Nero walked back into the camp to find everyone eating without him. "You guys started eating without me."
Elle handed him a plate. "I said we would eat after we found his son."
"Iziah." Ouran corrected her. "Elle, can you help me with my training."
"Sure lets go." She got up and they walked into the woods.
Nero grabs the plate from her and looks over to Frides. "I don't say this enough, so thank you for this meal. Before you go there is one thing I want to talk to you guys about."
"We found Iziah, so no more talking from you." Frides reminded him, and Nero sighed. "Did you know his son was dead?"
Nero took his time enjoying the food. "I think you guys kind of know that Frides is my bodyguard, and is tasked with getting me to safety and will be dismissed. His job is to prioritize my life over all others unless commanded to do otherwise by me."
"What are you talking about?" Frides asked.
Frides sat the food down to his side then saw Urs and put it on the other side. "I will be the leader of this group that we are forming. I know you're itching to get back to your home, but don't act out like that."
"I wasn't acting out. I know what my mission is. I'm not in any rush to get back home." The words come out of Frides mouth like a train. Bringing more things out with it than he expected. Was he not in a hurry to get home?
"Either way. If you're going to become a part of this group, my will needs to be your will."
"Then what do you want cause you didn't tell us." Elle said pointedly.
"Yeah answer the question, did you know his son was dead?" Frides demanded.
"I'm not good at those things." He rubs his hands in his hair, then tried to shape it again. "Yes, but Baethan was right there. Then when we found his son, I tried to calm him down which you guys were no help with."
"I'm not going to accept someone as a leader who thinks he deserves to be followed because he says so. You have to communicate with us." Elle said forcefully.
"Was I assuming too much." Nero took a second. He looked at all of them. "When we go to New Oania to become Retainers, I'll be the leader."
"That doesn't apply to me. My mission will be complete after we get you to New Oania."
"I was meaning to talk to you about that over the next couple of days. I was going to talk to you after my workout so nows as good as any. I want you to become a retainer."
"What? Why would I become a Retainer?"
"Listen to me for a second. You are an assassin, so it's not like you're a regular person. You're not royalty, so when you're given a mission, theres no guarantee you will live."
"Don't tell people that!" Frides stumbled.
"It's not that big a deal you know they're going to be Retainers. We can at least trust each other."
"Its not that easy, for me."
"Lets change that. I can work on trusting and communication. What about you guys?"
"What do you mean?" Elle asked.
"We can all work on ourselves. By telling each other, we can hold each other accountable."
Ouran stepped forward and loudly proclaims. "I want to work on my training, so I can help you guys. When we were in the Forrest with the tigers. I was so weak..." He lost momentum to think and recovered quickly. "I was scared, and I don't want to be scared to help. I don't want to get in the way of helping someone because I need help."
"I want to read more" Elle said.
"That doesn't count Elle." Ouran begged.
"I can work on trusting people and... believing in myself." She admitted.
"Yeah I can add believing in myself and giving everything our best. Sorry Ouran, your hearts in the right place but we should focus on what you can contribute and less on what you can't. Will you accept me as your leader?" Nero looked at them.
"I will." Ouran and Elle said at the same time.
Frides stood up. "I will try to trust you, and on the day you feel you don't need me anymore, I trust you'll dismiss me. Leader." Frides put out his hand.
Nero grabbed Frides' hand with both hands. "Trust, communication, believing in ourselves, and doing our best will be how we move forward." He looked at Ouran and Elle. "Come on guys grab on. Hey Urs!"
Ouran grabbed their hands. Nero turned and looked at Elle as Urs ran over and jumped up under them trying to reach them. She tried to stand up but fell over then went over to Nero's leg and leaned against him to reach for the hand. Barely able to touch her paw to the underside of Neros palm.
"I'm coming." Elle leaned down and picked up Urs. She let Urs put her paw on the top and she put her hand on top of Urs's paw. "Alright, You're lucky I have nowhere else to be, or even go."
To Be Continued...
Thanks For Reading!