Chapter 24: Worries

Shortly after the prince's party made camp for the night around the wagon, Aster settled in beside his wolf for a bit of rest after a steady walk through the day. The other beasts were circled around as well, listening to Milky strum around the campfire Dally was busy tending to. Oust and Sir Corper stepped away first, Oust eager to become even stronger through his efforts. Captain Rix allowed his own student about an hour of rest before standing, and turning towards Aster, surprising everyone present by not yelling as he spoke.

“Panther's son, come. The rest of you seem capable of handling your own training at this point, but me and the boy still have work to do." Aster simply gave Stahl's leg two quick pats in parting, and stood in place, eager to see what else the bull had been holding back from him. The pair stepped off a ways, leaving the camp behind just as nightfall really started to overtake the land. Stahl watched the pair go for a moment before he heard a light cough to his left, turning to see Rust ready to speak to him at last since that morning's conversation. The fox wouldn't really make eye contact with his uncle, but he spoke confidently enough.

“Can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?" The wolf gave the cub a bit of a somber stare in return before nodding, rising to split off from the group as well for a while. Tyfin looked over to see the crocodile, Fraxis, already fast asleep, and turned back towards the musician Dally, finding himself and the husky alone at last, save for Milky. The prince spoke calmly to the canine.

“So, will Mist be alright? She seems pretty out of it still." The husky simply looked up to the lion, and smiled his usual, carefree smile.

“She will be fine! Her magic just takes a lot out of her sometimes. If she doesn't wake up soon, she probably will by tomorrow evening." The prince answered that casually.

“I see. I assume this is something you've dealt with often if you have it down to such timing?" The musician looked away for a moment, setting down his mug of beer for a while as he did so. He looked back to the young king once more, his smile as persistent as ever as he spoke a bit too cheerily.

“Something you just want to ask me, your highness? Or would you rather keep trying to make me slip up for clues?" Prince Tyfin held his composure, but was admittedly surprised. Most people wouldn't call royalty out like that. He was growing fond of this canine, despite feeling a bit ashamed of the tactic he had tried.

“My apologies, it is simply something that makes me worry… I don't mean to pry into your personal business, I just wonder if something similar is happening to Lady Alice." The bard picked his mug back up, barking out a happy reply as he did so.

“Understandable! I don't really know all the details myself, but sometimes, when she has to use a stronger spell, it knocks her out for a while. Usually its simply a handful of nights, two to three, but on rare occasions, up to a week. I can't say for sure that is what is happening with your mage… But I suppose it isn't outside the realm of possibility." Prince Tyfin frowned, looking away. That just didn't seem to be the same… Alice had been awake before their first encounter with the musicians, and didn't use any magic then. It was like she was choosing to stay asleep… The husky spoke again, stepping away to refill his mug as he talked to the young king.

“My advice, in all my years of traveling this continent, is to keep working with what you have. To keep pushing forward no matter what unknown threat chases behind you, no matter the routes you may be forced to take. I guess what I mean, is to trust in those beside you, and to support them however they may need, regardless of the reasoning or where they have been… But I am a lowly bard, so my advice may not be fitting for a king." The husky returned, his own mug topped off, and another prepared for the prince. The canine offered the drink to the lion with a mock up of his usual bow, and Tyfin accepted it with thanks.

The young king may not have gotten the answers he wanted, but he felt a little less worried about the calico mage still sleeping peacefully in the wagon. The lion brought the mug to his lips as his mind wandered over the possibilities while the fluffy white beast strummed on in the background. Eventually, after taking a long sip of his drink, Tyfin asked another question.

“If I may, where are you heading? I don't wish to nose into your business…" Dally let out his cheery chuckle as he answered the regal beast.

“It's fine, your highness. It can't be easy making small talk when you're a king without it sounding like you've taken a special interest. We are heading South, after we split with your group tomorrow. We are going to follow the thicket line all the way down to where it breaks, just on the outskirts of your territory. From there, we are crossing into Alora, hitting a few smaller towns on the way to the larger markets. Probably go out of the way to visit some of the port towns, Milky really loves the ocean. They use seashells as picks for their lute sometimes, so they will spend HOURS looking for the right ones." The prince smiled at the thought, responding in turn.

“I'm sure their delight is as evident as ever. I'm glad to hear that. So you merely travel then? No real place to call home, but nothing to tie you down? I have to admit, I'm almost a bit envious." Dally chuckled again when he replied.

“Never thought I'd hear a king say he was jealous of me, but I'll be sure to let it go to my head, least until Mist wakes up." The canine gave a playful wink to the lion before continuing. “In all seriousness though, it has its ups and downs… But I do have a place to call home. This wagon is my home. Mist is my home. Milky is my home. I know that sounds a tad generic… But it doesn't mean it's any less true you know… How about you? Do you have somebody who feels like home?" Tyfin looked away, frowning just a bit at the question. The husky was about to change the subject amid the awkward pause, but the lion finally answered in a faster tone.

“Yes… But I am… Uncertain of some things now… I will be expected to be a king since my father is gone... That duty may pose… Challenges… Even more than that… I have learned of some troubling things that happened with this person in the past. I worry it may come between us moving forward." Dally's smile faded to a smug smirk as he answered the young prince matter-of-factly.

“That's easy. Simply don't let it come between you. There are things I STILL don't fully accept about Mist… And to tell you the truth, we aren't exactly conventional in most ways… But to love unconditionally is exactly that. To love them regardless. Yes, we always have to push each other to be better, to be how we know we can be… But sometimes, people are allowed to have their moments of weakness. Sometimes, we are all allowed to be shitty people for a while. I think most of us can look back and both admit that, and grow from it, if we want to that is… But I'm just a tipsy bard rambling on now…" Dally passively looked down into his mug as he mumbled that last part to himself. A soft smile grew over the young prince's muzzle as he answered the dog kindly.

“No… That's… Actually really helpful. Thank you for the input… Hey, Dally?" The husky lifted his gaze up to meet the lion's once more, raising an eyebrow in question. Tyfin continued, feeling a bit embarrassed by the statement all the same. “If you ever end up needing a place to call home, Alora could always use a bit more music. If nothing else, maybe come play for some festivals in the Capital… Just, the invite is there if you ever find yourself in need of it... Or simply want it." The husky only smiled genuinely as he let those words float in the air. Dally raised his free hand up to touch the brim of his large, feathered hat, and nodded ever so slightly, tipping his hat in an honest gesture of thanks to the prince. The bard took another swig of his drink, closed his eyes, and scoffed before he spoke.

“So that's what that grumpy old bear sees in you… I get it now. I look forward to the songs I'll write about you, King Tyfin Tonitrus." Dally drank another swallow of the beer beside the flickering firelight. Prince Tyfin simply gazed up at the starry sky, pondering what a life of freedom on the open road would really be like, all the while knowing such a reality was as out of his reach as the stars above were.

===

The captain decided that his pupil had rested long enough, and it was time to continue pushing the boy passed his limits, so that's exactly what he did. He ran the human through drill after drill, working him for well over an hour. Aster was currently finishing with a set of pushups, the bull's heavy axe resting on his shoulders as he did so. The human was feeling the effects, but was actually enjoying the intense workout at this point. It kept his mind busy, and felt much better now that his sore muscles had been soothed by Rust's magic, so Aster rose to this challenge just the same as usual. His steady determination was only pulled away when the bull spoke something in a more quiet tone.

“Good. Your body is growing by the day, Panther's son. A few moons ago, you would have been exhausted by this point. Do ten more and let's move on." As Aster dipped back down, a bead of sweat rolled off his nose. When he pushed himself back up, he asked his mentor a question between his grunts.

“Hey Captain… I'm not complaining, but why aren't you yelling?" The bull went silent for a bit before answering his charge.

“Of the remaining few that travel alongside us, only one has not yet proven their value to me. The rest of you have earned my respect." The human felt a bit surprised by that answer, replying with another question.

“I don't think I follow… So you only yelled because you didn't respect us?" The captain huffed a bit, delving deeper in his explanation.

“It was something my father taught me. You spoke with him briefly, I assume you remember how he talked? The broken sentences? Yeah, that was all mostly a show for him. As long as people think you're the dumbest person in the room, they will think they are safe to reveal more than they should. My father chose to speak as little as possible, and over the years, it gained him some valuable intel. For me, I choose to speak loudly when dealing with new recruits. Keeps them in line, makes them believe I am simply a stupid brute, and that lets me get behind their defenses to see what I have to work with without the hindrance of their renown or pride getting in my way. Does that help explain it?" Aster was struggling to finish off the last two reps, but replied to the bovine through his shaky grunts.

“I guess that makes sense… But why now? I couldn't have impressed you that much…" Captain Rix actually let out a small laugh at that remark.

“You only say that because you weren't caught in the path of that heartbeat… And to tell you the truth, I am also just so very tired, Panther's son, far too tired to hold that act together anymore." The bull reached down and pulled his axe off the human's back, allowing Aster to recover to a sitting position shortly after. The boy took a moment to catch his breath before answering that remark.

“You mean Mollis, right?" The great bovine looked away, staring up at the stars reflecting in the night sky above as he shouldered the weight of his axe. The captain took a deep breath in, and did something rare for the bull, he spoke about his own problems.

“Mollis is a large part of it… I never expected to outlive him if I am being honest… I had my father's estate lined up to be inherited by him and everything…" The bull paused for a moment to gather himself before continuing on. “But now? I just don't know. As far as anyone left back home knows, the Rixator line has been completely decimated. I have much I will have to sort out there when I return, but for now, that should be the least of my worries… I really am so tired… This will be my last mission, for a while at least." Aster sat up a bit straighter at that revelation. He spoke with a tone of worry.

“Wait… Last mission? You're retiring?" The captain laughed, bellowing in his more familiar, hearty tone before answering his student.

“A knight of Alora never truly retires, certainly not before their fiftieth year… But yes, I'll Be taking a leave of absence, at least for a while. I need time to rebuild my team, to rebuild my home. I need to start preparing for what comes next for my house. I need something new to fight for, a future that drives me to be better… I don't know what that is yet… But I will find it, I just know it… Until then, preparing you is one of my two missions left, so, Panther's son, are you ready to try some new techniques?" With both the conversation and the bull's emotions both tucked back away, Aster simply smiled, happy his captain had opened up to him, even if only a little. The boy looked up to the great bovine with a determined smile, and spoke in his excitement.

“Yes Sir… And Captain?" The large bovine turned back to face his student, tossing a passing glance in response over his shoulder. Aster took the cue, speaking the last part from his heart.

“Whenever you do rebuild your team… I hope you'll keep a place on it open for me." The great bull only snorted in response, turning his gaze back forward, hiding his evident smile from the boy's view as he answered.

“As if I'd ever let you off that easily. Now, get your scrawny ass over here, it's time to see what else you can do."

===

Stahl walked a good ways off from the others, he had a decent guess as to what his nephew wanted to discuss, and it was a conversation he didn't want anyone else overhearing. After about five minutes of walking, the pair finally came to a stop near two larger boulders, well out of eyesight and earshot from the camp. Stahl hopped atop the larger one and took a seat, waiting for Rust to take the next one. The wolf began speaking just as the fox plopped down.

“So, you have my attention, what did you need to talk about?" Rust looked down uncomfortably as he weighed his words. The fox finally spoke, surprising the wolf with the question, his voice sounding more meek than it had recently.

“Teach me how to fight." Stahl let out a long sigh before he replied.

“You know your mother would kill me if I did that." Rust answered in turn, speaking up just a little in his determination.

“I know how my parents feel about it… Or at least, how my mom feels about it and how my dad simply agrees with her… But I don't think it's their choice to make anymore! I'm growing up! All the proof we need to that is my bloodskill, and my prayer magic! It's time I get to start choosing what kind of beast I want to be… I- I want to fight… I want to use my new strength to help people… I want to be a hero, like you are… Like Uncle Sil was…" Stahl closed his eyes as he thought on those words. He finally replied, albeit, in a less than hopeful tone.

“I am not a hero Rust… I am simply a soldier. Silbern was a hero, but he died being that hero… Which is where being a hero usually lands you. I understand your desire, but I have to respect your parent's wishes he-“ Rust cut him off quickly.

“And when grandmother expressed the same concern? When she begged you to lay down your sword so she wouldn't lose another son, you pressed forward regardless. How is that any different?" Stahl frowned, the fissure between him and his mother was a deep one, and a sensitive subject for him.

“Well for one, I already knew how to fight by then." Rust replied immediately.

“I know the basics. I did watch you for years, you know." Stahl continued after the interruption, ignoring that answer.

“Secondly, I wasn't dependent on my parents by that point, I was considered an adult. I chose to remain at father's estate, but I was prepared to move out entirely if need be. How could you support yourself without them on this road?" Rust had been debating this conversation in his mind all day, ready to answer that question as well.

“I can forge things if needed. I can make weapons and armor to cover my expenses. I can't think of too many blacksmiths in Alora that would turn away an Aschefell as an apprentice. If that did fall through, I could work at a clinic as needed, I could treat the injured to earn my keep." Stahl accepted the logic behind that answer, but pushed further, trying to sway his nephew's opinion to no avail.

“Alright… So say I do teach you. I don't think I have a technique that COULD stop your mother from having my head when she finds out." Rust smiled, answering that merely as if it were a question about his age.

“Easy, we don't tell her." Stahl looked away, snubbing out that path immediately.

“I won't lie to your parents for your sake, certainly not about this. That isn't an option." Rust spoke once more, shifting to a different answer.

“Then just let me handle them. I can make them see my stance, I can convince them." Stahl scoffed at that answer before replying to it.

“You really think they are going to give on this so easily? This isn't a game Rust… I've known many a friend who went back home in a box… They saw what was left of Sil come back in a box… Their fears are valid ones." Rust refused to yield.

“Maybe so… But it is still my choice! Please, teach me Uncle Stahl… Or I'll go find another teacher." Stahl raised his voice a bit, feeling frustrated that he had to make these decisions at all in the moment.

“Then I'll simply have to persuade them not to teach you a thing! Look, I'm sorry I have to be the bad guy here… But this isn't something you go behind people's backs to do, Rust, certainly not your family's…" Rust shouted back, his emotions getting the better of him.

“I. Am. Trying! I am trying to do this the right way… I am trying so hard to get my family to hear me, even now… I am trying to tell you who I am, who I want to be, but you won't listen! Because you still see me as some scared little cub, nothing more." Stahl lost his own control, and yelled back to the fox.

“That's not true! I see how strong you're becoming! I see your potential, and that is what terrifies me!" Stahl lowered his voice as the words just started spilling forth. “I see who you are Rust… You're kind, you're caring, you're a rare type in this world, and I don't just mean your abilities, I mean your heart… I can't let that goodness be taken from you. I can't let this world ruin you… You don't have to fight." The fox spit his answer back, his words turning to venom in his frustration.

“That's a nice load of shit you're trying to feed me Uncle. That excuse is getting pretty tired you know? You say I don't have to fight, so I'm just supposed to let you protect me all my life? To let you do the fighting while I sit idly by in safety?" Stahl replied in a cracking voice, his fear overtaking him as his worry was hollered back at the fox.

“YES! That's EXACTLY what I'm saying! You DON'T have to fight! You don't have to know what it's like to steal away somebody's last breath! You don't have to face such danger… You don't have to take up a sword, because I already have! I carried on the Aschefell duty so you would never have to! So Amboss didn't have to! So Lochen didn't have to! I kept fighting so the rest of you could stay safe, because there must be an Aschefell serving… Because I HAVE to keep you all safe… Because if our family must ever lose another member to our service, I couldn't bear for it to be any one of you but me! Not again…" the wolf's voice was breaking as he finished his statement, finding that speaking his self perceived duty at last made him feel weaker than ever. Finding that it made him feel shameful to admit such resentment for what he must do. Rust was taken aback by the confession, finally replying in a more sympathetic tone.

“I know… I know that, Uncle Stahl… We all know that already, at least, dad, pops, and I do… You carry on our family's legacy, and you do it without complaint because it fulfills the expectations placed upon our house… Because it keeps us safe… I just don't want you to have to do it all alone anymore. I could watch your back out there, Aster's too. I could be there if you get hurt, so we don't HAVE to lose anymore of our family. We could fight together, I trust you to keep me safe… I just wish you would trust me to keep you safe also." Stahl spoke in a near whisper, finding his fight wavering. He didn't have the energy to hold anything back from the cub anymore, so he confessed the truth.

“I do trust you Rust… I don't trust myself." The fox sighed in his disappointment before he responded.

“I'm sure you understand why I don't believe you… I don't think I've ever met anyone more sure of themselves in my li-“ The wolf cut him off before he ever finished the sentence.

“It's all an act… It's my way of reassuring myself, Rust… I'm scared all the time that I won't be strong enough. Every single battle, I find myself praying I don't fall, so you never have to take up arms in my stead. So none of my family does…" The fox found himself a bit relieved he was finally getting a breakthrough, his uncle was being truthful with him. He answered in a calmer voice, returning reason and compassion to the conversation.

“I trust you, Uncle Stahl." The wolf almost laughed at the statement.

“I don't… I don't know that I could ever let you fight beside of me… If… If I failed to protect you, I couldn't live with it… I couldn't live the way my father has to live after letting Sil die beside him in battle. He has nightmares about it all the time you know? Me and Amboss wake up all the time to the most unimaginable sorrow pouring through our bloodskill as our father writhes in the pain of watching his son die all over again. As he was forced to accept that he wasn't strong enough to keep him alive!" Rust went completely silent. Stahl kept going anyway.

“My father, the great General Aschefell, wasn't even strong enough to protect his family, and he and Sil are twice the warriors I ever will be… How am I supposed to promise to keep you safe if even he failed on the battlefield? I almost died three times the last battle you know? Were it not for the orc chief, I wouldn't even be here… Were it not for someone protecting me, I wouldn't still be here. I am not fit to promise any such protection for anyone else if I cannot even watch my own back… Please, don't make me promise this, Rust… Don't set me up to fail in a way I cannot bear to!" Stahl jumped down from his seat on the boulder, turned back towards the camp, and spoke in a low tone.

“Come on… We need to get some rest." The wolf made it about four paces before he heard the fox utter out a single word into the darkness.

“Mark." In a flash, Rust was in front of the wolf, drawing his dagger from the sheath as he slashed forward into the air. Stahl barely managed to leap back as the frustrated fox made his assault. If his uncle wouldn't listen, the cub would just have to make him listen. Before Stahl had even completely secured his footing once more, the fox shouted again.

“Mark!" The fox was behind the wolf this time, stepping into another slash with his blade, which the experienced wolf turned and caught with his smaller, left-handed sword in a quick parry. Rust wasted not a second.

“Mark! The cub emerged on the opposite side once more diving in this time. Stahl was prepared for the maneuver, already turning to intercept the fox with a weak and reserved right hook to the snout. Rust fell on his rear clutching at his injured muzzle with a cry of surprise. The wolf shouted down at the cub in his agitation.

“KNOCK IT OFF!" Rust moved his hand from his snout, clenched his dagger tightly, and shouted his own response.

“MARK!" The fox appeared behind the wolf again, just in time to feel the wolf make a swipe at his footing, knocking him off his feet once again. Stahl reached a hand out and closed a fist around the cub's shirt before he ever hit the ground, preventing the fox from continuing this tiresome game. The wolf spoke slowly as he scowled down into his nephew's eyes, his irritation evident.

“Are you finished yet?" Rust screamed up at the wolf in desperation.

“NOT EVEN CLOSE!" Rust vainly clutched at his uncle's hand in a useless attempt to free himself from the grip. Stahl only tightened his hold, snatching the cub up a bit more as he brought his gaze closer to the end of the fox's snout, glaring into those blue eyes with his silvery ones as he forcefully, but quietly barked his reply.

“You're acting like a child!" Rust belted his reply, not finding it in himself to back down.

“And you're acting like a coward! Uncle Sil would have taught me! Uncle Sil would be ashamed to see what a coward his brother has become!" Rust realized he crossed a line just a little too late, but the growl that escaped from his uncle's maw when his ears flared to a point above his head was more than proof enough to that statement. Rust dropped his own ears flat against his head as he averted his eyes, feeling a twist of guilt in the pit of his stomach for even saying such a thing in his rage. Stahl released his shaky fist without a word, letting the cub fall to the ground as he turned to make his leave back to the camp. The wolf left the cub behind without another word, knowing his temper had almost gotten the better of him. Rust simply watched the beast walk away with a sharp sense of immediate remorse before he finally found it in himself to call out to Stahl.

“I'm sorry! I shouldn't have gone that far… I'm sorry, Stahl…" The wolf paused in his exit for just a moment. Stahl didn't turn around, and Rust certainly didn't hear the tired sigh of hurt the beast let out before he spoke, but the fox did receive an answer all the same.

“Always jumping behind your opponent is sloppy, predictable, repetitive, and easy to recognize to any soldier with any real experience… You need to learn to change it up…" The wolf finally turned to look at the cub again before he added the final part at the end, feeling defeated all the while.

“You get an hour… Each night, you'll get one hour to train with me… But I swear, and I do mean by the gods Rust… You'd better listen to every damned word I say from now on… No more back talk. No more fighting me on what I tell you to do. No more questions I cannot answer until we reach your father… Do you understand me? Do we have an agreement?" Rust was speechless while those words processed in his mind, but the fox donned a look of pure hopefulness as he scrambled to call out his reply.

“Yes Sir! I swear it!" Stahl was walking away once more, already second guessing if he had made the right decision after all… Already finding himself afraid of what fate may have in store for his nephew. Already finding himself terrified that his instruction could end up getting the fox killed.

===

Oust was not a fan of his most recent exercise. He was sitting cross legged beside the bear, deep in thought as instructed. He was to work towards freeing his mind of the lingering things that bogged it down… Something the tiger had no inkling as to what the bear meant by, once again. The tiger let out an exasperated sigh, and the bear spoke calmly over to the large cat.

“Finding it hard to focus your mind, Young one?" Oust was happy to express that feeling.

“Yes… I don't know what I'm supposed to even be doing. I don't know what you mean." The bear chuckled, expecting as much as he replied.

“What I mean, is to think about something that troubles you. Think about what bothered you, and accept that it did. Think about how to change it, if possible, or accept that you cannot if so, and then let it go. Inner peace is never easy to achieve." Oust almost let out a groan. He hated the vague instruction. Simply processing his turgid emotions was something he was just learning to let himself do again. Sir Corper spoke once more, noticing the tiger's defeated approach.

“Lets start with something not so recent… Think about one of your worst, and earliest memories. Those are often easier to deal with than something fresh… If you're comfortable, feel free to tell me about it. Speaking it can help you accept that it happened, so you may put it behind you." Oust closed his eyes again, thinking back much further into his childhood than he had allowed himself to in a long while. The tiger immediately knew which bad memory was his earliest… or at least, which of those early, painful ones from his childhood stuck out in the forefront of his mind. The cat took a ragged breath in, and shuddered out during the exhale as he began telling his tale.

“I was around six years old at the time…"

A young Oust was waking up early one morning, much as he had been for the passed several mornings since his discovery. The pudgy cub excitedly crawled out of his bed with gentle, scarlet eyes gleaming in happiness, throwing his shirt on before pulling his pants up next. The lower bit of his tubby stomach protruded out of the bottom of his shirt as the cub dressed himself eagerly. His friend was waiting for him, and the tiger just didn't want to wait on the dawn to go meet him that morning, so the eager cub was dressed, and out of his quarters an hour earlier than usual that day.

The young tiger made his way down the hall, passing his brother's and sister's quarters on the way out to the garden courtyard his mother loved tending to. As he passed through the doorway, the tiger cub made a beeline directly towards a tree near the far end of the garden border. This was where the first friend the tiger had ever made lived, a small, striped, feral chipmunk the cub had named “Twitch," due to the way the feral's nose fidgeted in place as the chipmunk went about its day. Oust reached into the small pocket of his pants, and pulled out four whole hazelnuts he had saved from the dinner table the night before, just as he had the last few days up to that point. The tiger cub took a few paces towards the tree, and whispered up into the limbs.

“Psssst! Twitch! I brought you some snacks." The tiger cub waited a moment, and was starting to worry the chipmunk didn't want to be friends anymore until he saw the rodent poke it's head out of a hollow in the tree a few branches up. The chipmunk's nose twitched into the air a few times as it smelled around for danger before the rodent emerged the rest of the way from the safety of its den. The rodent walked to the end of the branch, and scouted down a bit, coming closer to the cub that had been offering it such sweet treats the passed few days. The feral took a leap of faith, and scurried down to the earth below, edging ever closer to the wide eyed cat in anticipation of its morning reward.

Oust simply took a seat, plopping down as he held out the first hazelnut in an outstretched hand, inviting the chipmunk to get closer to him with the motion. Twitch no longer hesitated to get near the tiger cub, finding itself getting comfortable with the idea of eating from the cub's hand over time. Oust let out a thrilled giggle as the rodent took the first treat from his open palm, and began quickly cracking into the nut, expertly freeing the tasty insides from the shell, and scarfing them down within a matter of seconds. Oust spoke to the feral with a happy voice.

“You sure are good at cracking them open. I have to ask my mom to help me still. Do you want another one?" The skittish chipmunk edged closer once again, signaling to the tiger cub it did, in fact, want another hazelnut. The tiger smiled a hearty smile as he reached his hand over, and plucked the second hazelnut from his stash. The chipmunk took this one in the same way, much to the cub's delight. Twitch finished the hazelnut, and nudged closer to the tiger once more, eager for more offerings. Oust placed the next hazelnut on his lap, hoping his idea would work. He had to fight back letting out a delighted laugh as the rodent quickly climbed onto his lap without hesitation, he didn't want to scare off his new friend after all.

As the chipmunk worked on the third hazelnut, Oust extended a steady hand, slowly moving it to the rodent's back. Twitch jumped a bit when the hand carefully and lightly grazed the soft fur on his back, but the small creature let the cub pet on him all the same as he enjoyed the tasty treat. Oust was over the moon in joy at his progress over the last few days. The tiger held out the last nut to the chipmunk in his higher hand afterwards, inviting the rodent to climb into his palm this time. Twitch sniffed into the air twice, and moved to take the bait, climbing into the open hand easily as it started munching on the last of the hazelnuts.

 Oust was so ecstatic that he was even purring softly by that point, rumbling happily as he stroked the pelt of the smaller creature in admiration. In fact, the young cub was so caught up celebrating the newly established closeness with his friend that he never even heard the near soundless footsteps behind him. He never took his beaming eyes away from that fuzzy little chipmunk happily eating out of his hand until a low, jolting voice spoke from behind him. It was a voice that always made the cub feel afraid, it was the voice of his father.

“Richta, grab that." Oust flinched so badly at the interruption, that Twitch leapt right out of his palm from the jarring movement. Unfortunately for the chipmunk, it wasn't fast enough to escape Richta Candori, even at the young age of twelve. The adolescent tiger had a hold of the rodent within seconds, firmly keeping a grip on the flailing prey as her younger brother turned to face their father, and the fear associated with the menacing beast. Oust always felt so small looking up at his father, something that never changed no matter how much he grew up over the years. Not that you could blame the cub.

Reiner Candori was an imposing beast by any standard, a wide framed warrior that stood at seven foot nine, nearly half a foot taller than Oust would ever grow to be himself. Every rippled pound of the general was muscle clad in an ivory fur, with dark stripes of black marking his back, shoulders, and arms. His red eyes were framed by slanted brows above a permanent scowl of disgust for the less-pure beasts he had to live among daily. For the weak surviving alongside the strong was not the natural way of things, not through the eyes of an elitist such as himself, anyway. The head of the Candori house spoke in a tone Oust would learn to mimic in time, a tone that didn't hide such disgust for those lesser than himself.

“A son of mine playing with such filthy creatures… The fault is my own, I've allowed your mother to coddle you for far too long. Richta, come here." The tigress walked over to her father's side, her head low as she held the squirming rodent all the while. When she had planted herself just a step behind her father's right side, she finally raised her gaze up just enough to meet Oust's own. She didn't dare speak, but her eyes were trying their best to relay something the younger cub just couldn't quite grasp at his age yet. What Oust failed to recognize, was that his sister was apologizing the only way she could for something she hadn't even done yet. Oust slowly looked from his sister, back to his father, barely even breathing as the burly tiger spoke down to his cub once more.

“Starting tomorrow, you train with your sister and brother, I won't allow your idleness, nor your softness to soil my name. I won't allow this weakness to cultivate itself in my own garden. Richta, take care of our rodent problem. Your brother watches." Richta had been training under her father since she was three, so she knew what was expected of her. She knew what was forbidden, and she knew what disobeying her father meant… Even still, the young tigress found herself hesitating. Reiner repeated her name in agitation, raising his voice the slightest bit as he turned his piercing, red gaze to his adolescent daughter.

Richta took a step forward, yielding to the order as she gazed down at her little brother, who was staring back up at her with a mix of confusion, and fear on his face. She couldn't show any emotion, and she knew what kind of heartless monster she probably looked like to Oust. She knew her softer, slower little brother all too well, and that made the entire thing worse. Unbeknown to any that day, she silently prayed, something she had given up doing long before that moment. Even still, grasping for any possible hope, the tigress prayed with everything she had that her brother would remember the number one rule, above all else, that he would just hold it in… That he wouldn't dare cry in front of their father. That he wouldn't display his weakness before him.

A grotesque “Pop," dully sounded into the air, muffling the chittering chipmunk once and for all as the tigress broke its neck, ending its life as painlessly and swiftly as possible. Her heart broke with it as she watched her brother's big, round eyes overflow with tears as his pain filled cry of horror filled the early morning air of the Candori estate.

Their father merely snarled in disgust, stepped forward, and cracked two of Oust's teeth that day when he delivered a swift, unrestrained, backhanded blow to the side of his wailing cub's skull. Oust barely remembered hitting the dirt after.

“And that's pretty well what happened. Or what I can tell you about it… My father did something heartless, and my sister went along with it like she always does, his perfect executioner." Oust finished his recount with a blank expression, staring down at the dirt with idle eyes. Sir Corper had been listening silently to the tale, his eyes closed to mask his own heated rage. The bear steadied himself a little before he spoke, careful to hide those emotions from his student. That anger wasn't what Oust needed.

“What bothered you the most about it back then?" Oust took a breath in as he thought on that question. He answered confidently.

“That I lost the first friend I made because I was careless. That I got him killed." The bear asked his next question.

 “What bothers you the most about it now?" It was Oust's turn to go silent. Finally, after a long pause, after he had carefully pondered that question in his mind, Oust answered the bear.

“I've changed my mind, I don't think I want to talk about it anymore." Sir Corper wasn't expecting the tiger to withdraw like that so suddenly, but as much as he wanted to chase him on that subject, the bear knew that whatever his student had thought of for an answer must have greatly unsettled him to warrant such a response. Pursuing the matter would only make the tiger shut down even more at that point, so instead, Sir Corper moved the topic along for the time being, and left it up to the tiger to find somebody to talk to about it. Even so, the bear's own thoughts lingered heavily on the tiger's story for a while afterwards.

===

As the pairs of beasts slowly trickled back to camp among the night stretching into the later hours, they found that none of them felt like conversing much more. They were all either too tired, too caught up in their own thoughts, or simply just not wanting to be around others, so the small caravan called it an early night, and peace fell upon their camp within a few hours. They slept until dawn, when they packed up, and pressed forward. They reached the edge of the Thorned Thicket before the afternoon sun took its place at the peak of the sky.

As the Prince's party gathered their supplies from the wagon, Aster couldn't help but gaze upon the forest looming before them. There was a line of tall trees that stretched on for miles, the land leading up to the tree line was littered with thorny bramble patches that jaggedly curved up towards the sun above. There was an air of humidity near the forest, with an impressive variety of plants already visible from Aster's current position. It strangely made the boy homesick for the dense forest near his own home estate. Stahl stole away the boy's attention as he casually spoke beside the human.

“It's kind of pretty in a way. There's something mysterious about it." Aster simply nodded, adding his own opinion to that statement as he did so.

“It is, but also something unsettling." Stahl had to agree with his mate as well. It was Dally who interrupted the pair.

“Don't worry, it only takes about five days to make it to the other side. The forest has some surprises, but nothing a group like this one shouldn't be able to handle." Stahl turned to the husky with a smile of kinship.

“I'm not too worried. Are you going to manage alright? I know how easy I am to start missing." The husky laughed his cheery laugh before replying.

“I think I'll survive, may just have to drink myself to sleep to cope with the loss though." Stahl smirked as he gave the canine one final jab.

“No different than usual then?" The husky only smiled before lightly tipping his feathered hat towards the prince's convoy. The bard gave a final word of goodbye before departing the group.

“Your majesty, Aschefell, it's been a pleasure. May the gods sing your stories for all to hear." Prince Tyfin gave the friendly beast one final bow in thanks, and the wagon was off, Dally driving while Milky strummed their lute beside the sleeping Mist. The prince watched them leave for a moment before turning to face his crew once more. The lion took a deep breath in, and turned his attention towards the thicket with a renewed drive to reach what was waiting on the other side. They would finally be back in Alora soon, and the convoy was never more ready to see it. Prince Tyfin spoke in an affirming tone, more for himself than those that listened on behind him.

“Come, our home awaits us."

===

Thanks for the patience, had a wonderful vacation and some needed time to disconnect, but I have a renewed sense to get back writing! Should be pretty well back to our weekly release schedule at this point.

I love hearing whatever feedback, reviews, and votes you take the time to give! I really appreciate it more than you know! I hope you enjoy what comes next, and I thank you for sticking with me through the slower bits between major chapters. It all comes back somewhere in the future story line!