The Rise Of The King

Chapter Four

I'd snuck my way back to camp, dazed. I felt like I was going to vomit I'd pass out. My legs were heavy, and my head throbbed. I couldn't cry, the tears were unable to pour out. My breathing was so ragged. Once in camp, I could feel eyes on me but I didn't look at them. My heartbeat rang in my ears. I could hear Fern's voice, but it was impossible to understand what she was saying. She struck the side of my jaw with her shoulder and stared at me with alarm in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" She demanded.

I stared at her, my pupils trembling. Everything around her was just colorful noise, which hurt my eyes. I stepped back from her a little and she just asked me the same thing again. That's when I realized Koda's voice was there too.

"Saber, speak son." He said, calmly.

I inhaled deeply, trying to control my heartbeat and breathing. By the time I did, a commotion arose in camp. Claw busted through the entrance, my mother's limp body draped over his back. Fresh cuts were on his face and shoulders. His eyes were wide with alarm. Fern stayed by me, but everyone else ran to his distress. I watched as he panted, lying my mother on the dusty earth.

"Claw what happened?" Koda exclaimed, mortified by my mother's body.

"We were ambushed by the rogue from a few days ago, he's still hunting on the territory." He rasped.

I felt rage boil in my small body. I choked on my own breath as my father made eye contact with me. I could see his crime hidden by the tears and grief. I walked forward, letting the tears fall. I fell to the earth, rubbing my snout against her cheek. Claw laid his ears back and joined me. I felt a shiver when he touched me. How could he do this?

-

I stayed by her side until late that night, while Claw had abandoned us before the sun started sinking. I barely listened to or cared about what others said after I'd gone to her side. Koda had decided a hunt for the supposed rogue, Claw joined the party immediately even after Koda had suggested it a bad idea with grief. He went anyway. Claw came back from the hunting party much later than everyone else. I was still by my mother, so he sat by my side.

"She was wonderful, Saber."

I kept my face in hers. I glanced at him, steam coming from his parted jaws and nostrils and he breathed and spoke.

"I truly loved her, even if she didn't have the exact feelings back. I was cruel, I know that. I wish I hadn't been so much, it would have made for a better marriage." He paused for a few minutes, "You'll be strong one day, Saber. Strong enough to not care for loss."

He gripped the earring in her ear and ripped it from the dead flesh. I flinched, as blood remained on it. He suddenly pushed it through his ear, his own blood trickling from the wound. He did the same thing with her other one.

"It's something to keep her memory." He said.

I stood and looked at him. I was struggling with what to say before I could think enough I spoke.

"I want to be able to defend those I love, teach me to kill."

Claw smiled, that was all he wanted from me.