The Winds of Tepr

Chapter 49

Inside Horohan's yurt, the warmth of the fire casts a golden glow over the fur-lined interior. Khanai, the majestic white tiger, sprawls lazily near the hearth, her ears twitching at the crackle of the flames. Nearby, perched on a sturdy wooden stand, Khatan, ruffles his feathers and lets out a low, impatient screech.

Horohan, humming softly, moves with ease, tending to her companions. She fills a large bowl with chunks of raw meat and sets it before Khanai, who lifts his head, sniffs appreciatively, and then begins to eat with a satisfied purr.

"There you go, you big softie," Horohan murmurs, scratching behind Khanai's ears. The tiger's eyes close in contentment, her massive tail thumping softly against the ground.

Khatan, not to be outdone, screeches again, his piercing cry echoing through the yurt. Horohan laughs, turning her attention to the eagle. "Patience, Khatan. You'll get your share."

She carefully places a piece of meat on a gloved hand and raises it to Khatan. The eagle's sharp eyes gleam as he snaps up the morsel, his beak clicking with satisfaction. Horohan strokes his feathers, murmuring soothing words.

As Khatan finishes his treat, he fluffs his feathers and hops from one foot to the other, clearly pleased with himself. Horohan chuckles, shaking her head. "You two are more demanding than an army of warriors," she teases, reaching down to give Khanai another affectionate scratch behind the ears. The tiger's purring intensifies, her eyes narrowing in bliss.

Suddenly, Khanai rolls onto her back, exposing her belly and kicking her legs playfully in the air. Horohan laughs, kneeling down to rub the tiger's soft underbelly. "Such a fierce beast, aren't you?" she says mockingly. Khanai's tail thumps against the ground, echoing her contentment.

Khatan, not wanting to be left out of the attention, hops onto Horohan's shoulder, his talons gripping her padded armor lightly. He nips at her hair, tugging playfully. "Alright, alright," she says, trying to fend him off with a laugh. "You're just a jealous bird, aren't you?"

Khatan screeches in response, flapping his wings for balance. Horohan turns her head slightly, rubbing her cheek against the eagle's beak affectionately. "There, happy now?"

Just then, the yurt's entrance flap opens, and Kuan steps in, closely followed by Tovak. The sight that greets them leaves Konir chuckling and Tovak wide-eyed with surprise. Horohan, on the floor, wrestling playfully with her tiger while an eagle perches on her shoulder, is not the image they expected of the formidable Khatun.

"Well, isn't this a scene to behold?" Konir remarks, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Tovak, welcome to the inner workings of our Khatun's war council."

Tovak stands at the entrance, eyes wide and unsure how to react to the playful chaos before him. Horohan quickly stands up, making large, sweeping gestures to her animals, signaling them to stop their antics. Khatan, understanding instantly, flaps back to his wooden stand, feathers settling as he perches regally.

Khanai, however, still young and untamed, looks confused by the sudden change in tone. She stands up abruptly, causing Tovak to twitch in surprise and fear. Horohan, sighing with a mix of exasperation and affection, pushes the tiger back down with her hand, making Khanai clumsily lay back down.

"Settle down, you big kitten," Horohan mutters, and then, with a resigned sigh, she lets herself fall down on Khanai, using the tiger as a cushion. "You know what? Let's postpone this meeting," she announces, clearly overwhelmed by the situation.

Konir bursts into laughter, his voice echoing through the yurt like a fox's cackle. "Horohan, you need to leave the yurt anyway, so you might as well do this meeting now."