A fact that all gehm knew, and one that most would learn through experience at some time in their lives, was that the wilds were inhospitably dangerous for them. The unbound gehm still wandering the wilds as they did in the past wore clothing made from local plants to serve as camouflage and avoided making contact with any beasts as best they could. Even the gehm who had been taught to live in small communities still lived in fear, and in some cases, direct control of the nearby beasts.

Gehm weren't the only ones who knew this. Most beasts were aware of this weak nature of gehm, and some even exploited it. It was for this reason that, when the beast known as Askret discovered the remnants of a carnivorous sisrien vine, dead and dry for several days, and smelling of gehm, he became alerted. There were two interesting implications to be made from this discovery: That there was a gehm wandering the wilds, and that this gehm was capable of killing a plant that few creatures were able to escape from. This was information that needed to be brought to Rashendala immediately.

After searching the area for a moment longer, the large cat-like beast rushed home to make his report. The sparse forest became like a thick jungle before Askret reached his destination. The trees there were truly ancient, with tops reaching so high into the dense canopy that they couldn't be seen from the ground and trunks so thick it could take a man four dozen steps just to walk around them.

To many gehm, and other lesser beasts, the colossal nature of the flora in this area might be intimidating, but some of the beasts that called it home fit into the surroundings perfectly; Beasts like Rashendala.

“Master Rashendala, I have news you must hear!” Askret shouted toward the distant canopy. In response, the limbs of the canopy shook, dropping large leaves toward the group of beasts gathering on the ground. After a brief moment, a serpent whose width was nearly half that of one of the larger trees came bursting through the canopy and coiled down the trunk of the tree before Askret.

“What is it you wish to speak?” hissed Rashendala. Only a third of his body was resting on the ground, while the rest was still coiled up the tree behind him. Despite Askret's apparent large size, Rashendala could still swallow him whole if he so pleased. Askret gulped and lowered his head.

“I discovered an interesting event. Though I don't know the details, I'm sure you would find it fascinating. In a small pocket near the Endora gehm, there is a sisrien vine—”

“Yes, I know of it. It keeps unwanted beasts from wandering where they should not.”

“It did, but it will no longer.” Rashendala’s eye scales blinked slowly as he waited for Askret to elaborate. “The plant is dead; torn apart and reeking of gehm.”

Upon hearing Askret’s words, Rashendala’s tongue burst from his mouth through a small parting and stopped just before reaching Askret. Even after his tongue returned to him, Rashendala remained silent, staring with emotionless, black eyes. His rage was one that burned silently, making it difficult to interpret his intentions. When he finally did speak, it was with a voice just as smooth as before:

“I also heard that there were wild gehm in the area. Followers of that one they call the apostle, without doubt. If they're the dangerous kind, then they could accomplish such a feat as killing a single sisrien. Simple enough to deal with, but if they have further corrupted the Endora, then it's time for them to be reminded of the order in this world.”

“If that is your will, then we shall see it done.” After accepting the command, Askret cast glances at the fellow beasts gathered around Rashendala and chose three to accompany him. For now, they would only deliver a warning, the true punishment would come later.

It wouldn’t take long for Askret to reach the Endora village—it was still a part of Rashendala’s territory, after all. And it was with even more ease still, that he prowled through it, bringing his beasts along with him.

There was one other beast that was the same species as Askret, and of the two remaining: one was a beranta and the other a soven. A beranta is a burrowing boar-like creature with thick fur and four tusks, while a soven is a tree climbing reptile with a physique similar to that of a gorilla with a strong, spined tail.

Knowing that no gehm would have the courage to approach them, the four beasts had no reason to hide. In fact, as they made their way through the village, any gehm who saw them immediately hid; allowing the beasts to make their way to their destination unhindered. When they reached the cave of the elders, Askret entered alone while the rest waited outside.

“Surely you don't intend to hide,” Askret hissed mockingly toward the elders he knew to be somewhere in the cave.

“Certainly not,” replied one of the elders as he came forth. The remaining two followed closely behind. “What business would a great beast such as yourself have with an insignificant village as ours?”

“Insignificant? What a thing to say. Do you mean to suggest that the great Rashendala would show interest toward something insignificant?”

“Not at all! We would never suggest something so offensive,” another of the elders claimed in an attempt to cover for the previous slip.

“Indeed. As it happens, there is something quite intriguing about this village.”

“Whatever could you mean?”

“It seems there are some wild gehm loose in your village; gehm that still need to be taught how this world is meant to function.”

“You mean the gehm who arrived recently? They were not permitted to enter the village. We sent them away.”

“Is that so? Then perhaps they merely misunderstood you, as they seem to have still settled nearby. If you do not wish to move up your scheduled offering to Rashendala, then I suggest you clear up that misunderstanding.”

“Of course, right away,” the elder responded with a shaking voice. “Denda, find where their staying and send them away.”

“What? Now?” the first of the elders, the one called Denda, questioned.

“Yes, now. If it is not one of us elders who delivers the message, they may not take our demand seriously enough. Now go.”

Askret smirked as his commands were being followed so smoothly. In his heart, there was a part of him which had hoped the gehm might be a little more combative, but he was wise enough to know that strict adherence to Rashendala’s commands was in everyone's best interests, the lowly gehm included. With his message delivered, Askret departed the cave with a warning:

“Hope that you don't see us here again, because the next time will be when we've come to claim our offering.” Askret bared his fangs with a smirk before departing and being rejoined by the other beasts.

As they left, several of the village gehm were watching them with curiosity and fear. They wanted to know what the beasts' intentions were, but none wanted to get close enough to find out. Most thought they were hidden from view as they watched the beasts make their leave, but few things could escape the eyes of a hunter like Askret. He was fully aware of the gehm watching them but paid little attention to them. These village gehm were of little interest to him. At least, they should have been, but something caught his eye.

There was a girl standing defiantly by her home, watching Askret and his company with disdain. The girl’s defiant attitude was amusing, but hardly enough to capture Askret's attention. What caught his eye was the ornament she was using to decorate her hair. It wasn't unusual for a gehm to adorn themselves with flowers or leaves, but this particularly defiant child had made a rather unusual choice. Wrapped in her hair, tucked behind her ear, was a purple and white flower of a sisrien vine.

Askret stopped and smiled at Feris with a grin that would cause most to flee in fear, but Feris continued to stare him down. Amusing. Very amusing. Askret laughed to himself as he looked away from the girl and continued to make his way out of the village. That child had given him exactly what he needed to bring back to Rashendala. He will be back. And he was looking forward to it.