As the waterworks ended, Cove brushed her shoulder, "I'm sorry about earlier. I had no idea that would happen, and I feel horrible about it. I-I wish you would let me make it up to you."

"There's nothing to make up. Let's go to the jewelry tent."

"Talia," Cove hurried to catch up, "what's wrong? What happened?"

"Nothing's wrong! I just talked to the Chiefess for a few moments. We need to get something to trade at the jewelry shop and then mix in the crowd near the jungle border." She felt Cove firmly grab her arm.

"Come again, you lost me at the part where you have a plan that I know nothing about."

"Our allies are waiting for us, and the bane of my existence is here too. Everyone's just trying to watch out."

"Alright, let's go," Cove murmured. Upon entering the packed jewelry tent, Cove held Tiber's hand. "I'd rather we not get separated like that again."

As they were walking, Sita bumped shoulders with Tiber. "We got something we'd like to trade." Tiber looked, and it was a dagger made of ivory.

"That's beautiful. I have a tribal artifact to exchange," she reached into Mika's bag and retrieved a small jewelry box with a cabochon stone bypass closure.

"You have a lovely acquaintance," Chelan spoke to Cove. "We should grab something to eat and enjoy it close to the Jungle border. It's not every day we get a view like that. Is it, Sita?"

"Definitely not, so it's set? Let's meet in an hour," Sita chimed.

Cove nodded and shook hands with Chelan, "An hour sounds good, man. It's packed, and we need all the time we can, so just pick a place for lunch."

They made the exchange and watched Chelan and Sita head off. "Is there something you want for lunch?"

"No, not really. Is there something you'd recommend," she asked Cove.

"Well, I guess the one thing that's hard to get unless you're from around here is a fried fish sandwich."

Tiber laughed, "Well, you've got a point there. Let's eat! I am kinda hungry." They quickly found some tables and asked for two fish sandies, as they are called in the Beach tribe.

As they sat across from each other, Tiber kept looking away every time Cove made eye contact. "Could you please stop that? It's killing me!"

"I'm sorry. I feel bad that you're stuck here with me, of all people. I want you to have a good time and mingle. You work so hard, and I just wanted you to enjoy the festival with whoever you wanted to spend time with."

"Are you crazy? That's what I'm trying to do! I told you that I wanted to spend the day with you. I told you when we first talked about going to the festival together. I know what happened earlier was kinda uncalled for, but this is what I really want."

"Why? Why me?"

"Why not you? You came to me asking for help, but I've been learning so much about what tribe and family mean from you. You are the most loyal woman I have ever met under the most strenuous situation. It makes me see the things I have taken for granted. I was raised to believe in the Universe. You weren't. It's like watching a metamorphosis, with each stage more beautiful than the previous one. I just feel honored to have met you at the caterpillar stage. You're in the cocoon now. I just can't wait to see what's next." he handed her a small box.

Tiber was shocked as she opened it. It was a lovely, hand-strung pearl necklace. "It's beautiful," she whispered.

"Not half as beautiful as the woman who wears it," Cove smiled. "I hope you accept this as a token of my intention for us to get to know each other better."

"I accept your gift. I accept your friendship and support," she slid the ivory dagger across the table, "I don't know what the future holds. Regardless, I hope you accept my friendship and genuine care for you and the Jungle tribe's interests."

Cove accepted the dagger, "Thank you. Now can you fill me in about what happened with the Chiefess?"

As Tiber was about to speak, Chelan and Sita arrived at their table.

"I thought we were meeting in an hour," Tiber asked.

"Bad news. The crowd near the border is thinning. And what's worse is that Nahal is there," Chelan informed them. "I'm going back to tail them for a while and keep them from this area. If he sees Sita and me over here, he will start watching the two of you more closely. Then he may actually recognize Talia. Whatever Sita and Talia need to exchange, they need to do it now. This is the only chance." Chelan hurried and left.

"Wait," Tiber called out, "Who came with Nahal?"

Sita shrugged, "Chelan didn't say. But Tiber, we don't have time."

"Sita, Neptune could be here," Tiber hissed.

"And if he is, we need to all have the same information before he can find us," Sita sat down. "Nahal returns early in the morning three days a week from missions, as he calls them. Several warriors overheard a conversation he had with Yas about preparing shipments per Neptune's order. They said they had spies sending them necessary supplies for the New World Order, or NWO as they call it.

"When's the next time Nahal is going on a mission," Cove asked.

"Tomorrow night, so he won't be back until the morning of the next day. Now, what's the jewelry box for?"

"If you open it, the decree should be in there. Guard it with your life. Give it to Shasa and tell her I'm alive and well," Tiber explained.

"I don't know if I can," Sita put the box back into Mika's bag, "Shasa is quite unwell."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't plan on bringing you bad news, but Shasa is-"

Tiber fell to her knees, "Please, no!" Cove rushed to her side.

"She became gravely sick, all of a sudden. She lost the baby. I told Muraco that I was certain it was intentional food poisoning."

Tiber cried into Cove's shoulder. "Who would do this?" She sobbed.

Suddenly a loud commotion was heard in the distance. People were fleeing from the direction of the hub or Marina's Beach tribe. People were scattered, and tribes were leaving in shifts across the ocean strait.

"It's Neptune! He is trying to lure you out, Tiber. We have to go," Cove pulled her up and dragged her away.

She was tired of running from him, and she was tired of being afraid. He killed her father, an elder, and hurt her sister to make her bend her knee and bow her head. She was different now; this Tiber only bowed her head to the Universe.

"No, I want to see his face. I'm tired of running from him," Tiber resisted.

"Then you aren't doing this alone," Cove and Sita said.

A face appeared made of water coming from the ocean. "I remember the days of the summer festival," the voice sounded muffled in the water.

Marina and her family hurried to the ocean front, "Neptune, you are not welcome to disturb the traditional festival," the Chiefess screamed.

"But Marina, are you unaware of a murderer among the tribespeople? We would not want another murder to occur. She hailed from the Snow Tribe and took the life of her own father. I'm only trying to project the Waterbearers. Her name is-"

"What is in a name, Neptune?!" Marina yelled, "There are several people with the same name or variations of names among the tribes. If you are confident that a murderer is here, call her to account before a Moonsayer. There are several Moonsayers here. Call her to account or leave us in peace!"

"That won't be necessary. Snow Tribe girl, I've scoured the tribes for your whereabouts, and I know you are blending in with the tribespeople. But realize that people will continue to die in your place until you admit to your crimes," the voice threatens.

Marina pulled water from the ocean. Her children did the same, "I will cast you out if you continue to make threats, interfering with peaceful tribe customs!"

Other Waterbearers followed suit of the Chiefess. They pulled the water from the ocean, trying to reveal Neptune. Cove, Chelan, Sita, Jungle, Beach, and Snow tribes all working together. Tiber saw her chance. As the power of the water flowed from her fingertips, she cocooned herself in waves. This made her appearance disfigured. No one would recognize her. She charged towards the ocean, desperately pinpointing where the voice came from. She found him, but he was mirroring her. She could not make out what his face looked like. "So you came to fight? Do you really think that you're strong enough? Or does your sister have to die too to make you bow to this New World Order?"

Hearing Neptune threaten her sister's life filled Tiber with an anger she had never experienced before. The only thing she could think of was her father's wish for her to save the tribe. 'You are the new moon, and you will rise,' she said. The ocean water became her weapon, and she attacked Neptune in an underwater battle. They were both cocooned, which provided a supply of oxygen for them. Neptune tried to pull the water away from her, leaving her unable to breathe. Tiber felt powerful. She made a swirling motion of water, allowing the waves to alternate between being her offense and defense. Neptune was truly powerful; his precision was marked by the Tribe of Snow and Ice. But yet, he had the resourcefulness of the Jungle tribe and the grace and flexibility of the Beach tribe. She would have thought he was a water god if she didn't know better.

They continued this elaborate underwater attack. Tiber knew that she could not hold up against Neptune much longer. She had grown more assertive in the past few weeks, but not enough to topple anyone with this much proficiency. She had to fall back. The only thing was that Neptune knew this. Tiber tried to swim closer to the surface, only to be snatched back down with a water whip. The speed in which he dragged her back to the bottom nearly ruptured her eardrum. They had been underwater for several minutes. The cocoon which encased her was severely damaged. Water flooded the cocoon, so she had to get to the surface.

Neptune was fully aware of her need to reach the surface. "Did you really think you could be victorious over me?"

Tiber began inhaling water, and her vision began to haze. She wasn't afraid to die. Sita had the decree, and the tribe would be fine. She completed her father's last mission to the best of her ability. She was ready to succumb to this end. To die was a fair punishment for all the things she's done and everyone who has had to suffer. Tiber was at peace. She learned to believe and repent. She felt cleansed of her wrong-doings.

Her eyes gazed up at the moon for the last time. It was wonderful. "If my end means new beginnings, take me now. Take my life, break this curse. Universe, save them," her consciousness began to go dark. As life slipped away, she felt her head break through the surface. She inhaled. There was an incredible surge of power. The tides began to grow wide with rapid waves. The Waterbearers on the beach started to fall back. Tiber saw Nahal. Fury filled her heart. She rose over the water, propelling herself upward in a tight water spiral. Nahal attempted to pull the water from the spiral, to no avail. He was no longer the stronger Waterbearer. Tiber encased him in a thick ice cube and knocked him into the ocean. Twisting her hands in a swirling motion, the waves crashed and crashed, over and over again.

"Tiber, stop," a woman called out to her on a winged creature. "Tiber, you have to stop. Look at them," Aqila gently turned Tiber's face to the beach front.

It was a mess. The festival was ruined. Everyone was huddled, holding onto each other. She was beginning to feel normal as the spiral was losing momentum. Her feet gracefully touched the water sand. Aqila followed her down. Looking to the Windmaster with tears in her eyes, "I could have killed all of them! I- I don't know what just happened to me. How did I get powerful like that all of a sudden? I was never taught any of those moves. No, it can't be. I-" she ran into the ocean.

"Tiber! It's okay! You can't run from it!" Aqila called to her. Cove, Sita, and Chelan ran towards Aqila.

Cove grabbed Aqila's shoulders, "What just happened? Why is she leaving?"

"Everyone, listen!" Marina called everyone's attention, "What happened with her is not as important as what we have been saved from. Neptune attacked us, and we all rallied together in a grand display of unity. United, we were unbreakable. One among us was willing to battle with the beast on behalf of all of us. What just happened? We don't know. Maybe it is not for us to understand. Let gratitude fill our hearts instead of questions. Everyone is allowed to stay in the Beach tribe, and we will grandly resume the festival tomorrow. Tonight, let's reflect on our unity." Rio, Rilian, Triton, and his wife began ushering the Waterbearers to the tribe hub.

"Thank you, Chiefess. Cove can you and Chelan help me get Nahal from the ocean," Aqila asked.

"I say we let him die down there," Chelan huffed.

"Tiber has to clear her name. so he needs to be brought back to the tribe," Aqila explained.

Cove sighed, "If it helps Tiber, I'm in."

"Thank you, Aqila. Rest assured that Tiber will meet you at the tribe of Snow and Ice tomorrow morning," Marina smiled at them.

"That would be a tremendous help. Thank you," Aqila motioned for Cove and Chelan to follow her.

Sita looked at Marina, "H-how can you be so sure that she will return to us." Her tears glistened in the moonlight.

Marina sighed, wiping her tears, "Because you are her family. I must go now. Take care of Mika. She looks lonely without her master."