Chapter 24

Rook trailed after me as I strolled into the thicket of a secretive area. I heard his every breath, increasing heartbeat, as we near the Gem Wolves. The Prince isn’t so oblivious to not know at my command, they will devour him. If he did something they did not like, they would rip him to shreds. Ruthlessly and painfully, each bite would be fueled by outrage and resentment. The Gem Wolves both revered and tolerated Kazo’s proxy but a Dulling?

He stood little chance of refuge with them, allyship. When most of your species is an enemy, how do you proceed to grow stable ties?

What do you do when your ancestors or even family wronged a certain group?

“I mustn’t bury it,” Rook whispered to himself in promise. Every step, his words grew more resolved. “My accountability will be awareness. Kindness will be both their and my medicine. To prevent a plague of hate, you must prevent further spread.” It was a prayer, to one of the Nine, perhaps, but I did not know which. “Focus, Rook. Don’t be afraid. This is just another trial that comes with leading a kingdom in the future.”

Rook exhaled softly, voice still low. “If I cannot save a single friend, how can I claim to protect what I can?”

I do not think he knows I can hear him. Called a ‘Beast’ by his peers, he likely did not attribute the title to special features aside from appearance.

I was never offended by the title because it offered intimidation. Labeled me as an outsider, a creature from elsewhere.

To stand out meant to have freedom of choice, while the rest of the world tried to cut you down.

I am used to such treatment. As are my wolves, and so I feel more inclined to protect them fiercely.

Speaking of wolves, I heard Ruby bustling through sandy dirt.

I opened my arms, expecting a tackling hug.

Instead, the red blur barrelled Rook to the ground with a baby snarl.

Rook went down like a champion, yelling and flabbergasted from the heavy hitter. His clean clothes are ruffed up with dirt in seconds, Ruby bearing teeth in his face. To the young Dullings credit, he didn’t do more other than dig the heels of expensive shoes into the ground. His arms remain pinned by the small, but powerful pup. Rook’s eyes remain locked on the growling wolf, mouth frozen in a frantic smile.

“Ruby,” I clicked my teeth. “Don’t kill him. He wants to help.” And isn’t that grand? I’d rather not solo this type of mission.

Hostages are always a different obstacle to tackle, a unique pressure to endure. I can process the difficulty later, right now, I have to lead.

Ruby pulled off with a hesitant paw-side step, but they circled the prince in caution. It’s a familiar suspicion, and the sight warmed my heart from pride. They’ve come far, yet still remain grounded in their old ways!

“Gems,” Rook wheezed in awe as he sat up to stare. “I didn’t know their fur would sparkle. Why not yours? Or Ivory?”

What an odd question. “I don't need such a useless appearance shift.” Besides, mint fur and the added bonus was enough to adjust to. “Get up, Opal isn’t here, so I’ll have to step in as a substitute." At least Ebony trained harshly trained me for this kind of extreme circumstance. “Stay behind me, Ruby, protect his back and throat.”

Ruby puffed, with the attitude of a displeased cat. What a wolf, that one is.

Within two minutes, Rook right behind and Ruby lurking, there is a crunch of leaves.

One by one, growls began to join together in tandem. Starry, shining coats began to glitter in the shaded area of leaves, branches and sticks. The Gem Wolves are not bothered by the possibility of sharp wood and scrapping paws, they were all focused on Rook. One snapped their jaws, teeth bared.

Ah, that must be the sound of wolves recognizing a previous aggressor.

I tapped my foot once, twice, and watched as Ruby headbutted a wolf from attempting to lunge at a flinching Rook. The Prince attempted to step closer to me, but aborted the movement at the last second. A good choice, I had little patience for decreased distance. Not when he was still new, and I, still burned by Dulling cruelty.

“Attention, my wolf brethren!” With a hard slam of a foot to the ground, ear tufts high and demanding. “Ivory and Ebony, my brothers, your fellows, have been captured by the enemy!”

The growls fell silent. The wind offered a breeze but not a single wolf stopped to lick their fangs.

I feel Rook’s eyes on my neck, he goes ignored as I distinctly feel a brush of ConfusionWorryFear touch my mind.

“Queen Wazir demanded I trade you for them.” I told the truth with heated blood in my veins.

The atmosphere grows cold as many fluffy ears perk up, insulted.

“She believes us to be malleable. She is wrong.” I snapped my fangs down on air.

“That Dulling thinks of us as simpleminded. That she has won the game. She will face consequences for striking Opal down.” I shut my eyes, regret under the tongue. “I want to hold vigil after we succeed. For Opal, we will win.”

At the namedrop, and news of a fallen, multiple wolves jumped back on all fours, fur standing. It could be from mourning, but all I can sense in the air is simmering rage. A slow-crawl of building emotion ready to bite at the slightest movement.

“This is the end stretch. Those idiots have destroyed the book, took my brothers by force, but Opal gifted me their power of ownership. Even now, I can feel their memories of the spell, Opal had read it.” The rosy gem pulsed in my pocket. “They trusted me with their gem and life knowledge, because they could feel my resolve. My resolve to help you, and to save my brothers. I would have never given you up. It would’ve betrayed what I stood for; I am to protect you as I to them.” My claws gestured to the prince behind me.

“Wazir’s kin has long taken a liking to Ivory,”

Rook hacked a wheeze he desperately tried to cover up.

“This prince has requested to aid in freeing him, along with Ebony. Do you see? If a single Dulling wishes to help us, then this world is not completely lost. We may leave these selfish beings in the dust, but we are not so prideful to reject a common enemy for an afternoon. All to rescue what we held dear. We will not give up on ourselves, nor on who we lost, or can save.”

Ebony and Ivory. Are they still awake from their wounds? Are they being bled out, a cruel trick to be greeted to corpses when I arrive?

I refused. I refused. I refused.

I will end those Dullings if either of my siblings are damaged beyond their capability. Harmed to the point of tears, of begging. I will not accept it.

I will crush those inhumane skulls. Taste blood on my fangs in offering to Kazo because I’d give that Nine many guilty lives if it meant those two stayed healthy.

Ruby whined, pitched and attention grabbing.

I inhaled deeply, exhaling as Rook’s iron-hot glance became something more somber. Pitying.

What a day.

“Come, my flock, my pack,” I raised a clawed fist. “Today, we strike first, and our foe will bleed. Immensely, and without mercy.” I cocked my head upward. “We avoided bloodshed long enough. It is time to show these cretins what wolves can do when they want to bite.”