A King's Legacy Chapter 14: Change
Oust stumbled once during his trek back to the small building he was assigned to earlier that day, barely catching himself before he hit the ground. The tiger had drank a bit too much at the tavern, but had mostly avoided getting too out of sorts by steadily pacing himself. Drinking was something the tiger was familiar with, as he had been using it to cope with his family situation for years. The beast stumbled again, letting a small curse out from under his breath as he fell forward, barely catching himself as he did. The tiger reprimanded himself for such sloppiness a bit, and started to get back up. He paused halfway in a crouch when he spotted someone a short distance away.
Sir Corper, the bear from the tavern earlier, was doing what looked to the tiger like some kind of dance closer to the river. The bear swayed, shifting his powerful arms and twisting on his feet with surprisingly nimble accuracy, considering his size, as he continued his flowing movements. The beast ended a turning motion with an outstretched hand. The problem being, the tiger had barely registered his swift, final movement.
Oust grunted, and shook his head once, trying to steady his vision. Surely he had been seeing things. There was no way that bear was striking as fast as his sister Richta could... The tiger continued watching, finding himself now affixed on the beast before him.
Corper never strayed from his movement, despite his audience, and continued his meditation, finally managing to calm himself after his earlier relapse. The bear suddenly spun low in a circular sweep, swinging his legs wide while dragging his paws through the dirt, and crouching down a bit, ending his stance with an arm pointed towards the onlooking tiger as the dust settled around him. The bear spoke very flatly, letting little emotion through.
"I could smell the alcohol on your breath a mile away. Tell me, young one, does it make it any easier to hide from your demons?" Oust snarled in protest, spitting his answer back in a slurred voice.
"You know nothing."
The bear picked back up his dance, seeming to be unbothered by the cat as he only agreed with him.
"This is true. Yet, still better than believing you know everything, is it not, son of Reiner Candori?" Oust felt odd at being clocked so easily by someone he had never met, but found himself a bit intrigued... Perhaps this bear could help him with his goal.
"You know my father then as well?"
Corper was still swaying, taking a soundless step forward as he did, striking faster than the tiger could follow once more. Oust realized he hadn't imagined it earlier, he really couldn't follow this beast's swift movements at all. The bear spoke his insult as if it were casual conversation about the weather.
"I know nothing, yet, I am forced to remember every fool I've met who thought they knew everything, your father is counted among them. Will I remember you as a fool also, oh spoiled pelt?"
Oust rose to his feet, realizing the insult to his name immediately. The jab about the "Spoiled," orange tint to the white fur on his upper half certainly didn't help calm him either. In his slightly inebriated state, the tiger charged without warning. The bear smiled, still swaying in his steady movement. The bait had been taken.
Oust was still very much in control of both his actions, and his body as the rage sharpened his focus, clearing his mind to the task at hand; making certain the bear would regret provoking him. The entire reason he had joined the guard was to force his father to acknowledge him, so he wouldn't tolerate anyone speaking ill of his family before he had made them proud of him at last... Certainly not some washed up, human rutting, old bear... It was bad enough he had been humiliated by his loss to the boy during The Selection. Oust closed the distance with his blinding speed, slashing his sharp claws directly at the bear's smug face with everything he had.
Sir Corper simply latched on to the tiger's wrist mid turn, and spun with his trajectory, using the tiger's own built up speed to easily toss the beast aside, as if the maneuver was no more than a passing twirl between dance partners.
Oust latched onto the dirt, sliding back a good bit from being tossed with such force, his claws shredded the earth beneath him as he sank them down to catch himself. His eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared at the humiliation he had endured. The beast snarled while Sir Corper kept on talking in that casual tone, never slowing in his movements.
"So much anger... So young..." Oust sharply retorted, bearing his fangs well.
"And you can talk? The least you could've done was actually kill that runt back there after that sob story you went on about!"
Sir Corper came to another halt, but his expression this time was a serious one, and he only held his finishing pose, eyeing the tiger studiously as he began debating with the beast.
"What I did earlier was relapse into my anger, the first time in seven years, young one. How long can you avoid falling victim to your own temper? Seven minutes? It's no wonder you could never hope to strike me."
Oust snarled at the further insult, charging once more. This time, he tried to fake the bear out, leaping right, but ducking down to jab left at the last moment. Oust ducked his face right into the bear's prepared blow, knocking him off balance with a blindingly swift punch by Sir Corper. The tiger stumbled back. The bear did not move as he continued.
"You're still only striking with your own turmoil... You lack restraint."
Oust used a dirty tactic, and threw a fistful of sand towards the bear, attempting to blind him while he rushed to take advantage of the opening. Corper simply closed his eyes, and exhaled while the tiger shouted once more.
"A true warrior needs no restraint! That is for the weak!"
The bear had had enough, a drunken, ignorant, loudmouthed cub resulting to such pathetic tactics wasn't worth entertaining anymore. He reached out his paw blindly, expertly catching the tiger by his thick throat, raising him up as he applied a decent amount of force to the undisciplined cat's larynx, securing him in place. The bear spoke a bit louder this time, opening his eyes to make certain the young one understood exactly how wrong he was.
"Tell me, son of Reiner, do you know why I was given the name Corper the Collapser?" The bear paused to listen to the tiger sputter for the breath he was denying him before he continued. "No? Then allow me to tell you. It's because if I don't hold back on my strikes, I will collapse my target's ribs, their teeth, their chests, their skulls, their scrawny little necks..."
Corper tightened his grip a bit, emphasizing the point he was making. Oust was finally realizing how badly he had messed up as he flailed vainly to escape this beast. Sir Corper continued as if he wasn't easily dangling the tiger like a child by his straining throat
"Basically... If I land a hit, and I don't show restraint, I break whatever my fist lands against. I break things. I make them collapse. It was my wife, a human, that taught me the value of true restraint, and she trusted me to show that restraint in ways I didn't trust myself... Tell me, young one... Do you still believe that I, as a warrior, should have no restraint? I'd very much like to know if your opinion has changed after our debate."
Corper squeezed his grip firmly in his pause, eyeing the struggling tiger with a glimpse of the terror such true, unrestrained anger could bring. Oust could not speak if he wanted to, as his eyes bulged under the pressure and he felt something in his neck pop. Sir Corper had a bit more to say to the foolish cub, although, in a much darker tone.
"I see... You must be too drunk to respond, young one. I'll help you sober up then, and we can continue this conversation tomorrow if you wish. Consider coming at me with a bit more respect then, young one, now that you know what the other side of no restraints looks like. How it feels to be on the weaker side of it. You can start by showing a little restraint in your drinking, cub, as well as that temper. Only then will I hear your debate."
Corper turned then, just as Oust was starting to black out, and leaned back a bit before tossing the tiger easily into the river, sobering him up, just as he had promised. Oust came up sputtering for breath, and looked to see the bear was already making his departure. He took a few, choking, heavy gulps of air in, and charged in his fury at such humiliation once more. The tiger was almost to the bear when Sir Corper spoke in a quiet whisper.
"Fine then, I'll help you sleep on the lesson, young fool."
Something jabbed at Oust's throat sharply, and the tiger fell forward in his charge immediately, barely catching himself on all fours, completely breathless. His eyes watered heavily from the force of the strike. Before the tiger could even begin to understand what had happened, another measured strike to the back of his skull brought immediate darkness upon him, and Oust's first, and last, drunken night in the orc village came to an end filled with a view of dancing stars.
Prince Tyfin was having difficulty getting any real rest, he didn't show it around his knights, but he was extremely uncertain about everything that had been laid on his shoulders. However, as the only beast he was boarding with was the estranged Alice, who had been still sleeping the entire time they had been at the village so far, the young lion was finally able to let his concerns out, speaking to the dreaming beast as the only audience for his confession.
"I'm terrified, Alice..." The prince took a heavy breath in, pausing in the silence to be sure the cat didn't stir. The prince continued his rant, knowing he could now safely vent it here.
"Tomorrow, I may find out if I'm going to have to be a king yet... A king an entire world away from his throne. How am I to lead my people, when I can't even speak with them? When I can't reassure them... How will I be remembered, as a king that wasn't there for his kingdom's darkest hour? What if there is no kingdom left... I know that's not too likely, but we just don't know..." Prince Tyfin shuddered as his dark confession spewed forth uncontrollably from him, laying his weary head into his hands.
"And that demon... What madness IS that monster? You destroyed it, we all watched... There was no way you missed it's heart, no matter where it may have hidden it... General Rixator gave his life to sink his axe in its chest, and it was like it didn't even feel it! What are we hoping to do against something like that? How can we even hope to fight it? After what it did to you... I just... I don't know if we can. It even crumbled Aster's shield last time... Could it do that all along? I thought we had a way to fight it back at least, but we don't! I CAN'T DO SHIT ABOUT IT... THAT MONSTER PROBABLY KILLED MY FATHER, AND I CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT..." The lion quieted down after he felt his voice crack up. The prince let his tone drop to a near sob.
"I can't do anything by myself... Sure, I know the basics of combat training, but I'm barely average with any blade, unlike my mother, who was one of the most skilled warriors our kingdom had ever seen... I'm too afraid to use my father's bloodskill. Too afraid I'll end up like him... I can understand almost nothing of the language of the gods, so any real magic, too, is out of my reach... All I can do is just use my mother's bloodskill... All I can do is lend a little strength to the ones that have to fight for me... I am not fit to be king, Alice... Alora deserves a stronger king..."
The prince curled up a bit tighter on his bed, pulling into himself, wishing they were here with him... They would know how to make this better... They would tell him what he needed to do... But he wasn't even sure if they were alive, or if they had fallen in the battle at the arena. Prince Tyfin was deeply missing the one his heart belonged to, when suddenly, the young lion heard a long, heartfelt howl in the distance. Despite how heavy he was feeling, it actually brought a smirk to the beast as he scoffed to himself.
"Well... At least those two are finally happy... Good for them." The young lion leaned his head back then, attempting to finally rest now that his heart felt just a bit lighter by the wolf's declaration of his love for the human. Maybe they could all get through this after all, united together, all the species that shared this world... Those two really did give the prince hope that it could really be possible someday. The young king clung to that hope to keep his own heavy heart afloat, forced to rely on the strength of his knight's yet again.
Captain Rixator shoved another two loaves of bread into the small satchel he had borrowed from the orcs. The bull had a tendency to eat more when he was alone, so he made sure to pack a little extra along with a few gourds of water he had tied to the sack. The bull easily shouldered the load, and stepped outside of his abode. The bovine huffed once through his nose, his breath steaming up into the chilly night air. The beast gruffly chimed to himself, keeping his voice low for a change since his soldiers weren't around.
"Good. I should make steady progress in the night... Beats that hot ass sun."
The bull turned his head high, looking to the stars for guidance. He recognized a few constellations, and used them to gauge his direction, applying their position to that of the sun earlier so he could map his way back. Another quiet voice answered from the shadows, but the beast recognized the speaker immediately.
"Honestly, Captain, you really do have to learn some patience eventually... I know the prince asked to do some scouting, but I don't think he meant for you to skip out on sleep to do it."
Mollis stepped forward, coming in to focus under the light of the moon as he finished his chastising. The captain only smiled at his longtime friend before answering in his quiet voice. Mollis knew the real Rix, so there was no need to keep up the loud façade when they were alone.
"Yeah, I know, but I would rather rest during the worst of the heat, and report back tomorrow under the shade of the night. My fur may not be as thick as yours, but it doesn't mean I can't overheat out here." Mollis said nothing, and only paced over to the bull, gently laying a hand on his thick arm while he softly spoke up to the towering hunk of muscle.
"Just make sure you make it back to me alive, Carcer."
Mollis knew the bull wanted a wife and a family someday, but he had fallen for the bovine regardless, something the hare had long since confessed to the thickheaded bull. The captain didn't mind though, and obliged his friend whenever he wanted, even letting the hare service him from time to time. Mollis understood Rix in a way not many could, and the bull would do anything for such a close friend, even allow the rabbit to call him by his first name, as long as they were in private that is.
"Ha!" The bull snorted, "You know you can't get rid of me that easily, Mollis. As if I would ever dare to not return to my prince before my mission ends."
The hare chuckled, nodding up at his captain.
"I know. I just have a bad feeling is all... I've had a bad feeling for a few days now... Ever since..." The rabbit trailed off, and he averted his gaze solemnly before turning back to the bovine. "Captain, there's something I need to tell you about Aster... Something he still doesn't know... Something I expect only his brother Cortist really knows about..." The bull silenced the hare with a firm hand on his shoulders, smiling down at the rabbit.
"I know, you like him right? You know I just want you to be happy Mollis... After everything you've endured... But I think Aschefell may have beat you to the goal." The bovine tried to smile at his friend, but the hare only took a step back, shaking his head.
"No, well... Yes, but that's not what I mean... There's something else... something that makes me wor-"
As if right on queue, a loud, lustful howl sounded into the night air around the pair, distracting the rabbit, making him turn to face the source. Mollis rapidly tapped his paw on the ground three times in quick succession, and furrowed his brow in a sigh at the realization.
"Well shit... He beat me to it... Good for them though, but that wolf has another thing coming if he thinks I'm giving up that easily."
The bovine chuckled behind the mage, speaking the warning more to himself than the hare.
"You'd best watch yourself, Aschefell. Mollis always gets what he wants one way or another..."
The hare spun quickly, gleaming at the bull with a sense of pride.
"I sure do!" The captain snorted again before he answered.
"That was NOT a compliment... What did you need to tell me about the panther's son? Something bothering you? Do I need to punish one of my soldiers?"
The mage glanced back over his shoulder where he had just heard the wolf and the boy finally lay claim to one other. He couldn't find it in himself to speak it anymore. Not yet.
"It's nothing like that... We will talk when you get back, Captain. Just come back to me first, so I don't have to tear through this desert to come find you... No other orders until then."
The bull huffed, and stomped a hoof, giving the hare a mock salute as he gruffly answered
"Yes Sir!"
"I just don't think it's a good idea, Mist." The husky Dally was arguing loudly with the peacock when Rust had happened by on his way to his own private quarters for the night. The fox hadn't meant to eavesdrop on the pair, but he was drawn in by the avian's answer in her sultry, thick accent that Rust couldn't begin to place.
"I had a Revelation... You know it's not good for me to ignore those for long. I need to read him, for all of our sakes. This is big, Dally. This is a terrifyingly dark level of bad. This isn't anything like I've felt before... I think Chief Crag is right... About the legendary beasts... But there's something else... Maybe more than even one thing lurks in the shadows... Dally... I'm scared, but that's why I NEED to know. I need to read him. Don't fight me on this one."
The husky was getting flustered, and took a few paces over to lean against and stare out the window. Rust didn't dare breathe, as he was crouched right on the other side of it then, only inches away. Dally began to speak, finally voicing his concern.
"If it's as big as you say it is... Divining that future could break you... The last time you did a king, you were out for six entire days Mist... And it didn't change a thing in the end... I just thought I was going to lose you. We started traveling to avoid this type of thing, not to run towards it... And we have Milky with us now, and they might not understand if you just go cold on us for a week or longer... We never know the cost until the deed is done... Besides, we have a moon tomorrow, I'm already going to be stressed to my limits, and you reading another king's future may be the end to my sanity all together... I can't lose you."
The husky trailed off with a heavy sigh. Rust was shocked at this news. The peacock wanted to divine Prince Tyfin's future? The fox heard Mist shuffle near the window as well, assuming she was comforting the canine. The avian spoke calmly, but decidedly.
"We can't run from fate, my love, but we may glimpse it through examining ourselves, and others. We may hope to change it in the slightest of ways, ones that can spur the most drastic of differences. I will collect what I need... I'll put the ceremony off until after the moon for you. Just... Trust me. I need to do this."
Rust heard the canine mumble his sulking, conceding reply before the two finally stepped away from the windowsill, allowing the fox to slip away unnoticed. Rust shared the Husky's sentiment. The topic just gave him the creeps for some reason, but he needed to get some rest. He had a long day ahead of himself in the forge with Tan, and he wasn't planning on being late for his first full day.
When Oust had finally woken up, the sun was already bearing down on him in the streets where the bear had left him. Orcs and beasts alike had simply moved around him up to that point. The Tiger's head was pounding, and felt like it was going to split in half. His mouth was dry from sweating through the first half of the morning. He was sore, hungover, and absolutely enthralled as his hazy memories of the night before came back to him. The tiger sat up with a start, and was met with the soft eyes of the larger, white, fluffy canine, Milky staring down at him. The beast had something in their right hand, and extended it down to the tiger, offering him a gift.
Oust realized a moment later it was simply a tiny, white flower with an orange center. He had no need for such trivial things. The tiger gave the canine a scowl, and smacked his hand aside, knocking away the flower as he stood to rise, despite the pounding in his head. Milky only whined a bit, rubbing at their injured hand lightly. The tiger hadn't cared that there were other onlookers.
Aster felt himself angered by the tiger's action towards such a gentle creature, and felt bad the mountain of fluff had even tried extending his kindness to the cat. The boy looked on, watching as the tiger stood and began walking away a bit further down the street, holding his head. The human was surprised by what the fluffy dog did next.
Milky, being the type of beast they were, figured they should just try again. Everyone liked flowers, after all. So the canine gently reached down to cradle the bloom, lightly brushing the dirt from it with a tender and careful claw, and stood to follow the tiger, running after Oust in excitement. When they caught up with him, the fluffy beast lightly tapped the tiger's shoulder, forcing the scowling tiger to turn around once more. The cat simply glared up at the canine, who only panted happily in response before extending their hand with the flower, once more offering a token of friendship to the warrior. The beast's bushy tail happily swishing back and forth as they did.
Oust's temper flared with his nostrils, he was NOT in the mood for such trivialities. The beast was still unreasonably ashamed and angry with himself after the night before, and his rough awakening hadn't helped his sour spirits. The tiger snapped, his anger getting the better of him yet again, and he shoved the larger beast roughly, making the kind canine fall backwards with a crash... Directly on top of the tiny little lute the beast enjoyed strumming on that had been hanging over its back by a strap.
Milky's eyes shot wide, and the fumbling beast quickly rolled over on its knees to inspect the instrument. With shaky, large hands, the simple beast scooped up the shattered remains of their favorite toy, gently cradling the broken lute. The beast used one hand to feebly try and piece it back together as best as they could manage, but the strings were mostly broken, and the wood was far beyond repair. With the realization the instrument was ruined, the large, gentle dog began trembling violently, having a meltdown. With a heavy howl of sorrow, Milky began sobbing heavily as if they were no more than a toddler. Oust only turned his head to the sight in guilt, and continued on his way, leaving the simple and weak beast to it's pathetic wallowing. The tiger made it two paces before a large, golden shield appeared in front of him, barring his exit. The cat snarled as it turned once more, where it was met with another scowling face fast approaching him.
Aster didn't know what came over him in that moment, but as surely as the fluffy, gentle canine was crying, tears of anger fell from his reddening cheeks. He threw a shield up to halt the tiger's escape, and began marching over in his frustration, calling out just as the tiger had turned to face him.
"OUST! APOLOGIZE, NOW!"
The tiger snarled loudly, not in the mood to deal with the mongrel today of all days. He spat his answer back.
"FUCK YOU, RUNT!" Aster didn't slow, shouting back as he closed the distance.
"Say what you want about me, but that was wrong, and you know it! Apologize to them! NOW!"
The tiger started to take his own steps in his turmoil, coming to stand just a few feet away from the human before he answered.
"No, I have no remorse for the stupid beast, it should have just left me alone! Just as you would, if you have any sense!"
Aster felt himself grow even more pissed at Milky being called stupid. He felt a bit silly at crying while he was shouting so angrily.
"They were just trying to be kind to you! If you weren't such an insufferable prick, they wouldn't be the only one still trying to cheer you up... The only one that cared if you passed out drunk in the dirt! If you would just stop being such an asshole for a single second and actually think about someone besides yourse-"
Oust cut the human off, slashing quickly through the air at him, Aster jumped back, barely moving in time. The human shouted at the beast again, lowering his stance a bit and bringing up a shield on his right arm.
"See? That's your damn problem, right there! You lash out in anger at anyone who actually tries to help your stubborn ass be slightly less shitty or miserable! Fine! Let's settle this, since violence and force are all you seem to know... But you are going to apologize to them..."
Oust didn't move, surprising the boy who had already braced for another series of attacks from the cat. The tiger only stared at the smaller human for a short time, thinking back to his "conversation," with Sir Corper the previous night, before he simply closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath in, and exhaled.
Oust ignored Aster completely, and walked right passed the human. The powerful tiger made his way back to the still sobbing Milky, and crouched down on his haunches. The warrior gently reached down, and snagged a hold of the now crushed, white and orange flower, bringing it back up and offering it to the ball of fluff, surprising everyone watching.
Milky sniffled a few more times, and gently reached two trembling claws forward to take the flower. The simple beast looked closely at the trampled flora, and smiled happily then, it's large tongue hanging out at the motion and their tail wagging in joy. Oust bowed his head slightly, showing the canine respect as he spoke in a tone Aster had never heard him use before. It was kind of beautiful how soft it was.
"I am sorry. I will fix this before I leave this place... Thank you for the gift."
The tiger stood, and began walking back the way he had came. As he passed the human, who readied his shield again, the beast spoke two words to him without ever turning to face the boy, his voice much quieter then so only Aster would hear, stunning him more than the sudden apology to the canine had.
"Thank you."
Oust walked on solemnly, knowing what he needed to do.
Aster only watched him depart in visible confusion. He didn't know what had happened, but the boy quite clearly just witnessed a miracle. His stunned state was interrupted by a sultry voice behind him.
"Thank you, indeed, human, for standing up for Milky. Allow me to repay your kindness."
Aster turned to see who was speaking, and was met by the peacock, Madame Mist. She had appeared seemingly from nowhere, as she certainly wasn't behind him before. Aster nodded at the avian.
"Don't worry about it... I'm just glad they are ok... I'm sorry about the lute... I'll help work to pay for a new one, since it was my comrade that broke it."
The peacock waved a dismissive, feathered hand before she replied.
"No need, this isn't the first time such an accident has happened."
The avian squatted down in her silky dress, where Milky was still happily gazing at their flower, and held a hand over the instrument. Just as every other incantation, Aster couldn't understand a word of it as the pieces of the broken instrument started to vibrate and shake themselves back into shape. The strings reattached themselves automatically as the impossible puzzle was reassembled perfectly. Aster watched in heartwarming delight as she pulled her touch back, revealing the perfectly fine acoustic, repaired beyond all belief. The human smiled at the avian, speaking in his excitement.
"That's incredible!"
Mist only giggled slightly a bit, and ran a feathery hand over the strings, drawing the simple, white beast's attention back to their repaired toy. The look on the canine's face brought great joy to the human, as the ball of fluff happily picked it up and began strumming a basic tune, their tail thumping along behind them. Mist rose, and gave the canine's head a gentle pat before she turned back to Aster.
"Follow me, if you would."
Mist turned to leave, never even turning to make sure the human had followed. He had, and soon found himself being led to one of the small buildings near where he and his wolf were staying. Mist stepped inside, and Aster followed her through the opened door. When the boy stepped inside, he saw she was gesturing at a chair in the center of the room. There was a larger mirror on the opposite wall. The human was a bit uncertain, but trusted the peacock anyways, taking the offered seat. Mist went directly to her point.
"There's something you have I would like to purchase from you, human. I will well compensate you for your trouble."
Aster gave the peacock a curious look. He had nothing of value on him aside from his armor, and that was back at his bedroom along with his staff, none of which were for sale. The avian clarified for the boy.
"Worry not, it's something simple. What I want to buy from you, is your fur. Your "Hair," as your people called it."
Aster laughed loudly in response to the odd request.
"Hahaha! You don't have to buy that... You can just have some... But I have to ask, why?"
The graceful peacock stepped over to a small table as she answered the boy.
"Human fur was used for a large variety of medicine before the fall of man, and since there aren't many humans left... I mean any humans left, besides yourself, that ingredient has become increasingly difficult to find. The only option at this point is tomb robbing, and even then, it is nowhere near as potent as a living sample."
Aster wasn't sure he really wanted to know the details of tomb robbing human graves, so he just agreed to give her some of his hair. It wasn't like it didn't grow back quickly enough. A moment later, and Madame Mist came back holding an extremely thin, short blade. She held it to the side while she talked to the human in the chair.
"Human fur is rare, so I will be compensating you for it. Does thirty gold sound fair? I'll leave a bit for you, I've plenty practice from the orcs."
Aster didn't have the best concept of the value of money, considering his upbringing, but he knew that offer was greatly overpriced. He tried to argue as much, but the avian silenced him when she spoke again.
"You are the only source of this ingredient left, you should place more value on its availability, last son of man... Besides, I will make far more than that by selling such rare tonics in this age, so listen when I say, you should not feel guilty about taking the payment... Is there nothing you wish to purchase for yourself? Or perhaps, your wolf?"
Aster thought hard about that, and remembered he had seen a few things in the town that had caught his eye as a gift to Stahl. There were supplies they needed too, and he could contribute to that simply by having his hair cut back. After pondering that angle, the boy agreed to accept the payment.
Mist went to work, leaning the boy's head back so she could skillfully begin shaving the scalp. The avian bantered softly with the human as she progressed, asking him seemingly random questions as she worked and trimmed away, cutting the hair low to the scalp. Aster couldn't help but feel a bit homesick then, as Javis was the only one to ever trim his hair in the past.
Nearly thirty minutes passed, and Aster relaxed into the sensation, closing his eyes and enjoying the feeling of air on his head for a change. He was brought back to reality when the avian took a step back, and coughed lightly, signaling to the boy that she had finished her work.
Aster lifted his head forward then, and took a glance towards the mirror. He had had his hair cut plenty of times by Javis, but the results here were certainly much different than the ones his caretaker had yielded. Aster really kind of liked it. It made him look more mature somehow.
His entire head had been closely shaven, leaving a very light, prickly feeling to the skin there. Directly on top, the avian had left a narrow strip down the center, barely an inch in height. (To put it simply, what you or I would call a Mohawk.) Aster was admiring his drastically different appearance with fascination at the difference it had made. His hair had never been cut so low before, but it felt nice, and a whole lot lighter as a bonus. He felt oddly strong in that moment, and smiled at his reflection. Mist spoke her reasoning behind the choice.
"This style symbolizes a promising young warrior in the orc's culture, so it seemed appropriate here. I do hope you like it?" The peacock tilted her head as she finished her inquiry.
"Yes!" Aster replied excitedly, "It's different than I expected, but it looks good! Thank you... I feel even worse about charging you now, though..."
In quick response, the elegant avian placed a small sachet in the boy's hand with a clinking of coin. She smiled and dismissed the worry. She had already received what she needed, after all. Another voice from the open door started to interrupt the pair, but Aster looked over to see his wolf pausing mid sentence, simply staring at his mate's change.
`By the gods... He got even hotter somehow...' Stahl could only stare in his state of heightened emotion, his thoughts running wild on what he wanted to do with his boy in that moment. The moon hadn't changed it's effect on him too drastically from the last time, and that predatory part was surely making a comeback. Aster shifted uncomfortably in the wolf's silence, casting his eyes to the floor as a frown formed on his lips. He mumbled quietly.
"Sorry... I guess I should've asked your thoughts before... I hope it's not too bad?" Stahl stuttered to get the words out to correct the assumption.
"NO! I like it! Sorry, I just couldn't come up with words... Aster, you really do look great. You look like you've grown... You have grown, so maybe that's appropriate. We all need to change ourselves every now and then... Are you going to leave the face fur with it?" Stahl motioned towards his jaw.
The boy knew his wolf was being honest, and perked back up just a small bit before he responded, still not exactly happy to reveal why he didn't usually grow his facial hair out.
"Javis said humans called it a beard. I usually keep it cut because it doesn't grow well over the scars... I think it looks weird..."
Stahl understood, but still wanted to see what this "beard," looked like when it was left to thrive, so he made a request to his mate.
"Will you leave it for a while? I'd like to see that part of you too."
The human melted at the way his wolf always seemed able to raise his spirits with the smallest kindness, and nodded his agreement. Aster suddenly recalled what task he had left his wolf to do without his distraction that morning, and asked about his progress.
"So... Any word from home yet?"
The wolf's smile faded, and his head dropped just a bit.
"Nothing yet... But it is still early..."
Stahl had been repeating that reassuring line to himself for the entirety of his day so far, desperately trying to hold on to hope that he would feel a thought tug at his mind soon. The beast could only pray that hope would be enough.
I'll be real with y'all, I cried writing the Milky scene, lmao. This chapter was more a general look at what was going on behind the scenes with some of our more developing characters. Every bit of it is relevant in some way though, some more than others. I hope you like the path each character has been set on. We get a few more chapters with the orcs, then we push to the next arc. The official reveal to the state the Capitol of Alora is in will be in Ch. 15 or 16. (You get a personal recount of what happened after the spell teleported this group.)
As always, I appreciate your continued support of this story, and love hearing from you. Thank you,
-Pup Bayou