Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

RETH - Anima

Aymora went back to her tools and poured something from the bowl into a small clay cup, then walked it over to the table and sat it in front of him. "It tastes terrible, but it will help you replenish. You must take it morning and night for the next week."

Still frowning because she hadn't answered his question, Reth gripped the cup and threw it down his throat—immediately coughing and sticking out his tongue to rid it of the terrible taste.

Aymora's lips twitched at the face he made, but she didn't give in. When he'd stopped swallowing convulsively, she put a hand to his shoulder.

"Do you know what line the wolves used to turn people?"

"No."

She sighed. "When they met people who seemed to waver, but were reluctant to abandon us, they told them that you would forgive them. They reminded the people that they knew that about you."

Reth narrowed his eyes, frowning. "What?"

"They used your good nature—all the ways the people have seen you balance, and give mercy… and they told them if they had a question, to come with the wolves because if it didn't work out, they could be sure you would take them back. But that the wolves were all or nothing. Come with them, or be forever out of their people. Wolves are family first, Reth, you know that. Imagine the pressure the people were under."

Reth ran his hand through his hair again, his gut a tortured twist of conflicting emotions—pride, fear, anger, irony, indignation… it was all there. "It wasn't just wolves that followed though. You're serious? They told people I was too… nice to hurt them?"

"Basically," she said, and she didn't smile. "Your only chance now is to show the people just how strong you can be, Reth."

"And that starts with the wolves."

Reth and Aymora both turned quickly to find Behryn—obviously bathed and in clean clothes, somewhat pale, but looking stronger and more certain than he had the hour before, striding into the cave.

"The elders are coming. Did you tell her about Lerrin?"

"What about Lerrin? You saw Lerrin?" Aymora gasped.

Reth growled at his best friend and brother.

But Aymora was having none of it. "Reth! Tell me what happened!"

With a heavy sigh, and a skeptical eye at the cup that had left such a horrible taste in his mouth, Reth told her all that had occurred when they'd fled the portal territory.

By the end, she stood, face pale and tight, her arms folded over her chest. She looked at Behryn when he was done. Behryn said nothing.

"You offered him peace?" she said quietly.

"I offered him negotiation that could end in peace," Reth growled. "And I would do it again."

"I just told you—"

"I didn't know that when I had the conversation, Aymora. But I say again: I would do it again. Those people who have given over to the wolves are still my people. You said yourself they've been manipulated and pressured. If I can get them out of this without bloodshed, I will do it. War is ugly and even the victor does not win."

"But the loser, even less so," Behryn added from behind him.

Reth turned. "I will not lose," he said, pulling from the depths of his authority as King, and as Alpha. He held his brother's eyes and snarled, "Peace only for the peaceful."

Behryn nodded. "I still disagree with your choice to free him."

"Your argument has been noted," Reth said dryly.

"Reth," Aymora started, "We have to—"

"No mercy, I know," he said through his teeth, then picked at what was left of the fruit and bread. "I hear you. I just—"

"Examples must be made, Reth," Behryn said. "They lost only a few today because our guards were told onto to kill those advancing. Whether the wolves knew that, or just didn't plan to advance, I don't know. But where it didn't come to face-to-face combat, many slunk away. We cannot allow that to happen again."

Reth gritted his teeth, searching for a way through this that wasn't straight slaughter. But he couldn't see it.

Dropping his head into his hands, he leaned on the table rubbing his eyes. Aymora and Behryn waited. When he straightened, it was with reluctant resolve.

"Are all the people in the city limits?"

"Yes," Aymora said. "As far as we know, everyone who remains is here."

Reth nodded. "Then… we have no choice. Blow the horns of war. Set the archers at the towers to shoot anything that moves. No warnings. No hesitation. Split the comrades in arms so if we do still have spies, they are likely isolated—"

"I'm already working on that," Behryn said, sounding even more disgusted than Reth felt. "We have some reports we're following up, but we're also… creating silos of information. We will find any traitors."

Reth nodded, still staring at the tabletop. "And so, we go to war," he said quietly. "Somehow I need to get to the Bears. Even if it's just a message—"

"That's why I came ahead of the Elders," Behryn cut in. "I wanted to warn you—"

"The Bears are here, and the bears want nothing to do with your politics," snarled a deep voice.

Reth stood, turning quickly, to find the massive, one-eyed Gawhr standing in the doorway. The leader of the Bears—as much as the bears had one—and the only Anima Reth had ever met whose sheer size exceeded his own, Reth watched Gawhr carefully, but rolled his shoulders back and eyed the man without hesitation, let him scent Reth's dominance and certainty of his rule.

Gawhr chuckled a laugh that almost tipped into a growl. "Don't pull that shit with me, Reth. I humbled myself to come to you. The least you can do is be polite about it."

Reth's smile crept up. "How have you been, brother?"

"A damnsight better than you, from what I gather. There are fucking wolves everywhere in this stinking wood. I sent three of them home with their tails covering their balls. With one eye closed."

Reth boomed a laugh and strode over to hug the massive man he'd known since he was a cub. They clapped each other on the back and Reth didn't let the man see his shock at the shuddering embrace. "It is good to see you!"

Gawhr growled. "I might have chosen different circumstances. And definitely different timing, but the Creator plays his games and we dance to his tune."

Reth sighed and nodded. "Thank you for coming. It means the world to me."

Gawhr's face went somehow even more somber. "Don't thank me yet."