Edward woke up. The first thing he saw was all the three of them looking at them. He was sweating like crazy and was still extremely dazed and confused.

"Is everything alright?" Rufus asked.

"Hey. Rufus. Would you mind helping me? I just remembered what I promised myself one day that I had forgotten until now. Do you mind helping me achieve that? I know you are a pushover, but I really want you to help me out of your own free will," said Edward who had just woken up.

"For what do you need help for?"

"To kill my father."

~ ~

Edward explained his past to the three of them. It was truly hard for them to believe it. Edward had so far been quiet about his past. He hadn't told anyone much about his previous life. They understood why. Edwards had to hide his identity. He was noble and not just any noble. He was a Plangent. From an old and powerful noble family and his father was the famous Rikard Plangent.

Rufus was not sure what to answer in helping Edward to kill his father. He did understand the reason why Edward wanted to kill him. It still was a hard decision for him.

"So where are we. This seems like a really strange place," Edward wondered and looked around the room.

"Well…uhmmm," Rufus pondered.

~~

They explained the situation to him. How the grey skins had taken them hostage and how they were taken to the grey mountains and what they wanted. Edward didn't seem to like it at all.

"What the hell. Grey skins! We have to get out of here!" yelled Edward.

"It's not that easy. We would die in the mountains in a day," Doreen explained.

Edward looked irritated. He had fought against them many times. He was raised to hate and despise the grey skins.

"They also saved your life. You would be dead by now by the hands of your father if they hadn't patched you up," Rufus explained.

Edward didn't want to be indebted to them at all. He had a tough time accepting the situation as it was.

~ ~

The next morning, they all woke up peacefully in their house. The fresh mountain breeze felt nice to them. Pema had stayed all night outside guarding them not falling asleep once. Local female grey skins brought food for them all in the morning. It wasn't much, but still, a lot when you consider the four of them were prisoners.

Doreen and Haley decided to leave the house and look around. Later Rufus decided to leave as well to look around. Rufus was followed by Pema who followed him everywhere.

As he walked around the town Pema followed him everywhere. Most of the land on the hills was used to graze black goats. The soil was thin so no grain would grow there. Hunting parties brought back wild fauna like deer with white fur, and game fowl. They also toiled in the foundries making weapons of sorts from spearheads, swords, and round shields.

Some trees were here and there, but not many trees could survive so high up in the mountains. Some mountain flowers also decorated the city. Everyone wore thick jackets and looked very differently how the warriors dressed. They looked much more advanced than what the human kingdoms thought them to be.

The grey skins seemed like hard-working people. They all looked at Rufus. Most of them with disgust. They hated Rufus for being human and Rufus saw it. He thought of walking back to the house, but the stares felt better than the ones the nobles gave him. They at least didn't look down on him.

As Rufus was walking through the town three grey skins stopped him. They surrounded him and started to push him around.

"Fucking pigskin. Tenzin wants us not to kill him. I really don't get it. My brother was killed by your kind," said the grey skin in its own language while pointing at Rufus.

Rufus didn't understand a word he said. He though understood he was mad at him. He tried to get past them.

"Don't you ignore me," yelled the same grey skin.

Pema came in between Rufus and the grey skin. He pushed him away.

"Stop it. Tenzin gave clear orders not to harm them," Pema said in the grey skin language.

"What? A damn abandoned child like you telling me what to do!" said the grey skin

Pema ignored the comment but didn't allow the grey skin to touch Rufus. The grey skin got mad and pretended to walk away, but immediately threw a sucker punch at Pema. Pema caught the punch and threw the grey skin on the ground. He then twisted the wrist of the grey skin forcing him to submit. Rufus looked amazed at Pema's martial skills.

The other two then attacked Rufus. Pema turned around. He was told of Rufus's power by Tenzin that it was a terrifying power. Pema thought that Rufus would kill them with his divine power. Instead of even trying to fight back with his fists Rufus just took all the punches and kicks from the two other grey skins.

Pema came to drive the other two away. He jumped and kicked the aggressive grey skins far away. Rufus was not badly hurt, but he had gotten a couple of black eyes and bruises. Pema looked pleased but also astounded that Rufus didn't use his divine power or even fight back.

Pema helped Rufus back to his house where the rest of them waited.

~~

"What happened to you. You look all bruised up?" Haley asked and helped Rufus in.

"Just made some local friends," Rufus laughed.

"A local grey skin greeting," Edward laughed back.

Amala came inside. She had a bow strapped around her shoulder and looked like she had just come back from a hunt.

"It seems you didn't understand your assignment Pema! Look at him. He is all bruised up. Tenzin gave clear orders that no harm should come to him," Amana yelled at Pema in the grey skin language.

"I am sorry sister," Pema said obediently.

"It is not his fault. I aggravated them. I am also to blame," Rufus said who understood from the tone what Amala was yelling about.

"He claims he aggravated them. Is this true?" Amala asked from Pema in grey skin language.

Pema looked flabbergasted. He knew Rufus just took those punches and didn't try to aggravate them one bit.

"In any case, my big brother has summoned you to the tribal hall tomorrow morning. Be there," Amala said to the four of them.

"We will," Rufus answered.

Amala then left the house. Pema looked at Rufus who smiled back. He then left the house began to watch outside the house as he had done yesterday. Rufus looked from the window how he just sat on the ground on a cold night. He didn't even make a fire for himself.

"Rufus. We made food. Come and eat it," Doreen yelled.

"Yeah, I am coming. Just wait for a bit." Rufus said looking at Pema

Rufus went to the back. He found some more cloths. They were not for wearing, but Rufus didn't care. He took them outside for Pema. Pema looked surprised and confused. Rufus tried to offer them to Pema, but he didn't take them. Rufus then left them on the ground and went back in.