The Bazzar buzzed with activity, fortifications and traps being put in place. The battle being brought to them gave them the advantage. Spikes, pits, and trip lines were scattered in the once peaceful streets still stained with the original tribes blood. Prim watched carefully as everything was put in place. It had to be perfect, and deadly enough to par down their soldiers without harming her own.
She looked to the sky and sent up a prayer as she saw the smoke signal rise from the edge of the forest. All that was left was that brat. Prim rushed inside the hut only to find it empty. Anger rose in her heart and she screamed bloody murder.
"Where is the damn child!" She roared at the General and guards who rushed in. The General frowned sniffing the air.
"No one else has been here. Just us. I'm sure someone took him to shut him up. Finish preparations. As long as no one from the outside has been here, she won't know we don't have him." The general replied and Prim growled low and dangerous. There wasn't time for a massive search.
"For your sake I hope so." She growled and turned back to her post.
*****************************
The Forest Edge
The two armies, side by side looked into the forest, the dragons flying above in slow circles. Kyera had called a halt, and bowed on the earthen forest floor.
"Forest Goddess, I as you forgive me for what I must do. I have not drawn first blood, but my blood will be spilled before those monsters taint this land further." Her prayer was soft, but the shadows around her carried her message deep into the earth on the behalf of their lady.
"Do what you must, Goddess Kyera." The reply was in her head, the words unfamiliar but the voice she knew. Kyera took a deep breath, quieting every inch of herself inside and out.
"Let's move out." Kyera turned to The Forest Gate royals, the shifters who waited for her command, and Viren who raised his chin. They were a force to be reckoned with. Kyera transformed into the tigress she was and led them into her domain.
The forest was quiet. The wild ones could sense what was to come. Something was wrong in the forest and their Princess was returning. Her magic traveled over the ground, shadows exposing secrets and traps as they came to them. Anger filled Kyera's heart as she roared a sound deeper than any she had made before. Shadows shot out from beneath her feet rippling across the ground obliterating the traps, shifting earth to fill the pits dug. They should have known better.
"I am Princess Kyera of the Forest Knights. This land belonged to the innocents whose blood you spilled and we are here to take it back in their honor. If you think your traps will stop us, you are sorely mistaken. I am the trap Hunter, none of my men will fall to these petty tricks. I PROTECT MY OWN." Kyera growled her words in the forest tongue. The shifters behind her roared in agreement at the line she just drew in the sand.
"Yes… the innocents under your care. You protect all of them… they were your responsibility and yet I left a pile of them to rot in the Ash forest." An unfamiliar male voice taunted as the General walked out, his form shocking. Black fur ragged and thick covered his body. A blackish brown mane hiding his shoulders from view. His head the size of Kyera's shoulders. He was a hulking beast with so much fur Kyera couldn't identify his species. Feline perhaps? "The crowning glory of that pile… your own son. Proof of your failure."
Kyera felt the rage boil in her, the power breaking another barrier, shadows swirling around her feet as her ears laid back as another pulse of energy ensured the traps were no longer a danger. "Then there is no reason to delay." Kyera growled but a scent caught her nose. She saw him; perched in the tree above seconds before a sock fell at her feet. Her heart roared with anger as she recognized the cloth Grandest Mother had woven for Gale.
"He lays with your brothers…" Verone told her, meeting her eyes… for a second he was there or was he?
"Bastard." Screeched Talis as he launched into the air, breaking the branch below his brother. With that the battle began.
Flashes of fur, roars of anger and the attack filled the once peaceful woods. The Dark ones poured from their hiding places, and the armies moved together to clash with their enemies. The three princes battled alongside the warriors to take back their land.
Kyera caught her breath, watching the backs of the Princess, clawing and biting anything that got close. Tearing the head from the body of a snake kin and tossing him aside like he was nothing. Her name was shouted not far away. Her head snapped in the direction to see Oslo pointing a large bear claw at the General. All three Princess faced the beast, swords in hand. A great swipe of his claws knocked Clovis and Alexi back, only Damar managed to duck the blow. However, this caused the beast to focus on him roaring, almost like a lion, before launching at Damar. She turned and within three bounding steps launched herself at the beast.