The sun's brightness faded and dusk approached. Hazy pink and orange clouds flooded the sky. It was time for the tribes to depart.

Nal m'se, followed by the six matriarchs was the first to approach the stones. Soon, Fa and Aapo followed suit.

"This time has been a season of incredible fruitfulness," Fa stated. "We think that this is no accident."

"It is a sign...." Aapo trailed off.

"None of us have faced serious threats or attacks," Fa continued.

"Perhaps a future threat awaits," Nal m'se finished. The leaders looked around at each other.

"So.... what should we do about this?" Aapo asked.

"Perhaps an alliance?" Fa proposed.

"We already have an alliance," Aapo stated.

"A trade alliance," Nal m'se corrected. "Not a military alliance."

"Is there a difference?" Aapo challenged. "I sent my best warriors to assist you when the Shaso were attacking your tribe."

"That was purely based on trade. You were in need of our zeliuberries to assist with all the childbirths that were about to occur this season. You wouldn't have helped us under different circumstances."

"Perhaps, or perhaps not. I look after the needs of my own tribe."

"But don't you see?" Fa questioned. "Right now we are all safe, but future threats lie in wait. There is strength in numbers, and with an alliance, we can ensure that none of us are conquered by another tribe. The military alliance will protect our trade alliance. We all share this sentiment, which is why we, as a tribe, have already voted in support of this trade alliance. That is why we are proposing this alliance to you."

Aapo and Nal m'se nodded along thoughtfully. They all had a feeling that a season of pure success and no conflict was too good to be true. A political alliance would guarantee the safety of both tribes.

"Alright, I am in favor of this alliance," Aapo announced.

"I as well," Nal m'se agreed.

They all sat in a moment of silence. The colors of the sky grew brighter. The tribes knew that they needed to leave soon, otherwise they would get lost in the dark forest.

"How can we be sure that this alliance is in place?" Aapo declared, his voice bouncing off the trees, filling the arena with his weight of his question.

"Trust?" Fa suggested lightly.

Aapo wasn't amused. "Blind trust is foolishness. If I agree to this treaty, there must be something to show for it."

"What did you have in mind?" Nal m'se asked.

Aapo thought for a moment. "Why don't we dye each of these stones with berries that could from each of our tribes."

"And misuse our precious resources? Don't be ridiculous," Nal m'se scoffed. "Nature has provided with an abundance, and to use it to dye stones would be wasteful. Besides, when the rain comes, the stains will be washed away. What kind of symbol of an alliance is that?"

"We agree with Nal m'se," Fa stated.

"Do you have a better idea?" Aapo argued.

"We did not vote on any symbol of the political alliance," Fa replied.

"And you, Nal m'se?" Aapo asked proudly.

Nal m'se stared in the distance, her eyes clouding over as she thought. The wind whistled loudly while tribesmen stared intently at the head matriarch. They all knew that her judgement would clearly be the wisest decision. Suddenly, her eyes brightened, her face relaxing from the tense moment of concentration. Everyone leaned forward, eager to hear her verdict.

"There is a girl in our tribe," Nal m'se began, her voice clear and steady. "Who can find light and turn it into thread."

A gasp reverberated through the clearing.

"We are all aware that the sun, moon, and stars drop their light onto earth," Nal m'se rebuked the murmuring crowd. "This girl has learned how to find these stray beams of light, capture them, and turn them into thread. We currently sew these rays into our cold season furs in order to provide extra warmth. I propose that this young weaver make three dresses, one of sunlight, one of moonlight, and one of starlight. Each dress will be presented to the daughter of the three leaders of the tribe. This will be a sign not just that we, the leaders who are advanced in years, will be faithful in the alliance, but also the generations to come."

All was quiet. The people waited in anticipation as they waited for their leaders decision.

"Who is this girl?" Aapo finally said. Nal m'se turned to Yia m'jeays, one of the matriarchs.

"Bring Celisae here," Nal m'se commanded. Yia m'jeays nodded. The crowd parted for the matriarch, who slowly made her way to the weaver. Soon, Yia m'jeays returned with a small, thin teen. She kept her head bowed, and was slightly hunched over. Yia m'jeays nudged the girl, and she quickly straightened, though still avoided eye contact.

"This is the weaver who can spin dresses of light?" Aapo verified.

"Yes," Nal m'se said firmly.

"What's your name?" Fa asked her kindly.

"Celisae," she said, so softly it was barely audible.

"The dresses will be ready for next season's meeting?" Aapo continued loudly.

"Yes," Nal m'se confirmed.

Aapo sat back on the stone. "I understand that you, as head matriarch, have a daughter who is grown up and actually is one of the matriarchs. Will she be the one to get the dress."

"No," Nal m'se replied. "It shall be my granddaughter, Sa k'u." Ul m'ka, Nal m'se's daughter, smiled slightly. 

"And you, Fa?" Aapo asked, turning to the spokesman for the Eredst tribe. "Who will the dress be presented to in your tribe since you only have one son?"

"We will vote," Fa responded.

The sun sank progressively lower in the sky. The tribes would have to spend another night at the stones. The other tribes grew restless waiting for the Eredst to conduct all of their complicated voting procedures. Aapo and Nal m'se, though embodying a calm expression, hoped the proceedings would hurry. They needed to be well rested for the long journey back home.

The moon was fully overhead when Fa finally returned to his stone.

"We have voted, and decided that Taavi, the daughter of the vote counter Abarra, will be presented with the dress."

All eyes turned to a sixteen-year-old girl sitting in the clearing. Her eyes gazed far away, like she was in a distant world.

Aapo cleared his throat. "Alright then. Sa k'u, Taavi, and my daughter Lachina will receive the dresses. Now, which dress will belong to which tribe?"

"We'll pull sticks," Nal m'se quickly declared, fearing another vote counting session. Ul m'ka quickly fetched three sticks of varying lengths. "The longest is the sunlight, middle is the moonlight, and shortest is the starlight."

Each leader drew a stick. "So its all settled," Aapo proclaimed. "The Nuatomins will be represented by the sun, we, the Alkses will be by the moon, and the Eredst by the stars."

"You will both need to bring your girls to the mountains so Celisae can fit the dresses for the girls," Nal m'se told the others.

"Why don't they all just travel here?" Aapo suggested.

"Alright," Nal m'se agreed. "It probably is a more convenient location. We'll meet here at the next full moon."

"Agreed," Aapo spoke.

Fa, who had dashed away to take a final vote on the subject, returned to the stones.

"We agree as well," Fa announced.

"So its settled," Nal m'se finalized. "This seasons meeting is now adjourned."