She smelled the burning of firewood before they broke through a wall of gigantic trees, and they were in Estys. There were many wooden huts and longhouses with smoke lazily rising from holes in the roofs. Clotheslines were strung between neighboring houses and tanning racks sat outside every building, with animal skins already stretched out to make leather.

And there were so many Kemiji. Males and females walked everywhere; majority of the males were obviously warriors and the females—even though not much smaller in size—weren't armed but shouldn't be counted out as fighters. The children either played war with groups armed with wooden weapons or—as in the older ones—practiced throwing spears into hay dummies.

Their entrance seized all attention and halted activity—everyone turned to stare at them, from the youngest child to the oldest male. Sound stopped too. Eyes followed them as they were led to the largest longhouse. All the attention on them had Zelenia uncomfortable—the stares weren't only out of curiosity but angry glares that they were trespassers. Helian enveloped her hand in his and gave a reassuring smile.

Two Kemiji guarded the doors; Zelenia thought Tegen was big at 7'3", but these two were well over eight feet, armed with nothing but their muscles. Their eyes scanned the approaching group but did nothing to stop them—they resembled imposing statues as the group passed through the doors.

The longhouse was vaulted high and stretched wide to accommodate the large beast race. No columns held up the high ceiling nor were there large crackling fires; the floor was completely dirt and a long aisle ran to the back. At the end was a raised platform and a single throne; in it sat the biggest Kemiji Zelenia had ever seen. Behind him and raised even higher was another platform and five chairs, currently occupied by graying Kemiji—the Elders.

They were led down to the end. The closer they got, the intense scrutiny of them from the ones waiting grew heavier—Helian's hand on hers kept her from running like Zelenia wanted. When they stopped before the chief and Elders, the Kemiji guarding them—and Tegen—bowed; the others jolted into action by showing respect, too. A huge crowd entered behind them, anxious to see the outcome of this meeting.

"My Chief and Elders, I bring before you the exiled Tegen and who he claims to be the Sun, Moon, and Elementals," the lead Kemiji began. "Your orders are to kill him and outsiders on sight, but we did not stay our spears from compassion, but from fear: he speaks of an omen that will destroy our people if Earth does not name their Elemental."

The Elders glanced at each other, but Chief Malum-Ki scoffed. "A ploy to extend his life, and you cowards have fallen for it. What proof do you have that these are Elementals?"

"I have none, my Chief."

"Then you are foolish to bring such frauds into our guarded home. Kill them."

"But we are Elementals! Look!" Pica exclaimed as she spread out her arms and her hands glowed with golden light.

Frightened gasps sounded around the room; the Kemiji scouts around them pointed their spears at them again.

"Pica!" Aeris hissed as she snatched her back, eliminating the power of Light. The heat increased in the room as Geryon growled in warning when the spears got closer; the Kemiji didn't falter, but they did eye Fire warily.

"Wait, please!" Zelenia begged. "We don't mean anyone harm!"

Chief Malum-Ki had jumped to his feet in alarm at the sight of Pica's power. "And we are to believe you after displaying threat? That assures me you are a danger to my people, who I will protect with my life! Now I have no doubt that you must die!"

He suddenly stopped and looked behind his shoulder—one of the Elders talked to him. From Chief Malum-Ki's displeasure, he must've reprimanded his brashness, too.

He nodded. "Yes, Elder." He turned back to them and zeroed in on Pica. "If you are truly an Elemental, step forth and demonstrate what only an Elemental can do."

Pica looked at everyone before hesitantly stepping up next to Tegen. She looked around for something to manipulate and caught sight of the holes in the ceiling to allow sunlight. When her hand glowed, she raised it to one of the holes, then began to close, and the natural sunlight dimmed. The hole became completely black when her hand closed to a fist; the other outlet behind them remained normal. Pica opened her hand again and the light slowly returned; when her hand completely opened, the light was as before.

Throughout her demonstration, the Kemiji around the room were enthralled by the show, gasping at the stealing of light and at its return. The Elders watched with the same amount of amazement and looked at Pica in wonder; Chief Malum-Ki looked unimpressed, arms crossed and glaring down at them.

"You are Elementals; there is no doubt now," one of the Elders said, his voice dry and soft.

Pica sighed in relief.

"But why have you returned, exiled Tegen?" Chief Malum-Ki began. "Do not tell me you believe you are the Earth Elemental. You are not strong to be Earth Elemental. I deserve to be Earth Elemental; I was strong enough to kill Vor'fel to become chief; I have led every successful raid; I am in control of the most feared Kemiji tribe." He laughed. "You were not strong enough to kill a babe. You are not strong enough to even be Kemiji."

Zelenia looked at Tegen in horror—he had been forced to kill a baby? How could this tribe do that? And they banished him for not killing it? They were sick.

Tegen finally turned his face up to Chief Malum-Ki. "I am strong. I was strong enough to know you were wrong to kill that boy; I was strong enough to stand alone against you. A fellow warrior told me not many can turn from a warrior's path, and I did. I am here to tell you, Malum-Ki, that you are not strong enough to be chief."

Chief Malum-Ki snarled at him. "And you—the exiled, weak, small one—are?"

"More than you are."

"You challenge me?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Tegen shook his head. "I am here only to regain my strength."

"I will not be insulted!" Chief Malum-Ki jumped down from the platform to land in front of Tegen—he was a good two-heads taller. "Especially not from one so far below me!"

Faster than the blink of an eye, a clawed hand swung for Tegen's throat. He ducked and rose with a shoulder at Chief Malum-Ki's chest; the blow barely dislodged him and he threw a fist at Tegen's chest. He stumbled back but recovered and charged right back at the large Kemiji.

The Sun, Moon, and Elementals hurried out of the way but stood as bystanders to the fight. The entire longhouse watched the battle for chiefdom.

The Kemiji tied up with both holding the other's forearm, trying to overpower the other and throw them to the ground. Chief Malum-Ki smirked as Tegen faltered beneath him, bearing down. In a quick twist of Tegen's arms, the chief threw him to the ground.

"Come on, Tegen! You can do it!" Pica encouraged.

Tegen quickly rolled back to his feet to avoid Chief Malum-Ki's kick. On his feet, he lunged at the chief; he collided into his side, and they dropped to the floor. Tegen fought to keep the chief on the ground with fists, but Chief Malum-Ki knocked him off with a blow to his face; he rose, and Tegen did too—blood flowing under his nose.

The two Kemiji traded blow after blow for minutes on end. Both were dirty, bruised, and bloody, but Tegen looked worse than Chief Malum-Ki—his body was slumped from exhaustion and he nearly kept an arm wrapped around his waist, from a probable bruised, cracked, or broken rib.

It hurt seeing Tegen suffer. Zelenia wished she could send help, as in healing his injuries or his stamina, to him, but she couldn't do it without a guilty conscience—that would be cheating.

"I think I can help..." Kalisa whispered.

"How?" Renuo asked.

"I could diminish Chief Malum-Ki's strength."

"Don't," Helian ordered. "This is a fight Tegen must win on his own, fairly."

"Interfering may be far more disastrous than him losing," Geryon said.

Even though the chief's size dwarfed Tegen's, he matched the power of attacks and both were agile. But Chief Malum-Ki was wearing down; Tegen fought with purpose—a stronger need to prove himself drove him.

With a fist to the side of his face, Chief Malum-Ki dropped to his hands and knees, dazed. He repeatedly shook his head to try to clear it. Pica loudly cheered; Renuo and Helian joined in cheer, and the other Elementals were smiling in relief. Kalisa whispered 'yes' under her breath.

Tegen stood over the downed chief, panting from exertion and bloody, but remained still, not advancing to finish him off.

A knife landed in the dirt at Tegen's feet. "Finish him; you have proven that he has become weak," one of the Elders said.

Silence overtook the longhouse; Zelenia was stunned—they wanted Tegen to kill Chief Malum-Ki? Tegen considered the knife at his feet. Horror froze her at the thought that Tegen might do it. The building was tense with anticipation.

"No." His statement wasn't quiet, but loud and firm. Zelenia released a breath of relief.

"You have proven yourself stronger; is not this what you seek?" an Elder asked.

Tegen looked back at the Elders. "I do not want the title of chief if I have to kill for it. Slaughtering others is barbaric; it is not a show of strength but lack of control. The strength I needed to find is by denying you, and showing our culture is not respected for our strength, but feared for our brutality."

Without warning, the floor violently shook. The rumbling was loud, like Ethea was being ripped apart. Everyone threw out their arms for balance, but Tegen remained rooted to the spot, attention seized by something only he could hear.

The tremors didn't last long before they stopped. Nothing had been disturbed by the sudden earthquake, and no one had gotten hurt.

Tegen turned to their cluster; his eyes shone with enlightenment. "Earth is pleased; he has shown me the temple."

The Sun, Moon, and Elementals perked up at hearing his announcement. Pica began to bounce. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

"You refuse the title of chief?" an Elder asked, pulling the attention back to them.

"I cannot take it right now. I am needed for all of Ethea, not just Estys," Tegen answered.

The Elders quietly discussed among one another. Coming to some agreement, they turned back to face them.

"Then Malum-Ki will remain chief until you return, Tegen—you are the leader this tribe needs," one said.

"Your punishment has been revoked and the Sun, Moon, and Elementals are welcomed here," another spoke up.

"May you succeed and know that the strength of all Kemiji goes with you," another Elder ended.

They all bowed in thanks before Tegen turned to join them; he was welcomed back with Pica attacking his thighs for a hug.

"I knew you could do it, Tegen!"

He smiled as he bent to hug her, then made his way through the others congratulating him to lead them to the temple.