The battle was won, but I was in pretty rough shape. I had burned through practically all of my Blood energy, and the retaliation was still coursing through me wildly. It had been a long time since I had experienced this, but I focused inward, taming the foreign energy so I could convert it into restoration.Movement nearby forced me to open my eyes and look up. I was vulnerable in this moment; that was the true function of retaliation. Anyone could slaughter me right now, though they would experience even worse retaliation as a result. But the movement towards me wasn’t aggressive. Uli culture was built around this. No one in this tribe would attack me, and I would be safe from challenges until I recovered.The nearby movement was from one of the younger tribesmen, someone in the pro-fishing camp. “Are you all right, Roba? Should we carry you to your tent?”Roba. Yeah, I suppose that’s me now.“I’m fine,” I said, waving him off and sitting upright. I wasn’t fine, actually, but I probably wouldn’t die. “There’s some fish in my boat, if you could get it for me.”The younger Uli ran off to get me some of my food. The calories would help me recover my Blood energy and expedite my healing. I couldn’t afford to sleep right now, which I would eventually need to recover fully; first I needed to salvage this encounter by establishing my new position.I looked over the Uli who had backed up the now-dead Roba. “I hold no ill will against you for supporting your Roba. That is how a tribe must function. But he is dead, and I am the new Roba,” I said. “If you cannot accept this, I will accept challenges when I am healed. If you do not wish to fight, you may take your mates and creche and leave. But before you decide to do either—hear me out.”Despite being in pain and exhausted, I lifted my daggers, still wet with their former chief’s blood, up above my head so everyone could see.“These are just one of the things (...)