Beastmen Love

As Astri is working, she takes a quick glance at the Elder near Tyr.

"My love?" She says in her mind, concentrating on Claud.

"Yes, love?" He answers.

Both keep doing what they’re doing as they talk.

"This Elder feels weird. He feels like a problem." She says.

"Yes. He’s one of the Elders that was trying to convince Tyr I’m the evil one."

"Won’t you tell him to watch his back?"

"I will, once we have a private time. However, he already knows Elders are plotting with Monsters."

"He knows. He only needs to know that danger might be closer to him than he thinks. This Elder with him has a corrupted energy that won’t be changed easily. You all must be careful walking with him. Don’t drink or eat anything with him, don’t accept gifts from him. Don’t trust him with anything."

"I see.. Now I understand. We will be careful."

Claud warns his companions through his mind connection about what Astri said, so they avoid that Elder. However, when it’s dinner time, this Elder insists on having dinner with King Tyr too.

"I’m an Elder from the Council of the King Of Beasts. I should be also treated as royalty." The Elder proudly states in front of the castle gates.

Before Lee says anything, Astri holds his arm.

"This is my house, Elder..." Astri says, and implies for him to say his name.

"Abel." He answers.

"Elder Abel. This is my house. I don’t care if you’re royalty or not. Only people I trust will come inside here, and I don’t trust you."

"How dare you? Know your place, female. Your importance goes until you can have cubs. I’m.."

"I know my place, Elder Abel. You’re the one who doesn’t know. It’s my final word: only King Tyr is allowed inside. If you want to come inside, you must prove you’re reliable. Am I clear?" She states calmly.

That position of hers made Tyr wonder about Elder Abel. If she doesn’t want him there, it’s because she knows more than it looks like.

"You will let her talk like this to an Elder? In front of your King?" Abel asks Astri’s spouses.

"My spouse has the final word in our home. Only King Tyr is allowed inside." Lee affirms.

"Go to the royal tents, Elder Abel. I’ll be fine. I must learn the most I can from them so I can improve our city and make us even more prosperous." Tyr says.

Since Tyr told him to not come inside, he doesn’t say more because he knows it will look bad for him not to obey the King. However, he gives a last disdainful look at Astri before leaving.

"Don’t be mistaken by pretty faces, King Tyr. That’s all I have to counsel you." Abel says and turns around to leave.

Shung arrives and Astri welcomes him.

"Why is he welcome and not me?" Abel asks, really not satisfied.

"Because he’s like a father to me. He proved us he’s reliable. And this is my home. That’s why." Astri answers.

Abel clicks his tongue and walks away.

"Have you treated these wounds, Shung?" Astri asks Shung.

"Not today, yet. I was too busy."

"Come. I can help you. Let’s have dinner too."

They walk inside and the cubs come running to them, firstly rubbing their heads and bodies on their mother.

Then the cubs go play with Shung and Tyr.

"You traitors! What about your fathers?" Lee says running after them.

Cyprian grabs Kai who was running in front of him and rubs his face on his belly. Kai makes a funny sound like laughter.

Lee grabs Elias and does the same, making Elias laugh.

"They know what they need to do to get the attention of their fathers." Astri says walking to Wayde and kissing his lips.

When Cyprian puts Kai on the ground, Kai jumps on Zin’s legs many times until Zin half-shifts and grabs him bringing him up and down, making him laugh again.

Tyr and Shung think they’re so cute and united with all of Astri’s spouses. Normally cubs stay close only to their father and mother, but here they’re loved by everyone.

Elias asks Zin to play with him too, and Zin plays making Elias laugh too.

"What good boys." Shung says.

Astri asks Shung to sit and hold Yuki while she cleans his wounds.

"Oh before I forget again. Fraz is pregnant again." Shung says to Astri.

"That’s great! Congratulations! How’s she feeling?" Astri says.

"She’s scared. She asked me to come talk to you and ask you to visit her to teach us what you did during your pregnancy. Since she’s the oldest female here, she fears dying in labor." Shung speaks.

"Poor thing. Of course, I’ll help. Start telling her that nothing is going to happen and that she will be fine. Make her feel relaxed and stop thinking about death." Astri says.

"I hope you’re right. I need to go train the future leader just in case.."

"Train the next leader thinking that is the natural thing to do. Not because you will die. If you wait for death that’s what you will have. It’s better to hold onto hope." She says.

"It’s because she’s 37. It’s scary. Normally a female would be dead by her age. And now pregnant.."

"I understand, but before females weren’t living clean. Eating better. Living safely. She has everything to live long. Don’t worry. She will be fine. Have faith." Astri says tapping his shoulder to comfort him.

Shung smiles and nods.

"You’re great, Astri. Dieg was so lucky to have you." Shung says.

"And I was lucky to have him. And he was lucky he had great parents."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Are you really an eagle? You have powers like the Higher Priest. And the Higher Priest lives here. After what I heard yesterday, made me think you’re not an eagle."

"No. I’m not. I’m a Pegasus. When Wayde found me I didn’t know what I was. Dieg also didn’t know. I learned later after I met Cyprian. always talked to me every day since before I met Wayde. I was an orphan before and no one taught me how to shift. I learned with Cyprian and Lee how to half-shift, and I learned with Claud how to shift entirely." She explains passing slowly medicine on his wounds.

"I see... Lee told me you were an orphan." Shung softly says.

She tells him about being a Pegasus, her powers, and meaning in this world. He learns that most of the ideas of walls, laws, and hygiene were hers. He already knew that she was smarter than normal females, but now he’s sure that she’s special.

"May I ask you something, Miss Astri?" Tyr asks as they eat dinner.

"Sure." She says after taking a sip of water and going back to eat.

"Why don’t you trust Elder Abel?"

"His energy is corrupted. He’s one of your Elders that is dealing with Monsters. He’s not coming near my children and home."

"If he’s dealing with Monsters, he’s not welcome within our walls. He might use the opportunity to look after weak spots so Monsters get inside." Shung says.

"Completely agree with Shung. However, we don’t want to disrespect King Tyr. That’s why I set some of my beastmen to keep an eye on him." Lee speaks.

"I understand. I’ll send him back to go with half of my army. I would like to stay for a few more days so you can teach me more." Tyr says.

"Good decision. Take this chance to watch him. Send a beastmen you trust the most to keep an eye on him and I can assure you that you will learn some bad things." Astri speaks.

Tyr nods and sighs. He knows it will be hard to make all these changes, the Elders have equal power as a King nowadays.

"It’s not going to be easy to deal with them. We must find proof against them besides your words. All of them are evil?" Tyr says.

"No. Not all of them. Some are wise and good. But quiet. They just want to live in their own peaceful places." Claud speaks.

"With proof, we can put the good ones against the evil ones. Losing their power and partnership."

"That’s a good idea." Wayde says.

As usual, Astri lets them decide what to do when it’s about security, fighting, making strategies for battles, and defending.

She only helps when they ask, because she prefers talking about building and not destroying, even if she knows that destroying is necessary for rebuilding.