Fall of seven Beasts

The panther

[CHAPTER 54: THE PANTHER]

"Mihaje...!"

Mihaje was shoving his swords back to the sheaths on his back when Bella came running towards him. He was caught off guard when the female wrapped her arms around him in front of everyone. He could never get used to being intimate in front of others. He still froze every time she did that, especially with Gaharu being there as well.

"You should not be here, Bella."

"She insisted that we all come find you," Gaharu approached, "you know how she is."

Mihaje scoffed slightly, shaking his head. What was she thinking? That he needed saving? This silly female. Mihaje quietly let out a chuckle. It wasn't obvious since he wore a mask, yet Tayen caught it. The snake lord's jaw clenched as he tried to pretend he wasn't bothered by the scenery.

Borius felt a slight pain in his chest as he witnessed the intimacy between Bella and the snake general. And what was more shocking was that Gaharu did not mind at all? Which one was Bella's mate, actually, the tiger or the snake?

"What actually happened here?" Gaharu asked when his gaze met Tayen's.

"I think we can talk all we want after we get out of here, do you not agree?" Borius chuckled, "I certainly would not want to spend a moment longer here. I have not seen the sun for days!"

"Borius is right, we need to get these injured beasts to safety." Tayen said.

"Tayen," when her gaze met with Tayen's, Bella let out a smile of relief, "you really got me worried for a while. Thank God you're okay."

A faint smile could be seen carved on Tayen's pale handsome face after hearing that. To know that Bella had thought and worried about him, even though it probably didn't mean anything, had made Tayen happy.

As they all left the building, Abnaki could not help but feel the unexplained heaviness in his chest. As the words of the elder in his clan rang in his ears,

Those who crossed paths are destined to meet again.

Will there be chaos and catastrophe? Abnaki pursed his lips, couldn't imagine what the future holds for them.

At the same time, Bella too, was feeling uneasy. She turned around when she sensed someone's eyes were on her and saw Toya, who immediately lowered her face when Bella turned to look at her.

Is that...? Why is she still alive? I thought Tayen had ordered all three of them to be killed? Did Tayen show mercy and only punished them instead?

Anyway, it was a relief. Bella felt less terrible after knowing that Tayen didn't kill his concubines because of her.

But Toya looked terrified. Bella didn't give it much of a thought, since they deserved to be taught to know their place. Who told them to pick on her when she had done nothing to them? Using Tayen's name to boss around like that.

*****

That late evening, Garuda and his troop of ravens arrived at the Moro border, announcing their arrival to the lizard soldiers guarding the border before flying straight to the Snake Castle.

Meanwhile, Abnaki was telling Bella and Gaharu the story about the first war that he had recently found out-- by putting the puzzles together through the visions he had been seeing and managed to understand most of it.

According to Abnaki, the God of poison and frenzy, Amba, took in Shia and Junpei after he had met them the first time. Shia and Junpei were outsiders from another land, they came and caused chaos that the tribe elders demanded the strongest of warriors to handle the matter.