Reborn as a Side Character in the Beastworld

Chapter Sixty-one

The very next day, howls reverberated through the city's morning air. A call to gather.

Dressed in the first dress Lance had made me, with a white rabbit shawl and strappy leather sandals, Winston, Harvey and I obeyed the call and left for the Ape King's castle. Kit and Olly stayed with Lance. Shuu had already left before the sun had risen this morning.

Amongst the crowd of beasts leaving their dens to follow the call, I rode high on my white tiger's back. Despite the narrow streets, single males, females with their mates, and all who were below four stripes made way for us. Harvey's sleek golden form followed at our heels. Females looked on with curiosity while males either had expressions of desire or fear as we passed. If I listened closely, I could hear whispers of admiration for my looks and cautionary warnings regarding Winston's strength.

"Wow. She's so beautiful. Maybe I should ask her to be my mate."

"Are you crazy? Winston would kill you. Don't you know how protective he is of her? I've heard that any single male that comes near their den ends up at the healer's instead."

"It might be worth it if I could just talk to her once. I mean look! She even has a single stripe mate. Don't you think I have a chance?"

"But he's the best healer this side of the city. Do you have some amazing talent that could draw her eye like that? Just give up."

"Shut up. You don't know anything. I can...I can... umm...I know how to get honey?"

Mocking laughter and giggles followed this overheard conversation and I had to hide a small smile behind my own hand. Tony the bear, you are as innocent in reality as you were in the novel.

Winston snorted unhappily at the attention I was getting but Harvey's head rose in pride and a little spring was added to his steps. This kind of conversation was exactly why we had decided he should come with. His reputation could only help reinforce our support when the trial began.

Just like the first day I arrived at this city, the four kings stood on a large dais as the citizens gathered. Only the Tiger King looked confused as to why they had gathered. The Leopard King looked slightly bored but I think that expression was a permanent fixture on his face. The Wolf King looked a little nervous, constantly glancing between the Ape King and the gathering crowd. The Ape King looked calm and regal, giving no indication as to what his internal thoughts might be.

Once he could see that over half the city had come, he held up his hand for silence. When it didn't immediately grow quiet, the Wolf King let out a long loud howl until finally all attention was on the dais. Not all could fit in the wide-open space that was the city square. Some had to climb to the roofs of surrounding homes while others were crammed into the narrow streets with no room to go anywhere else. Only the females and their mates were given front row standing room.

I was nervous. I had done everything I could think of to get the Ape King on my side. Though I had pretended to be confident and arrogant, inside I was anything but. This could all go to hell in a hand basket if the kings decided to ally against me and mine. Four tetra marked beasts would be a challenge, even for Lance. And I would bet all Lance's gems that if a fight began, Curtis would use the opportunity to rid himself of the threat my mates posed to him.

Not letting my inner doubts show, I sat straight on Winston's back, head held high, awaiting the Ape King's words.

When it was quiet, he began, "Thank you for coming. I have gathered you all here today as a very serious matter was brought to my attention. Before we begin, would the fox female Bailey, mate to Winston; the female Bai Qingqing, mate to the Leopard Prince Parker; and the female Rosa, the Tiger King's cub come up here please."