Thank you all my new followers. It really encourages me to keep writing. Although my schedule is a lot more busy now, I promise to not give up on this story.

I don't own fire emblem.

Of Laguz and Beorc Chapter 23

Ikyna followed behind most of the mercenary crew. She was stuck in thought as she watched each face. Some faces were old and familiar while others were new.

The lightening mage, Illayna stayed happily by Oscar's side, her hands rolled into a nervous ball as she hungrily followed after the crews cook. Her lavender eyes hopefully waited for him to produce a snack that she could eat. The mage's small figure betrayed her constant appetite.

Flying close to Ike and Titania in the lead was a young Pegasus knight with candy-like pink hair. She expertly directed her winged horse close to the commander. Ike saved her life during a previous scuffle with the Daein forces and now she was offering her assistant to the group.

Ike was grateful for the support, and her ability to fight on ground or airborne made her a desirable ally. She was bubbly and sweet, a stark contrast to normal Pegasus knights, and she smiled constantly while referring to Ike as 'handsome', much to Ikyna's amusement and Aeyori's frustration.

Then there were their new Laguz companions. It was hard to tell if they would really be friend or foe. Indeed the two Gallian warriors saved the mercenaries from complete annihilation, but it didn't seem that they'd offered their assistance willingly. At least not the orange cat named Lethe. She was rude, aggressive, and demeaning with every word she spoke to the crew. Lethe was practically looking for ways to insult the mercenaries.

Her companion was much more obliging however. Despite his tall and muscular form, he had a very meek and gentle demeanor to him. He spoke softly to Ike and the others while also reprimanding Lethe when her tongue was too harsh. His ability to speak the language of Tellius was a bit choppy, much to his embarrassment, yet he did his best to communicate.

Ikyna let her eyes wander to her sister and Rolf. The two kids were keeping pace with the mercenaries as they exerted their young and untrained bodies. It was definitely the biggest surprise of Ikyna's day to see her younger sister wielding a staff in battle and Rolf easily shooting his bow. Though their skills we high for their young age, Ikyna preferred to leave the kids out of the fighting.

However, both Mist and Rolf, with fixed and determined eyes, decided they would fight alongside their family and crew to the very end. This was of course much to Ike's, hers, and Boyd's disliking but the kids could not be persuaded to wait any longer.

Ikyna let out a sigh. How did things become so strange that now her younger sister and little Rolf were fighting and killing with mercenaries? "You've been sighing a lot today."

Ikyna turned to Soren who had slowed his pace to walk beside her. His striking red eyes carefully observed her as he slightly tilted his head to the side. "Are you still feeling upset?"

"I would think you'd be the one pouting." She said with a devilish smirk.

Soren rolled his eyes and shook his head as Ikyna waggled her eyebrows at him. She was referring to earlier that day when Ike scolded him for attacking the blue tiger Mordecai. It still baffled Soren that Ike so easily trusted those clawed beasts. The commander always treated everyone the same; but it didn't make sense. In Soren's opinion the Laguz were not to be trusted at all! They might look like humans, but they were animals through and through.

"Ike wouldn't have scolded you if you hadn't acted without thinking." Ikyna chimed in as she noticed the dark-haired mage's face darkening.

"You shouldn't have attacked them."

Soren glanced at her briefly and blew a sharp breath from his nose in minute irritation. "Why are we talking about me? I was asking if you were okay."

"Me?" Ikyna pointed to herself in surprise.

"Not that long ago you were yelling at Mist and glaring at everyone. Are you better now?"

The female archer gave a soft bitter chuckle; she didn't like to be reminded of her bad attitude. The mage spoke the truth however. Only a day ago she was storming around the laguz castle and snapping at everyone.

"Well?" Soren continued to question her.

Ikyna flashed him the biggest smile she could muster, "Of course! I'm doing perfect just like before." She began to chuckle to make her statement more convincing. Although it was true that she was feeling better and that she no longer had the urge to snap at her sister or friends, the wound of her father's death was still very fresh. However, she was managing to feel decently well despite these things.

A skeptical eyebrow arched over Soren's face. He'd known Ikyna the same amount of time that he'd known Ike; she was very easy to read. Although her cheery disposition could fool everyone else perhaps, Soren knew her too well and he could see she was putting on an overly cheerful front.

With this realization he turned away from her and quickened his walking until he was a few steps ahead of her. Ikyna frowned, surprised by his lack of response, and began, "That's it? What was that suspicious eyebrow raise for?"

Soren turned back slightly, showing her only his scarlet irises, "I was going to tell you to stop lying about being perfect and just admit that your father's death is still getting to you, but I suppose you're alright the way you are now."

Ikyna cringed, she wasn't expecting Soren to see through her façade so easily. "Why is that? What way am I right now?"

The mage was turned away from her again and still walking ahead of her, "You're smiling again." He said plainly. "That's good; it suits you."

The kind words struck Ikyna strangely as she considered their source. For a moment she was frozen in place, completely taken back by the uncharacteristically caring thing her friend said. A warm smile curled around her lips, "But how come you can always frown and scowl all day." She teased.

"Because you and I are different people. Someone like you should always be smiling."

Ikyna found herself laughing at the compliment. For some reason anything kind coming from Soren was so absurd but at the same time she felt a warmth. She shuffled up to Soren and poked his cheek childishly, "What's gotten into you. You're being so sweet suddenly."

Soren didn't respond but his brow furrowed in irritation while his cheeks turned to a soft pink as he turned away from her attentions.

"We are here." Lethe announced in a bitter tone. Her arms were folded over her chest as she scowled at the mercenaries and showed her obvious displeasure with escorting them.

Ikyna practically ran over Soren when he abruptly stopped in front of her. She was so distracted by annoying him that she hadn't noticed the sudden change from dense forest to a lively city. Her mouth fell open as she made a complete 360 on her feet to see Gallia.

The land was surrounded by the lush greenery of the jungle but the inside was full of stone houses. The whole scene struck her as odd. She wasn't expecting it to be just like a city in Crimea but it was the exact opposite. Instead of houses and shops full of people bartering and selling things, the laguz were napping or fighting with one another. People with ears and tails were everywhere and some were walking around in their animal forms. Tigers and cats of all different colors were strolling around or napping on the ground.

The architecture was mostly made from white marble. Large columns were towering around the whole town and most of the roads were paved in white tiles. The entire land was filled with homes and buildings, and towers carved from stone with rounded tops and several cylinder shaped openings. The country looked as if it were carved by hand by each of the strong beasts living there. Ikyna couldn't help but feel that look of the city portrayed the power of the Laguz who inhabited it.

"It's pretty incredible isn't it Soren?"

"Hmph. It's just a land of filthy animals." He retorted with a deep frown.

Ikyna ignored his rude comment and continued staring in amazement.

"To think there's really a place like this with such amazing people." She said more to herself than anyone in particular.

"Ikyna! Soren!" Ike was calling to the straggling mercenaries and waving at them.

"We are headed to meet princess Elincia and the King of Gallia. Hurry up."

Soren tugged on the archers sleeve but her eyes were fixated on a group of cats to their left.

"Your brother just called you. Shall we get going?"

Ikyna shook her head as grin crept across her face. Soren raised one of his eyebrows. He had a sinking suspicion that the grin on her face was going to mean trouble.

"Ikyna?"

"Tell bro I'll catch up with you guys later."

She began walking towards the crowd of cats as she spoke. There was a particular red cat that she had her eye on. He was smaller than the other cats and tigers of the group however he was sparring with all of them. His eyes, sharp and fearless, drew her to him.

"What are you going to do?" Soren questioned.

"I don't know." She said through small chuckle, "Probably something stupid."

The smile on her face reached from one ear to the next as she walked away from Soren. The mage thought he should reach for her and pull her back but instead he resigned himself to simply sigh. "Just make sure you're back in time for the talk with the king. Your brother is going to need you."

Ikyna raised her hand as she was walking away and waved it to the dark-haired young man. "Yeah, yeah, I got ya."

Soren shrugged and followed after Ike, knowing that Ikyna was a lost cause. Her gaze was fixed on the group of Laguz and whatever good or trouble she was going to cause was going to happen.

The closer Ikyna came to the fighting laguz the more her body trembled with excitement. She was amazed and at the same time terrified by the agility and strength of the Laguz. Their strong and muscular bodies were so flexible yet firm. One black tiger had arms and legs cut with muscle definition yet he was flipping and dodging his opponents blows like fluid water.

She found herself once again drawn to watching the red cat. Scarlet bangs lined his forehead and a short stubby ponytail was pulled back while the rest of his shoulder length hair draped over his squared shoulders.

He wore a sleeveless golden shirt that buttoned all the way up to his neck and pair of tan pants that that were poofy at his calves then gathered tightly at his ankles. The cat was in the middle of a fight with a gray tiger that was much larger than he was.

It was obvious the tiger was at an advantage. The tiger was slower, but despite the cat's greater agility and skill, the tiger was winning. Although the red cat could avoid many of the oncoming attacks, the tiger was learning to anticipate his opponent's moves and was dealing heavy blows.

One kick landed right in the red cat's stomach. With a pained grunt he slid on his back across the white tile, stirring up clouds of dust as he went.

"Have you had enough there Yakuzo?" the tiger taunted with a smug gleam.

The cat, named Yakuzo, slowly sat up. Pain was etched on his forehead and he coughed out a small splatter of blood.

His honey colored eyes were fixed on the tiger. "Not a chance." He managed to groan out as he wiped the blood from his lip and slowly stood up. The muscles in his body trembled as he finally managed to stand, but his expression was determined; he wouldn't be giving up any time soon.

A crowd of cats and tigers were around the two sparring laguz and they began to jeer and mock Yakuzo. It was obvious that he was not being favored by the rowdy crowd.

"Give up!"

"It's no contest!"

The crowd continued to yell and mock the seemingly beaten cat.

"You hear that Yakuzo?" the tiger began with a grin on his face as if he had already claimed victory, "Even the crowd is sick of this pointless fight. Why don't you go home now little kitten?"

Yakuzo growled, "Shut up! Who asked you anyway?"

He held a shaking fist up in anger, "I'll go home when I'm good and ready, and that will be after I kick your ass!"

Yakuzo pointed firmly at the larger Laguz as his eyebrows creased.

"That's rich." The tiger said as he grabbed his stomach and gave a hearty laugh. "You, beat me? I'd like to see you try."

Yakuzo squatted down in a fighting stance with both his fists in front of him. "Just give me one more shot and I'll put you right on your back!"

"You cocky little..."

Before the tiger's sentence was finished Yakuzo was charging quickly towards him. He gave two quick jabs that had little effect on the bulky tiger. In response the gray laguz swung his leg around to kick Yakuzo. The kick connected and the red laguz coughed more blood out, obviously still injured from earlier.

However he clinched his jaw against the pain and flipped just out of reach of a finishing left hook. Without hesitation he charged again but the tiger anticipated his move this time and caught Yakuzo's punch with his hand. With a triumphant smile he bent the cat's wrist back and received a loud yelp.

Yakuzo was brought down to his knees as the tiger continued to manipulate his wrist and push him to the ground. "This will teach you to talk big."

The tiger felt that he was soon going to take a victory as Yakuzo's knees hit the ground. He grinned down at him but was surprised to see, not fear or defeat, a smirk and sly glint in his feline eyes.

"You really are an idiot." Yakuzo mocked.

In one swift movement Yakuzo yanked the bigger laguz toward him and rammed his head into the other's skull. The tiger was barely able to register he was moving, let alone have the ability to dodge. He yelped as his head made contact with Yakuzo's and growled loudly as he wrapped his hands around his ringing face.

As Yakuzo saw his opponent stumbling back he tackled him to the ground and held his sharp claws at the tiger's neck. He sneered as the loser of the battle finally registered his own defeat.

"You…"

"Alright that's enough." A purple cat with long hair and a patch over his right eye was sitting on the steps of what appeared to be a town square surround by columns with a fountain in the middle. From the look of the crowd around him, two giant tigers and three females cats that were happily purring next to him, he seemed to be the leader of this group of fighters.

He held a strong amount of authority as he sat with one leg crossed and the other bent over it. His expression was calm with a small smile as he stopped the fight.

"Yakuzo, you've proved your point. Let Barrel go."

Yakuzo hesitated at the purple tigers commands at first but finally released Barrel. He watched the beaten tiger struggle to get up as he continued to rub his forehead that was slowly growing redder.

"I can't believe you used your head you little rat!" He complained.

Yakuzo stood proudly with his hands on his hips and his red tail swishing and flipping. A smug grin was visible and his feral teeth showed as he spoke, "Yeah I was pretty surprised too. I was worried I wouldn't be able to do any damage to such a thick head like yours."

"Why you!" Barrel lunged at Yakuzo with his claws out as he snarled viciously. Just before he made contact with the scarlet cat the purple tiger from before let out a low roar.

"That's enough Barrel. You were beaten by Yakuzo. Don't act so disgraceful and prolong this fight."

Barrel turned as if he wanted to protest but his words fled from his lips as the tiger shot him an icy glare. "Accept your defeat like an honorable Gallian soldier."

"Yes Tonga." Barrel said in defeat.

"You're pretty well behaved suddenly." Yakuzo said with a snicker as he mockingly rubbed the tip of his noise with his index finger. Barrel opened his mouth to shout bitter insults but was cut off by the sound of clapping.

The group of laguz turned to the beorc approaching them with a broad smile as she clapped excitedly. They began to murmur among themselves about the sudden intrusion of the stray 'human.'

"You guys are really amazing!" Ikyna said as her eyes darted from one feline to the next.

"I mean seriously the way you guys fight, it's incredible." She looked at Yakuzo and he cringed at her excited irises, "You're relatively small but your fighting skills are top notch."

She began to mimic a few of his punches. "It was like this, or maybe that."

All the laguz continued to watch in confusion and amazement as Ikyna continued rambling about how amazing the fight was. "If I could learn to be as quick as you I'd be a much better fighter."

"I think a change in species might be more effective." Barrel said with grin, no longer kept silent by his defeat.

Ikyna let the insult slide past her without so much as a response that was verbal or physical. "I'd be really honored if I could spar with you to test my strength." She said with a slight bow.

"Ha!" Barrel tilted his head with a sneer, "Someone like you isn't worth your two pounds to fight."

"I don't want to spar with you. You're all brawns and no brains; you wouldn't really be a challenge." She said with a straight face.

The archer cast her eyes on Yakuzo as he sat near Tonga curiously watching the young woman. She pointed at Yakuzo with a smile, "I want to fight you."

Yakuzo pointed to himself in disbelief, "You've gotta be kidding me. Is she serious Tonga?" He asked to the purple tiger sitting beside him.

Tonga had his head tilted and was grinning mysteriously. His one violet eye watched the Beorc with interest. "I think she is." He mused as he rested his cheek on the fist of his arm that he had on his leg.

"I'm completely serious." Ikyna confirmed Tonga's inkling. "You're kind of small like me, so I'd like to learn from your fighting style to improve my own."

Yakuzo stood abruptly and began shaking his fist in anger, "Who are you calling small you tailless weirdo. The only reason I look small is because I'm surrounded by all these huge tigers!"

"Okay, okay. Sorry." Ikyna apologized as she held her hands out in front of her sheepishly. "I wasn't saying that it was bad that you were small or anything." She added with a shrug.

Yakuzo's face flushed from anger and a pulsing vein formed on his head. "You shouldn't talk so freely when you're clearly outnumbered." He threatened through clinched teeth.

Ikyna was unphased by his raging temper. It was hard to be threatened by him when she thought his twitching red ears and tail were so adorable. However, considering he was already sensitive about his height, Ikyna didn't think making cooing noises at his tantrum would help.

She folded her hands over her chest, "Well, are you gunna fight with me or what?"

The hot-headed laguz snorted, "Sorry little girl, but I don't spar with 'humans.'

That word, 'humans,' she didn't like how he so liberally used that insulting term. Mordecai had informed her that the term, 'human', when used by a laguz, was just as derogatory as saying sub-human.

Yet despite the fact that she was fully accepting of the laguz, it was obvious that there was deep prejudice on their side. However, it didn't mean she was going to stand for him talking down to her.

As she watched him walking away, knowing full well that he was most likely laughing to himself because he mocked her, she found herself digging into the pig-headed side of her personality. If he thought he was going to get away with talking to her like that, he had another thing coming.

"That's fine," she casually began, "I don't spar with sub-humans either."

Every feline eye sharpened and glared at her. Yakuzo stopped dead in his tracks; his tail stood up straight. He slowly turned around and glowered dangerously at her. "What did you say?"

Ikyna could hear the anger strangling his voice as he inched menacingly toward her. She wouldn't back down however. Of course she didn't like the term sub-human either, but she wanted to return the favor to Yakuzo for calling her human.

"I said sub-human. I don't want to fight with filthy sub-humans either."

Yakuzo clinched his fists and showed his animal fangs as he readied himself to attack the human.

"But," she began as she picked at some dirt under her nails, "Seeing as how the only ones here are Beorc and Laguz, there shouldn't be a problem for either of us right?"

The laguz were all surprised she knew that being called human was an insult. They couldn't believe the young Beorc woman was standing in a crowd of dangerous laguz and, not only throwing around the term sub-human, but also having the confidence, or idiocy, to have a smug grin the entire time.

"You…" Yakuzo continued to grow angrier but finally Tonga put a hand on the cat's shoulder. He looked at the lone Beorc with a smile, "You're absolutely right." He said

All the cats and tigers gasped and turned to Tonga in confusion. "What are you talking about Tonga?" Yakuzo began in protest.

Tonga quickly silenced Yakuzo by holding his hand up then he focused his full attention on Ikyna again.

"I'll let you spar with Yakuzo, but do you really think it's wise for you, a Beorc, to be challenging a laguz so far away from your friends. I can't guarantee you'll come out unharmed."

Ikyna tapped her chin thoughtfully before answering, "Well it's a fight so of course I'm going to get hurt. As far as it being a wise choice…" she paused before flashing the widest grin, "I promised my friend that I was going to do something stupid today; I'd hate to let him down."

)(

Reyson hit the ground with a thud and the child continued to cry in horror. His brown eyes were glistening with frightened tears as he fell onto his butt and began backing away. The high arches on his cheeks reddened as his crying worsened the more his eyes took in the monster like figure before him.

It was a human but with ivory white wings. Tulo couldn't believe what he was seeing. His young mind couldn't register the strange sight before him. He cried for his father to rescue him when he finally backed himself into a corner and no longer possessed the state of mind to get up and run.

"Tulo what's wrong?" Kayan said as she burst into the room with a face twisted in panic. Her question was soon followed by a disturbed gasp as she locked eyes on the heron sitting before her. Those white wings, so crisp and beautiful, were a horror to see.

With great trembling she placed her hands over her gaping mouth and mimicked her son by stepping back to the wall for security. She couldn't believe what she was seeing; it was actually a living heron before her very eyes.

Kayan desperately motioned for Tulo to come to her side. Fear and shock were etched plainly on her face as memories of the Serenes massacre flooded her memory. She remembered the burning flames of the once lush forest and how the thick smoke choked out the sun for days.

It didn't seem possible that any heron could survive the destruction and murderous mob that charged into forest. However, before her was indeed a living heron. His white wings were unmistakable. She just knew that this laguz being in her inn was a bad omen.

"Come to me Tulo! Come to now!" she desperately cried as she extended her hand to her terrified son.

Tulo managed to stumble into his mother's arms and she wrapped him protectively into her chest and tried to shield him from the laguz.

Reyson was disgusted by the human's response. Weren't they the ones who attacked and killed his people? So why was it that they were the ones shouting in horror? He stood up slowly and watched as the mother tightened her grasp on her son and her face lost its color. "Please," she begged, "Don't do us any harm."

Her request was unbelievable. Even as much as Reyson wished to do harm to both of the wretched humans, his small heron strength would not allow him to do anything. It made him laugh to think that finally he was the one staring down on the cowering faces of humans. Now he held the power of them, just like how they had over powered and murdered his brethren.

"If you know what you have done," Reyson began as his voice slowly became choked with rage, "how can you expect me to not harm you?"

"No please, forgive us! Our people were wrong."

"You will never have my forgiveness!" the heron shouted, causing the woman and child to shrink back in fear.

Again Reyson was pleased to be in control. He wanted the humans to quake and tremble at his presence. He liked watching them squirm at his glare. His triumph was short lived, however, as Kayan's husband burst into the room wielding a large wooden club.

He turned his head quickly from side to side and looked for the cause of the commotion. He spotted Reyson standing over his wife and son and growled like a beast angrily. "So you've been a filthy sub-human all along!"

The father shouted loudly as he kicked into a charge with his club held over his head. "Stop Kajo!" Kayan shouted with tears running down her face.

"You mustn't harm the heron. It is a sin against the Goddess!" she cried.

Her husband turned to her in disbelief as he slowed his run. While his face was molded from anger Kayan's expression was mixed with fear and shame. "It is a curse on our land to do any more harm to these creatures!"

She stretched her hand out with a pleading voice to stop her husband.

"Forget the Goddess." Kajo snarled at his wife before turning back to Reyson.

"If she loved the sub-humans so much she should have protected them last time."

Kayan was bawling as she continued to beg her husband, "No, you will bring her judgement upon this house!"

Kajo stared at Reyson as the heron looked back at him defiantly. The prince was backing away and desperately trying to find a way to escape but still refused to show any sign of fear. Kajo smirked and readied his club again, "My wife seems to think that killing anymore of you filthy herons will anger the Goddess."

His harsh tone betrayed the smile on his face, "But I don't care about the Goddess. I'll kill every sub-human I see till I'm dead. If the Goddess doesn't like that let her judge me herself!"

With the end of his sentence he began running at Reyson once more, ready to clobber him to death. Reyson felt the sting of cool glass on himself as he was pushed into the closed window of the bedroom. In a split second he wondered if his own pride and hatred of humans was going to lead to his death by this idiot.

Then Reyson heard a familiar high screech followed by a loud command to get out of the way. Without hesitation the prince stepped to the side just as it shattered and glass daggers burst into the room. The beating of heavy wings was heard and accompanied by the screams of Kayan and Tulo. A blur of brown and tan feathers erupted and quickly Reyson was surrounded by Ulki and Janaff in their hawk forms.

Reyson was still shielding his eyes from the glass as he felt himself being nuzzled by the beaks of the king's men. They nudged and prodded him into a safer location and when Reyson opened his eyes he saw the broad and strong wings of Tibarn.

The king had his back to Reyson and his large body blocked most of the room from the heron's vantage point. However Reyson could see Tibarn's sleeveless and muscular arm reaching out and grasping something firmly.

Kajo was trapped with Tibarn's hand grasping his neck tightly. The man struggled to free himself as he gasped pitifully for air. "Are you alright?" Tibarn asked.

Reyson couldn't see the king's face, but he could hear the fury in Tibarn's voice. It wasn't anger directed at the prince, he was furious with the human who even dared to harm a single feather on Reyson.

"Yes, I'm alright." He confirmed.

Tibarn did not soften his deadly glare on Kajo, neither did he relax upon hearing of his friend's safety. He instead tightened his grasp on Kajo's neck and earned more desperate gasps that soon turned to fearful cries.

The once haughty man was wriggling and panicking in Tibarn's hold. He looked at the angered Laguz and felt the strength and fury coming from the laguz. No longer was Kajo assured of his own strength and he gave way to trembling.

"I heard you want to kill all the sub-humans, but I don't think that will be as easy as you'd like. Unless you're sure that you can really kill us all, including me."

Kajo began to weep, though his throat was being strangled, his eyes were pouring fearful tears. "Please, don't kill me." He managed to choke.

He saw the murderous intent on Tibarn's face and all he could do was beg and hope the Laguz would spare him.

Tibarn's nostrils flared as he watched the disgusting human beg. With all his being he indeed hated the humans. "Scum like you has no right to ask me to spare your life."

He threw Kajo into the wall, "All you have the right to do is ask for a quicker death."

After saying those words he transformed into his hawk form. With a furious screech he flew at the man and grasped his skull in his talons before crushing it in one swift movement.

Later guys!