The Captain's office looked darker when the Wardens all gathered there, even though the lights were on. The tension was nearly suffocating as the Wardens either glared in annoyance, fidgeted nervously, or silently fumed.
The three leaders stood at the side, together by habit, each glancing at the others uneasily. Even though only Liu Ren actually knew what this was about, Sean and Drake had a pretty good idea just by looking at one of Liu Ren's subordinates. Said subordinate, Mei Lian, was standing on the other side of the office, trembling with the force of her rage. Her roommate, Penny, had her hand on the other girl's quaking shoulder, whispering soothing words to her in an attempt to calm her. Nibbles stood next to Penny, glaring at every human in the room. Nate and Roland were standing behind Penny, too wary of Mei Lian's anger to get closer as they took comfort in their own shared fear. Hanzo, more used to Mei Lian's temper and more confident in his own ability to counter it, stood on Mei Lian's other side, his eyes deep in thought. Becky stuck close to her brother, looking at him almost pleadingly in search of answers, while Leon stood near the middle of the room, more used to reporting than the rest of his fellow graduates, with his arms crossed and his expression irritable. Dahlia stood right next to Leon, tapping her foot impatiently with her hands on her hips. Violet stood next to her leader, clutching her wand as she stared at the floor, her look one of knowing dread. Professor Little stood next to the Captain's desk in his usual spot, looking like he wanted to hide from the agitated group before him. I stood on the Captain's other side, my own expression carefully neutral as I held my hands behind my back.
"I am sorry for calling all of you here on such short notice." Captain Stryker apologized to the group before him, his elbows on his desk and his fingers interlaced, "But this information has already been withheld from you all for too long. We need this situation to be understood before another incident occurs."
Mei Lian growled dangerously, looking like she desperately wanted to hit something. Even Penny was beginning to back off, her roommate's rage too strong even for her.
"What kind of information?" Leon asked, his professional tone slipping in the face of his annoyance at the Captain's roundabout explanation.
Captain Stryker didn't answer, but instead looked at Liu Ren, who sighed.
"Kowloon's here, as you know." he explained, "What you may not know is that he didn't escape from capture on his own. In fact, he didn't escape at all; he was released."
"What?!" Leon cried, fear and anger entering his eyes.
"You guys released Kowloon intentionally?!" Becky asked, staring at her brother desperately.
"No…" Sean muttered, quieter than anyone had ever heard him. Drake whimpered.
"We didn't release Kowloon." Liu Ren clarified, "Tria did."
"Tria released Kowloon?!" Dahlia screamed, getting scared at the direction this conversation was going, "Why?!"
"Did he promise to help her?" Penny asked, mostly in an attempt to placate her fuming roommate.
"We don't claim to understand her reasons, either." Liu Ren replied, glancing at me for elaboration. Everyone else followed suit, and I sighed.
"Kowloon had asked her to be his alpha, and she accepted. That means he is now a member of her pack, so she released him and now protects him. He, in return, does the same, following her orders and helping when possible." I explained, carefully observing the reactions of the Wardens.
"Alpha?" Roland asked, not understanding its meaning any more than any of the humans did.
"Tria is Kowloon's alpha?" Nibbles growled, his voice unusually soft with shock.
"What the hell does that mean?" Leon snarled, his own lack of understanding increasing his aggression.
"A vivosaurian alpha is the leader of a pack." I explained further, "He or she guides the other members of the pack, on and off the battlefield, giving them advice, companionship, and a sense of acceptance and belonging. In return, the alpha's underlings follow the alpha's orders, responding immediately when called, attacking or restraining or guarding as the alpha commands. In addition, the underlings support the alpha, protecting him or her and helping when he or she needs it. The underling will give his or her life for the alpha, and the alpha gives the underling a life worth living."
"And Tria is willing to do that for Kowloon?" Nate asked, still confused.
"Is he really trustworthy enough?" Becky added, her blue eyes shining with concern.
"Tria seems to think so." Violet muttered, clutching her wand even more tightly.
"Tria does trust Kowloon." I stated, "She wouldn't have allowed him into her pack otherwise."
"WHY?!" the voice of Mei Lian finally exploded, causing everyone around her to shrink away, "Why would Tria trust someone like Kowloon?! Has she already forgotten everything he's done?! Doesn't she remember all the damage he's done?! The pain he made us suffer…" She trailed off, her breath catching in her throat, and she started sobbing from the strain of her own anger and, more than that, betrayal. Penny wrapped her arms around Mei Lian, cradling her gently.
"Tria hasn't forgotten what Kowloon has done, Mei Lian, to you or anyone else." I replied, my tone calm and understanding, "But Tria can also see the reasons behind Kowloon's actions. Sees them, and understands them."
"What reasons?" Professor Little asked, looking at me curiously.
"Kowloon's apparently been looking for a home for a long time, a place where he can belong." I replied, "Not many accept him, so he was left alone and outcasted for many years. When he finally found someone who accepted him without trying to change him, he followed that person's orders loyally, just as he does with Tria now."
"And that person…?" Captain asked, more for confirmation than anything.
"Was Dr. Blackraven." I answered, noting the hatred on everyone's faces in response to the mention of the BR Brigade's leader, "Everything Kowloon did in the Fossil Parks was a result of Dr. Blackraven's orders."
"But Kowloon followed Dr. Blackraven's orders for years." Becky put forward, "How can he so easily start obeying Tria now?"
"Kowloon has strong loyalty for anyone who accepts him for who he is." I replied, "He followed Dr. Blackraven because he thought he could find a place in the world the doctor was trying to create. Tria has already given him a place, so he will do everything in his power to maintain that place and the alpha who stands at its center. And with his loyalty gained, Kowloon has become a valuable ally."
"I can attest to that." Penny said, still holding Mei Lian.
"As can I!" Hanzo declared, startling everyone in the room, "I was following Kowloon when Tria lost control. He had been speaking to Olga in Autumn Garden when he had suddenly stopped and rushed to the Fossil Park, pulling Olga with him. I had heard him state that something was wrong with Tria and they had to help her."
"A pack member will defend his alpha." I agreed, nodding.
"How did he know Tria was in trouble?" Leon asked, equally confused and suspicious.
"That, I do not know." Hanzo replied, sounding ashamed, "His senses are stronger than mine."
"Even if Kowloon is a reliable ally, why would Tria want to help him?" Professor Little asked himself. When he noticed everyone staring at him, he jolted slightly before continuing, "Even if his was only carrying out Dr. Blackraven's orders, he still did some terrible things, including injuring fellow Wardens." He glanced at Mei Lian, who looked at the floor and sniffled. "Why would Tria even want to help him?"
I sighed again, mentally preparing myself for the backlash that would undoubtedly result from my answer.
"Because Tria sees herself in Kowloon. He is very similar to her. She's experienced the same struggles he's going through, has gone through. Had her upbringing been different, she could've ended up exactly like Kowloon. That's why she relates to him and seeks to help him."
The Wardens remained quiet for a few seconds as they processed what I'd said. Then they reacted.
"WHAT?!"
"No way!"
"Tria's nothing like Kowloon!"
"What the hell are you saying?!" Mei Lian screamed, standing up and facing me directly, the tracks of her tears still plain on her face, "How dare you compare Tria to Kowloon?! Kowloon's violent, bloodthirsty, and heartless! Tria's nothing like that!"
"As far as you know." I replied, deceptively calm, "But don't forget, you've only known Tria for a few months. I've known her since she was born. I was even present when she hatched. I may have only been a few weeks old at the time, but I remember it perfectly. I know not only what she's capable of now, but what she used to be capable of as well. And I will tell you firsthand that she was not always as patient, gentle, and forgiving as she is now."
"But Tria isn't bloodthirsty or unnecessarily violent!" Mei Lian continued to argue.
"I find it hard to believe Tria would ever attack without a good reason." Becky added.
"Tria looks out for her friends! She doesn't attack them!" Dahlia claimed.
"I don't see how anyone as patient and forgiving as Tria could've ever been otherwise." Leon stated.
"I thought you said she came here in the first place because she is gentle and forgiving." Nate said, choking up slightly.
"Can anyone change so much?" Roland asked.
"Elric…" Liu Ren mumbled hesitantly, "What are you doing?"
The rest of the Wardens tuned back in to my appearance to see me unwinding my purple scarf, removing it from my neck and setting it on the Captain's desk. My fingers lingered on the soft fabric, the scarf a gift from Tria back before we'd come to the Wardens' time, before taking off my jacket and grabbing the bottom of my white shirt to pull it over my head.
"Elric?! What are you doing?!" Captain Stryker exclaimed, standing up in shock as he and the rest of the Wardens gawked at me.
"Giving you proof of my words." I replied, setting my jacket and shirt over my scarf as my hair fell over my left shoulder, "Since my word alone won't suffice."
"How will taking off your clothes prove anything about Tria?!" Sean cried, turning red at my current partial nudity.
I didn't respond verbally, simply walking over to a corner of the room. I then turned so that all of the Wardens could see my left shoulder and moved my hair, baring the marred skin and eliciting gasps from the humans and vivosaur in the room.
"Oh my gosh…" Penny whispered, looking like she was about to start crying. Nate and Roland looked like they were about to be ill.
"What the hell happened to you?!" Leon gasped, his face pale, while Dahlia stared with wide eyes.
"Don't tell me…" Mei Lian whispered, while Hanzo's eyes gained a look of dread.
"Is that…?" Becky asked fearfully. Sean gripped his sister's shoulder, as much for his own comfort as for hers. Violet cringed, and Drake almost seemed to be trying to hide behind his subordinate. Liu Ren sighed and closed his eyes against what he'd seen.
"I…Impossible…" Professor Little whimpered, clutching the Captain's jacket. The Captain himself was looking at me in shock.
"Did…?" Nibbles growled, sounding terrified as he hesitated to even finish the question.
I looked at the scar on my shoulder. The deepest gash ran from the top of my shoulder to my hip, with two other gashes flanking it, each one shallower and traveling from my collarbone to just above my hip. Although long-healed, the distorted skin and easily-seen marks told a clear story of just how deep and bloody the wound had been when first inflicted.
"Yes." I said, guilt rising in my throat at the memory, "I got this wound from Tria. She still beats herself up over it sometimes, despite it being over ten years old by now."
"Did…" Mei Lian whimpered, almost looking smaller as she stared at the scar.
"D-Did Tria…attack you?" Drake stuttered, his familiarity with berserker bloodlust giving the question a painful edge. I shook my head.
"No. I wasn't her original target. She was being harassed by a group of bullies, a common occurrence in her childhood. They didn't attack her physically; they knew she was stronger than they could ever be, but they were throwing some nasty verbal abuse at her. Tria tried to ignore them, but then they said something she was sensitive to and she lost it. She'd lunged at them, shattering the ground where they'd been standing before going in for the kill. I got in the way, and this is the result."
The Wardens all looked at each other, their expressions ranging from uneasy to tearful to furious.
"What happened to those assholes?" Leon asked through clenched teeth, his own experience with bullies igniting his inner fire in response to my tale.
"They got away." I replied, noting how Leon seemed conflicted between relief and disappointment, "When I interfered and was injured, Tria returned to her senses and focused on me. She was more traumatized than I was."
"You said that scar's over ten years old." Penny said, gulping, "How old were you two?"
I looked down at the purple scarf on the desk, running my hands over the fabric again as I said sorrowfully, "This particular incident happened…at Tria's 7th birthday party. I had turned seven just a few weeks prior."
Penny gasped, tears re-entering her eyes. Behind her, Nate and Roland paled.
"So those losers ruined the party, and you were hurt protecting them?!" Dahlia screamed disbelievingly.
"That kind of harassment was nothing new." I replied, "Tria never was very welcome in our world, by the humans or dinaurians. Those closest to her accept her, but people who don't understand her fear her. And when humans fear something, they attempt to scare it away, if not physically, then verbally. She just lost her patience with them this time. However, the consequences would've been worse if she'd actually managed to attack and kill them. There would've been a huge outcry, and Tria would've been in far worse danger. Because I, along with my parents, understood her and were close to her, we didn't try to punish her for my injury. So, while I appeared to be protecting those idiotic humans, in reality, I was protecting Tria. I've always looked after Tria, and I don't intend to stop now."
I looked at each Warden individually, including the alpha of Tria's team, making sure I had their full attention when I said, "Do you understand now, Wardens? Tria did not always have her current level of kindness. She always looked after those close to her, but she wasn't always so considerate of those around her. If she hadn't been raised in an accepting environment, one capable of counteracting the distrust of ignorant civilians, she would've become exactly like Kowloon, only far more dangerous. Kowloon was raised by a pack of rogue Zino, causing him to grow into a vivosaur in a human body. He doesn't fit in with vivosaurs; he lacks the strength, speed, and stamina, but he doesn't understand human laws and customs enough to fit in among them either. Tria understands both sides, while simultaneously knowing how it feels to not belong to either, so, when he asked her if he could join her pack, she accepted. She intends to guide him in coexisting with humans without having to change himself. In short, she's teaching him how to exist the same way she does. But in order for that to work, she can't let the Wardens attack him, so she'll protect him, even against all of you. She doesn't enjoy standing against you, but if she has to choose between the Wardens and her pack, she will choose her pack." I looked at the Wardens, actually pleading for the first time in years. "Please…don't make her do that. Don't make her choose between you and her pack."
The Wardens all looked at each other again, the sympathy and pity on their faces making me sick.
"Of course, Elric." Captain Stryker answered for the Wardens, "We support Tria, no matter what."
I glared at the Captain, not forgetting the argument just the day before that had almost gotten him killed, but I didn't comment on it.
"Kowloon did protect me." Penny repeated, "Even on Tria's orders, so he can't be all bad."
"And he's helped Tria when she needed it, so at least he's loyal to her." Liu Ren supplied.
Everyone looked at Mei Lian, who was looking at the floor. She jolted from the attention and looked at the faces around her before sighing.
"It's no secret that I don't like Kowloon, not after what he did to me." she said, clenching her fists before glaring at me, "But Tria's my best friend! She's helped me so much, so I will do everything I can to help her!"
"Excellent." I replied, putting my shirt, jacket, and scarf back on, "Now that that's settled, it's getting late. We should all head back to our own Fossil Parks."
"I agree." Captain Stryker stated, standing up again and ordering in his authoritative voice, "All right, everyone. Dismissed!"
"Sir!" the Wardens responded in sync before filing out of the office. I leaned against the wall, sighing with emotional fatigue. I opened my eyes and glanced down when Nibbles approached me.
"Was Tria really that violent when she was younger?" the small vivosaur asked me.
"Tria has always been violent. That has never changed." I replied, "What has changed is her level of control. She has far more control over herself now than she used to."
"Then why did you tell that story?" Nibbles growled in confusion, "Kowloon enjoys hurting people. Tria only hurts people when she gets mad and can't control herself. So why did you use that story to tie Tria to Kowloon?"
I chuckled. "Very good, Nibbles. You're getting quite thoughtful and observant." I praised him, before answering, "You're right, Nibbles. That story wasn't intended to tie Tria to Kowloon." I gestured for him to follow me, since we were the last ones out of the office. When we were alone in the elevator, I knelt down in front of him.
"The fact is, Tria is losing control of herself. This plague is eating away at her, and the Wardens need to know that. They need to understand that Tria can attack them, can kill them, and can do so without warning. They must not fear her, but they have to know that she can't carry the world on her shoulders alone. She needs their support, their friendship, their community, and their trust, because if she breaks, the consequences will be real."
Nibbles watched me, gulping under the weight of my words.
"That includes you, Nibbles." I told him, making his large green eyes snap back up to me, "You are one of Tria's closest companions. You are very dear to her, and when she falls, she'll need you to catch her."
Nibbles looked at me, his eyes tearful with dread. He then nodded resolutely and stood up taller. "Tria saved my life. It's only because of her that I have friends, that I am the alpha of a team, that I am happy. She didn't let me fall, so I won't let her fall, either."
I smiled gratefully at Nibbles, patting his head gently and standing up as the elevator doors opened. "Good. I'm counting on you." I followed Nibbles out of the elevator, but while he headed to the kitchen for his steak, I stopped, looking in the direction of the World Gate. What I saw there made my heart clench painfully.
Her normally-bright golden eyes were now dull with sorrow and self-loathing, her wings were drooping, and her figure was crouched down to hide from her own friends. Those dull eyes glanced at my shoulder and shimmered for a moment before she turned and darted through the World Gate, evading the eyes of everyone as she fled the Fossil Park that was supposed to be her home. I cringed and squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the tears that burned them. I then opened my eyes and, with a final glance around the Asian Fossil Center, followed my dearest friend through the World Gate, determined to keep my promise, no matter what.