"Keep your head down," Kip told the zeta as they turned to face the Luna before lowering themselves. Syri kept his gaze turned to the ground as he heard the Luna approach the three. The zeta grew extremely worried as he saw blood drip into the dirt from Kip's body.
"Answer me, woman. Why are you ruthlessly beating these workers? How have they wronged you?" Armina demanded of the noblewoman who was clutching a bloodied riding whip in her hands.
"They took too long and made me wait," the woman answered meekly as she hung her head.
Armina raised her brows at the woman's response. "They took too long for what?"
"To saddle my horse."
A scoff left the Luna as she heard the woman's reply. "So, you whipped them for it?"
"They shouldn't have made me wait." The noblewoman's response was more a pout than anything else.
Anger filled Armina as she looked at the two bloodied stable workers kneeling on the ground. "I can't believe this. After all the efforts I, as Luna, have put in place the ensure the palace workers are treated well, a noble of all people dares mistreat them?!" The Luna's eyes flashed red as she turned her gaze to the cowering woman.
Armina had linked the palace guards once she had heard the screams, so they had arrived at the scene quite promptly. The Luna gestured to the woman with her head as she addressed the guards, "Get her out of my sight and take these two to the gamma."
Syri sensed Kip slump slightly at the Luna's words. The beta's body began to shake slightly as the guards approached the two workers and helped them to their feet. Syri let out a breath of relief when two of the guards supported Kip between them and began leading the beta toward the castle. Syri made sure to keep his gaze turned to the ground as he followed the guards in passing the Luna.
"Wait," the Luna commanded as she caught the zeta's scent. Syri froze at the Luna's firm voice. Kip kept his gaze to the ground, but his brows furrowed in concern as to the reason the Luna had taken notice of the zeta. "What is your name, omega?" Armina inquired of the pink-haired male.
"Syri, Your Majesty," the zeta answered respectfully as he remained still.
"Where are you from?" The queen asked as she looked the zeta up and down. She was certain she had smelled his scent before, however, she could not place where for the life of her.
"Herth, Your Majesty."
"When did you come to the castle?" Armina's voice was firm, but it was not domineering in any way.
"I arrived last week, Luna."
Armina studied the 'omega' for a few moments before determining the young werewolf was speaking truthfully. 'Hmm. Then, he couldn't be the one I was thinking of. I smelled that scent two months ago.' "Very well. I wish you luck in your new position. Carry on," the queen said as she gave a nod to the guards as a signal for them to continue on their way to the gamma. Both the beta and the zeta released mental sighs as the guards returned to escorting them to the physician.
Estan's eyes widened as he saw the zeta be brought into his clinic. 'Syri? What are you doing here? Wait, WHAT HAPPENED?!!' The gamma's heart dropped as he saw the blood on the zeta's face, shoulder, and arms. Estan instantly ordered the guards to place the bloodied beta on one of the examination tables as he rushed to the zeta.
"What happened, Little One?" Estan inquired as he looked over the zeta's wounds.
"We had a run-in with the crankiest woman I have ever seen. The Luna stopped her, but my mentor took the brunt of it," Syri answered as his eyes glistened. "Please help Kip, Inso," Syri pleaded of the gamma as a tear streamed down his bloodied cheek.
"I will, Little One. He'll be better before you know it," Estan assured the zeta before kissing Syri on the top of the head and going to check on the injured beta.
Syri managed to get his tears under control as he looked around the room. The guards had left, leaving Syri and Kip with Estan. The zeta's brows furrowed as he realized a certain someone was missing. 'Where is Calix? He should have made it by now. And Bevy too.' Syri took one more look around the clinic before determining that the alpha and beta were not present. 'I wonder where they could be.'
The zeta quietly meandered over to the back left corner of the clinic to sit in a chair stationed against the wall as he waited for Estan to finish helping Kip. Exhaustion crept into the zeta as he continued to wait, and soon, his eyes had drooped closed, and the zeta fell into a very much needed nap.
Syri's wounds were cleaned and bandaged by the time he woke up. He had been placed in the bed next to Kip's and was underneath a soft blanket.
"Hey, Little One." Estan's voice greeted the zeta as he opened his eyes. Syri turned his head to see the gamma sitting beside the bed.
"Inso," Syri voiced sleepily as he blinked his warm brown eyes a few times.
"How are you feeling?" Estan inquired softly.
"I'm okay," Syri replied before inquiring, "How is my mentor?"
The gamma turned his head to check on his second patient to find him fast asleep. "He's resting right now. I'm sure he'll already be a lot better when he wakes up," Estan responded with a soft smile.
"Thank you, Inso," Syri said to the gamma as he felt sleep take over his body once again.
"You're welcome, Little One. You should get some more rest, now," Estan replied as he saw the zeta's eyes droop.
"Mm, I think I will," Syri mumbled in agreement as he let his eyes fall closed and went back into the sweet bliss of slumber. Estan brought his hand to the zeta's healthy cheek affectionately before standing to his feet and returning to tend to his other duties as physician.