.: I've been gone for one month. This fanfic is officially two years old and still going strong. I would know because I managed to get the majority of things planned/figured out for this battle. I'm ready to dive right in. I just hope you're ready for an emotional rollercoaster because I truly think it will be the coolest thing I'll write for a long time. I'll go ahead and credit Attack on Titan for giving us the hero known as Erwin Smith because without his amazing leadership skills, I wouldn't have a clue on how to make Cherokee a worthy leader for her people. :.

The Girl with A Half-Soul

Chapter 55:

The Wolf Woman: Martyrdom

Waking up to the morning sun came a lot faster than Lakota anticipated. It was the third day. When the sun fell, everyone would begin the descent. It was going to be a fight to the death. That daunting knowledge followed everyone like a shadow. The only thing keeping their heads held high was the final preparations such as battle strategies. Cherokee, Quintus, and Rodencia had been deep in deliberations and sharing their unanimous decisions with the rest. At dusk, everyone would be given instructions.

But Lakota did not want to mentally go over those things right now. He lay in a mess of animal hides, staring up at how orange their tent looked. When he turned to his left, he was met by Kiyaya as she continued to sleep next to him. She was also on her back with the furs failing to conceal her body. They might have gotten a little too carried away the previous night – as most newlyweds did. Just remembering the romance and passion got him all up in his own feelings and desires again. His perverted grin widened, and blood oozed from one nostril.

There was no specific time they needed to be up for the day. Because of that, Lakota decided to indulge himself. He rolled and dragged himself with his elbows over to his wife. The feeling of his weight directly on top of her interrupted her dream. He tossed furs over them both and caressed the sides of her head, watching the brightness affect her pupils from adjusting. She blinked enough times to feel kisses against the side of her face.

Her furry hands stroked around the bronze skin on his sides and back. This was not necessarily their morning routine, but variations of it happened when she was small. He learned about her lack of physical connection due to her normal size and made it a priority to accommodate her need. Now they both got fulfillment: Lakota got his furry wifey snuggles and Kiyaya got to feel normal and loved. "Garchu," she whispered tiredly.

"Good morning." He nuzzled the side of her head to complete the greeting. Then his fingers reached into her unkempt hair to scratch behind her triangular ears. The way she went limp with eyes rolling back made him laugh. He knew just what to do to make her crazy. Being a humanoid canine did not spare her of what domesticated dogs found ticklish or pleasurable.

Luckily, he refrained from doing it for a long time. She came back to reality when a kiss was pressed to her lips, which made her give one back. Being face to face and chest to chest made the wolf woman sink deeper in love with her husband. He knew her so well that showering her with affection was easy and enjoyable. It caused the wolf woman to flourish in her femininity that yearned for attention and care. Him initiating this interaction was the perfect example of that.

Lakota was the only man she would ever let hold her, especially in their bare state. She was more than comfortable around him. Those captivating brown eyes peered deep into her soul. It was most surreal while they engaged in intimate activities. Their honeymoon phase was far from over. Without a second thought, she wrapped her legs around his waist and rolled them back over. "Have me once and suddenly you-teia can't get enough of me," she flirted.

"Never," he agreed, pulling her in for more kisses.

The growing heat that accompanied the sun was something they had to compete with as things turned steamy between the couple. Shyness was far behind them as moans sounded from the inside of their abode. It was a good thing that Kiyaya's parents refrained from camping nearby. Once they saw how Cherokee's curses could manipulate their daughter's stature, they knew young love would not hold back. Well, they were completely correct. The moans eventually subsided, but only for a few minutes. They returned in full swing without warning. Nearby wildlife was alerted by the ruckus and avoided the area.

But soon enough, things quieted again, and they emerged from their tent fully clothed and ready to face the day. The bison were saddled so they could set out for some training. What originally started out as a tree with multiple targets nailed into it transformed into a whole trail that Kiyaya manipulated almost every day. Not being able to memorize target locations caused Lakota to be extremely astute and speedy when shooting arrows. Not many were in plain sight, but he was able to notice the red paint enough.

Kiyaya was so in tune with her Haki that her tempo outpaced her visibility. The sound of Lakota's bison galloping down the descent remained distant as she traversed the sidelines. New targets were placed in the concise second her body materialized. Then, she vanished without seeming to move just to end up on the complete opposite side of the trail. No leaves rustled or twigs cracked to indicate her new location.

The only reason Lakota knew she was around at all was because she registered in his field of Observation Haki. He did not let it distract him, as tempting as it was. His torso twisted to keep up with the demand she set up for him. Holding a bow was challenging with a lame hand, but he made it work. The key for him was being prepared to pull the next arrow from his quiver as soon as the previous one was shot. That helped keep the bow secure instead of falling from his grasp.

The fluidity of his movements resulted in no target being left unpierced. Every twitch of his eyeballs had one in his complete visual field. He may have not hit a bullseye every time, but contact was made. When the decline leveled and their camp returned to his view, he pulled the reins to halt and circle back.

"I'm impressed!" Kiyaya praised as she came to meet him. "You-teia hit every one of them."

"Could it be a record?"

"Probably. It's definitely the best you-teia have done so far."

He smiled at her warmly. "Good timing, then." He purposely leaned his weight too far to one side to start sliding off the saddle. It took her a second too long to realize he was coming down from the lack of a warning. Instead of catching him gracefully, she fumbled him, and they went crashing to the dirt.

"Lakota!" she chastised him, baffled by the rashness.

He just started laughing as he accepted the consequences of his actions. As much as that was not the plan he had in mind, he had to give her credit for breaking the fall adequately. They were entangled while the bison walked off to leave them to their own devices.

"You big dummy," she continued. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm okay," he laughed. "Sorry."

"You better be." She helped him sit up, but all that did was give him the opportunity to snatch her in a hug. The top of his head bumped her chin, annoying her further. She let go with a huff so her arms could drop to her sides. Lakota paid no mind to it, though. He happily rested the side of his face against where her clavicles joined her sternum and closed his eyes.

She was fine with a short hug, but he was not planning on that. Even when she gently tugged his shirt as a nonverbal cue, he only squeezed her tighter and buried deeper into her fur. "Ugh, Lakota," she protested, feeling the dull ache in her breasts worsen from the force.

"Let me love you!" he demanded mischievously.

"I know you-teia love me. You don't have to smother me in it."

"But I want to." He turned his face to start spreading kisses up her neck.

The split second of liking it made her hesitate. She lifted her chin to give him more room. Kisses moved all the way up to her ear as he held her steady. The simplicity of the affection still made her breaths deepen as she recognized the attempt at distraction. "We really shouldn't," she tried.

"Not even ten minutes?" he bargained flirtatiously. "You know I can work in a time crunch."

"Oh my god. We've already done it twice. We're not doing it again."

He giggled like a perv. Getting lucky like that was already way more than he imagined he would enjoy. If she truly did not want to, she would prevent him from continuing. This was more of a struggle between responsibility and irresponsibility. But like he said, could they not spare ten minutes? It was hard to resist their mutual lust anyway. He tried persuading her with more and more affection, which led to his hands trying to sneak under her shirt.

When she grew frigid mid-kiss, he also paused and opened his eyes. That was when he noticed the two visitors who had walked the path that crossed the river to their camp. The polar bear and wolf minks had caught them getting a little handsy. Being married did not stop Kiyaya from feeling ashamed as she suddenly felt hot underneath her fur. Lakota was pushed off her lap to flop onto the ground.

"Mom! Dad!" she happily greeted them as she stood up and went over to them.

Ravenna wanted to gasp when she saw Lakota fall. She hurried past her daughter to help him. "You-teia can't be so rough with him, Kiyaya!" she chastised.

"I'm fine!" he quickly opposed when she helped him up. "Trust me. I've had much worse falls."

"He's disabled, not delicate," Nanu voiced.

"We weren't expecting company yet," Kiyaya admitted to him lightheartedly. She gave him a little side hug since being shorter than him was a rare occurrence.

His large hand patted the top of her head just like he used to when she was a toddler, and then he pulled her closer against his side. "Sorry. Quintus, Rodencia, and Cherokee are preparing to announce the battleplan. We came to fetch you-gara."

"But we were also hoping to spend some time with you-teia before that happened," Ravenna added. "Unless you'd rather not."

A sparkle filled Lakota's eyes. Time with Kiyaya's parents meant he could learn more about her! "Yes! Stay for a meal," he quickly invited. "I wanna hear more stories about Kiyaya."

Ravenna was tickled by how eager he was. Considering they almost witnessed him shagging their daughter, it should not have been a surprise that he was interested in her. Knowing he cared about Kiyaya that much made her feel better about leaving her here to live out the rest of her days. She may have been bigger than him, but it still felt like she was in good hands. She would care for him physically while he nurtured her emotionally. A good match, she had to acknowledge.

Even with Kiyaya experiencing second-hand embarrassment, Lakota got two hours' worth of stories from the minks who raised her. She was born past her due date but was an easy baby to take care of. She always had the personality of an extrovert but had challenges making friends when her unending growth spurt kept her from playing with kids her age. The only way she learned to cope with the feeling of being left out was by training to be a warrior earlier than most did. Nanu mentored her until she had the capability to surpass him, so she moved on to one of the Three Musketeers until there was simply nothing left to teach her. The only thing left for her was to refine her skills herself. Making friends became easier over time, especially when she started working in collaboration with other minks.

A small basket of cooked fish was shared among them as they conversed amicably. Lakota listened with intrigue. Compared to his upbringing, she had stability and lived in peace. No wonder the state of this war affected her easily.

When asked about his life, the Lun'aecho warrior confessed that he was not sure about many things about his origin since he was orphaned quite young. The only real accounts he shared involved Cherokee and how they both grew up with only each other to rely on. Things only truly got better for him when Kiyaya came along. The way he held her hand to press his lips to the back of it sold Nanu and Ravenna. Despite having a gloomy past, he was not about to take it out on anyone, especially the woman he loved.

The blended family had to put their talk on hold when the sound of Cherokee's horn resounded through the forest. It was time for everyone to gather for a little while. They made their way to a flat rock face that was broad enough for an audience to see. Lun'aecho and minks intermingled to see what the final preparations had to be. Quintus sat off to the side since his globular body type would block the imagery that was going to be put up for everyone to follow along. Rodencia had her back turned as she used a lead rock to trace out the formation shape of their battlefront. Once that was finished, the short lecture began.

"The Marines are sure to have a strict formation similar to what we encountered in the Battle of the Giants. To counteract, our offense will be split into four sections, but we are not going to humor them with civil organization," Cherokee stated, backing up to the wall. She summoned her witchdoctor and borrowed her bony staff to point to the front of their army. "I will lead the vanguard. The strongest and most fearless warriors, whether mink or Lun'aecho, shall charge headfirst into the battle by my sides. Your Armament Haki will be put to the test."

She tossed the staff over to the platypus mink, whose chubby arms could hardly reach and catch it in time. "Duke Quintus will lead the rearguard," she continued. "You will be expected to pick off stragglers who happen to break through the first line, but that will mean you must be ready to fight exceptionally strong Marines. Work together. Divide and conquer. Do whatever you can to push them back."

"And if you-gara are able to go Sulong, then you will be in the rearguard," Quintus informed them. He tossed the staff to Rodencia next. "Rodencia will signal for that part of the operation to begin. Everybody will take to the sky together to try forcing the Marines back and diminishing their numbers to a point of no return."

"The moon will be full tonight," Rodencia announced. "We must not let it go to waste. The chances of us facing giants are nearly certain, so our Sulong operation must target them along with anyone marked with a gigantism curse. Don't expect this confrontation to last long."

The witchdoctor left Cherokee's side to take back her staff, but instead of keeping it, she allowed spoken words to carry it into the crowd. Heads turned to follow it as they wondered who was next to hold it. "Coming behind us all will be a medical battalion," Cherokee told them. "It will be led by someone who will have eyes all over the battlefield so that the wounded can be tended to. The three of us all agreed upon a worthy leader capable of the duty."

The staff paused and lowered until it was obvious who was supposed to take it. A hand raised to claim it, although doubtfully. Lakota felt all the attention on him.

"Lakota has the strongest Observation Haki that we know of," Cherokee extolled. "He can name a person he senses if asked, not to mention give specific details about a person such as if they are ailing or lying. Because of that, he will oversee communications and sending medical assistance to where it needs to be."

Nobody objected to the assignment. If all three of the leaders trusted him, then there was no reason they also could not. Kiyaya beamed with pride as the staff left his grasp to return to its owner. She knew he worked really hard to improve his Haki because she was there with him every step of the way. Although he did not think being a formidable Lun'aecho warrior was his destiny anymore, he did not stop pursuing some type of usefulness for the war. For the first time in a long time, her husband was going to be directly involved in a battle. It scared her a little bit, especially finding out they were going to be in different sections, but she believed in him.

After that business was disclosed, the leaders moved on to particular phases they wanted to happen. There was no order to them, but there were signals designated for each that needed to be remembered. Rodencia sketched more on the rock face like a lecturer to give a visual for the phases. If the Marines had aerial attacks, they were instructed how to deal with them. If the Marines were heavily comprised of devil fruit users, they were given the secret of how Haki nullified them. If the Marines had multiple giants, they were told how to reduce collateral damage. The hardest obstacle would be encountering Haki users. At that point, it was simply determined by who was more skilled, and all bets were off.

Considering a lot of what was advised about was speculation, it touched on a wide array of possibilities. The Mink Tribe and Lun'aecho Tribe had much to reflect on when the gathering disbanded. It did not feel like they were going to be blindsided by what was to come.

An invitation was extended to the minks by Cherokee for them to participate in one of their traditions that occurred before planned battles. If they did not want to, that was okay. A promise to return in time was given.

Kiyaya watched the Chieftain ride her bison in front of a large drive of Lun'aecho warriors and curious minks. The sun was going to set soon. She was worried that this tradition was cutting too close. What if the Marines arrived early to throw them off?

Nanu mounted his bison to join Lakota. Since Ravenna was going to be in the medical section, she decided it was unnecessary for her. Kiyaya approached Lakota before they set out. "What exactly is the tradition?" she asked.

He thought for a moment about how to explain it. "Do you remember back at the battle where we met how the Lun'aecho warriors had animal characteristics?"

At first, she was confused. The one thing she always remembered was hurting him. But there was something odd about both him and Cherokee that night. He had a fox tail, and she had deer antlers. She may have only seen it for a moment, but yes, she remembered.

"So there's this haunted canyon that has animal spirits living in it. The tradition is to be possessed by a spirit that chooses you. Depending on what that animal is, we gain its defining feature as well as its power. Sounds crazy, I know, but it helps." He offered to help her up to sit with him. "Would you like to come with us?"

She did not respond at first. It sounded risky. It was also kind of sad that the Lun'aecho had to resort to such drastic tactics to compete with the Marines. Her hands nervously held her elbows across her stomach as she decided to stay with her mother instead of joining him. "I'll wait for you-teia to come back," she replied.

His hand brushed the side of her face since she was not taking it. He did not fault her for the disinterest. Hopefully, after today, the tradition would be left in the past and the canyon would finally be left alone. "Very well. I love you. I'll be back soon."

She looked up in time to meet him halfway for a kiss. "I love you-teia, too."

He let her go to ride alongside Nanu and merge with Cherokee's drive.

"I love you, Dad!" she called after them.

The polar bear mink turned in his saddle to wave at them both. "Love you-gara!"

Ravenna came next to her and watch them leave. "You-teia didn't have to stay for my sake."

"I know, but Kota kinda needs guy time."

Her mother chuckled. Since Kiyaya was an only child, Nanu never got to experience having a son. Perhaps this was a good opportunity for him to bond with his son-in-law. Their appearances could not have been more unalike, making the relationship a little bit entertaining from an outside perspective. "I didn't think about that."

The wolf woman was a little concerned that the excuse was not convincing enough. Maybe if circumstances were different, she would have sat behind Lakota on that saddle. But she was already dealing with enough stress and fighting excess fatigue. Being possessed by some animal spirit would not mix well with that. She kept her elbows clutched until they all left the area.

It would have been suspicious if Cherokee did not let her people enter the canyon like they had before. Since the previous battle fought was unexpected, they did not get to partake in the ritual. She knew some would go on their own if she did not initiate the trek. For many weeks now, she continued to visit it periodically for training and even increased the supply of animals that the cursed spirits could use as vessels. Nobody knew how the canyon worked except for her anyway. She doubted many questions would be raised.

All behind her, the Lun'aecho and minks were intermingling to make sure nobody was left in the dark about what was coming their way. Dusk was upon them. They were told how the canyon would practically absorb them, but they had to be brave and allow the blessing to guide their safety. The demon possession itself would feel uncomfortable. Some recounted their past experiences in detail to alleviate any reservations.

Rodencia rode alongside Thalor. They left Roderic with Duke Quintus so they could acquire whatever this extra strength was. The rat woman had mixed feelings about it. Cherokee never mentioned such tradition until today. Since it was played off as something purely a formality, she tried to brush it off and do her part. Thalor could tell she was more quiet than usual, though. His gloved hand rested on her leg for a moment, which made her turn her attention to him.

"You-gara okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered honestly. "Just wondering if this tradition is as harmless as they say it is."

"If this is done frequently, then I must assume it isn't as harmful as it may seem."

"That's true." When she glanced in his direction, she had to admire how supple his Three Musketeer attire made him look. Compared to the Lun'aecho garments she wore, her husband looked to be in his element as he rode horseback. He was someone who always had her best interests in mind. If he felt as if something was fishy, he would have mentioned it. But he was right. This tradition was simply foreign to their kind, so hearing it gave her a bad feeling. Once it was done with, she would feel better.

Just to feed into her curiosity, Rodencia trotted her bison faster so she could inquire with someone familiar. Lakota was surprised to see her join his side.

"Tell me. What exactly happens during this 'tradition,'" she requested.

After explaining the process to Nanu, he was glad to bend her ear as well. "Cherokee and the medicine women are going to cast a blessing of safety before you enter the canyon. When you do, it'll feel like you're entering a dark cavern alone. Just walk until a spirit intercepts you. It could be anything, from a coyote to a lizard, or even a rat. Whatever it may be, don't fight it. Instead, invite it to enter you as a sanctuary. You'll find your way out of the canyon after that and not feel so alone anymore."

"That's it?"

"That's the gist of it."

Accepting the information, she nodded once and slowed her bison's stride to return to Thalor's side. "They make it sound so easy," she commented.

"Then it must be. Let's keep our minds open to the bigger picture and focus on the main reason why we're doing this. A little bit of extra strength can go a long way."

His optimism allowed her to exhale with some relief. It was not often she let someone else take the lead on something. Her fate felt as if it was in Cherokee's hands now.

Not only her fate, but the fate of every mink participating. They all took turns letting Cherokee mark their faces with paint and accepting the blessing. Seeing every individual disappear into the abyss was nerve-wracking. Lakota watched as everyone went before he did. His inability to walk himself in made him unsure if he could do it at all; however, Cherokee already had a plan for him.

The final person entered the canyon, and she approached him and crouched to be at his level. "I always said I didn't want to curse you just so you could walk again. The last thing I want is for you to suffer once I take it from you. But, just this once, can I grant you the gift?"

"Of course," he allowed, smiling at her and closing his eyes.

He felt her fingertips stroke down his cheekbones and then trace his waning half moon on his forehead. The witchdoctor whispered a curse to tattoo on him. A gourd rattled above his head to spread the blessing. When Cherokee stepped back, she instructed him to stand.

So many months of being unable to had him consider if he even remembered. Nothing internally felt different or magically repaired, yet, when he flexed his feet, it felt natural. He pressed a fist into the ground and pushed off to move. His lower half obeyed. Having atrophied muscles did not matter. He kept his balance miraculously and stood in front of his Chieftain. Thanks to her, he got to regain a part of him he had lost. Tears blinked away from his eyes. "Thank you," he uttered appreciatively.

Her lips curved upward. She could not help but wrap a single arm around his neck to pull him closer. "I wish Kiyaya could see," she said with some regret in her voice.

Hearing that pleased him. A part of him felt guilty for not choosing her to be his wife, and he knew the decision hurt her one way or another. But the sentiment showed that she held no grudge. She was still his family and would always have a place in his heart. Maybe after this war was over, they could continue sharing a life together, just not the way she envisioned it. "Me, too."

She let him go to watch him join the others. There was no telling what spirit he would encounter in there. She lacked the ability to rig it in his favor.

Lakota reminisced the last time he did this to get a fox demon. Despite so many people having come in, he failed to find a single one as he blindly walked. A pair of glowing red eyes was what made him stop. They were above him atop a wall, glaring down. He was not afraid but rather inquisitive about what kind of animal it could be. When it shimmed sideways and shook its wings, he realized it was some kind of bird of prey. He never expected something that could easily escape an open area like this to become trapped. Regardless, he lifted his arm to invite it to perch. "I see you," he acknowledged.

A little bit of coercion later, the demonic bird swooped down and grappled his forearm with its incredibly long talons and strong feet. The skin underneath his sleeve felt as if it had broken, and its weight challenged his strength. Seeing it up close revealed it was a vulture. Being a scavenger caused baldness on its head, but its black feathers were full and healthy.

"Thank you for choosing me," he told it as if it could understand. "Please help me watch over my people and the ones I love."

It looked directly into his eyes. Then it sunk into his arm, giving up its physical form. That familiar numbness traveled to his core to take refuge. That was all he needed so he could leave.

The vulture demon allowed him to see what surrounded him. Some were leaving, too, but many still searched for their spirit. When he walked out, Cherokee was waiting for him. She wanted to ask what he ended up with. When feathers spouted from the underside of his arms, she was surprised. "That's different," she remarked, stepping closer. "Perhaps you won't need your legs after all."

He looked down when her hands extended to hand him something. A mask made from pale wood was offered to him to take. It had horns sticking out of the sides of the forehead and red painted triangles under the eye holes that resembled the same ones on his face.

"You'll be speaking a lot. Let's keep your identity safe to keep the Marines from picking up on our secret."

He accepted the gift and slipped it over his face. The responsibility was daunting, but he did not want to cower. He wanted to do his part and protect the fallen.

They galloped back to the frontlines with haste. The moon was hovering with its fullness on display for all to see. Its magnitude easily illuminated the entire island with a soft blue tint. Off in the distance, a steady rumble was approaching. Nobody in the mountains stood still long enough to notice it, though.

As Lakota pulled a mohawk of red feathers over his hair, he noticed the wolf woman's silence. She laid on her stomach with hands underneath her chin, back to her original size. As soon as he was done, he turned his attention to her. Everyone around them was leaving to assemble into the vanguard and rearguard that stood on the descent into the prairie. Not much time was left for them to stay together.

"Kiyaya?"

"Mm?"

"You know I'll see you again, right?"

That weird feeling of ducts opening in her nasal cavity was summoned by his words alone. "Y-Yeah," she stuttered.

He scooted closer to her muzzle to brush his arm over the bridge of her nose. "Everything's going to be fine. I'll be in your ear the whole time."

She sniffed back the leakage from her nose. "I know."

He noticed the way her gaze averted like she was thinking. "You look like you want to tell me something," he described.

The wolf woman pricked her ears as she pulled a hand away to hold him gently. Her thumb stroked up the side of his face. "You-teia have come a long way. I'm proud of you."

He smiled and leaned against her nose. She boosted him up onto it so he could lay down on his stomach. "I couldn't have done it without my amazing wifey."

Finally, her lips curved for a smile of her own. The way he was bold enough to declare his love for her was something she never wanted to stop. She wanted to ensure that he would live to old age. To do that, she planned to personally supervise it. This battle was the first time she was expected to let him go. It scared her so bad. If anything happened to him, she could never forgive herself.

She let a couple tears fall as she took in what she had to fight for. Her home. Her spouse. Her future. Everything was on the line. Fingertips passed over his body one last time. "I love you-teia – so much. My Lakota. Please don't forget or doubt it."

He was lifted and sat down on his bison's saddle carefully. Losing her touch hurt a little, but he only let that motivate him to get it back. "Never!" he asserted as she stood up. Her wedding vest gleamed as the moonlight shined on it. How could he forget or doubt her love when she wanted everyone to see it for themselves? "I love you!"

She turned away to head out, pushing branches out of the way.

"Let's have a baby!"

She instantly paused and looked back at him so fast that her neck almost snapped. All she saw was his cupped hand lowering and his giddy expression unfazed by what he exclaimed. To say she was surprised was an understatement. The capacity of his Observation Haki truly was incredible if he said that for the reason she was thinking. But Kiyaya questioned if she was just overthinking it. She would have to find out later.

"I'd love to!" she cheerily replied, continuing until she was mostly gone.

Lakota felt his heart want to flutter out of his chest. Being in love brought so many feelings with it that he could not get enough of. Ones that had him imagine cradling a little white wolf mink someday. Because of Kiyaya, the Lun'aecho Tribe would have a new branch eventually. Wolf minks descending from their union would walk these mountains for generations to come.

He pulled the mask down over his face where the transpondance curse was placed. "Come in Cherokee," he spoke as he grasped the reins to go join the medical team.

"Go ahead," she responded clearly.

"I sense their army. How's it looking out there?"

"We have a visual."

He stopped next to the healers, doctors, and nurses as they finished stocking their saddles with important materials. Ravenna hooked a couple satchels to his saddle, too, and then hopped up behind him. All the ones remaining in the safety of the mountains watched as they departed to join the rest. Then, they started heading in the opposite direction to be safer. Children, nursing mothers, the elderly, and anyone not able to fight had to be ready to flee if things soured. Despite the acceptance of the situation, there was still suffocating anxiety among them since they were counting on others.

They stood right under the edge of the treeline behind the rearguard. From their position, they had the highest view of the prairie below. A sea of bodies barely moved as they waited and watched. The lightness of the grass was steadily overcome by the incoming army. Hundreds, if not thousands, of white uniforms reflected off the moonshine. There was a vanguard and rearguard, too. After them was a line of tall creatures that stuck close enough together that a wall was formed. Last was the final line of their offensive: the Giant Squad. They must have brought every giant they had because they tried to spread the natives thin. Lessons were learned last time. It looked like they were here to completely decimate them, human or mink.

At Lakota's sides, his team glanced around them at the ground. There was movement in their peripheral. Disappearing into the crowd were wild animals that usually stayed away from the Lun'aecho activity. Lakota watched a buck pass by as if they were not even there. After that, it was a mountain lion. Then a boar. One thing they all had in common was the direction they were heading.

"I think your new recruits are coming, Keekee," he warned her.

"Yes. Let them pass," she instructed from the very front of their formation. If they were going to fight for their home, then they might as well include the wildlife, too. She went around cursing any and all wildlife that may be useful.

A couple minutes later, the Marines stopped encroaching to allow for a couple chariots to go out farther. Cherokee was so focused on who these assumed leaders were that she failed to recognize what was responsible for hauling those chariots. The minks were first to react with a mixture of shock and disgust. The Lun'aecho followed. It was not horses.

Rodencia felt her blood pressure rise with her fury. She knew the World Government was reprehensible at their best and unforgivable at their worst but seeing what she was seeing was like a total slap to the face.

Even if you-teia offered the slaves now, I don't believe you would hold up your end of the bargain, she had stated to the Admiral three days prior.

Well, he proved her wrong. The mink slaves were indeed here. The Marines were using them as collateral.

Just to drive the spear deeper into the wound, they were not the only slaves brought here. The oppressed deemed disposable going to endure the brunt of the two sides colliding. The entire frontline of their army had wrists and ankles shackled. "Fishmen," one of the minks distinguished.

The Lun'aecho were repulsed by what they were facing. They knew slavery could have been their life now if the minks had not turned the tide on this war. Now they had to force them to suffer their wrath. It was extremely deflating to come here fully prepared to be ferocious only to find out it would be aimed at innocent lives.

The two chariots halted as the mink slaves struggled to pull them another inch from the exhaustion. The Marines heavily outnumbered the natives and minks. They also had a better arsenal, better tactics, more devil fruit powers, and overall, a better likelihood of coming out of this victorious. The Admiral on the left chariot pulled out a snail megaphone.

"This is your final chance to stand down," his voice projected. "Or perish."

Nobody moved or breathed a single word in response.

Cherokee, with her grandiose feathery headdress separating her from the rest, turned her bison around to gaze at everyone who was willing to stand with her. More than just her life had been waiting for this moment. Yet, when she studied them, she did not see as much confidence as she had hoped. They were frightened, especially her people. Fear of the unknown had settled in their bones. It did not matter that she wore her powers slim to help them. They felt like they were losing before anything had even started.

The point of being Chieftain was to give direction when they felt lost. She kept their minds on track by doing just that. "We're going to mount a calvary charge," she instructed with the transpondance curse reaching all ears. "Maintain a loose formation so that the first impact is amplified. The vanguard will act as the first wave with the rearguard supporting with ranged attacks. While we shift the focus to ourselves, Rodencia will move into position to dispatch the Sulong contingent. Are there any questions?"

The silence radiating from them was deafening. Hearts were palpitating and oxygen seemed too dense to inhale smoothly. The Admirals below decided that their inaction translated to standing their ground.

The one on the right chariot, with his long blonde locks falling around his shoulders and face, faced their subordinates. "We're not interested in prisoners. Kill them all," he told them.

With that, the Marines struck the slaves to move onward. The sight of them resuming their march stressed them all out more. There was not a composed expression in sight.

"Do not look at them! Look at me!" Cherokee ordered.

Instantly, they all returned their gazes to her.

"I know you're scared. I know they've come here to destroy us. That's been the story of our people for three generations. A war has been waged upon us just to take, and we have lost so much. Our neighbors. Our parents. Siblings. Children. Husbands and wives. Our blood runs thin after fruitless bloodshed. Everything we thought had meaning meant absolutely nothing as they lay bleeding out on the battlefields. My generation, and even the generation after us, were merely born to fight this exhausting war. Every person standing here today thought we were doomed to Hell. But does that mean our lives have been worthless? Does that mean everyone standing here today had no reason to be born? What about our fallen loved ones? Were they worthless?"

The minks looked around at their allies to see tears streaming down their painted faces. For so long, they internalized that pain. This was the first time someone had the guts to say it out loud. All that stress was allowed to be expressed through losing control of emotions. To experience such intense emotional gymnastics and be expected to carry on for many years as if it did not matter was torturous.

It was time to reclaim what others had died for. When nobody answered her question with a simple yes or no, Cherokee's jaw clenched. "THEY WERE NOT!" she bellowed assertively. "THEIR MEMORY SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE TO US ALL!"

A very slight breeze blew past them, making them all hold their breath. The sheer willpower exhibited through her tenacious words was physically felt. Rodencia grinned from her place in the rearguard. She knew Conqueror's Haki when she felt it. Considering Cherokee's status and her willingness to inspire and motivate others, it made sense for her to be a chosen one. Maybe she did not even realize she leaked some at that moment. They could only hope she utilized it tonight.

The animals she had cursed started to gather in her vicinity, completely unbothered by the crowding. "The courageous fallen! The anguished fallen! Their lives had purpose because they instilled that dream in us all! We survive so that their dream of freedom does not die with them! And as we ride to potential death, we remember those who shall be born in a new era of peace!" She grabbed the horn from around her neck as she turned back toward the Marines. A powerful exhale caused it to emit a guttural groan that was heard half a mile away.

Finally, with a second wind having percolated through their resistance, warriors started to scream and yell with war cries. Cherokee raised her club above her head as she started to gallop down into the prairie. The sounds of bison, horses, and feet hammering the ground gave the illusion of more bodies being present than there actually were.

The Marines noticed the fast pace they were going at and matched it. Their whips and blunt objects beat the slaves to do just that. Some cowered, but others grew ireful by the second.

Quintus made the rearguard move slower to give the vanguard a chance to form that first wave. At the same time, some shadows were cast over them. Lun'aecho and minks had taken to the sky thanks to the bird demons they gained like Lakota did. This whole time, they had been up on the mountain waiting for that horn to blow. With boulders clenched between legs, they followed the vanguard for an aerial attack.

"Because my people have never buckled or given up when faced with the cruelty of this war!" Cherokee continued as the gap started to close.

The riders at both of her sides all lowered their spears together. Their Armament Haki bolstered the strength of the weapons themselves and protection of their own bodies.

"MY PEOPLE ENDURE!"

The animals sprinted alongside and past their line to be out in front. Noticing this, Marine devil fruit users, specifically Zoan types, squeezed through to meet them headfirst.

"MY PEOPLE SCREAM OUT!"

All of the noise around her disappeared from her senses as her heartbeat pounded. She could now see details of who was coming straight for them. The slaves indeed consisted of fishmen. Despite never seeing one before, she saw their aquatic characteristics like scales and webbed digits. It hurt to target them, but their hands were tied in this situation. The Marines' repugnant intentions could not discourage them. It just fueled her final proclamation.

"MY PEOPLE ADVANCE!"

The animals lunged and collided with the Zoan types with snarls and the sounds of bodies thudding into each other. What followed was the impacts of spears impaling flesh or clashing against metal. Gunshots rang out and mortars boomed. Then the boulders started raining down to bludgeon anyone in their path. Yelps rang out one after another as explosions fragmented the earth. It was insanely violent. All Cherokee could do was focus her Haki and make good on her word.

But out of nowhere, a blur shot out from the swarm, barreling straight at her. A bird Zoan type went straight for the one who wore that headdress the Admiral told them about. She was an uncouth savage who was the bane of their existence. Out of everyone, she needed to go first and foremost.

One second, she was there. The next, she was gone. Cherokee was completely ripped away from her bison with talons perforating her shoulder and arm. The ones directly next to her gasped, freezing with shock as they watched her be carried off with blood strewn purely from the force of the attack.

Lakota felt his own soul wanted to jump from his body. The bird man swooped higher to ascend the incline toward the mountains, revealing his white underbelly. The woman who had always been by his side and pulled him from dark places flailed helplessly. A flash went by in his mind of her encouraging smile that he had taken for granted for so many moons. "CHEROKEE!" he shrieked instinctively.

Her teeth gritted and she cried out from the shredding of her muscles as she dangled. But still, she forced her eyes open. Her club pointed at her allies. "I SAID ADVANCE, DAMMIT!" she screamed. "FREEDOM IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! DO NOT FALTER!"