Just Another Day

The entire hall fall silent as a Feral gone feral stood breathing heavily among them, her black lips drawn in a vicious snarl. Her whole body felt on fire to finally said what she had wanted to say for years. The only thing that could make it better was if she could actually sink her teeth into those who had torn her from her family, who had made her face that frightening minocentaur, who had condemned her aboard that cursed ship to take so many innocent lives.

Two guards came forth to take her away. With a flash of her eyes, Shanku struck one fiercely in the jaw with the heel of her hand, and just as quickly spun around and kicked the other in the stomach with the pad of her foot. She held her stance a moment, ready to kick again. It took a great measure of control to restrain herself from continuing. Both of the guards were dazed and edged back a few paces. Shanku did not pursue, returned her foot to the ground, and turned to face the lead Elder again without further incident. Hilael, unfazed, had merely stepped aside so he would not be struck by a falling guard. Katari had ducked his head and held his face in his hand, shaking his head slowly in embarrassment.

"Cub," the Elder began. "I think you need to calm down."

"I am calm!" Shanku's eyes flashed dangerously. "I spent months in the mountains being taught control by the Highland, instead of cowering in fear in a hole in the ground, afraid of anything that so much as reflected light."

Hilael stared at the ground, quiet as always. This couldn't get much worse, he thought with a bit of amusement. While his own emotions were fairly level, if not a little blank, he could feel Shanku's anger radiating out of her in strong waves. It was strange, how he rarely felt passionate about anything, yet could feel the passion of others as if they were his own. He hadn't met many who also experienced that, so as usual he kept quiet about it.

Katari was also staring at the ground, wishing a hole would just open up and swallow him so he would not have to be present at this disaster in diplomacy. Why did I want to come along again?

"If the Imperials are going feral as the Arctic said, you're not going to stand a chance against them," Shanku said and crossed her arms, finally starting to feel calmer. Her impulses were still tickling her senses and trying to cloud her judgement, but she could suppress them again without much thought. "There's more to being feral than just being angry. They're stronger, faster, their senses are keener. Their hides are thicker and their claws are sharper. If these skirmishes escalate, they will slice you to ribbons before you so much as tickle them. If your guards couldn't take me, a mere cub on the cusp of adulthood, what hope do you have against a flank of fully grown Sylvans with years of training who've gone feral?"

Hushed whispers echoed throughout the hall as various Elders and council members conferred with one another. Shanku waited patiently, all the while keeping a steely gaze locked on the eldest of the lot. Katari risked a glance up at the Elder to see his reaction.

Niranjan glared coldly down his nose at the three cubs before him. Two were meek and quiet, as they should be. But that one cub, that one bothersome, rogue cub, who dared stand before him and evoke magic. Even worse, assumed the forbidden form! However, she was dangerous. Much too dangerous for them to keep in the clan.

"I do believe," Niranjan said at length. "It is time to send you away once more."

Shanku narrowed her eyes at him, silently daring him to try her patience and banish her once more.

"You and your brother should go, and we will send an escort with you to the Imperial Grove," Niranjan said cooly. And give me time to seek a permanent solution about you.

"What are your wishes?" Hilael asked calmly.

"Reconnaissance," Niranjan nodded. "If what you say is true, we will need to confirm it for ourselves."

"Sir, I'd like to volunteer as scout," Katari spoke up. "I'm a trained hunter and used to passing through quietly."

"It will be dangerous cub. But if you insist, you will be the scout," Niranjan nodded.

"Thank you, sir," Katari said solemnly and bowed.

"Yay!" Shanku chirped, irreverant as always, and allowed herself to return to her natural form.

"Hilael, you are to be our primary spokesperson. This brash sister of yours is bound to get us all killed. I've still half a mind to lock her away," Niranjan said and laid his ears back in irritation. Hilael nodded and Shanku crossed her arms indignantly.

"There's one other matter," Shanku said coldly.

"What now, cub? You try my patience," Niranjan sighed.

"Your grandson. When I came in the other day, I found him and his friends attacking my younger brother. I've since learned this has been going on for a long time, with complaints from other clan members as well," Shanku started. Hilael nudged her to be quiet, but Shanku continued. "And this isn't the first time those of the highborn have picked on us lowborns for the dumbest of reasons, especially my family. Either it stops, or I put a stop to it."

"I will speak to him. Back to the matter at hand," Niranjan said. So this is who cracked his friends' ribs and jaws.

There was still tension in the room, but not due to having a cub gone feral this time. The council and the Elders began to discuss with one another and the cubs about what they would do when they reached the Imperial Grove. With the focus returned back to Hilael, he was able to help the council create a thorough plan for their journey, and for what they should do if the Imperial refused to listen.