Chapter 150: The Villagers’ Support And Cael’s Resolve!
Two days passed in a blink of an eye.
Cael was not fully strong yet. His body was still sore from where Zyreth had slammed him into the tree. His ribs were bruised. His shoulder was tender. His muscles ached with every movement he made.
But he felt strong enough to walk through the snow. He felt strong enough to face anything. He felt strong enough to charge through fire itself just to get Neve back.
The thought of Neve trapped in the outcast territory made him almost crazy. The thought of his mate in danger, pregnant and vulnerable, surrounded by enemies who wanted to use him. The thought drove Cael to the edge of madness.
He groaned as his fingers slipped into his hair and pulled hard. Pain shot through his scalp but he did not care. The pain was nothing compared to the agony of knowing Neve was suffering somewhere far away.
"I’ve packed everything for you and some medicine that Gideon left," Sorin said, handing a small wrapped cloth to Cael.
The eagle beastman had recovered from his exhaustion. His wings were no longer drooping. His eyes were clear and focused.
Cael took the wrapped cloth and tied it around his neck from behind, securing it tightly against his body. Inside were supplies. Dried meat. Berries. Herbs. Medicine for injuries. Everything they would need for the two week journey to the outcast territory.
"Thanks," Cael said, checking that the supplies were secure. "Where are the others? Where are Sable and Aldric? Are they ready?"
"Preparing," Sorin said, looking toward the other side of the cave where the injured fox and the shy bear were getting themselves ready for the journey. "They’ll join you soon. They’re just finishing up some last minute things."
Sorin paused, his expression becoming serious and filled with emotion.
"You must bring Neve back," the eagle said, his voice carrying weight and meaning. "You must bring him home safely. Promise me you’ll do everything you can to save him."
"I will," Cael replied, clenching his fist with absolute determination. "I swear it. I will bring Neve back no matter what it takes. I will fight anyone. I will kill anyone. I will do whatever is necessary to get him home safely."
Just when they were waiting for the others to finish preparing, Cael heard voices outside the cave.
There were people gathered outside. Multiple voices. Multiple beastmen. Something was happening.
Cael stepped out of the cave with Sorin right behind him. The cold hit him immediately, biting at his exposed skin. The snow crunched under his feet as he moved forward.
Outside the cave, he saw a group of beastmen gathered in the snow. Some of them were the ones who had worked on the traps with him over the past weeks. Some were villagers from the tribe. Some were hunters and warriors.
There was a crowd of them. Waiting. Watching.
"I’ll be back," Cael said to Sorin without taking his eyes off the gathered beastmen.
"Don’t be long. You need to leave soon if you want to make good time," Sorin replied, understanding that Cael needed to handle whatever this was.
Sorin watched Cael walk through the snow to where the group had gathered. The eagle beastman then turned and headed back into the cave to check on Sable and Aldric.
.
.
Cael reached the other beastmen and folded his arms across his chest. His expression was guarded and cautious. He did not know what they wanted. He did not know why they had come.
"Is there an issue?" Cael asked, his voice carrying the authority of someone used to command.
"We came to check on your health," one of them said, stepping forward from the group.
Cael looked at their faces carefully, studying their expressions. But it did not seem like they were telling the truth. Their eyes were darting around nervously. Their body language was tense. Their faces were etched with concern about something else entirely.
"Did something happen?" Cael asked, his tone becoming sharper. "Tell me the truth. What brought you all out here in the cold?"
All of the beastmen exchanged looks with each other. Fear crossed their faces. Worry. Anxiety.
"Soren," one of them finally said, speaking the name of the chief. "The chief. He did something."
Cael’s entire body went rigid. Hearing his brother’s name was making him so angry he wanted to kill him right here in the snow. Rage boiled up inside him, hot and fierce.
"What did he do this time?" Cael asked, his voice becoming dangerously cold. "Tell me what Soren did."
"He told us to stop you from leaving," another beastman said, his voice shaking slightly. "He said if you leave to go after the red panda, there’ll be no one to finish the traps we’ve been building. He said the village needs you here to protect them."
Cael’s hands clenched into fists so tight his knuckles turned white.
His brother was trying to stop him from saving Neve. His brother was trying to use the village as leverage. His brother was playing politics while Neve was trapped with the outcasts.
"Are you all incapable of finishing the traps?" Cael asked, his voice filled with barely contained rage. "Do you need me to hold your hands and walk you through every step? Are you all that incompetent?"
The beastmen shook their heads.
"No, we’re not," one of them said. "We’re capable. We can finish the traps. We’ve been working on them. We know what we’re doing. We don’t need the chief to tell us what to do."
Cael took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Trying to think clearly despite his anger.
"Tell him that I asked who the trap was set to protect?" Cael asked, his voice becoming more measured and strategic. "Ask him that question directly. Ask him what we built these traps for."
The beastmen all stiffened as realization dawned on them. They had built the traps to protect the village, yes. But more than that, they had built them to protect Neve. They had built them to keep the red panda safe from other tribes who might want to kidnap him or harm him. The traps were built specifically to defend Neve.
"Exactly," Cael said, seeing the understanding in their eyes. "So where is Neve now? Where is the person we built these traps to protect? He’s being held captive by the outcasts while we stand here doing nothing."
The beastmen remained silent.
"You all need to stand for yourselves when I’m not here," Cael said, his voice becoming passionate and powerful. "You need to show your own strength. You need to make your own decisions. Don’t let my brother control you with fear."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"And tell my brother I’m going to bring Neve back," Cael continued, his voice filled with absolute certainty. "Tell him that once I return with Neve, we might have to fight for that seat. Tell him that this village supports me. Tell him that the people of this tribe want change."
Cael then slammed his hand on his aching chest. The impact sent pain through his bruised ribs but he did not flinch. He did not show weakness.
"Tell him I said so!" Cael yelled, his voice echoing through the snowy landscape.
The beastmen all raised their hands in support. Their voices began to rise as they started chanting.
"Cael! Cael! Cael!"
The chant grew louder. The sound of their voices was powerful and unified. They were showing their support. They were showing their faith in him.
Cael watched them as they turned around and headed back toward the village. Their footsteps disturbed the snow as they walked away, still chanting his name.
Cael stood there in the snow, watching them disappear into the distance.
He felt something in his chest. Something powerful and strong and also pain. It was not just emotion. It was something deeper. It was the weight of responsibility. It was the knowledge that people believed in him. It was the understanding that he had support.
He had never expected this. He had never thought the village would stand behind him so openly. He had never imagined they would chant his name with such passion and conviction.
But they had.
The villagers had shown him that they wanted change. They wanted a new chief. They wanted someone who would fight for them. Someone who would protect them. Someone who cared more about their survival than about personal power and cruelty.
"This village will change once Neve returns," Cael murmured to himself, speaking the words into the cold winter air.