Chapter 11: Sir Lionel, the Royal Beast

The Hearthian Castle

8:59 PM

Lora was in her personal quarters, gazing out the window facing the castle gardens. Dozens of multicolored balls of light hovered below, dipping and mingling with one another.

The clock tower struck nine and began to ring.

"Lionel," Lora said. From behind her came a deep grunt, followed by the rustling of a heavy body picking itself off the ground. "You're free to go now. There's no rush, since Kita is out and about...it looks like there's a bit of an uproar near The Lion's Mane."

There was a low, rolling growl of ire.

"No. Kita didn't do anything this time. Thank you again for going in my place. I'll still wait until you come back before I turn in for the night."

Lionel, the royal beast, knew magic just like Lora—his master.

Her hair and robes whipped about as the beast whisked away in a rush of tepid wind. Once he was gone, she settled back into her absentminded ruminations, watching the fairies gradually move eastward through the gardens. As usual, she lost track of time as she daydreamed.

WHOOSH!

Lora faced around. The royal beast stood before her, dangling a sleeping child from his mouth.

"...Lionel? That's one. There's supposed to be two. Where's the other?"

The royal beast set the child down and began caterwauling, making deep, throaty vocalizations that Lora never heard from him before: "Ehhhh-rooo! Ehhhhhh-rooo!"

"What's wrong?"

"Eh-ehhhh-roooo!"

"Did something happen?"

"Ehh-roo! Ehh-roo! Ehhhhh-roo!"

"Never mind, then. I'll go get the oth—"

A trio of knocks came at her door. "Miss Loranne! Are you in there?" a familiar voice called. "Is everything okay?"

"Lionel is less than happy." Lora said tensely, eyeing the door. She knew the Captain of the Guard wouldn't enter without permission, but she was still cautious. "Elias, it's a bit late..."

"I know, sorry! I need to talk to you about something important. Do you have a minute?"

The royal beast suddenly pounced at the door, releasing a murderous snarl. It was clear he wasn't allowing any visitors in at the moment.

"On second thought Elias, is there anyone in danger of dying right now?" Lora asked calmly.

"Uh, no ma'am. Nothing like that. Right, so, I'll uh, just...come back another time."

A little earlier…

The BASE

8:29 PM

Tetra knelt on the ground next to Link. She reached for his neck. Pinch.

He jolted out of his sleep, groaning. "Owwww!"

"Ha ha ha! Get up, you loaf arse."

"What happened? Tetra...did you push me to the floor?"

"No, you fell out after you drank that juice. You shouldn't have trusted the squid! She's a literal monster."

He sat up, then his sleepy, heavy head took him back down to the floor again. Tetra pulled him upright and began slapping him on the face. "Link, wake your butt up! Wake up and get up! C'mon! I'll pinch you again!"

"Okay…m'up."

He stood and, still half-asleep with drooping eyes, started to walk in the opposite direction of the door. Tetra was kind enough to stop him before he crashed into the wall.

"Toss your stuff in a blanket then tie it to yourself," she commanded. "Put this in there."

Tetra handed him Dracnoir and his sleepiness vanished instantly. "It's not going to bite," she said, impatient with his caution. "She said the only way to use that thing was with magic."

"Why won't you leave it?"

"She gave it to me, remember? If she wants it back that badly, she can come pry it from my cold, dead hands," Tetra chuckled offhandedly. "I've always wanted to say that."

"Please, don't..."

"Stuff your cake hole and take this, too."

She tossed him a wallet. Even before he caught it Link could tell it didn't belong to her.

"Uh huh, before you ask, I stole it. I mean, everyone I pickpocketed today deserved it," Tetra said when he frowned in disapproval. "At least I didn't steal indiscriminately. I guess your tenderness is rubbing off on me."

Link remembered Sela. He popped into the closet and was disappointed to see the squirrel wasn't there.

"Hey, what are you doing in there?" Tetra asked, peering through the gap in the boards.

"I met someone in here earlier. It looks like she's gone, though."

"Who's she? Are you sure you didn't have a weird dream or something?"

Once they left the base, they hopped the fence into the bare street. Link tightened the knots of the bundle around his neck, glancing eastward in the direction of the nightly breeze. "Where are we going?"

"The first thing we need to do is get out of these walls. Did you notice them on the map yesterday? Or, earlier?"

They stopped at the corner of a shop, waited for a group of peddlers to pass, then darted into an outside corridor. "Hearthstone is fully enclosed by walls on all five of its sides," Tetra continued. "When I was out by myself earlier I found out that each side has one gateway each, and they're guarded. It sucks, but we'll probably have to climb a wall to escape."

They avoided cutting straight through the pavilion, which was ablaze with torches and occupied by at least a dozen guards. As they neared the eastern walls they began to pick up a commotion. It came from a place called The Lion's Mane, a bar overfilled to the point where some patrons were loitering and drinking outside. Tetra stopped short, peering at the roof of the bar.

"Link...let's break, stat!" she uttered, pointing out an alley next to the bar. They scurried across the street. Link almost stumbled to his face when someone hollered in fright.

"I just saw something flying over there!" a man yelled. "It was all white! It's a ghost demon, I done seen'tit, it's over on the side!"

The guard posted in front of the bar sharply rapped his spear on the ground. "Alright Claude, that's the third time you've pulled that trick tonight, and tonight literally just started. If you do it again I swear I'll knock the—"

"Hey, naw, I saw something m'self," a woman spoke up, pointing across the street. "Two of 'em. Came from that way, but it was too dark for me to see what they was. Not no ghosts, though. Probably kids."

The guard sighed. He flagged down his partner half a block away.

Link hovered at the corner of the alley, listening closely. When he heard footsteps and voices getting closer he backed away. "…Tetra?" he whispered, having lost sight of her. As he moved by a large stack of crates she popped out, seized the neck of his shirt, then pulled him into hiding with her.

A pair of guards soon appeared at the mouth of the alley, holding their torches up higher.

"Yeah, y'see?" the first said to his partner. "Absolutely nothing. Buncha drunks."

"What about those crates?"

"I'm not going near them. Not again. I told you a few days ago I got attacked by a feral cat hiding in 'em, remember?"

"Ha, oh yeah! Hey then, I'm not gonna try my luck."

Once they had left, both children stood up from where they'd been hiding behind the crates. Tetra began climbing them.

"What are you doing?" Link asked as he followed.

"I'm going to look through the Eye—I mean, skylight! Maybe some of our crewmates are in there getting plastered. It's worth checking. Careful here!"

There was a half-barrel awkwardly stacked among the crates and it wobbled when she stepped off it. When Link got to it he was unable to steady himself, which wasn't helped by the bundle of things on his back. He felt himself leaning too far in one direction and made a desperate leap for the roof, just barely managing to grab the edge of the gutter.

Tetra quickly swooped down and grabbed his wrists. They froze and held their breath as the whole stack trembled dangerously. To their relief, nothing fell over.

Tight-lipped, Tetra helped Link clamber up onto the roof. "Big dummy," she scolded, and he chuckled sheepishly.

The skylight was an egg-shaped dome of glass sectioned into colored triangular panes alternating between red and gold. They circled it for awhile, scanning down below for familiar faces.

"It's smaller inside than I thought…see anyone though?" Tetra asked, and Link shook his head. "I don't either…oh well."

"I thought you said they were separate from us?"

"They were, but you know they would've tried following us at some point."

"Do you remember what happened before we came here?"

She flinched and tried to casually play it off, but he was looking right at her. Tetra began fidgeting with her hair.

"...Link, why are you wondering that all of a sudden?"

"I tried asking before. You didn't really answer, though."

"Tch, of course you'd notice that."

"Hm?"

"Just forget it. What happened isn't important right now. Why do you even care?"

He stared at her patiently. Tetra scoffed, cutting her eyes to the side. "Maybe you shouldn't hear it so soon," she said quietly. "You know, remembering all of that at once could be bad."

"Why?"

"'Cause," Tetra stressed, wearing a serious expression, "your head might blow up!"

"Heh-heh-ha-ha-ha!"

"I'm serious! That can happen. I mean, it's either that or your brain falls out the back of your head. It'd happen so quick you wouldn't even notice, and you'd be walking around with no brain for weeks!"

By now Link was a giggling mess, clutching his stomach and rocking from side to side.

Tetra snorted. "Oh, you really liked that, huh?"

"Look, everyone, lookit!"

They jumped at the shout, realizing that they hadn't exactly hidden themselves from view.

Down below a man stood on his chair, pointing up at them with wild eyes. It was the same man that had glimpsed Tetra running across the street earlier. Heads were swiveling skyward as he yelled, "I knew it! MULTIPLYING SKY DEMONS!"

A guard ran into view, looking up. "Moron!" he snapped. "Those aren't demons, those are children!"

"Oh shaddup, they're one in the same!" the drunk man snapped back. The bar exploded into raucous laughter.

"Holy crap, we loused up!" Tetra cried. "Over there quick, the ladder!"

They took it down to the ground behind the bar. Link quickly drew the Wind Waker and was conducting a simple aria by the time a guard appeared around the corner.

"Stop, you two! The clock tower is about to ring!" the guard warned, only for Link to sternly jab the baton in his direction.

There was a sudden rush, a calamity of roaring. The guard never knew what hit him. An invisible, compressed vertical column of wind struck him in the middle, rocketing him off his feet. He slammed into the wall then plummeted several yards, landing in a heap on the ground.

"Ah...!" Link cried, clutching his head in horror. He hadn't meant to be so rough!

Tetra's jaw was nearly on the ground. "Uh, Link? Since when could you do that?"

"Oh...I've been...practicing," he said, rubbing the back of his head. He wanted to see if the guard was alright but Tetra grabbed his arm, pulling him away.

"He's fine, he's moving and breathing, he'll live," she said. "Let's go!"

Another guard popped up at the mouth of the alley, making them screech to a halt. "Ah ha, yep! Stop right there! Now where are you both running off to at this time of night?"

Tetra pointed, screaming. "Him, it's him, he's after us!"

The guard spun quickly, brandishing his spear at nothing. "What the—HEY!" he yelled, as the children ran by him giggling. He chased them for a few moments, then when Link stopped and faced him, he laughed again, asking, "Oh, yeah? What've you got for me, little man?"

He took another step but his foot never hit the ground. In fact, he was now standing on a cushion of air, floating inches off the ground. A gale rapidly picked up and started swirling around him. "Wait, what's this!?" he cried, beginning to spin in place, faster and faster. "What's going on!?"

Link giggled mischievously, twirling the Wind Waker clockwise.

"Hey!" Tetra cried. "Can you send him somewhere? Oooh, put him on a building, but be careful, dude. Don't send him into space or anything!"

Link eyed the roof of The Lion's Mane. Right now, it was taking all he had to focus. Although the wind was listening to him, the pressure of commanding it was immense.

Focus... He steadily clenched his right hand, straining to curb the force of the wind. Easy...

Holding his breath, Link gently flicked the baton in a short, upward angle. The vortex around the guard bloomed, sweeping him upward and propelling him dozens of feet into the air. He landed on top of the bar, where he spiraled to a disoriented stop. Tetra cackled, gleefully shaking Link by the shoulders.

As they continued to flee farther from the bar, the small hand on the clock tower inched closer to nine...

"Let's turn right here!" Tetra whispered. They left the main road, ducking under the window of a house. Tetra checked for any signs they were being followed, then grinned over her shoulder.

"That was cool," she said. "That looked like more than just practice to me. You okay?"

Link was rubbing his head, looking pained. "Y-Yes...it's just that...the wind is different here," he said weakly. "It's a lot rougher...it feels like—"

The clock tower struck nine and began to ring.

Then, right in the middle of his sentence, Link passed out. His legs gave way and he slouched against the wall of the house, comatose. His eyes were still wide open.

"Oh, what the f—"

Tetra swore fantastically as she staggered. Something was very, very wrong. Her eyelids were growing heavy and all her strength had drained.

There was no time for her to do anything. At the very moment the clock tower rang for a third time, she immediately lost consciousness as well, awkwardly flopping down onto Link.

Tuesday

6:50 AM

The Hearthian Castle - Lora's Quarters

When Link woke up that morning, he found a fully grown lion sitting on top of him.

"You're a wonderful Soprano," Tetra said, when he had stopped screaming in terror.

"Why—what—?" Link stammered. They were in a room he wasn't familiar with, and he couldn't even see much with the huge cat blocking his view. He turned his head to the left. A figure in black stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, staring out into the dark morning.

The beast on him was enormous. He had those quietly fierce, almost judgmental, kind of eyes that only cats seemed to possess. His fur was a healthy sheen of gold like the rays of the morning sun. His mane was full, luxurious, and a vibrant red, not unlike the shade of Lora's hair. He had one foreleg covering Link's body and it felt like a hundred ton weight.

No matter how hard he tried, Link couldn't get the huge paw off him. He sighed, letting his head thump to the carpet. "Can you please get off me?" he asked plainly. The lion started to yowl.

"Hey!" Tetra snapped from out of sight. "He said please, you know!"

Link perked, noticing something strange. The big cat's eyes were bloodshot and dark glistening streaks ran from them. Link reached up to touch the lion's face, gently asking, "Have you been crying?"

The lion continued to grunt and grovel. Link felt his entire body rattle from the strength of the cries and now knew they were distraught, not hostile.

Lora was turning away from the window, eyes agape with perplexation.

"Crying?" she asked quietly. "I didn't know you were capable of it, Lionel..."

Lionel stood and began parading back and forth, carrying on like it was the end of the entire world. Link sat up, asking, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, who knows? Apparently he was all over you from the beginning when he found us. Almost left me behind drooling on the pavement like some invalid," Tetra said, surly. "That wasn't too nice of him…"

"And whose idea was it that caused you to be there in the first place?" Lora asked her.

Lionel held his head low. He wrinkled up his muzzle, showing ferocious teeth as he snarled and growled at nothing in particular.

"Well, this is the Hearthian Royal Beast," Lora said. "His Greatness…or Sir Lionel, as dubbed by regency. He's thought to be the living symbol of the Hearthian Kingdom itself. You have some stating he's its real king."

"Why is he sad?" Link asked, cautiously approaching the royal beast.

"I...don't know. It's concerning. I've never seen him like this."

"It's okay…um, Lionel. Can you talk?"

Lionel gave a disgruntled snort, tossing his head.

"Oh...I guess you would have by now, if you could," Link said, touching the lion's mane. Lionel quieted down, putting his large muzzle in the boy's face. To be so large he was remarkably gentle.

"Predators roam the streets at all hours but especially favor nighttime," Lora said. "You should be glad Lionel tracked you down as fast as he did. There are those who would take advantage of two children passed out on the road."

Link avoided looking her way and continued to pet Lionel. He discreetly glanced at Tetra, who was sitting in a chair next to the four-poster bed. She looked more frustrated than annoyed or angry.

Lora faced the window once more. "…I've decided. And you've already done so, anyway. This is for the best," she muttered. Link had the sense she was only speaking to him.

It couldn't have been clearer when she added, "Moving forward, I will be your mother."

Link perked but then immediately deflated. Tetra sat up, looking around the room in amazement. "Who...who are you talking to?" she asked in disbelief.

Lora ignored her. "Isn't that what you've called me several times? Most notably, in front of witnesses? It may not be true, but it has provided a reasonable explanation for your existence here. There are those in the capital who already believe it, and thus rumors have started. People are already beginning to think that a misunderstanding is the truth.

"But it's fine because we can use that to our advantage. It seems like the masses will be able to comprehend and believe that I have borne a child. Hardly anyone will dare to question it. Those are compelling statistics. And you get what you want."

Lionel let out a sharp noise, something like a mix of a bark and a roar. Lora was silent for a few more moments.

"Or what you think you want," she said, facing Link. "Does this all make sense?"

His heart was beating hard in his throat. "Yes, but…"

"I refrain. This is just an—act, on both of our parts. But we need to present the lie as truth to others from this point on. Always. There is no going back."

"What...now wait a minute!" Tetra broke in, quickly looking between them. "What do you mean he called you mother? Link…?"

She said his name tentatively, almost in concern. Link dropped his head, hiding his face behind his long bangs.

Lora approached him with her usual stoicism. "You're embarrassed about it now, are you? It's too late to be feeling regretful. Or are you upset to be 'related' to a dreaded person such as myself?"

He said something so quietly she almost didn't catch it.

"You don't mind?" Lora repeated, narrowing her eyes. "You foolish little boy, I promise that you will with time. In the meanwhile, contend with whatever's on your mind. Promptly. I won't be able to spin all blunders you make into something believable."

"This isn't—believable, are you kidding?" Tetra jumped in again. "It won't work! People will totally wonder where he came from all of a sudden!"

Lora stared at her plainly. "Phenomenal. I suppose you have been paying attention for the past day or so."

"This isn't like you suddenly popping out of nowhere with a new ship or a, or a kitten or whatever. Link's another human being—"

"That's right. And I now own him."

"He's not property!"

Lora leaned into a swift, sweeping movement that took her from one side of the room to the other in a twinkling. Tetra gasped as The Executioner seized the arms of the chair, looming over her.

"He. Is. Now," Lora growled. The fury in her dark eyes was paralyzing. "Don't you DARE challenge me any further. I almost cannot believe it. Your sheer ignorance, and his utter naivety—if I had been lax or without care, you both would have been in the Emperor's clutches by now, wishing you had never existed in the first place. I will not continue protecting you from him if you insist on questioning my means, girl. But you will not stand in the way as I try to help others.

The harsh grip of Lora's clawed hand began to crack and splinter the left arm of the chair. Her teeth were bared slightly in rage.

"Now, Link is MY son. Now, Link is MY responsibility," Lora snarled. "You do not have to like or agree with it, but you WILL keep your mouth shut about it. And since you're so intent on being independent, I suppose I'll have to honor that. You're free to come up with any story you'd like, that's if you haven't run your mouth too much and revealed your blithering ignorance. You could just be some orphan from the eastern kingdom. You certainly act like those from Serenala…there's no persona for you. You can choose to do what you want. I don't care."

Tetra was petrified with nothing to say. Lora stared at her heatedly for a moment longer before whirling on Link. "Now you, boy," she barked. "Heed this—from this point on, you will listen only to me."

Link said nothing, still staring at the ground. The royal beast nudged him gently.

"Am I clear?" Lora asked sternly. "You are not permitted to leave the capital for any foolish reason. Not without my permission. You will have no business being conducted outside of the walls unless I have approved of it first."

"I'm not leaving him behind," Tetra mumbled.

"Then stay by his side!" Lora exclaimed, rounding on her once more. "It's either you stay and act right, or you run and chase whatever fantasies you still cling to. I will not let your delinquency drag him down with you! Is that what you want, Tetra, for you BOTH to pay because of your insufferable disobedience?!"

"No! I...what sort of question is that?"

"It's one you should have on your mind every minute of the hour to every day of the week. I don't care where you have come from or what you were doing, because it is not relevant any longer. The rules have changed, and it's either you follow them or you leave."

"Tetra. I'm sorry." Link muttered. "But we need to do the right thing."

"I...ugh!" Tetra held her head in her hands. "There is no right thing! I mean, there's the logical thing to do—"

"There you are, then. That's the closest you'll come to admitting you're acting moronically," Lora drawled. "For all of your wisdom, you lack common sense. Or not, and I'm wrong, though you have yet to prove otherwise."

Tetra looked ready to erupt, but the impulse didn't live for long. She wilted with a sigh, hanging her head.

"ROOH!" Lionel complained. "Rooohh-oohhhh!"

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Lionel. For once, I don't understand," Lora said. The lion moved behind Link and began pushing him forward with his large head. The boy slid along the ground on his heels, faltering the closer he got to Lora.

"Hm…well…he's at least in agreement with me." Lora mused. "I don't know what his interest in you is about, boy, but I'm positive he'll be keeping an eye on you when I can't. He bears the same powers of authority that I do. Remember that."

Link swayed a bit when Lionel let off him. "Okay. I understand, Lora."

"No," she said curtly.

"Huh?"

"Not 'Lora'. Who am I, now?"

"Oh...sorry. I-I mean, I understand, Mother."

Immediately, her eyes softened graciously in a way he never thought he would see. It was almost like magic, like she now seemed to be an entirely different person. Link was overwhelmed. He stared up at her with wide eyes, feeling as though his heart was going to swell out of his chest.

"That's better." Lora said tenderly. "Very good. Very good, Link."

She lightly pet him on the head twice, then turned to take her place at the window. Link was practically attached to her hip.

Tetra watched in utter disbelief. She just so happened to exchange a glance with the royal beast, who wore a grim expression. Lionel sighed soundlessly and shook his head. Tetra could only shrug helplessly at him.

"The Eye-Lights are dimming…the sun will rise in a few moments." Lora said. "Pisces will be back by this morning. I was thinking about having you work for him. He could use the extra help."

"Okay," Link said, looking down into the royal gardens. "I can do that."

"I know he'll be thrilled to come back and have a new employee on top of a clean office. He can be a little high strung and you might have to fish for patience with him. But I trust him, and it is very difficult to earn my trust. Do your best to keep up with him."

They fell silent suddenly, watching the sky. It was gradually turning from an inky black to a deep blue, then the first burning tinges of red appeared. Although out of sight the sun was rising as quickly as it had fallen yesterday, stopping to a sharp halt just over the skyline.

"...that's right. It's Tuesday," Lora said. She said it in a tone that suggested something in particular, but she didn't elaborate. She faced Lionel, who now stood close behind them with a look of urgency on his face. "Yes, we'll go in a bit, Lionel. Today we need to run some errands, Link, but first you need to stay in hiding. Just for this morning more. It's far too soon for them to see your face."

"Who's them?"

"Servants of the Empirical Order. They'll be in the capital today. For now, I'm taking you back to Pisces' Base of Amazing Super Eccentrics. Yes. You heard right. That's what he calls it." Lora said, lowering her brows. "He's a bit special like that."

Link snorted despite himself. Tetra joined them.

"You have," Lora spoke slowly and tensely, "only one more chance, and only two options. State your choice."

"I'll do what you say. For real this time." Tetra spoke quietly and at the ground. "I don't have to like it."

"Then I will take your word for it. Don't forget to count your blessings," Lora lowered her head, passing the royal beast a knowing glance. "Lionel...did you want to come along?"

Link glanced over. The royal beast was looking directly at him. It was strange, almost like staring into the eyes of another human being. Lionel wore the most desperate, frustrated expression and simply didn't have the tongue to say why. The lion grunted, laying down on his front.

"Alright, then." Lora said. "I'll be back soon."

"Bye," Link said softly.

Within moments, the royal beast was by himself. He moved to sit at the window, waiting, but not for Lora just yet...

A minute later...

"Lionel, Lionel, Lionel...f-funny how some things work!"

...it was for Kita. The fox approached Lionel from behind, holding his arms out in an ignored greeting. Lionel didn't give a single twitch of movement. He sat so still that it seemed like he wasn't even breathing.

Kita coughed awkwardly. "Well, not...funny, but, odd. Forgive me," he said, stopping a safe distance away. "...I, uh...trust that you'll believe me on that."

Silence. Kita cleared his throat, rubbing his neck.

"Good Goddesses...I don't know what's going on. I haven't even been able to talk to the prophet of the lake. Odd time for her to be out of reach...and you know, as for me, I've been a bit busy with other things."

The tip of Lionel's tail flicked idly, but that was it. To Kita it at least meant he was being heard, that and he hadn't been viciously mauled yet, so he kept talking.

"Before I forget, in the coming storm of things...agh, I can't believe I'm saying this, but we've got to revisit that promise we made. Maybe, devise some sort of contingency. You had to have realized that. You had to have known I was coming to talk to you. Because if we don't figure something out, the realm will burn, and there will be bloodshed. It will finally be the end, but it won't be a merciful one. We both carry a momentous burden."

Lionel's eye twitched. Kita now stood next to him at the window, craning his head to get the barest peek at the sun in the east. The fox scoffed.

"It's utterly baffling to me, by the way," Kita said suddenly, turning to a different subject. "I think about the meaning of this kingdom's anthem at times. It's too overblown and dramatic, but I suppose that's our dear Queen Luna for you. To be one with the rising son...it's just meaningless glorification.

"About Emperor Noh, have you ever wondered why he's been referred to as The Son of the Realm? I could guess why, but if he's the son, then who's the father? I have no understanding," Kita muttered, flicking his tails. He shuffled awkwardly on the spot. "And, eh...not to pile my concerns onto you, but we still have a decent chance of digging up the Emperor's secrets. You haven't forgotten your real duty after all these years, have you? I'd say it's time to face it once more. You, Lionel, you have potent strength that comes in many forms, after all. You and Lora."

The royal beast was bristling. His jawline was taut and his teeth were bared...

"But of course! Not to mean any disrespect," Kita spoke in good humor, completely oblivious. With a slight smile he glanced sideways. "Remember I'm not the one pulling the—"

WHAM!

The fox took a massive paw to the face and his head smashed into the window. Blood ran profusely into his wide eyes as he stumbled away in pain.

"Lionel!" Kita clutched his face, reeling in shock. "What do you think you're doing?! I just...I was just here to help! Can't you see?!"

"You have done enough."

Kita paled and faltered. The royal beast stalked up to him, tense, with his mane flowing in anger.

"NOW," Lionel continued harshly. "Be. GONE."