A King's Legacy
Chapter 27: The Fault
Javis was having a rather pleasant day tending to the front gardens at the Venatus home estate. While the antelope was forced to pick up quite a hefty sum of additional tasks to make up for the lack of staff still remaining, being back in the gardens was the one chore he welcomed. There was a sense of peace and fulfillment from cultivating something from a bud, to nurture and guide it until it established itself and grew ever higher. However, even when a plant was well rooted, even after it blooms and flowers in prosperity, even after it matures well beyond the need for such constant care... Even then, sometimes they still needed a little pruning. A little guidance. The buck couldn't have kept his youngest master from his thoughts at the semblance if he had tried.
Javis was informed of Aster's fate by Talan, something the buck was ever so grateful to hear. To lose any of the Venatus sons was far more than the caretaker could bear, but the buck just had a soft spot for that human. He knew the boy had what he needed... That his roots were well established and his blooms budding by the day... But even so, the butler couldn't help but hope Aster was still receiving a little guidance where he grew. These thoughts seemed to hang at the forefront of his mind all through that morning, even so, the respected head of staff was busy tending to his duties as diligently as ever. That is, until a crunch of gravel from the front gate behind him caught his attention. The buck stood slowly in his place, turning to greet his unexpected guest with the same respect he treated any esteemed visitor, however uninvited.
"General Candori... I regret to inform you that my masters are absent at this time, but I am certain I can assist you in their stead. What brings you for such an unexpected visit?" The glaring white tiger stood with his arms crossed over his chest as he replied with a smirk.
"Ah, that is a pity... I was hoping to have a discussion with young Talan. He is a worthy warrior, and while I appreciate his stance towards the weakness his father holds for the mongrel... I just can't find it in myself to see him as a king. I was hoping to convince him to simply become a general in my army instead." Javis spoke in a serious tone, holding on to that refinement he had so well crafted over the years.
"So I see. I can be certain to pass along the message." The general flashed a crooked smirk towards the buck, answering him a bit slowly.
"While it's not to say that I don't trust that you would do just that... From what I understand, the young panther is quite a ways away... En route to meet with the soft prince of Alora no less..." The butler's eyes narrowed just the slightest at that proclamation, quickly realizing the tiger had intercepted a message somewhere along the line. The butler kept his bearings otherwise as he responded.
"Forgive me for saying, but I can't say I follow that logic... Everyone has heard the news by now, the entire royal family was massacred during the attack on the capital. You must have misheard." Reiner Candori chuckled in amusement.
"Perhaps I have. But then again, the young panther certainly went on the move quickly enough. It's almost as if he were desperate to reach something. To draw his attention away from such dedicated cause takes a particularly CLEAR message... I think I'll just send it myself. He needs to know the cost of letting such weakness thrive in one's own household, a lesson better learned sooner, rather than later... You know... Perhaps you can help me send that message after all... " The buck closed his eyes solemnly, bowing his head just the slightest as he moved a single arm to his chest, and the other behind his back. He spoke with a tone nothing short of eloquent.
"Ah, so I see... Before I assist you with your request, I shall grace you with a small word of caution, great general... Under no circumstances should you ever believe that any, and I do mean ANY, of the three Venatus sons are to ever be considered weak..." Javis stood a little straighter as he cleared his throat, fearlessly staring the great tiger directly in his scarlet eyes. As professionally as ever, the buck gave his final answer.
"Well then, as the acting head of the Venatus estate, as the mentor to all three of the proud, and exceptionally gifted Venatus sons, and as a sworn protector of this home, and all that call it their home... Please, allow me to state this once more, with both the utmost respect, and unshakeable certainty..." The buck walked over a few paces to grab his staff leaning against the wall nearby. The mentor to the panther children twirled his weapon once, ended with a practiced stance aimed towards the tiger, and faced his opponent proudly.
He could accept this, he had half expected it at the rate things were falling apart, after all. He risked this much the moment he smuggled that human off to The Selection in the first place. Javis had nurtured the boy and his brothers from the beginning, always teaching, always training, always helping. In the end, the buck had raised the next hand of the beast king, the next greatest high mage in Alora, and even a human king with limitless and legendary potential... Those fledglings were far clear of their nest now. They were far away from this monster for the time being. That was enough. Javis could accept this... But never without a fight. He repeated himself one final time.
"General Candori... I regret to inform you that my masters are absent at this time, but I am CERTAIN I can assist you in their stead." The general's wicked smile gleamed at the challenge.
===
Cortist was feeling a bit uncomfortable if he was being honest with himself. Sure, thankfully the demon, which apparently was Aster's REAL father, had closed the veil right when the tiger kissed the boy, sparing them both the awkward embarrassment while giving his brother some privacy by the action... But the kiss itself bothered Cortist. It surprised him, more so considering what it apparently led to... He just never knew Aster to desire anyone like that. Stahl was understandable, he was noble, kind, handsome... Cortist saw what his brother loved about that wolf... But this tiger? Cortist wasn't sure Oust was actually good for Aster. He hated feeling like an overprotective big brother... But something wasn't right. Aster looked at Oust like he was in pain... Like...
"It's like he's looking at Talan..." The thought escaped his mouth before he ever realized he had muttered it. Cortist wasn't expecting an answer.
"So, you have noticed it after all..." The panther jumped a bit, the demon had been silent for the passed hour or so, but what he said piqued the panther's interest.
"And how exactly do you know-" The demon cut him off before he ever started.
"For many years, all I could do, was watch... I am thankful for you Cortist... But you were a fool to turn such a blind eye. You knew how badly that brother of yours wounded him. You were there the night he carved it over Solis's face. Solis looks at that tiger the way he looks at your brother... Trying so desperately to reach them for some unfathomable reason... Believing himself their lesser all the while. You don't see how much the boy hated himself, do you? What your brother instilled in him? That inferiority? You never acknowledged it anyway." Cortist stood quickly, going immediately on the defensive.
"Oh, alright, yeah... Because I wasn't the one there for him EVERY STEP OF THE WAY RIGHT? I talked Aster down from the bad stuff COUNTLESS times." The demon responded swiftly in that raspy tone.
"And yet, even still, you glaze over Talan's transgressions, even as I point them out as the root cause to those problems... I understand... He is your real brother after all." Cortist froze... Surely that wasn't it... Surely... The panther sputtered to answer.
"I- That's not... I just wanted the three of us-" The demon interrupted once more, his voice strict and unyielding.
"I think we could become an unstoppable team capable of tackling any foe, Even a legendary beast... You, me, and our brother Talan. That's what you once told my son. Do you remember that? And after... You wouldn't even stand up to the bully in front of you. The one terrorizing him for something that wasn't even his fault!" Cortist's response was cut short once more, the deep voice of their master interrupting the pair as it spoke to both of them.
"Such an emotional discussion, I hate to cut it short, but we have more pressing matters now. My soldier... We only have a few short minutes before the sword wakes the mountain... He's about to force the trial, you're going to be called to answer it, and he's going to get every single person in that thicket killed when his heart wakes the beast... We are going to lose everything. There's no indirect guidance left... We are going to have to drop them both before the trial begins. It's time we carve out their damn paths for them, since these mere pups still haven't even opened their eyes. It's the only way we can circumvent this for certain, and push them where we need. It's the least interference left..." Cortist had no idea what the god of death was rambling on about, but the demon hastily replied.
"I know the sword is nowhere near ready for that beast... But... Will they even survive the drop?" Death answered in kind.
"There's actually a very slim chance that he COULD pass the trial if we left this alone... But too many pieces would still fall before that happens. You are in control, for now, and as long as you keep that control for at minimum this, we can smooth out every wrinkle until the shield makes his choice... Until the sword is actually ready. There are a lot of branching paths that could go wrong during the drop that possibly will... Like every other step along this grand headache of a deal you talked me into... But this should do what we need." The three sat in silence as the demon pondered the logic there. Finally, he did reply.
"Alright... I trust your judgement. If this goes south, if I start to lose it..." Death abated his soldier.
"I'll have this kitten stop you if you engage the trial. He is more than capable of at least that much, even in his own current state..." Cortist finally spoke his thoughts.
"Sorry, ignorant `kitten,' here... But do one of you want to fill me in on exactly what it is I am supposed to be doing?" The demon turned to the young mage, and replied flatly.
"If my eyes change, kill me... It's that simple, I do the rest... Don't worry, I won't actually die so easily, as I'm certain you recall. Remain hidden otherwise, no matter what you think you see. Solis cannot know you are here... Our master will instruct you when it is time, and only then. Remember what's on the line..." Cortist grumbled his distaste for the lack of clarity, but mostly withheld his disdain as he curiously watched the demon take a few paces away, ending with his back turned to the northern mountain. What remained of human king Calium raised his dark sword high into the air, and awaited his master's instruction. He held that stance for quite some time without moving at all. The demon finally spoke to Cortist seemingly out of nowhere as he anticipated the coming command.
"You may want to hold on to something." The panther mage gave the demon another ignored glance in question, and yielded, deciding caution was probably for the best. Just as Cortist made it to a nearby tree behind the demon and braced against it, the command came from their master, a shout heard by both.
"Now." The demon sank the blade into the earth below, all the way down to the hilt, kneeling with the action. A shadowy ring of dark flames built up around the buried blade for a moment, pulsed forth once over the surrounding landscape like a ripple in water, and, suddenly, the entire world around the panther was shaking violently. A large fissure began striking out from the blade, the sides of the fault widening, and crumbling away as the very thicket was split into halves. The chasm shot forth, swiftly barreling down the mountain to the south, swallowing up the land itself as it stretched ever forward... To directly where part of the prince's unsuspecting group were dealing with their own issues... To where Stahl was quite preoccupied in his efforts to cleave Oust's head clean off of his shoulders.
===
A smaller, cloaked figure stood gazing into the thicket from atop the mountains to the north, deep in thought, second guessing both his mission, and his resolve. He knew this was necessary, that many would die if this trip wasn't made... Even so, Flose was finding himself quite afraid of such unknowns... All it took was a single mistake, and he could cost his people everything... A chirping on his right shoulder reassured him, the cardinal offering what comfort it could to him. Flosse smiled at the feral little bird, and answered her in kind.
"I know, Mercy. I know... We have to try. We can't just leave them like that..." Flose took a deep breath in, adjusted the bag over his shoulders, and pulled his mother's cloak even tighter around himself, finding it brought him the same feelings of comfort and protection as ever. With a halfhearted smile, the bearer of the Feral Tongue bloodskill made his way into the thicket in search of his target, his cardinal friend perched lightly on his shoulder in support. Flose was unknowingly straying into the jungle just hours before it was split in two, going exactly where he needed to while never any the wiser.
===
Stahl was starting to worry about his mate. Aster had been gone well over an hour at that point, and the beast was concerned with how much the boy had been carrying around lately. He knew Aster had some things to work out, but he felt like he was losing him somehow... Like Aster just wouldn't confide in him... Like he couldn't trust Stahl with everything yet, even after all this time. Stahl had kept his worries well buried for the boy's sake, but they were all starting to come to a head. The noble wolf had remained strong for his mate and his nephew, but in truth, Stahl was feeling rather alone more often than not these passed few days. The wolf felt like he simply wasn't able to connect with Aster the way he needed to since that battle... A feeling that was only going to get worse before the night was through. As the ashen wolf stood and stretched, he casually spoke to those around the campsite.
"I'm going to go check on Aster. I'll be back in a moment." Rust chimed in enthusiastically.
"Can I come?" Stahl mused at the eagerness, but softly turned down the offer.
"I think you should be getting some rest soon, Rust." The fox frowned a bit at the rejection, but nodded in understanding. His uncle was still easy for the cub to read. He saw what Stahl had believed was hidden away. Rust watched him go for a moment before standing himself, stretching into a yawn much as Stahl had moments before. The cub spoke nonchalantly.
"Well, nature calls..." The little fox disappeared into the woods a moment later, going the opposite direction of his uncle to make his story more believable. Just as he made it out of sight, the cub cocked a half smile, and whispered quietly into the thicket.
"Mark." It seemed some habits were hard to shake for the adolescent... Eavesdropping being the one in question. In truth, it may have been a good thing Byron Aschefell encouraged such a trait in his grandson... Rust was trailing his uncle without the wolf ever catching on. Perhaps both wolves had instructed him a bit too well, after all.
The wolf kept his pace, the draft from the north wafting away the fox's scent behind him before it ever reached the beast. Stahl let his tired head process his thoughts on the way, taking a short reprieve to focus on them as he prepared to handle whatever Aster was dealing with all the while. That human kept the beast going strong though, and a single look at Aster was normally all it took for that wolf to know it was all worth it...
Stahl's mother always said he was the most like his father, Silbern included back then... The younger wolf was finally starting to realize how much truth there was to that as of late. Even so, Stahl had one other thing in common with his father that only his mother really ever saw in the older wolf... Something that Byron usually kept well in check by years of practice... Something that Stahl had only recently started to accept, (and hate,) about himself since that first moon with Aster... That possessive and underlying, yet always simmering temper well disguised beneath a sea of cool and calm demeanor. Stahl would be reminded of it once more very shortly.
"You should probably wait until morning. You'll have a clearer head then..." The wolf turned to see the beast speaking to him with a scowl. There was something so infuriatingly hypocritical about that bear, at least in the wolf's eyes. Even so, as Sir Corper leaned against a larger tree right off of the game trail near the river, Stahl quickly asked for some clarification to the warning.
"And why exactly do I need to do that? Did something happen to As-" Stahl abruptly stopped midsentence, the wind finally blowing just the slightest bit from the west, bringing with it an unmistakable scent... His pupils dilated slowly as his eyes widened in the pure shock that overtook him. His mouth parted ever so slightly as he sucked in the shortest breath, right before he stopped breathing entirely. His ears faced forward, alert, and on guard, and even the hackles along his shoulder tips and neck stood on immediate end as that positively insulting scent found the noble wolf at last.
Seething rage... Crippling disbelief... Nauseating disgust... Numbing fear... Unfiltered betrayal... More than anything else, however, giving birth to each of these staggering emotions felt all at once... Was the unmistakable feeling of pain that came when one's heart was breaking... Although, a fiery hatred for that tiger was a very close second in that moment...
Sir Corper watched the wolf cautiously as Stahl's mind struggled to cope with what his nose was telling him. The bear was right to show such caution. Before Stahl even realized what he was doing, the ashen wolf was closing the gap to the river with a snarling growl. Sir Corper never made another move, knowing any words of reason coming from him would only be lost on the wolf in that moment. He had no right to interfere there anyway... However...
"You're not following him. This is their business, and it's no place for children." The bear spoke a bit gruffly towards the seemingly empty forest. A moment later, Rust stepped out of the shadows a few yards away. He spoke with evident worry.
"I've never seen him like that... Never that furious... Are you sure we should be leaving them alone right now?" Sir Corper shook his head slowly, ending with an honest stare towards the cub as he answered.
"Not at all... But they will have to figure this out. We will stay close, just in case we are needed... Especially if your healing is needed... But we shouldn't interfere in something like this lightly." Rust stared off towards the dark woods his uncle had disappeared into with an unshakeable sense that something was about to go very, very wrong. The fox stayed beside the bear regardless though, ready to rush in at a moment's notice, truly fearful for both of his uncles in many different ways.
===
Aster was already fully dressed after washing up, sitting atop that same boulder as before, simply staring up at the stars above once more. He was leaning back loosely on his arms, his mind wandering on all sorts of things... Far more than anything else, though, was Stahl. Aster was glad Oust was finally feeling like an actual person for the first time in his life, something Aster understood deeply... But love with Oust just wasn't the same as Love with Stahl. He didn't regret it, but the human couldn't help but feel he let himself fall too deeply into his own head. Oust fed into those darker desires and thoughts of his a little too well, and it reminded Aster of parts of his own past he assumed he had buried and moved on from. The boy was planning on gathering these thoughts a little better, and going to talk with his wolf about all of it, just like he always did... Little did he realize, the wolf was already well on his way.
Oust was sitting on the edge of the water, wearing only his rolled-up pants as his paws rested beneath the cooling water. The tiger had his eyes closed, letting himself process everything that had happened both recently, and long ago. The beast knew he had even more to figure out now, and knew there were still some painful parts to get passed, but Oust had a shred of hope for the first time in his life. That was enough for the beast, even now knowing that what happened with the runt was probably the only time it would happen... Aster had helped Oust in ways he would always be grateful for, but the tiger knew the score. The wolf had that boy's heart. The wolf was what that human really needed... Aster had confessed as much only moments before as they were cleaning up, after all. Even so, Oust was alright with even just a friend now, to really have someone there that knew nearly everything the tiger had kept to himself.
A snarling presence drew the attention of both warriors from their thoughts. Aster turned to see Stahl emerging from the trail, the boy's smile for his wolf rapidly faded into a frown as he realized something was very, very wrong here. The human hopped off the boulder quickly, his boots crunching in the dirt as the boy called out to his wolf in genuine concern.
"What's wrong? Is Rust alright?" Stahl scoffed loudly at the question... As if Aster didn't already know what was wrong here... Stahl spat his answer back in a tone that brought a sense of panic to Aster... Stahl didn't talk to him like that... Ever.
"What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG?!? ARE YOU FUCKING MESSING WITH ME ASTER? SO MUCH FOR NEEDING SOME TIME ALONE! OR DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT I'M THAT DAMNED STUPID?" Aster froze, his thoughts locking up at the accusations. This wasn't like Stahl at all... The boy was stammering to answer, his fear and uncertainty getting the better of him.
"I... I would never think tha-" Stahl laughed in his face before he ever even finished, taking just a single step closer, bearing his fangs all the while. Aster's hands were trembling... For the first time ever, Stahl was finally making the human afraid of him. Stahl was far too consumed by his rage to ever notice, (or honestly, to even care at that point.) The beast cut back to the conversation at hand sharply.
"Do you think I don't know what happened here? DO YOU THINK I DON'T FUCKING SMELL HIM ALL OVER YOU?!? ANSWER ME ASTER! BY THE FUCKING GODS, ANSWER ME DAMMIT!" Oust was standing as well then. He expected the wolf to hate him, that was nothing new... But he never would've guessed the Aschefell, of all beasts, would unload on the human like that...
Aster took a step back, and Stahl quickly took one forward, closing the gap, leaning over his mate threateningly. The boy wasn't running away from this problem, Stahl wasn't going to let that happen. His piercing gaze was as harsh as his words were. Aster broke out into a cold sweat looking up into those eyes. They were always so soft, and even when they weren't, they were still a constant source of comfort for the human, ever since that first day at the Selection... But in that moment, Aster felt anything but comfort from that icy glare. He opened his mouth to answer, but found barely a squeaky whisper escape his lips.
"Stahl... I- I thought you knew what... I'm sorry... Y-You said-" Stahl towered over the boy, and screamed down at the top of his lungs through his raw heartbreak, losing all rational thoughts as he lost any control he still had remaining. Aster could only cower beneath the threatening maw just above him as the beast spat his poison. Even Stahl was shaking now, albeit, for far different reasons than the human was.
"OH, YOU'RE SORRY? WELL THEN, I GUESS THAT MAKES IT ALL BETTER! GUESS YOU CAN LET THE CAPTAIN RUT AROUND IN YOU NEXT, RIGHT? ALL IT TAKES IS A `SORRY,' AND ASTER CAN JUST FUCK WHOEVER HE FEELS LIKE, RIGHT?" The tears were falling before Aster ever had a chance to stop them. He didn't want this... He never expected this... He didn't deserve this, did he? Stahl said it was alright the first time Aster even kissed Oust... The boy just couldn't figure out why would he say that, and then react like this? Stahl never let up, his rampaging temper proving itself quite formidable at making a mockery of his usual reason... At making a fool of the noble wolf.
"Oh look, Aster made a huge, fucking mess and he's crying about it now. BIG SURPRISE! Always have to have some kind of drama going on that someone else has to come deal with for you, right? FUCK EVERYONE ELSE'S PROBLEMS! LET'S SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME DEALING WITH ASTER'S FEELINGS BEFORE HE SHITS ALL OVER THE ONE'S ACTUALLY HELPING HIM... SO HE CAN GO FUCK SOME FELINE THAT TRIED TO KILL HIM A WEEK AGO!" Aster was already crushed before Stahl ever hammered in that final blow... But as the wolf finished that sentence with such emphasis on a particular word, the boy felt his own anger finally flare, proving once again that he got upset on the behalf of others far more easily than his own... He furrowed his brows as he answered that remark, his voice finally far more than a whisper.
"I was raised by felines, WOLF, so I would appreciate you not using it like some kind of slur, like we still live in the divided ages or something... If you had an issue with this, you should've said so from the start, Stahl... But maybe I was the only one here that was trying to be honest about everything. I DON'T lie to you Stahl... But it's becoming clear that you certainly haven't been saying how you really feel... Maybe not about anything between us apparently..." Stahl barked back, feeling even more frustrated than before.
"Oh, don't you worry, Aster, I'm letting you know EXACTLY how I'm feeling!" The boy cut the beast back on purpose this time, the pair quickly falling into the cycle of hurting one another.
"Oh, I see it... I see lots of things I didn't before... But I never saw this... I never thought you, of all people, would ever make me feel like this, Stahl..." The wolf shouted his reply at the top of his lungs.
"ONCE AGAIN, IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW ASTER FEELS! NEVER MIND HOW YOU'VE MADE ME FEEL... You know something? You were right back then... You are a terrible mate..." Aster recoiled at that remark, lowering his tear-streaked eyes as his own heart was truly crushed by the spite behind those words. Aster didn't want to fight anymore, that wicked jab had taken the last of that from him... But Stahl's eyes finally caught sight of something...
Just barely peeking out of Aster's shirt collar, there was some kind of a cut. Before Stahl even realized what he was doing, he scrunched up the front of Aster's shirt in his fist, and snatched the boy closer as he examined the shoulder. Stahl pulled the fabric loose some with his free hand, and simply stared at the four claw marks over the flesh there. Aster could feel the wolf tremble more violently with every passing second he just focused on that wound. Finally, the beast did speak again... In a shaky, hysterical voice that was barely audible at first, growing into a roar as the sentence went on.
"You... Hahaha... By the gods... Aster, you... YOU LET HIM FUCKING MARK YOU?!?" Before Aster ever had a chance to answer that, the wolf did something that he would look back on, and regret for many years to come... (As he would when looking back on most of that night.) Stahl lifted Aster roughly off of the ground by his grip on the shirt, turned with the action, and threw the boy to the side, still growling ferociously as the human landed in the dirt. Just as Oust was finally intervening with a worried, "HEY!" Stahl was already drawing his swords, and rushing towards the tiger. The noble wolf was officially out for blood... And the mountain was stirring.
The moment he heard the first inaudible yell from his uncle in the distance, Rust immediately started towards the river. Sir Corper let out a long sigh, and trailed behind the fox. It seemed a peaceful resolution was becoming less likely by the second. The duo approached steadily, the occasional loudly spoken words were too muffled for the fox to really comprehend, but Rust could at least discern that it was bad... Really bad if his uncle Stahl was reacting so violently... By the time they made it through the brush, Stahl and Oust were already locked in a fight to the death... The tiger was bleeding badly from a deep gash just over the left side of his collarbone. Stahl really was aiming for his head.
Rust frantically tried to yell something as he emerged, but was silenced along with the other beasts present when every single one of them were forced to a kneel. Aster had finally rose to his feet, his own sense of betrayal giving the human the strength to do what he needed to. Aster had used the heartbeat... It was the only thing he had left that he could do against that wolf... Stahl had proven he could beat Aster in a fair fight countless times, after all, and the boy didn't even have his staff, not that it would have made any difference anyhow. Oust, Rust, and Corper all gave the pair a little distance as they recovered from the heartbeat's effects... They could feel what was happening, and all three of them realized exactly how serious this was becoming. Rust began tending to Oust's wound as Aster kept the wolf busy. Sir Corper was preparing to intervene himself if needed...
As Stahl's pursuit was forced to a halt, the wolf glared back at the boy in both unfaltering fury, and shock. Aster did not strike a second time, he never even wanted to the first... He just had to stop this, and had no other choice. Stahl rose, staring down his mate with a pained, but careful expression. Lines were being drawn... Defenses were going up ... Stands were taken... And positions were made clear... The boy and his wolf were eyeing each other in silence. It was like they were on entirely different planets in that moment... It was as if a tangible divide was forming between them, they could both just feel it. For the shortest glimpse, for just the shortest second... They were standing across from one another as enemies... And then the loudest roar of exploding rock and splitting earth finally pulled their gazes from each other.
The fissure from the mountain to the north was caving in at an alarming rate, the first small cracks traced themselves directly beneath Aster's feet before either warrior truly realized what was going on. The wolf and his boy barely had time to make eye contact again before the chasm disintegrated the earth around them. It stole their very purchase on the soil beneath them almost immediately, swallowing them both up as the land itself was torn in half around their positions. Aster and Stahl fell into the darkness as Sir Corper snatched a hold of Rust, turned to the west, and ran as quickly as he could alongside Oust, barely escaping the decaying jungle and the growing fissure before they too, were swallowed by the fault left in its wake...
The young fox was screaming for the bear to put him down, struggling vainly to free himself, to somehow do the impossible and save his uncles... He frantically shouted his trigger a moment later, jumping from the bear's grasp at last. He scrambled to the edge of the chasm, falling to all fours as he peered into the seemingly bottomless scar now cutting across the thicket. The divide formed had to be hundreds of meters across... The camp now seeming miles away as the three were effectively robbed of any hopes of crossing back over... Even Rust couldn't jump that far. The fox realized how hopeless everything was... His uncles were both gone without a trace... Oust and Corper were the only ones with him anymore... And there was no way to reach the rest of their party from across those freshly carved cliffs... Rosten Aschefell could only weep in utter defeat as the two beasts behind him tried to make sense of what had just happened...
Suddenly, a bit of hope was restored, as Rust caught the faintest hint of a golden glow far below, deep in the shadowy depths of the divide. Aster was alive... Maybe that would be enough to keep Stahl alive too, at least, until the fox could reach them... The cub called back to the bear as he stood.
"Aster is still down there... So Stahl may be down there with him... In my training, I've only made it about sixty feet... I don't think I can actually do it, but I have to try and reach them... I can't just leave them down there and do nothing... Mar-" Rust crumpled on the spot, Sir Corper knocking him out cold before he ever got the trigger out again. The bear reached down, picked up the adolescent fox, and gently laid him over his shoulder. He turned to Oust, who was staring at his master in shock. Corper answered the unspoken question.
"He can move from one place to another instantly. It's a bloodskill, and a bit of a secret... But he would kill himself trying to reach that far, and I can't keep a grip on him when he uses it... So this was the next best option... If the human survived, the wolf survived too... He wouldn't let him fall alone, and we both know that. Letting this cub jump to his death after them wouldn't help anything." Oust was a bit shocked by the news of the bloodskill, but understood. His teacher had made the right call... But...
"Even if they are alive... Will they be alright? That wolf pretty well lost it back there..." The bear chuckled a bit, even in the face of such marring circumstances.
"Don't worry... I imagine they've managed to get over that VERY quickly given where they are now... I have no idea what's truly going on here... But it is no accident... Something powerful is at play here, young one... Power like that human holds... The kind of power you don't go picking fights with. I think we need to get far away from here, because that seems to be the clear message to us right now..." Oust turned to his mentor, staring in worry as he responded.
"So we abandon them down there?" The veteran shook his head slowly as he replied.
"This is no accident... If whatever wields that power wanted them dead, there were easier ways to do it... The river is gone, claimed by the fault as well... But a new one will form in its absence. Remember, flow with the river. Sometimes that means an abrupt change of course. Sometimes it is following a new current entirely. Let's see where these waters want to lead us." The bear spoke nothing else of the matter, stepping off towards the west, the side of the line they had been ushered to. He did bring up another conversation, however, as his pupil trailed behind him.
"So... Did the sex help with the clarity at least? Feeling less cranky now?" Oust flustered bright red on the spot. Sir Corper could only chuckle. Somehow, the bear just knew... They were on the right path.
===
Flose was crouched over his sketch book as usual, bundled safely beneath his cloak in the dark of the night, closely comparing the leaf Mercy had brought to him with the picture he had copied from the book of herbs. With a heavy sigh, Flose turned to the little chirpy bird, and gave his answer.
"No good... They should grow around here somewhere though... We just have to keep looking, Mercy... Remember, white flower, orange center... I thought Daisies would be common in this thicket... Never imagined it would be the one ingredient we couldn't find..." The feral little bird chirped her response, forcing a smile on the cloaked figure. Flose answered in appreciation.
"Thank you... But don't worry, I'm not giving up all hope yet! Rest for a while longer, and we can check to the east after..." Just as Flose finished that statement, a low rumble became quickly noticeable beneath his feet. It erupted into a quaking tremor as the very ground shook and rattled beneath him. Mercy was flying above him, chirping and calling out all sorts of warnings, but all Flose could do was simply brace himself on all fours while the fissure carved its path through the thicket. A moment later, and the quake abruptly stopped, leaving Flose feeling a bit jarred from the event. Mercy darted off high above the trees, returning a moment later to deliver her report. Flose's eyes went wide at the statement, quickly asking for more clarification about the intel.
"To which direction? Are we cut off?" The bird happily chirped her response, and Flose let out a heavy sigh of relief. It had carved the gorge to the east, meaning he could return by the west or the north still. He stood, gathering both his things, and his thoughts before he called out to his feathered friend.
"Looks like there's no point in searching east then... let's go west for now, we may just be searching too deeply in the heart of this forest. They like sun, and they wouldn't get that with these trees..." The cardinal perched on his shoulder once more as it chirped in agreement, offering more encouragement afterwards. Flose forced another smile in response.
"Yeah... I'm sure we will... They are going to be alright... We will find some way to help them... This medicine will work... It has to..." Flose tightened his fists, hardened his resolve, and stepped off towards the west. Neither the stillness of the night, nor the quaking of any stone would be enough to stop him from finding that way, to finding some solution that could save those precious lives hanging in the balance. There was far too much at stake for him not to. Just as he made it the first few steps, Flose paused for just the shortest second, and let out a quick cough that had been itching at the back of his throat. He carried on afterwards, never giving the first sign a second thought.
===
Javis was breathing heavily, each labored draw beneath the broken ribs excruciating. His fingers and hands were well numb by that point, a dull ache that merely lingered now... The spikes the tiger had driven through his palms to pin him against the door still hurt, but was merely a drop in the bucket at this point. The acting head of the Venatus household never turned his resenting gaze away from the tiger general before him, he would stare him in the eyes until it was over... Another bead of sweat rolled down his back as the door he was nailed to heated ever more from the fire contained just behind it. The Venatus home, was burning... Javis had failed to defend against the attack, the remaining staff were slaughtered and being burned inside the mansion, and he was nailed to the front door as it all collapsed behind him. The general only smiled in delight at his art.
"There is something truly satisfying about starting on a project you've put off for far too long." Javis replied in kind, his voice thick with fatigue.
"Ah, a noble sentiment at last... Pity it is wasted on the likes of you." Reiner Candori laughed loudly at the beaten foe.
"I could say the same for you... I'd much rather see that mongrel you fought so hard to protect pinned to that door instead... But I'll simply have to comfort myself knowing his time is coming as well..." Javis forced a ragged laugh this time, the flames building up around the door more than ever all the while.
"If you think you'll ever reach him so easily-" The general's wicked smile was proudly displayed as he cut the antelope off.
"Oh, I will never reach him... As much as it pains me, I have more pressing concerns than chasing down rodents that believe themselves free to scurry beneath my baseboards... But don't you fret, I wouldn't want you going to the afterworld thinking you'll be separated for long... I'll have him sent to join you shortly. I've chosen quite the messenger for such a task, and the delivery is always promised to be swift. I imagine she should be reaching him within the next few days... You'd be amazed how quickly you can travel with a bloodskill like ours..." Javis hacked out a dying cough, the smoke choking him more and more as his eyes watered from the sting. Even still, even as his back truly started to burn along with that door... Javis flashed a smile to the tiger. His dying words were laced with a mocking tone that infuriated the general to new extents. Reiner Candori wouldn't truly understand what that buck meant by these words for quite some time... But one day soon, he certainly would... Aster was going to make SURE of that...
"Long live the king..." As the caretaker smiled in his victory, the tiger general finally lost his composure, quickly struck forward, and snapped the buck's neck with a swift movement. Javis fell limp, and the general seethed, robbed of his amusement... Robbed of hearing that beast scream as he burned with the walls he had helped such weakness to grow within. The tiger snarled in anger, but the buck was already at peace. Javis had done his part, and it was time for some well earned rest... His three boys could handle things from there.
===
First, clarifications for last chapter. Aster did not compare Oust to Stahl at any time during the scene. That was my description to try and give you an idea of what Oust was working with, not the human's own thoughts. Aster was pretty well focused on Oust then. Aster gave you plenty of valid reasons to be angry with him, but that one was my bad on wording. Ill fix it with the official rewrite of book 1.
Now, for this chapter... Yes, Stahl crossed a lot of lines. Some would say downright abusive. This is their first major argument, and he lost his temper among his insecurity and he said some really hateful shit that he's going to regret. But there was a lot of truth behind that anger as well... Something I myself have done when I was young and found myself in a similar situation as the wolf. Byron Aschefell will be giving better insight to this family trait in a coming chapter, as the rest of the Aschefell mystery is revealed. Learning to control a temper like that takes a lot of effort, and practice.
The point is, neither are entirely in the right, neither are entirely wrong. Both have faults, just like the real damn world. The next chapter, they have some very raw, emotional, and real conversations between them... and yes, conversations, not screaming matches that such arguments can easily start as... Because that's what led to this whole fiasco anyway, not communicating their true feelings. Give. Me. Time. Please. Let me show you what I'm doing.
I know these chapters are kinda bummers right now, but there are good things coming. I hope I was clear on describing the fissure. I felt I couldn't word it correctly no matter what. Oh, and Flose can speak to feral animals per their bloodskill. Idk if I made that clear enough either. (Yes, Aster's conversation with Oust before Stahl showed up will be talked about next chapter too.)
Sorry, just trying to make sure I tell a story you enjoy. Lot of moving pieces colliding right now, and it's a low point for many of these characters. Thanks again for the patience, and feedback. I always appreciate hearing it. If you have any questions, or want any clarifications, feel free to ask! Thank you for reading! -Pup Bayou.