A/N: Ermahgerd, you won't believe this, but… there are Lupus shenanigans this chapter! Woo-hoo! And what a terrific thing, too!
…
But I doubt Lupus and her antics will balance out the rest of the chapter...
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.
J-Dawg: That's all if the scouting group says it's clear. Keaty is too smart than to just have a 'random' duel during war.
Subaki really went out of his way for the pack, so surely a bag of more goodies will be accepted.
Mistakes? Nah, all as intended, but, uh… Zola? Who dat? *shifty eyes*
Lupus slowly blinks her eyes as she wakes up, feeling far more refreshed than she has in a long while… since the day she and Seta had sex and slept together, actually… and before that, well… being smushed between Keaty and Vella during one of those really cold winter nights. This time? Well, pressed up against Dadaan, his gentle breathing soothing her. Calm to match calm. Her arms are wrapped around him and her chest is pressed up against his side. She reaches out and touches one of his sections of distinctly purple fur.
Peace.
She smiles as she breathes in his scent… earthy with a hint of blood, like the others… except that, there is this other more subtle scent… something she associates with Seta, it's that… scent she can't really place, but one she wants more of. Her heart races as she looks him over, the human side of her starting to get some control through her emotions… the dragon side of her fighting for that same control from the more primal need of… needing. And the next thing she knows…
She's tasting that scent. Earthy, some blood, and whatever that other combination is.
It took her several moments to realize she was kissing him, roughly around the same time he woke up and, understandably, backed off. Human things after all… kissing. "...sorry." Lupus whispers. "Human side." It's not like she can have him, anyway. Despite what she wants, Keaty will probably end up mating with her, because that is what the pack needs.
"And what do you want?" Hina's voice echoed in her head.
The answer is simple… she wants Dadaan, she wants Seta. Alright, maybe it isn't so simple. "Lupus?" Dadaan asks, bringing her out of her thoughts, her conflicts. Two sides, one person… dragon and human, but also raised in a Wolfskin pack, so… it's actually three sides. Sure, sometimes she wonders how she would have turned out if she was born a Wolfskin, sometimes a human, and recently a dragon, but… for all the issues it brings up, she rather stay the way she is.
No, she knows… she wants this war to end.
"I should probably go and help out…" She gets up, still slightly heated from her human slip-up, "We're never safe, after all… y'know." He might have replied, but she wasn't listening. There's too much stuff going on right now. The pack comes first, besides there… she sniffs the air as she leaves the cave she was in, there's a scent here that wasn't here before, a person… but one she remembers.
Superman visited?
She follows the residual scent trail over to a pile of sacks. "Heya, sister." Hina pops out from the other side of the pile.
"What's all this?" Curiosity wins and she sticks her head into one… and is met with a horrid stench.
"Those are the specialty tonics." Hina supplies, moments before Lupus dry heaves over the grass. "Subaki came with me, since there were a lot of extra stuff…" She gestures at the sacks, "And none of this is even including my three new armor sets or four naginatas." A pause, "I was just organizing it right now… well, not that it needs it. Subaki already has everything labeled and portioned."
"Labeled?" Lupus echoes, looking over the sacks and… "What's that?" She points at some white cloth on it.
"A label."
"A label is a white cloth with black spots on it?" Lupus tilts her head.
"No, that's…" Hina pauses again, "Sister…" She sighs.
"What did I do now?"
"You don't know how to read, do you?"
"'Read'?"
Hina nods and points at the cloth, "'Specialty tonics'." Her finger traces the dots and lines.
"I don't get it." Lupus huffs, that familiar aggravation coming back from whenever she has trouble understanding something.
"Sister… of course you don't. Gods, why didn't we think of that…" She rubs her forehead. "I'm sorry, we should have at least taught you how to read."
"So… those are 'readings'?" She points at the dots and lines.
"Those are letters."
"So… you want to teach me how to letter?"
Hina shakes her head, "No, we use vowels and…"
"What's a 'vowel'?"
Hina takes the largest sigh ever to be had. "How about this. I finish going over what we have, and I'll teach you, okay?"
"Okay." Lupus smiles. "Let me know when you're ready to teach me voweling and lettering."
Not wanting to cause further argument, Hina simply nods, "Alright. See you later."
Hana's mood had practically shot through the roof as Lady Sakura had returned to the Hoshidan base camp. Her liege is back, and she is able to do what she is supposed to do… guard her. Granted, there are few… complications, all related to Lady Sakura's near malnourishment while a prisoner, but she's here, Hana can protect her…
And there's no reason to 'have to' leave her behind. Hana still hasn't exactly let the idea drop, she has just stopped arguing the point. Subaki needs to up his 'perfection' so that he takes his duty to Lady Sakura much more seriously. Right now, though, Hana is across the table while Lady Sakura gets some much needed food in.
"Pl-please… I… don't need to b-be watched like… this." It hurts Hana to hear Lady Sakura act far more reserved than she usually is… obviously a consequence of whatever those vile Nohrians did to her.
"My apologies, my liege. I'm… relieved you're back and I just want to make sure you remain safe." Regardless, she takes a few steps back, "I'll make sure I repay those Nohrians three fold for every trouble they inflicted on you." This isn't the type of reassurance Lady Sakura likes, but Hana needs to make things right again, and if that takes over a hundred Nohrian bodies worth of blood… then let it be so.
As she expected, Lady Sakura frowns at the declaration. "I… suppose I should know b-better than to try and… convince you other-otherwise, Hana." Without her Festal in hand, Lady Sakura instead resorts to fiddling with her fork. "I just wish this wasn't happening in the first place."
A grim nod, "I know… but I assure you, we'll make this war quick."
Tap, tap… pick, eat… "I w-wonder how my… s-sisters are d-doing…"
A sour expression crosses Hana's face, but it fades just as quick. "...Permission to speak freely, Lady Sakura?"
She looks somewhat surprised, "U-Um… sure. G-go ahead."
"I… frankly don't approve of Lady Corrin's choice. That is, if she is Lady Corrin." Hana paused, ready for whatever response that will cause.
"...I know, she isn't the same, is she?" Sadness, perhaps Hana should have expected that type of emotion the most.
"And… I can't believe Lord Ryoma just… let that wolf take Lady Hinoka!" Something flashes across Lady Sakura's eyes… but Hana isn't too sure of the emotion. It's a combination of various emotions… pain, probably? "Why are we letting a pack of wolves steal Hoshidan Royalty and do what they want? They… they are even Nohrian!" Hana takes a breath, reminding herself to not act so much on emotion, "My apologies, Lady Sakura."
"I… It's okay, I guess." Fiddle, fiddle, "I did let you speak as you will, a-after all." She gently wipes her mouth clean, "Thank you for the meal, H-Hana." A smile, as peaceful as Hana remembers.
"Anything for my liege." Hana bows. "What would you like to do next?"
A moment passes, before she yawns, "A pr-proper sleep would b-be nice." A sheepish smile follows, "In an actual c-cot."
Fair enough… Hana nods. "Okay, let me escort you to your cot, then!"
Lady Sakura lightly giggles, "Please, I-I don't n-need to… b-be assisted w-with… everything, H-Hana."
"I insist! It's not just because of my duty as your retainer… but also because I want to! You're like… my best friend!" A short pause, "Uh, if that's okay? I mean, if it's too unprofessional as my role, then…"
Lady Sakura dips her head, "I would l-love that… H-Hana. So, b-best friends."
Prince Leo sighs, runs a hand through his hair, then looks over his next set of orders again. Misalignment, inaccuracy… all of these small errors. An exchange of Princesses has changed into two Princesses and two retainers…
"Aw, what's the matter, little Leo?" Speaking of Princesses… Camilla strides up. "You're going to get a cramp, sitting like that."
"About your… report?" He instead asks.
"The scout has been executed for his failure." She shrugs it off, "Anyone else close has been imprisoned."
"You could have been executed, sister." He presses, "How does this not bother you?"
She laughs… she laughed, "We have their Princess, remember?"
Holding back his own… personal concern for Sakura's well-being, he nods, "And now she's back in…"
"Leo… oh my dear little brother," She coos, "Let me repeat myself… We have their Princess."
What?! "Princess Sakura was…"
"Is in the new Nohrian outpost." She smiles. Then… wait, how?! "Zola is the master of Illusion style magic."
Leo takes a breath, "I see." And yes, he does see… pieces start falling into place. "And why was I not informed?"
"Oh, it's nothing against you… just the usual protocol… the less that know, the better." She smiles, "Trust me, darling, I wanted to tell you, but… orders are orders."
"No, don't concern yourself… I understand." King Garon… approved of this? War hasn't even been declared! "Are there any other similar plans? At least grant me the knowledge of that."
She places a finger on her bottom lip, hums, then shakes her head, "Not that I know of." She places her hands on his shoulders, "Now then… what is stressing out our highly intelligent Prince Leo?"
He sighs, "Always able to see right through me…" He rubs his eyes, "When is the next assault? I tire of being cramped in here."
"Would you like me to take over this position for a few battles?" She asks.
"If you're able. I have ideas that are best exercised in the field."
"For whom?"
"...the pack."
Heavy breathing, so tired… and more burning. Coughing soon follows and she finally opens her eyes. Princess Sakura gasps for air… so dry, water. Her vision is dangerously blurry, and she has never felt so weak… "Wh…" Whatever she was going to say was cut off by the sheer dryness of her throat.
"Good morning, Princess Sakura." That voice… Iago. Again? But, wait…
"E…" Exchange, prisoner exchange is what she wanted to bring up. "Wa...ter." She soon hears something slide across the floor, and in pure instinct, grabs and chugs…
Then almost vomits. Not water, not water! "Oh dear, sorry… that was a cup of ale." There's nothing 'sorry' in his voice.
Not that she is even paying attention, as the dryness of her throat only serves to multiply the burning effect of the alcohol. "Pl…" Another object slides, but this time, she attempts to at least sniff it. She takes a careful sip and… by the gods. Water. "Family… where's my family!" Tears are streaming down her face.
"They left you, Princess."
"Liar!" She screams… as much as she can, anyway, before she starts coughing again.
"Am I?" He raises an eyebrow… or she thinks, anyway, it's so hard to see. "I can prove that they arrived to the outpost and left… without you."
Liar, liar, liar! "They haven't came yet! Or… or you just…"
Jingle, jingle. A… bell? "During exchanges, each party holds an item that serves as a temporary ceasefire. Typically it is in the form of a white flag, but…" Jingle, jingle, "High Prince Ryoma had this… bell attached to his."
"I… I don't believe you!"
Snap, lights… burning, Sakura lets out a squeal as Iago uses a small fire spell near her. "Face it, girl. They saw how pathetic you are and decided it would be best to leave you behind."
Openly crying, but she has no tears to shed… so dry. "Stop lying!"
"Is that all you can muster for arguments? I have so many other points to give, but you keep falling back on deceit." Inside her cell, pushed against the wall, cold… so cold. "Then why are you still here? High Prince Ryoma, his two retainers, Subaki, and Hana… all of them arrived here, but you were denied. You are a disgrace to Hoshidan Royalty. They have effectively disowned you."
"I…"
"Don't believe you?" He cuts her off, fingers pressing in… magic? Dark Magic. Sakura never used it, but she just knows he's pushing Dark Magic into her. "Listen to me. They. Left. You."
"L-L...Liar." She whimpers, hurts… pain. So much pain. Dryness, coldness, numbing, Dark Magic… why?
"Tch." Sakura drops to the ground when Iago releases. "I'll let you have a day or two for those facts to sink in… then we'll talk." He leaves, but…
All she can really feel is all of those points of pain. Her throat is getting really dry again, her stomach rumbles in protest, the stones around her are so cold, yet some of her inside are burning. No tears to shed, yet… beyond all of that… beyond her spite towards Iago, past her resolve that her family will come, there is one thing that has been undoubtedly planted by his Dark Magic that scares her more than anything.
Doubt.
Doubt for what she believes… and a twisted trust for what he said.
A/N: Ah, Lupus. Both falling in love and stumbling around with… reading! That's right, the topic that Lupus 'luckily' missed during her entire time with her family!
Hana, finally happy now that Sakura is back. She can once more stand by her liege's side and give it her all and… oh dear. She used the single most offensive term for any Wolfskin… 'wolf'. Let's hope that Hana doesn't do anything else reckless with the Wolfskin…
Prince Leo! What could he be planning for the pack? Hm… anyway. I was going to leave it on a somber note with Leo's PoV, but then I thought… hey, let's give Sakura her turn. But, lemme back up a bit.
Last chapter, I pointed out that there's something strange, right? Well, I was referring to the fact there was a section of the chapter with Sakura's PoV, a break line, then… Sakura's PoV. See, I use break lines for three reasons. One is to separate A/N, Shout-outs away from the story itself. The second is time skips/scene transitions. The third is PoV changing. So, I used my break line to change from Sakura's PoV to… Sakura's PoV? Nope! The second Sakura was actually Zola's PoV!