A/N: Hello readers! Sorry this chapter took so long, but well... life. Here it is!

CHAPTER 7

"Zuri?", Rai mouthed seeing his Trico in the village. What was she doing here?

The young brownish Trico looked right at him, fear in her eyes. Zuri then focused on the men holding spears. One of them raised his weapon.

Rai ran in front of Zuri. "Don't hurt her!", he shouted.

"Leave this to us kid, we have to get rid of this beast.", a man said, motioning his spear to the side.

The boy gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "Zuri's. Not. A. Beast!", he exclaimed, angered by what his best friend was called.

Zuri growled furious and scared. She stood over Rai protectively. "Oh no.", he muttered seeing the hunters' reaction.

"It's going to take him!", the first one said. Rai ran in front of Zuri, but each time he did that, the Trico kept going on and roaring.

"Shoot at it!"

The village men raised again their spears and began throwing them. Luckily they missed. Haven't faced Tricos for years, made them less prepared for it.

Zuri realising the threat, she ran around the village to escape, but there weren't many places to go. In the end she was surrounded, and her only protection was her best friend, a boy who had no chance of stopping the men.

"Just leave Zuri alone!", Rai cried standing again in front of his Trico.

There were many things the elder expected this day. People coming and complaining that the supplies for the winter simply weren't enough. Foxes now and then come and hunt for the chickens and what they could do about it. What to trade with the neighbouring villages. Loads of problems.

The Trico of a boy he knew and helped to keep a secret, to be in the village about to be attacked? No. That wasn't in the list of 'what to expect this morning'.

His mind racing, the elder rushed to the point. Rai was already there trying to protect Zuri.

"Lower your spears.", he ordered as he passed between the men. "She's harmless."

The hunters looked at the elder puzzled. 'Is he crazy?!', they thought, not lowering their spears as they were told to.

"But... It's a Trico! A Trico! Just reminding you, you were kidnapped by one. Do you want it to happen again?", the lead hunter said motioning his hand to Rai. "With all respect... We have to do our job."

The elder had his back turned at the men the whole time. At the mention of Toriko, his eyes narrowed and clenched his fists. He was more annoyed by the fact they talk about him like that, than that the hunters refused to obey.

"That Trico was my FRIEND!", he shouted, turning to them enraged. The hunters startled at the elder's sudden outburst. They had never seen him like this. "Put those spears down.", he continued more calmly, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

They slowly put the spears on the ground. The village people looked in shock at the whole scene.

Rai turned to Zuri and petted her. "It's alright now. They won't hurt you.", he cooed softly and she relaxed, her eyes turning lightly green.

He then turned to the crowd of people and stood near the elder. "Fellow village people... This is Zuri. She is a Trico and... my best friend.", he said. Some gasped, some remained neutral.

"I didn't tell you about her, because I was afraid that it would end up like this. But now you know. It was a matter of time until you found out anyway.

"Zuri has been around for about 4 years. If you get to know her, she's kind, friendly...", Rai said before getting cut off by Zuri licking him. He laughed. "And playful too. It can be a new start between us and Tricos... If you let her stay of course."

The people muttered to each other. Rai looked at them expectantly. The other elders who had been discussing it.

They turn to the boy and Trico. Rai almost held his breath. The three men nodded to each other.

"The Trico can stay in our village.", the said and the boy grinned widely.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Rai ran to Zuri and hugged her muzzle. "Did you hear that? You can stay! You can stay!", he exclaimed enthousiastically.

"Buuuut...", the second elder began and Rai turned to him. "If something happens you will be responsible."

He nodded. "We will be careful."

Some people dared to approach the young Trico. Zuri looked at them curiously. They just met her, they were still hesitant, but already got to like her in a way.

Once people backed away, Zuri roared triumphantly and picked Rai up to place him on her back. Surprised at first, he then laughed and petted her between the horns.

Now it would be a new beginning.

A/N: This is Chapter 7. Hope you like the story so far. If you have any idea of what could happen next, you can suggest it in the reviews, so I can write something else before we move on with the main plot.

Until next time!