So I listened to some of you guys who did not want to be left hanging and here it is. Hope you enjoy the chappie.
66
Hold it!
The Dwarven King had seen many things in his life from the fantastical to mundane, but never in his life would he have imagined the sight that is now before him. The girl he had been carrying is shaking in her boots yet on her face is nothing but resolve. So afraid, yet in the face of her fear she shows no sign or willingness to back down.
The humongous red dragon now with its head lowered and tilted to the side; to better look at the girl shows a bit of surprise at her attitude towards him. The Dwarf King already made his peace when he heard her words, believing it would end her life as well as his own at being offended. With every breath the beast takes, heat assails them and the Dwarf is simply counting the seconds before they are going to be showered in fire and brimstone.
To his surprise the fire does not come, nor the afterlife. The dragon and girl just keep on staring at each other. Both not willing to look away or break contact although with every second he can see the girl’s body shivering more and more. The dragon finally blinks and lifts its head, the action causing the earth beneath it to crack. “I do not have time for this little beast girl, you are brave and I commend you for that. I will spare your life this one time, but…” The dragon reveals his teeth; the smallest of them easily being larger than the girl. Rocks start to clatter as a deep rumble starts to emanate from inside the belly of the dragon. It takes a second for them to realize it is growling. “…if you threaten me again, I will kill you.”
Luna takes a shaky step forward. Seeing this Vinx nearly passes out. With no other choice she rushes in front of Alric. “Old One please forgive this girl. She acts out of care for Slyfer, she is sort of… one of his mating partners and is very worried.”
Alric looks between Luna and the fairy, his mind going through memories of what little time he spent with Slyfer. He had heard of two potential mates. –A dark elf wolf woman and a strange hybrid that is able to turn into a tiger, but this girl feels like neither of the two. Is this fairy lying to me, if she is then they wish to harm the hatchling!-
His growl grows in volume and the dwarf watches in amazement as the vibration caused by it, lifts Luna’s hair causing it to float as if there is no gravity. “You dare lie to me! I have never heard of this girl; only a wolf and a tiger. You will pay the price for trying to fool me little fairy.”
The fierce gaze Luna had turns into sadness and she asks. “Big Red, who are you to Slyfer?”
The Dwarves and Snowelves can’t help but grow interested. They also wish to know what makes this boy so special that two dragons would descend and lay waste to the army.
The dragon stops growling, caught off guard by her question. The Dwarf King can swear its scales started to turn a brighter shade of red. “The hatchling is my, my foster child. He is a bit ugly but is still under my protection. Those who hurt him will die.”
Luna’s face turns into one of incomparable sadness. “So he told his father of the other two, but not about me?”
Vinx looks between Luna and the dragon and wishes she could grow in size and slap the crazy girl. –This is not the time to be thinking of such things. The dragon wants to eat us!-
Alric seeing the change in her demeanor does not know what to make of it, but he knows he can’t dally for too long, the human may escape. –It would be a lot easier if I just killed them. If I burn them to ash, even if what they say is true Slyfer will never find out and if they are enemies then they are dead and I don’t have to worry.-
Alric with his mind made up prepares to kill them with a simple breath when the most annoying voice interrupts him from behind. Serena had paid half of her attention to what was going on after all she of all creatures knows Alric’s temperament. With her thoughts only pointed at Alric she interrupts what she is certain was a fire breath with enough power to turn the surroundings into a landscape similar to the inside of a volcano. “Alric stop, do not kill them and leave it to me. Go find the human.”
Alric snorts in her direction intending to go ahead with his “plan” anyway. “Alric, if you continue and the girl turns out to be his mate I will tell him. Why must you always be this way?"
He grunts, "What way?"
"You kill anything that moves and if it does not move you kick it till it does and then kill it anyway!"
Alric pauses, irritation mounting. –Why did the elder shackle me with this woman! One day I will bite her tail off.-
Without saying a word Alric reaches out and grabs the Dwarf that spoke before. “You will show me where this human is.” Without waiting for a replay his wings stretch out. Seeing this Serena shakes her head and casts a magic wind barrier around those in front of Alric. With a mighty clap the wings descend and he shoots off into the sky carrying a pale and very afraid dwarf with him.
When the dust finally settles the others take in cold breaths when viewing the ground around them. If not for the barrier they would have been turned into little more than strips of meat. The way now clear, Luna starts running forward.
Near the tower a long procession has formed. Like with Old Sun’s death large piles of wood have been gathered and the procession is carrying more than a few bodies wrapped in white sheets. In the front is Grey King and is closest wolves walking between them is Fira and Trisha holding a small container with what little remains they managed to gather of Ban’s body.
Drum beats play in the background along with a strange flute filling the air with a haunting melody. Most of the procession consists of warriors in the Blood Pack colors. They soon arrive and Fira walks forward, placing the small container on the wooden pile in the center. Turning around she feels a sense of accomplishment. Most of the warriors look presentable and they had obviously listened to her words.
Trisha walks up next to her along with Grey King and they spend a few moments just looking at the container and remembering the man it represents. As if in a trance Trisha starts to speak, with clenched fists. “Ban was not a man with supernatural abilities and he had no gift for magic. What he did have a gift for was leading you and that was something he took great pride in. We struck back at the beast as Slyfer promised and Like Slyfer said the beast once again showed itself and took Ban from us…”
She pauses to let her words sink in. “All those that fell fighting the traitors did not do so in vain, they fought to protect and keep alive what we hold dear. Yes the loss is great, but we cannot let it drive us from our purpose, we cannot show weakness because of it. We are the Blood Pack. We are the first to engage our enemy and the last to leave the battlefield with the blood of our enemies staining our blades. We have lost Ban, but his spirit and determination to lead and fight for Slyfer will drive us forward. Let his death serve as reminder of what we stand to lose should we fail. Let his death stand as a reminder for what our purpose is!”
Turning around she looks over the gathered crowed. “Our enemies are many and we are few. Will that not make it all the more rewarding when we kill them all! Take from them everything, give them nothing.”
Looking over the group she could see the determination in their eyes that was lacking before. Fira also turns around and takes Trisha’s hand. Lifting it Trisha and Fira both shout at once. With each word a pyre lights to burn their lost comrades. “We will MAIM. WE will KILL and WE WILL BURN!”
The crowd gathered, pump their fists and soon all are shouting Slyfer’s famous words. The wolves gathered at the front lift their heads and howl into the night. The elves camped on the other side of the tower can’t help but shudder at the sound and words of the dark elves and wolves.
The cheering stops as glowing eyes appear on the other side of the fires. They glint with eerie light. They feel alarmed at first until the cause of it reveals itself. The dark elves start to mutter while grabbing their weapons. One steps forward and out of the crowd. “What do the tigers want?”
Trisha recognizes the leader as the tiger makes its way forward. After the attack the tigers stayed away from camp, causing many to believe they knew about it. The tigress makes quick work of getting past the pyres but is force to come to a standstill as Grey King Barres her way.
She sits down and starts licking at a paw as if not interested with what is going on. “We come in peace wolf and wish to talk.”
Grey King is about to say something when Trisha interrupts placing her hand on his side. “We want an explanation.”
The tigress stops licking her paw and regards Trisha for a few seconds. “We did not know of what your mother was planning nor were we a part of it.”
Trisha cocks her head much like a cat regarding some strange moving object. Her tail slowly swishes from side to side.
The tigress follows her tail with her eyes and continues to speak. “When we heard of the battle we knew that we would be under suspicion so we left until things calmed down. The bunch behind you would have caused trouble if we did not.”
Trisha is about to say it’s not true, but remembering the state the warriors were in she can’t say it is not true with conviction.
Fira speaks up next, venom in her voice. “Why did you not come to speak to the leaders then?”
The tigress shows her fangs and lets out a strange growl. “What leaders. Without Slyfer you people are divided. Even worse the Queen has been captured and the High Elf that is in control now has waited for a chance to take control since a long time ago. You see ladies, I am afraid there are no leaders to speak of… until now that is.”
Trisha is about to ask who, when it dawns on her. –Fira and I? Did Aldowin know this? I must speak to him, what else could he know that may help the situation.-
Fira still a bit wary crosses her arms. Seeing the red head doing this, the tigress stretches out while looking at them both. “I have spoken to my race and we have decided to give you a sign of good faith.”
Trisha is about to ask what, but the tigress soon answers while sitting upright and looking away as if the mere sight of them is a pain. Irritation is clearly in her voice when she speaks. “We will agree to be armored and ridden on, but only by the blood pack and only when we ride into battle.”
Fira looks at Trisha a bit of surprise showing on her face. Slyfer had tried many things to get the tigers to agree, but they refused to let anyone ride them except for Luna who mostly slept on their backs as they walked around camp. If they were able to mount them it would raise their fighting ability by a lot. With a nod the two turn back to the tigress. “We accept your claim and your show of faith as for the Elf Queen we will postpone that until Slyfer is back. I am sure that he does not want her out of the picture.”
The tigress looks at the two, curiosity showing in her demeanor. “You sound so sure that he will return.”
Surprisingly it’s not the two girls that answer, but Grey King himself. “Of course Slyfer will return, my pack brother is no weakling to be bested by a few assassins and weak two legs.”
The tigress snorts in amusement, knowing he still does not know Slyfer’s true form. “Very well, I will support your decision and support you in one of the meetings you people like to have so much.”
With those words the tigress turns around and makes her way back into the darkness disappearing with the rest as quickly as they arrived.
Trisha looks at Fira. “Well we know what we need to do now.” Before they had only been going with it. Now they have purpose.
Fira nods. “Stall for the Queen and make this lot accept the tigers… It can’t be that hard right?”
Trisha and Fira both sigh at the same time.
Grey King nudges Fira, “you forgot one and need to add one thing on that list. You turned into a wolf, I need to know why and what that makes you Princess.”
Fira scrunches up her face. “Would it make sense if I told you I don’t really know myself?”
Serena looks at the dejected girl sitting next to her as if it is natural. In front of them are shaky Snow Elves that give her fearful stares now and then while they work to help Slyfer heal. Luna at first did not want to leave his side, but after a few words from the female dragon she moved to where she is now.
Vinx is also trying her best to heal the hatchling, but the fairy was basically spent after protecting Luna from Alric’s attack. No longer able to keep her curiosity in check Serena leans over, never moving her eyes from Slyfer who already seems to be breathing easier. “You care for Slyfer.”
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Luna looks at Serena. “Yes, Luna cares for him.”
“Why?”
Luna is quiet as she thinks. “Slyfer is Luna’s alpha.”
Serena understands the reasoning behind it, but cant help but snort at it. “You are not an animal girl, such a reason is not natural and will not carry you through the troubles that most relationships have.”
“lady Green is wrong, Luna is worse than an animal. There was a time where Luna lived only to kill and that is all she did not caring who or why. All that mattered was the hunger and the need to do so. Even now Luna can feel it gnawing away at her heart. The only thing that is keeping Luna sane is her Alpha.”
Serena heard the pain in the words and the love for the hatchling. “If you care so much for him then why are you so sad. It is obvious that he will live.”
“Luna is very happy that he will live, but very sad because Slyfer never told Big Red about her. Does Alpha not care about me like I thought?” She wipes at her face only realizing now that she has started crying.
Serena somehow finds herself feeling for the strange girl, but before she can speak Vinx makes her way over, barely able to keep herself in the air as she does. Without a word the fairy lands on Luna’s shoulder. The three continue to look as Slyfer is cared for. If the Snow Elves did something that Serena deemed strange they would be killed immediately.
A while later Serena speaks again. “If you care for him, you must take him.”
Luna looks at the dragon. “How can Luna take him. There are already two others that has laid claim.”
Serena snorts. “Men are simple and do not understand a females heart, it is up to us to show them.”
Luna still does not understand. What about Fira and Trisha? “Luna has tried to show her feelings, but Alpha pushed me away saying I do not understand enough and must still learn.”
Serena looks at Luna her large eyes searching the little twoleg’s face. “When you look at Slyfer to you feel funny in your tummy?”
Luna perks up. “Yes I do and then my breath catches and it’s like the world is brighter and a more happy place.”
Serena frowns. –She has it very bad.- The dragon leans down her breath rustling Luna’s hair. “If you feel that feeling then you know you must make him yours. There is nothing else to understand. You are female and he is male, just take him.”
Vinx listening to the conversation feels a growing need to shout at the dragon, to make her stop. Luna will take such things literally! The again maybe the dragon does mean it literally. She is a dragon after all. When they see something they want, they take it and to hell with those who want to stop them.
“Luna cannot, Alpha has already mated with the tiger and cares a lot for her.” Luna says it with a faint smile but there is still sadness in her words.
Serena’s frown deepens. “So? If another female is in your way then you must defeat and make her submit or simply rip her to pieces and take your male.”
Vinx jumps up. “No you cannot do that!”
The dragon looks at her. “Oh, does the fairy also want to stake her claim. I thought Slyfer is ugly why do so many females want him?”
The fairy turns red and flies a bit further away from Luna after receiving a stare. “I do not feel that way for him, but what you are telling Luna is wrong! Besides Trisha, Fira and Slyfer have been soul bound if you kill one of them, then it is like killing a part of him. He will never forgive you.”
Serena nearly chokes at hearing they are soul bound. “How did the fool manage to get himself soul bound and even twice for that matter? I must give him a good talking to when he wakes up! I must meet these women, maybe they tricked him. Already mating with one as well does he even have a nest or safe place to keep the eggs… will they even have eggs?” The last part is a more for herself than the other two.
The Snow Elves nearly start to panic confusing the growling dragon behind them for them being slow or doing something wrong.
Vinx as well as Luna are caught in their own thoughts. Luna is thinking how it would be like to lay an egg and Vinx is wondering if there even will be an egg.
Luna balls her fist and mutters to herself with determination. “Luna will lay many eggs.”
Vinx turns to her. “No…. wait, we don’t even know…” She sighs and slumps to the ground. “I don’t even care anymore.”
Serena looks at Luna. “You want to lay eggs, but you have not even made him yours yet, how naïve.”
Luna stands up and looks at Serena with big eyes. “Teach Luna how?”
Serena wants to say no at first. –A dragon needs to find its own way, but the girl is not a dragon. Does the same rule apply…. What would I even teach her?- She looks down and seeing Luna’s best and brightest puppy eyes she laments. “Fine I will teach you to be a good mate, but if you lose to the other two I will never forgive you!” Snorting Serena shudders at how Alric will tease her if he ever were to find out about this. “If you two tell Slyfer or Alric about this I will wipe your existence from this world.”
Luna nods with great enthusiasm, but the fairy nearby lets out a long groan. –I should never have let them talk in the first place!-
With the funeral over Trisha and Fira soon got to work, quickly setting out to find Aldowin. With the help of grey king it did not take that long to do so. They found him at a desk in a room he took for himself.
Without looking up he spoke first. “It took you long enough.”
The two of them stopped both asking at the same time. “You knew we would come?”
Aldowin turns around with a satisfied grin on his face. “Well you would be stupid if you did not and I hardly believe the two of you t be stupid. So whats the plan?”
Fira steps forward. “We need to stop them from judging the Elf Queen.”
Aldowin nods, then you are in luck. They just summoned the council apparently the fairies have something very important to share with us regarding my student. I suggest you head over to Jade and enter with her. Let her know about your plan, she will most likely support it.”
Trisha frowns, “Why are you not going?”
Aldowin turns back to his desk, “I have something else to take care of and may join you later.”
Aminute later the two find themselves rushing to Jade’s room. Fira biting her lip can’t help but say. “I can’t help but feel like we are being used by him.”
Trisha shrugs. “Does it matter? Aldowin will most likely work towards improving Slyfer’s predicament. So I don’t care if I am being used if it helps him.”
Fira goes quiet. She agrees with Trisha to some extent, but a part of her still can’t help not liking it, deciding to change the subject Fira asks. “Do you think Grey king will be able to find the tigers before we start?”
Trisha shrugs once again making Fira feel a bit annoyed. The annoyance disappears a second later. –She is probably a lot more nervous than I am, never having had to do something like we are about to.- In all honesty Fira feels a lot more nervous herself. She will have to face her father inside the council room and since her father are is not the most clear headed of people when it comes to his anger he may oppose her just because of what happened before.
Half an hour later in the very early hours of the morning Jade, Fira and Trisha find themselves in front of a large door to the council room. Behind them is Grey King who seems to be a bit dusty. Next to him is the tigress looking lazy as usual. Jade turns to them. “Are you guys ready?”
Before they are able answer the great doors open and a herald announces their arrival. All eyes turn to them. Great Hunter seeing his daughter in the blood pack clothes starts to scowl. The High Elves frown a bit when they see Trisha is present, but it disappears as quickly as it appeared. She takes in a deep breath. She recognizes them. The one sitting in the far left fathered the boy who tricked her so long ago.
With apprehension in their hearts, they make their way forward; before they are even seated the High Elf in the center of the group starts to talk as if they don’t exist. “Now that everyone is here, it is time to decide on what is to be done about the Queen.”
Great Hunter interrupts, “before that we need to discuss the repercussions of my daughter’s actions. Since she basically revealed to everyone that Slyfer is in trouble rumors have been spreading.”
Fira who just sat down looks over at her father and is surprised who is sitting next to him. She was not able to see since he was obscured when they entered, but Pathfinder is in the seat she used to be in. As if sensing her stare pathfinder meats her gaze and manages to shrug. She can see he does not wish to be here.
The High Elf looks disdainfully at her father. “We do not care for your family problems Dunmer. Sort it out some other time.”
Jade smacks her hand down on the table. “Let me remind you all why we are here. The fairies called for this meeting and they will speak first. You High Elves who pride yourselves on rules and manners seem to have the least of everyone here.”
The High Elf clenches his fist. “How dare you, a mere girl dares to question our honor-
Jade does not back down. “No, how dare you sit there talking about honor when it was your son, Lookin who abandoned your Princess in her time of need.”
The High Elf gets up nearly drawing his sword in the process. This causes a chan reaction and everyone else does so as well.
A voice fills all their minds. “Hold it!”
Three fairies make their way over with Aldowin and the Queen in tow. For some reason he has the brightest smile any of them have ever seen on his face. Lookin’s father points at the Queen as if she is a specter. “You why are you here are you going against your word!”
The Queen points at him and ice soon starts to form around his limbs his face revealing but unable to utter about the pain he must be feeling at being frozen! “I remind you Bathos, that I am still your Queen! Sit down and shut up before I make you. Listen to the fairies and you will understand the reason for my return.”
All eyes turn to them. Their lights flare as they are unable to keep their happiness in check. “Slyfer is safe, albeit gravely injured and the human army has nearly been wiped out of existence.”
Her words fall like a dropping bomb and the people around the table can’t help but freeze up at the words. Seeing as no-one wants to or can say anything the fairies continued. “Slyfer fought hard and nearly died while killing countless griffins.” Trisha feels her heart clench, she remembers how Slyfer fought one that day and how bad his injuries were, she even had to carry him back to camp.
The fairies continue, their next words causing even more shock. “If not for the arrival of Slyfer’s parents he would surely have died, but they are there now and one is hunting for the human that misled the council of Atlantia into believing we are here to fight them.” The fairy turns to Great Hunter. “Great Spear was present, but Luna killed him. I think you will be happy to know she did it by impaling his heart and ripping his jaw off. He was laughing because SLyfer was in trouble you see.”
The last part she adds as a sort of warning to any of those present who may mean Slyfer harm. Her gaze then turns to the High Elves. “Lookin was also present and is still on the run with the Human Leader or so we believe.”
The high elf who is still trying to get feeling back into his limbs looks up. “My son is alive, he cannot escape. We must question him to find out the reason behind his actions!”
The fairy nods and with confidence replies. “No matter where your son runs he will not escape, if he will survive though…. That is another matter entirely.”
The High Elf nearly jumps up again, but he gives the Queen a glance. “Who would dare hurt my son, I will rip that person limb from limb even if they are Slyfer’s parents!”
The fairies behind the speaker start to laugh at the High Elf even pointing and rolling around in the air as they do!
“What is it, what is so funny?” The High Elf asks.
Aldowin is the one who answers. “You have seen Slyfer’s prowess and you just heard how he killed countless griffins, yet you think it is a good idea to threaten his parents….” Aldowin shakes his head. “You are still a simpleton, even after all these years.”
Great Hunter speaks up asking something that has been bugging him. “Who are Slyfer’s parents?”
Before the fairies can answer, Fira and Trisha both mumble the answer at the same time.
“They are dragons.”