Chapter 151: The Journey North And The Shocking Discovery!
Aldric finished saying his goodbyes to his sister Sif inside the cave.
The shy bear beastman held her close, not wanting to let go. She was still so small. Still so young. She needed him to protect her.
"I’ll be back," Aldric whispered to her, his voice thick with emotion. "I’m going to bring Neve back safely. And then everything will be normal again. You’ll see."
Sif held onto him tighter.
"Come back safely," she said, tears streaming down her face. "Come back with Neve and don’t die out there."
Aldric nodded, unable to speak. He gently pulled away from his sister and stood up. He was ready now. Ready to face whatever came.
Sable was fully prepared for the journey. The fox beastman had checked his supplies multiple times. He was carrying weapons. He was carrying food. He was ready to fight if necessary.
The three of them made their way out of the cave together. Cael was there waiting for them, his expression grim and determined.
Without speaking, without wasting any more time, they shifted to their beast forms.
Cael shifted into his massive leopard form. His body grew larger. His muscles rippled under his spotted fur. His claws extended from his paws.
Sable shifted into his fox form. His body became leaner and smaller than Cael’s. His tail fluffed up. His teeth became sharper. His senses heightened dramatically.
Aldric shifted into his bear form. His body was massive and powerful. His fur was thick and dense. His claws were long and lethal.
They made their way out of the village before hitting the snow.
The snow was deep and cold. It crunched under their paws as they ran. The wind bit at their fur. The temperature was freezing. It was going to be very cold for the entire journey.
But they had no option of stopping for anything non-essential. They could not afford to waste time. They could not afford to slow down. They would only stop to rest when they found a suitable cave for shelter.
Some of the closer caves had been occupied by other beastmen. Some belonged to wolf tribes. Some belonged to bear tribes. Some belonged to other clans who might not be friendly to leopards or foxes or bears traveling together.
It was not a good idea to share shelter with strangers. So they kept running through the cold. Running through the snow. Running toward the outcast territory where Neve was being held prisoner.
Their paws carried them forward. Their hearts drove them forward. The need to save Neve pushed them past pain and cold and exhaustion.
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Meanwhile, at the outcast territory where it was warm and humid.
Zyreth was checking on the small hut that Maren was preparing for his mother.
The hut was being built on land, away from the water but close enough that water could be transported if needed. It was being constructed with care and attention to detail. It would be comfortable. It would be warm. It would be a good place for Maren’s ill mother to recover.
Zyreth had left his messenger Jereth in charge of the construction. Jereth was overseeing the work, making sure everything was done correctly and on schedule.
But Zyreth had come to check on it himself. He wanted to see the progress. He wanted to make sure Neve could begin the treatment soon. The sooner Neve started treating Maren’s mother, the sooner Maren would agree to help with the revenge plan. The sooner they could move forward.
"How is it going?" Zyreth asked, arriving at the construction site.
Jereth was shocked to see the king appear without warning. He immediately went on his knees, bowing deeply. The other shark and snake beastmen working on the construction immediately did the same, dropping to the ground in respect and fear.
Zyreth glared at them all on their knees before waving his hand upward impatiently.
"Stand up," he commanded. "I don’t have time for all of this formality."
The beastmen quickly scrambled to their feet.
"How far has it gone?" Zyreth asked, examining the half-finished structure.
"It’ll be done in two days, my king," Jereth said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "The hut will be complete and ready for the treatment to begin in two days."
Zyreth nodded. Two days was acceptable. Not ideal, but acceptable. He smirked as he looked around the construction site.
The work was progressing well. The hut was taking shape nicely. Everything seemed to be on schedule.
But something felt odd. Something was different.
The outcast territory felt quiet. Too quiet. There was a peace that should not exist in a place built on darkness and manipulation.
Zyreth had not seen his brother Varek anywhere for the past two days. Varek usually made appearances. Varek usually did something to draw attention. But there had been nothing.
"Where is that fool?" Zyreth asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Jereth’s entire body went rigid. He scratched the back of his head nervously, clearly uncomfortable with the question.
"Uh," Jereth stuttered, his words coming out slow and uncertain. "I tried my best to stop him, your majesty, but he didn’t listen to me. He completely ignored my warnings."
"I asked a question," Zyreth said coldly. His voice became sharp and dangerous. "I don’t want excuses. I want answers. Where. Is. My. Brother?"
Jereth swallowed hard, knowing that whatever he said next would anger the king.
"He’s been visiting the prisoners under the ground," Jereth said quietly.
"What?" Zyreth yelled, his voice echoing through the cavern.
The snake king’s rage was sudden and violent. He had explicitly told his brother to stay away from the prisoners. He had made it clear that Neve and Popi belonged to him. They were his to use as he saw fit. No one else was permitted to touch them.
Jereth immediately went on his knees again, trying to protect himself from the king’s anger.
"He didn’t listen to me when I tried to stop him," Jereth said desperately. "I told him what you said. I told him they were your prisoners. But he wouldn’t listen."
"That bastard," Zyreth frowned, his entire body trembling with rage.
He stormed off immediately, moving toward the underground prison with deadly speed. His snake form was already partially shifting, ready for violence.
Jereth watched Zyreth as he disappeared into the darkness of the cave and exhaled deeply. He was relieved that he was not the target of the king’s anger.
"Isn’t it a good thing that he’s angry now?" Jereth mumbled to himself, a slight smile on his face. "Maybe Varek will finally get what he deserves."
.
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Meanwhile, in the underground prison.
Zyreth burst down the stone stairs toward the cave where the prisoners were being held.
He knew exactly what kind of person Varek was. His brother was a damn psycho. He knew what Varek did to females. He knew that Varek had no self-control. He knew that Varek would not let anyone in a skirt walk past him without trying to do something.
But Zyreth had thought Neve would be safe. Neve was male. Neve was his prisoner. Surely Varek would respect those boundaries.
’I don’t care what he does to that female Popi,’ Zyreth thought to himself as he ran. ’But if he dares lay a hand on Neve, I’ll forget the fact that he’s my brother and kill him right there and right now. I’ll rip him apart.’
He froze as he approached the prison cave.
He could hear voices. His brother’s voice.
And Neve’s voice.
And Popi’s voice.
"I’m on my knees already. Just hit me one more time," his brother Varek was saying, his voice carrying something that sounded like begging. Like pleading.
Zyreth’s eyes widened in absolute shock.
His brother? Varek? The psycho who played with females like toys? The predator who hunted and assaulted anyone who caught his attention?
He was on his knees begging someone to hit him?
That was impossible.
"Go away, you pervert!" Popi screamed at Varek, her voice filled with fury and disgust. "Leave us alone! Stop bothering us!"
Neve groaned in frustration from somewhere inside the cave. The sound suggested that this was not the first time this had happened. That this was becoming a recurring problem.
"Can you just hit him, Popi?" Neve asked, his voice carrying desperation and exasperation. "Hit him hard enough that he stays away for a while?"
Zyreth stood frozen at the entrance to the cave.
His mind could not process what he was hearing.
What the hell had happened?
What had he missed?
What the hell had his brother done to end up on his knees begging to be hit?