Do You Wish To Be Eaten? Then Shut Up

J'Zaki thought he would be prepared to go up the mountain but it was much colder than he was prepared for. The two layers of clothes he wore did not protect him much from the harsh winds that felt like they were slashing at his skin. It was especially rough since he was not able to wear his best clothing. The Jabari hated the use of vibranium and would only use the basic resources of stone and wood.

The guide saw that J'Zaki was uncomfortable but he could only try to encourage the teen to try his best to climb the mountain. They were already being watched.

"Come, child. We will soon arrive."

Just after the man said that several men wearing fur clothes popped up out of the snow in a circle. Before they even realized it, they had already been surrounded.

J'Zaki looked at his guide and smiled.

"Looks like we have already been found."

The pair was quickly bound with rope and blindfolds were put over their eyes before they were guided up the mountain. The supplies that the guide had brought with him were taken in another direction but he didn't care about them. His main hope was getting out of the situation alive.

The duo was taken up the mountain without being able to see where they were going. They constantly stumbled over rocks and ice as they made their way up but their captors did not seem to care about the struggle they were going through.

When they arrived on a smooth wooden surface and felt the temperature increase, J'Zaki knew that they had arrived at their destination. Well, they did after he was dragged up a flight of stairs and his shins were attacked by nearly every one of them.

The prince and his companion were forced on their knees before the ropes were cut and the blindfolds were ripped off. It took J'Zaki some time to get adjusted to the light once more but when he did he was surprised by the scene before him.

The first thing that he noticed were the floors beneath his feet. They were letting off a large amount of heat that made even this mountain home seem like it was down on the plains with the rest of Wakanda.

Then there were the spears hanging all around. Each one of them was a wooden spear and seemed normal at first but when he took a closer look at each of them, he saw that they had names carved into them.

The last thing that he noticed was the man sitting on the fur throne in front of him. He was huge, even sitting down. Standing up, J'Zaki estimated that he would be at least 6'10" maybe even larger. And that was just his height. He looked like he was 350 pounds of pure muscle.

The man was wearing furs and wooden armor but each piece was exquisite. It was easy to tell that the tailor and woodsmith were both masters of their craft.

"Dooro. Why have you brought a child before me?"

The man on the throne didn't pay J'Zaki much mind nor ask him directly. Since Dooro had brought him, it meant that it was his responsibility to speak up for him.

But J'Zaki wasn't one to be ignored.

"Hello, your..."

"Do you want to be eaten, child? Fed to my finest soldiers? No? Then, I suggest you shut up," the man rebuked J'Zaki before turning to Dooro. "This is the child that you have brought with you? So disobedient. If you wish, we can train him up for you."

The man smiled when he heard that.

"That is actually why we have come. This child wishes to learn the way of the Jabari and the White Ape Cult."

The air froze. All of the men and women in the room tightened their grip on their weapons. To speak the name of the cult aloud was taboo for outsiders. Just as they were about to attack, the Jabari chief raised his hands to signal them not to make a move.

"Child. Do you know what you ask of us?"

J'Zaki nodded

"I have studied the ways of the Lion Cult, Hyena Cult, and Crocodile Cult. I wish to learn to ways of the White Ape Cult as well."

"Why?"

"They are important to the history of Wakanda. They are the representatives of gods that helped make this nation so great."

The chief nodded. He could appreciate the boy's honesty and willingness to learn.

"Tell me: Who are you?"

"I am Prince J'Zaki, son of King T'Chaka and Queen Ramonda, younger brother of Crown Prince T'Challa, older brother of Princess Shuri, son of Wakanda, a disciple of the Lion Cult, Hyena Cult, and Crocodile Cult."

The room was shocked to hear the identity of the boy. He was not dressed how a prince of Wakanda would dress but instead of a commoner from one of the nations surrounding Wakanda. Each of the warriors began to bark(?) at the prince.

The Jabari chief was surprised as well.

"You know of the bad blood between the Gold Tribe and the Jabari. Yet you tell me of your identity so truthfully. Why?"

"I know that revealing my identity was a risk but I came to learn the truth. How can I expect to get the truth if I exchange lies for it?"

The Jabari chief laughed at J'Zaki's naivety. It was easy to tell that he was a prince that grew up in the safety of a castle. Even if he was well-read and learned of their history, he did not truly know the darkness within the hearts of others.

'I was getting bored. I can teach him the ways of our people and how to survive in the world.'

"Listen carefully, boy. I shall only tell you this once. Your status as a prince of Wakanda means nothing here if you wish to learn our ways. Understood?"

J'Zaki nodded.

"Good. Then know this. I am the Chief of the Jabari Tribe. You can call me M'Baku."

(Someone asked how to pronounce the MC's name. It is Ja-Zah-Ki/Qi)