Alec's green eyes narrowed as he watched the women in front of him. It had been a few hours now, but Tessa had not gotten any further in explaining why she was here. In fact, she seemed to be having fun playing with him, which only placed him in a worse mood than before. His temper kept slipping through with each word, and this only made her smile. They had a history after all. She pressed buttons he had forgotten he had. Her appearance ripped open wounds he thought had healed. The sight of her simply darkened his day. He had wished to be back on top of Freya... to go back to tasting her, and welcoming her calming presence. He had no idea why he was drawn to her, but only with her has he been able to relax. Closing his eyes, he breathed in deeply able to still remember the smell of pine and ash on her skin.
Alec barely heard Tessa, but he felt her presence as she drew closer. A low rumbling snarl left his lips in warning as he pulled himself straighter against the stone he was leaning against. They had come to part of the mountain that was called the Stone Graveyard. It was a place of no grass with a stone ground and large boulders that spiked from the rock. Even in daybreak, an overhang of clouds choked the sky. It was always cloudy here with little light, but a perfect place. Words did not carry at all here. It was practically soundproof. This made it good for speaking with her, even if he knew his guard was nearby. He would not be foolish enough to remain with his foes alone. Although, he knew she had guards out there as well. She was not foolish enough to be here alone without any real protection. No, Tessa was smart as she was confident. There was a reason he had not killed her.... yet.
"Are you even listening?" Tessa Jourmungand snapped suddenly. Her blue eyes narrowing at him as her arms crossed under her breasts. Pushing them up, he frowned at her lack of dignity. Then again, the felines had less than the Bellaroos clan.
"Why are you here Tessa?" Alec cut to the chase as he straightened himself up. "I do not have time for your games." Just as she was royalty, he was too. Justin had been wise to not push her, but he had the opposite worries. He had no problem considering they were on equal footing.
Tessa's lips perked up at his words as she stepped closer. Her eyes brightened and with a tilt of her head she spoke. "You know why I'm here." She slurred. "You are keeping a kitten that has violated our Taboo Laws."
A low snarl left Alec's lips as he narrowed his green eyes. They darkened as he glared down at her knowing full well she was challenging him. The Taboo Laws... Yes, he knew well about them, but they only took presence in the Cathilon territory. A set of laws for the worse of crimes that governor their people with the harshest punishment being worse than death. Any creature, no matter their clan, broke those laws they were hunted down, arrested, and sentenced. "You know very well, this does not apply to my people." He reminded her.
Yet, Tessa smirked a bit at that as she turned away. She watched a small song bird in the distance as it landed on one of the stones. "It does if she committed the crime in my territory." Alec huffed at that, yet said nothing. They had found her on the edge of the two territories, but she was not in the territory. It did make him question though why the Lynx was after her... mainly considering it was a beastmen. "You do not know anything about that girl... where she came from or even her real origin. It is laughable that you people haven't figured it out yet." Tessa chuckled abit.
Alec, tensed at her words. "What are you talking about?"
She turned towards him and reaching out a hand she placed a hand under his chin. Unlike Justin though, the instant he was touched he snapped at her hand. It disgusted him that any feline would dare touch his skin. She smiled at that. "So much like a feral. Tell me, how long has it been since the Kenya Massacre that you have been with a women?"
He bared his fangs to her. "Speak of that again-"
Tessa, laughing, stepped back. "Oh relax." That did not amuse Alec.
"Need I remind you, there is no advantages here. I suggest you watch your words Tessa Jormungand." Alec stepped forward, however even then she did not flinch. His lips came down to her ear where he whispered darkly. "Otherwise, it may be you losing your head." Stepping away, he leaned back against the stone.
"I will not be giving the feline clan anything. Your clan has murdered and burned our lands. Thinking you can waltz in here, play around, and then demand one of ours was reckless at bet. You still have not told me what you are truly here for. You are stalling, aren't you?" Alec raised his eyebrow. "You aren't here to ask nicely. You are here to take."
Tessa threw her head back and laughed again. Her canines flashing as she did so, and her tongue curling back to brush along them. Once such clear eyes became slits as she glanced around at him. Her nails slightly sharpened and unable to control herself a tail was now flickering behind her in irritation. The white fur was covered in long black stripes that looked much like her hair. She did well though to hold herself back from fully changing. "Oh Alec, even today your hatred is fresh. Are you still upset we killed your mommy?"
Alec's snarls roared from his throat as the feral beast inside of him clawed to come out. His muscles tensed, his teeth sharpened, and for a second his skin itched with the wish to change. He wanted to taste her blood on tongue, feel the crimson as it drenched his mouth, and relish in the thought of her death. A thousand ways to kill her flashed in his mind as they stared each other down. He refused to play into her games though. He could smell her guard nearby. "Are you still upset I killed your dear brother, skinned him, and wear him?" Alec's hand flipped along his pants to trace along the white fur pants he wore with a scatter of light grey stripes and spots.
For the first time that night, he saw the flicker of something in her eyes. Her control slipped, which was exactly what he wanted. "Lets get to the point, shall we?" Alec smirked a bit. "Make your offer."
Tessa, no longer smiles and giggles, turned to him. Her eyes narrowing at him as she flashed her fangs again. "Give us the girl, and we are willing to agree to a peace agreement including defining a permanent border. If not, we plan to take her by force, and drench the ground in your clan's blood."
"I will see you on the battlefield Tessa Jourmungand." Alec did not even hesitate. It was time to end this once and for all. This stalemate could no longer remain.
"You are making a mistake, Alec Fenrir." Tessa snarled low in her throat. "Your people will not survive this."
He smirked at that. "Drole, please escort our guest out."
The dhole stepped out from the darkness while Alec turned away. "You are making a mistake Alec!" Tessa screeched after him, however he only smirked a bit at that. It would seem things are about to get interesting.
---
Alec Fenrir move through the forest using his nose to guide him back to the cabin. He wanted to check on Justin before returning to the pack. They would need to prepare for the worst. He wanted to end this. The Kenya Massacre had been a bloody battle for both sides, and it was a reminder of his failure as a general... as a leader. He had lost so many of his people that day, lost his mother, and his faith in others. He could still here the screaming of his mother while the smell of fire burned his throat. That was something he would never forget, but since the Kenya massacre, they have been able to keep the border, hold off their forces, and keep the power balance. They had been unable to attack them, but vice versa. The felines had suffered greatly that day, however so did his forces. What had changed that made Tessa issue such a threat? Could they have gained an alliance? Pulling his hand up, he stared down to find his nails had gone back to normal. He hoped his eyes had done the same. He had lost control, and he did not want the others knowing.
"My beta!" Snapping his head up, the male searched for the source of the sound. It took him only a moment to find the husky sitting there with his head tilted. He was a few feet away with ears perked and curled towards him in concern. Alec frowned at that look, but said nothing as he lowered his arm. He had not realized how far he had walked. That's fine.
"Justin." Alec greeted as he came to the male's side. His body still tense, eyes dark, and his body still hot from the encounter. "We need to talk." He growled low in his throat while starting up the hill. He could see the cabin in sight. He wanted to be sure the felines were gone before he went back to the capital. He knew Mouse was probably getting annoyed by now they were still in his house. Mouse would even be more upset the instant he learned what Alec had planned for him.
"This can't be good." Alec ignored Justin's grin as his jaw parted and his tongue flopped out in a pant. Tail wagging, Justin kept trot by his beta's side as the house came to sight.
Only then did his beta speak. "We need to prepare our main forces for battle. I want the Hopi clan to start gathering information. Send the Greyhound unit with them. The Hoofed Clan are to start preparing food and rations and goods. We will need supplies." Alec paused and glanced at the canine at his side. Justin's ears had slightly flickered back in what seemed concern. He knew how Justin felt about war and battle. He hated it. He had not wished to go back to war... to go back to the bloodshed... back to hell. There was no choice though. This had to end, and peace had long been forgotten between the two clans. They had done the unforgivable.
"Alec, I will not return as a general." Justin whispered softly as his ears flattened on his skull.
"Not even if I order it?" The husky said nothing. They both knew if Alec ordered him to, Justin would obey, but something would break between them. Alissa... it was still a memory that haunted the delta every single day of his existence. Alec knew this well. "I am making you Freya's personal guard."
Justin snapped his head up at his beta. "Freya?" The male seemed confused.
"Cathilon needs her. I'm not sure why... but.." Alec growled low in his throat. "We cannot let them get her. She will be coming with us to the battlefield. Leaving her here is to dangerous. Where she goes, the enemy will follow." Justin couldn't argue with that. Although, he certainly wanted to. They could not run from this.
"Yes sir. I will handpick some of the best for her guard. I will also send out messengers, gather the healers, and get the army ready. If they wish for war, we will give them a fight... one they will never forget." Alec's lip pulled up in a sinister smirk at that.
"Indeed we will."