“All major families have flown their banners! We shall not rest until our home is safe again!” Thraxton’s voice carried over the crowd, barely bothered by the storm winds rolling in from the sea.

He was up on the stage in the center of Lumen, surrounded by not just knights in armor but the cloth and silk of clergies and merchants. Behind them, covering the castle wall the community stage sat right in front of was a sea of color. Dozens of large banners, bigger than a grown man, fluttered in the wind behind him. He was likely right. Chances are even the lowest of nobles and merchants had vowed their services to aid Lumen and its people.

Our banner was fluttering near the center, only three away from Thraxton’s. Ours would be right next to his, if not for his son’s banner and his wife’s.

“We vow to you, Lumen shall not just rebuild… but do so stronger! Together!” Thraxton continued his speech, and all of Lumen was enthralled by it. I turned a little, to look over Reatti’s head and scan what was likely the entirety of Lumen around us.

The large street, the largest in Lumen, was packed shoulder to shoulder. Women and children were on men’s shoulders. People were on the roofs of the buildings nearby, and dozens of heads peered out of windows. There were more people than stone or city, it was an odd sight.

Reatti blinked up at me as I turned back around, to look the other way. We were near the stage, but in the balcony reserved for merchants. It was only on the second floor, and usually it let us sit or stand leisurely… yet right now it was as packed as the rest of the street. I had put Reatti to my right, next to the banister, as to not force her to stand shoulder to shoulder with humans.

“No demon! No Monster! None shall break us! None shall defeat us! We’re Lumen! A city without masters!” Thraxton continued his ideologue, and I recognized the transition. He was no longer telling the listeners of what they had done, found out, and planned to do… but was now going to release his proclamation. The proclamation of sovereignty.

Those in power were going to utilize the creature as a scapegoat. They were going to claim it was a malicious entity sent by those who were jealous. Who wanted Lumen for themselves.

Although… deceitful. It was better than the alternative.

I’d rather them blame some foreigners than my own people. Better they thought it some kind of beast controlled by foreign kings or witches.

My eyes wandered to the knights on the stage. Most were far too old to be actual knights. They were the heads of their households. The lords of noble families. I only recognized a few of the faces on the stage, but that wasn’t a surprise. Brandy and Gerald handled Lumen’s negotiations for me. The only reason I even knew Thraxton was because I had known him from a small boy.

“Declare it! For all to hear! Lumen stands! It stands tall! And stands alone!” Thraxton roared his defiant decree, and the world went deafening as the entire crowd bellowed in agreement.

For a tiny moment, the world heard them all.

Such a thing usually was followed by war… but there was no war to wage. No real enemy.

There were a few nations and city states nearby that would try to retain control over Lumen, but it was doubtful any of them would actually send armies as to occupy it. The massive mountain range that surrounded Lumen, and the inland sea that surrounded the parts that those mountains didn’t, made it a difficult place to truly control. There were several paths through the mountain range, but they all lead to other nations. One to Telmik, one to the south and another north. One singular nation wouldn’t be able to blockade their trade routes, and as such it was a fruitless endeavor. And Lumen had been built as a solid fortress. It could withstand siege for... well... Likely years, if it needed to. Especially with the port. As far as I was aware only one other nation had a naval military capable of threatening Lumen from the sea, and that nation was currently at war with the south. The nations in today's era couldn't wage war on multiple fronts, they didn't have the technology or the know-how.

I sighed as I noticed those injured in the crowd. The crowd was massive, so massive that I shouldn’t have been able to see many who had been hurt… by laws of averages even though that creature had decimated an entire section of Lumen, the vast majority of Lumen hadn’t been damaged at all. Yet here was the proof. Bandages were everywhere. Broken and mangled bodies. People on crutches, or supported by their fellows. There was also a swath of black garments, typical in the style of the many surrounding regions religion’s mourners.

Although the port had only a small portion of houses… it was a focal point of the city. Where many worked, and went to shop or spend their leisure time.

“For Lumen!” Thraxton raised a fist, and quickly the crowd began to chant in agreement.

Turning, I patted Reatti’s arm to let her know it was time we left. She said nothing but nodded excitedly as I forced my way out of the balcony and into the building.

I had to forcefully push my way through the men and women, but none of them complained or even bothered to look at me. They too were focused on chanting alongside their fellows. Shouting their glory for Lumen.

The chanting was loud, ear numbing, even in the house. Heading for the stairwell, I was glad that at least inside the house it wasn’t too crowded. Although more people were in this building than likely ever before, they were all crowded around the windows and balconies.

Once downstairs, I groaned at the sight of the exit. The large double door was packed with people, all shouting their allegiances’ to Lumen. To each other.

“Crazy,” Reatti said, and didn’t do so quietly… but no one noticed. I had likely been the only one able to hear her.

Forcing our way out of the building, I quickly headed for a nearby alley. I knew that although crowded, since so many people wanted to see their king and leaders it’d not take long for us to reach a section of alleyways and back roads that we’d be able to easily traverse.

It surprisingly took longer than I thought. Thraxton’s voice faded away by the second road, but it took the third before the crowd started to thin enough that I no longer had to push shoulders aside.

On the fourth street, Reatti was finally able to sigh in relief. The loud roar of the crowd erupted again, sounding as loud as the creature had done a few days ago.

“Humans are crazy,” Reatti said as she hurried up next to me.

“They’re dangerous when they get like that, yes,” I said.

“I’ll say. They’re not even declaring their allegiances to a god or anything so how are they so worked up?” Reatti asked as she followed me. I was taking us back to the Animalia Company building.

“Calamity breeds such fervor. It’s human nature to band together during a time of crisis. It’s how such huge wars can wage so easily, and how humans can fight side by side with those they don’t even know, or even hate, under the right circumstances,” I explained.

“Just great… and when’d you give them our banner, Vim?” Reatti asked.

“This morning.”

“Why?”

Glancing at Reatti, I didn’t like the look on her face… but knew better than to say anything. Her dislike of humans was now actual hate. And there was nothing I or anyone could do about it.

“Being the only banner not up on that wall would only sign our death warrants, Reatti,” I said gently.

“Mhm…” Reatti nodded, telling me she had already came to the same conclusion… and agreed. She just didn’t like it.

“Plus it’s what Gerald and Brandy were planning anyway. To support and be a part of Lumen’s declaration of independence. It just… went differently,” I said.

“Isn’t that the truth,” Reatti scoffed.

“Hurry!” A pair of men ran by, huffing as they hurried. They ignored us as they headed for the crowds.

Slowing my pace, I took a deep breath and sighed as I imagined all the work about to pile onto my shoulders.

I wasn’t looking forward to any of it.

“Will you go to the Clothed Woman for me Reatti? To bring our family home?” I asked her.

“Huh? Oh yes. Was wondering when you’d let me go get them,” she said with a nod.

“Thank you. I’m sure some also went to the Bell Church, but to the sanctuary first,” I said.

She nodded. “When do you want me to leave?”

“As soon as you’re willing. The creature is dead, and we can’t find hints of any more. We’ve also scoured the sewers, and now Lumen’s knights are rummaging around down there so any we missed or failed to kill are likely on the run… Plus thanks to the way the humans are handling it, we need not worry over the locals. So there’s no need for us not to be here. If anything we need the rest here as soon as possible, before the humans find our lack of presence odd,” I said.

“Mhm… I’ll leave once we get back then. I’ll take a horse,” she said.

I nodded. She could run faster than a horse, but not for as long. Also with the city being on alert it would likely be odd for Reatti, a young woman, to run out of Lumen in such a way. Especially since she was rather well known by Lumen. A negative to being a very vocal member of the company. Her being the front desk, the first to greet someone… well…

Maybe her position should be reconsidered. At least for a short time.

Maybe she’ll take up her brother’s mantle of being the knight.

The two of us walked in silence for a bit, until we neared the section of the city that had gotten damaged by the creature. I paused a moment to stare down one of the roads, to watch the distant workers as they chopped up a large tentacle root. Several fires were burning around, which the incoming storm’s winds were making the smoke fly every which way.

“How long will it take them you think?” Reatti asked.

“Not sure. Weeks at least. It’s decomposing too, which is annoying… the storm will impede the efforts too,” I said.

“How would you do it?” she asked.

“A much hotter fire, for one,” I said. She frowned, and I could tell she wanted to ask more but I ignored her look and pointed at one of the collapsed buildings nearby. “I checked the port earlier. I’ll need to find a way to make sure there’s room for our ship to dock when they return… Most of the docks are sunk, or had burnt down in the fires,” I said.

“Want me to bring them back on foot?” she asked.

“No. They must have taken a lot of stuff, since they used the ship. Better to just return with it. Even if the ship has to stay moored out at sea for a bit,” I said. After all even if the ship couldn’t dock it was fine. They could just use the smaller boats to ferry themselves into the city.

“They did. Most of the vault is empty, Vim,” Reatti said.

“Is it?” That was startling, but not a surprise.

Reatti nodded as we crossed a broken street. The stones in the middle were all lifted upward, as if from an earthquake. Chances were there was a large root just under the street, buried and stuck.

“Can I ask… a serious question, Vim?” Reatti asked, grabbing me by my right sleeve. I turned and nodded, pausing as to face her.

She held onto my sleeve, and I waited patiently for her to gather her nerve. I usually didn’t wear long sleeves, but my wounds hadn’t healed completely yet. The gashes were still visible; the cuts still bled a little. I had worn a long sleeved jacket as to hide them as best I could.

“Will you take Renn? When you leave? Once this is all done?” she asked.

Taking a small breath, I shifted a little as I stared into Reatti’s watery eyes. The look within them was more fear and concern than hate.

“I’m not sure, Reatti. I can’t force Renn to do anything any more than I can force you to. Personally… I think it’s best she leaves, yes. But I’ll not force her to,” I said.

She gulped and nodded. “I know. I know you can’t… I just…”

“Just want her gone. I don’t blame you. I understand,” I said softly.

“You do, don’t you?” she whispered.

I nodded. I did.

Reatti and I stood in front of each other for a moment until Reatti took a deep breath and then nodded. “Okay. I’ll just… do my best, I guess,” she said.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Reaching out, I patted her on the shoulder. A gentle gesture, which made her eyebrows furrow as if she was about to break and cry again. “That’s all anyone could ever ask of you, Reatti. If you want I can tell Renn to… stay away from you, if you’d like,” I said.

She opened her mouth, to immediately agree, but hesitated. “That’s cruel, though,” she whispered.

Is it? Was it?

It would break Renn’s heart… but something told me she’d understand.

“My brother lost his life protecting her. I shouldn’t hate her like this. It’s rude to him,” she said.

Shifting a little, I wondered when she had come to such a conclusion. It was of course the right one, and I was glad she was wise enough to see through her emotions enough to realize it… but…

“Although you’re right Reatti… that doesn’t mean you should ignore your heart. It’s okay to grieve,” I said.

“I know… would you say something? For him?” she asked.

“Your brother…?” I asked, wondering what she meant.

She nodded. “I buried him alone… but I realize now he’d have liked you to have been there. When I get back, would you go with me to his grave?” she asked.

My fingers trembled a little, and I did my best to keep my own feelings from overpowering my thoughts and self as I nodded. “Of course Reatti, I’d be honored,” I said, agreeing.

She sniffed as she nodded. “Thanks.”

Reatti tugged my sleeve a little… as if she wanted me to do or say something, but she hesitated and instead released me. I stayed still, and wondered if she had wanted me to hug her just now.

Before she or I could tell me the answer, she stepped away and started to wipe her face. She must have started crying.

Stepping forward, to join her as we returned to walking, I did my best to not let the awkward feeling in the air linger. It didn’t belong.

Usually here is where I’d say something profound. Something to ease her burden, or make her laugh… yet I wasn’t able to think of anything proper to say. Reatti had come to her own conclusions, her own decisions. She had found a way to compartmentalize her hate, and put it aside. It might not have been the best way to do it, or the wisest, but it was the far better outcome than most else.

I should praise her, but do so in a way that didn’t sound too… well…

Moments like this is where I should be a friend, not a teacher. A friend, not a Protector.

Yet that was all I was. All I ever was.

Before I could think of something to say, we rounded the last corner and saw the Animalia building. It, like most of the buildings around here, was fine. Undamaged.

Though lately it’s been rather quiet. Thanks to it being all sealed up, no one’s been here. Thraxton’s steward had come this morning, asking for the banner in support of the declaration, but that had been the only legitimate visitor. The few carts or people that went by along the streets rounding the building did so simply out of necessity. Since the other streets nearby were damaged and unusable.

But beggars would always show themselves eventually… so I wasn’t too surprised to see someone sitting in front of the main lobby doors. They were wrapped in a dark cloak, one that looked wet from a distance for some reason. Maybe it had rained elsewhere in the city, and that was where they had come from.

“Who’s that?” Reatti asked, noticing the figure.

“Likely a beggar. I’ll deal with them,” I said.

Reatti nodded softly, and I wondered if she was upset with the tone I had used. It hadn’t been that bad had it?

It wasn’t like I was genuinely upset over someone asking for help. I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with them. Since I felt responsible. I wanted those who would come to ask for help, and charity, to do so after Brandy and the rest got back… so they could deal with it.

I was a coward, in a way.

As we drew closer, the hooded figure noticed us. They stood up quickly, so quickly she almost stumbled. I slowed my approach, since I noticed something odd about the way her hood slid and brushed against her head.

Were they wearing a helmet under their hood? Surely not… They were small of frame and size, and…

Coming to a stop, I sighed as she stood up a little straighter, revealing her face.

The cloaked woman shifted, and looked from me to Reatti with an uncertain look. Her worry barely hid the layer of hope beneath it.

“Well… I suppose I did invite you,” I said gently.

She gulped, and Reatti glanced at me as I glanced around. Was she alone?

“I’m alone… I hid… until it was over…” the woman said quickly.

“Vim?” Reatti seemed to realize what was going on, based off the tone in her voice.

Glancing at Reatti, I wondered what she would say or do.

“Let’s talk inside,” I said, gesturing towards the door.

The woman with sheep horns nodded unsurely as I pulled out the key and went to unlocking the door.

Opening the door to a dark and cold building, I stepped in and aside as to let the woman in. She hesitated a moment, looking to Reatti who stayed still. After a moment she slowly entered the building… and then Reatti followed after her.

I kept the door open a moment, to let the hooded woman look around and use the light the door gave to do so. After a few moments I closed the door, and then latched it with the proper full-door beam that locked it firmly.

“You’re one of us,” Reatti said as I locked the door in place.

“Um… yes…” the woman took her hood off, revealing her large horns. She looked dirty, but not on purpose. I could see the streak marks from wiping. The effort she had given to clean herself was very visible, mostly thanks to how dirty she still was even after such a cleaning. By the looks of it, likely with the very cloak she wore… She had washed the cloak not long before coming here. It was why it looked wet. She had bruises and injuries too, which only further made her appearance look… worn down. She was scrawny too, as if she didn’t get enough to eat. Likely hadn’t been, especially lately.

Reatti’s face contorted as she stared at her, and I coughed lightly as to draw the horned woman’s attention. Reatti would need a moment to get her emotions under control. “My name is Vim. I’m the Protector of the Society,” I introduced myself.

“Ah… I’m Wool. I uh… um…” she hesitated, and I wondered if she thought I was expecting to hear her title or something like it, since I had introduced myself in such a way.

“You’re part of Fly’s people,” Reatti said sternly.

Wool startled a little, but nodded. “Yes. I’m… He said if I came here, I’d be able to be free,” Wool said with a point to me.

Studying the woman, I wondered the source of her name. Her hair was human in nature, not like a sheep… maybe she had a more sheep like appearance hidden beneath her cloak. I could just barely remember her in the sewers, from that day, but couldn’t remember more than her face and horns. Her dirty appearance, and the how and why she had been in that hole was what I remembered the most.

“Freedom. If you are able to live amongst us, while obeying our rules,” I specified.

She gulped and nodded. “That’s… why I’m here. To find out,” she said.

Reatti sighed, and looked away from the woman. Then she looked at me. “She’s only here because you killed all the rest,” she said.

“Yes,” she admitted.

“See?” Reatti scoffed with a wave at the woman, disgusted.

“Hold on Reatti,” I waved a little, to calm her. It of course didn’t accomplish anything.

“Do you remember what I asked of you upon our meeting?” I asked Wool.

“Yes,” she said and nodded, confidently.

I had asked for her help in locating Renn. She had chosen not to help me, in hopes I’d kill any who tried to stop me.

“Your answer. Your response… It would have invalidated your application. It would have been cause to deny you,” I said to her.

Reatti shifted into a stance, yet did nothing. She had no sword or weapon, but I knew Reatti didn’t need one. Wool however didn’t notice, and kept her eyes on me.

“I know. I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“Yet that’s why you’re here isn’t it? Because you realized I had kept my own word,” I said to her.

She gulped and nodded.

Sighing, I wondered what to do with her. By all counts she really hadn’t broken… or failed the Societies expectations, but…

“What’d she do, Vim?” Reatti asked.

“I had asked her for help in finding Renn. Before I encountered the creatures. She didn’t help me,” I said.

“Then she can’t join,” Reatti stated.

Wool glanced quickly at Reatti, then back at me. She was now worried.

“Tell her why you refused my request, Wool,” I said softly.

“I… He said he’d kill everyone if I didn’t,” she said.

Reatti once again shifted, but this time not to take a stance as to attack or defend herself. Now she stood uncomfortably… just as unsure of herself as the woman in front of us seemed to be. Reatti had understood the tone that Wool had used.

She wasn’t upset at all that I had killed her people. If anything that was the entire point she was here.

I had promised to kill them. I had.

That made me better than them. In her eyes at least.

A very simple mindset. I was someone worth noting, and trying to befriend, simply because I had killed those who had been cruel to her.

She wasn’t necessarily wrong in her assumptions… but…

I nodded as I sighed. “Why didn’t you run from them before? If they were abusing you,” I asked her.

“Run where?” Wool asked me.

Right. Her horns were too prominent, too large to hide amongst humans. Even I had noticed it offhandedly earlier, thinking she had been wearing a helmet or something.

Renn’s ears were bigger, but soft. Malleable. Those horns couldn’t be bent or squished. Not something one could hide, at least not for long.

Reatti scoffed and crossed her arms, gesturing at me. “That’s not an excuse. Run to the forests or hills! You don’t have to live with people,” she said sternly.

“I… I wouldn’t know how,” the woman whispered.

“How old are you?” I asked her.

“Oh… um… I’m not sure,” Wool hesitated.

“Did you know what Fly was doing? Before this all happened?” I asked her.

“Meeting you all, yes… I… I didn’t really talk to Fly. She lived on the floors above, I wasn’t allowed to go up there, usually…” she said.

I frowned at the information. Her not being allowed to go topside did make sense, since it limited her interaction with humans and the risk it brought… but Fly was even more at risk than she was. Fly’s entire body was covered in feathers, and she had talons for feet.

“You were abused?” Reatti asked before I could ask for more information.

Wool gulped and shifted. “Um… I was owned by the man he killed, yes,” she said with a point to me.

Owned. Likely why she couldn’t go where Fly could. A reason that made sense, at least. For now.

Reatti didn’t like that word either, she grumbled as she looked away. She was upset. She wanted to hate this woman, yet it was clearly becoming obvious she couldn’t.

“There are rules to our Society. You understand to join you’ll have to obey them?” I asked her.

She nodded. “Will you own me?” she asked. I flinched at the happy and expectant smile and tone she had as she spoke.

Reatti groaned and I kept myself from making a similar noise.

Great. One of these. How many years has it been since I’ve had to deal with someone like her?

Fly had been bad, but not this bad. Luckily thanks to her age, likely, and her appearance. Fly hadn’t been well cared for, but they hadn’t abused her in the same way. Beatings were Fly’s worries. This woman’s… well…

Not only was she older, but she was… honestly, pretty. Even as filthy as she was, and covered in bruises, it was plain to see.

“Vim let me,” Reatti stepped forward. She grabbed the woman’s arm from under her cloak and gestured for her to follow her.

“Reatti?” I stepped forward, to stop her. I didn’t think this woman could hurt Reatti, based off what I’d seen and knew of her… but…

“It’s fine. I’ll handle this one. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up you’re filthy,” Reatti said as she pulled the horned woman away.

Watching them go, I sighed as Wool diligently obeyed… letting Reatti pull her away as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“One headache after another,” I mumbled. Reatti taking over was… the better option, for me, but it wasn’t right. Especially right now, with the way she was.

Though maybe that was why. Maybe Reatti needed this, needed her, to keep herself sane.

A strange play of fate… but if it worked…

Reatti dragged Wool up the stairs and into the hallway that led deeper into the building. Looked like she was taking her to the employee bathhouses. The ones near the depot.

I scratched my jaw, where a gash was still healing. It had seamed up enough to not start bleeding by my scratching, but it was itchy thanks to its healing.

Well… for now I’d let Reatti deal with her. Like Fly she would need to be judged, and voted on, which couldn’t happen until the rest were here. Then they’d have to spend time with her. Likely though she’d be fine.

Many such women had joined our ranks over the years… which wasn’t a surprise since the Society was originally formed by such women.

Those abused, or rather tired of being abused, by those who were cruel.

Glancing at the doors, to make sure I had properly shut them… I sighed and turned. To head for the vaults, to check on them. Reatti had said they were mostly empty… which was likely true, but I needed to make sure they weren’t empty because of theft.

“So much to do,” I complained at myself.

As I walked the empty halls, to check on all the things I needed to… I let my mind drift to Renn. It bothered me to think of the wounds I had seen upon her. The look of utter despair on her face as she ran off while carrying Merit... well… The images made me angry, yet exhausted.

I clung to that anger, and let it smolder within me.

That anger felt good. Familiar… yet new.

It was the same anger I felt when I found my people hurt, yet it was different. It was a hotter type of anger. One that made me question if it was anger at all and instead maybe something worse.

Me being upset over Renn being hurt was understandable. She was someone I was meant to protect. To cherish. And if one was willing to forgive me for the emotion and exalting her in such a way, she was also someone I should feel such over protective emotions for. After all I did love the woman. I valued her.

Yet I wasn’t supposed to. To put her above others in the Society was against the rules. It wasn’t supposed to happen. I was not allowed to value another over anyone else. They were all equally priceless… or at least should be.

But I couldn’t deny the truth of my thoughts and emotions. Even if I was able to hide them, and ignore them, I couldn’t deny their existence.

No matter how much I forced self-deprivation… it was impossible to refute.

So the anger made sense… but then why did I feel exhausted over it too?

Why did the thought of her suffering make me weary? The others suffering also made me angry, but they never made me feel like this. I felt this exhaustion when I failed, sure, but that was self-disappointment. Self deprecation. It exhausted me to recognize and accept my own faults and failures.

The obvious meaning was I blamed myself for Renn’s injuries… but that wasn’t right. After all, I blamed myself for every wound and death of my people. Brom’s death hurt, but it didn’t make me feel as if I was sick and fatigued.

Had anyone else ever made me feel like this? Celine had made me worry all the time, but that had been a nagging feeling. One that made me fret. Renn made me tired.

Thinking of all the people I’ve cared for, truly cared for, I tried and failed to find someone that affected me in the way Renn did… and does.

Pondering it as I reached the hallway that led to the vaults, I went to opening the huge steel door.

I needed to focus on other tasks, to stop my mind from wandering in such weird ways.

“So first I’ll count coins,” I said lightly as I entered the vaults.

Better to count worthless coins than let myself admit something ridiculous, after all.