Important: I haven't done one of these types of 'warnings' in a while, and this is honestly... actually no, I should've seen this coming. Anyway, the chapter title for this, 'Trust', is applying to more than a theme in the chapter itself, it's also applying to the route I'm taking here. I'm pushing several characters here to their limits, stretching the boundary of how they would 'canonically' react in a crucial situation, taking into consideration the tweaks in behavior from things like Hinoka being a part of the pack and Wolfskin being more like an animal. I'm talking more than just, for example, Corrin being mind-controlled and stabbing Sakura.
So, I'm asking that you guys trust me through this, that I'm going to handle these situations correctly. I'm going to have my own reasoning at the end of this chapter, so a second request is that it is read before any 'in the moment' reviews/comments are made. It's also labeled with 'Important'.
A/N: "It's only been a day, and there's another update?! How many chapters do you have pre-written?" Well, I... don't, actually. I sat down and typed this up within four hours of posting the previous chapter. Now then...
I thought this was going to be a goofy outlook with Corrin doing silly things when faced with human customs… not be such a damn sucker-punch to the feels. Get your tissues, everyone! We ain't out of angst-ville yet.
Also, I suppose I should extend the PoV's some. So… prepare for some direct updates from Castle Shirasagi.
Lastly. I have yet another AU coming up. This one is a one-shot for Father's Day. If I happen to get another chapter of 'When a Kitsune and a Half-Dragon Mate with Each Other…', then I'll post a notice for the one-shot there, too. If you're wanting more of a return to the goofy atmosphere, then that one-shot is for you! Because it's going to be a while for Lupus to do things like swipe chickens off of tables.
Canon Name = Nickname: Corrin = Lupus. Velouria = Vella. Keaton = Keaty. Setsuna = Seta. Hinoka = Hina. Sakura = Saku. Subaki = Superman. Ryoma = Red. Selkie = Silky. Kaden = Ka-da. Orochi = Viper. Takumi = Tako. Lastly, only Selkie/Silky refers to Corrin/Lupus as Lu-pu.
Consort: Partially that, and partially because the Nohrians are figuring out how the barrier can be countered. It's the only reason Camilla, Leo, and their respective retainers could launch an attack in the first place. Destroy a conduit, create a fracture in the barrier, and then use magic of your own to keep that hole from 'filling' back up. Of course, with the amount of conduits leftover, such a task is difficult, hence why Camilla and Leo didn't even have half an hour.
*nods* Lupus needs to be able to overcome the curse, or else she might as well be left behind. As much as it would hurt the pack overall, having someone who can turn on a dime and kill anyone is too great of a risk.
Heh, it is a bit early for anything to start developing. Keaty can respect the fact that Hina is so devoted to protecting those she loves, and Hina can respect the strength Keaty uses to protect the pack. Is it enough for a relationship? Nah, but maybe if they spend some time together… then they'll find more similarities and something will kick off.
While yes, Odin does have that swear he made to Anankos. While yes, Lupus was openly referred to as 'Corrin', the daughter of a really powerful dragon… Odin strictly saw her in her dragon form. On one hand, that's a huge hint that, "Hey, this is the one I'm supposed to be saving." On the other hand is, "Wait, I thought she was human?" Perhaps if Lupus held off on shifting until Odin arrived, then he would have known and shared his thoughts with Selena and Laslow.
Right, the last time we saw and heard anything from the castle is when Hina was rushing over there to get Saku, and she did tell Red that the Nohrians somehow breached the barrier. Red had surely told his mother by then, and now with a first-hand report from Hina, the Hoshidan army is undoubtedly marching. This is an issue that needs to be fixed now. Magical barriers over the remaining conduits? Try and repair the others? Whatever the solution, it needs to be done soon. Keaty and the pack might not realize it now, but they are relying heavily on the Hoshidan army. Sure, the army might not be standing in the den, but their actions with the barrier, the conduits, and against the Nohrian army could mean the difference between, say… Garon sending Xander and his retainers to finish off the pack, versus the pack recovering enough to take action of their own.
ZygardeFusion: ...Heard y'all fear Beast Killers, so we applied Beast Killer toxins to literally every weapon and piece of armor in our arsenal. We even drank and bathed in the stuff! So, no matter what happens… UR DED!
Guest (Ch. 30, 6/14 7:14 AM EST): *nods*, I do have some iterations of him where I give Takumi a better treatment… which, now that I think about it, only really applies to his appearances in 'Corrin, of the Wolfskin' and its AUs, and 'Confined'. But yes, Fate's writing is… lacking. There are so many gaps to fill in with extra details. Not that I'm saying that my interpretations are 'superior' by any means, I mean yeah, there's going to be an instant bias for my own fics, but I also understand that not everyone will like the changes I bring… like in this chapter, for example.
Panic starts to take hold as it all seems to happen in slow motion, as Hinoka is only watching the events unfold, like she can't get herself to do anything. One moment, her little sister, Sakura, was pointing out that her other slightly older little sister's, Corrin, wound that she has gotten from Prince Leo is now pulsing. The next moment, Corrin's arm… changed. She's never seen her do that, was it something she kept secret? Either way, her arm changed into a lance and…
Panic is replaced with shock.
Sakura started coughing up blood as almost an entire lance-arm was pushed through her midsection. Corrin's lance-arm was thrusted through the youngest Hoshidan princess's midsection. She couldn't believe it, Corrin dealt a lethal blow to Sakura, but… she also saw it. The once vivid red in her eyes was… darkened. Purple, even, a tinge of purple. She somehow knew in that moment, that Corrin wasn't herself, that the Dark Magic that inflicted this curse upon her was some kind of… remote mind-take-over spell.
Shock turned into anger, anger that the Nohrians would stoop so low. That the Nohrians placed this curse on her family!
Finally, anger became concern. Princess Hinoka can hate the Nohrians with all of her being later… right now, there were things needed to be done. "Subaki!" She outright screams, a higher pitch that her relatively rougher voice would allow. "We need you and some Festals. Now!"
She then turns her attention to Sakura, Corrin, and the lance-arm between them. Sakura is letting her tears flow as the lance-arm pushes even deeper. Corrin is growling. "S-sister…" Vella is trying to separate the two, but due to her recent recovery, is unable. "Help, please…" Hinoka quickly joins in… only to find that trying to move Corrin is like trying to move an entire portion of a brick wall. Hinoka knew that Corrin was strong, but…
Then again, Corrin always held back in their spars.
"Move!" Keaty doesn't wait as he pushes the two aside. "Lupus!" He growls in kind, receiving no affirmation that Corrin really heard him, so he pushes her in kind, only to find that she's still resisting. "Stop!" He yells again as his Beaststone glows, the ground under him giving in as he pushes with enough force to crack that brick wall. "Listen! To me!" At last, he shifts into his Wolfsegger form, granting him more than enough to shove Corrin to the ground. He then heaves a heavy breath as he shifts back. "Lupus…" He cries out as he lifts her so slightly, "Lupus."
"Sister!" Which was negated as Vella tackled her to the ground.
Corrin's lance-arm is drenched in blood by this point, Sakura has an entire hole through her midsection. "Little sister!" Hinoka catches Sakura before she falls.
"B-Big sss…" Sakura tries to reach up.
"Shh, don't waste energy like that. I'm here for you."
"Lady…" Hinoka hears Subaki start, before the only sounds are his feet and the clatter of Festals. One rests in his grip. Whatever he had to say died on his tongue as he only worked to heal her, though… due to his inexperience only closes off a portion of the hole. Hinoka joins in after Sakura is gently lied down.
Hinoka should have taken some Festal classes.
The two amateur healers, when healing together, slowly closes the gap in the Priestess's midsection. By now, however, Sakura had already fallen unconscious from blood loss. "S-Sister…" Hinoka chokes on air.
"Gods, I…" Subaki starts, "I should have been here." Instead he was helping the other Wolfskin, confident that, "Why did…?"
"It's that curse." Hinoka scowls as she pours more of her meager magic skills into the Festal. "Her eyes went from red to having a small amount of purple… she didn't mean to. I don't think she even realized what happened."
Subaki does the same, though honestly, his magic is just barely above Hinoka's. "I should have been here." He repeats, "I swore an oath, but I wasn't here." He looks directly at Sakura, "Gods, if… if you survive this, my liege… I will voluntarily remove myself from my oath to you. I… failed you."
"Quiet!" Hinoka spits out, "Stop beating yourself up and focus on healing!"
"Lady Hinoka, her wound is closed, using anymore of the Festal…"
"I don't care! Heal her!" Tears are trailing down Hinoka's face, reasoning giving way to emotions. Subaki briefly closes his eyes, before nodding. There's no way she'll listen right now, not with Sakura in such a critical condition. "Little sister, please. Keep fighting. I can't lose you, I refuse to lose anyone ever again."
"...ngh." Hinoka picks up a groan as Corrin shifts around. "Wh…" Corrin is now the one coughing up blood, as Hinoka sees that she's suffered a strike to her side. Claws. "V-Vella?" Her eyes racing from sister to sister, Hinoka takes her Festal and closes off the claw strikes. "Hina?" Corrin's lance-arm has yet to fade, while her normal arm reaches for Hinoka. "Keaty." She acknowledges his presence without actually looking at him. A short pause as she sniffs the air, "W-wait." Hinoka can see the panic rising in her. "One, two, three. One, two, three?" She keeps muttering, "Keaty, Vella, Hina. Keaty, Vella, Hina." Her eyes then snap open, revealing the normal vivid red again, no more purple tainting them. "Saku! Where…" She then hisses in pain as the wound undoubtedly acts up.
Hinoka looks directly at Corrin, and she to her. "Corrin." Hinoka carefully states.
"C-Corrin?" She repeats. "Oh, right. My Human name." A declaration that causes Hinoka's heart to slow down. "Lupus. I'm Lupus."
…
Without missing a beat, Hinoka walks back to Sakura. She's already damaged enough from the bloody scene, and now is the worst time for Corrin to start bringing in the 'human' topic. "Lady Sakura may not seem it, but she's breathing." Subaki assures her. Sakura's breathing is so weak, so shallow, that it seems like the air isn't moving her body at all. "I felt her pulse while keeping a hand near her mouth. Trust me, she's breathing. She's alive." Hinoka simply nods, too fractured from hearing that.
My 'human' name.
Tears run anew. Hinoka hasn't felt this weak since Corrin was initially taken during that 'peace meeting'. All of the naginata skills in the world wouldn't make a difference in this moment. If… If Hinoka had been the one to get stabbed, then Sakura would have had her wound closed in seconds, and Hinoka wouldn't be in as a critical condition.
Hinoka would have rather had taken that lance for Sakura. Instead, Sakura is next to death's door. At this point… all it would take is a moderate push. It's going to be weeks before she'll make a decent amount of recovery.
…
"They're going to attack again." Hinoka announces, catching the attention of the rest. "The Nohrians will attack soon!" Subaki nods.
Keaty seems skeptical, "How do you know?"
"That curse, if I had to guess, it's a mind-control spell. Which means that Prince Leo was looking through Corrin's eyes. They're going to seize this moment, they will attack soon." Hinoka takes a deep breath, "We gotta leave. If we get caught like this…"
"Where!?" Keaty shoots back, clearly stressed.
"We can't move Lady Sakura in her current condition, Lady Hinoka." Subaki looks ready to scold himself again. "One wrong move and her body will give in." He's right, a simple tree branch hitting her in the wrong spot would kill her.
"..." Keaty looks beyond the entrance of the cave. "What will happen if those Nohrian humans…"
"NO!" Hinoka screams, "I'm not leaving her behind!"
He growls, "Do you think I want to? No, of course not!" He takes a breath, steadying himself.
"Alpha?" Dadaan enters, alongside a few other Wolfskin remaining outside. "Orders?"
"There are more clearings, more dens." One of the Wolfskin hesitantly supplies, "We…"
"Quiet!" Keaty commands, bringing a blanket of silence. He is visibly pained. He is probably running every possible set of orders he can do at this point. Stay and fight? It would surely end in their deaths. Garon could probably just send a few mages with Fire tomes and it would be over. Run? The only way they could outmaneuver an army is at top speed… and that would mean leaving Sakura behind. Maybe even Vella and Corrin, depending on how much stamina they have.
Fight or flight. Each one sounds like a loss. It seems that no matter what Keaty will order, there will be major consequences. So, it would only be 'reasonable' to choose the one that results in the least.
"We're moving deeper into Hoshido." Keaty states, before leveling a look at Hinoka. "I'm not forcing either of you to go." He glances at Subaki. "You aren't of the pack. Saku is your sister and your… 'liege'. If…"
"Shut-up!" Hinoka bites back, far too overcome with emotions to think clearly.
"I'm not leaving her side." Subaki announces. "Even if it means my death… eternal torture. I'm not leaving her side. I swore I'd give my all for her." He then looks at Hinoka, regret written all over his face. "If I had to guess… the Nohrian Royals would execute me, but hold Lady Sakura for ransom." She wanted to scream that she doesn't want to hear it, that the world could just stay silent.
But, what good would that do? Subaki is right… again. The leverage of having Sakura captive would be huge. Mother would easily bend, maybe even break… the latter is especially true if anything happened to Corrin and/or Hinoka. They already lost Corrin once, but to lose her again? And Sakura? And Hinoka? Resolve would be shattered, morale would plummet. Even if mother gathered the entire military, she doubts the soldiers would be filled with any sort of optimism. Gods, Ryoma and Takumi would be in a worse condition.
"If you wish to have your 'children' returned, then hand over Hoshido!" A phantom-image of Garon mocks. "Oh, but it's a shame your youngest will be sent in a bag! We couldn't save her… since Corrin killed her!" And without anyone to speak in Corrin's defense as a first-hand witness, such a rumor would be accepted… a Hoshidan Princess, 'wanting' to kill her little sister.
This had to have been the plan they had. It wasn't about killing the pack, it was using Corrin to lure more Hoshidan Royals out so far away from safety… and Hinoka blundered right into the trap. First, get Hinoka here by putting Corrin in peril. Then, bring up a situation that only a healer like Sakura could fix. And now? As much as it kills Hinoka to admit it… Keaty's right.
"We're leaving too, then." Hinoka resolves. "Believe me, the last thing I want to do is leave Sakura behind, but… Nohr isn't taking all of us." Her vision blurs, then she looks at Subaki, "And I'm not letting you die! As my status as a Hoshidan Princess, and my rank as your Sky Knight captain… I order you to come with us!"
"I…" Subaki starts.
"To decline is to be expelled from the Sky Knights and to be charged with High Treason." It is killing her to put her in this position. "Do you understand?"
"...On your orders." He gives in. "I know you're right. It would serve no benefit if I stayed. My death won't save Lady Sakura. My death won't keep her from being imprisoned. In the end, it would be for the best if I left."
The smallest of gasps can be heard, and as if the emotional tension wasn't thick enough, Sakura wakes up. Hinoka's heart is already dropping before she even… "B-big… s-sister?" Talks.
"Please, don't say anything. Just rest, alright?" Hinoka can't even look at her.
"I… trust. You." Hinoka spares a brief glance and… Sakura is smiling, so confident. "I… don't… bl-blame… you." She knows that wasn't directed at her, but rather Corrin.
Said sister remains silent.
Sakura takes a deep breath before resting her eyes again.
A howl soon follows. "We're leaving." Keaty states as he immediately walks, as does Vella, Corrin, Subaki, and Hinoka…
"I… love… you… a-a-all." Is the last thing Hinoka hears Sakura say as she walks out.
"...C'mon." She calls out her borrowed Pegasus, as Subaki calls upon his own. "We'll fly ahead and pinpoint another spot."
Keaty nods, "We'll sniff you both out when you land." Hinoka takes one last look at the cave Sakura is in, before shaking her head. No, if she keeps thinking about it, she'll just end up staying. Hinoka faces the hard fact. The Nohrians will capture Sakura. She will be held as a prisoner of war, she'll be used as a bargaining chip. Yet, the worst fact of it all is…
Hinoka failed. She is about to lose a family member.
Lupus remained deathly silent as she ran the forests with the pack. Her mouth might just be considered stitched together, clamped with some sort of magical spell. Magic, magic… why is she even still here? She's just a risk at this point. Who knows when the Dark Magic will just be used again. What will happen when it does? Is Hina going to be left in a critical state? Keaty? Vella?
Lupus trips over a root and slides against the ground. "Sister!" Vella stops and turns. "C'mon, get up! We…" Vella silences when Lupus has a 'dead' look in her eyes. Vivid red eye color dulls.
"I can't." Lupus states, "If… If I follow, then…" She gestures towards the wound. "They'll just control me again, and…"
"No!" Vella growls. "I'd rather pin you to the ground for the rest of time then let you go!" She tugs on her arm, "Now, let's go!" Lupus stubbornly remains still. So, being the obsessively attached and hard-headed sister she is, Vella shifts and carries Lupus over her shoulder. Even in her massive Wolfskin form, Vella somehow manages to not knock down every tree… only a few fall.
"She's not wrong, Velouria." Keaty comments.
"No! I'm not losing her to those damn humans again!" A short pause, "We can't afford to lose anymore, anyway! Without sister, we…"
"Just… be quiet." Keaty responds, sounding more empty by the second. As such, the only sounds that could be heard is the pack fleeing. Lupus simply looks back in the direct they came from as Vella forcibly carried her across the forest.
Maybe it was just in her mind, but she could've sworn she heard someone scream.
…
Numbness. That's all Lupus really felt after Hina and Superman landed at yet another den. This one was… more open than the rest. Trees pepper the area around them, each bearing fruit with most having… peaches? But, Superman said peaches can't grow in the mountains... Peaceful, full of life, almost the direct opposite of Lupus. She opted to just… exist as the pack moved in. Not really moving, not really reacting. Vella stayed by her side, of course. She's hugging her… to the point where Lupus's arms can't move. Hina, Superman, and Keaty are talking about… whatever.
She doesn't care enough to listen right now.
A small group of Wolfskin are getting together… must be the scouting party. Lupus could only watch with empty eyes as they readied themselves…
Lupus nearly killed Saku… her own little sister.
Her body trembles as she remembers what she saw after the 'mind-control' ended. She can still smell her blood on her own arm. She hasn't had a chance to wash Saku's life-fluid off of her.
The Nohrians are going to imprison her little sister.
Tears trail down and her legs give out, but Vella's tight hug keeps her from falling.
She's no big sister. Not after almost killing Saku and forcing Hina to leave her behind. Nevermind the fact that she was being magically controlled. Then… then she just had to go and snap at Hina for using her 'human' name, effectively pushing her away even more. Who is she? Corrin? Lupus? Wolfskin-raised half-dragon? Wolfskin-raised human? Should she just disregard all of her human side? Maybe just not consider her family… family, anymore?
Things were never this hard before she left.
Sure, there were those tough winters where the pack lost two, maybe three Wolfskin, but four? With one of them recovering? With a half-dragon a very real risk? Humans are the only reason the pack made it as far as they did. If it weren't for her family, they would have been burned to death by the fires and…
Lupus would be turned into a dozen of accessories for an insane woman and her family. Bones, scales, horns, teeth, peeled and pulled, ripped and torn… Silent tears turn into vocal cries. "Sister!" Vella whispers, torn between a proper embrace and not wanting to risk having Lupus lose control. Compromising, Vella lowers herself so she and Lupus can sit down. The Wolfskin's legs are now wrapped around her midsection, pulling her ever closer. Her head nuzzles the back of her neck.
"Lupus. Velouria." Keaty walks over, looking… Lupus doesn't even bother trying to figure it out. "Problem."
Vella's ears perk up, Lupus remains still. "Now what?" Vella, rightly, hisses.
He scoffs, "I can't blame Hina and Superman for not being able to tell, but…" He looks at the trees, "This den is taken." Of course it would, because the pack doesn't have enough problems as is.
With that Vella sniffs, and Lupus gathers the will to do the same. And as if it still wasn't enough to be in another den… "Kitsunes." Vella states, Keaty nods. "Can we get far away enough in time?" If… if the pack can get a certain distance, then they won't be considered a 'threat', so the Kitsune won't give chase.
"Not without living outside of dens for a night." He admits. "Scouting party returned, couldn't risk alerting the Kitsunes early."
"Better outside the dens than fighting Kitsunes." Which, once again, is a lost battle before it even begins. They might as well just present their necks. "We're leaving now?"
Right as she asked that… as if it still wasn't enough. The scent of more comes across, wait… wait. Keaty growls, Vella, growls… Lupus tilts her head. "Let me up." Lupus states.
"I can't risk…" Vella starts.
Lupus sniffs the air again, it's so… she knows that scent. Who… who… "I know that scent. Let me up!" Another sniff, "V-Vella! Remember when I said I met some Kitsunes when I visited my family? That's them! Let me up!"
Vella spares a look at Keaty, who nods. "Not that it matters, Lupus." He says. "They won't let us live… maybe you, but not us." But, she wanted to say… they want peace.
Lupus hurries out, wanting to meet Ka-da and Silky before they get too close, even though they undoubtedly caught the scent of Wolfskin. "W-wait!" She calls out into the forest. "Ka…" Within the blink of an eye, she is slammed into the ground with such a force that she's pushed several inches into the ground. She's greeted with a very angry face, "Ka...da." A Nine-tails.
"Lupus?" The growling ends, but he remains angered. "What are you doing here?!"
"Lu-pu?" Silky walks up, an armful of peaches with her. "Heeey~! Did you come to play?" Yet, she pauses and sniffs the air, "Oh! But first, we gotta clear out our hamlet!" Without a second thought, she shifts into her Kitsune form. "Wanna help?"
"Wait!" Lupus exclaims, "That's exactly what I wanted to bring up!"
"I'm not losing another hamlet. If you're helping, then help. If you're not, then stand aside." Ka-da backs off, allowing her to get up.
How can she approach this? Mentioning the pack this early will surely set Ka-da off. "My family is there!"
"Humans?" He growls. "Lupus… why did you bring humans?" Of course that wasn't any better.
"...You're lying, Lu-pu." Silky growls in kind, "I don't smell humans, only… Wolfskin." She sounds… sad? "You're talking about your pack, aren't you? Lu-pu… why did you bring Wolfskin to our hamlet?"
"Please, you gotta let me explain." She desperately reaches out.
Only to be met with Ka-da pinning her down once more. "I know you want to bridge the gap between Wolfskin and Kitsune." He starts, "But forcing a solution will only bring problems." She can see him gulp. "Lupus, I will say this once. Us or them? I don't want to hurt you, but you are forcing my hand here. Wolfskin or Kitsune?" Her answer?
Tears. Lupus gives in to the stress. "You d-d-d-don't get it! W-w-we don't… have a place to go!" Ka-da tilts his head, "W-we were almost k-killed… three times! I had to leave my little sister behind!"
Ka-da and Silky share a look. "So you bring your killers to us?" He took it the wrong way, of course. "How is that any better? Maybe you should've just left them at the last den!"
"Lu-pu… you should've just left them and…"
"The humans are hunting the pack because of me!" She growls. "The 'King' wants this pack and me dead because of the pack took me away from the King and raised me!"
Silky drops her tone, "...Then maybe you should've stayed at the last den." Sorrow.
Silky denied her, Ka-da denied her. Lupus nearly killed Saku. She just pushed Hina away. "..." Lupus just lies there, "Forget it." She mutters. "You're right. I'm just causing too many problems." She raises her head, "Just make it quick… and don't let me be found."
Another look shared between the Kitsunes… and Ka-da steps off of Lupus. "No." He states. "Selkie." He follows up. "C'mon… we'll just look for another hamlet."
"Ka-da…" She whines. "But the trees! I don't have anymore of that quick-grow stuff!"
"We'll make another trip to that village some other time." He sounds… empty. "We're not getting involved in this, Lupus." He looks back. "Don't let your 'pack' near us. I won't spare any of them my claws… or you."
"Ka-da… Silky…" Lupus's vision stings as the two run off.
Just two more she ended up pushing away. Lupus then rises off of the ground and drags herself back to the hamlet… er no, 'den'. "Sister!" Vella quickly greets.
"They left." Lupus shrugs off her Wolfskin sister's hug. "Won't spare us again."
"They… spared us?" Keaty asks.
"Does it matter?" She bites back… though the bite is like dulled teeth. "If we stay, the Nohrians will track us down and kill us. If we leave and cross any Kitsune hamlets, we'll be killed by them." She looks around. "And that's not even including if I get controlled again." A heavy silence.
"Little sister." Hina approaches her, looking a bit more 'alive' than before. "There is something you can do to at least miti… erm, lessen the chance that will happen."
Lupus's ears perk up, a bit more life shining in her eyes, as well, "How?!"
"It starts with a bit of training." She starts off, "C'mon, I'll guide you through some of the training I went through as a Sky Knight."
"...huh?" Lupus tilts her head, "I don't see how that'll help."
Hina smiles, "Sky Knights have some of the finest resistances to magic. If I can pass on that kind of mental… toughness to you, then I bet that Nohrian Dark Magic won't even affect you." She extends a hand, "Will you let me help you… sister?"
Which she takes without wasting a second, "Yes please… sister."
It's been over a day since Lady Hinoka dropped by the castle to specifically pick up her little sister, Lady Sakura, alongside several higher-priced Festals and some incredibly rare herbs. It has been almost a week since Lady Hinoka had first turned around and apparently saved the Wolfskin that Lady Corrin is with from Princess Camilla, her retainers, and a massive forest fire. It's close to approaching two weeks since Lady Corrin had left on a whim back towards that pack.
It's been over a day since Castle Shirasagi has been missing all three of the Princesses. Regardless of reasoning, such an abrupt change will cause rumors. One Princess, sure, especially one like Princess Hinoka, it wouldn't be too far off for her to take her Pegasus and head out without a second thought. Two Princesses? Well, Lady Corrin is in a somewhat similar position, as much as she loves being outside. Three Princesses? Lady Sakura might love the outdoors, but she's known for her absolute devotion to healing.
The top rumor is that the woman that came back, claiming to be 'Lady Corrin' actually was not the real Lady Corrin, but a magically disguised woman who lured Princess Hinoka and Princess Sakura out of the castle and into Nohrian hands. Such a rumor sickens Hana.
Still, it can't be denied that 'Lady Corrin' acted far too unusual. How could a vicious race like the Wolfskin raise a human child? Hana may not believe the 'top rumor', but she has her doubts.
Within the training grounds and in an uncharacteristic manner, Hana is pacing back and forth. She is at unease. It's been several days since Lady Hinoka left with Lady Sakura, and as Lady Sakura's retainer, she can't help but feel bothered that she's not by her side. "You're going to dig yourself a grave if you keep it up." Azama calls her out, seemingly unbothered that, as a retainer, he is not by Lady Hinoka's side.
"Aren't you worried?!" She snaps, far too agitated. "You heard the reports, right? The Nohrians found a way across the barrier and we're separated from our lieges! How can you just sit there!?"
"I'm standing." He points out.
She groans, "You know what I mean!" She ruffles her hair… her hairband has already came off earlier, and she makes no effort to get it back in place. "I can't keep waiting…"
"Your liege told you to wait."
"Your liege didn't mention anything about waiting." She fires back.
"Hana~." Setsuna sings as she enters. "Ignore Monkundo."
"Uh…? Oh, right." Hana shakes her head, "And could you please stop using those nicknames? Don't you get how disrespectful it is to not address royalty with 'Lady' or 'Lord'?" She points at the Monk retainer, "His name is Azama."
"My name is Azama." Azama repeats. "Nice to meet…" He ducks as Hana throws a practice katana at him. "My, aren't you feisty? Such stress is not good for your body."
"I wouldn't have any stress if I could be by Lady Sakura's side!" She huffs. "Y'know what? Forget it! I'm leaving." She storms out of the training area… the training area with a canal of sorts… made from Hana's repeated pacing. She walks through the halls… no, she stomps through the halls. She can't wrap her head around how… casual Lady Hinoka's retainers are! Gods only know what kind of danger Lady Sakura and Lady Hinoka are in! And, and… Lady Corrin still doesn't have any retainers! "Ngh…" Hana cries out as she slams into a wall of iron…
No, that's Crown Prince Ryoma. "Hana." He crisply greets.
"Gods, I'm so sorry, Crown Prince Ryoma." She quickly apologizes, "I was lost in my…"
"Pack your armor and weapons. We're leaving." He cuts her off, "And if you see Setsuna and Azama, tell them the same."
"We're… leaving?" She asks, a smile forming. "I can…"
He nods, "Towards the border. Takumi, his retainers, and a number of other elite guards will remain with the Queen. A number of other guards have been deployed out across Hoshido. The remaining few are going towards the border."
She immediately stiffens and salutes, "Sir, yes sir!" Hana's mood had instantly improved, knowing that soon… soon she'll be by Lady Sakura's side once more. She proudly walks back into the training area.
"Oh my. I've never seen…" Azama starts.
But she refuses to let him ruin her mood. "Crown Prince Ryoma ordered that we all gather our gear! We're heading towards the border!" She orders without a second thought. "Let's go!"
Important: Leaving Sakura behind while she remains in a critical state. A retainer leaving their liege behind. I can already guess one of the questions. Why? Or maybe it's a statement: Subaki and Hinoka would never do such a thing. So, in response, let me provide why I went with what I did. Hopefully I didn't miss any points or if any of the thoughts sound incomplete.
First, I'm going to step back and look over the situation as a whole. Sakura nearly died from her stab wound, and if Subaki was even a few seconds later, or if they had only one Festal, or if Hinoka and Subaki had even a little bit less skill in Festals, then Sakura would have died. Sakura didn't suffer a quick stab, Corrin thrusted the lance into her, then slowly pushed further, it wasn't until Keaton arrived that the lance was pulled out. Sakura is at a point where's she lacking far too much blood, and Festals can only mend the flesh, not restore blood cell count. She's far more fragile than she already is, it really wouldn't take much for her to die. Even with her innate resistance from her class, a simple 'E' rank tome could probably kill her right now. You might as well go ahead and say that 'Miracle' procced and she's at one hit point.
Second, the decision itself. The pack is in a situation where a portion of the Nohrian army is on their way. Velouria hasn't recovered, a total of four Wolfskin have died and the pack hasn't had time to find more, Corrin is a high risk person to keep, and now Sakura is right at death's door. Yes, Keaton realizes that without Sakura, he would have lost Velouria, but he also knows that due to her incredibly fragile state, that it might as well be considered murder to bring her along. The options are laid before him: The first is, stay and try to defend Sakura, with Velouria weakened and Corrin liable to turn due to magical control. The second is to leave with Sakura and try to keep her alive, which would mean that one of the pack would have to slowly traverse the forest, which would all but to explicitly say that the one carrying a Princess will be caught. The third is to leave without Sakura, ensuring that everyone else in the pack survives. Sakura will be taken by the Nohrians, but at least as a prisoner of war, she will be kept alive.
Frankly, there's only really one option: The survival of the pack comes first for Keaton. He does not want to leave her behind, but there's no other way, not without risking everyone else.
Third, Hinoka. Yes, it's been stated that she refuses to lose anyone else, but she can see Keaton's reasoning. If they stay and fight, then with the weakened pack, they'll lose. The Wolfskin will be slaughtered, then Sakura, Hinoka, and Corrin will all be taken as prisoners. Nohr will have three Hoshidan Princesses to use as bargaining chips and morale for the Hoshidans will plummet. Or worse, for Corrin at least, she might end up being sent to Princess Camilla for a thorough descaling and horn removal. And no, Pegasi riding is out of the question for the same reason of trying to carry her in the forest.
Lastly, Subaki. He is a retainer, he is sworn to protect his liege with his life, but let's be honest here. King Garon would try and use Royalty as a leverage over Queen Mikoto, but a retainer? He wouldn't care for Subaki's life, might as well just execute him. Sakura can always get another retainer, after all. So, it's also the best if he travels with the pack, that's one more unit that can fight back later, and the second Festal-wielder.
Now then, feel free to take my reasoning how you will. Call it an excuse for unnecessary angst or maybe making characters have 'non-canonical' moments. Call it a reasonable assumption and accept the thought processes. Either way, I'm sticking with the route I've chosen.
I'm making a gamble here. I'm trusting that you all will trust that I will see this through. That I will tackle these delicate situations with proper care. The goofiness and humor has been pushed aside for now. This is war. Characters will be pushed. Tough decisions will have to be made. Emotions might have to be overshadowed by rational thought. The few or the many? Fight or flight?
And if you don't want to stay? Then you don't. If you want to see if I pull this off right, then you'll stick around.
A/N: Hm. Keaty… let Lupus stay? Despite the fact that she's a potential threat? Is he truly thinking of the pack first? Or is the 'bond' between 'brother and sister' starting to overcome rational thought? Think about it, he already nearly lost Velouria, but it's thanks to humans that he didn't. Now he's on the border of losing Lupus… so maybe he's thinking that Hina and Superman can pull another miracle out of the sky. Hina and Superman saved the pack from Camilla and the forest fire. They healed the pack after that battle. Hina provided just enough distraction to let Lupus shoot out a water stream at Niles, forcing Leo and his retainers to leave. Hina brought Saku and saved Vella from a serious case of rabies. Hina has even proved her devotion to protect the pack, despite being fully human. And now Hina claims she can help Lupus's resistance to magic.
At this point, Keaty is trusting Hina's word… a human's word. He isn't just respecting Hina's help, he's now trusting her to help. That is a massive leap.
Ah, right. Silky and Ka-da. That poor brother and sister. They finally land in a hamlet, have stayed long enough to plants trees with some, uh… Miracle-Gro, but now they're having to leave it behind. It's yet another 'Saku'-style situation. Staying, regardless if it's because the pack leaves, Silky and Ka-da somehow moved past the fact they're Wolfskin, or if Silky and Ka-da attacked, would get them involved with Lupus's and the pack's problem of having a section of the Nohrian army on them. So, for the means of preservation, they left.
Next, a third viewpoint. It's obvious that Hina and Lupus aren't going to leave the area soon. So, I needed another person to piggy-back off of. However, instead of yet another Royal, I chose Hana. Why? It's simple. I never typed anything from her perspective, and I'm confident with her character… unlike Azama. I might add a fourth viewpoint as well, depending on if I can get it done right: Sakura.