After 3 days of traveling without any break, Neo, Sabal, and Viosus finally reached the destination they had never thought they would. The sight was nothing like Viosus had ever imagined.
They first arrived at the base of a rocky mountain, but after climbing step-like stones, they reached the base flat land, where all the beasts were gathered. The Boar's clan houses were made out of rocks and dried hay roof somewhat indicated their territory's weather year-round.
There were no gates or protecting fences around the flat-top mountain, their houses' back faced toward the sun, and there were giant big wells providing water for every beast in the place, no discrimination or division between them.
A peaceful sight entered their eyes. Cubs running and playing without a care in the world, beasts harmoniously conversing and working alongside each other with the sun over their horizon. It was exactly the opposite of what Viosus had in mind about the place.
Many beasts noticed Neo right away and came running.
"Neo!" "It's Neo everyone!" "He's back."
Their voices blended in with each other, starting a wave of bustling sound, they all looked excited seeing a familiar face. 10-15 beasts came close to welcomed Neo's return.
"Somebody, help these two first!" Neo raised his voice to get their attention before he left the bunch. He hovered on top of the crowd and asked. "Where's my brother?"
"Training ground maybe?" One of the beasts answered, Neo quickly took off without saying another word.
Sabal and Viosus who were physically exhausted were carried off into a house nearby and were fed with water while they were waiting for the arrival of the clan's doctor. Neo flew down the mountain, without waiting for the injured, his speed doubled.
The training ground was where male beasts spend most of their time of days when they weren't out on missions. Young beasts who hadn't had a spouse would train even more intensive here for a chance of being recognized.
After only 15 minutes of flying, Neo reached the training camp, the guards saw him coming from afar so they opened the tall bamboo gate for him. Neo ducked through the gate and entered the giant yard, beasts were practicing duels in pairs and groups. Fire sparkles, the wind blows and other elements fragments were used across all beasts.
"BROTHER!" Neo had no time to spare, as soon as Neo landed and transformed, he yelled as he looked around desperately for his brother. If his calculation was correct, the herd would come in contact with this place in about 30 minutes, he must inform them immediately.
"That's Neo..." "Why is he here?" "He's back?" The crowd of beasts stopped sparring and gathered around him, gossiped loudly.
"BROTHER! PORSOGON! ARE YOU HERE?"
The swamp of over 100 beasts was split into two, making way a Porsogon to calmly walked over. The way other beasts hunched down to pay respect to him showed his status within the Boar's clan circle. Though he was younger than many beasts, they couldn't deny his strength and his importance to the survival of the clan. Porsogon walked slowly with his head held high, frowned, and looked down at Neo once he was about 2 steps away.
"Brother! You have to help me! A big herd from the Goat's city is chasing us, they will reach here in 30 minutes!"
Neo kneeled down on one knee and begged his brother. After Sabal and Viosus explained to him what had happened in the Goat's city, he understood that the only chance they had to get Yilas back was to ask for reinforcement from the Boar's clan. But even so, they couldn't guarantee that the Boars would lend a helping hand.
Porsogon's cold white face hadn't change expression, the frown still hung tight between his eyebrows. The crowd around him roared with another round of gossip, they discussed lively about what Neo just said.
"A Herd?" "A chase?" "Didn't he left on his own?" "Why should we help him?"
Neo teeth grinned hard against each other tolerating all words being spat at him from the doubtful beasts, his brother, the only one he had any trust in was also in silence, didn't look like he was going to help.
Neo's entire body tensed up, his hands formed into fists, his jaw clenched down forcefully,
"PLEASE! You're our only hope!" Neo hung his head low, he wouldn't accept a no for an answer even if he lost all of his pride here in front all beasts.
The crowd was silenced by the loud scream Neo just made, Porsogon looked down on him and then glanced leopard beast to his left, signaling them to make their moves with only his eyes.
The leopard was quick to catch on, it nodded and tell everybody to get in formation.
"Hunters meet at the gate, we are heading out in 5!"
As soon as a command had been made, 100 beasts moved in a blink of an eye, soon there was only Neo and Porsogon left in the circle. Porsogon hunched down to lifted his brother by the arm, he spoke quietly so only the two of them could hear.
"Last time I let you stayed back because you swore you would protect that female with all your life, now you had come back here begging for help already?"
Porsogon's words were cold and cut-throat, it immediately froze his thoughts, his body stiffened as they stood up. His dignity as a male beast was damaged even further, even worst than being humiliated in front of the other beasts. Neo bit down his bottom lips, avoiding his brother's stern gaze.
"I-I couldn't protect her, she had been kidnapped by a bull when I wasn't there." Neo's eyes were still fixated on the ground, he was beyond mortified for his mistake.
The news sounded like lighting being strike right next to Porsogon's ears, his eyes widened for just a second before returning back to its original position as if it hadn't moved at all.
"Where is she now?"
"Captive in the goat city, waiting for a ritual at full moon to be performed on her. It said eating her would help one's healed all wounds." All the information Neo got was from Viosus. And if he was correct, the ritual shall be performed at the full moon night, the details were too gory that Neo couldn't bare to listened and imagined it would happen to Yilas.
"TSK!" Porsogon rolled his tongue in annoyance, this was indeed worst possible scenario.
If the Wolves clan up North was the Boar's clan primary rival due to their ferocious and dangerous nature. The Goat's city had held its ground for many years and proved to be very tough in many ways. Even though their beasts only consisted of herbivores, their main strength was their number. The number of beasts was estimated to be 3 times both the Boar and the Wolf clan, approximately over 6000 beasts.
Although the Boar clan was ambitious and for many generations had planned to annex more and more territory, they had never had a problem like the Goat's city. Where they had to accept their existence and had the treaty to keep their territories separated.
And dealing with a big herd coming from there would mean jeopardizing their peace arrangement, causing problems deeper than just helping his brother and the fox clan.