When the Witherlings were first spotted Azur had Foxpine evacuated. The last thing he wanted was for civilians to be attacked or worse.
Valka: The civilians were evacuated to Fort Stoneholde as you had ordered.
Azur: Good, hopefully they should be safe there.
Valka: The Witherlings are only two days away now.
Azur sighed.
Azur: Get everyone set up on the wall, we need to keep them from being able to scale it at all costs.
Valka: Azur, sir. I don't know how much the wall is going to help, the Witherlings can dig tunnels underground. Maria and I were almost caught on the way to the citadel by them doing exactly that.
Azur was silent for several moments.
Azur: Then we'll have a change of plans. Get everyone in a position so that they will be ready to ambush them when they make it inside.
Valka: As you wish, Azur!
Mu was not pleased one bit. She now had to help house an entire town worth of Vulpine! This Fort was not designed for this, and yet they didn't have much of a choice since Foxpine was being marched on.
Mu: For the last time, don't touch that!
This was the third time Mu has had to tell Vulpine children to stay away from her tail. This was driving her up a wall. How did Riya manage to deal with having a child?
The Gray Vulpine Child giggled as they ran away, as if playing a game.
Irya: Oh come on! It's not that bad!
Mu had a confused look on her face.
Mu: Why are they leaving you alone?
Irya: Maybe because I don't give them any kind of reaction. That's what they are looking for, they are treating it as a game.
Mu: Well, they need to stop. I'm trying to do my job!
Irya sighed as she began rounding up some of the Vulpine children.
Rose and Leon were in a room alone.
Leon: Rose, you need to listen to me!
Rose: No! The way they treat males is wrong!
Leon: We can't afford to start fights right now. If you start a fight with Purth, what then? Zenkoh will have to pick a side and she can't afford to have her Gnolls be separated!
Rose: But...
Leon: I know you don't like it but we simply have to deal with it right now.
Before Rose could say anything they could hear someone storming past the room.
Rose: What was that?
Leon: No idea. It sounded like it was heading towards Zenkoh's office.
As Rose and Leon were making their way to Zenkoh's office they came across Riya.
Rose: Mom, did you see who was running through here?
Riya was quiet for a second while she thought.
Riya: I believe that was Thorn, why?
Leon: He just sounded like he was in a hurry when he ran past the room we were in.
Riya: Oh, might I ask what you two were doing?
Rose: Nothing!
Leon gave an annoyed look.
Leon: I was having to explain to her that not everyone sees things the same way, that the way we raised her is not the same way everyone sees things, especially other Gnolls.
Riya had a slightly sad expression on her muzzle.
Riya: Rose, I understand you likely don't agree with how things are done at the citadel.
Rose: It's abhorrent!
Leon: Yeah, I would say that disagree is probably a nice way of putting it.
In Zenkoh's office Thorn had rushed in.
Thorn: Chieftess, there is a group of Witherlings heading towards the citadel!
Zenkoh was silent for several moments.
Zenkoh: Get everyone on the battlements! We need to be ready to deal with them when they get here. Also make sure that the back entrance is guarded as well!
Thorn: Yes, Chieftess!
With that Thorn left to get the defenses of Gloomfang Citadel set up.
Zenkoh sighed.
Zenkoh: Of course, attacking in more than one place so that we can't help. But what does she want in Foxpine so badly?
Thorn was making his way down the hall when he passed by Riya, Rose, and Leon.
Thorn: You three need to be ready, Witherlings are marching their way here. Everyone needs to be ready to fight if necessary!
Rose got a terrible feeling in her stomach, that something bad was going to happen.
Rose: Thorn, can I ask you something?
Thorn tilted his head slightly to the side.
Thorn: What would that be?
Leon and Riya were sure they knew what she was going to ask.
Rose: How can you stand it here, considering how they treat males?
Thorn: It's just the way that it is, female Gnolls are above males simply because they are stronger. So even if one wanted things to be different, the difference in strength would make it little more than a momentary thing before the status quo resumed. Besides, if you think this is bad, you should have seen what it was like with Varna, Zenkoh's mother, in charge.
Rose hated the answer and it made it ever more clear why her parents didn't want her being raised at the citadel. She was glad that she was raised the way she was, she couldn't imagine treating her Dad like he was beneath her, like he didn't matter.
With that Thorn gave a bow and continued on his way.
YOU ARE READING
Leon and Riya: How to Raise a Gnoll
FantasyIt's been 8 years since the Gnoll Rose Ashmaw was born. A lot can change in that time. One major thing that has changed is that Azur has managed to find someone new to train Foxpine's guards and as such didn't need Leon doing it anymore. Not wanting...
