"I want to kill that dog!" Elder Frouhn growled.

Hackles raised she fixated her eyes fixed on the map. "If I don't make it, I want to make sure that son of a bitch is dead!"

Drell nodded grimly.

She had exploded as soon as Yurven had left the tent. Drell watched the Felren, apprehensively.

"Elder Frouhn," he said soothingly, utmost respect in his voice.

She looked at him, sighed, and nodded, restraining her tongue.

Drell took a deep breath and cautiously began, "Your clan is one to follow the old ways and beliefs. Do you truly believe that this is the great enemy? Do these people poses such a significant threat?"

Frouhn eyed him suspiciously. "We, the Snow Clan, follow the teachings of old," she said sternly.

Drell paused, sensing a glimmer of hope. Despite his own desperation, he decided to hold on to that feeling and see where it could lead.

"Have you heard about what happened to my daughter?" Drell asked calmly.

Frouhn's expression softened. Drell had struck a chord; he knew she had children, and there was little else in this world she cherished more than them.

"I'm sorry, Drell. I heard she’s gone," she spoke softly. "Poor thing."

Drell smiled at her.

"Gone. But alive," Drell added smugly.

"Oh, you sly old cat," Frouhn chuckled, amused. "All the rumours in the Clans say she died attempting to run away."

Drell shook his head. "Those rumours were planted by my men. She’s alive."

Drell planted a paw in the middle of the map, within the well-armoured city.

"Sly cat indeed," Frouhn said, eyeing him cautiously.

Drell waited for the Elder to respond. But it wasn’t forthcoming.

For a long while, she stared at him, calculating, then smiled.

⚔

Drell lost himself in his thought as he silently moved under the curtains of darkness. His mind wandered to the past, picturing the soft contours of his mother's face. He was ten years old when she’d handed him an old animal skin stained from the coals of flames.

He was shocked to see them containing the historical accounts of their people. Such artifacts were forbidden and seen as evil by some of the more devout clans.

"Keep it safe. Don't take it out, no matter what," his mother had said.

It was the last time he saw her alive.

That night, he ran away from the fires that consumed his home. He fled the insane laughter of Felren, drunk with the power. He lost everything that night—his family, his home and almost himself. The only thing he had when he left was the last gift from his mother, the most precious thing they owned.

The historical accounts spoke of the birth of the Felren and the beginning of their people. In ancient times, the Felren lived in harmony with other races, particularly the pureblood humans who ruled as lords. A long-lasting peace endured for generations. Eventually, as the Felren population grew, they drifted away from the human cities and formed new clans.

A summit between the Felren and Lords was held to discuss the future of the emerging clans. Each of the four clans would take turns ruling as benevolent stewards for the benefit of the entire Felren nation. The Elders would be accountable to the House of Lords within the human kingdom. The Sun Clan ruled during the long months of summer, followed by the Night Clan in the fall. The Snow Clan held power during winter, and the Earthen Clan took over in spring.

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However, as the Felren distanced themselves from the human capital, the joint clans grew further apart from their human cousins. Eventually, violence erupted within the Felren nation, leading to a civil war. The conflict lasted for years until the newly appointed Elder of the Sun Clan sought help from the Human Lords. Humans intervened and stopped the bloodshed. The Elders became the arbiters of the nation, while a newly formed cult emerged as spiritual guides, eventually opposing the Lords whom they viewed as the great enemy.

Many years later, the Blood Clan overthrew the Clans, decimating their numbers. The human Lords had long withdrawn from the Felren people, leaving them to govern themselves. Over time, the Felren nation fragmented into small clans, losing all connection to the humans across the river.

Drell was fascinated by these stories. After losing everything, he met Lyra, a young Felren who had also lost her home that night. Together, they sought to collect the lost scriptures of their people. Along their journey, they encountered a sympathetic young, exiled boy. The three of them set out to uncover the true meaning of being Felren.

In their travels, they discovered a hidden Feldreken treasure left behind by the Lords themselves.

As Elder Drell sniffed the air, he realised he had lost the trail. He discarded his Felren guise and adorned his armour, securing his blade to his hip. His gaze drifted up the steep incline. He had reached the hill above the camp, away from the lights of the Felren fires.

Elder Yurven's warriors were formidable and strong, but they lacked subtlety, agility, dignity, and intelligence. When these qualities were combined, they formed an unmatched killer without equal.

As he neared the hill's summit, a tail came into sight, dangling from the canopy above. Two large feline eyes blinked at him in the darkness. The Feldreken, a humanoid figure with feline eyes and a long slender blonde tail, stood guard with a golden sword in each hand. Her tail flickered with annoyance as she purred at Drell, dressed in the customary Feldreken war regalia.

With practise the Feldreken possessed the ability to transform individual limbs into deadly weapons, a skill exclusive to their kind. Typically, a Feldreken would transform all four limbs while keeping their torso and head human, creating a powerful and lethal combination.

Her torso was protected by a single piece of armour that started at the arc of her back, curved between her legs, and ended under her throat. This armour shielded her front and back from devastating blows, while leaving the sides bare, revealing a long strip of skin along her body's side.

The battle suit allowed for full transformation and mobility while in human form. It fit tightly, accentuating her slender waist and well-toned physique. This unintentionally drew the attention of male Felren, often leading to their demise.

"Elder," she bowed deeply, her blonde hair tightly braided, giving the illusion of having two tails. "When do we march?"

Drell nodded in greeting, but then a grimace crossed his face. "Soon, Lyra. But not for you."

"What?" Lyra demanded an explanation.

"I want you to go back home," Drell stated firmly.

"No!" Lyra snarled, her tail twitching with frustration.

"I want all of you to go back," he gestured around, revealing the stony faces emerging from the darkness.

The full force of all seventy Feldreken snarled and hissed as one in the small clearing. The position of a Feldreken was appointed by Drell on rare occasions, usually when a young female Sun Clan member showed full control of both her forms. Once appointed, they underwent gruelling training in the arts of war, becoming deadly, agile, and wise. The Feldreken served as the Sun Clan's and Elder Drell's most powerful weapon.

Lyra, the leader of the Feldreken, raised her hand, silencing the group. "Drell, we are your Feldreken. You know this. We are your bodyguards, and we will not leave your side. It is customary. We will not abandon you."

Drell smiled painfully as he placed his arms on her bare shoulders. "Yurven has heard rumours of your existence. He has commanded that you serve as his guards tomorrow."

"I would die before that would ever happen," she spat, echoing the sentiments of the other warriors above.

Drell nodded, acknowledging the fierce loyalty of his Feldreken. "Captain Lyra, what I mean to say is that the time has come to risk it all. This is our only chance."

The battle-hardened warrior seemed to tremble under his grip.

"I want you to abandon the battle before it begins. I want to create the illusion that you have forsaken the Sun Clan and the Elders. They know about you, about us, but not enough to comprehend your true capabilities," Drell explained, a smirk playing on his lips.

"We’re not leaving you here alone, surrounded by enemies!" she snapped.

"I have an important task for you," Drell replied.

Lyra perked up her ears. "You mean... Elder Shirveese?"

Drell nodded. "Yes, Elder Shirveese of the Earthen Clan."

Lyra's expression grew grim, and the surrounding faces mirrored her sentiment.

"That means you will be much safer than any of us," Drell said softly.

The Feldreken surrounding him huffed and emitted low, reluctant moans. Their duty in life was to protect the Sun Clan, and that included keeping their Elder alive. But Drell meant more to them than just a leader; he was a teacher, a friend, and a father and to Lyra something much more.

"Besides, the hunting parties will still be here. Kraid will remain by my side, and my men... They are loyal and strong," Drell reassured them.

"And what about Ralina?" Captain Lyra inquired.

Drell nodded. "Yes, Ralina will be with me."

Lyra glanced at her fellow warriors, then back at Drell. "And the great one?"

Drell smiled. "Yes, he will be there."