A lone traveler receives the shock of a lifetime when she stumbles across and encounters an indigenous lynx, who later invites her to visit his land.

Tribal Lynx Encounter

Loka carefully peels the bushes away during her exploration of the local forested landscape. This is her very first time out traveling in areas like this.

During the time that the female avian is exploring the area, a sudden rustling noise catches her attention where she whirls around at the source of the noise, only to find a small rodent creeping out. Later relaxing, Loka resumes her exploration of the area. It doesn't take the owl long to make deeper progress into her travel.

Eventually, Loka comes across a village of some sort where she is presented with a series of housing units ranging from tents and tepees to clay building structures. The female avian is stunned at the sight and lost in wonder, just staring around at the buildings.

"Excuse me, are you lost around here or just exploring?" Startled and whirling around in shock, Loka comes face to face with an indigenous lynx! The lynx is a muscular male with brown fur, though his arms are crossed and his expression is suspicious.

Those ice blue eyes of his are quite inquisitive and curious, though he means no harm, not now at least. Still, the wary edge in his voice is still there. He demands again, "What is your business here? Clearly you must be passing through or lost."

After a while of silence, Loka croaks, "Oh, I'm just exploring around. I had no idea this was indigenous land. I apologize."

Contrary to what Loka was anticipating, the muscular lynx sympathizes and muses with a smile, "Ah, another traveler - why didn't you say so??"

Loka releases the breath she's been holding in for a while and confesses, "I wasn't sure if you were going to attack me or kill me. I was only exploring, that's all!"

"I can see by your clothing. I am Ronnie Romulund of the Windsor tribe and you are in Windsor territory. I would like to welcome you!" Ronnie spreads his arms out in greeting, coupling this with a welcoming, genuine smile.

"Ronnie?? Cute name for a lynx!" The words were out before Loka realized it. The instant her face heats up, it leaves just as quick. Although Ronnie is oblivious to the owl's strawberry face, he takes the compliment and responds in kind, "Thank you. What's your name?"

"My name is Loka and I'm just exploring around here." Loka responded casually.

"Exploring, huh? How about I bring you to our chieftain and you can explore our village?" Ronnie suggested.

"I wouldn't mind; I would love that." Loka agreed to the offer, which satisfies the two of them.

"Alright, come on then! I'll lead!" Grabbing Loka's arm in a gentle manner, Ronnie marches off to venture back to his camp, towing a cooperative Loka in his grasp.

~~~~~

Back in Windsor tribe territory, a pair of lynx warriors are scouting the landscape, standing aside from a forested entryway. One of them, a chocolate furred lynx with black spots, backs up to a tree next to a lighter furred lynx with black stripes.

"Ronnie should be back by now. It doesn't take him this long to return after a patrol round." The chocolate lynx commented on worry.

"Agreed, Murray. Maybe he got injured in a fight or picked up a straggler." The lighter lynx surmised. It isn't until a few minutes later that Murray and his partner catch sight of a brown lynx returning amongst the bushes with a female avian in tow. Upon recognizing the lead figure, Murray calls out and waves, "Ronnie!! Over here!!"

"Murray? Amazon? What are you guys doing all the way out here? Were you guys patrolling or on a scouting mission?" Ronnie's suspicions are later confirmed when Murray reveals, "Amazon and I went on a scouting assignment to look for you. The chief grew slightly worried that one of his best warriors was considered missing. And who's the lovely lady with you?"

"Guys, this is Loka. She's a traveler, so no hard problems with her, okay?"

"Ronnie, bro, since when would we ever give a lady a hard time?" Amazon winks at his companions and even nudges Murray a little in understanding.

Murray agrees, "Ronnie, we're just like you to an extent." The questionable glance from Ronnie leads Murray to quickly explain and correct himself, "What I mean is that we're welcoming to visitors like her, that's all."

"Right… let's go take her to meet our chief. Then we'll see how things proceed from there." Ronnie wasn't buying their story for now, but he insisted they bring Loka to their chieftain and see how things play out from there.

~~~~~

The three lynx warriors surround Loka while making their way to the chief's den, which happens to be a small, yet spacious cave adorned for such a position and role. Similar to a chieftain's hut or a royal palace, this cave has its own splendor. Torches line the walls on both sides against a merlot background. And there are separate rooms indicated by different doorways. Two beds are in sight upon immediate entry.

Upon entering, Ronnie calls out for the chief, "Chief Garza, we have visitors!!!"

"Wouldn't Chief Garza be out at this moment?" Murray suddenly pales in realization at walking inside of their leader's place unannounced. Usually, coming before the tribal chieftain unannounced incurs a punishment as severe as death itself, and that's when Amazon and Ronnie grow worried, while Loka feels her heart sink.

Ronnie assures the group, "I'm sure the chief won't mind once we explain the situation to him. We just need to wait for him to get back, that's all."

The quartet retreat outside the cave and later wait, taking up shelter in a nearby bush while waiting for their chieftain. And after a few minutes, they catch sight of a russet furred lynx wearing a houndstooth necklace along with a brown feathered headdress, gold wristbands, and a brown loincloth. Surely this must be the chieftain!

"Chief Garza, we'd like to have a word with you!" The lynx chieftain trails his chocolate eyes over to the group coming towards him. And upon noticing the female owl, Garza demands, "Why is this outsider here?"

Ronnie clears his throat and explains, "Chief Garza, I found the traveler while on a patrol round and we would like to show her around the territory. Is that okay with you?"

"Traveler, eh? Well since this traveler is an explorer, then why didn't you say so initially??" Garza grins smugly. Placing his fists on his hips, the lynx chieftain grants the request, laughing towards the quartet. "Go ahead and give her a tour! We're open to visitors!"

With the go ahead to give her the tour, Ronnie, Amazon, and Murray bow in submission to their chieftain and leave with Loka to begin their tour to show her around their village.

"How are you feeling, Loka?" The question was asked by Murray to see how Loka was currently holding up. Truth be told, the owl was creeped out a bit from being surrounded by indigenous lynx natives but at the same time her confidence began to overshadow the anxiety inside of her.

"Excited, but nervous since I'm in an unfamiliar area." Loka responded casually. On the inside, her heart was pounding out of fear. Being a traveler doesn't incur invincibility or fearlessness - feelings of nervousness are still common.

Murray assures Loka, "It'll just be a short tour of our land. Then we will send you to Garza for his assessment of you. You're safe with us."

"Thank you. Are there others here that are indigenous like you guys??" Loka wondered while traveling among the group.

Ronnie explains, "Yes, there is. We're a small tribe, though." When Amazon glares questionably at him, he quickly retracts his statement. "Uh, I take that back - we have a decent-sized tribe, though our village is small."

"Well, you guys can show me around your village and maybe then, I could sit with the chieftain for an interview." Loka suggested this from hearing Ronnie's explanation of their village and territory.

"That can work. Once we're done with our tour, you will be sent to meet Chief Garza." Ronnie further explained during their walk. "You're free to stay as long as you want. You can even interview all of us if you wish."

"Thank you, Ronnie! I will definitely keep that in mind!" Loka responds in appreciation for the offer. She was definitely going to make a mental note to herself to keep that in mind once she's handled business with the chieftain.

~~~~~

Loka belongs to fins_cappa_fix from Instagram; Ronnie, Murray, Backlash, and Garza belong to me!