The Beast Within Us

Chapter 17: ⑄ Chala

⑄Chala looked back in confusion as Yara looked to her instead of her brother. He was the one who had addressed her after all, so it was odd that she chose to face the huntress as she spoke, as if she were responding to her. She figured the warden was perhaps uncomfortable facing the storm of unchecked rage her brother was at this particular moment. In truth, it wasn't often she saw Kiir this angry - he was usually a fairly calm soul, something that'd played a large part in endearing him to Eurro as well as making him adept and more in tune with the ancient magics their kind practiced. It was how he stood before them still clothed despite his shifting.

Refocusing herself on the present, the tigress listened intently to what Yara said. All of it was true. Yara hadn't committed any of the atrocities the huntress knew others would have in her place, a fact that Chala had failed to take fully into consideration until this point. It caused her to break eye contact with the warden. She would never thankful be for her current predicament - just because she wasn't going through different types of pain didn't discount the torture she'd already been through. But the hewan could appreciate Yara for trying to make it easier, as neither of them had any desire to be where they were.

Kiir's expression changed from one of absolute rage to one of uncertainty. His sister met his furtive glances back at her with a neutral gaze, but she nodded almost imperceptibly. Her cheeks were dusted a little darker from the inadvertent compliment she'd received from the other woman.

At some point Kiir's mouth had dropped open to retort, but Yara had already moved on to the next thing. By the end of her small speech, the snowy haired boy had clamped his mouth shut with an audible clack of his teeth. His anger hadn't dispersed; his sister was still enslaved to this woman despite the fact that she treated her well enough. The male huffed before relenting, though he did shoot another glare Yara's way.

His hands relaxed; where'd they'd been balled into fists before, one now clutched at Chala's arm and pulled her closer to himself. Confused, she looked up at him expectantly, and as he looked back at his sister his gaze softened. "We're going home." He said shortly, and Chala's silence permitted him to continue.

"When you and Qifi never returned from your hunt...everyone assumed the worst. I took it upon myself to learn what'd happened to you two; followed your scents. Qifi's was a dead end," he admitted, looking forlorn and swallowing before speaking again, "so I picked yours up instead. I had it in my head that you were dead for sure, and I figured your scent was just some bastard wandering around wearing your pelt. It got strong as I neared the camp, but going in alone would be suicide so I stayed here in the forest."

Kiir turned to look back at the Warden. "Then she came running into the woods with your scent all over her. I knew if anyone could give me answers it was her. I'm not partial to violence usually, but, by the Maker, if she was the one responsible for your disappearance..." He didn't have to continue for the two women to understand what would've happened next. There was little emotion in his eyes at that moment besides a cold and calculating hate.

Chala pulled away from her brother, however, stepping closer to Yara and distancing herself from him.

"I..I can't go with you Kiir." The tigress' voice wavered in the beginning, but she managed remain firm and steady herself by the end of it. "Go and tell the others that I'm alive and well, but I can't return just yet." She glanced briefly in Yara's direction. "Yara's offered me freedom if I aid her on this trip; once that is over, I won't hesitate to return to you. But I must do this."

Kiir blew out heavily through his nose, looking completely unbelieving. "Why? You're not obligated to do anything for this woman," he pointed out angrily. "It's not as though she can keep you from leaving. There's nothing in your way-" A thought seemed to stop him, the hewan boy cutting off abruptly and narrowing his eyes at his sister. He sniffed at the air around her hesitantly, and Chala looked off to the side ashamedly, refusing to look him in the eye. Kiir hissed sharply and backed away.

"You're absolutely insane, Chala. With a human no less! What were you thinking?"

The boy seemed incredibly unsettled by his revelation, pinching the bridge of his nose and pacing with his tail lashing. The tigress looked over at Yara sheepishly.

"I may have forgotten to mention some things before we formed our blood pact," she admitted to the Warden; her brother shook his head.

"No kidding!" ⑄