"Do not EVER try and strike a child in my presence!" I hiss at him. "He asked a simple question, wanting to do nothing more than help easy his mothers' pain." I snarl at him, venom pooling in my mouth. "Give punishment when punishment is due, not when you simply do not like what he speaks!" I swallowed my venom. Before speaking again. "The wolf will attack you should you hurt him, have no doubt about that." I hissed as I released him and knelt to be eye level with Xavier. "Xavier you can't come with us, it's too dangerous. However, I promise you even if I must make a trip back myself if we find your sister, we will bring you in."
"You promise?" He asked his eyes watered a little.
"Yes, Little one I promise." I smiled at him patting him on the head. "If you need more help them the little wolf can give call out to Kenghan he will come."
"Kernaghan?" He asked five seconds later the large wolf nuzzled him.
"This is Kernaghan he was the wolf my Father made me when I was turned." I tell him.
"Are you planning on turning my SON!" Rayrach yelled, making me rub my ears.
"No this is a sigh of my goodwill! Children are few and far in between there are only 5 new pages and the last one had 1." I snap at him, my eyes blazing into his. "A turned vampire stops aging when they are bitten so no child unless they are on the brink of death, should ever be turned!" I snapped at him. "You can not judge a race by a few of the creators!" I snap at him. "Are there vampires that would love to have an all-you-can-eat human buffet? Yes. Are there vampires that kill without blinking an eye? Yes. But then there are vampires that want nothing more than peace. There are Vampires who never wish to take a human life unless it is to save it. But no vampire by our very laws can not harm a child!" I said now towering over the seated male his black hair a mess and his brown eyes showed fear. "If we wanted the world to burn, we would have done so a thousand years ago, but we just want to be left alone!" I snarl at him. I spun around trying to get a hold of my anger as I walked out of the mess tent stocking over to the gate hissing under my breath Hubert sat at the end of the camp looking beyond the gate.
"What has you worked up in a tissy?" He asked me.
"A what?"
"What has you upset." I simply sigh as I look at him.
"I may have overstepped my bounds and caused issues." I sighed.
"Why?" He asked looking up at me.
"To protect a child."
"Rayrach tried to hit Xavier again." He asked as I nod. "Then good on you, that man needs his ego put in check." He patted my arm.
"Hey, are we the first ones here?" John asked as he walked up with a big backpack.
"Indeed." I tell him.
"Sorry, I'm running late!" Vicky said as she ran up panting as she put her hands on her knee's half bent over trying to catch her breath.
"You are early." I tell her and hold out my hand.
"Oh, good and what?"
"Give me one of the bags." I tell her. "You need to be able to climb trees. I doubt you can do so with two oversized bags." She blushed but handed me the bag I put on my back as the other joined us where we were only waiting for one Carniola and Tacal.
"Sorry we are late we had to make sure everyone understands who was in charge with me gone." Carniola said with a sigh as the sun started coming up. Slipping John's glasses on we started heading into the forest after moving for about ten minutes I stopped us.
"What's up?" John asked as I turned to Carniola.
"I need you to undo the spell you put on me. I can not get us there safely if I can not hear the hearts of the animals." I tell her.
"Oh right!" She said before quickly putting her hands on my head again as the heartbeats and other sounds slide back to where they belonged. I gasp as I hear the loud thudding on the ground.
"Oh, I hope that is not coming towards us." I sigh. A crash to our left made me say. "Up in the trees!" I hissed. "And be quiet." I tell them as we start climbing up. After a minute the trees started shaking as the beast moved through the trees. Its tongue sticking out testing the air I held my breath praying it would not come down to a fight. It turned its head to look up at the tree that Carniola, Hubart, and I were in. Then it hisses and snapped its jaws before moving along. I collapse back against the tree.
"That was close." I hear Vicky say.
"Alright everybody let's get down and get moving." I called out as I started climbing down.
"That was one big crocodile!" John said as we were all back on the ground.
"Indeed, but we must keep moving."
"Is that the lake beast?" Hubart asked me.
"No, the Lake beast is a giant snake-like beast." I tell him.
"Should we be worried?" Alexis asked.
"Worrying about it now will only make things worse." I tell them as I climb over a fallen log.
As the sun rose the sounds of the forest became quiet and we were able to make good time before calling a break for lunch. "I would not suggest making a fire." I tell them.
"That's ok I figured as much so I bought jerky." Vicky said as she handed out the meat and I believe fruit.
I pulled my bottle of blood out and started drinking it. After eating we started moving again. I stop and listen, gripping the hilt of my sword as we the other stop. "Why don't you come out?" I asked as I could smell them.
"You brought humans here." The male voice said. "How thoughtful of you to bring a snack." I narrowed my eyes as I draw my blade.
"These humans are under the house of Arcaria." I snapped.
"But they are humans." He hissed.
"Indeed, but they are here on a diplomatic mission and I will not allow you to start a war because you are hungry. Now show yourself!" The shadow dropped in front of us.
"Now child you think you can win against me?" The deranged voice asked as he cackled.
"Who are you and what clan do you hail from? These are Northern land!" I snap at him.
"I know who's lands there are, they should be mine!" He hisses. My eyes went wide.
"You would have brought ruin to us all Oliver from what father tells me you were power-hungry and also drunk with power before your father banished you to the outland." I said drawing my sword. "Leave use least you wish to die." I hiss at him. Seeing the shadows move behind him.
"You think you're a challenge for me?" He mocked.
"No, but he is." I said as Father stepped out of the shadows and threw the mangy-looking feral vampire into a tree.
"Now Oliver don't you know your manners?" Father asked him. "Should you not Bow to the new queen?" He snarled as he forced him to his knees. "Now Oliver you were told before to stay away from anyone who came through these lands you have been naughty!"
"If you have a weak stomach turn away now." I tell them looking away myself knowing Father will go overboard. A scream filled the air as bones were broken.
"You were told to stay away from my Daughter!" He snaps. "You were never doing too well with your banishment, but you thought you had the right to my child?" Another beak and scream were heard. I looked around and Vicky looked sick.
"Father stop." I called out. "We have guests you are upsetting."
"Guest what guest." I looked at him and he had blood splattered on his face and hair. "Oh, those guests." He blinks letting Oliver go. "Why do we have guests, my Daughter?"
"They came one diplomatic mission." I said calmly. "I could not let them travers the forest alone if they were hurt; we could have gotten a war on our hands."
"Aww, I see." He tilts his head then looks down at a bloody Oliver and waved a hand at him, the shadows taking him away. "My apologies." He said looking at them. "I tend to go a bit overboard when it comes to protecting Diana."
"Like any parent." Carniola said with a nod.
"Father may I introduce the leader of this mission Lady Carniola of the Dragon Witch clan." I said introducing her. "Then we have Tacal the diplomate of the Werewolves, Albert the human Diplomat, Norman the Witch diplomat, then the guards' John, Hubert, Jason, Nora, and Alexis, and last but not least the very kind chief Vicky. Everyone my Father Lord Advisor Nicodemus Arcaria"
"I greet you all and welcome you to the lands of the North." He said, giving a bow.
"Thank you Lord Arcaria. I apologize if our presents here are unnerving." Carniola said.
"I always figured humans would be back Lady Carniola, but I did not think they would come peacefully." Father spoke.