36. A Difference of Opinion
CHAPTER 36
A Difference of Opinion
ALIA
A large waterfall broke from a hole in the cliff edge. Massive trees grew from all along the edges of the cliff, some growing at a near ninety-degree angle to point their dancing leaves to the blue sky and downy clouds high above.
Ran dove through those clouds. A dew-like feel alighted on my face, as if I had stood too close to a waterfall. I had expected clouds to feel different than fog, but it was much the same. A tiny, blue-haired fairy waved as we flew past, a bright grin on her tiny face. I did a double take, but we were already past her.
Fairies lived in clouds?
A streak of light darted within the cloud we just departed. Was that where lightning came from?
Ran evened out of her gradual dive and flapped her wings to slow us, gently alighting on the rocky cliff face just above the massive waterfall. The roar of the water was much softer than I expected, knowing how loud it was from the pools below that my family had often visited when I was younger.
Ran set me on my feet and I stumbled, nearly pitching over the edge. Ran was unconcerned and merely dipped her head over the side to get a drink from the falls.
I plopped down hard on my butt and wiped dew and sweat from my forehead.
You need to relax.
“And you need to stop kidnapping people.”
I learned from the best, she replied with a saucy shake of her head.
My lips grew into a grin without my permission. She was right.
She lithely circled me until she was right at my back. She laid down, folding her wings back at her sides. Her head curled around until it was right beside me where she could look out at the land. She released a large sigh that sent a few pebbles over the edge along with a puff of dust.
Of course I ’ m right.
I leaned in the hollow where her neck met her head. Her ears flicked as flies landed on them. Both were tapered like a horse’s, but much larger.
She had two pearlescent horns which curled from her forehead. I reached up and traced one, feeling the smooth surface. There was some sort of soft, velvety lining around the outside that also gave off a glow.
I ran my fingers back down over her forehead and eye ridges, then I scratched under her ear just like I used to when she was a unicorn. The scales were soft and pliable, and I could even lift them up by rows to scratch beneath them. She leaned into my hand, one of her back legs kicking. I chuckled, rubbing the scales back into place and settling back down beside her.
I had never seen the topside of this waterfall. We always went to the large pool at the bottom to swim and watch for the dragon?—
My entire body jolted in realization. I turned to her to find her one gigantic eye peeking at me, open just a slit.
Don ’ t ask, she said with a tiny breath before closing her eye again.
I grinned, leaning back against her and looking out at the rolling hills, life-teeming forests, and bustling cities far into the distance. It was as if life couldn’t touch us here. The problems faded away as I basked in Ran’s warmth and companionship. My eyes slowly closed, and I didn’t even realize I was tired until blackness took me away to happy dreams and bright waterfalls.
Ran alighted before the Matriarch’s Tent as the sun faded into the horizon and the full moon rose. It was huge, a large, silver presence in the sky before even the brightest stars peeked out. It would be even larger tomorrow, on the night of the Blood Moon.
I leaned my forehead against Ran’s. “Thanks, beaut,” I said.
She breathed in and out with me for a moment. Then she stepped back, knocked me on my butt with a gentle shove of her huge snout, and leapt into the sky. I covered my eyes to keep the dirt from blinding me.
I stood and spat grit that had gotten into my mouth through my smile. Wow. My cheeks were hurting a bit from smiling. I really needed that.
When I turned, I met Enforcer Markus’ eyes.
The smile left my face. “What happened?”
“Someone broke into the Tent. Riled up a few of the creatures. Stole the mage stones the doctor brought with him. Left this.” Enforcer Markus handed me a slip of vellum.
Your people are hurting, but you put beasts before us. You will burn on Sixth for what you have done. And I will laugh.
Verand.
My frown deepened as I carefully held the note.
I walked through the tent flap and into chaos. A few werewolves had cornered the sphinx, who was spitting and hissing at the werewolves while clinging to her last remaining baby.
Further in was a dryad who had climbed halfway up the wall and was growing leaves from his normally pale, humanlike skin. The hydra was knocking down posts and the thin walls, pushing past werewolves as if they weren’t there.
Needs hit me in a tidal wave, and I sunk to a knee. Markus set his hand on my shoulder, the other on his bow in warning. A large white-and-tan werewolf came to a stop before us. He had a brown ring around one of his eyes like a monocle. He bowed his head, then turned, huffing a low bark.
Five werewolves in both human and wolf form surrounded me and Markus on all sides as the other werewolves worked to protect the inhabitants from the raging creatures.
They needed a leader. The werewolves were doing well but…
Growls came from the werewolves at my back. I glanced back to see Brandt with six Reds being held back by the snarling werewolves.
My chest inflated as Ran took some of the strain of the needs .
I stood, Markus right beside me in case I faltered. I gave him a curt nod.
“Let them through,” I said with a clear voice.
Brandt and the six stopped before me with a salute.
“Brandt, take the Reds. The dryad clinging to the ceiling will come down for water. Get it beneath him before he explodes into a tree.”
Two of the Reds exchanged wide glances. “That can happen?” one asked.
“Yep. Get him down. The sphinx needs space; get everyone back and let her be. She will harm no one who is not a danger to her.” Doc nudged my arm with his cold nose. “You take the sphinx?” I asked. He nodded.
“What about the hydra, ma’am?”
I winced as said hydra stepped on a werewolf’s tail, sending the werewolf into a yowl of pain.
“That one’s mine.”
Ran?
Here. Just get her to me.
I ran forward and rolled in front of the hydra, the snap of teeth missing my hood by a hairsbreadth. I turned, blowing a dart at the head. It hit the soft nose, and the head reared back, blinking quickly.
The head lolled to the side, shaking its head. Then the body stumbled. She nearly slammed against Enforcer Markus, who grabbed a werewolf and shoved him out of the way.
“Hey, pretty girl. You’re safe with me, ok? Come on now.” The middle head snapped its teeth at me and I took off. “Clear the path!” I shouted, and my Reds darted in front of me, getting injured creatures, nurses, healers, and volunteers out of the way.
The pound of enormous feet shook the ground behind me, closing in. Ran sliced a thin slit into the side of the tent and I shoved through.
Enforcer Markus somehow made it outside before me and grabbed my arm. He shielded me to the side as the hydra broke through the wall beside us with a guttural howl of fury.
Ran literally headbutted the hydra, pushing her over. The two heads that were still awake mewled in distress as it flipped all the way over, her legs beating at air like a stuck upside-down turtle.
Markus eased me back, holding me by the shoulders. “Are you alright, madame?” he asked, his eyes searching my face and body.
I blinked at him. “Erm… I’m fine?”
He frowned at the uncertainty in my voice. “Are you harmed?”
I shook my head, trying to think straight and actually answer his question. “I’ve never had anyone ask me that after battle,” I rambled, then slapped a hand over my lips.
A tiny smile quirked his lips. “The werewolf hasn’t asked that?”
I snorted. “Maybe. But mostly he just sniffs for any wounds and immediately panics until it’s taken care of.” I paused. “Which isn’t near as weird as it sounds.”
He raised a brow. “If you say so, madame. I am pleased you are well.”
“Me too. Are you ok?” I asked.
He cracked a tiny smile that showed teeth, which always looked a bit odd on his stern features. “I am well. Thank you for your concern. What should we do about that?” He gestured with his head to the hydra.
I winced. “We need to calm her down?—”
Ran eased up beside the hydra and bumped the yowling heads with hers. The hydra stopped flailing and released a rumbling purr in return.
I slumped my shoulders, smiling slightly as Ran eased the hydra over to her belly. The hydra immediately darted under Ran like a terrified chick who’d lost her mother. Which was exactly what the hydra was: an enormous creature who was just a scared baby.
Ran covered the hydra with her wings and hid her from sight.
I leaned against the tent, but immediately straightened as I saw we had company in the form of a bunch of townsfolk. They were watching, disapproval clear in their eyes. There had to be fifty gathered. They were gesturing wildly to Ran, pointing at the tent, and scowling at me.
“Get these creatures out of here before they cost us more lives!”
“Innocent humans will die if you keep these things around.”
“Bring back the Reds as they should be!”
I stared at the crowd. They were shouting and getting closer. Ran’s chest glowed red and she lowered her head with a low, chittering growl, her entire being radiating a deadly threat and heat pulsing out from her chest. They backed up. Most were not Reds but civilians who wouldn’t know how to take on a horned rabbit, much less a full-grown dragon.
They slowly dispersed.
But not before I felt the slow tear of my people’s minds away from me like some sort of dreaded disease spreading through every individual. I was slowly losing their trust, and I didn’t know how to stop it.
I wished Grandmother and those with her would attack me to my face. Instead, they were destabilizing everything I’d worked for, turning the people against me step-by-step. And I didn’t know how to combat things that were ingrained in this tribe.
I’d seen the other side of the creatures we were helping. The gentle and loving sides. How they cared and loved and hurt just like we did.
But my people didn’t understand them, and so they feared them.
So help them understand, Ran whispered.
It was the first night of the full moon. On the last night of the Blood Moon in a few days, my people would gather to celebrate another moon’s end. They would dance around bonfires just outside the Matriarch’s Palace.
Help them understand.
How—
Wait.
My grin slowly grew.
I’d have to wait a few days, but I’d give my people a show they wouldn’t forget.