Chapter 142: The Rescue Plan And The Two Day Deadline!
Ryker and Kelly stood in the cave, waiting anxiously for either Cael or Sable to open their eyes.
They needed answers. They needed to know what had happened. They needed to understand where Neve had gone.
"They didn’t break any bones," Gideon said, his voice carrying panic as he examined the injured beastmen. "They are just unconscious from the impact. They should wake up soon."
He was shivering in fear with the dangerous aura radiating from Ryker. The tiger prince was furious. Dangerous. Ready to kill anything that stood in his way.
Gideon did not see Neve anywhere in the cave and it was getting Ryker increasingly pissed off.
"I don’t care about their broken bones or not," Ryker said coldly. "Just get them to wake up immediately! I need to know what happened!"
"Let’s be calm now, Ryker," Gideon waved his hand placatingly. He was also worried. There was no sign of Popi anywhere either. He was really concerned that something terrible had happened.
He had been in his own cave when Sorin had flown in, grabbed him without explanation, and taken him to this cave. Sorin had asked him to treat his brother Cael and an unknown fox guy named Sable. Gideon had done his job, but now Neve was missing and so was Popi.
He sighed deeply, hoping nothing was truly wrong.
"Wait, Sable is waking up," Kelly said suddenly, and everyone snapped their attention to the fox.
Sable grunted, shaking his head from side to side slowly. Then his eyes flew open and he gasped, immediately sitting up as he yelled.
"Neve!"
He started panting heavily, his chest heaving with fear and exertion. His eyes darted around the cave, searching for the red panda.
"Where is he?" he asked urgently. "Where is Neve?"
He winced in pain, grabbing his side where Zyreth’s tail had slammed him into the tree. He forced himself to sit up despite the injury.
"Where is Neve?" he asked again, his voice slower and more controlled this time, though still filled with urgency and fear.
"Isn’t that supposed to be our question?" Ryker frowned, stepping closer to the fox. "You were with him. Where did he go? What happened?"
Sable looked around the cave, his eyes landing on each face. When he did not see Neve or Popi, his expression went dark.
He buried his face into his palm, his shoulders shaking.
"He took Neve," Sable said, his voice muffled by his hand. "He took Popi too. That snake beastman. He took them both and teleported away."
"Who is the he you’re referring to?" Ryker yelled, his voice echoing through the cave. "What snake beastman? What are you talking about?"
"The snake... He was powerful," Sable said, trembling as he stared at his own palm like it belonged to a stranger. "He was so strong. I tried to fight him but I couldn’t even touch him. He threw me like I was nothing. He was like a mountain. Immovable. Unstoppable."
Ryker gritted his teeth as he punched the stone wall beside him. The impact cracked the stone and sent dust flying.
"An outcast took Neve? A snake from the outcast territory?" Ryker cursed, his fist leaving a dent in the wall. "Damnit!"
Sable pushed himself to continue speaking despite the pain.
"Oh! And he mentioned something about Soren," Sable said. "The leopard chief. He said Soren was the one who sent his guard to tell the outcast about Neve. Soren betrayed us. Soren gave information to the outcasts about Neve’s location and abilities."
Ryker’s rage intensified.
"I should really kill that bastard!" Ryker frowned, taking a step toward the cave entrance like he was about to storm out right then.
But Cael’s voice stopped him.
"No, wait!" Cael spoke from where he was still lying down. He could not move because Zyreth had hit him harder than he had hit Sable. His injuries were more severe. "If we kill Soren now, someone will have to take over as chief. There’s no one responsible for the tribe right now. If the tribe has no leader during this crisis, there will be chaos."
Everyone paused, considering Cael’s words.
Gideon stepped forward with a suggestion.
"What are you saying? You can be the next chief, brother!" Gideon said. "The tribe would accept you. Father won’t say no to this. You’re the leopard prince. It’s your birthright."
Cael shook his head firmly.
"Me? I’m going after Neve," Cael said, his voice absolute. "He’s my mate. My pregnant mate. I have to save him from the hands of those outcasts! I won’t stay here while he’s in danger!"
Ryker crossed his arms, considering the situation carefully.
"It takes two weeks to get to the outcast territory even in good weather," Ryker said. "And the snow makes it harder. You’re injured. How are you going to move in that condition? How are you going to protect Neve when you can barely protect yourself?"
He paused, his expression becoming serious.
"I’m going after Neve after I deal with Soren," Ryker continued. "So you stay here and become the chief. The tribe needs leadership right now."
But Cael shook his head again.
"No," Cael said firmly. "And what happens when you fail? Do you think Soren would have done this without a plan? He’s not foolish enough to have looked for trouble without finding a way to protect himself first."
Cael was right and everyone knew it.
"If you fail to get Neve back, Soren might kill you," Cael said. "And then the tiger tribe would suffer. They would lose their chief. They would lose their leader. Do you want that to happen?"
Ryker went silent. He did not have anything to say because Cael was absolutely correct.
"What do we do then?" Ryker asked finally, his voice carrying frustration and helplessness.
Cael thought for a moment, pain clearly etched on his face from his injuries.
"Sorin, Sable, and I will head to the outcast territory and get Neve back," Cael said. "We’ll leave in two days. That gives us time to recover somewhat and prepare."
Ryker frowned at the plan.
"Two injured ones heading into enemy territory?" Ryker asked skeptically. "Why would that work? You’d be walking into a trap."
"You didn’t know about this, but thanks to the talon powder and Neve’s wish, Sable was able to acquire an invincibility skill," Cael said.
Everyone looked at Sable with confusion and surprise.
"Invincibility?" Kelly asked, folding his hands. "What does that even mean? He becomes invisible?"
"Well, if you think he can be helpful, take him along," Ryker said. "I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Soren. I’ll make sure he doesn’t try anything else while you’re gone."
Cael nodded at the arrangement.
"Uh..." Sorin said from the corner of the cave, lifting his hand to get everyone’s attention.
Everyone turned to look at the eagle beastman.
"I’m not used to the cold," Sorin said, his voice tired and weak. "I still haven’t recovered from those hours of flying in the snow just to get Sable and come back. I’m not sure I can survive that long distance to the outcast territory and back. My wings need rest."
"If you don’t go with us, who can replace you?" Cael asked, thinking about who else had the skills they would need.
"Aldric can," Sorin suggested. "Besides, he knows medicine. Aldric would be helpful in treating injuries and dealing with medical emergencies during the journey."
"Aldric?" both Sable and Cael chorused his name together, turning to look at the shy bear who was standing in the corner of the cave.
Aldric flinched where he stood, clearly startled by being suddenly called out.
But then his expression hardened with determination.
"I want to help bring Neve back," Aldric said quietly but firmly. "Please let me come with you. I know I’m not the strongest, but I can help. I can fight. I can heal. Please let me come."
Cael and Sable exchanged looks with each other, communicating silently. Then Cael looked at Aldric, studying the bear beastman carefully.
"Sure you can come," Cael said finally. "It’s not like we’ve got any more options. We need all the help we can get. We move in two days. That gives everyone time to heal and prepare supplies."
"Understood!" they all chorused together.