A few holdouts stood awkwardly, glancing around at all the linked arms.

"Ulika, they killed Bolden," Pimo entreated. "Don't you want justice for that?"

The woman's eyes turned sad. "I will grieve his loss for a long time, but I've had enough of retaliation. Bolden's solution was violence instead of discussion. And look where that got him. I don't want that for my children." She gathered them close to her, touching each one as if to reassure herself they were still safe. "We don't need to fight to prove we're strong."

Pimo looked to some of the other men in line, but they looked away or busied themselves with brushing off imaginary dust. Receiving no support, he growled, "This is a big mistake."

I noticed the twins staring at each other in confusion, finding themselves on opposing sides.

"Come on, Mykis." Majon tossed his head with encouragement. "Come stand with me."

Mykis tentatively shook his head. "I want to protect our tribe with Pimo."

"We will," Majon implored. "But without fighting."

Mykis gave Pimo a questioning look.

"Chief! Chief!" All eyes turned to a young scout as he nearly tripped in his haste. "I spotted them!"

The crowd parted for the boy as he hurtled past, skidding to a stop in front of Meresh. "They're coming." He braced his hands on his knees to gulp in breaths of air.

All the optimism in the tribe seemed to vanish in an instant.

"How much time do we have?" Meresh asked, gripping Elna's hand more tightly.

"Not long. They're jogging this way. They'll be here soon."

My stomach nearly dropped to the ground. I had thought we'd have more time.

Meresh allowed himself a shaky breath before rubbing the fear off his face with a determined hand. "We face them."

A sense of panic rippled through the crowd as arms unlinked, and survival instincts kicked in. I heard mutterings about hiding or running away. Some wanted to fight.

"We face them!" Meresh repeated above the din. "All of us together, as a tribe. With peace in our hearts! It will not work otherwise!" Still gripping Elna's hand, he began striding to the exit the scout had run through. "With me! Now!"

His forceful order even made me want to obey. (And everyone knows I'm not the obeying kind.)

To her credit, Elna kept up the urgent pace with dignified grace, head held high. It looked like Meresh picked a good one there.

His people responded to the couple's display of confidence. The panic diminished, and they began streaming out of the compound after them.

I was so proud of them. I began thinking this plan might actually work.

Until I noticed the doubters staring after them, unsure what to do.

"Come on," I urged, hurrying closer to them. "Let's go."

"No." Pimo stepped between me and the doubters. He'd already grabbed a spear. His eyes held the determination of a guy who thought he was right. "We can still fight."

"What are you doing?" I hissed at Pimo. "You're going to get everyone killed!"

He pointed his spear at me. "No, you're the one getting everyone killed! I'm trying to save them!"

"Fighting isn't the only way. Why can't you understand that?"

His muscles tensed. "Everyone understands strength."

"Maybe so, but what chance do you think you have when Bolden and his men—all his men—got slaughtered during a sneak attack they initiated?"

Pimo's head reared back slightly, hesitation scrunching his brow.

"Weren't they some of your best warriors?"

He didn't answer, his gaze drawn to the ragtag group of doubters behind him. Even I could tell they weren't seasoned fighters.

"The threat coming our way may consist of outcasts, but we have a chance if we appeal to their humanity," I implored. "There's no honor in murdering unarmed men, women, and children." His mouth opened, but I interrupted. "Before you go calling them freaks or whatever, they're just people. With a lot of bad luck. I think if we treat them like people instead of monsters, they'll act like people instead of monsters."

The young warrior didn't agree, but didn't disagree either. He pursed his lips in thought, his spear leaning to one side.

"Mykis, what do you think?" Maybe if I convinced one of Pimo's allies, I could sway him.

The boy's eyes widened at the sudden attention. "Um, well"—his eyes darted to Pimo and then back to me—"it kind of makes sense." Receiving no retort from his hero, he went on. "I mean, if someone came at me with a spear, I'd have no choice but to attack right back. But if, you know, they wanted to talk, then maybe talking would be better than fighting. Especially if they were bigger and could kick my butt."

I nodded with approval. "Exactly."

"Can they kick our butts, Pimo?" Mykis looked up at him, genuine concern in his eyes.

Pimo's hesitation was telling.

Time was short, so I tried charm instead of logic. I confidently flipped my hair over one shoulder. "If I'm wrong and they kill us all, you can tell me 'I told you so.'"

He shook his head, but the tiniest smile lifted one corner of his mouth. "You're crazy."

"Maybe, but I'm also right."

We locked eyes for a moment longer before he finally growled and flung his spear to the ground. "Fine. We'll see how this plays out."

He brushed past me, almost clipping my shoulder, as if to remind me that he was going because he decided to go.

Whatever. Boys and their egos.

I followed with trepidation, as did the remaining stragglers of the Zurbo tribe. It was time to see if amity would triumph this day, or if we were about to become hapless blood smears in the middle of the plains.

The big showdown looms close. Cast a quick vote before you go join them!