Bilibi is one of the smallest nations found on the Eastern Continent, its population being about a third of Vinoli's. Bilibi has no centralized government; instead, each of its many villages, all of which are named after a color, is governed by a chieftain, elected by the locals. At first, the new chieftain has a trial period that lasts four years and if people are happy with how he has handled things, he will retain his position until the day of his death. If not, new elections are held and he is replaced with another candidate. The Position of chief is not hereditary, though nothing forbids the children of a previous chief to candidate for their father's title.
Aside from a chief, each village also has a healer, whose job it is to look after the sick, and a bard, who also functions as the teacher.
In every village, all the males are trained from an early age in the use of weapons, so that they can defend their home and families, should it be necessary. The Ones who show the most prowess in this field are selected to be part of the chief's guard, whose job it is to maintain order.
Every year, all the village chiefs gather together, at a place known only to them and the warriors that escort them there. At this meeting, alliances are made and unmade and grievances are aired. Sometimes, these grievances turn into declarations of war, the largest such war occurred a century before this chronicle, in which sixty villages battled; thirty on each side. However, while the Bilibians occasionally spill each other's blood, in the face of an outside threat, they will put all grievances on-hold and unite to combat the invader.
Risha knew all this from a book about the known countries of the World that had been in the family library. She had been no more than five years old when she had read it. It had been a large volume and her father had helped her get it down from the shelf and she had lied on the soft carpet in the library, turning the pages, pausing occasionally to let her eyes linger on a particularly interesting sentence or illustration. And now, here she was; travelling through a country that she had previously only known as letters on a page.On its third day on Bilibian soil, the caravan reached Miriam's village, having passed through a deep forest. While in the woods, those with weapons had kept them ready; listening keenly for any kind of suspicious noise, but all that could be heard was the sound of birds singing in the treetops and insects buzzing.
The Village, like many of its kind. was protected by a high, wooden palisade, whose gates were guarded by a lone sentry. At the time of the caravan's arrival, the guard on duty was a young lemur, holding a spear in a firm grip in his left paw.
"Halt" the lemur called out, as the caravan approached. Before you lies the Blue village. Please, state your name and your reason for travelling on our land."
"These are travelling merchants, under the protection of me and my men" Kiros replied, stepping forward. "They have come here hoping to sell, or trade their goods in your village. Kindly, inform your chief of our arrival."
The Mountain Lion's voice was calm but firm and that, combined with the fine sword by his side made the lemur give in.
"Very well" he said. "Wait here and I shall go tell my father, but if he says no, you'll have to leave."
"We shall" Kiros said. "I don't think he will though."
The Lemur was just about to head back into the village, when Kiros' remark caused him to stop and turn around.
"Oh? And what makes you so sure?" He asked, one eyebrow raised skeptically.
Kiros was about to answer, when Miriam stepped forward. The Lemur stared at her, the spear slipped out of his fingers and hit the ground with a clattering noise.
"Yes, Haku, my love." Miriam said. "I have come back to you."
****
Upon entering the village, the travelers soon found themselves surrounded by villagers, who had stopped their work outside, or come out of their homes, to take a look at the strangers. While the merchants unpacked their wares, Kiros presented his respects to the village-chief. Suddenly, a female voice cried out:
"Miriam? Is it really you?"
Making their way through the crowd was a male and female antelope, followed by three children; a boy whom Risha guessed was about the same age as her brother and two little girls.
"Yes, Mother" Miriam said, with tears in her eyes. "I have come back."
"We thought you were dead" the woman said, tearfully. She reached out and touched Miriam's cheek, as though to make sure that what was standing before her was not just a cruel figment of her imagination.
"Mother, Father" Miriam said, after having embraced her parents and siblings, the youngest being completely new to her. "This is my friend, Risha. Its thanks to her that I am here now."
Miriam's father turned to Risha.
"For this, young lady" he said. "You have our eternal gratitude. Consider our home to be yours for as long as you wish."
He then reached out to touch Risha's shoulder, as is the Bilibian way of greeting someone, when a brief flash in the lynx's eyes made him decide that this might not be a good idea. Withdrawing his arm, he bowed instead.
Risha relaxed; she knew that the man standing before her did not mean her any harm. Still, after Bashar, the thought of having any physical contact with a male; excluding her father and brother, made every strand of hair on her body stand on end.
That evening, a feast was held in the village, with everyone eating, drinking and making merry, underneath the night-sky. It was a feast that also doubled as a wedding ceremony, with Miriam and Haku becoming husband and wife.
Risha knew the story. Miriam had told it to her one evening back in Guanaca, when they had become close enough to share their pasts with each other:
As children, Miriam and Haku had played together often, and as the two of them grew older, their friendship evolved into something more intimate. Once their parents found out, they had been engaged and it was decided that they would be wed, once they had both reached mature age. However, a few weeks after the engagement, tragedy struck: Miriam had went out into the forest to look for mushrooms and had never returned.
Until now, Risha thought. The Sight of Miriam surrounded by friends and family, her horns decorated with flowers, made the lynx feel warm inside. She smiled at the newly-weds, who upon noticing it, smiled back.
"They do look beautiful together" Miriam's mother, who was sitting next to Risha, remarked. "This is the happiest day of my life."
She wiped a tear from her eye, then turned with a confidential air to the younger woman.
"Tell me, my dear" she said, lowering her voice slightly. "Do you have anyone special in your life? Because if not...well, I know that my son may be a bit young, but he's a good boy and he'll reach the age of marriage soon enough."
Risha hesitated. Should she tell the truth? She had no way of knowing what this village's stance on homosexuality was and even though Miriam was well aware of her preferences and accepted them, she could not be sure that her family would do the same.
"Thank you for the offer" She replied. "I appreciate it, but I'm afraid I already have someone."
*****
On the evening that preceded the day of the caravan's departure, Risha and Kiros met up under an oak-tree.
"So" Kiros said, "have you thought about my offer?"
"I have and I am willing to join your group. I do have one condition though. You can refuse it, but if you do, I will only travel with you until we leave Bilibi and after that, we'll go our separate ways."
"Very well, tell me what it is you want me to do and I'll see if its in my power to help."
"I'm looking for a certain person. A female dragon."
Risha had then proceeded to give a detailed description of what Merees looked like, figuring that she had most likely not changed in the past half-decade. At least not physically.
"And you want me to keep an eye out for any information regarding this person" Kiros had said, once Risha was finished. "That should not be a problem."
"I guess we have a deal then."
"I guess so. Welcome aboard."
*****
The Next morning, the whole village had gathered to see their guests off.
"Do you think we'll see each other again?" Miriam asked.
"Who knows? Risha said. "After all, the future is not ours to see."
The Two friends of the past five years then hugged tightly. As they embraced, Miriam whispered something in Risha's ear that momentarily caused her to blush.
"Th...That's really too much" she stuttered. "I'm honored."
"Its the least we can do" Miriam replied, smiling.
"Farewell, Miriam! And you too Haku!" Risha shouted, waving to them as the caravan moved out. "I hope that from here on out, your life is a happy one!"
That evening, as they laid together in bed, Haku turned to his wife.
"What was it you whispered to her?" He asked.
Miriam snuggled up close to her husband, her fingers running through the fur on his chest.
"Only that if our first child is a girl, we would name it after her."
Becoming silent, Haku gazed up at the ceiling. Miriam was just about to start wondering if she had not been presumptuous in making this decision on her own, when the lemur spoke:
"Risha, huh?" He said, rolling the foreign-sounding name around on his tongue. "You know, I kind of like it."
