The day I met a yellow tail
Part two - Draft
As soon as I began to understand how these people came to have their distinctive yellow tails, I decided to ask the Chief why I was being tied up with vines. He explained that their tribe had met an outsider before—a man who claimed to come in peace. But in reality, he had only wanted their "green rocks."
I soon discovered that these "green rocks" were large, natural, uncut jade stones scattered across the land. Even the Chief's ceremonial stool was nothing more than a massive, polished jade stone. The tribespeople wore small jade stones fastened with leather around their ankles, showing how valuable and sacred these stones were to them.
I quickly explained to the Chief and the villagers, who were now all staring at me with suspicion, that I had come in peace. I told them I had no knowledge of their tribe's existence until today and that I had no desire for their green rocks. I promised to keep their secret safe from the rest of the world.
The Chief, however, informed me that I would not be allowed to leave immediately. To ensure I could be trusted, they would need to keep me there for a while. Reluctantly, I agreed. The villagers untied my hands and offered me water to drink.
The woman I had encountered earlier, whose name I learned was Galis, approached me. She told me to stand and follow her. I complied, knowing I needed to gain their trust. She led me to the Chief, who, as I discovered, was her uncle and her only surviving relative.
I was instructed to sit before the Chief, and soon food was brought to me—a meal of roots, berries, fish, nuts, and large lizard meat. Not wanting to offend anyone, I ate the same food as them.
As the hours passed, I was allowed to explore the village and interact with the people. Slowly, they began to trust me, especially since the Chief and Galis had accepted me. Over the next two days, I became familiar with their isolated culture. Galis followed me everywhere, explaining their traditions, customs, and way of life. By the end of the second day, I was playing with the children, learning about their art, having my face painted, and joining in their dances. Even though I couldn’t sing in their Nepelang language, I loved the music and the festive atmosphere.
Finally, the Chief summoned me. He explained that the time had come for me to leave and return to my own people. He told me I had proven myself trustworthy. At that moment, I realized how deeply I had connected with these people. It was difficult to accept that I had to leave, but I knew it was inevitable.
As I prepared to depart, Galis approached me. Tears streamed down her face as she hugged me tightly and kissed me in front of her uncle. I couldn’t help but smile, thinking back to how this same woman had tried to kill me when we first met.
I said my goodbyes and tried not to cry as I left. Galis walked with me to the base of the tower where we had first met. There, we shared one final embrace and kiss before I turned to leave. As I walked away, tears welled up in my eyes, knowing it was the last time I would see Galis and her people.
And so ended my unforgettable adventure with the lost tribe of the yellow-tailed Nepelang people.
