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And you're... Wilderness's Will's orphan, Gavial?

I hear you're a terror among the kids, but kids don't join the ceremony. Run back home and drink your milk. You've got a few more years.

Hmph! Let's see who wins first!

Hah! You really are an orphan. You don't fear death?!

My tribespeople are my family! Cut the crap! Do you wanna go or not?!

Heh! It's your funeral, brat!

Im... Impossible... Just two punches...

Gavial's... so strong...

Hmph! I guess that's all, then!

Who else wants some?

Gavial was an orphan?

Didn't she ever tell you?

Didn't I?

Eh. I guess I didn't, but it's not like it was important enough to come up.

Dunno who my parents were, but that's not all that rare in these parts.

Doctor, it may not make sense to you, but death is pretty common out here.

It doesn't even take a Catastrophe—honestly, nobody here knows what Catastrophes are—a single cold or a bout of bad weather can kill off folks who would've lived otherwise.

I'd guess my parents just went like that.

Eugh. Let's quit this talk. All you need to know is the tribe raised me.

Gavial...

You've come a long way.;......;Well, at least you're healthier than anyone now.

You can quit it, Doctor. I don't really need the pity treatment.

I'm not the only orphan ever. Plenty of families around here that link up and raise a bunch of 'em together. It happens all the time.

Doctor, don't overthink it.

I didn't even know it was unusual until I left.

Actually, I guess you could say it's what made me decide to do medicine.

Haha. Yeah.

So how'd that ceremony back then turn out?

That one, uh...

Found you, you goshdarned bounty hunter!

Who's that?!

Huh? I know that voice...

Give the Doctor back!

What the hell are you talking about?

Kay?!

Tomimi, didn't we tell your people to tie her up and take her back to the tribe?

Um, I thought we did?

She's real strong. Kid must've just plowed past everyone...

Bounty hunter! Hand the Doctor over!

Or else I'm gonna chase you to the end of the world, if I hafta!

Tch. Smartest girl ever. Looks like she still hasn't even sobered up.

Gahhh!

She sent Peta flying!

She finished Peta off!

She's insanely strong...

Where'd that weirdo come from?! Which tribe is she?!

No idea! I don't even understand what she's saying!

Forget it! All we gotta do is beat her, right?

Oh, damn it. Now they think Kay's the new challenger, don't they?

Gavial, should we go in and help?

No, wait. The dumb little kid is way tougher than you'd think. She can handle this. If we go in, we're just gonna add to the body count.

But something tells me this might get messy. Doctor, see if you can help Tomimi's lackeys get this under control.

This weirdo's way too strong! She's beaten back so many of us already!

I still don't get what she's saying, but she's no joke!

I reckon she'd make a fine Great Chief!

...Gavial, your friend's really strong.

She sure is a pain in the ass at times like this though.

I think we finally hit a lull. I'm gonna go up there and restrain her...

You, Reunion! You're back!

So you were the ones who took the Doctor!

You won't get away!

Oh, you dumb... She's gonna escape again!

I'm going after her! Tomimi, you and the Doctor stay put! I'll come back and find you!

Uh, okay!

Oh, there's another fight starting.

...Doctor, could you tell me what Gavial is like on the outside?

(Tell her about Gavial's life at Rhodes Island.);......;(Tell her about Gavial as a doctor.)

Is Gavial having a good life out there, then?

Maybe you don't know Gavial that well?

That's great! ...Um, no, I was just thinking since Gavial came back with you, and she seemed to really like you, and it looks like you get along really well.

But that's okay! Gavial's a really nice person! I think you can definitely get along with her!

That's great! Even if she's a doctor, Gavial's still Gavial!

That's good to know. Gavial hasn't changed. What a relief...

So if Gavial decided to leave you one day, how would you feel?

It'd be sad, for sure.;......;I'd be glad she found a new path in life.

Mmm. I cried a lot when it happened, too...

How... How could you be like that?! Gavial's such a good person! How could you care so little if she left?!

You're incredible... I couldn't do that.

I always hoped Gavial would come back.

Doctor, um, about Gavial...! I-I'm not gonna let you take her from me!

Good luck.;(Nod.);And I won't let you take her from me!

So how DID that ceremony back then turn out?

Um, that one...

Oh, what? You call me a kid, and this is all you've got?

Who else is gonna challenge me?!

She beat a lot of fighters more experienced than her...

Gavial, you rule!

It's wild to say, but could she be the next Great Chief?

I'll take you on!

Oh, what the hell are you doing here, Zumama?

Weren't you busy building your machines? Every time I went looking for you, you ignored me.

...I decided to come and see, in the end.

See what?

See if my fists could beat you or not.

You say that like you wanna get killed dead.

Enough talk. I'm not losing to you today, Gavial.

Hey, you won't know until you've tried!

They fought from noon until night without settling anything. No winner, no loser.

They went until they'd used all their strength, and afterwards, both of them got dragged off by the others.

That's the story of the first time Gavial joined the ceremony.