Dancers? And they haven’t torn you apart?!?” one of the young wolves breathed, scarcely believing what he was hearing.

“Nothing really special about the folks who tried to rob us. They were just a grab team, equipped with pistols, nothing more,” Priya laughed.

“See?!? I told you that not all of them possessed such abilities!” the young wolf barked, happy that his theory was proven correct.

“Nico, shush,” Cara admonished the boy. “You said the Shadow Dancers tried to rob you? As in, they were not successful??”

“Partially successful. They stole a few crates of valuable cargo, which only has use if they plan on building their own ship. Other than that, selling it would likely be something they’d be unable to do, unless they have the correct contacts, offworld.”

“Of which we are certain they do not. We are their only real contact with anything outside of their territory. That being said, information on the Shadow Dancers is privileged, and we do not part with it lightly, or cheaply,” Leroy told the group, crossing his arms.

“What would you consider something worth parting with?” Kasumi asked, curious about what their price would be.

“Those weapons you’re all wearing would be a good first step towards that information. Such fine guns would help us immensely in our struggles with the Death Eagle,” Cara stated with a smirk, as she eyed Korsa’s Thuun’tara sword.

“Sorry, but the weapons we have aren’t for sale. But we do have something that we understand would be equally valuable and likely even more so,” Alex told the pair. He looked at Dagan and the smuggler captain gestured to his men, who brought forward the crates of food. They then opened the crates and the full feast of fruit and vegetables was laid bare to the Children of the Wolf.

“Are these seeded?” Leroy asked tentatively.

“They are, and of high-level quality,” Luminia confirmed as she smiled at the group.

“No way! There’s no way we could afford to pay whatever duties the Farmer’s Consortium would level on us if they found out we had such plants,” Cara balked.

“These aren’t from the Consortium. They are from something entirely separate from that entity. Feel free to try one if you wish,” Natalya replied with a gesture.

“If these don’t come from the Consortium, then where do they come from?” Leroy asked as he approached one of the crates.

“A place far beyond the Consortium’s reach, and we’d like to keep it that way,” Alex told the man.

Leroy stood above one crate that was packed with the harder fruit and vegetables and plucked a pomegranate from it. He held it up, inspecting the fruit for any bruising or mold. Finding none, the man produced a knife from his pants and used it to cut open the fruit. Breaking it apart, he sniffed at it for a moment before moaning and tasting the fruit. Pure shock and joy rippled through his face as he chewed.

“Well? How good of a quality are we looking at?” Cara demanded. Leroy just sighed and handed the woman one half of the fruit as he enjoyed the first piece. Cara looked at her husband and admitted that she’d never seen him quite this calm over fruit. Shrugging, she took a sampling of the pom herself, and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

“Oh, my ... holy ... mmmmm!!!” she moaned, as she smacked her lips in delight.

“Worth trading for the information we require?” Inari questioned with a smirk.

“That would depend on how much of these crates you’re willing to part with!” Leroy replied as she spit out the seeds into his hand.

“All of it,” Alex told the pair.

“All of it?!?” Cara almost choked as her eyes nearly fell out of her head in shock.

“Yes. All of it. Provided you are willing to part with all the information you have on the Shadow Dancers. Where they are, what they’re usually up to, their numbers, weapons, if they have any, and most importantly, how to contact them,” Alex said to the group.

Leroy and Cara traded glances, unsure of what to do in that moment. This group was offering them a literal fortune in fresh produce, along with the seeds, in exchange. While what they were asking was steep, the pair got the sense that these were good and honorable people. They weren’t looking to hurt their friends in any way, but simply sought answers from them, and likely their stolen goods.

“Very well. We see this as a fair exchange for the information you seek. However, there are two conditions to it,” Leroy stated, and the crew waited for him to continue. “First, you must swear that you will do no harm to the Shadow Dancers when you do find them. They may be thieves and scoundrels, but they are also our friends.”

“We can promise that. What’s the second term?” Alex replied.

“That you and your crew stay with us for the night as our guests. It has been too long since we’ve welcomed anyone to our fires and we would relish the opportunity to have some new company among us,” Cara filled in.

The crew looked at each other before accepting the terms. They all figured that one night among the Children of the Wolf couldn’t hurt. They seemed a friendly enough bunch, and if Dagan Min trusted this group, then they knew they’d be all right. With the talks concluded, they were all led to the tribe’s camp, which was only a few hundred meters away, nestled in a small grove that still had a few trees growing there.

The camp had to have held hundreds of people, all gathered there. There were elders, along with men and women of fighting age. There were children among them as well, but very few. Those that were there stayed close to their parents and elders, preferring to be nearby in case the tribe had to leave. Given the state of the world they lived in and the constant threat of attack, this was a reality they all had to live.

When the crew walked in surrounded by the warriors of the tribe, it drew the eyes of the rest of them. It was curious to see newcomers there, especially ones who were so heavily armed. But the Alphas of the tribe walked with them without fear, so it was clear to the rest of them they could be trusted. Some of the tribe even raised greetings to Dagan and his men, as they were familiar sights to them.

“Seeing the power you five wield, it’s understandable that you seek others that can do the same,” Cara remarked as they walked into the camp.

“Gloria and Matthias are capable of using it?” Alex questioned, as he kept pace with the pair.

“Yes, but in more ... creative ways than what you lot displayed. I will say, I never expected it to take on different colors like that,” Leroy commented.

“Why? Is theirs different?” Natalya asked.

“Yes. It’s more of a gray, like mist in some ways. Though the way they brought it into being was not as ... exciting,” Cara smirked.

Alex exchanged glances with the ladies, and they knew what this meant. That Gloria and Matthias were surface users, or Daskein, as the hermit had called them. While they were surface users, that didn’t mean they lacked skill or power. Knowing this, only encouraged the group to be careful when the encounter with the Shadow Dancers happened.

“Regardless, they aren’t to be trifled with. They have no issue in putting down anyone who makes trouble for them. Several people have done exactly this and were ... reeducated to not bother with that line of thinking,” Leroy warned them.

“We’ve heard of such issues among the residents of Tanith’s Gully, but lacked any real context about it. Would you mind filling in the blanks?” Alex posed.

“Certainly. Please, sit,” Leroy said as they were all brought before a large fire by the Alpha’s tent.

As the crew sat down, the crates were brought into the camp by the other tribe members. After selecting the finest pieces for the Alphas, the rest of the fruit and veg were distributed to the rest of the tribe. Everyone knew to bring in whatever seeds came with them, so the gardeners of the tribe could try their hand at growing more. Within the crates was a tablet, which they were poring over, so they could know just how to grow each plant properly.

“Our thanks for bringing the fruit and vegetables. It’s been a while since we’ve had such things here. While we do grow our own, there’s barely enough to keep the tribe fed in the best of times. Besides, not everyone is a fan of what we’ve managed to scrounge out here,” Leroy said to the crew.

“It was our pleasure, Alpha. From what Captain Min here has told us, there is much that your tribe needs, which we were happy to provide,” Inari stated.

“On top of which, we have heard ... other things that spurred us to choose these specific items to trade,” Alex mentioned.

“Not so loud,” Cara whispered, glancing around covertly.

“Not everyone is onboard with the idea?” Korsa wondered, seeing the hesitation in the woman’s eyes.