Editing Grimdark Tarzan (section)

== Chapter 5 ==

As Tarzan traveled through the jungle, he thought back to what had just happened. He knew that the Inquisitor was the head of the local tribe of Imperials, but he had not known how foul the man was, as he had declined to meet Tarzan throughout the months. It bothered him that such a man was their leader, but also that there was nothing he could do about it; from what Sister Brigitte had said, Imperials did not take kindly to people murdering their leaders, unless, of course, their leaders stopped listening to the Father of the Forest, or as they called him, the Emperor.

He had recognized what the man showed him, it was the sacred object said to have fallen from the heavens so long ago. He was smarter than many of them realized, and knew that they were looking for something, and now he knew exactly what. If the Imperials truly were the servants of the Father of the Forest, surely he would have told them where to find it? Maybe this was a test for them.

A small part of him whispered that he had held back out of fear that they would leave once they found it, but he forced that traitorous thought into the back of his head.

It would remain there along with the embarrassment he suffered once realized that all the softer looking tribesmen were actually women.

He did not have much longer to go, he would be arriving at the Goril's latest settling spot in a few minutes. He moved swiftly towards the trees to where the sentries should have greeted him. However, waiting for him was someone he dreaded to see: Kerchak.

"Ahh Tarzan, there you are. You know, you've been going missing quite a bit lately. Where have you been spending your time, hmmm?" The ten foot tall Goril asked him

Tarzan would have to choose his words carefully. The tribe's leader could easily kill him in a fight, and a fight he would have if he answered poorly. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted.

"Don't bother. I know. You've found a pack of others like you. Oh don't look so surprised, Terk isn't as good as lying as she thinks she is, and you aren't as stealthy as you think you are." He bared his teeth, "Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

"I only wanted to'-"

"Endanger the tribe?! You do know that your foolishness might lead to that? The Lepris have been provoked by them, and if they find out you are affiliated with them, their anger might spill over to us!"
"The Lepris attacked them first! They were only defending themselves!"

"I don't care!" A massive fist pinned Tarzan to the ground, "If anything happens to the tribe because of your curiosity, I'll kill you myself. I should have never let your mother convince me to take a freak like you in"

He released Tarzan. "Go, but think about what I just said, and think about your future in this tribe. If you still think you even have a future, that is"

Tarzan rubbed his neck gingerly where he had been held down. The pack leader could move much faster than his size indicated. When he got to his dwelling, he noticed that Terk was waiting for him.

"Kerchak found you, huh?"

"Yeah, turns out I disappointed him, again"

"The usual, huh?" Terk bit into a piece of fruit. "Maybe you should listen to him, stop hanging around those 'humans' as you say they call themselves. You're a good scout, Kerchak probably won't bother you too much if you stick to that."

"But I can't Terk, these people, they're where I came... I finally have some of the answers I've been looking for all my life", he sighed, "I can't just forget about them"

Terk put one of her arms around his shoulder, "Look little guy, you have people, it's us! We've been here all this time for you, do you really think we're going to stop?"

"I know that!" Tarzan shouted, "But it's different. When I'm with them, I feel like I fit in, like I'm normal...", his voice trailed off.

For the first time in a long while, Terk realized what it was like to be Tarzan. How it must have felt watching the others do what he could not. She tried to think of how to comfort him, but words did not come. "Go to bed, alright? Just don't do anything stupid, I'm sure we can work this whole thing out in the morning when we've gotten a good meal."

"Yeah", Tarzan said and then repeated with a degree of conviction, "Yeah."

Later that night, when he thought that everyone was sleeping except for the night sentries, Tarzan took his spear and leaped into the night. He did not realize that he was being observed by two nearby figures

"He's going to do something stupid, isn't he?" Terk deadpanned.

"...Yep" Tantor agreed.