Hey, ya know what guys?
I LIED!
'ere's the next story, the beginning.
Enjoy
ODDWORLD: STRANGER'S WRATH.
In search of the Last Tribe.
PROPHECY, DESTINY, AND TRUTHS
Stranger's and Umi's destinies are told
In the beginning, it was all a mistake how a young human girl named Umi, met the mysterious bounty hunter named only but Stranger.
But the mistake turned out to be one of their greatest moments in their life, starting out to be their own little dynamic duo.
And as times grew long, their bond of friendship grew stronger to the point they'll die for each other.
Now, almost a year passed the dilemma of the Grubbs, Sekto's Dam, and Sekto, their lives settler down with the Chieftain Bears tribe of the Grubbs. Stranger and Umi accepted their duties as the guardians of the Grubbs with no questions asked, but things about being a protector troubled Stranger's mind.
And no matter how many times he asked the Queen Grubb, she would not answer to his confusions, but only tell one of his destinies lie with Umi, and she has the same, near different, destiny as his.
Fate now bonded these two as a lawful family of father and daughter, which made their lives more cheerful. And for once in Umi's long life, she has a father figure once again.
Now since their destinies lie together, they must be told. Not only was it their destiny to be a protector among the Grubbs, but to search for the last existing tribe of Stranger's kind: The Steef tribe.
Ever since Sekto was around, he was hunting down these terrifying creatures to the point of near-extinction, along with the only human on Oddworld. But since Stranger's de-pantsation trial with the Outlaw, D. Caste Raider unveiling his deepest secret, he was destined to kill the one called Sekto, and free the waters of the Mongo River.
He'd completed it, and now it was time of unveiling his and Umi's last fates of their lives, and then they would be complete...
*--*
“C’mon, Umi! The Elder’s waitin’ fer us!” Stranger called down the hall to the wardrobe room.
The door was quarterly open, with Umi, grunting inside, struggling to get in her clothes.
“It’d be easier if my clothes di’n’t fight with me!” she cried through the neck hole of her blue-green shirt.
Stranger scoffed, then walked down the hall to the room, and opened the door.
Umi gasped.
“Don’t come in ‘ere! I’m in me underwear!” Umi shrieked.
“Pipe down, lemme ‘elp yer,” he told.
He grabbed her arms, and pulled the shirt down, tugging over her head.
She smoothed it out from the glittering snake dragon to the two tassel ties at the side of her hip.
She checked her dark blue denim jeans with dark cherry-red brown tassels hanging on the outside of her legs. She tied up her hair high with her 3-shadow dragon scarf, two ties dangling down below her thick head of hair.
She smoothed her hair down, then checked herself up and down, to see if she’s presentable.
Plus, Seer Daedlus was the one who bonded she and Stranger. So it was impervious to really look her best to respect him on his decision.
Seeing the Elder Grubb was more of an honor, so she had to look nice for him.
Stranger couldn’t help but smile a little. This was the first time he’s seen Umi work on her looks than her brawn.
She looked up to him, his smile fading slowly.
“Yer ready now?” he asked patiently.
She checked over herself once more, then nodded up to him. She loved to see him in his blue armor with no helmet.
The helmet was only for decoration.
He seemed lighter to her rather than him wearing his usually bounty hunter outfit, as if he had a light aura around him than a dark face.
They walked out of their little home, and trotted through the fresh powder snow.
It was always cold in the Grubb territory, especially down in Last Legs. Winter never seemed to end where the Grubbs lived.
They walked down to the docks, where the Steef boat floated gently with the Mongo River’s arctic waters.
Umi stepped in lightly, minding the ice caked on the dock, and sat on the bow.
Stranger sat where the two handles of four oars on each side hovered above the water. He gripped them tightly, and shoved off the coarse bottom of the riverbed.
They were taking the route from the Native’s Village, and towards Last Legs, right of the fork in the river.
Umi looked up to Stranger straining to row through the thin ice holding them back.
“Wonder why the ol’ Grubb Seer wants to see us,” she asked.
Stranger shrugged, continuing to break the ice sheeting the river.
Frosty winds bit upon their face, and causing more of a force against the boat, slowing them down.
But they weren’t cold. Not to the core.
Umi’s curiosity blocked her thoughts of being cold, even though goosebumps formed over her skin.
Stranger’s mane of tannish-brown fur warmed his face, and his tight blue tunic covering his arms and legs blocked the winds from biting him.
But both were curious mice. All they thought of while heading down the Mongo River was what did the Seer want them for.
They arrive to the Native's docks. There, it was a bit warmer and the snow was less apparent, which was quite a surprise.
Two Grubbs at the head of the docks to Last Legs welcomed their guardians, and led them to the Guru's home throughout the large village.
Grubbs watched the Steef and human travel passed them, knowing immediately why they had come.
And as they approached the Seer’s home, the Queen waited with patient eyes outside his home.
Her head darted to the Steef and Umi behind the Grubbs leading.
"Well! It's about time you got here! The Rebel leader couldn't make it because she had other serious business to attend to..." she rolled her eyes sideways.
"Shopping, 'n crap..." she mumbled.
"but, uh, the Seer's ready to see you,"
She turned to the door, and knocked on the door gently.
An elderly voice called through the home:
"Come in,"
Leader grasped the knob, looking to Stranger and Umi, and nodded confidently.
"Goold luck, guys," she whispered, and opened the door for them.
The inside was a jade green color with lit candles of the walls. Entering the Elder Grubb's home was a sumptuous smell of sweet vanilla and cinnamon spice, and other sweet-smelling spices.
Smoke rose in a squiggly line of a ghostly purple out of a carved wooden bowl, with a potpourri stick burning lightly at the tip.
A beaded veil covered half of the other room.
Stranger parted the veil, letting Umi go in first.
In the middle of the jade-green room sat a wrinkly figure sitting upon a squishy pillow.
Its skin was a dark, dampened forest green, with a waterfall of wrinkles under its bright amber eyes. It looked as if the Grubb had a small beard under its chin.
The Seer gave them a toothless smile, darting his eyes up to Umi first.
"Welcome, human and Steef," he said.
His voice was old, but gentle in Stranger's tone. His arm waved lightly to two pillows before him.
"Please. Sit down,"
They sat on the same type of pillow the Elder was sitting on, not to disrespect him. The room was filled with many different artifacts.
Staffs with different colored feathers tied on a glassy smooth surface of the staff with a strong stem of a vine.
Masks hung on the wall with many patterns over the face, mostly black and green colors.
Hand-made clay plates stood on its edge on a stable wood shelf, with small inscriptures and pictures carved in to it.
Truly to Umi's sight, it was the most magnificent thing she's seen in all her young years.
The Elder placed a steaming mug of tea on his arm table, and gazed upon the two arrivals, snow still stuck in their hair. He gave another smile.
"I hope, that your bonding session is going well?" he raised a brow to them.
They gave a slow nod to him.
His lips curled slowly to a smile.
"Good," he said in a great tone.
"I've summoned you here to tell you two, your most important task,"
He put his fingers together, looking straight to Stranger in seldom.
"But it's more important to Steef,"
Stranger's throat choked with a lump.
"This may be hard to believe, yes. Especially since the Sekto Demon," he nodded, and looked down, closing his eyes.
He was silent for an awkward moment, making Umi feel a bit uneasy.
"Sir?" Umi looked under his face.
"What is it?"
The Seer sighed heavily, then opened his eyes to them, keeping his head down.
"I believe there's a Steef tribe, out far away, in the snowy fields," he finally told.
Both their eyes opened in shock
"Hmm..." Umi slumped back down.
"I've seen them in my visions, my dreams. I've seen Steef, running together in the beautiful flowered fields. Younglings, playing on the grassy hills, a game of King of the Hill. Young women Steef, gathering Blue brush and Lylac flowers for their mates of the future. I've seen it, and they've migrated, far beyond the Sertale mountains, passed the end of the Mongo Valley," he nodded, looking only to Stranger now.
He looked down from the stare of the Elder.
Daedlus gave a concerned grin.
"Something troubles you, Steef?" he asked softly.
Stranger didn’t reply, keeping his neon green eyes off the Seer, hiding his disbelief. He sighed.
"No, sir. Nothing," he shook his head.
The Seer gave a doubtful grin, but let him go.
"I am sorry for giving you such a surprising announcement, Steef. But on this day, it was my duty, to tell you your last destiny. And that's to find the last tribe of the Steefs," he nodded.
"but it will not be easy. Far beyond our barrier lies the Sleg swamps and the most notorious town beyond that. Boontown. Outlaws, bandits, thieves, and, well, I won't get any deeper," he smiled in a grave tone.
"but, if I know you two well, I know that you'll come off unharmed. I have my greatest faith in you, and everyone else does, too,"
"Sir, I-I don't think I can do this. I've failed ter protect the Grubbs once," Stranger straightened himself.
"and I don't think I can let the Grubbs go again,"
The Elder shot a glare at him.
"Steef," he shook his head.
"I cannot believe you can say SUCH a thing! It makes me hateful to hear something like that from the great protector!" he began to yell. "You've been protecting the Grubb tribe for nearly a year, now! Your ancestors didn't give up protecting us either until death took them down! This is your destiny, Steef! And it will be fulfilled! For shame, Steef. Your ancestors are shameful among-"
He gave a harsh cough, not seeming to stop.
Stranger could feel the Seers words sink in to him deeply.
Ever since form birth, his fate was to be the protector of the Grubbs. But his fate was put aside when his parents he never knew were killed, along with the rest of the Steefs. Industrialism drew him in, and now he was destined to save his own life by having the operation on his own legs, and hiding himself from the world, hunting outlaws for moolah.
Discovering that he was the next protector and that Sekto was hunting Steef to the point of extinction, he would never be the same.
His head perked slowly back up to the Seer, a shameful look drowned his expression.
"I'm sorry, sir. I shouldn’t of…surprised you like that…”
He had regained himself. His face softened to a smile.
"It's ok, Steef. I can understand how your life was, and now knowing your new job," he nodded.
"and becoming bonded with this, beautiful young human," he smiled to Umi, she blushing a little.
"Times have been hard on you two. But fulfilling this destiny, you shall be complete, never again worrying about destinies and fates. I promise you,"
He raised his hand in vow.
It would be nice of having a vacation from saving the Grubb's hides for once. And Stranger, having to be with his kind would make him happier.
Umi looked to the Seer.
"I accept this mission," Umi grinned.
The Seer only shook his head.
"It's not only up to you, Umi. It is more up to Steef," the Seer pointed to Stranger. He didn't reply nor glance at Umi or the Guru.
This last mission was bound to be tough, but it would be worth it. Having to be around his kind would be kind of fun. Plus, Umi seemed confident enough to help him out throughout the path to the Steef tribe.
He looked up to the Seer, and stood up.
"I accept this. I shall do what you say, Seer," Stranger bowed his head.
The Elder smiled.
"I knew you’d come through, Steef. Finishing this and you shall be free," he said. "Now. Since you have accepted the fate, I shall see you two out. I thank you for coming to my humble home. Good tidings, and I shall see you off first thing th tomorrow!" he said, as they headed for the exit.
The Seer followed them from the behind, carrying his staff he used for support, standing next to the Queen.
"They came out well," Daedlus nodded.
Both watched, as the Steef and human walked away through the city.
"This is going to be great. Finally, Steef will be happy," Queen smiled.
He nodded in agreement, turning to the Queen with a smile.
"Now we await the next arrival of the next guardian,"
She nodded in agreement to the Guru, watching again, as the Steef and Umi walk to the docks.
Their destinies were only to begin. And they weren’t going to be easy than they thought.
Perils lie ahead of them, along with unknown friendships.
But all of the Grubbs had their deepest faith in the Steef. If he could defeat the Sekto demon, then he could defeat anything.
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