Chapter 361: Preparations
Today was the day Mona and the tiger tribe decided to depart from the beast city. Lyra saw Lucas’s mother’ sad face and felt bad. She was only now starting to understand how it must feel to send their beloved daughters away after their marriages.
In this world, it wasn’t marriage per se, but a woman mating with a king meant that her place was beside him in their tribe ruling together, which sometimes meant staying away from her parents. Lyra was now pregnant with a baby girl that might someday choose a mate that lives far from her parents. The beast world was quite matriarchal but not entirely at the same time.
"Take care of yourself, Sister," Mona said as she hugged Lyra.
"You too, Mona. Take care." Lyra felt her eyes tear up. Unknowingly she had become close to this sweet woman.
As Mona moved away, she cast a look at the talisman on Lyra’s wrist. She hoped this would be enough to keep her sister in law safe. She wished that the countless times she prayed to the moon goddess would keep her brother’s family safe.
"Oh, look at these sweet little things crying." Mona heard her mother say as she turned to see the lion cubs whining in her brother’s arms. She didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. They had become attached to her so soon.
Mona took them from her brother and cuddled with them, saying, "I’ll miss you too, my darlings."
"I bet they wouldn’t cry this much even if I were the one to leave," Noah remarked as he chuckled.
Lyra laughed hearing that. She could never get over the lion cubs being close to Lucas and his family more than their own father. They became even more attached to Mona and her parents after the passing of Noah’s late father. She saw as Mona said her goodbye to everyone.
Her cubs returned to their mother’s embrace once Mona settled inside the pulling cart. Some kind of an animal that Lyra had never seen was used in driving the carriage. Every tribe had their own means of travel in this world. The snake tribe mostly never used a cart, as they liked being fast, and there was nothing faster than them. The bird kind flew everywhere, while some, like the tiger tribe and wolf tribe, used some kind of domesticated animal as their vehicle. The roof carriage was a must due to the upcoming flood season as it will start to rain very soon.
Her mates told her that the rainy season she had seen till now was nothing compared to the flood season that was about to come. It was an event that occurred once every four years.
The reason Mona was leaving ahead of her time was also because the predicted flood season was arriving earlier than anticipated.
After saying their farewells, Lyra and her mates returned to the Lion tribe. They were building shelters above ground level for tribesmen who might get hit during the flood season. All of her mates were busy with the same work in their respective tribes. Only Victor had that cut out for him. The Vulture tribe was already dwelling on the hilltop, so the chance of water reaching them was null. However, that meant storing food would become crucial. They would be stuck with water surrounding them and nowhere to go. Hunting and storing meat now was the only way they would sustain themselves through this perilous time.
"It is better for my sweet girl to stay in the Vulture tribe until this gets over," Victor said, getting her attention.
Blake agreed, "That is the best choice for now." Their mate will be safe and out of harm’s way in the Vulture tribe.
"I can go with her too," Demir chimed in. ’’My father will take care of the tribe’s matters." Once again, he felt thankful for being a prince and not a king. He would hate staying away from his mate an entire month or more if things turned for the worse.
Noah looked at his mate with a complicated look on his face. He couldn’t possibly leave his tribe for a month at a time. He had just taken his throne and abandoning it now due to the flooding could put his family’s future in danger. His children might one day inherit the throne, and his reputation could sully theirs if he didn’t take caution. His mother and his half brothers might face problems too by the council in his absence.
"I can come visit you from time to time," Lyra said, clearly understanding her mate. "Victor can fly me here."
"I can do that too. " Kyrell was slightly upset that she didn’t mention him.
Lyra frowned. "Won’t you stay back?" She had thought he would stay in the Eagle tribe.
"I can’t stay away from you." He said that as though he couldn’t ever imagine doing the opposite. And before she could say something, he continued, "Nathan will take care of the tribe; I can always fly back and forth if there is some dire situation, but I’m not staying away from you." His words left no chance to further arguments. He had already figured out the best option for his tribe as a king so she wouldn’t push him anymore. Not when she still harbored some level of dissatisfaction towards the Eagle tribe.
The matter was settled. Kyrell, Killian, Victor, Demir and Kaizer would stay with her in the Vulture tribe but Blake, Noah and Lucas would have to stay back in their tribes.
Demir knew why Lucas has to stay in his tribe. Compared to the scorpion tribe, the silver wolf tribe was four times more populous. The wolf King would clearly feel overwhelmed managing all of it on his own.
"I want to come with you" Lucas’s voice was filled with sadness but deep inside he knew that, it wasn’t possible.
Lyra’s gaze softened as he hugged her. She returned the hug tighter because that was the only way she could support him in this matter. The Wolf tribe and the Lion tribe were powerful pillars of the Beast city but managing them was equally difficult. Building something new was easier compared to maintaining whatever that was already built.
"Take the babies with you" Blake said as he kissed his mate’s forehead.
Lyra nodded. The lion cubs and the snake babies will also come with her to stay in a safe place.