A New Precedence

Zas having seen the Comanche off and out of town, turned to find Leper friend hanging back, who also seemed to be intently watching as the large group of disgruntled natives set out for their destination to make camp.

The rest of the Prodigals upon the Comanche departing had dispersed through the small camp city of Vinegaroon, having left the Galliard and the Philodox by themselves.

Zas crossed his arms across his chest in a more comfortable position, as he turned back to watch the Comanche vanish from sight as he spoke to Eaton turning his head to the side as he says over his shoulder, "I was not right to act as I did. It was not my place to speak for the pack or for the Texas representatives. I see my error, for I am not a Galliard."

Zas then half turns to look at Eaton as he continues, "You have done nothing to warrant any mistrust. You have upheld your duty and served Gaia appropriately, and I do not recognize any shortcomings that others may associate with your tribe."

Zas then turns back as he continues, "I was wrong to address the Comanche. I feel that I have wronged you and Gaia by overstepping my bounds."

Zas then turns back and completely faces Eaton as he says with significant strain and glimpses of sorrow, "Do you wish for me to address this with the rest of the pack-so that proper punishment may be rendered?"

As each of the groups headed their various directions, Eaton let out an irritated sigh. Had anything his pack had set out to do gone right so far? His head was swimming trying to reconnect how escorting Penelope from Nacogdoches to Melchizedek led to agreeing to escort these Comanche to San Antone. Though was it just him or did Steel River seem a little jittery and tight lipped? Or at least much more so than the last visit. He snapped from his thoughts as Zas voiced his concerns. Once the Philodox finished, Eaton blinked for a few seconds before he let out a light chuckle,

"What? Just 'cause I'm the Galliard means I gotta do all the talkin'? That doesn't sound right to me."
He let out his open hand to Zas as he continued, "Maybe if these were another pack of Garou, spirits or some other crazy thing there might be a problem. But I don't think those Injuns care about our Gaia-given roles. And another thing,"

He puts his hand on Zas shoulder, "I'm thinkin' in that instance, you were the one who should'a been talkin, anyway. I might be part Comanche, but I haven't exactly had much experience dealin' with 'em directly. 'Specially not like this with their leaders here and all. I thought that you've mighta had a few run-in's with the likes of them before, that you'd have a better idea of what oughta be said."

He looks back to the dispersed Comanche, "And it seems like it worked well enough. Really, I don't think we need to worryin' about this. Not at a time like now."

Zas shakes his head, "If you feel as though I have not taken on your auspice--so be it. The matter is ended."

Zas takes a sigh of relief and then says, "However, if we are to continue dealing with these Comanche war bands and their chiefs, it would be prudent to determine both my role in negotiations in terms of Indian agency representation and what I am allowed to offer the Comanche to prevent a scenario like this from happening again."

Zas considers for a moment before adding, "Perhaps determining all of this officially-now is not an emergency, but it would be helpful to create some type of guideline. Maybe, you could clear your throat or tap my shoulder if it seems as though what I'm going to say sounds unfeasable or improbable... I don't know-just something though is better than nothing. Do you have any suggestions?"

Eaton raised an eyebrow at Zas's proposal, "Why do we gotta decide what's appropriate or what's not? I thought you were posin' as our guide. I ain't entirely sure why ya think what ya did was wrong. Considerin' that most of 'em are plain folk, your more mild temperament might be just the thing we need in order to deal with 'em right."

He scratched behind his ear, "I dunno if we need to resort to silent signals. I can't remember a time you said somethin' that turned out a be a problem. You seem to have the judgment thing down pretty well."

Eaton drummed his fingers on his staff, peering off into the distance, before he looked back at the Philodox, "We let information flow freely among us, so it might sound a bit off if you tell others what ya know of the Indian Bureau. Of course, that depends on how sharp the folks we're talkin' to are."

He narrows his eyes at Zas, "Though why do I have this feelin' that you're doubtin' yourself? Is somethin' worryin' you?"

Snowy Owl rubs his chin as he says, "I act as a pretend scout-this is true. It is my wish that I do whatever I can to find peace-including making myself and my actions serve that end."
Zas's face winces at the Galliards last question. There is a long awkward pause, but eventually Zas speaks again albeit slowly, "I am uncomfortable with this...situation. My people, the Apache, are bitter enemies with the Comanche. There is much bad blood.

Yet, I am also of Gaia and serve as Philodox, all this you know. It is my duty to search out the truth. To uphold the truth when I find it. All of this that we are doing now though, serves as deception. We seek to make a truce with the Comanche on behalf of the Texas government.

A noble cause. However, we also know that the Texas government has no desire to truly seek peace and are merely using this truce as a way to buy time to build strategic forts and prepare their warriors for an assault on the Comanche. You all are serving as representatives in support of this falsehood and I am asked to aid you...to go with you...to convince the Comanche to comply.

I know much of the Comanche way, and peace is not in them. I sense something else that is behind their move to bury the hatchet-maybe to focus on wiping my tribe out, or perhaps to agree to this treaty and then not fulfill their word making future peace talks seem pointless...they are not truthful either. The Comanche here claim to see me as a distant Cousin. Why they see this, I am uncertain. They do not behave as family should.

It would serve both my native tribe and the Texas government to see them all wiped out, but for some reason, I feel wrong--out of order, and out of place by lying to them even though I can almost smell the lies that they bring with them to this meeting. It is not my way...I am direct, but this path before us is winding.

I am not sure of my place because I do not know which side to agree with. Both are dishonest, and neither wishes to reveal the truth. This is why I am worried--the truth is being intentionally silenced."

Eaton nodded as Zas voiced his thoughts. After he vented his frustration Eaton replied, "I understand that someone like you would be nigh ragin' over this whole thing. Course, maybe we need to understand what each side wants."

As he was prone to do, Eaton began pacing in a circle, centered around the Philodox. He gestured out to the Comanche, "The Republic thinks they're savages with 'em attackin' their villages, taking captives, and causin' them all sorts of hell. Your people also suffered from an all out war with 'em. Someone doesn't have to be that smart to know that's why they're hated."

He turns to face Zas but continues walking, "Have you asked the question why they do what they do? The Republic is buildin' defences and wants to attack the Comanche so that stay safe. But why are the Comanche attackin' in the first place?"

He stops walking and gives his full attention to the listening Philodox, "Now 'cause we're Garou, we know somethin' they don't. Something is up with the Uktena. I think you and I both agreed that this whole shebang with Roarin' Jack was because he could fix this problem. If the spirital health of their lands improves, I don't see how that's a bad thing. And those Skin Rippers," He shudders slightly as he says their name, "Ain't makin' anything easier."

He holds up a finger, "Though, that doesn't help us with the stange going-on's with the Texans. I dunno what's up with that business with them arrangin' a meeting without telling us. If you ask me, " He leans in a little closer, his voice quetting, "There's problems on both sides. I dunno how useful it is trying to paint one as right or wrong in this instance."

Zas listens as Eaton explains his perspective and ideas on their current predicament while remaining silent, making sure to give each question thought before responding.
"I have never questioned why the Comanche do what they do. It has always been my response to simply see them dead or run off. In my experience, they fight and kill, rape and plunder, because it is their nature--it is their way. The successful Comanche warrior is one with the most horses and scalps, and slaves."
As he says his last sentence, their is an unveiled sense of fury in it.

Zas fumes on in quiet anger and rage for several moments but eventually settles down and says, "I do think discovering what has happened with the Uktena tribe will be helpful, but challenging....perhaps, in finding the problem and revealing the truth of what troubles the pure tribe, we may find the cause of what drives the Comanche. I do not think as of now however, that the problems are related. The Comanche have been the Comanche far longer than this recent shortcoming of the Uktena."

Zas takes a moment and takes a deep breath before adding, "The Skin rippers must be dealt with though, this I most certainly agree with. Maybe in letting this poor excuse for a peace talk come to fruition, the white man's master plan will be revealed-I only hope we are able to act quick enough to prevent either side from being victorious."

Zas then lets his hands fall to his sides as he asks, "In your dealings before we formed the prodigals did you encounter any people who were against both the Comanche and the Texas Government? I am sure you could see the potential for how such a group could make the scales be more balanced."

Eaton scratched the back of his head as he listened to Zas' concerns. Flicking away a barb he replied, "Do we really need someone who's against both of 'em? I will say I've run into people who didn't have a stake in the matter; like many of the Bone Gnawers, fer instance. While you see the settlers buildin' up their defences and gatherin' their forces, what you don't see is the people leavin' these parts, avoidin' the war. If ya don't have a particular say in the matter, whether ya care or otherwise, there are two choices: Ya take up arms and fight or ya get the heck outta there."

He readjusts his stance, "I'm sure ya probably have heard this before, but the Comanche excel travelin' the plains, doin' what it takes to survive. The raids is them takin' what they believed to be theirs. Now, their, um, nastier lifestyle might in fact have some relation to the skin rippers."

He bows his head slightly, as if unsure how Zas will respond, "I don't know everything the Comanche have done to ya and yer tribe over the years, but I know not every one of 'em just wants to kill other tribes and steal from the whites. If that was true, I wouldn't be standing here tellin' ya this."

Zas face grew more grim the further the Galliard continued to speak until at last his eyes were filled to the brim with tears and his muscles were tensed and knotted, giving him a truly awful looking sight-pitiful really.

He took a long intake of breath and attempted to say more, but choked on his words.

He then closed his eyes and simply nodded his head and grew quiet, a single droplet of water streaked down his face.

Several uncomfortable moments go by when, Zas coughs and says in a cold voice, "I see only war and death, with no chance for peace until one or both sides are dead. The Skin-rippers will do as they have done and the White man will do the same.

The Comanche's fate is in their own hands. They are a proud tribe, a strong tribe. Their lives are theirs to do with as they please. If they seek to face death by willingly entering into this trap, so be it. I wash myself of them for I cannot have their blood be on my hands, like I did the Cherokee-nor do I wish to.

The Penataka however are of the Wyrm. They must be and will be destroyed. By the end of this ordeal that much will be made true. The Skin rippers will be hunted down, chased to the ends of every realm and slain as is befitting for every creature that mocks Gaia and serves the destroyer.

I cannot forsee what the end of all this will be, but I do know now my place. My role. Thank you Eaton."
Zas then turns to walk away, back to the rest of the town, his every step more certain the one before it.