Tension lingered heavily in the air. Neither side wanted to let their guard down just in case the other group got any ideas. However, Ether was confident. He has fought Ferals before.
Even taken down some alphas during his time post-war. But these weren't normal Ferals, these were Scalers. So he had to be cautious.
"Now that I get a closer look... you really don't seem to come from here," the Feral slowly walked closer to Ether. "However, you are very tiny. So tiny and precious, like a Thresher."
"Judging by the length of your teeth, you won't mind biting a red hot edge, right?" Ether growled. "Before I forcefully bring down my steel through your maw, drop that Thresher topic."
"My sincerest apology," the Feral chirped. "I am Vessa, from the An-Ato pack. And all of you come from Imbushko?"
Orako stepped forward, taking the spotlight away from his father. "The Ferals were born here, but our pack fled. The war - it was too much. But we were unfortunate to get caught in an ambush."
Vessa slowly approached Orako's ignited frame, smiling. "You smell young, how old are you?"
"I am fifty-seven. But I still have the bite of a fully matured Feral!" Orako quickly added.
"So adorable, you have so much to live for. Now you're back in Yarno, where you were made. Join us, Infinus. We can be united!" Vessa cheerfully offered.
Ether closed his fists, questioning if she believed Infinus was the name of a pack instead of a Legion. No matter which she believed, her single-stripe eyes deceived her.
She did not realize this, but every one of these Ferals were far more physically advanced than usual. Their bodies became adjusted to the possibility of a solo life style. Making them more dangerous alone, and even more dangerous as a whole.
"We are not going to be joining a Feral pack," Ether interrupted.
Vessa nodded, almost agreeing with what he was saying. "Yes, yes, we are too tiny. However, join the Trilogy. Niro would be pleased to meet each and every one of you!"
"Trilogy?" Orako echoed. "Niro's Trilogy. She was the driving motivator for my pack's departure. We were not going to cave into war! We wanted an escape, not fed straight to the flames."
"Heh?" Vessa asked, confusion heavy on her tongue. "Little teeth, do you not realize we were provoked? Light was invading -"
"And you were defending with the wrong set of Variants," Orako began to sound angry. "Hori-Hori belonged to caretakers and birth givers. Our Neddy were plentiful in their milk and our Neddy were very caring."
Ether placed a hand on Orako's shoulder. Ordering him to stand down, it was how they spoke without words.
Pain still lingered in his eyes from the memories of his pack being torn apart. A sentiment shared by every Infinus Feral there.
"If we want to join, we will speak to this 'Niro' ourselves. But as of right now, we are staying independent from any Legion. Especially from foreign ones," Ether sounded serious.
Vessa chuckled, rubbing her hands together while she did so. "Yes, little teeth, you want to remain independent. That's what everyone wants, so Niro doesn't take. All she wants is a treaty."
More Ferals joined in. They chuckled together, laughing beneath their breath, which made Infinus look like fools. Something that did not sit well with them.
Tellendor beckoned, calling out for Ether to send each surrounding Ferals straight to the burner. It was the feeling of a mother trying to protect her young from the shame.
But Ether was smarter than that. Being hardy was the first step in making it through the situation peacefully.
"A treaty, hmm?" Ether repeated. "What kind?"
"She brings the leaders with her to some kind of garden. In there, she says the treaty. But each Legion joined never lost independence. All they lost was the ability to attack their neighbors," Vessa clarified.
During that little interaction, Ether already heard what he wanted to hear. It was his opportunity to make it quick and clean. But it also interested him. Niro seemed like an interesting character to him.
He brought up his arm, telling his own Ferals to back off from the opposing group. "Send a message to Niro, tell her I will be around to greet her presence. But our loyalty is not a guarantee."
Vessa grinned even wider, revealing the hook-like teeth in her mouth. She was happy to hear that response, it pleased her. So she considered obeying to earn an ally.
She trusted his word, so she stumbled back into the darkness. In seconds, every Feral disappeared. They leapt up into the dark canopy overhead, then disappeared out of earsight within minutes.
Orako closed his eyes, intently listening in for any distant sounds. For several moments, there were none. Until he heard something hollow, like the ground had a hole inside.
"There is something nearby. I can hear it," he told Ether. "Hollow, like a second world beneath our own. What are our options?"
Ether slowly ceased the flames, making sure to quickly glance all around as he did so. "Where?"
"Beside that tree," Orako turned to face his south. "Right beneath it - or around, there is something there."
Some Ferals cautiously approached the tree, trying to make as little noise as they could. Their footsteps were dead silent, as if nothing was up on the surface.
At least for them. Whatever was beneath that tree could still hear them, maybe a little too well. Every step and breathe they took, it heard them. So it held its own breathe out of fear.
Hoping it would make them lose interest after their only trail was gone. But it did not work that way. By now, many of those same Ferals looked down at the foot of this tree.
There, they started to hear what Orako was hearing. It sounded like running water, but less impactful. Like water flowing through a tree.
Going through the trunk to produce its nutrients, starting at the trunk. It rushed through most roots, but some weren't so fast. In fact, they were the opposite. Water was sucked out of it.
"I think something is living under this tree. Are you ready to see what it is?" Orako asked.
Ether quietly but swiftly made his way to the Ferals. Planting his knee by the side of the tree, ready to pull as hard as he needed to.
"Ready? Pull!" Orako ordered.