Night had fallen, but Leva and Anne were still far from the Redtooth tribe''s entourage. The older sister had just managed to make a bonfire when Lara came to her.


    The blonde-haired woman hid her hands behind her back.


    "Ah, it''s you, Lara." Leva greeted, only ncing at Lara. "Good evening."


    Lara was silent for a moment. "Apparently, Kat was right. You''ve changed, Leva. The old Leva wouldn''t greet first like that."


    Leva smirked. "Well, I just found out that I can change myself."


    "So, what do you need, Lara?" Anne asked in a fast and not at all friendly tone.


    "See?" Lara chuckled. "That''s the kind of response I was expecting. Full of suspicion and hostility."


    Levaughed too, though it seemed forced. "But, really. What are you doing here, Lara? And I know you''re hiding a knife behind your back. You want to fight us in an open space like this, with melee attacks that you are not good at?"


    Lara turned to her little sister. "Have you told Leva about Kat making a blood vow to protect your sister?"


    "What?" Leva turned to Anne, who just sighed.


    And Lara then pulled out a knife from behind her back. "And that deed inspired me, Leva. Now raise your hand, I will make that vow to protect your sister in the salt mines tomorrow."


    "Hey!" Leva quickly got up and grabbed Lara''s hand. "Are you insane!? You don''t have to do something like this!"


    "I have to do it, Leva." Lara smiled with teary eyes. "Let me do it. It''s for your family."


    "You have no debt or obligation to do anything for my family." Leva hissed sharply, still not wanting to let go of Lara''s knife-holding hand. "And I don''t want to be in debt to you either."


    Lara''s tears started to fall. With a slight shake of the head, she said in a whimpering voice. "I havemitted a grave sin against your family, Leva."


    "What do you mean?" Leva frowned.


    Lara never showed any sign that it was very stressful on her mind. Yes, I know she feels guilty, but not to this extent.


    Seconds passed, Lara shook her head again. Her tears fell more and more. "I can''t tell you."


    "Don''t do this." Leva reiterated her words.


    Lara''s hand holding the knife went limp, so Leva let go of her grip.


    "I''m so sorry..." Unable to look at the siblings, Lara left the ce half running.


    Anne got up, watching the blonde girl walk away. "She is acting strange. She does often argue with you or me, but never gets into a fight with us."


    "Maybe she did something wrong to one of us, but we just don''t realize it." Leva was on her hips with an expression I couldn''t predict.


    They both sat down and started eating.


    I looked around to check the situation. Seeing Tosa sitting across from my three colonists, I immediately moved to the settlement to listen to their chatter. When ites to Tosa, I have a terrible feeling.


    "So, what''s your job here, Pif?" Tosa asked, then took a bite of green guava-like fruit.


    Pif, having just swallowed his smoked chicken, shrugged. "Well, a healer maybe? And I guess I''m a long-range fighter here too."


    "All this time, you asked about our abilities." Seb smiled widely. "You want us to join you on your mission, right?"


    Hell no. I don''t want my colonists to be in danger. I immediately whispered to Seb to refuse if Tosa wanted to take my colonists on the mission. However, the group leader shook his head instead, throwing the rest of the fruit into the fire.


    "So, if I ask, will you guys agree toe along?" Tosa shrugged. "This tribe of yours is still very small and has very few members. I just wanted to say, in a critical situation, maybe we need your help, especially the healer. If, for example, many of us are injured and two of our healers are overwhelmed, we will ask for your help. Is that alright?"


    "Well then, just agree with him, Seb." I whispered to my male colonist.


    Seb nodded and held out his hand. "You guys have also helped us a lot with bricks, and others. We will help as much as we can, even if we cannot participate in the mission."


    "Great." Tosa smiled and shook the hand. "We appreciate your kindness."


    Pif and Kat also shook Tosa''s hand.


    Since nothing meaningful happened anymore, I used the fast forward feature again. My colonists and group members from the Redtooth tribe seemed to be carrying out their activities in such a quick motion. In no time, my colonists entered the shelter while the group members entered their sleeping bags.


    It was not yet morning, but I''ve pressed the y button. I became restless. I need some time to cool off before the storm that might hit tomorrow. Although this is not a mission from my colony, the event that will happen is the biggest thing I have ever encountered in this game.


    Game, huh?


    Sighing, I started strolling, watching the sleeping people. I stopped when I saw people I knew. Lin, Lara, Yogi, then Anne, who slept with her sister in one sleeping bag, hugging each other. Honestly, I''m a little fond of them. In thest few days, I''ve been learning about their stories. They were no longer NPCs from other tribes.


    No. All of them here are not NPCs like in other games. You can''t just forget them.


    Finally, I stopped in front of Tosa, who had not yet fallen asleep. The squad leader''s eyes were fixed on the zing bonfire.


    He''s an asshole, but I can feel a surge of determination in him. I hope, tomorrow, this man''s n will fail. No one will be a martyr to spark an uprising.


    Yes, this time, I can only hope. Everything is in the hands of the guardian spirit of Redtooth, not mine.


    I looked up at the stars in the clear sky.. If I, who wasn''t even one of them, could be so worried, how would Red feel now? I think she also really loves her people, even though she failed Leva.