Who's saving who now?

Everyone is waiting in anticipation. Curious on the entails of a human wedding. Excitement abuzz to lay witness to a goblin being with a human. Rox gently places Kiaha down and points Jeana and her off towards their mother Rose.

"Dad." Rox speaks firmly to his father. "We are not doing this here. I'm going to the woods with Sophia over there. If you wish to talk then you can follow."

Rox takes my hand and we head for the forest. He yells over his shoulder. "No one else will disturb us outside of family!"

I'm embarrassed for being the center of attention. Yet the way Rox speaks here with authority is fairly different from his go with the flow attitude. Rox keeps leading me into the forest. The full moon lights the normally dark forest floor. Most of the leaves are gone from the trees as well. The earthy smell I have come to love is strong here.

"I'm sorry Sophie. I had no idea they would go that far." Rox is clearly upset but not towards me. He let's my hand go and paces the forest floor.

"It's alr-"

"It's not alright. They aren't respecting you!" His voice is raised.

I have never seen him this way. The sheer fact he is this worked up over me makes me both happy and nervous. I've seen men defend their loved ones and I have also seen men control everything of their wife out of love. How do I react to this? He has always gave me freedom so I have faith it's from the stress from something new and things not going as he had hoped. It might be best to try to calm him down first.

"Could they be overly excited for you to bring a girl home? You made it sound like I'm a first for that aspect." I ask quietly.

"You are. Many have tried and my parents even have tried setting things up for me. I don't want them to scare you off. You're the only one that wants to be with me for me. Not some title of me being the next chief because I'm strong or the chief's grandson." Rox quiets down.

"Oh really? Next chief? So you're strong?" I say jokingly bending down a touch so I can look up to him more with my hands behind my back. I smile and a smile begins to tug on his lips.

He told me how he turned down the title of chief a few years ago. There are a few other guys training to take on the title. All of this happened because he over heard a conversation of the girl he liked talking to a friend of hers. She only looked at him because of the title. He dropped the bouquet of wildflowers there in the mud and stopped looking at the village girls the same.

"What you won't take my word on being one of the strongest?" His smile is mischievous. "Not many can spar with Grandpa for as long as I can."

He had you on the run earlier but if I say that now I will be rubbing salt in that wound. Standing up straight, I stretch my arms out to signal for a hug since he could use one. He wraps me in his arms and I give him a squeeze. 

A snapping twig makes us break our embrace. His parents emerge from behind trees. Noax is no longer smiling and has a concerned look. Rose and the kids are behind him.

"Was the wedding not to your liking?" He asks us.

Rox looses it. He storms towards his parents just to be shot maybe 15 possibly even 20 feet into the air from a foot trap snare. He is bouncing and swinging around cursing and getting hit in the head.

"I had this set up for you to fall in last week!" Rox yells pointing at his father. He tries to shift small hoping to break free but fails.

"Yup! And I made it bigger and better. Do you not remember who taught you how to set this trap?" Noax laughs very loudly. Rose and the kids snickers with him.

The only thing I can think or focus on was how to get Rox down. My mind races on which way is the best then Rox slows down on bobbing on the end of the rope. Since he shifted smaller he is really high up and he can't shift back or it could really hurt his foot. If I cut the rope he could crack his skull open. I need Rogue to get me closer to him.

I whistle loud and yell for Rogue. He bursts from the trees to be beside me. Dot not far behind him. I climb onto his back and get beneath Rox. Standing carefully on Rogue's back my head is level with Rox's while he dangles upside down.

"Hey." I say shyly. 

"Hey." He says his face blushing. Probably from hanging upside down.

"Who's saving who now?" I whisper.

"You haven't even sav-" He starts but someone cut the rope and I catch him like a little child before he falls far.

I smile at him and he pouts as I lower us down on Rogue. I give Rox a hug and he hugs back shifting his size so I'm the one being held.

"Thank you." He whispers into my ear.

"Anytime. Now what should we do with the crowd gathering behind us?" I ask quietly, shaking with nerves. He smooths my hair so I won't look at the crowd.

"We have a track history of running from things but I do want to be able to come back here. Even if I don't want to be the next leader. I want to be on good terms and see how well my sisters grow up. And keep Kiaha from Joshua if I can." Rox says with a smile.

"Alright nothing to see here. Go back." Says Rox's grandfather to the crowd.

Everyone starts to scurry away besides Rox's family. Faint whispers break out as they make their way back to the fire. Rox and I get off of Rogue, who is side eyeing Rox for his weight. Grandpa is still standing around waiting for the others to leave. 

"The tribe has recognized your strength with being able to command the untamable dire wolf." Grandpa comes to stand infront of Rox and I. "There was a rumor of who ever could tame the untamable would be the a powerful ruler over the tribe. Many tried and failed then the village was whispering of Rogue listening to Rox. No one knew why by he would follow him on random days. That's when I overheard Rox speaking the name Sophia and watched the wolf's eyes change with excitement. Tell me how did you train this wolf."

I'm a little taken back with the turn of events. The truth is always the best spoken word so that is what I will give him. Even if it sounds completely crazy.

"Staring contests, stratches and telling him he is a good boy." I say just above a whisper. Why of all times am I shy? Could be the fact I crossed sword with the man.

"Staring contests?" Grandpa looks confused. "The game kids would play? Or a skilled fighter would use to observe their opponent?"

"Yea. I just stared at him and when he broke eye contact I would scratch his chin. My brother's beast tamer friend told me about it. It doesn't work on every animal and can make some meaner but it worked with Rogue." I rambled on thanks to my nerves.

Grandpa looked at the wolf laying down behind me. "Interesting. Anyways you are skilled and with how much you care for Rox. I approve of you. But your swordwork needs work so train harder there." Grandpa turns on his heel and leaves into the shadows of the trees. 

I'm approved?

"We are very sorry." Noax says approaching us with Rose and the kids beside him. "We pranked you more than we should have. The excitement got to us. Rox never showed interest in anyone before and a human to boot. We show how much we care by how many pranks we pull on each other but we now know we went a little too far tonight."

"A little? How did you all learn about a wedding?" Says Rox then he looks at the little girls. "I have a feeling you two are in on it too now."

"Moss told us Sophia wanted to get married. And we really really REALLY like her!" Jeana starts.

"So we thought why not throw a wedding? Then we can have a new sister. We want her to stay!" Kiaha explains further.

"You four don't even know human culture. Typically we would need to have a period of engagement before a wedding." Rox explains.

"Then engage her bro!" Kiaha shouts.

"I would need a ring!" Rox shouts back.

"You don't need a ring for engagement." I blurt. Everyone looks my way. The ball of nerves in my stomach is unreal. "I mean. I don't have to have a ring... if a special someone asked... me..."