Beauty and The Beasts: Rain

20. Atop A High Horse

     Damon looked the two young beasts up and down before opening his mouth.  "How was that a great hunt?"  Third looked at him in disbelief and Rain looked like she wanted to bite him.

     Before either of the two could continue, Damon faced Third and berated him.  "Why did you not stop Rain?  You were fully capable of taking care of that colossal by yourself."  Not expecting an answer from the leopard, he turned towards Rain.  "And you Rain.  You put yourself and Third in unnecessary danger.  You were reckless and seemed to have no idea of Third's capabilities."

     "We were in full control of that hunt! What right do you have to criticize us?"  Rain ground out her words.  She couldn't understand what this arrogant tiger was going on about.  Their teamwork was good and they succeeded with the hunt without major injury.

     Damon's frosty gaze pierced Rain's eyes, a look of disgust etched into his handsome features.  "Was your pride worth risking your brother's life over?  You had no place in this hunt.  Had Third not been worried over your well being, he could have finished the colossal in half of the time without risking himself to such a degree."

     Damon paused noticing that Rain truly had no clue.  "Let me guess, you didn't even notice did you?  The entire hunt, Third had been careful and held himself back in case he needed to protect you."

     Rain was livid.  Did this beast really think she would take his insults lying down?  "I am more than capable of protecting myself!  Third knows that he has no need to protect me.  I can do that myself."

     Damon's facial expressions morphed from one of disgust to one of pity.  "You are a fool.  It doesn't matter how much we try to suppress it, a male's instinct to protect females is always present.  It is impossible to completely get rid of the need to protect.  He would defend you at an unconscious level.  That is how males are."

     Rain was appalled, but still furious.  Did she really endanger her brother unnecessarily?  Before she could retort, the tiger continued.  "Not only did you fail to properly asses the strength of your hunting partner, you recklessly endangered both you and him by engaging needlessly.  You did not plan properly in your haste.  The herd was too close to the straggler.  You could have led the herd away while Third killed the beast.  You could have also used the beehive on the lone colossal and ended it quicker."

     "Instead you irresponsibly led the herd to me and did not ask for assistance due to your pride.  You did not even scout ahead.  Had there been a village, it would have been trampled by the herd.  Your negligence and incompetence could have cost many lives today."

     Damon pinched the bridge of his nose.  He was certain that Third had already been taught these things as he was raised by the tiger king.  Since Rain was a female, she likely did not receive proper instruction.  Winston had been too lax towards her.

     Rain smashed her tail on the ground.  She wasn't going to take this one-sided verbal lashing any longer.  "Maybe if you pulled your eyes out of your rear hole, you would have seen that we were just fine!  There was no village.  If you want to hunt a colossal differently, do it your way!"

     Rain was ready to attack this beastman.  She was a fool?  No he was a fool for underestimating her.  "I've survived on my own for two years.  I've long since proved my strength and competence!"

     Damon was going to have wrinkles early.  Wasn't this female supposed to be intelligent?  "Do you really think strength is a good enough reason to be reckless?  You are strong for a female, but stupid males have died stroking their egos as you do and many were stronger than you."

     "You ca..."  Before Rain could argue, Damon interrupted her.  "And did you really think you survived for two years without help?  You are too naive."   Rain froze listening to his last words.  'What did this overgrown lump of fur just say?'

     "What?"  Rain said with icy fury in her voice.  'Was this flea bag questioning my ability?'

     Third had wanted to say something.  He was pissed as well, but knew that Damon was right about him.  Had he been alone he could have taken the colossal by himself.  Though, he would never tell that to Rain.  What was wrong with wanting to hunt with his sister?  He could protect himself and her if he needed to.

     Brice watched the escalating conflict uncomfortably.  He understood where the tiger was coming from and everything he said was logical.  He just wished Damon would have changed the way he delivered the message.  It seemed like he was trying to pick a fight with Rain.  Brice's eyes shifted wearily between the two, while his other senses were aimed around them.

     "You didn't survive without help.  Winston warned off and threatened the tribes around your territory.  He even set up a party to remove any ferals located around your territory."  Damon watched a shocked Rain who tried to absorb the information he just laid out for her.

     Damon addressed Third again, "Third, why did you go along with Rain's plan?  Not once did you express your own opinion.  You let Rain think for you and that reliance holds you back."

     Third wanted to argue with him, but withered under Damon's critical eye.  He had flashbacks of Winston's teachings and shuddered.  Winston never held back with his training and Third still had nightmares.  He mustered up his courage to try and defend Rain at least.  "Why are you being so hard on Rain?  She was still able to survive and even got her second stripe."

     Third was both surprised and not surprised that Winston had secretly protected Rain.  He felt bad for her, nonetheless.  This would be a low blow to her ego and he was sure things were about to get bloody.

     "Hard on her?  Third, Rain is the one who wanted to be treated with respect.  She didn't want to be weak.  I am treating her like a male.  No, that's not completely true.  Had she been a male, I would have beat some sense into her by now.  The tiger king would not want that, so I am holding back.  If she wants respect, than she has to earn it with her actions, not big words."

     Damon turned to Rain, who was still trying to comprehend everything.  He wanted to stop here.  He really should.  He already said so much, but he was worried.  Rain tended to run from her problems when she couldn't fix them with violence.

     Damon had been watching Rain from the first time she came to the city.   Winston had approached him soon after and officially asked him to guard her until she took mates.  He had been excited for the first time in a while.  He had never met a strong female and was hopeful that she would be different than the females of the city.

     The first time Damon saw Rain was when she was breaking a male's bones for having said something she didn't like.  Damon woke up from his delusions after observing her for less than a day.

     Rain was strong and more independent than the females Damon had met before, but was just as selfish and even more prideful.  She used her strength to get her way and it wasn't pleasing to watch.  Having watched Rain since she came back, Damon noticed that she was changing for the better.  Unfortunately, her core problems still remained.

     Damon was a nobody to her.  He didn't have the right to scold her like this, but there was no-one close to her who was willing to do it.  He would never ask for her forgiveness for his prior words nor the words he would say next.  He didn't have that right.