The Tribe; A Supernatural Romeo & Juliet

The Tribe

Chapter 1: Awakening

I ran through the woods, my passing marked by the prints I left in the fresh snow. I was running from the wolves who chased me, hunted me. All of a sudden, the ground dropped out from under me and I was flying! Over the sea, over the land. I knew then that the wolves could not bother me. I angled back to my village and flew in to land. Right as I was about to... I woke up. I looked out and noticed it was lighter. That meant it was closer to the summer months, closer to the time to hand the staff, the leadership, over to the Quietus clan. I never knew why my clan led during the winter months and theirs during the summer but.... I just went with it. My thoughts turned back to the dream. This marked the third time in a month that I had that dream. I didn't know when I laid my head down if the dream would strike or why. All I knew was the dreams were coming more often. I climbed out of my bed and went to the communal house. My parents where still up, of course.
"Hey Sar, how's the sleep?" My dad asked as we got in line for the food.
"Not bad," I replied, grabbing my bowl of stew. We sat down at the table. "How fares the night?" I asked, taking a bite.
"It's almost time." My dad replied.
"I noticed," I paused for a while, "Hey dad? I’m not feeling all that good, I'll go visit the shaman later." I said as non-commentary as possible.
"Really? How so?" I could tell out of the corner of my eye that he was scrutinizing my face, my words, my reactions.
"Nothing too bad, just a headache I've had for the past day or so..." I let my voice trail off.
"Oh." I could tell he was let down, like he was hoping for me to be really sick or something. I got up and put my half-empty bowl of stew up and headed to the shaman’s hut.
"What ails you?" He asked as soon as I walked in.
"I've been having these weird thoughts lately. Dreams of flying..." My voice trailed off, realizing how stupid I sounded, however the shaman looked at me with pity.
"How often?" he asked in a real low voice.
"Uh... well...last night marked the third time in a month."
"That often?" His voice was so low that I was not sure if he was talking to me or just saying something. In a slightly louder voice he said, "I would not worry about it. Just a dream."
"Thanks." I said walking out. I headed back to the center village.
"Hey! Sar!" I saw my friends running up to me.
"Hey Chris, Raz! Where's Aliv?"
"Don't know," Chris answered. Chris, me, and Razial had been friends since... well, ever. Alivda and I had just met, but it seemed as though my world was gone, like I was blind, like there was... I just can't describe it, can't describe how I felt. I knew though, that she felt the same way, we just couldn't express it. My friends, of course, thought we were crazy, but, how could they ever know the joy we felt?
"Hey! Sar!" My heart leapt audibly into my throat.
"There he goes again." I composed my face. Raz and Chris laughed as I tripped trying to run to her.
"Silly," She said as she reached out to help me up, "you know you have problems walking. You have two left feet. And two right for that matter." I felt my checks warm. Chris and Raz just laughed harder.
“Yah, yah, I know, I know.” I said, keeping my head down.
“Ignore them. They don’t know.” Aliv whispered in my ear. I raised my head. Her face was beautiful as I remembered, was as serne as an angel’s. “Hey,” she raised her voice, “let’s go to the fort. Sar, if you will.” She swept out her arm. I took a hold of it and together we walked, into the forest. After awhile we came to an area me and my friends had found. We had built a magnificent ice fort, but it was not finished. We often slept in it, but only during the summer months. We went in and started cutting ice blocks.
“The west tower needs a top,” Chris said as we cut.
“We also need to finish our rooms.” Aliv said, smiling at me.
“I say we finish the rooms, and if there’s time we then work on the tower,” I said, smiling back.
“Of course you do,” Raz muttered under her breath. However it was decided that we should work on the rooms. I spent the rest of the day working with Aliv in her room. We nearly finished her room up when we had to go back. At the village center we all said goodbye, and I went back to the communal house. My dad saw me and came over.
“Feeling better son?” He asked me. I nodded.
“Yeah, I guess I just needed some fresh air.”
“You seem much happier. Been spending time with Aliv?” The way he said her name scared me.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think you should spend so much time with her. It’s not healthy. It’s like your addicted to her. What if she leaves? What if she’s not who you think she is?”
“Why do you care? She makes me happy! Isn’t that what you want?!”
“While yes...”
“Then why can I not be with her?!”
“She might end up hurting you.”
“Just leave me alone.” I ran to my house, slamming the door to my room. I swore that the walls shook, that the ice fell off the roof, ice that despite everyone’s best efforts never came off.
“Sar? You okay?” My mom asked me coming to my door.
“Just leave me ALONE!” I locked the door and dove on my bed. I heard my mom head outside, probably to get my dad. I opened up my window and slid out. I went to the ice fort and finished Aliv’s, Raz’s, and Chris’ rooms. I then crashed in mine. When I woke, sunlight was streaming into the room.
“I’ll check inside, you check outside.” Chris’ voice drifted up from the entryway. I ran down.
“Hey, Chris, I’m okay.”
“Found him!” He yelled outside. I heard two sets of feet stomping through the snow. Aliv and Raz ran in. Aliv threw herself at me, grabbing me in a bear hug.
“Don’t do that to me, ever, ever, again.” She said, kinda loudly, but I was happy.
“You had everyone worried, not just your village.” Chris said.
“Really?” I said as Aliv stopped hugging me and we just held hands. Raz walked up to me and smacked me on the head. “Ow!”
“You had me worried sick! Don’t you remember what happened last time someone left?!?!” We all shuddered. We walked back to the village. By the time we had got there, Aliv and me had stopped holding hands.
“Sar, are you okay!?!?! What are you doing with her!?!?! Get over here!!!!” My dad yelled at me when he saw us. I walked over to him and he grabbed my shoulder. “You’re grounded!” He said to me as we walked back to my house, “and you’re forbidden from seeing Aliv.”
“But, dad, she’s not why I ran away. I just needed to be alone.”
“Well now you’ll be alone, for a week.” I walked to my room and laid down



Chapter 2: Transformation

A week later…

“Sar, you’ve been moping around like the dead. However, I’m letting you off the hook.” My dad said. My mouth popped open. “There is a catch, though, one, you will be home by dark. Two, you will obey everything me or you mother says. Three, you will NOT SEE ALIVDA!!!” Crash!!! The bowl that was in my hands, now was on the floor in a million pieces. I tried to pick up the pieces but only ended up cutting my hands. My dad sighed, “Get that looked at and I’ll clean this up.” I walked to the shaman’s with blood flowing down my arms, looking like a waterfall. I had always been an easy bleeder. The shaman took one look, grabbed a roll of bandages, wrapped up my arms and stemmed the flow.
“Look, you need to be more careful or you’re gonna end bleeding to death one of these days,” He said as he wrapped them, “Now about those dreams, how often now?”
“Twice a week now and they last longer.” It was true. I now saw myself landing.
“You might want to tell your parents.”
“Thanks.” I walked down to the village center.
“Hey, Sar, your dad let you off the hook?”
“Yeah, Chris, but I can’t see Aliv or go out after dark.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah, how’s the fort?”
“Well, aside from your room, it’s finished.”
“Really? Let’s go work on it.” Just then Chris noticed my hands.
“What did you do this time?”
“Uh, broke a bowl and then cut my hands trying to pick it up.”
“Be careful, you know how easily you bleed. Do you think you should work with those hands?”
“Yeah, come on.” I said as I started walking towards the ice fort. “So where is everyone?”
“Uh, well, ya know, around.” His evasiveness had me worried. Naturally I was surprised when we got to the ice fort and Raz was standing in the entryway.
“Hey, Raz! What are you doing here?”
“Well, me and Chris thought we would throw you a ‘get out of jail’ party.”
“We?” Chris and Raz looked at each other.
“Well, Aliv was supposed to be here…”
“Aw, I can’t take it any more, let me see him.” Aliv stepped out from a hallway and ran to me. “Hey Sar, are you okay?” Like always Aliv had seen when I was worried.
“Well, my dad said I can’t see you.”
“He doesn’t know about this place, does he? We can just meet here.” A smile warmed my face. Just then Aliv noticed my hands. “What cut your hands?”
“Uh, I dropped a bowl…”
“And cut your hands cleaning it up.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, let’s go up and finish your room.” Me and Aliv walked up, holding hands. When I walked into my room the first thing I noticed was an extra door connecting my room to Aliv’s. Then I noticed a statue of the villages’ guardian animals, the animals that each village choose to represent them. I glanced out the window and noticed how low the sun was.
“Oh shoot.” I ran out, through the hallway. I made it to the top of the stairs before I tripped. Aliv ran to catch me but was too late. I fell. The last thing I saw before blacking out was the ceiling; last thing I heard was Aliv yelling “SAR!!!!” When I came to, I was laying on my back staring at the ceiling of my house. I tried to look around but, the pain!
“Uhhh….”
“He’s awake!” My mom yelled out the door. My dad, Chris and Raz ran in. I tried to sit up but my dad pushed me back onto the bed.
“Sar, you were out for a day or so, you shouldn’t be moving least till we know if you’re aright.” I laid in bed for a week or so. Chris and Raz visited daily, but they could not tell me about how Aliv was doing, due to the fact my mom and dad were always in the room. I don’t think they ever left, aside from getting me soup. After a week, the shaman came over and looked me over.
“He’s okay now,” He said to my parents, “Just don’t run anymore.” The last comment was directed to me. I smiled sheepishly, wondering what story Chris and Raz had told my parents. The shaman left.
“Hey, mom, dad? Can I go out and see Chris and Raz?” I asked.
“Well… we just need to know a few things first. One, have you had any strange dreams lately? Such as dreams of flying? Two, how much do you like Aliv? And three, where do you disappear too?”
“Uh…” I knew my parents would not leave me alone till I told them, “Well… yes, quite often. I would fall apart with out her. And Me, Chris, Raz and Aliv built an ice fort.” My parents looked surprised at the first answer, shocked at the second, and amazed at the third.
“We have to tell you some things.”
“Okay…”
“Well, son,” My dad said, “Do you remember the old legends, about the four shape shifters? And their clans? How ever member of the clans could change?” I remembered the stories, but wondered why they were relevant. “Our clan descended from Devon Rose. The stories were, and are, true. We, the descendents of Devon Rose, can change, just as he did. All of us can.” After my dad finished saying this, he started to shrink. After a little bit, a snowy owl sat where my dad was mere moments ago. My dad quickly changed back. “I was about your age when I started to having dreams exactly like yours.”
“What? This means I’m gonna be able to do that?” I was scared out of my wits. All my life I was afraid I was abnormal. My greatest wish was to be normal. But what was normal now?
“Yes, but there’s more. The reason I don’t want you to see Aliv is she happens to be a member of the Quietus clan. The Quietus clan happens to be descended form Squall Quietus, the wolf.” I nodded. “You can go see your friends now, but stay away from Aliv, okay?” I nodded, got up, and went to the village center. Chris and Raz were waiting there for me.
“Hey! Sar! Should you be out?”
“Yeah, Shaman said I was okay.” The sadness in my voice was plain.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing.” I quickly masked my pain. We went to the ice fort, but before we got there Chris and Raz left.
“Hey Sar!” That voice, that angelic voice. It sounded so sweet on my ears after so long without hearing it. “Guess what I found out!” Aliv ran to me and stopped a few feet away. “Watch!” I could tell she was excited. As I watched her, she started to blur. All of a sudden she was gone and in her place was a wolf. As I stared, my mouth open, the wolf blurred and disappeared. “Pretty cool, huh?”
I started to back up, in horror. The only thought running through my head was, “My parents were right!” I took off running, my horror lending speed and balance. She phased and chased after me. It was like my dream. I jumped over a log and found myself flying.  I nearly fell, but instincts I didn’t know I had took over. I flapped my wings and headed to where the woods looked darker. I could hear Aliv running, panting, heading for the same spot. I landed on a branch and wondered how I would change myself back. “Sar! I know this is strange, but surely me being able to change shouldn’t change how we feel.” Suddenly she burst into the clearing, but she was still a wolf. She phased back to human. “I know  you can hear me, and that you can phase too. I don’t care! Why should what we are change how we feel? Why does it matter that I’m a Quietus and you’re a Rose? Why does it matter that I can change into a wolf and you an owl? Forget our parents, Forget our clans. Please, I feel as though the sun will never rise on the barren wasteland that is my life without you.”
Her words touched me, and I cried out. She motioned me down. “I’ll help you change back.”
As I landed next to her, she reached out and stroked my head. “Think of your human body, imagine how it feels.” She said as she took a step back. As I thought about it, my arms started to tingle and Aliv looked like she was shrinking. “See, it’s easy.” My arms stopped tingling.
“Is it?” My voice was heavy with sorrow. “Did you really mean it?”
“Yes, Sar, I did. Why should it matter that people from different clans can’t love each other? Why? If our parents truly want us to be happy, they’ll let us be together, regardless of the rules.”
I smiled. “You’re right, Alivda Quietus, why should it matter? After all ‘What’s in a name?’” I said.
Aliv laughed, mainly because of the quote.  “‘That which we call a rose, By any other name would still smell as sweet.’” She finished for me. “You, Sarzeath Rose, are my Montague.”
“And you, my Capulet.” Holding hands we walked back to the village.



Chapter 3: Defiance

As we walked back, Aliv started to tell me about what had gone on, over on her side of the line. “Yeah, my parents weren’t to happy when they found out either. Matter of fact, I got grounded the day you ran off. I still am.” She said this last part with a smile.
“How’d you get out then?”
“Easy, I slid out the window, like you did.”
“And they haven’t caught you yet?
“Nope,” she said, laughing.
We walked into the village, still holding hands. “Well, I better get back before I get caught.”
“See ya.” We parted and I went to the communal house. I grabbed a bowl and sat down. My dad walked up to me. I glanced up at him and scowled down into my soup, hoping he’d go away.
“What’s wrong?” he asked me.
“Nothing,” I mumbled. He just sat there for a while. “Fine,” I muttered darkly, “I just don’t think it fair that I can’t see the love of my life.”
“Well, life is often times not fair.”
“I know, I know. It’s just that, well, if I love her, why should it matter who she is? This reminds me much of Romeo and Juliet. How the Montagues and Capulets were fighting and it took the loss of their heirs to make them realize that they were fighting for stupid reasons. Not to mention the fact that many innocents, like Paris, got killed in the crossfire. Do you want that to happen here, to me, to you? I mean, come on, Do you want to lose me all because I love a Quietus? Well, do ya?”
“While this is true, that doesn’t mean that it will turn out the same. Things could go very different. You could fall in love with some one else. Just like the father says, ‘Young man’s love lies not in their hearts, but in their eyes.’ You could change your mind. She could too. Even if you two happen to be starcrossed lovers.”
“Fine! I’ll just stop seeing her then! I’ll never now true happiness! Is that what you want?!”
“Now, Sar, don’t be like that.” He said, but I had already stood up. I put my bowl up, and went outside. I phased into my owl form and flew off. I looked back, only once, and saw him standing at the entrance to the communal house, staring at me, his mouth agape. I just flew on, coming to the fort. I landed outside and phased back to normal. I walked in and there was Chris, Raz, and Aliv.
“Take it he didn’t approve?” Chris said as I walked over by Aliv.
“Of course he didn’t, you dolt. She’s a Quietus, Sar’s a Rose.” Raz snapped at Chris.
“Calm down, Raz. He didn’t know.” Aliv said. I just looked at her.
“Aren’t you afraid you are going to get caught sneaking out?” I asked her.
“Naw, I was just let off the hook.” She smiled. I just sat down next to her, happy to be around her. It was like her presence here was a beacon. Like she was a lighthouse and I was a storm tossed ship, her mere being here with me, a light guiding me safely to harbor. “You know, guys, Sar hasn’t seen what you can do.” I looked at her again.
“True,” Raz said, “Watch.” As I watched her, she phased into a fox. I just laughed and waited for her to phase back.
“My turn.” Chris said, after Raz had phased back. He phased into a hare.
“I had an idea,” Aliv said. “Why don’t we see who’s fastest? Sar? What do you say?”
“Why not, I might even win!” I said, happy to be with my friends. We all phased into our animals and lined up at the door. Me and Aliv told them where to find the clearing. After Raz counting down we all took off. I seemed to be in the lead, till I looked down. I saw Aliv underneath me. We arrived at the clearing at the same time. Me and Aliv phased back, laughing. All of a sudden, I heard an owl cry out. I looked up and there was one in the branches above our heads. It dropped down and turned into my dad.



Chapter 4: Consequences

“What are you doing with her?” My dad yelled at me.
“Me and Aliv decided that it did not matter what you or her parents say. We love each other, and if that is not a good enough reason to you, then you’re not my parent!!!!” I yelled right back.
“Sar, I just want you to be happy and safe.” He said lowering his voice. Just then Chris and Raz ran up. They phased back
“What going on here?” Raz asked.
“Chris, Raz, this is between me, Aliv, and Sar.” My dad said to them.
“Wait! No it’s not.” Aliv broke in. “Mine and Sar’s love affects the whole tribe. That means that our ability to be together here should be up to vote. In other words, we’ll let the tribe decide if we can stay here or leave. I don’t know about Sar, but if I’m not allowed to stay here with him, then I’ll go any where just to be with him.”
“Same here, Aliv.” I said grabbing her hand.
“Fine.” My dad said. We all phased and went back to the village center. As we arrived all of the tribe showed up. Me and Aliv were forced to stand in the center of the circle they formed around us.
“Sarzeath Rose, you have been accused of loving a Quietus. Is this true?” The village elder said.
“Yes! I, Sarzeath Rose, love Alivda Quietus.” I said, my voice stronger then it had ever been.
“Alivda Quietus, you have been accused of loving a Rose. Is this true?” The village elder said.
“Yes! I, Alivda Quietus, love Sarzeath Rose.” She said. My heart leaped when she said this.
“Is there any who dispute these claims?” No on answered him. “In that case, do you two have anything to say in your defense?”
“Yes.” I said. “Since when has loving become a crime? If I love her, and she loves me too, should either of us be punished? Why does it matter what clans we belong to?” I started to pace. “Huh? What’s that? Silence? Does that mean you have no answers? Is it because you feel ashamed? I love Alivda. If you can’t accept that, then fine. I’ll go somewhere where they don’t care.”
“And I would follow him. Think about it, do you want to lose two young members of your tribe? Is the world ready for another Romeo and Juliet? If need be I would sacrifice myself, just for Sar’s sake. I’m absolute positive that he would do so also. If we are completely devoted to each other, does that make it any different from what would happen if I were a Rose or he a Quietus? I understand that this seems to go against the clan loyalties, but think, if me and Sar were to get married, or even have descendents, that would strengthen the bonds between the Rose and the Quietus clan. Do we want a clan war? Shouldn’t we be doing all we can to prevent it? Every one of you must have seen the rising tensions between my clan and Sar’s. If me and Sar are willing, should we not join together to help prevent the war that is inevitable with the current state?” A low mummer could be heard going through the crowd. It was obvious that Aliv had their attention.
“Why can you see how much it will hurt us if we can’t be with each other? Can you not remember what it is like to be in love? Neither one of us will be much good for anything but moping around. Imagine how much of a klutz I’ll be if I don’t have my full attention on it.” A few of them laughed. The story of how I knocked my self out must have passed around. “See, I would not only be a danger to myself but others too. Not to mention that without her my world is a sunless barren wasteland. Really, do you want to see that kind of pain? And know that you are the cause, that you could of changed it, stopped it? If so, fine, exile me and Aliv, we won’t come back. Just don’t force us to stay apart.” It was clear that neither of us had anything more to say.
“The council must convene to decide. Till we do so Aliv and Sar must stay in their houses.” The elder said.



Chapter 5: Decision

I helped out in the house, well, as much as I could with my dad scowling at me. Most of the time I just stayed in my room. It took them about 2 days to decide. They called all of us back.
“We have decided. Before we tell you, though, we must tell you how we came to this course.” The elder said. The storyteller stepped forward.
“The old legends that you all have heard are incomplete. They say that after founding the tribe, Squall, Devon, Hiro Hekiko, and Jaque Kiro each led a long and fruitful life. The story that I am about to tell was lost in the mists of time, only to be recently rediscovered in the old histories. It is the story of a sister tribe, one that was wiped out many a time ago. It tells of a union between two tribes. Many, many, innumerable years ago, after the death of Devon Rose’s first wife, and the death of Squall Quietus, Devon fell in love with Morgana, Squall’s wife. Unfortunately, because of who they were they could not be together. Devon and Morgana approached Hiro and Jaque and, together, decided to leave. They left giving leadership over to Hiro and Jaque.” At this the people murmured. “This does not mean that the Kiro and Hekiko clans are supposed to lead, because before their deaths they handed it back over to the Rose and Quietus clans. Anyway, they left and formed a small shelter some distance away. They got married and, together with their descendents, formed a small village. This village grew in time but a terrible demise fell upon them. Because of their trading with the foreigners, they were infected with a disease that killed them all in a sudden fit. Meanwhile, back in our village, Hiro and Jaque regretted the fact that they had let their friends leave.” The storyteller had finished.
“This is why we have come to the decision to allow Sarzeath Rose and Alivda Quietus, who, just like their ancestors before them, are deeply devoted to each other, to stay and be together.” The elder said. My dad stood with his mouth agape. I looked around and saw that several others were the same. Aliv ran up to me, grabbed me in a big bear hug, and kissed me deeply. It was the first time we had every kissed, and it felt as though the sun, moon, and all heavenly bodies fell into darkness, celebrating, and giving blessing to our union.
“Sar!” my dad yelled at me. I went over to him. His face was the deepest scarlet. “You are not welcome in my house again!” By this time the crowds were gone. He then turned and stalked off. I turned and saw Aliv, Chris, and Raz walking up to me.
“Aliv’s dad just kicked her out.” Raz said with her usual bluntness.
“Mine too.” I said.
“So, if you guys have no where to live…” Chris started to say.
“What about the ice fort?” Aliv asked, interrupting Chris.
“Yeah!” I said, “We did plan on using it to sleep in.” That night, me and Aliv packed as much as we could and moved into the fort. The next day we met with the elder.
“Yes?” He asked.
“We just wanted to thank you and ask you something.” Aliv said
“What?”
“Well… Me and Sar want to get married.” Aliv said.
“Well... I see no harm.” The elder spoke. After about a week, me and Aliv were married. Everything was perfect bliss.



Finn







Author’s note:

I wrote this as a way for me to focus some of my ideas. I apologize for any roughness in the way it is written, and also for any parts that were hard to read. Keep in mind I was in 10th grade when I wrote this. Also, I give full premission to anyone who wishes to use this as a spring board, and welcome all critics. If you do use this, please give credit where it is due.