They reached the Citadel. None of them spoke a word the entire time they tread for the kingdom.
They head for the Throne Room, where Iris left the boys and Luna to wait to get Libertus to join in the conversation.
...Of course, when he came to the Throne Room with his Life-Mate, he did expected for Gladiolus to murder him on the spot and went up to the large-male to get it over with. What he didn't expect, was for Gladiolus to pull him into a bro-hug and congratulate him on becoming a father.
Iris was surprised, when rejoining the group, to find Cor and Monica joining in the conversation, but didn't see any issue that they couldn't be part of the discussion; Cor had read the Thalassius Siblings' profile, and is the reason why they're all here to talk about a sensitive topic on Sarai. And while Monica doesn't have any part on being in the conversation, she's a extended member of Noctis' Pack and wishes to learn more about her soon-to-be imprinted-niece.
She had expected Cindy and Coctura to join them, but the girls are taking Ignis and Coctura's three sons to get suits for the celebration. Coctura wanted to spend personal time with their sons, before she and Ignis have to aid with cooking for the dinners (Though, not for very long; even when a little over a month and a half pregnant, she'll only be allowed to work for about an hour, before she has to step down to rest and watch over their sons.), and Cindy wanted to get an early start on caring for pups before hers and Prompto's own children are born. Along with spending some time with her nephews.
She stood in the middle of the group, with Libertus standing at her side... Both having solemn expression on their faces.
Iris turned to all the older-adults/werewolves.
"What Libertus and I are going to tell you, is very serious and what the siblings were told had happened by Sarai." She started. "And before we start, we want to make some things clear: What we tell you, is not to leave this room. As in, you don't tell them that you know, you don't bring up anything that has to do with her scars. -She turned to her brother... Her eyes went sharp and cold, as piercing ice.- ...You don't mention, or say anything on what we're going to tell you, to anybody or to anyone, not unless her brothers trusts those individuals to know what happened."
Ignis, standing to Gladiolus' left, responded with a question.
"And I take it that you, Libertus and your group had been informed the whole topic, by her brothers?"
Iris nodded her head to the blind-werewolf.
"They told me about this, three years ago." She revealed. "We were camping, resting, while on a Four-Star Ranked Hunt for Niflheim. I finally gotten the chance to properly comment her scars. -A sad gaze appeared in her brown-eyes.- ...Ra didn't take the compliment as a compliment. Instead, she acted as if I was mocking her and was belittling her... Her brothers explained to me, that her scars are a painful reminder that evil lurks in every life... Old, and young."
Libertus pulled her against his him... His blue-eyes, hardening in rage and growling lowly.
"...She was five years old, when she gained those scars. -All but Cor and Iris were immediately petrified by the news.- They were in Eusciello, at a small-town. Their parents and Cephas, who was nineteen at the time, were out on a Hunt for Voretooths. Lupus and Vitalis, both being almost fifteen and almost eleven, were training with a friend of their parents, learning how to use Elemancy. Sarai, being too young to train and not wanting to risk getting hurt, was told to go explore the town by the friend watching them... That turned out to become a grave error, and one the friend of the family he never suggested of her to do."
Flashback: Thirteen Years Ago; Eusciello...
She walks next to the buildings; remembering to keep beside the building, and not on the street (Even when there's no street.). There are no sidewalks, so she did the next thing to follow the safety rules her parents tell her to do.
It was a mixture of a country town, with small, modern city buildings in place. A pit stop-like residence, with two motels, not including the houses of the residence that lives in town, and multiple small-stores. A few diners and a car shop, somewhat, makes up for the small-town residence being barren.
What would make this small-town best known, is a small Chocobo Ranch, that a registered breeder and trainer for Chocobos to run longer distance and specialized in scaling rocks and rocky terrains... Along with a Hunters Base, next-door with the Chocobo Ranch.
...Sarai isn't a big fan of the city-style environment.
Even with a shortage of people taking residence in this small-town, there was still a lot of people who comes and goes. Even when most would pay her no mind, she still gets jumpy and quickens her steps to keep distance.
She'd rather be back with her brothers and their parents' friend, who they call Uncle Ru/Prudent, and watch them use Elemancy... She wanted to do everything her brothers and parents do, and learn all that she could to be like them.
...She wants to become a hunter, and help others in need... Despite her quiet nature and refusal to talk out loud to anybody but her family and close friends of the family.
"Come on! We got to hurry!"
Hearing the voice, Sarai lifted her head from staring at her feet and saw two older-kids, being nine and ten, running across the dirt-road in a hurry and paying no mind of two adults telling them to watch it.
That caught the toddler's curiosity.
'...Where they going?' She pondered, intrigued when they ran into an alleyway.
Her nose wrinkled at the thought of going into a filthy, smelly area... But, because she wanted to know why they were in such a rush to go into an alleyway, she started running after them.
As she expected, the alleyway was filthy, smelled horribly than a skunk and trashcans, discarded trash-bags and littered pieces of garbage scattered the ground.
Sarai knew that her parents wouldn't be happy if she gets her clothes dirty, and learn that she walked through garbage and filth... Though, while she doesn't like going through dirty, smelly areas, she isn't one to be afraid to get down and dirty... She and her brothers, mostly Vitalis and Cephas, would always play games that would involve them getting dirty (Lupus doesn't like getting dirty as much as his brothers do, but doesn't mind having a little dirt, every once in a while.).
She walked over the trash-covered ground of the alley, leaning against the wall to prevent herself to fall if she loses her footing, ignoring the sticky substance on the surface of the brick wall.
...After walking down the alleyway for about five minutes, Sarai heard the sound of voices... All being the sound of older-children.
They were all talking at once.
"You actually found it?!"
"Wow!"
"Do you think there's treasure, there?!"
"I can't believe you were able to find it, when those adults are still looking for their den!"
After followed suit.
Their words very much caught her interest, even more so. And, being as quiet as a mouse, she made her way until she found herself leaning against a corner of the building next to the one she was using to keep herself from falling over the trash.
...Looking over the wall, Sarai saw six children, circled around a makeshift table from a cardboard box and an old newspaper, between the ages nine to twelve. Four boys, and two girls.
The oldest boy, twelve years old, standing in the middle of the makeshift table, acting all tough and smug, clearly was the leader of the group.
"Those hunters our parents hired to take care of the Voretooths, aren't that tough and are complete morons, if they don't seem to know where to find their den! I told you guys, Hunters are nothing but a complete joke! A scam, that leads them their deaths!"
Sarai didn't like how the oldest kid was saying false things about the organization her parents and brothers are working for, let alone saying mean things about her parents and Cephas still looking for the Voretooths that the town hired them to find and kill.
She wanted to yell at him, and the other children, and tell them on how strong her family are... But, alas, she doesn't feel comfortable on speaking.
"So, Aaron, are you going to show our parents where the den is, so that they can take care of the Voretooths, by themselves, and not pay those frauds?" One of the girls, a ten year-old, asked.
The oldest kid, Aaron, smirked at the blonde-girl.
"Naw. We're going to do something, even better." He announced... Then, turning to a big chair, he stood on top of the seat. "We're going to go down to the den... And, take care of those Voretooths, on our own!"
The five year-old's eyes widened in horror from the big kid's decision on what they should do, as the younger kids cheered and voiced out their agreement to do so.
She knew that what they were going to do, will end up getting themselves killed.
'Oh no!' She thought, slowly backing away from the wall. 'I need to tell Lupe, Tal and Uncle Pru!'
She turned to run... Only to end up slipping on some trash and landing on a ground.
Aaron and the others heard the thump and, seeing two sandal-covered feet slightly sticking out, quickly gave the younger-kids an order.
"We got a rat!" He yelled, jumping off of his chair. "Grab them! Don't let them get away!"
Realizing that they know she's there, Sarai scrambled to her feet and pushed herself to run.
Because of the many trashes around them, she found herself leaping and lunging most of the time, to get over the small hurdle of trash and not slip.
"It's that brat that came with those hunters!" One of the kids hollered out.
Sarai was terrified, giving her more reason to run and get help.
"Get back here, you filthy rat!" Another yelled, kicking aside a garbage bag to clear a path for them.
It felt like a lifetime, when Sarai, finally, saw the way out.
She was slightly panting, laying a hand on the sticky wall; being five years old, she couldn't run for very long. And, being surrounded by garbage, an unhealthy environment, makes her breathing more difficult to catch.
With the sounds of footsteps getting closer, the toddler pushed herself to keep running. To reach for the exit, and get back on the ranch to tell her older-brothers and Uncle Pru what she discovered.
"There she is!"
Her forest-green eyes widened, but didn't faltered on her steps.
'...Get out!' Was all she could think of, jumping over a pile of garbage bags and falling to a kneeling position, before getting back up and to keep running. 'Get out of here!'
...She reached the outside of the alleyway and, given newfound hope, ran across the dirt-road for the direction she came from to head for the ranch.
...
...
...
...
...
...She ended up being tackled down, just barely crossing the street... By one of the eleven year-old kids that, finally, caught up to her.
"I got her!"
Like a trapped animal, Sarai struggled to break free from his strong-hold. She scratched, kicked, even bit him, in any way that she could, to free herself and get to her family. She let out a few grunts of distress, hoping that the adults nearby and/or around them would come and help her.
...
...
...None of the adults bothered to heed her quiet cries for help. They didn't seem to realize that she was in danger, when assuming that she was roughhousing with an older-kid or was being a spoiled brat that tried to run from her 'responsible brother'.
"Cut it out!" The boy yelled, wrapping his right-hand around her neck to stop her from biting his arm.
She squawked at the large-hand on her neck, his grip tight enough to force out a cry from being choked.
Soon, the other children came. The nine year-old and the ten year-old that showed her the way to their secret hideout, helped the eleven year-old on holding her down, by both grabbing on to her arms and him pushing her to kneel on the ground.
...Aaron, the leader of the group, when he joined his group, had an ugly look of abhorrence at the scared girl.
"Well, what do we have here?" He said, slowly circling around the pinned girl and three of his members keeping her still.
"A filthy tattletale!" The ten year-old boy, who wasn't pinning the girl, answered.
An eleven year-old girl turned to the oldest-kid.
"What should we do with her, Aaron?" She questioned. "Even if she won't talk, she can still use sign language to tell her family what we were going to do. We can't let her go, and we can't trust a tattletale to not rat us out."
Sarai stared up at the leader of the group, quivering underneath the three's hold... The eleven year-old still had his hand around her neck, hurting her throat. She let out a whimper, grunting from the tightening grip of the other children on her hands.
"Quiet, Stupid!" The nine year-old yelled, kicking her against her right-leg.
She winced from the pain... Tears swelled in her eyes.
The twelve year-old, after pondering on what they should do, came up with an idea... A sick, twisted idea.
"She probably doesn't know what a Voretooth den looks like. -He turned to the younger children... Flashing them his sadistic-smile.- I say wewere bring her with us... And then when we get there... -He stares down at the scared toddler.- she'll learn a painful lesson on what happens to squealers!"
With that said, the eleven year-old pulled her to her feet, with the nine and ten year-old keeping their hold on her limbs, and forced her to follow Aaron and the other children out of town.
Of course, Sarai does all that she could to resist and not follow: Digging her sandals into the dirt, struggle, even kicking her restrainers... Sadly, it wasn't enough to help her break free and the older kids kept their hold tight and firm, pushing her forward.
They walked for over an hour, over the wasteland.
The poor girl was tired, hot from the intense heat and thirsty. Even when wearing a white spaghetti-strapped shirt and dark-green shorts, it was too hot for the girl to handle.
The older-kids didn't give a damn about her health and the condition they're forcing her to endure... They wanted to give her the proper punishment she deserve and find the Voretooth den, so they can take care of the problem and come out as heroes.
The eleven year-old, eventually, let go of her neck when she stopped resisting, but kept a firm grip on her shoulder, while the nine and ten year-old let her go.
"Are we there yet?" The nine year-old boy asked, also getting overheated by the temperature.
"Almost." Aaron answered, not looking back. "It's just passed the river, and then we'll be at the ridge of the cliff where their den is."
Sarai turned her head to her right, seeing a barely seen, small river-trail.
It was Summer and there hadn't been any rain since April, so the amount of water flowing is very low.
She may be five, but she knows more than the older-kids think she does... And, to her unfortunate luck, they were right on where they're going.
Twenty more minutes on walking, and the toddler ended up being dragged; her feet no longer had any strength left to keep moving, and have painful blisters.
She wished that this long journey would, finally, end.
...
...Then, her prayers had been answered... Just, not the kind of answer she was, actually, hoping for.
"We're here."
Sarai found herself being forced to her feet and pushed forward, wincing and crying from walking on burn, blistered feet.
She was moved towards the front of the group towards Aaron.
...
...
...Then, before she know it... She was pushed.
...
...
...
...She was falling down the ridge of the cliff, rolling and hitting against the hard rocks and stones.
...
...She gasped, grunted, even yelped, from each hit she received and felt from the rocks and impact... Not once, did she screamed.
...
...
Her back hits the ground, forcing out a cry from the rough landing and the air being squeezed from her lungs slamming against her bruised ribs.
She curled in on herself... Tears came down. Little, quiet sobs left her.
Cuts on her arms and legs let out small tears of blood, bruises already forming underneath her thin spaghetti-strapped shirt... Then, there was the sprain in her right-ankle.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!"
She winced at the profanity she heard above her.
Slowly, with slight trembling, she got to her knees. Looking up, she sees the older-kids staring down at her. Disbelief, shock and complete take back can be seen on their faces... But, not one of them showed any sign of regret to what they've done.
Sarai crawled towards the rocks, the tears continued to fall down her face.
...She whimpered. She knew in her heart that they wouldn't help her; they, deliberately, pushed her off the ledge... But, she doesn't have much option.
Her throat is dry and it hurts to even breathe, after the older-boy grabbed her but the neck for a good while. Strangling her.
...Yet, still has the strength to force out a single word.
"...H-... H-Help..."
It was barely a whisper, but, with everybody being quiet, while listening to Aaron ranting on how she's still alive, she knew that they heard her.
They just stared at her... Then, they all laughed.
She quivered at their laughter; it wasn't kind, nor loving... Their laughter are hurtful. Mocking.
"You hear that?! That mute-retard, actually, said something!" The eleven year-old girl hollered, pointing at the poor girl.
"Hear her? I can barely catch on to what she just asked! She really is a rat!" The nine year-old boy replied, falling to the ground and slamming his fist against the dirt.
It was clear to the toddler, they weren't going to help... And, is left to the conclusion, that she has to help herself to get out of this predicament and get back to her family.
...
...
...
...Then... She heard it.
*Grrrrrr...*
...
...
...Her eyes grew.
...
...
...
...She slowly turned her head.
...
...
...
...
...
...She found herself staring at five Voretooths, circling in front of her, coming out from the den that she didn't see the entrance of and thought to being a boulder... Their snouts, salivating with saliva, bacteria... And, a hint of poison.
She slowly crawled back to the wall. Her hands rested against the rock.
Above her, the older-kids stopped laughing and watches in awe, even being completely surprised, to be seeing the Voretooths make their appearance.
"Whoa! They, actually, came out!"
"Man! Look how big they are! Especially that one! Must be a Delta! The books don't do it any justice, when describing how big they are in person!"
"Yeah! And look at those dew-claws! They look strong to tear off the horns off of a Spiracorn! Bet they can easily cut the filthy rat in half, with barely a swipe of their paws!"
"Maybe, but I say they should use their venom on her! Make her scream and beg for them to kill her!"
"Naw! I wanna see some mauling!"
Sarai sniffled at their words, but kept her eyes on the slowly, stalking Voretooths.
They growled lowly at her... The Alpha, in the front of the group, licked its chops... Then, gave a rough bark.
One moment, the five year-old was up against the wall... Then, next thing she knew, the Beta sprang up and grabbed her by her injured ankle, dragging her closer to its pack... Fangs dug through muscle and bone... The sprain, turning into a broken ankle.
...
...
...
...That time... She screamed!
...This kind of pain... It was like nothing she ever felt.
She scrambled to get away, to free herself from their sharp fangs and claws, but either she would be pinned by their paws, or have part of her body being in the jaws of the Voretooths.
Her screams, seemingly high and loud enough to shatter the sky if it were made of glass, continued. Some of her screams described how much it hurts, for each bite and scratch they inflict on her. Other times, it joins in her cries and sobs of fear.
...And few of them joined in with the chaos, when she would grab for a stick or a rock in her reach and fight back her attackers with her makeshift weapons. Of course, they would either break, slip, be ripped out of her hands, or even forced to let go when the end of their tails would jab her hands or shoved with their snouts.
...
...
...Throughout the entire time... The older-kids just watch.
All had mixed feelings at what they're witnessing to their action to use her as bait.
Two of the children laughed at the girl's struggle, and when her 'weapons' would break or do little to no damage to the Voretooths. They even cheered and yelled "Strip her!", when two of the Voretooths ripped her spaghetti-strapped shirt and play a little tug-of-war with each other.
One of the children watched with intrigued; he never seen a live-action fight/kill from Voretooths, and was keeping a close eye on how the creatures would hunt and bring down their preys.
..
...
...Two of them... Were frozen and silent... In horror.
Yes, they were angry at the brat for trying to rat on them. And yes, they wanted her to pay and thought that using her as bait would better their mind on how to take them down... But, to watch the helpless child, struggling and fighting... Being tugged and bitten, like a dog's chew toy, and being sliced and jabbed by their claws and tails... Hearing her screams.
...
...
...They felt sick to their stomachs... For being a part of the group, who put her through this... And, the sad part of it all... They can't intervene. Not unless, they wish to die with her.
...
...
...
...
...Aaron, the entire time... Smiled at the sight before him.
He kept his entire attention on thre girl's face. Every wince, every tear... Every scream... He enjoyed every single moment.
He chuckled at her attempts to fight... Which, after two minutes of struggling and fighting back, finally slowed.
The biting, the scratching, the bleeding... The poison was finally taking their effects on the five year-old.
Because of that, the Voretooths backed off, one by one, until only the Alpha was left to stand over Sarai.
...She whimpered in pain... Her voice, strained from screaming.
She couldn't describe how much in pain she's going through.
It was like being burned in lava, but if it can, also, be ice-cold. Her bones, both broken, sprained or unharmed, were like jelly and hard to move right, without the weight of a Kujata pressing down on her limbs and muscles.
...Then, there was her chest.
She feels the rush of liquid travelling through her lungs and heart... And, through the water's travel, left a searing burn and a familiar sense of jabbing, like how the Voretooths jabbed away her arms, hands and legs with their tails.
...
...
...She knew, in the pit of her stomach, that she was dying.
...
...
...And, that nobody, not even her family, was going to save her.
She curled in on herself, holding her stomach with both of her scratched up, jabbed arms. She coughed at the dust and dirt she breathed in.
...A small trace of blood left her lips.
Sarai felt the Alpha sit next to her slightly-trembling body.
...
...
...Then, after sitting and waiting, Aaron's patience reached its max.
"What the hell?!" The twelve year-old yelled. "What are you waiting for?! Stupid mutts, she's still alive!"
Some of the younger-kids backed away from their impatient leader, staying clear in case he starts throwing his fists or rocks in his fit of anger.
Aaron wasn't just the oldest, he was also more privileged on getting the best of things than the others.
His father, being one of the very few car repairmen in the wasteland of Eusciello, practically makes them just as important as a Niflheim Soldier. Even to being just as important, as a mayor of a city.
And while the dirt town they live in doesn't show it, the government practically pays for their misfortune. Just enough to keep most of the citizens perpetually poor, while the rest that had important jobs that Niflheim values more, are paid five times more than the average pay.
And despite Aaron may not be seeking the same kind of job as his father, he's still a son of a car repairman.
...And, as he's displaying before the younger-kids, he's the definition on what a spoiled prince would behave, when not getting his way.
Below the children, the Voretooths didn't look that much to being appealed of the child's behavior. A few of them yawned, while some kept staring at the twelve year-old.
They'll wait and see how long the human children will be at the top, before they considered a perfect opportunity to track them down and earn more kills for the pack.
...Sarai flinched at his words.
Them ignoring his demands to kill her, made Aaron even angrier.
...
...And, in his fit of rage, he grabbed some rocks beside his feet.
"You fucking ingrates!" He yelled. "Finish the job! KILL HER! STOP BEING LAZY, AND FUCKING GET TO KILLING!"
He threw the rocks.
...
...
...When he intended to hit Sarai, ended up hitting the Alpha, instead. Two others hit the head of the Delta and lower-ranked Voretooth... One, almost, to their unknowing surprise, hit a pup that came out to stare at its soon-to-be dinner.
In response, the pack snarled up at the older-children.
...
...
...
...Then, to their sudden horror, after a few barks from the Alpha, the Delta and five others Voretooths, two being the five group that joined the attacking and poisoning Sarai and three coming right out of the den, took off sprinting away from their den.
It didn't take them long to figure out that they were coming after them... And immediately, they all, even a now astonished Aaron, took off running.
Sarai grew even more scared, as she hear their terrified screams and their footsteps moving farther away from the Voretooth... Abandoning her to her fate, alone.
...
...
...Yet, despite that they put her in the predicament, that she's going to end up dead... She hoped, prayed, to Six that they wouldn't get caught and make it back to town, safely.
...
...
...Ten minutes later, the group returned... All came back, empty handed.
They were panting, both from the heat and running with low energy.
The Alpha growled low at their failure, but nodded his head in greetings, before staring down at their slowly, dying prey.
...Sarai didn't know for certain; probably the poison messing with her mind and getting sicker by the seconds.
...She thought, for a moment... The Voretooth, that initiated the command to bite her. Claw at her. Jab with their tail to poison her to a slow, painful death.
...
...
...She saw remorse in the canine's dark gaze... As if it, truly, felt sorry that she's been put in this situation, while the older-kids left her to die.
...
...
...Even when she's dying, she doesn't blame the Voretooths for putting her through this cruel fate, when it's in their nature to hunt and kill prey.
...Her Uncle Ru taught her to never blame creatures that kill people, accidental or on purpose, when she asked him why many of them our mean... Which included, when revealing that humans started being mean, when they would take over certain parts of the land that once belonged to the creatures.
...
...
She sniffled, shaking when she started to feel cold... Then, in her small tone of a whisper, she spoke to the Alpha.
"...Don't... Hate you... -She winced from the tightening in her throat... But, still, she wanted to say something, before she died.- ...My fault... Always... My fault."
...
...
...She soon found herself staring into its eyes, being much closer... Her neck, in the jaws of the Alpha Voretooth, when it leaned in and pinned her on her back.
She gasped in both shock, and pain.
It snarled down at her... But, there was no anger, hatred or even loathing in its eyes.
...
...
...It held the gaze of a merciful individual, willing to put a suffering life out of their misery... And that's what the beast was going to do for the toddler.
Like any living creature being strangled and deprived of oxygen, Sarai clawed at the canine. She gasped for air, instinctually fighting to break its grasp on her neck to breathe.
The Voretooth's fangs sank through her skin, nearing to bone of her neck, ignoring the girl's poor attempt to free herself... Which the creature, who finds it annoying, admired her drive to live... Even though she'll die from the venom. If not that, then either from the blood, lack of oxygen...
...
...Or, as it's going to do, break her neck.
Sarai looked up at the sky. Her vision getting blurry, and darkening... If she was going to die, she wants to look up at the sky. Not the creature that's killing her.
She raised her right-hand in the air. She doesn't know why she would raise her hand to nothing but the air... But, imagining her family reaching out above her, made it feel right to the dying five year-old.
...
...Tears ran down from both sides... A shaky smile spread on her face.
...
...
"...L-... Love... You..."
...
...
...It was the last thing she remembered, before the darkness took over and fell into nothingness.
...
...
...
...
...When she woke up, she didn't find herself at the Voretooth Den... But, instead, laying underneath a dead tree.
...The sun was gone. In its place, the moon and the stars.
...
...
...She felt a hand on her head, running through her hair.
She winced when it touched her scratched up cheek. Weakly, she tried to pull away from the hand.
"Easy there." It was a male. Speaking calm, and gently at the toddler. "It's okay. You're with a friend. The Voretooths aren't around."
With vision still blurred and slow, she looked over to see who it was that's with her.
...It was a stranger. Wild, thick, black horse mane-like hair. Dark-tan skin. A brown-poncho over his shoulders and black-shirt.
...A blind left-eye, with a scar over it, from the temple down to the top of his upper-lip... But, with his other eye, Cerulean/Sapphire... It held a gaze that differs him from an actual human.
...She knew, without a doubt, that he's a Werewolf.
He gave her a kind smile, gently running his thumb over her scarred cheek.
"You're safe now, Little Pup."
...Sarai let out a whimper... Then, she leaned in against the hand.
Tears left her blurred eyes. Even though that her body didn't hurt as much as she recalled it being, let alone no longer feels the cold-burning that was traveling through her entire body, she still feels some injuries still pulsing and, being five years old, feeling pain makes her scared and to cry when she feels pain and scared, at the same time.
The stranger, who had her laying in his folded lap, gently hushed her.
"I know. I know." He whispered, still running his fingers through her hair that was once tangled from the pulling and biting from the Voretooths, was back to its curly, wavy self. "...It was scary, and that's understandable... You were put through a painful experience, that no child should ever go through, and you have every right to shed tears to express how much you're hurting. But, know that it's over and should be happy that you're still alive."
...
...The five year-old, lips quivering... She turned to his stomach and, with shaky, bandaged arms, wrapped them around his waist.
She buried her bandaged faced against his stomach. Her whimpering slowly died, but her tears continued to fall.
...
...
The stranger, becoming her rescuer, wrapped his strong arms around her small-frame and rocked her back-and-forth... Then, without breaking his hold on her, morphed into his wolf-form: Pure-black fur, and moon-like blue-eyes.
The two remained underneath the tree, embracing each other; the wolf comforting the child, as the girl offered silent gratitude to the werewolf.
What felt like hours, became forty-seven minutes, since she woke up, before they were spotted by the few citizens of the town... Her parents, brothers and Uncle Ru, included.
...When the dawn rose from the time of twilight, she would learn that the sins the six children inflicted on her, would never fade away and will continue to trail her, throughout her days... As the scars she gained from the Voretooths, will forever remain on her body.
End of Flashback...
Everyone was quiet... None had any words to say about the tale they were just told.
Iris leaned against Libertus.
She's crossed between angry, and crying. Tears formed in her eyes, but she refused to voice out her sadness.
Her mate, being the one to tell the event, kept his tone calm... Though, he face showed he was just as seething in disgust and hatred towards the six children.
Prompto had to turn his head to the side... Holding his head up, as tears ran down his face.
Cor had his arms wrapped around a sniffling Monica, whose emotions and hormones are much more sensitive and imbalance, as she's ten months pregnant*.
Ignis lowered his head down... Beneath his shades, his blind-eyes held restrained rage that he didn't want to destroy his calm, professional demeanor.
Luna, with tears of her own and holding a hand over her with her left-hand, held her husband/Life-Mate's clenched left-hand with her right.
...Noctis' deep-blue eyes can show a hint of red... As if he was going to summon one of the Astrals to be summon and release his fury, for the suffering his newly found sister had to undergo as a pup.
...
...
...
...And even his own reflection of rage, failed in comparison, when Gladiolus, morphed into his wolf-form, hunched over the tile and slowly went from growling to snarling.
His claws dug into the floor, shattering some of the tiles from the immense force he put into his paws. His fangs clenched tight, almost to the point that he could've broken his jaw, as a few of his teeth pierced through his gums. He tasted blood, which seemed to had fueled his rage towards those human-children that intended to have his Life-Mate killed.
...It sickened him that a group of children, all within range on knowing right and wrong, let alone a twelve year-old child, would even dare consider using an innocent five year-old toddler as bait and almost have her mauled to death. All because they didn't want her to tell adults that they were going to where they found the den of the Voretooths, that the town hired her family to take care of, and get themselves killed.
And, in the process of the Aaron's anger and lack of patience, he nearly succeeded at getting Sarai and the other children killed, if they didn't get to a tree and climbed it. And, because they didn't have the energy to even attempt to climb or the time to leave the rest of their pack, unguarded from other predators, the group were forced to give up and head back to their territory, allowing the children to head back to the town and made their attempt to act like big-shots.
...When he raised his head to stare at his sister and brother-in-law... His eyes became a complete red-Amber color.
...
...
...His beast demanded blood of the six children that wounded his Life-Mate... Who, almost, succeeded at taking her away from him, long before he knew who his Life-Mate would be.
Ignis, keeping his head low, raised his right-hand and laid it on Gladiolus' left-shoulder.
They couldn't afford to let him to give in to his blood, and risk going feral... At least, to not go off on his own to look for the guilty party, when they all had rights to be there to inflict punishment to the six children that are now adults.
He turned his head to where he sensed Iris and Libertus would be.
"...Those... Children. -He growled out the word, before forcing it back.- ...Were they punished?"
...
...
...
...A low growl from Iris, didn't sound very positive to what the answer would be.
"...They were." Libertus answered... Though, he, too, growled. "Two of the children had enough sense of realization and a guilty conscience to accept that they were at fault on what happened, even to accept the punishment they were given... But, the rest of the children-..."
...To that, a loud-snarl startled the group when the thirty year-old male let his beast vocalized how infuriated it was.
"...Those ungrateful, ingrates! -He went to yelling, tightening his grip on Iris, but held back; he didn't want to risk harming her or their pups.- They refused to take responsibility of their actions! Especially that pampered brat, Aaron! They denied, refused to admit that they were in the wrong! And, what's more sickening?! They went so far as to point the blame on Ra, for what happened to her!"
Prompto raised his head... His blue-eyes, also, having a hint of red in his gaze.
"WHAT?!"
Cor and Monica, also, snarled at the news.
...Luna sniffled. Her right-hand, tightening itself around Noctis' trembling left-hand.
...
...
...
...Gladiolus stalked towards the two... Looking them dead in the eye.
"...They left her to die." He stated... His voice growing, with a growl slowly raising to a snarl, to the point he was roaring. "They committed to the act of kidnapping. Dragged her out of town. Pushed her off a cliff...! Ignored her plea for help...! STOOD THERE! Watched her being mauled! TORTURED, from a pack of Voretooth! -He slammed his paws against the tiles, not carrying of the damages he's causing within the Citadel. None of them held it against him to lose his temper.- THEY LEFT HER, ABANDONED HER, TO DIE ALONE! AND THOSE BRATS, THOSE ATTEMPTED MURDERERS, REFUSED TO ACCEPT THEIR FAULT AND DARE PUT THE BLAME ON AN INNOCENT CHILD?!"
Tears sat in his sister's eyes, but nowhere near being terrified by her brother's anger.
Male-werewolves don't take well to news, when hearing their mates had been mistreated. And, should they learn who caused harm to their mates, whether in the past or recent, will give in to their rage and will be more than ready to find the perpetrators and enforce the dire consequences to their mates' tormentors.
She glared up at her brother.
"They refused to accept any form or responsibility on what they did," she confirmed. "...And we know, to this very day, they still refuse to accept their part on almost having Ra killed... In fact, they still talk about it, like it was only yesterday... And they dare, to go as far, as to insult not just her, but her family, when they learned that their parents were killed by an Iseultalon, three years after they left Eusciello."
Besides Cor, everybody was bewildered by the news.
Ignis was the first to respond.
"An Iseultalon?"
A low whimper left Iris, confirming to Ignis' question.
"They were in Duscae. Her parents and brothers were on a bounty hunt for a Deathclaw, while she remained at their campsite at a Haven. What they didn't realize, was that the person who posted the Bounty, mistaken the Iseultalon for a Deathclaw. By the time they realized what they were dealing with, they try to retreat back to the Haven. -...Libertus bowed his head... In mourning.- ...Their mother was the first to be slaughtered... Then, their father, after witnessing her death, attacked the Iseultalon, in his attempt to ensure that his sons made it back to the Haven. -He turned to Gladiolus.- ...Sarai witnessed them both die, right before her eyes, while her brothers ran to safety and didn't see the brutality of their parents' bodies, until the monster left them when the sun was about to rise... For the final time... The start of the Time of Darkness."
...
...
...
...The news was too much for them to bare. Especially, Gladiolus, who was the first to lift his head and howl out his pent up emotions.
Seconds later, Prompto joined him, morphing into his wolf-form.
Soon, everybody within the Throne Room morphed into their wolf-forms and howled with the King's Sworn Shield, mourning for the misgiving and misfortune his Life-Mate and her brothers had underwent.
All together, the pack was singing a sorrowful melody. Their voices echoed off the walls, which was soundproofed so that nobody from outside could hear them.
They cried for what Sarai had to endure, at such a young age. For the injustice she gained from her ordeal in Eusciello.
...
...
...And, giving their thanks to Six, for her being alive and finally reaching Insomnia... For Gladiolus' beast to finding his Life-Mate within Sarai and fated to be together, once he reveals the truth to the girl and her brothers.
And when that moment comes, the pack will be more than ready to welcome her with open arms. Including Noctis, who wants to implant his family mark on her right-shoulder to show she's now under his protection... And, to head for Eusciello and find the six children who attempted to kill her at the age of five, to give them a punishment that he, the king, would find very much appropriate than the punishment they were given thirteen years ago.
By the time they finished their song, which lasted five minutes, they felt their chest being lightened from the crushing weight of dread they had when Iris and Libertus told them the tale of Sarai's Scars.
As always, Ignis was the first to speak.
"I presume, that because of her past experience from enduring such events at a young age, could be the reason why she isn't opened to others? Let alone, for her brothers to being overly protective of her?"
...Remaining as a wolf, with ears flattened and whimpering, Iris' response to his question was troubling.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "We cannot tell you anything about any personal issues she has. Heck, we shouldn't even be talking about how she earned her scars to you guys; a few people overheard her past and twisted the story, causing a serious of false rumors. To this very day, many believed in the false story over the truth. -She turned to her brother.- I'm sorry, Gladdy. But, I wish to keep my bond strong with Ra and her brothers. Plus, because you chose to try and figure out what to learn about her and her personal life on your own, rather than ask Cor, for some reason, you and the guys are on your own."
The older Amicitia Sibling grumbled at her refusal to tell them more about Sarai. But, understanding that she cares for her imprinted sister and wish to remain loyal to the Thalassius Siblings, agreed to her refusal by nodding his head.
"I guess this means both of you won't be swayed on telling us what she likes and dislikes, while trying to hang out with her and her bros, during the festival. Huh?" Prompto sighed out, bummed that they nodded their heads.
"Sorry, Prompto. No dice." Libertus chuckled. "Iris and I went through the same procedure, when trying to bond with her. So, you guys need to go through the process as we did, if you even want to get on her brothers' good-side to get to know Ra. -He sent a smug of a smirk at Gladiolus.- And, after hearing a little birdie through the grapevine that somebody had been eyeing her, you're not going to be getting anywhere near her, alone and/or with company... Gladio."
Noctis and Prompto smirked and snickered at a slightly awkward Gladiolus, who morphed back to his human-form and, with a slight blush on his face, rubbed the back of his head.
Ignis and Cor, sent him stern looks of disapproval.
Luna simply smiled at him, while Monica had a worried and surprised look on her face.
"Did they witness him staring at her?" She asked Iris and Libertus, both morphing back to their human-forms.
The twenty-six year-old she-wolf giggled.
"Not at first," She answered. "Though, Ra had been feeling somebody staring at her from a distance, since they'd entered Insomnia. It was, actually, after Lupe saw how Gladdy was staring at Ra and had offered to carry her when she fell unconscious, and finding the tracks he left behind on their balcony last night, that gave them more than enough reason to make certain they keep him away from Ra. And don't even try to deny those paw-prints being yours, Gladdy! Besides Cor, you have the biggest paws in the city and he hadn't meddle in on their privacy, unlike you and Prompto had."
Gladiolus glared down at his sister. Muttering under his breath, "Meddling brat."
...He gained a smack in the arm by Ignis.
She beamed at the blind-werewolf.
"Thanks, Iggy. I knew I can always count on you to keep my big brother in line."
The soon-to-be thirty-five year-old gave her an annoyed glare... Again, earning a smack from Ignis. It still amazes him, to this very day, on how his blind-friend/younger-brother figure can tell what he or the guys was doing and still keep them in line for their childish behavior.
She giggled at her brother's stunned expression on the second smack he earned... Then, her look became serious.
"...Listen, Gladdy." She started. "I'm really happy that you've found your mate. Even more happy that it being Ra. But-... -She let out a deep sigh.- You should know:...Ra isn't interested on finding her mate."
The news was very startling to everybody, except for Cor.
...Gladiolus, being the most taken back of them all... Who looked as if somebody had taken his last cup of noodle and ate the whole thing, right before his eyes.
...
...His beast was confused by the news.
...MATE... NOT WANT ALPHA?
...
...
...
...His heart felt like it was stabbed by the Genji Blade he earned from the Trial of Gilgamesh.
He laid a hand over his chest, on top of his heart... He didn't like that feeling.
Ignis to the large-werewolf.
"...Gladio?" He questioned, worried when he heard his friend's heart give an odd heartbeat.
...Cor, seeing a flash of red pop up from his eyes, took a step forward. His light-blue eyes flashed red of his own. More of a warning to the King's Sworn Shield than a display of deep rage... Or, in rare moments, their wolf-bloods, their beast, trying to take over.
Monica laid a hand on her mate's chest.
"Cor?" She whispered.
The fifty-six year-old male kept his focus on Gladiolus, his left-arm coiled protectively over his pregnant mate.
When he gained controlled over his feeling, Gladiolus patted Ignis on the back.
"I'm okay," he whispered.
...
...They all knew that was a lie.
...
...
...Noctis gave him a crestfallen look.
Prompto turned to the two.
"Why doesn't she want to find her mate?"
The two knew that they couldn't tell them the true cause to the decision, but they can tell them her other reason to not find her soulmate.
"Soon after their parents died, Sarai made it her goal to become a hunter and join her brothers to stand against the creatures and Daemons, while we were at war in the Time of Darkness." He revealed. "She was already keeping up with her schoolwork, but had put in more time on her studies to get through school, as soon as possible. Then, when she wasn't doing any homework, would go to training practice with her brothers. Some of the other members of hunters, like Dave, who would look after her when her brothers would be gone for hunts for a few days, had helped in training her, too."
"She knew, even at a young age, that she would miss out the chance on finding and experiencing love, once she chose to stick with her goal. And she was okay with that." Iris added in. "And, after a few years on following the same routine and making her first kill at the age of twelve, joining her brothers on their travels on hunts and keeping up with homework, she was really happy with her choice. -She beamed up at the group.- She became a strong, independent woman, fighting alongside her brothers and earning her place in Hunters. -She turned to Gladiolus.- Because of that, Gladdy, you're gonna have a serious challenge on getting her to fall for you."
...
...
...
...His beast let out a purr-like rumble.
...
...
...He realized that his sister is giving him a task... A challenge.
...
...And, if there's one thing nobody can deny: Gladiolus Amicitia always accepts a challenge, and will go through any feat to win.
...
...
...And this challenge, is going to be one of the most important challenge he has to win... And will win, no matter what it takes.
The spark in his eyes and the huge, smug smirk on his face told his pack-mates that he's going to accept his sister's challenge.
...And, to Noctis, Ignis and Prompto's displeasure and horror, they can see his ego had grown to a whole new level.
"...No problem," he boasted. "Give me two days, and I'll have her swept up off her feet and into my arms, before the third day of the Five Moon Blessings Celebration."
Iris and Libertus smirked back at the large-werewolf.
"We thought you would think it'll be that easy." The thirty year-old male stated, chuckling at the older-male. "So, in the name of fairness, it'd be best to warn you, Gladdy, that Ra isn't like any of those females you would see and interact. Let alone, would read in those romance novels of yours."
Prompto snickered at Gladiolus' loss of a smirk he had on his face, while Ignis chuckled and Noctis had a smug smirk of his own.
Iris giggled at her brother's confused, slightly intrigued expression.
"Remember when I told you that you need to stop flirting with the females? Well, unfortunately for you, Gladdy, Ra isn't one of those kind of girls who can be swayed by a simple wink or a comment to her beauty. And even though she never experienced having somebody to shower her with flowers, chocolates or gifts of any kind, she's not so easily to be won over with presents and has very little taste on what other girls would flaunt over. Including, jewelries, clothes, shoes or even makeup."
Prompto let out a low-whistle.
"Oh, boy." He chuckled. "So, not only will Gladio not be able to interact with her, with her brothers sticking to her like glue, but he'll also not be able to win her over with his flirtatious personality... Man, I would pay good money to see him get turned down. Heck, it would be even better, if caught on video to see the playboy, charming Gladiolus to be unable to steal the heart of his Life-Mate, with his flirting antics."
"I must concur with Prompto on that notion." Ignis replied. "If she truly is immune to your forward advantages and find your flirting to being undesirable and annoying, that will prove she can handle your cocky demeanor and can help with keeping that ego of yours under control."
Gladiolus growled at the two males.
"I'll get her to fall for me. Just you wait." He swore. "If flirting doesn't get her attention, that means she'll get to see the better part of her Alpha on what I truly am."
"A pigheaded muscle brain?" Noctis replied, laughing at his glare on him.
"An egomaniac?" Ignis suggested.
"A knucklehead mcspazatron*?" Prompto asked, joining in the fun.
Luna turned to the blonde-male.
"Sorry, Prompto, but that last one is you." She pointed out, giggling at his fuming flushed face.
The atmosphere lightened... though, for Iris and Libertus, they felt fear and concern.
She grabbed for her mate's hand, clenching at the large-hand.
'I have no doubt that Gladdy will stop at nothing, to win Ra's heart... I just don't know how he'll take the news, when she'll surely refuse to accept his confession and denied to being his Life-Mate.'
TBC
*: While most werewolf stories would have pregnancy be shorter than human pregnancy, in mine, it's actually longer than humans. Mostly, between a year to a year and two months (Whether as humans and/or wolf-forms, depending on how many pups they're carrying, basically helps the estimation on how long they'll be pregnant.).
With Sarai being human, her pregnancy will be slightly longer than human pregnancy (Werewolf reproductive genetical development is slower than human reproductive genetical development, which helps ensure healthier babies to being born.), but slightly shorter than werewolf pregnancy (Her small-size and human-genetics will result their pups to being a bit smaller than full-blooded werewolf pups, and giving birth to smaller litters than full-blooded she-wolves).
And for those who wonder about Monica and Cor having pups, when they're middle-aged: Remember, in chapter 1, werewolves have longer lifespans. Basically, they have longer youth ages/periods than humans do. They, also, have stronger immune systems and cellular organisms than humans. They're more active, more stamina and faster metabolism. Even a fat werewolf (Like Libertus was), an obese werewolf to be more specific, is more healthier and can lose more weight than an obese human.
Depending on their health and how they take care of themselves, depends on how long they can live... But, you can safely assume, that they can live to be over a hundred years old, and can still look/appear as if they're in their late 30's/early 40's.
*:...You know I had to add that part, from the SpongeBob SquarePants first movie.
R&R