At the end of July, Golden Mountain Bay had both the pleasant warmth of spring and the dry clarity of autumn. Around the bay, the flannelbush flowers bloomed in splendor, spreading out into seas of orange-yellow and golden-red blossoms, like fallen tufts of the Sun Bird's feathers, so beautiful they made people lose themselves.
In the hearts of the tribes along the west coast, this dazzling flower possessed a special divinity and was used in every part of tribal life!
The tribal priests, warriors, and tribespeople all liked to chew this fragrant flower to freshen their breath and savor its rare sweetness. The pollen of the flannelbush could be used as tattoo pigment and made wounds heal more easily. Its grassy stems were an herb that soothed the nerves, easing pain and providing a measure of antibacterial effect. As for its more potent roots and seeds, they were an extremely important sedative in sacrificial rituals...
In truth, in later generations, the flannelbush would have another, far more famous name: "California Poppy."
Ten Kingdom longships, carrying fully armed warriors and sailors, slowly sailed out of the harbor. The large oared sailing vessels, boat after boat of armored warriors, row after row of shields and great bows, fell into the eyes of the watching Miwok tribespeople and became an awe they could hardly suppress!
"Boom, boom, boom!"
The Tiger-Crouching Cannons on the longships thundered toward the sky, announcing the fleet's departure. And beneath this bolt from a clear sky, the feather-crowned Miwok chiefs on shore instantly showed terror, their hands and feet trembling. Some even knelt to the ground and prayed loudly toward the fleet, revering the unknown and mighty Southern Thunder God!
"Praise the Main God! He shelters us!"
On the leading flagship, exploration captain Zuwaro and Scholar Miki stood shoulder