Many things happen with the corruption of a brother and the madness of his spreading to his friends. It has been a week since the start for the search of Marcos, Jackie, and Cruz. It has been a week since I ran from the village with Sancho and Desi. In those long ago hours, I explained to them the shaman's and the chief's plan would have to wait. I joined the search with Alejo and Sancho. Desi ran off to join with Wilfredo and Sans in their work. It has been six days since Alejo and I found the bloody trail leading to a defeated wolf and a human. Among the gory remains were Marcos, alive and badly hurt, and a victorious Poncho. It has been five days since we tracked back without Wilfredo and the other hunters. Poncho and I lied and lied about our situation to the chief and Crystal. Marcos had fallen under fever and could not speak. The only one who really knew the truth was Elder Mike.

It has been four days since the return of Sans and Desi with a tied up Jackie. We hide him in Elder Mike's pueblo. Jackie refused to talk. When I spoke with the hunters about the situation of Cruz no one confirmed his whereabouts. And no one knew where Borrowing Owl had gotten too. No news on Sophia either. Jefe Conrad still received no answers from the rest of us. We carried on our hunts as if nothing happened. The three days past without signs of the other hunters. No return message of the safe delivery of Sophia to the Roadrunners. Worry began to spread among the people. Marcos's fever did not break still. Jefe Conrad was starting to catch on to us. I spoke little to him as he came to visit me and my ill brother.

Two days since Crystal did not continue to treat Marcos on Jefe Conrad's orders. A fight broke out the day between Conrad and I about Marcos. Elder Mike and Poncho stepped in on my behalf. I should make a note here I should never argue with the chief... Not with a loaded gun. Never should I argue with that pitiful man! On that same day, I made a journey out to the human town, Tombstone. I stole medicine from the humans. I will not allow my brother to die, even if he is a traitor. He is still my brother!

It has been one day since Sancho, Desi, and I have been ordered to find Wilfredo from his special hunt and check on the Roadrunners. With information from Jackie, who was forced by magic to speak, we know where Cruz was. Cruz went rogue with the others. We managed to have trail markers setup by Wilfredo to the different campsites of the rogue hunter and the missing people. At the last nightfall, we find Wilfredo, One Eyed Juan, and Quinn discussing with Cruz his actions and where the others have fled to. In short, I do not know how Cruz managed it, yet he somehow he got the others to let Lucy, Borrowing Owl, and Sophia go alone.

As for Gila, as for Gila... As much as I do not miss him. As much as I could care less for Gila. Gila was taken by those three back to the Roadrunners to be a prisoner. Apparently, Borrowing Owl was the next person in line to be chief and Gila had violated some laws. Cruz reported Borrowing Owl would come to take Marcos and Jackie as his kinsmen. Borrowing Owl said their lives would do over the silver. Then Cruz produced the Heart of Fire for our own clan on the behalf of Borrowing Owl. It was unbelievable. In fact, I do not think Gila will make it back alive to the Roadrunners. I do not even believe the Roadrunners will be receiving those goblins to their company.

And today, and today. What will happen today? I cannot say. We will not be hunting today. We have told Conrad we need a special meeting among ourselves. I have said before the nature of the Dust Eaters is to realize there is only pleasure and pain. In the desert there is no room for mistakes. Yet we are littered with mistakes everywhere in just one week. Why did we do it? Should we just allow these people to get away with they are doing?

We the hunters of the Dust Hunters have band together again. We are all in the grounds of the Broken Church. The tied up Jackie sits in a chair as Elder Mike keeps him drugged with potions. Sans and Desi are sent to guard the doors from the chief. Wilfredo paces back and forth as he debates with the shaman about letting the chief know. Hardly recovered, Marcos leans against on the walls. I stay beside him as Poncho goes to get him more water. Meanwhile, Alejo stands guard over Cruz, who is tied up and cheerfully goes on about cats. Juan and Quinn play checkers. Sancho has gone to keep a look out for those supposed Roadrunners on their way.

Elder Mike speaks, "You all know the hunters cannot keep this information too long from Jefe Conrad."

"We know that, old friend," Wilfredo groans, "But these are my goblins. I am the one in charge of them. Cruz is too kind to do anything wrong. Jackie is impulsive. Marcos... Marcos is sick. I hand them over to Jefe Conrad and these men will not last a second."

"How do you know what Jefe Conrad will do? Our chief has never been in this type of situation before."

Jackie barks, "Yea, Jefe Conrad the Werewolf Slayer doesn't have the guts to kill us. I bet my life on it."

Cruz cheers, "Here, here!"

Wilfredo commands, "Silence! You, boys, have no right to speak right now."

Jackie laughs, "You think because we try and help Sophia, we are what? We are traitors to our clan. We do not feel anything to our people? We were helping one of us! Sophia is a good goblin."

"Here, here," Cruz smiles.

Quinn and Juan look up from the checker set. Quinn is a slim goblin, too slim. If you were to look at him too quickly you may think he was one of the dead. He has an unsettling air about his from a middle aged goblin. I am never sure how to describe the feeling that comes from being around him. It is not like when you are around Jackie. Nor is it in the mystical or world worn way of the others. There is just something about Quinn that reads uncomfortable. Maybe it has to do with the time he was held captive by the werewolves? God knows what happen to Quinn then; he doesn't like to talk about it. I can also note that Quinn has a distant relationship to Alejo. His stringy blonde hair falls over his green eyes as he studies the board. His crooked grin beams.

Juan adjusts his large brown hat. His blue eyes focused on other things that are not his game. His green poncho barely moves with Juan breathes. One Eyed Juan as we call him today used to be known as Baby Faced Arau. Juan had the most wonderful set of blue eyes when I was a child. He would go about and politely address all the clan members. He would deliver fresh flowers to all of the females each Sunday. Not because he sought a wife or mate. But Juan was just kind. He would play with the young males between hunts and tell stories about the Gods. Unlike Elder Mike who repeats tales, Juan never did. Well one Sunday a Roadrunner came to visit with his wife. There was a fight ... Juan was no longer Baby Faced Arau. He was One Eyed Juan with only one good eye and several scars. Juan has since lost his bright personality.

The two mutter agreements with Jackie. With a swift turn from Elder Mike, the two get back to their game. It is clear they do not have a desire to be tied up too.

"How long until those Roadrunners appear to get us out of here? I will be happy to leave with or without them. You just tell me where and when."

Elder Mike sighs, "Hush now, Jackie... I have to go and do the Morning Blessing. Wilfredo, we must keep up appearances. Despite the hunter having a special meeting today. I need some of the hunters to come back with me to answer the chief."

Wilfredo rubs his head, "Take Daniel, Sans, and Alejo. . . Where is Alejo? Alejo!?"

I answer softly, "Remember you sent him out to the valley to scout for the Roadrunners. He has not returned in the last few hours. He is supposed to check in with us after the prayers."

"Okay. Okay how about Poncho and Sancho?"

Quinn drily states, "Sancho is out with Alejo scouting."

"Alright! Then just Daniel, Sans, and Poncho."

Poncho walks back with a bottle of water for Marcos. He holds two small pills for Marcos to swallow. He stares at Wilfredo and shakes his head. Pancho hands over the items to Marcos. His eyes turn to Marcos, "And who will watch him to make sure he doesn't do anything tricky? Or that anyone else does something to him. He is still my brother and I am his keeper now."

"All my days!" Wilfredo cries, "Fine Elder Mike, you will just have to take two hunters. Tell them if they ask we are doing something important!"

"Hey why not Desi?" Cruz chimes with his smile.

"Fine and Desi!" Wilfredo sighs and paces.

"So it is said. So it will be done," Elder Mike nods and gathers us hunters together.

We leave to Morning Pray and Morning Blessing. It is an uneasy morning as we stand in the center of the village with the musicians. Jefe Conrad does not come in at this part of the prayer. He is delayed. The other clan members look about and realize I am standing with the shaman. A silence fills the area as the musicians stop playing. Elder Mike holds his hands up and commands the musicians to continue the ceremony songs. He hastily whispers to Sans, "Find the chief and hurry. It is not good for the tribe to worry. Nor is it good for the Morning Prayer to go incomplete."

Sans nods and disappears into the village.

Elder Mike nudges my side, "You say one of the myths of our clan. It will gain us some time."

I swallow. To the clan I rarely talk. I normally speak with Conrad and the hunters. If I must I will speak with Crystal and Elder Mike. But normally I simply get to remain quiet and stand here. There is hiding today. There is no lingering around. I step forward, "Er... Brothers and Sisters, we gather here every morning to remember how we are a clan, a strong tribe. Whatever you want to call us... We are the Dust Eaters. As you may have noticed our chief is away right now and so are the rest of the hunters-"

"Yea we are taking special care of Marcos, Cruz, and Jackie," Desi spouts.

"Thank you, Desi!" I smile nervously, "The hunters always do their best to care for other hunters. Just as the Dust Eaters watch out for other Dust Eaters."

I cough and look out at all the brown goblins staring at me. The gatherers huddled with Crystal, the sliver workers, and Elder Mike hoping for the best. I begin again, "I do not want to recite the story of creation or the chants. Those are the chief's duty to do. I on the other hand am the chief's guardian. My job is to guard the chief. And we know about the pervious dealings of the chief with the Roadrunners... The chief had decided that although I was a good guardian. He had other plans... I guess what I am trying to tell you all is ... I wish to tell the story of Verde and the Tall People. But, umm, I should really tell you another tale. A tale told to me by One Eyed Juan...

There was a faraway land where goblins lived in harmony. Their chief was a wise one named Poison Dart Frog. Poison Dart Frog had ruled his tribe for a good and long time. He was at the age where he thought it was time to retire and allow his son to rule. At the time he had two heirs to his chiefdom. The first son's name was Yellow Bird and the second son was named Gentle Breeze. Poison Dart Frog had loved both his sons equally and had decided he was to split the duty of being chief among the brothers.

But Gentle Breeze did not want to share his power with Yellow Bird. He thought his older brother weak and foolish. In order for Gentle Breeze to rule alone he planned to kill his brother. He called his older brother into the forest and told him they were to hunt for a gift for Poison Dart Frog. Yellow Bird agreed and followed his brother into the jungle. There he killed his brother and cleaned his hands of his blood.

When Gentle Breeze went to Poison Dart Frog of the death of his brother, the chief cried out in grief. The chief cried with the tribe for several days. Then at last the chief turned to his only remaining son and was about to bless him with the title of chief. But he paused. Poison Dart Frog saw a small yellow bird behind Gentle Breeze. The bird sung out,

For my brother took me hunting and betrayed me with a knife. I swear he shall become the puma's supper by the night. Unless penitence is given to me of these items three. Return to me the slain body of mine, give me back my time, and harm not that which was to be my future wife who pines.

With that the bird flew away from the sight of Poison Dart Frog. He gazed upon his living son and frowned deeply. He pointed to his only son and asked did he hear of the bird's song. Gentle Breeze answered he heard not the bird sing. He only said his father was tired from the grief he carried. Gentle Breeze patted his father and led him down the hall.

Now as a wise chief, what was Poison Dart Frog to do? He knew of his oldest son's killing of the younger. Yet Gentle Breeze was to die for he did not admit the wrong he did. Was he to allow the vengeful spirit of his younger son to kill the first? He was to punish his older son and allow him not the right to rule. But he was to spare his son from the wrath of the other. So Poison Dart Frog spoke to his shaman.

Together they went out and sought the mangled body of Yellow Bird. The shaman reached out into the stars and harvested from the river of time. And the young goblin to be wed to Yellow Bird and then to Gentle Breeze upon his death was kept by the chief as his adopted daughter. All this was done by sunset. The spirit of Yellow Bird was pleased and harmed not his brother with death.

Still he would not leave to the afterlife alone with Gentle Breeze unpunished. Poison Dart Frog did not wish harm upon his son. So he turned to the shaman for the most proper punishment for his crimes. The shaman said, 'Brother of brother is keeper of brother. Therefore, Gentle Breeze will remain bound to the world to care for all goblins. He will always deliver messages on their behalf to other goblins. To the wind he will join with Yellow Bird to provide support for us.'

And with that the shaman cast a spell and made Gentle Breeze invisible to all with eyes. If you remain very still today and listen to the wind, you can hear Gentle Breeze breathing beside you waiting to help you. Sometimes you can see Yellow Bird just before the coming of bad times."

I stop the story at last. It is hard to think of what to say at times like this. I do not know what I was trying to get at with the story of the two brothers. I hold my breath. I can spy Sans walking between the pueblos with Jefe. He seems very displeased with everything. Jefe Conrad carries a small cub with him as he hands it over to Sans. I can see spots of red on the ground. Jefe forces a smile as he enters the center of town. He bows before everyone and motions that it is time to continue Morning Prayer. I stare over at Sans as he nervously motions back to the Broken Church. I try and slip away, but Conrad grabs my hand.

"You stay here," He hisses, "I know what is going around here. I will not stand for it!"

It did not take long to figure how on Earth Conrad figured out everything. It came from the gabby one Desi who in his innocent mind thought it was best to speak with the chief. He had been leaking information about it to him for days. Conrad had decided to confront Wilfredo about the information. Under pressure our lead hunter confessed to the situation. He plead for the wrong doers and us hunter... Conrad was firm about his actions. So he did not display the sentencing in front of the clan for shaming. But he would give notice he said. He then took us all back to the Broken Church to deal with the issues.

Conrad begins, "Marcos, son of Maria, Cruz, son of Garfias, and Jackie Nocettie, son of Oakland, I hereby pass my sentence on you for crimes of kidnapping, betrayal, and plotting against the clan. Marcos for the charges of kidnapping Cruz, trying to harm the peace of the clan, and also placing us on the edge of war; you shall be banished to the furthest parts of our lands. You will receive no kindness by your friends, your family, or any clan member. You will not be spoken of in any of the clan records. No one will speak your name again from this day forth! Cruz you for your actions of support these actions with all your miss guide attempts will be placed into banishment as well... Jackie, you will receive the same..."

Jackie speaks, "And Wilfredo and the other hunters for their actions?"

"Wilfredo has paid the price with his actions already. He will no longer be the head hunter. Instead, I am placing Sancho in charge of the hunters."

Cruz confusedly questions, "Does that mean Wilfredo will be in banishment with us? That won't be so bad."

"It means Wilfredo is no more. He decided to be honorable and have you three spared from death. Now may the gods be kind to you. Desi and Sans will see you three banished. Elder Mike... please mark them with the sign."

Elder Mike closes his eyes and holds a large box. He sighs heavy as he has not used the seal in a very long time. In fact, it has not been used in Jefe Conrad's entire rule. The shaman reached into the box and held a large iron seal. He summoned up a large fire and made it with white flames. Elder Mike quietly looks at Jefe Conrad, "Are you sure you really want to do this, Jefe? We have lost one of our goblins today. To cast out three more would be too harsh."

"I am the chief here, Elder Mike. Such actions need to be punished!"

Elder Mike begins the marking of the three goblins. I turn away in disgust. My brother... My brother is one of them. Poor Marcos! He has not even recovered from his injuries. What more is argued about by the three and the chief? What of the other hunters and their actions? Why do I not cry out? Why do I stand with my face away from the action? I cannot bare it. I cannot remember. All the details are lost here. I simply feel Pancho's arms wrap around me. I can feel tears rolling down my cheek. The screams for the marking are drowned by the sound of the musicians playing a welcome song. We have guests on this grim day.

Jefe Conrad orders the three out of his sight. Tied by a line of rope Cruz, Jackie, and Marcos are taken away. When all the business of the sentencing is completed, there came at the door of the Broken Church two goblins. One dressed in clothing of the Roadrunners with the promise made good on by Borrowing Owl. He has come to take away the three newly banished goblins. He must run to take them back. Conrad says nothing on the case of his sister, the former chief, and political situation. He allows the messenger to pass without fuss.

The second messengercomes. He hardly speaks above a whisper to Jefe Conrad. Our chief leans againstthe wall. I try to stop my tears as Pancho continues to hold me. In time, I getto learn the message which was the Citrus Keepers disbanding due to unhappysituation. They had a werewolf attack. (The direction of paws prints from thesigns of werewolves I had seen before during the Night Hunt.) The messengerstates the clan survivors are moving away from the desert and others to the cities.