"Taurus-Khan," Fennec Albain said as he stopped a few paces behind the Khan, the Warlord of the Faunus tribes, "Taurus-Khan, the Elders of the Tribes await your permission to behold their new Leader."
Adam Taurus-Khan did not turn around as he said.
"Wait ten minutes, then show the Elders in."
Fennec had half-turned when Adam said.
"Show the Elders in accordance with the rites. As befits a war council."
Fennec's ears, tall and pointed like a Fox on the hunt, twitched slightly as he nodded in response to Adam's commands. The tail of a red cloak was briefly glimpsed before it followed Fennec out the flaps of the tent, and Adam was left alone in his command tent to ponder the massive map laid out before him. An expanse of marked canvas laid out with huge pins against a board that dominated a wall of Adam's tent.
The Map detailed Adam's future and marked out the path Adam had taken that led up to this moment. A path that Adam considered now before he faced what fate had in store for him.
The coup was flawless. Those who Fennec failed to convert were dispatched by Adam's loyalists before Adam had arrived to take command. Adam himself entered the Khan's palace and faced the last of the Khan's old guards. A dozen hallways Adam filled with blood, more drops to the bucket, more marks on the tally against Adam's soul.
The last of the Khan's guards were the best Adam had faced.
Adam's blade tore out the belly of the first guard in exchange for one of the horns which poked through Adam's mane of blood-red hair.
The second guard managed to trade two blows and survived that first exchange. Adam then broke that guard's nose with a vicious headbutt. The guard managed to block Adam's blade despite the damage and was able to endure the second swing. Adam's third swing buried his blade in the guard's shoulder and before the guard could pull a dagger, Adam had dragged his blade across the guard's throat.
It was a movement so rough that the guard's head barely stayed attached to its neck. It was a movement so fast that Adam had reached the end of the hallway before the guard's blood could splash across his black suit.
"The Khan is alone, the day is ours Taurus-Khan."
Adam turned to stare at the hazy blur crouched on a beam in the hallway's ceiling. Disapproval was clear in his gaze despite the blank mask that covered the upper half of Adam's face. At length, Adam turned away and pushed through the double doors that blocked his path at the end of the hall.
The doors led to a room so sparsely furnished it made the space feel oppressive. Red banners which bore the symbol of the Khan, a red Panther's head on three red stripes against a white background, were the only decorations in the room. Arranged to draw an intruder's attention to the throne at the room's head, which was a heavy couch draped in the skin of a Tiger, a divine animal revered by Adam's people.
The throne was set on a three-step platform marked at the corners with plain torches. Its only occupant was a woman whose gold, feline eyes watched Adam impassively as he approached the throne with a naked blade.
"The title of 'Khan' would bring you nothing worth the blood you have shed," the woman said as she stepped off the platform to meet Adam, "neither would it justify the war you had started at Beacon Academy with the Humans."
Adam stopped as the woman got into the range of his blade which was held easily at Adam's side. Adam then said.
"Sienna-Khan. We justified war with the Humans when they broke their promises, and took wrongfully from our people. Victory would be worth the bloodshed. The title of 'Khan' would be my tribute to the example you have set for the White Fang."
The train of Sienna Khan's cape rustled across the varnished wooden floor as she folded her arms and said.
"And what example might that be?"
Adam gently raised the tip of his blade and said.
"Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction. You have shown us that Humans only listen when they feel our strength. I will make the lesson permanent, just as you had wished."
"I wished for Humanity to fear the Faunus, to know that we demand respect," Sienna said, unconcerned with Adam's blade poised for a Viper's strike, "but what respect can we earn when we strike from the shadows, with the strength of other Humans instead of our own?"
"It is strength nevertheless," Adam said with a shrug of his shoulders, "I relish the challenge if there is a better way, a stronger way. Until then, I will fight with everything I have, and with every weapon, I can use. That is my strength."
Sienna-Khan stiffened as she prepared to rebuke Adam further. However, the tone in Adam's voice made her pause for a moment as she considered what she knew about Adam Taurus. The tip of the White Fang she had raised since birth, whose training she had carefully overseen, save for one indulgence which Sienna had allowed Adam to have for his own.
"You believe Blake will become strong enough?"
Adam's blade flashed once, and as he pushed through the double doors to let his Loyalists clean up the mess, Adam said.
"I will make sure of it."
The Elders of Adam's people did not know what to make of the young Khan, but they ignored the insolent manner with which he lounged across the Khan's throne, and across the table, each Elder made their reports on various matters.
Finally, one of the braver amongst the Elders stood and said.
"The Humans seek a response, Taurus-Khan. For your actions at Beacon Academy, for the deaths, the White Fang has inflicted under the leadership of your predecessor, and for the deaths that may come as a result of the chaos you have started."
When Adam, his elbow on an armrest and his chin in his hand, did not reply. The Elder pressed further and said.
"Taurus-Khan, how would you have us respond?"
"War."
The Elder flinched and sat as Adam stood at the head of the Council table.
"The language of our People is older than the age of Humans. Yet somehow, Humanity's stubbornness has exhausted all words we have for 'peace'."
Adam removed his mask, basked in the fear of the Elders at his naked face, and said.
"Now we respond with Steel and with Fang. Now we respond with one word; War."
Adam then replaced his mask and left the tent. In his wake, the Elders whispered.
Taurus-Khan the Warrior.