Chapter 452: First Golden Mane encounter
Arthur’s gaze drifted toward the dense heart of their territory, where golden fur and gleaming eyes prowled beneath the canopy. His voice was calm as he spoke to the beetle, though his intent was anything but passive.
"I’ll give them a chance, but if they force my hand, then they will serve in another way," he said.
Every interaction was a choice, ally or summon. Either way, he would walk away stronger.
...
Unfortunately for Arthur, or perhaps for the Golden Manes themselves, Arthur had no way of knowing that he was about to cross paths with the most arrogant and volatile member of the entire pack. What he assumed to be routine patrolling behaviour was, in truth, a consequence of inner-pack conflict.
This particular Golden Mane was not simply standing guard. He had recently been involved in a serious altercation with the pack leadership over a transgression that had violated one of their fundamental laws.
The result of that altercation was temporary exile from the main group. Stripped of his standing and denied the comfort of his brothers, he had been ordered to patrol the outer perimeter of the territory alone while the more powerful members of the pack debated whether he deserved formal punishment or a more lenient disciplinary reprieve. His pride had been wounded, his reputation diminished among the others, and his temper seethed just beneath the surface.
Despite the loyalty that bound the Golden Manes together, there were rules even blood could not ignore. Their strength as a society relied on discipline, and when one of them stepped out of line, consequences followed.
No exceptions.
So when the disgraced lion caught wind of Arthur and the Golden Beetle approaching through, it was not with caution that he reacted, but with venomous delight. In his wounded pride, he saw them not as potential threats, but as perfect outlets for his festering resentment.