Chapter 8: The Traitors

Dian's POV-

It was all laid-back introductions, some nervous and some violent, but still introductions.

But then all hell broke loose. And that is no exaggeration.

The overgrown snake was thrashing about and snapping her giant fangs at anyone who tried to contain her. The Greencloak victim was shuddering violently on the cobblestone floor, his eyes rolled into his skull. It was a disturbing scene.

Even the well-composed Olvan and Lenori seemed to be in panic— Until Kovo gave the most ear-deafening, ground-shaking, world-obliterating roar I had ever heard in my life. The cry echoed through the courtyard, and stopped Gerathon dead in her tracks.

"Ow," I whined, softly touching my woe-begone ears. Kovo gave no reaction. He was a little boring at times.

Gerathon turned her reptilian gaze to the gorilla, hissing menacingly. Kovo only glared even harder (if that was possible), sending some sort of unspoken message to her. The cobra closed her hood, calming. Kovo grunted.

An odd silence filled the area. The Greencloak on the ground had stopped shaking and now lay quietly. Olvan looked down to him, then to Gerathon, then to Lenori. The exchange whispers.

"WHAT WAS THAT?" Edan snapped.

"I've got one word: Gerathon," I replied, shrugging. I thought about the serpent at the back of my head, though. Why had she attacked? Was she provoked? Surely the message Kovo sent her wasn't for the sake of the Greencloaks.

"These PEOPLE expect us to STAY here while THAT MONSTER is loose?" he snarled in rage.

"I'm pretty sure that Greencloak did something to make her mad. She probably wouldn't have attacked unprovoked," I said in my least annoying voice, which, to admit, was still quite annoying. Well, to Edan, at least.

"Maybe they shouldn't keep her chained up like that," Bai offered sympathetically.

"Hah. If I were them, Gerathon would be BURNING IN HELL right now." I'm pretty sure I knew who said that.

Bai gave an unsure look.

"Everybody, calm down," Olvan's voice came out of nowhere. Well, not quite literally, but it felt like that. "There has been a slight… accident."

"Ya don't say," I observed sarcastically. Zuberi scoffed while Lenmana and Badri let out a snort.

Olvan cleared his throat. "For now, I suggest you all return indoors for safety," he shot a harsh glare to Kovo, who didn't make eye contact. "And I want Kovo to stay outside." The ape's scarlet eyes were filled with fury, but he made no sounds to counter him.

"Well," Jati started. Oh boy, here we go. "I mean, of course we're going inside, like did you not see what just happened? There was some snarling and biting and death and blood—"

"There was no blood," Badri interrupted briefly.

"Ok, no blood, but—" the rest of his speech was muffled as Mulop's tentacles wrapped around his mouth (quite hilariously) and silenced him.

"Hmm, good tactic. Let's keep you around, Mulop," Zuberi said almost, and I say, almost, sarcastically.

"Let's just… go back inside," Malvina suggested. Olvan had already left the scene. Tellun snorted and stamped his hoof before heading to the entrance. He paused and seemed to wait for the others to come.

Like a mob, we all crowded inside. Arran was the last one as he stopped at the last moment, looked up to the sky and traced his eyes on Halawir. The bird seemed to have no interest in joining us.

For a few minutes, we all just stood in the entrance hall, a little bit fazed from what just happened. There were snorts and stomps from Rumfuss and Dinesh, along with ruffles of fur and feathers from Cabaro and Ninani. I thought it was a miracle all the Great Beasts even fit in the hall. Add Suka from her dormant form, and they might have not.

Finally, Olvan and Lenoria, along with one of the guards that had stood by Gerathon, entered the building.

"What happened?" Lenmana questioned with curiosity. Pahal, the boy who summoned the Great Serpent, looked deeply unsettled.

"Gerathon attacked and killed one of the Greencloak guards," Olvan said grimly.

"To put it bluntly," Badri added.

"We have decided that Gerathon is too dangerous to keep near the others. She will have to be isolated."

"Where's Kovo?" I asked with some concern.

"I suppose he is quite calm at the moment," Lenori said, "But if he shows any signs of aggression, please tell us."

I narrowed my eyes. "But where is he?" Olvan gritted his teeth.

"He seems to be having some… conversation with Gerathon." As if on cue, Kovo barged through the doors and lumbered over to my side. He sat grumpily.

"OK…" I observed carefully.

"We will provide you with more information later," Olvan ended abruptly.

With that, the trio of Greencloaks continued down the hall silently.

"Does this mean I should have concerns about Halawir?" Arran questioned, but showed no emotion.

"I don't see why that question is relevant," Zuberi responded. Arran raised an eyebrow.

"Halawir doesn't seem very active right now, I think is what he's trying to say," Malvina clarified.

Somehow, that didn't make me very reassured at all.

A/N: Ok, ok, yes I missed last week's update, and yes, this chapter was very short, but I was visiting my sister in university last week and didn't have time and I'm in a rush right now but I hope this chapter is satisfactory.

Until the next time,

RainbowCookies :(