Chapter 30 - Berry

I was seating next to Peters and The Twins, Kar and Gar.... Iva and Booker.... We had just finished our lessons with Albert.... say what you will about the old sheep, he was an excellent teacher! Well.... he was when he didn't pester me about Fighting with Maxie!

His Grudge is still strong.... still fresh.... but he won't do anything foolish until we get what we want.... I hope! We're currently translating the new tongue.... El Campeador's Tongue to our common tongue.

"Hey couz! Befor-"

"It's Chief Karl..."

".....are you still-"

"Get to the point Booker, I do not have time for prattling, If I did, I'd have invited Maxie or Gail instead, they'd at least bury my worries with their pestering.... not add to it!" I said while glaring at her.... I had no love for my Cousin... not anymore, She had snuffed out that Feeling from me 5 years ago with the Annabelle and Rothschild triangle I found myself in....her silly little game nearly broke the three of us..... and it was all because she didn't think me Worthy of Amari....

I hate her, I hate Booker and she's trying to change that with this, this.... it doesn't matter, nothing will ever be the same again.... She looks hurt... Good!

"Chief Karl... I'm sure Booker did not mean to.... eh, Offend you.... I'm sure she proposes something useful! Yes surely!" Peters chipped in, He should worry more about him-

"Dear Brother-in-law.... May I call you Brother?" Iva cooed, The girl wasn't very bright.... but she knew how to play the Girl's Magic her peers do.... it's worthless on me though, but I'll play along.

"You may...."

"Would Sister-In-Law have to say you, would hear her ?" There she goes.... I can barely understand what she says! She does this sometimes, Speaking so fast she forgets to add words that make sense!

"I think what she meant is Booker has something to tell you!" Gar said, Kar nodded in Agreement.

I'm impressed they're standing up for each other despite it being only a few days they've acted as my Unit.... let me test that a bit.

"Very well.... but if I don't like the question, I get to punish you all with more work as compense,"

"That's not fair!" Kar objected.

"Life's not fair.... if it were, you'd get double the punishment for that stunt you did with Clint,"

"Geez you sti-!? I mean of course, Chief Karl! Please do not mind our... our-"

"Shut up...." I muttered, the twins nodded in understanding.

"Now.... what is on your mind Booker?"

"Co- Chief Karl.... the original plan was to drive away the humans from the Molti Continent and destroy Darrendale so we could link up with our Brethen in the Tyr Continent, was it not?"

"Yes.... yes it was, your point?"

"Perhaps.... we do not need to send our forces there just yet do we?"

"....."

"We.... our top priority now, is the Potential Abomination and any Blood Wolves she may create.... Alpha Amari's plan to seek the temple.... I've thought about it-"

"Lemme stop you right there.... I have made up my mind on the matter...."

"Chief Karl...."

"I plan on telling her my decision on the matter tomorrow...."

With that I closed the discussion and leave them to their translations, I need a break from all this...

"Should I meet up with Maxie? No, he's probably having.... a party with Gail and Nikki, Dorian? no lemme leave him with his wife.... he deserves his downtime after all..."

Perhaps I go to Amari.... Well we're meeting up tomorrow so it shouldn't matter too much.... still the Temple is gonna come up and I'm not ready to deal with that today....

"Chief Karl!"

"Damn it Booker, I told you to get to work!"

"Peters said he'd handle my share!"

"So? That just means you're slacking off! In front of your boss for that matter! What excuse do you have? and you better not mention that temple crap to me again!"

"N-No... I... I..."

"Yes? Speak up!"

"W-Well.... Alpha Amari mentioned you haven't been eating properly these days..."

".....Yes? What of it?"

"So it's true.... perhaps I could ask as your caretaker until you get better?"

"Did I say I need one?"

"Of course not! But..."

"But?"

"You are looking forward to tomorrow with the Alpha are you not?"

"....."

"You will need to get your strength up for that.... Perhaps I could help? You wouldn't think of it right?"

"I.... wouldn't 'Think' of it" I said whilst Narrowing my eyes, perhaps sensing my irritation, she's goes on a long tangent about the techniques she learnt from Elder Michala.... I get bored of her soon enough and order her back to the office.

"I..."

"Leave now!" I snapped, she squealed before rushing back to the office.

".....Seriously.... why is everyone just...." I was saying until my Stomach grumbled.... I've been going through these.... pangs for some days now.... I get hungry but I have no appetite, at first I thought it was the Basilisk poison but Ryksr quickly ruled that out.... he wasn't sure what it was but he made some medicine to help water my appetite.

I don't take them though.... I feel hungry yet my body is at its peak! I've never felt this strong in my life.... just what in Fenris is going on here?

"Well my thirst isn't gone yet.... so to the Wolfkin it is!"

We managed to gather all the Alcholhol in the city to five taverns....it was a staggering amount, though most of our Kin prefer Beer and Mead, so others end up taking space.

Not that I mind, I'm not selective with my alcholhol.... I reach the tavern without realizing it.... I step into the tavern and....

Huh? Wha.....?

Hah? Where am I? Why is it so dark here?

"I was so sure i stepped into the Wolfkin.... did I take a wrong turn?"

"You didn't, you had a great time drinking, Maxie and Nikki were there with you, You had a blast I saw... you passed out and Booker dragged you home," A voice said, it sounded familiar, a little raspy too... like he hadn't drank water in a long time....

"Oh... it was one of those nights huh? Well I need to wind down like that sometimes, else I'd go mad! Things have been gotten Crazier since you've left...."

"Yeah.... Bluehaven? I didn't think you had it in you...." The voice said, A figure stepped out of the Darkness, he was a man of average height and average looks, as plain on the eyes as porridge soup! But there was one thing distinctive about him.... his soft orange eyes, if you weren't Careful.... you might think he is of a kind heart like his Grandmother.... You'd be wrong!

I'm standing face to face with a man once dear to my heart, A man I once held in high regard, a man I once called a brother like Maxie....

"Up to your black magic again? Have you learnt Nothing Rothschild?"

He smiled.... it was a kind smile.... to bad there was nothing kind about this man, I have seen firsthand how ruthless this creature is.... To the humans.... I might as well be a pup If they were to compare us....

"I missed you brother! No, don't screw up your face.... I know you missed me too! This connection wouldn't work If you didn't!" Rothschild laughed, it was an irritating little squel... like daggers in my ears....

"What do you want?"

"To give you a piece of advice..."

"Which is?"

"Listen to our Alpha..."

"'My' Alpha.... you have no right to call her yours.... not after what you did.... You...."

"Brother spare me.... if you hated me as much as you've convinced yourself.... you would have pushed me out already, no? I know how strong your mental fortitude is!"

"I'm drunk.... that's all..."

"Bah! Excuses!"

"Enough! State your business...."

"Amari was right about the temple, look I've found it...." He said, an image of a small building with grayish black stone and a howling wolf sigil over a reddish brown field.... This was....

"It's smaller than I thought.... You expect me to believe this is where we originated from?"

"Yes! I will admit.... it is rather.... underwhelming but this is where we trace back to Brother!"

"Where-"

"I'll send the location to you.... when you wake up you'll remember it as though it were your own name...."

".....why are you helping me? us?"

"What do mean?"

"You expect me to believe you're doing this for free? Out of the goodness of your heart? What is your game brother?"

"Pffft!"

"What?"

"You called me brother!" Rothschild cooed, "I knew you still cared, Bahahaha!" He laughed, he was starting to piss me off.

"Relax, Relax...." He said in a solemn voice, "Just know.... I may be banished but my Cause has not changed.... I look forward to seeing you again Brother, in real life this time."

"Also.... My condolences.... I loved Amanda too... she was the mother Grechen never was to me..." He said with a sad smile on his face.... his face... was it.... always that tired.... that hollow?

"Rottie wait!"

I stretched my hand out and....

"Ow!" It hit Booker I her dumb face.... I sighed and sat up from the bed I was on....

"How long have I been out?"

"....7 hours Couz-"

"Chief Karl..." I corrected her.

"R-Right! Chief Karl! It's almost dawn.... shall I draw your bath?" Booker asked, she was awfully clingy... I didn't like it but I needed a bath anyways so I nodded my head and she dashed out off the room to prepare it.... Should I be more lenient with her? No! I.... do not know if I'm ready for that yet.....

The meeting I had earlier.... I.... Let's hope I won't regret my new decision...

"Rottie, Amari... Fenris help us!" I muttered.