Taming the Queen of Beasts

If you like music while you read, try "Never Ending Nightmare" by Citizen Soldier + Kellin Quinn. It's the song I listened to while writing this!

*****

GAR

It was the end of the second day. Soon, night would fall. The third night. In the morning when the sun peaked the mountains to the east, the portals would be closed.

Gar's anxiety and stress about Rika weren't forgotten. But as he saw the afternoon light begin to fade, he was struck with thoughts of his parents and what they were facing. They should be arriving at the portal in a few hours. The last of the night's journeys intended to be only a few hours. He wondered what they were doing. Likely sleeping just then. But if their schedule was anything like what his had been, they'd be woken soon by their guards. Eating and drinking in preparation for the travel.

He sent up a silent prayer for their safety and… peace. Then, swallowing the lump in his throat he returned to the center of their base.

Things had moved quickly that day. The scouts had already warned them of technology sent for surveillance on the desert side of their line. And they were expecting the Protectors and Guards who'd traveled by foot to arrive throughout the night tonight. They would push to be here in time for the third morning, after all.

There was still no sight or scent of the humans. Which meant Rika and Reece hadn't been successful yet. Every time his stomach clenched with fear about what had happened to her, he thought of her and paid attention to that spot in his chest. The way it pulled.

She was still there. Still in the same direction. And all signs were that the humans hadn't moved throughout the day.

The flickers that revealed their location had virtually stopped, but there had been two sightings during the day—both showing them still in the same place that last night's guard had identified them when Rika and Reece ran.

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They hadn't started traveling again. Yet. Would they move tonight? Gar wasn't sure whether to hope for it or not. If they traveled they'd be more tired when it came to an all-out assault. And it would mean that Rika was moving closer to him.

But it also meant the humans believed they could take them out. And Gar was terrified they were right.

As he walked the lines one more time, noting with approval how the few guards they had, had spread along the front and were watching for any movement on the plains.

He murmured encouragement to each as he passed.

His ears perked as he wove between trees, the sounds of bodies moving in groups and quiet calls.

The others were beginning to arrive. He looked up towards the sky. Purple and pink, the sun hadn't completely set yet. But the WildWood was growing darker. He turned deeper into the forest to find the Protectors and greet them, but as he walked, his body hummed like a tuning fork that had been struck, his head swimming with thoughts of Rika and his parents. He prayed, desperately, that this night would bring good news. Hope.

Victory.

Glancing over his shoulder back towards the plains, just in case that flicker from the human camp came. But there was nothing. Gar growled and pushed on, back to the encampment and his friends and tribe.

He snorted air from his nostrils. He was Alpha now. Action was not his role—not yet, anyway. His role was to guide and lead and reassure, no matter how frightened or discouraged he felt himself.

It struck him, then, that when this was all over, he would have a tribe. He would lead. He would sit in on Security Council and in Elders meetings.

He would… be like his father. Gar shook his head.

What a fucking crazy world it had become.

*****

The surprise, when he met the first of the arrivals, was to find Suhle and her daughter among the Protectors.

"I thought you were going back to the Outsiders?" he said quietly, hugging her and raising a hand in greeting to her daughter.

Suhle looked sad and tired, but she forced a smile.

"We have to pass through anyway, and Elreth asked us to come directly to you, to get as much information as we could to take to Lerrin and… the birds that take Reth and Elia will report back to Elreth."

"Days late," Gar growled.

​ Suhle shrugged. "Better than not at all."

Gar had to reluctantly agree. So he spent the first half-hour filling her in on what had happened with Rika and Reece, the strategy they'd employed in delaying the humans—which appeared to be working. And what they hoped it meant.

"If we can be certain their technology is down, the Protectors will be sent in. We'll take down their leaders, remove as many of their guns as we can, and bring Rika and Reece out before the warriors make an attack."

Suhle nodded, but her forehead puckered. "You worry for your mate."

Gar felt it like a punch to the gut. Everyone had been ignoring his tension—which he thought he'd wanted them to do. He needed to focus on getting her out, and he couldn't do what was needed if he dissolved into a chittering puddle of fear—or a roaring, vengeful lion.

Those seemed to be his only alternatives.

Sensing his unease, Suhle leaned forward and put a hand to his arm. "We were forced out of the WildWood and have lived independent of society. That brings with it certain dangers…" she sighed, but her eyes were sympathetic. "Gar, if I've learned anything in the past twenty years it's that the Creator can be trusted to bring information or resources when they are needed—and to protect you and the ones you love when it is out of your control. Do not give up hope. And do not allow yourself to believe you must control everything. The Creator's power outstrips even the Hyerhyn's," she said with a small smile.

Gar snorted.