RETH

It was so late.

He'd finally gotten the security council out of the cave and on their way, each of them with different tasks to help in the preparation of welcoming the Bears in the coming days if it was needed. Reth still hoped, although it was fading, that war might be averted. He'd seen the Creator do greater things, hadn't he? His mate was here, after all.

Shaking off his distraction, he'd turned to the wise-women, peppering them with questions about whenever humans had been brought into the Rite before. But there was woefully little that they knew that would apply to Elia's situation. He bid them leave and rest, to start early, searching the histories for any advice or strategies for unifying broken Tribes.

Then his legs heavy and arms aching with weariness, he'd dispatched most of the messengers and guards that were there to watch the rest, either to get their rest in preparation for the following day which would be very long and grueling, or asking them to accomplish tasks to help the leaders ready for the coming conflicts.

Everyone had a job, and by the time he was finished, they were all on their way with clear ideas of what they had to do.

Finally, only he, Elia, Gahrye, and a handful of guards that had been posted inside the cave were left. He'd just started discussing with Gahrye the unique challenge he would face being alongside Elia in Reth's absence, when the cave door swung open so hard it bounced off the wall.

Everyone whirled, the guards bringing their weapons to bear. But Reth could scent that this was no threat. At least, not from the body that flew inside.

It was Behryn, panting so heavily he must have pressed himself to the last of his limits for speed.

That wasn't good.

"Reth! Reth! You were right… there is a shift.

" He said, leaning on his knees and sucking in air. He must have practically flown here to be so winded. Behryn could run for hours and barely sweat.

It was instinct to pull Elia behind him, though she grumbled. But if Behryn was alarmed, there was true reason to fear.

"What is it?

"

"It's…

" Behryn's face dragged towards the dirt floor and he shook his head.

"It's war, Reth. True war. Between the tribes. The wolves have convinced the Serpents to leave, and most of the Goats. There's even… even some of the birds are moving. Following them.

"

"What?!

"

"The air crackles with anger, Reth. I don't know what is driving it. The people were relatively settled after your speech. Something has happened and I don't know what. But we need the bears. They're the only ones the Serpents are scared of.

"

Panic wanted to set in. What was happening? What had the wolves put in motion before any of this even happened? Had he pushed them too far, killing Lucan? Or was this always part of the plan? Stroking Elia's hand with his thumb, he gritted his teeth and took a slow breath and remembered the advice his father had given him about crisis.

He'd been sixteen and still full of his own newfound strength and making trouble with the wolves, picking fights.

One time, he'd almost gotten his ass—and Behryn's—kicked by four wolves when he'd only known two of them were there. The fight was broken up quickly, but when his father found out, he'd come roaring out of a council meeting and cuffed Reth all the way back to the cave.

"Your day will come, son, when fighting will be pressed upon you. You won't choose it! And then you'll realize the utter stupidity in pitting yourself against others for fun. There is no world in which the harm of another Anima is fun. And none in which you are untouched in the doing of it. If you need to see conflict, I'll show you conflict—and it's bloody results. Perhaps that will curb your appetite.

"

He'd done it, too. He'd taken Reth out the next time a Silent One had been creeping up on the Tree City.

Reth had been forced to kill the Lion, had to watch the thing broken at his own hand, then listen to it die. Then his father stood behind him—not angry this time, but sad.

"Now imagine,

" he'd said quietly so that Reth barely heard him over his own panting.

"Imagine that the person you hold most dear in this world is making that noise, Reth. And there's nothing you can do to stop it. Imagine that you're surrounded by the broken and dying, no matter how hard you tried to avoid it.

"Never, ever tell yourself that destruction makes you strong. Destruction only breaks what was growing within you. Your day will come when destruction is unavoidable. You choose where and when to use it. And you use it wisely. Because you will never walk away from it unscathed.

"

He'd been too old to cry out of compassion for an animal, but he'd swallowed the ache in his throat and followed his father home with his head down. Because he'd known, then, that death was never true victory.

Yet, here he was… about to declare death on his own population.

"Reth?

" Elia's voice was soft, and full of compassion.

He raised his head, hadn't realized he'd buried his face in his hands. His shaking hands.

She clung to one of his elbows and searched his eyes.

"You need to rest. If you're going to travel and… do this. You need to rest. With me,

" she breathed.

He nodded. He turned to the expectant Behryn, made his voice strong.

"Does this change our plans, or only strengthen them?

"

Behryn gave it thought.

"It only makes our time more precious,

" he said finally.

"We still need the Bears, and they'll still only listen to you in this.

"

"Are the others… the other tribes… are they leaving peacefully?

"

"So far, but—

"

"Charyn was right. This is war. Keep the guards posted. People may leave, but once they do, they do not re-enter the Tree City.

"

"Yes, Reth.

"

"Set the guards, and go get some rest. We will too. Tomorrow will be a difficult enough day as it is.

"

Behryn nodded.

"Reth, I'm sorry, but this just affirms for me… we can't leave you two alone as long as there's an unidentified exit. Brother, please, you have to tell me so I can set guards at it.

"

Reth growled, but Elia tugged on his elbow. When he looked down, her eyes were liquid and wide.

"Tell him,

" she said.

"He's right.

"

Reth put a hand to her face.

"But it's ours.

"

"Tell him.

"

He nodded, then gave Behryn a flat look.

"It's the Bathing pools. There's a vine ladder hidden behind the waterfall, and a stump over the hole at the top. It can't be seen outside unless you're on top of it. But you can climb to it from inside.

"

Behryn blew out a breath and whistled for one of the guards near the door.

"Go gather two more and meet me at the back of the cave. We have another post to cover.

"

The guard nodded, then fled.

Behryn turned back to them.

"Thank you.

"

"Please don't draw attention to it by setting guards there, Behryn.

"

"Thanks, Reth, I never would have considered that without your input,

" he snapped. Elia blinked, but Reth forced himself to smile.

"Thank you, brother,

" he said.

"I couldn't do any of this without you.

"

"Just as long as we know where the balance of power truly sits,

" Behryn said calmly.

If it hadn't been such a **ed up situation, Reth would have laughed.

*****

ELIA

She'd never seen Reth like this. She watched as, over the course of an hour, he slowly but surely assigned everyone plans and strategies, tasks to oversee, and gave orders for rest before morning.

She watched him grieve as Behryn examined the Bathing Pools, climbed to the top and checked out the meadow, then gave orders for a camouflage of the hole, and guards, and an archer set inside to watch it for tonight.

He never stopped touching her, even when he needed both hands, he pulled her close to his side, or looped her hand on his arm.

And he trembled. She could feel it in him, the smallest quiver under his skin. As if something vibrated inside, wanting to get out.

She caught him once, staring at the wall, his eyes dark and face lined. But when she spoke his name, he came alive and pulled her into his side, busying himself with Behryn again.

She had no idea what time it was when everything was in place, but as Reth received his final briefing from Behryn, she turned to Gahrye.

"Can you come back at first light?

" she whispered.

"I'll tell the guards to expect you. I'm just… I think I'll need your help understanding all the… tides.

" Then she glanced at Reth, a pit in her stomach.