Two days later, the team spent the morning doing laundry and bathing and grooming the horses before going into town to bathe and groom themselves. Per the norm, Ulana insisted on doing hair and make-up with Lolo before putting on the only nice clothes that King Ukhaan’s steward had packed for them: a red dress for Ulana and a deep purple dress for Lolo.

“Must you wear your sword belt over your dress?” Ulana sulked. “I put so much effort into your hair and make-up to make you look pretty.”

“You sound like my mom, Ulana. Besides, we’re going to be travelling most of the day, anyway, and it’s not like I’m trying to impress anyone.”

“But we are going to the Bear Tribe to basically demand hospitality. We should at least try to look presentable and not threatening.”

“Why do the guys get to keep their swords and still look ‘not threatening’ but us girls have to relinquish our swords to get the same effect?”

“Because, we are naturally more threatening due to how attractive we look,” Ulana replied and both girls laughed.

“Fine. For you, Ulana, I will take my sword belt off once we get to the Leader’s Lodge.”

Ulana extended her hand to shake Lolo’s. “I accept your terms.”

The girls caught up with the boys by the horses. Fortus was wearing his, to quote Ulana, "swoon-worthy" Lion Tribe military uniform while Standig was wearing his equally impressive, though perhaps less dramatic, Bear Tribe military uniform. Jadu was in more standard apparel, but with a smart jacket over the top. The three of them together were drawing a lot of stares from passing travellers and villagers.

"Well don't you boys clean up nice!" Ulana teased, looking them over and intentionally making them uncomfortable.

"Oh, leave them be, Ulana," Lolo nudged her shoulder.

"How do you plan to ride in those skirts?" Fortus asked.

"Side-saddle," Ulana said as though it were obvious.

"Oh," Lolo grimaced. "I hadn't thought about that. Side-saddle sounds so uncomfortable. How do you even mount a horse side-saddle?"

"Have you never ridden aside before?" Ulana was surprised to have more experience than Lolo.

"No! Why would I ride aside if I can ride astride?"

"Fortus, help me mount Nisekh. Lolo, I'll show you how to sit."

Fortus lifted Ulana into her saddle, and Ulana draped her right knee over the saddle horn so both legs fell on the left side of the horse.

"See! Easy as pie. Standig, give her a hand."

Standig scooped Lolo up effortlessly before she could protest. Being picked up was actually more disconcerting to Lolo than riding side-saddle, and Lolo kept a white-knuckle hold on Standig's jacket until she was securely on Choloo's back.

"Thanks, Standig."

"'You alright?" Standig chuckled.

"It freaks me out a little when you pick me up. You're just so tall, and I don't feel like I have any control that high up."

"Just imagine being that high up all the time," he grinned.

Lolo pulled a face at him and draped a knee over the saddle horn as Ulana had shown her. "Ok. I got the letter out to Philige last night. He should be expecting us. Do we have everything?"

"I think so," Fortus nodded. "Not that we had a lot to pack in the first place."

They arrived at the Leader's Lodge just before sunset. Ernkit and Begrent were waiting for them.

"Captain Tragen, how was your trip?" Begrent greeted Standig.

"We're not on duty, Begrent."

"Right. Sorry, Standig. It's hard to turn it off after a full day of training."

Standig dismounted Toma. "It's alright. Sorry to drop that on you the last week and a half or so."

"We've been managing," Begrent grinned. "I see they found a horse big enough for you."

Standig laughed. "Yeah, this is Toma."

"Toma,” Begrent repeated. “Ernkit and I are here to take care of the horses and your things for you. We've got a stable ready for them at the base."

Ernkit had been quietly greeting the horses as Begrent talked with Standig. "Hey, Lolo, could you use a hand getting down?" he asked.

"That would be great, actually."

Ernkit found her waist and helped control her descent.

"Thanks! How have you been, Lieutenant Starkam?" Lolo said with a quick hug.

"Oh, I've been fine. Busy with the training camp, but you already know that."

Lolo nodded. "How is the training going?"

"Well. I don't think the cadets like it very much, but they are improving rapidly."

Lolo laughed. "We call that sentiment 'growing pains' in the Wolf Tribe."

"That sums it up neatly," Ernkit approved. “So, who is this?” He patted Lolo’s horse.

“This is Choloo. Fair warning, she’s a bit opinionated, but she’s a sweetheart once you get to know her.”

“Choloo, huh? What are the other horses name’s?”

“Zolon, Nisekh, Toma and Khuchad.”

“Interesting names.”

“They are Phoenix Tribe names,” Lolo grinned.

“Well, leave them to us. We’ll get them settled. I know the Bear Tribe leader is expecting you guys to make an appearance at The Great Hall.”

“That’s good to know. Thanks, Ernkit!”

“Ahem,” Ulana came up behind Lolo and gave her an expectant look.

“Ahem, what?” Lolo laughed.

“Your sword belt.”

“My sword belt?”

“You agreed to take it off, remember?”

“Oh.”

“You’re not backing out now, are you?”

Huo Lohse hastily undid her belt and tucked it with its accompanying sword into one of Choloo’s saddlebags.

Ulana smiled and ran a brush through Lolo’s snaggled black hair while Lolo protested. “Perfect. You look like a proper young lady now.”

“What, without my sword and with my hair combed?”

“Exactly. What do you think, Ernkit?” Ulana sought aid in the wrong place.

“I don’t see much of a difference,” Ernkit shrugged.

Ulana sighed with exasperation. “You’re no help, Ernkit.”

As the group reached the steps of The Great Hall, Lolo recognized the older lady with a sharp dress and stern expression waiting to greet them.

“Matron!!” Lolo ignored all formalities to wrap her in a hug. “Oh, it’s so wonderful to see you again.” Behind her, Lolo could hear Standig suppress a laugh, but she didn’t care, and neither did Matron.

“Huo Lohse Lang,” Matron’s face lit up as she looked the little wolf over and spun her around to watch her dress twirl. “You’re all grown up!”

Lolo smiled broadly, “and you haven’t aged a day.”

“Oh,” Matron smiled and waved off the compliment. “You flatter me.”

“Not at all! Someone recently told me that it’s only flattery if it’s undeserved or insincere.”

Matron chuckled and patted Lolo’s cheek. “Well, I have your rooms all ready for you at the top of the north aisles. Check in with Tribe Leader Tragen, and I’ll take you there myself when you’re done.”

“Thank you, Matron!”

The group entered The Great Hall to find Philige holding an informal meeting with some of the council elders. Philige was pouring over a stack of papers and didn’t notice them enter. Standig led everyone quietly down the stairs to a row of seats at the bottom near the platform to announce their presence without disrupting the meeting.

“Captain Tragen,” one of the elders noticed the group file onto the bench, “how was your journey?”

Philige smiled and stood up to walk toward the new arrivals. “You made it,” he said, mostly to Lolo. “Welcome to the Bear Tribe. Thank you for letting me know that you were coming.”

“Of course!” Lolo replied. “How are you, Philige?”

“Busy,” he responded without thinking. “But I’m glad to see you,” he backtracked awkwardly.

“If we’re interrupting, we can get out of your way.”

“No! That’s not what I meant. I meant that I’ve been busy generally.”

“It looks like you’re in the middle of a meeting,” Lolo observed, looking around the hall.

“Just going through some proposals, but we’re about done for the night.”

The elders behind him took the hint and began collecting the papers to sort through on a different day.

“I have about a million questions to ask you, Lolo. You promised that you would answer my questions,” Philige reminded her.

She laughed. “I did. And you have every right to ask them. When do you want to chat?”

“I have some time right now, if you do.”

“I know that Matron is waiting to show us to our rooms, but after that, I’m free.”

“That would be perfect,” Philige nodded. “I’ll wrap up here and meet you on the north side of The Great Hall?”

“See you in a bit,” Lolo agreed.

“It’s great to see you guys,” Philige acknowledged the rest of the group. “Make yourselves at home, and let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Philige,” Fortus bowed slightly to the Bear Tribe leader.

Philige was a little uncomfortable with the formalities of his position still, but he accepted it with a slight nod.

The group filed out to find Matron again.

“That was quick,” Matron observed. “Standig, come see where everyone will be staying.”

“Aren’t they just staying in the guest rooms in the north aisles.”

“No,” Matron smiled. “You’ve been a little too preoccupied with the training camp to know that the Bear Tribe leader had some new guest rooms constructed this last year.”

“He did?” Standig seemed shocked. “Why?”

“I think they were built as a sort of prototype for one of his other projects, but they are much more comfortable than the old guest rooms. For one, the doors are tall enough for people to fit through them without ducking,” Matron appeared to be enjoying Standig’s bewilderment. “Your brother suggested that you might like staying in one of the rooms too while your friends are here. I’ve taken the liberty of moving your things for you.”

“Thanks?” Standig said, unsure of how he was supposed to respond.

“Jadu Bhuje, you’re invited to stay in one of the guest rooms too, if you’d like,” Matron added.

Jadu nodded his acknowledgment.

They followed Matron through the gardens between the two north aisles to a row of about a dozen comfortably spaced, single-room guest houses spanning the distance between the ends of the aisles. The mountain had been slightly terraced to accommodate the guest houses without the need for huge stilts. Each house had a few steps leading to the large doors, a small front porch, plenty of windows, and flowers planted by the stairs.

“What kind of project were these prototypes for?” Lolo asked Matron.

“I’m not sure,” she shook her head. “Miss Zugeer, this room on the far right is yours. Next door is your room Huo Lohse. Then Fortus, Standig, and Jadu, if you’d like to stay here that is, Jadu,” Matron said, pointing to each guest house in turn. “The Starkam boys should have sent your things here by now. If not, I’m sure they will send them soon.”

“Thank you, Matron,” Lolo smiled. “I actually need to head back to The Great Hall now, but the rooms look lovely.”

Matron nodded, and as her friends went to check out the inside of their rooms, Lolo started back down the side of the mountain.

“What questions do you have for me?” Lolo asked Philige.

He thought about it for a minute. “Actually, how about you catch me up on everything, and then I will ask questions.”

“Where would you like me to start?”

“Standig was pretty vague about the events of last summer. All I know is there was a coup, and somehow you guys were involved in stopping it. Then, for some reason, I think you referred to ‘mysterious events’, you five decided to go looking for the Great Owl. And now you’re back.”

Lolo laughed. “Standig really didn’t tell you much of anything.”

Philige shrugged.

“Let me fill you in.” Lolo explained everything, taking care to provide as many relevant details as she could remember from the destined calamity and awakening and their chat with the Great Owl. “So this is where it gets weird and vague again. The Great Owl told the five of us that we are hosts to ancient primordial spirits, and we’ve been given a mission to, essentially, put an end to this war. We aren’t really sure how to do that, but Standig has a good place for us to train and figure things out here in the Bear Tribe. I guess, that’s my way of asking you for permission to stick around for a while.”

Philige was having a hard time processing so much all at once. “Stay here? Yeah, sure.”

Lolo read his face, “I know. It’s a lot to take in.”

“Yeah. Give me a minute to think.” Philige stood up to pace his study. “Primordial spirits?”

She nodded. “That’s what the Great Owl said.”

“With a mission to stop the war?”

“Yeah.”

“And this all started because you fought a dragon mole and Fortus almost died?”

She nodded again.

“And Jadu can heal people with his hands and blue fire?”

“Well, he hasn’t been able to replicate it yet, but yeah.”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, Lolo, but do you have any kind of proof?”

Her eyebrows came together. “Well, we have Jadu’s book. We could probably get an endorsement from the Great Owl…. Oh! The little lights!”

“The lights?”

“Yeah. The ones that show up when I howl. It’s not exactly proof, but it might give you an idea of what we’ve been experiencing. And, actually, I think tomorrow is a full moon, that will make things easier.”

Philige was looking at her with his jaw hanging slack. “You’re serious?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No. No problem. Just, this is for real?”

“It’s not a joke, if that’s what you’re asking,” Lolo grinned. “I promise that I’m not teasing you.”

“Sorry. It’s just….”

“A little unbelievable?” Lolo laughed. “Yeah. We still haven’t gotten over it, either. I might not believe me if I hadn’t been there.”

“You’re really not kidding,” Philige stated as he came to grips with that fact.

“I’m really not kidding,” Lolo nodded.

“Tomorrow night then?”

Lolo had to think about what he meant. “Oh! The lights thing? Yeah. If you want to see them, I’ll try howling tomorrow.”

“Would you mind if I invited some of the council elders to join us?”

“That’s fine with me,” Lolo shrugged. “Are you planning to tell them about the whole primordials thing?”

“Not specifically, but if it came up, would you mind?”

“I wouldn’t, but some of the rest of my team might.”

“Your team?”

“Yeah, it’s what the Great Owl called the five of us.”

Philige nodded. “I’ll be discreet.”