Previously on… CI: Lacrimosa, the Time of Lacrimosa has come and gone for Augustine, the murdered Regent Elder, Manny explains about the goddess Brede and Diego makes friends with a mammoth, Theo, and a dire wolf, Hudson. Soto forges an alliance with a young newcomer, Shira, and continues his plan to get rid of Diego.
Three years later, this is where we are when the story gets taken up again.
…...
Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this longfic during my long eight-year hiatus! I got a mental block when it came to writing L14 and then I began working and life got away from me. So, my bad. :I
Also, thank you to BeWitchingRedhead36 for all the new, great reviews she's been giving me on this fic here and at ao3! They have been so helpful and such a stimulus for getting back into the groove of this heart-story of mine that I feel compelled to tell!
"La Escarlata" is Spanish for "The Scarlett" and "madre" is the word for "mother", in case anyone needs the translations to understand the context in those scenes. Oh, and Sonia is a passenger pigeon as a shoutout to Blue Sky Studios' (RIP) last movie, Spies in Disguise! And also because I think passenger pigeons are neat.
And the second part to this chapter, L15, is already at 3k words so it should be ready soon! :)
My thanks to ForTheKingdom for the beta! :) Enjoy the chapter!
"So, who gets to tell the story now?" Ellie queried, casting her glance downwards briefly at Sid. "Sid hasn't gotten to say much."
Sid shrugged. "I don't have much of a thtory to tell."
"Ah," Ellie said, skeptically. "Are you sure?"
The campfire sputtered. Flames hissed toward the ceiling of the cave and silence wrapped itself around the animals inside.
At last, Diego spoke.
"I spent those three years growing closer with Hudson… and Theo."
The possum twins and Axel couldn't hold back their groans at the mention of Diego's calf friend. Manny shot them a glare and they sat up straight.
"Diego's parts of the story are always so long!" Eddie whined.
"And too sad," Shelley said, glancing up from her weaving. Diego looked away from her and sighed.
Manny was curious to learn more about Diego's past, however he feared what truths the tiger might reveal.
"Just tell it, Diego," he said. "We're listening."
"It's only darker from here," Diego said. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Outer Bredelands, territory of the carnivores near Vetta Inferno, close to Brede Pass
The wind beat hard against the oaks and firs of the forest. Clouds clustered together in grey, foreboding ovals, heralding an oncoming storm.
Within the forest, a small mammoth herd made their way underneath the canopy, struggling against the bitter wind. The clouds gathered until all traces of sunlight disappeared.
That day, Ethan was the leader of the tiny group. He tried to hide his anxiety over the weather complications, not wanting to frighten the herd.
"Are we gonna get there soon, Boss?" asked his friend.
"We should be there in no time!" Ethan hoped he sounded confident.
In truth, he was lost, and the denseness of the hinterland they were in was not helping his navigation.
The Regent Elder, Darius, had sent him and his bachelor herd out on a survey of the Bredelands. Their goal was to determine if the sabres were amassing their packs into one whole, as was the vanguard's speculation.
Ethan was one of the scouts chosen, despite his young age. While he was proud to have been chosen, he was fully aware of the dangers.
RE Darius and his Second, Clovis, had not sent him and his band out for no reason. Scout bands had been disappearing and the RE was intent on resolving the issue before gossip and growing tensions spread whispers of war.
Bands have been slaughtered, by that sabre chieftain, Cortez, Ethan reminded himself. War is coming whether the RE wants it or not…
A twig cracked sharp in the bushes and Ethan jumped. He glanced around at his fellow bulls and counted, making sure all four were still there.
A low growl rumbled from the bushes, and Ethan's throat went dry. Glowing eyes surrounded them; he couldn't tell how many. The eyes emerged from the undergrowth. His band was trapped, encircled by the menacing eyes of the sabre pack...
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Soto, the sabre leader, growled low in his throat in satisfaction. If he could pull this off, he'd get Cortez's attention for sure!
Soto glanced at his pack. His gaze landed on the young Shira, the muscles in her lithe body quivering with anticipation. Soto licked his lips.
"Not much longer now," Shira said.
Soto nodded.
Three years ago, Shira and her mother, Emilia, had infiltrated his father's pack on orders from the tigress of red. Soto wasn't sure what exactly Emilia's orders were, but he knew Shira's.
Shira had two roles; she was part of his terror strike band and also a spy on his half-brother. She had told him that she had intel that Diego was talking with one of the mammoths via avian messenger. Soto was pretty sure he was the only sabre who knew this besides Shira, herself. Not even Soto's father knew this yet.
He kept it a secret, but Soto did appreciate Shira joining his band. She (and Diego) were only ten, and thus considered 'yearlings' by the sabine tribes in the Bredelands, and only now working their way up into finding their positions in the different pack hierarchies scattered throughout the carnivores' known domains.
He let out a roar. "Attack!"
At his shout, Oscar, Lenny and Zeke burst out of their cover, Shira following at their heels.
Nothing pleased Soto more than seeing prey cower and he savored the way the arrogant mammoth bull's eyes widened in terror as he closed in.
The dying moans from the bachelor troop sang to him. Killing never stopped being satisfying!
"Hey Diego, this is Theo! I'd like to introduce you to my little bird friend, Noa. She'll be carrying messages back and forth between us. It's something my friend Manfred's dad thought up, do ya remember?"
"Don't you realise that this could be used for your kind to spy on us?"
"Diego, don't respond like that. Hudson and his father Hugo tested so well that my daddy let me have my own birdie and now I'm sharing her with you. And Hudson!"
"... Well, I guess that's ok then. Still seems a bit risky though, Theo. You should know better."
"No one's spying on us, D. Noa gives me all your messages in private and Hudson told me that you'd be doing the same. Aren't you?"
"Yes, as much as I can. But Father hardly lets me out of his sight. It's so much fun being trapped in a den."
"How is your mum about me sharing my bird with you?"
"She's too busy hunting with my dad's second-in-command Brutus to really notice."
"Things are getting worse, Diego. Terror strikes against my kind are ramping up from the sabines." A pause. "It's bad. Family bands are being cut in half!"
"I've heard but there's not much I can do, Theo. Sorry. Brede, it's hard enough keeping in touch with you without anyone in my pack finding out."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"Theo? Are you doing okay? I haven't heard from you in a long time. Noa last found me several months ago. She said that you had nothing to say."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Theodora rocked back and forth on her feet; her gaze fixated on the Regent Elder. Her father, Justinian, was talking in a low voice with the RE and both of them seemed concerned.
A few days prior, Theo's mother, Constantine, had awoken her with news that her father had departed for Seven Oaks. While Theo didn't know everything that entailed, she knew it wasn't good.
As the matriarch, it was Constantine's job to lead the disparate mammoth herds who were assembling for a Major Council to Seven Oaks Vale.
Noa alighted on one of Theo's growing tusks and blinked up at her with her dark glittering eyes.
"We should let Diego know what's happening," Noa said, sotto voce.
Theo nodded and withdrew from the presence of the adults and the throngs of mammoth herds still entering the Vale. She caught sight of Manfred and William chatting together, Samarkand scowling, and Catherine babysitting the calves.
She found a quiet thicket and sat back on her haunches, considering what to say.
"Diego! I know you haven't heard from me for some time, but I have urgent news. Noa will explain further, but you must know this at least. RE Darius has gathered the mammoth tribes to Seven Oaks for a council of war."
Diego's jaw dropped as Noa looked on, her eyes inquisitive. They were well hidden in the underbrush, but something was wrong. Even though it was buried by the heady scents of the foliage, Diego could smell the scent of another sabre.
He shook Noa off his shoulder. The small bird fluttered upward and hovered above the cub.
Diego spun around and found himself face to face with Shira. Shira bared her fangs at him with a hiss.
"I knew it," she spat with a chuff. Cortez materialised behind her, disapproval in his eyes. Diego winced.
To Diego's surprise, Cortez chuckled.
"Well done, son," he said. "This intel is valuable to our campaign against that insufferable RE Darius and his mammoths. You make a fine double agent!"
"A double agent… yes, that's what I was doing," Diego lied. He stuck his tongue out at Shira and she gasped indignantly.
"Finally!" Cortez growled. "Now I can finally make those dungy mammoths pay. They have been asking for this for years, oh si, they have…"
Diego's heart lurched as Cortez's eyes glinted with anger.
"Soon, I will declare war!" he growled.
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The Inner Bredelands
The Vale of Seven Oaks, Mammoth Diocese, Major Council
Clovis tried to ignore the anxiety gnawing at him as he stood with Millie and RE Darius in front of the council. The first two years since RE Darius' election and his appointment as the Second had been peaceful, up until the year Manfred turned ten.
My son has barely reached ten seasons and we've been thrust into a cataclysm, Clovis mused. Luckily, he's too young to understand anything about it.
"Call to order!" Justinian barked, snapping Clovis out of his trance. "Before we begin the war council, I bring urgent scouting news."
The cows exchanged worried glances whilst Clovis sought RE Darius' gaze. The RE's face was stern, stuck on a hard frown.
"We have knowledge of a new species in the Bredelands," Justinian continued. "They walk on two legs and are pale, wrapping themselves in furs from beasts like the cave bears. According to our soothsayer, the Augur, Brede has explained that they are called huu-man."
There was a unanimous sigh of relief from everyone gathered. Darius chuckled drily, "So these … huu-man are not a threat?"
Justinian looked sheepish. "My scouts don't have enough info. They reported that the huu-man was not alone, that there were others with him. Apparently, they form family groups like us mammoths. The huu-man struck at him with a long pointy stick but did no damage."
"So," Darius raised his eyebrows. "This species is not a threat. Unlike the sabres."
The amber-furred bull sought compromise.
"As I said, we don't know enough about the huu-mans and their kind. One huu-man is harmless, but four or more together has the potential for increased danger - so I urge everyone to be on their guard. These creatures are making the Bredelands their home!"
Curiosity overcame Clovis.
"Is it possible for us to talk with these huu-mans?" he asked. His question caused a volcano of chatter to erupt throughout the council.
"Huu-mans don't know Brede's tongue," Justinian answered. "They cannot 'talk' as it were, with us."
RE Darius coughed, drawing all attention to himself. "Which, again, proves that these huu-mans are not a threat," he said. "This council wasn't summoned to debate possible enemies but to determine if war is necessary against the sabres."
Murmurs of agreement followed his remark. RE Darius nodded at his former Second, and Justinian bowed, withdrawing to his place alongside his mate Connie as the RE strode to the middle of the circled mammoths.
"Before we continue," said Darius, "Let's first take a moment of silence for all the bachelor bull groups we've lost to the sabre attacks recently."
The council fell silent in respect, and Darius bowed his head.
After a time, he went on. "Here's what we know. These attacks are becoming more and more rampant here in the Bredelands and I can guess what's behind it."
"Who?" piped up a stray voice. Darius glowered in the direction of its sender.
"It's that rogue sabre band, living outside the borders of our Bredelands, led by an alpha called Cortez. It's not your usual small pack either. Last I heard, he had twenty or thirty in his ranks and every pack he conquers adds him more." Darius shot a look around the tall trees before emitting a low whistle.
A passenger pigeon landed on his tusk. She bobbed her head and swept her wings toward the mammoth council in greeting.
"This is Sonia," RE Darius explained. "She is my personal emissary and helped my father, Augustine, before his untimely death. I suggest we have her deliver a notice to the alpha, Cortez. She will fly to him with the request that he meet with me for parley."
Clovis glanced from Millie to Abelard on either side of him. Millie and Abelard traded uncertain looks.
"If he doesn't agree to meeting with me, then we move forward with a declaration of war," Darius emphasised. "We won't do this without a vote first, of course, but I fear a declaration of war is imminent."
A vote was called and it passed nearly unanimously. Only Clovis, Abelard, and their mates disapproved. Clovis could see that RE Darius was rather peeved about this, given that Clovis was his Second, but Clovis stuck to his beliefs that doing so wasn't a good idea.
Just as the thought crossed Clovis' mind, the ground trembled and groaned underneath his hooves. If he wasn't mistaken, he felt like he could hear a low, ominous boom, far below the earth. None of the other mammoths seemed to have noticed anything though.
He studied Darius as the Columbian mammoth led them out of the meeting hollow and into an open area for Sonia's launching. His jaw was set and he kept shooting dour glances at Clovis.
His visible annoyance melted away as he vaulted Sonia into the airy blue skies above when Clovis pointed out,
"What is that?"
In the distance, as the mammoths looked upward, grey plumes of smoke rose from amidst the southern mountain ranges. The sight produced audible gasps of amazement and concern from the mammoth council.
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Montes of Cortez, Sabre Territory
Sonia navigated through the winding mountain ridges. Word had gotten around from her bird friends and other messengers that the sabre alpha living in this territory had named the heights after himself.
Sonia blinked huffily. No self-respecting mammoth Elder would name an area after himself. Doing so reeked of arrogance.
One reason the smaller species - like birds, sloths, and beavers - kept close to the mammoths was their likeability. It wasn't uncommon for a mammoth - bull or cow - to go out of their way to protect non-mammoths and this endeared species like Sonia's to them. Mammoths especially seemed to protect sloths instinctively… even she wasn't sure why!
Sonia alighted onto a tree limb, clicking her tongue. Ash fell all around and one tall mountain peak pierced the heavens, trickling smoke. She figured this mountain must be the one called 'Vetta Inferno' by the sabre tribes and she committed the site to memory. RE Darius would appreciate the intel when she returned.
She shifted back and forth on the branch, waiting patiently for the alpha to make his appearance.
Cortez paced under the shadow of Vetta Inferno, shooting glances at his sons. Lucita was in attendance as well, casting dour looks at Soto as she kept Diego protectively between her forelegs.
Cortez's scouts had brought the news that an avian messenger from the mammoths was awaiting him in a meadow below the treeline of his mountain.
My time for revenge against the mammoths has come! Cortez licked his lips in anticipation. I will declare war on RE Darius and his kind, an eye for an eye.
He growled powerfully low and Brutus and his other lieutenants fell into step behind him. They made their way down the inclines, teasing out the scent of the pigeon's location.
It didn't take long to find the meeting place. Brutus stopped short, giving Cortez a curt nod. Cortez's face bunched together in a scowl that he quickly hid from the others in his group. Brutus was still overstepping his bounds as the beta; and it irked him.
"I'm going alone," Cortez announced, pleased that Brutus' eyes flashed with anger at his comment. "Brutus, stay and keep everyone in line, won't you?"
"Yes, monsenor," was Brutus' surly response. Cortez noted he made no attempt to conceal his resentment. He did so enjoy getting under his uncle's skin.
Cortez reached the tree the passenger pigeon settled on. He licked his incisors to unsettle the emissary as much as possible.
The passenger pigeon rolled one dark eye at him as she preened her wingfeathers, not reacting to his intimidation. Frustrated, Cortez snarled at her. He hated it when prey wasn't afraid. He hated it more than anything. All prey creatures were supposed to cower before him, respecting his power. Anything else was a weakness.
The passenger pigeon flinched as realisation hit her that he was the alpha she had been sent to find. She muttered something in his direction. But he didn't register a word she said, acrimony sending tremors through his body.
Such disrespect! How dare the mammoths' leaders treat him like this! Were they not aware that he knew of their crimes against him, that gave him the right to slaughter them all if he wanted?
He beckoned the aggravating bird closer to him and smiled menacingly. She flapped down towards him, but remained aloft in the air, clearly uneasy.
"There will be no parley," he snapped, his eyes sparking fires of rage. "Not after what they did to me. They intentionally killed my cubs, leaving only the runt alive. Tell that Regent Elder of yours to watch his back, because soon enough I'll be chewing on it."
"I'm just gonna break in and say that Cortez never ended up doing that," Manny interjected, a smirk playing around the corners of his mouth. "RE Darius is still alive today."
"Who is he?" Axel piped up.
"The current Chancellor of the Bredelands," Shelley explained. She sent a pointed glance at Manny.
Diego was avoiding Manny's gaze as much as he could.
"And Elder Titan's father," Manny said. Under his breath, he muttered, "I'm sorry, Diego, Axel."
"What about the declaration of war?" Sid burst in. Ellie nodded her head, "Tell us, please!"
"There was a big argument at the council when Sonia returned because my dad and others thought mammoths' honour was insulted," Manny started, trying to sum up that complicated situation. "My dad knew a mammoth couldn't have done it because no one went through the Southern Gates. In the end, the council voted against war, hoping to protect their families, but it still ended in bloodshed."
"We haven't gotten there yet," Diego said.
"It's coming though," Manny rumbled at him, his face distant.
"And in the end, it won't even be our fathers' fault... what happened that day," Diego added with a sigh.
Two Days Later, Montes of Cortez, Sabre Territory
Diego was growing restless. Ever since his father had nearly caught him with Noa, he'd been on edge. He craved the chance to see Theo or Hudson again, and not just have Noa bring him their words.
He flicked a pebble away from him as he sat in the semi-darkness of his pack's tribal cave, feeling trapped. Lucita entered the cave, Brutus trailing behind her. Affection lit in his uncle's eyes as he glanced at Diego's mother.
Diego perked up when the delicious smell of fresh meat greeted his nostrils. Lucita smiled down at him as she laid a large hare at his feet.
"Can't I leave, Madre?" Diego asked, around a mouthful of hare. "I hate being stuck in here."
His mother's eyes were pensive.
"Your… father and I want you to stay here, where it's safe," she said. "Since you are a possible heir to this tribe, Cortez can't put you in danger."
"Soto wants the alphacy, not me," Diego grumbled. He formulated a plan to sneak out later that night and past the tribe's borders into mammoth territory. His mother was none the wiser about his schemes. He heard her sigh as she exited to continue the hunt with Brutus, leaving Diego by himself with his dinner.
Diego felt a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. His time had come.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
No sabre saw Diego leave that night. The darkness hid him as he left his home and when he crossed the borders into the mammoth territory, light pink hues announced the dawn.
Noa fluttered above him, the early morning rays casting the shadow of her wings on the prairie. He hadn't expected to bring her along but since she had come, he might as well make the most of it.
He sent her in search of either Theo or Hudson, with the simple message that he was there in the valley.
Diego camouflaged himself against the long tan grasses of the steppe as he loped further into the mammoths' sanctuary. Unlike the last time he was here, tension held the quiet steppe in its grasp. The uneasy stillness normally would've frightened him, but he steeled himself.
A sabre doesn't show fear.
He crouched lower in the grasses, picking up the scent of a mammoth. It smelled like a calf, and his heart thumped with excitement. But it didn't smell like Theo.
Diego wasn't given a chance to react as a large black-furred calf loomed over him.
"What are you doing here?" the calf demanded, his face stormy. "GET OUT!"
Diego couldn't resist being flippant as he tried to slip past him.
"Check yourself before you wreck yourself, twerp," he taunted.
A large, growing tusk landed on his head, knocking him to the ground.
Diego covered his head with his paws, hoping to alleviate the pain as he began to feel bruises appear through his fur.
He refused to whimper. A sabre must not show fear kept echoing through his mind as the blows rained down. He felt himself growing woozy with each blow struck to his head...
"Samarkand, no, stop!" The voice of his salvation rang out. Theo appeared, Noa hovering in the air above her. Theo's eyes glittered with rage. She hooked tusks with Samarkand, pulling him away from Diego and blocking his attack with her own body. "He's not going to harm you. He's my friend! Don't hurt him!"
"He is one of our hated enemies!" Samarkand spat out, shooting Diego a glance laced with disgust. Diego blinked slowly; the figure of the black bull fuzzy in his mind. "Brede help you, Theodora, the Chancellor has taught us no good comes from mixing with carnivores like him. His kind are evil!"
"One of your hated enemies," Theo corrected, ignoring the second half of Samarkand's remark. "Not mine."
"Fine." Samarkand grunted, pulling his tusk away from Theo's. "Have it your way."
Samarkand turned away, his face a picture of anger, and headed in the direction of another calf that had entered the valley.
Theo helped Diego to his feet. The two stared into each other's eyes, exchanging genuine smiles.
In the distance, Samarkand called out to another calf by the name of Manfred. Diego squinted, vaguely recognising the chestnut-fur of the smaller woolly bull as someone he'd seen around Theo three years ago.
"Manny and Samarkand are going to meet with the Chancellor for lessons about RE Julius," Theo explained. "Samarkand enjoys it too much. RE Julius was one of our great lawbreakers."
She glanced around before beckoning Diego to follow her.
"Let's get out of here and get those wounds washed up before anyone sees us," she whispered.
Diego nodded and padded after her, making sure to place his paws inside her hoofprints.
"Told you our paths were about to cross!" Manny said jubilantly but Ellie and the others ignored him. "Though it's more like ships in the night, running into each other but not meeting each other...you get the idea."
"Whoa, hold up," Ellie said, giving Diego a pointed look. "What's going on with Hudson? You haven't really mentioned him so far."
"Yeah," Axel teased, making a kissy face. "It's just been Theo, Theo, Theo with you."
"He hath a cruthh," Shelley noted, giving Sid a flirty wave. Sid let out a blissful sigh and clasped his claws near his head.
The sabre hit him with a balled-up paw, forcing Sid to compose himself.
Sid frowned. "Yeah, what'th going on with Hudson, pal? I thought you two were besties."
Diego was embarrassed. "We, um, lost touch during those three years. Hudson and I were training with our fathers and weren't able to hang out."
"You had no problem staying in touch with Theo though," Axel pointed out, a shrewd light in his eyes.
"That was different." Diego growled. "It was mostly her idea. She tried her best to include Hudson too. Ask Noa."
"Let's just get on with the story," Manny complained. "Before we lose more moonlight."
Sid perked up considerably.
"Yeth, let'th!" His face showed his enthusiasm. "What's next up for you, Diego ol pal?"
Diego rested his head on his forelegs, fixing his gaze on the roaring fire. His chest vibrated with a stifled sigh.
"My … succession ceremony … was coming up… not long after my dad met up with Sonia from the mammoths."
"Soto's not gonna be pleased," Ellie murmured, shooting Diego a soft look.
He chuckled, mirthlessly,
"No, no he wasn't."
Diego gazed into the sparkling embers, seeing in the flames of the fire an image of his brother.
"Especially because he was the age for it; passed it even. My dad bent the rules so that I'd be next in line, instead of Soto."
Montes of Cortez, Sabre Territory
Soto paced back and forth in front of the mouth of the pack's cave, irritation charging each restless pawstep. He was acutely aware of the grey tigress, watching him with a practiced, cunning glint in her intense teal eyes as she nibbled away at the marrow from a bone nestled within her paws.
"Diego's not here," Shira ventured. "Intel says he's in the mammoths' Bredelands - but he should be back soon."
"The Succession Ceremony is within a day," Soto said, barely concealing the anxiety burning through him. He covered it up with a veneer of arrogance. "I'm the eldest, his firstborn. The alphacy is my birthright. Cortez has to choose me."
"As if he would choose Diego," Shira rolled her eyes at Soto. "La Escarlata has done so much work on your behalf, for your power. Stop worrying."
"Mind your place!" Soto snarled at her, not caring if her feelings were hurt. To her credit, she didn't wince underneath his fury, instead staring coolly back at him. "I know what's been done for me. I don't need your reminders."
"She lurks in the shadows, waiting," the grey cub went on. "The Scarlett plans to attend your Succession Ceremony to delight in your power. We shall not fail in this, monsenor."
Soto narrowed his eyes as his gaze swept the area, idly making sure there were no intruders about.
"Let's hope not," he replied, his answer undercut with a growl.
Diego made it back into Sabine territory as twilight was colouring the landscape in hues of purple and gold. His time with Theo had been brief but pleasant, excluding the spat with the young black bull.
Theo also had no news of Hudson. They could only speculate that he was busy training under his father and unable to send word. However, Noa, their mutual avian messenger, had turned up at their visit to the Augur with news.
The Augur had told Diego certain things about his future he'd rather not think about, plus Noa had mentioned - much to his surprise - that Cortez was on the verge of choosing a successor.
Diego stopped short, inhaling the scent of another tiger nearby, possibly two. His eyes narrowed as Shira came into his line of sight, a smirk playing on her lips.
It had been three years since he'd met her, yet he scarcely felt as though he knew her. He suspected it was because she wreathed herself in secrets. It was also, partly, because she was more Soto's friend than his own.
He couldn't help feeling a little curious about her, to tell the truth. She was around his age, and a girl, two things that made her intriguing to him when Theo wasn't constantly occupying his thoughts.
He'd never had much reason to interact with her, either, not that he wanted to because her face glinted with contemptuous looks and he always felt like she was laughing at him with Soto behind his back.
Diego tore his thoughts away from Shira to consider his half-brother.
Soto had matured into a fine, strong young adult, and despite the years of implicit death threats and feeling like he barely registered on Soto's wavelength, Diego unquestioningly appreciated his brother's authority and panache.
He never once stopped to imagine becoming the next Alpha of the Montes Cortez tribes, his mind always defaulting that honour, one day, to Soto.
To Diego, it made perfect sense. Soto lusted for power and glory; he had no qualms about killing. On the front lines, he'd make an impressive general, calculating and savage. And Diego knew deep down that he'd loyally serve as Soto's beta, no matter the cost.
Of course, father will make the right choice, Diego said to himself. And the right choice is Soto, not me.
Shira's low giggle, accompanied by Soto's deepening chuckle, ripped him away from his thoughts.
Soto threw his shoulders back, confidence rippling underneath his toned muscles.
"Father will choose me," he said, almost as if he had read Diego's inner soliloquy. "Make no mistake about that, brother."
Diego licked his lips with methodical calm, hoping to keep his nerves steady. A sudden roar startled the young tiger trio.
Brutus raced over to them, his eyes shining eerily in the falling shadows of dusk. He favoured Soto with a slight nod, before addressing the pair of male sabres,
"You are wanted at the Council Rock," he said. He lowered his voice to an almost conspiratorial tone. "Cortez is choosing his successor ... now!"
Fin
I do allow anons, so come on, please, tell me your thoughts! What do you think of the story so far? Do you like Diego's affections for Theo? What's your opinion on this more fleshed out version of Shira? Please tell me, the button is right down there I am yearning to know! :)
Review?