Peril and Radiance

Night drooped low from the horizon, and bonfires glittered through the camp. The cruel cold wave had already passed, and the autumn nights on the wasteland were still warm. Thousands of warriors slept in their open-air grass nests, building up their strength for slaughter. Patrol squads kept strict watch, roaming back and forth along the edges of the camp. Farther out, night sentries stood guard among the mountains, ready at any moment to fight the Dog-kin's Red-hair Tribe.

Among the broad spread of grass nests, the commanders' tents stood out sharply. And at the center of several dozen tents clustered together was the commander-in-chief's great tent. A Black Wolf Royal Banner was planted before it. Over a hundred personal guards, armored and bearing bows, stood watch around the Royal Banner and the great tent. Their expressions were devout and vigilant, as if they were guarding a god.

"Great Chief, your loyal general, Caca, salutes you!"

Inside the great tent, Red Frog Chief Caca knelt on the ground and saluted Xolotl respectfully.

Caca had been kept at Xolotl's side for almost a month, nearly cut off from his tribe. His daily task was to eat and drink his fill and receive the priests' sermons at set times, and his round face had grown another circle fatter. Now, he had changed into the attire of a Mexica Warrior, wore a silver Main God amulet, and had also learned the Alliance's etiquette. At first glance, he looked like a minor noble of the Alliance. Only his hair remained the red color revered by the people of the wasteland.

"Great Chief, Miwa salutes you!"

Behind Caca, the Red-hair guard Miwa, wearing a Dog-kin leather robe, copied him and knelt to salute as well.

After the chief had been taken away, he had become the