RETH - Anima

Reth ushered Gawhr over to the table. The Bear watched Aymora and Behryn with his good eye, then took the chair at the end of the table, closest to the door, but pulled it out and turned it sideways, so he could see anyone who might come in before they were upon him.

Aymora's eyebrows went up, but she turned back towards the kitchen.

"I'll get some tea,

" she said dryly.

Behryn took a seat at the long side of the table, to Gawhr's right, leaving Reth the seat that he was facing. When Reth sat on the other side facing Behryn and Gawhr, he waited a moment to see if the Bear would move or change.

The Bears were far more feral than the other Anima, much closer in their animal natures. Bears hated to be cut off from their shortest route to safety. Being in this cave—that didn't belong to him, knowing that there were Anima outside that weren't of his tribe—was a massive step for the bear.

Reth didn't know whether to be humbled, or terrified about what that meant.

"I'm really grateful that you made the trip, Gawhr,

" he said.

"I told you, don't thank me, yet.

"

"Well, regardless, I'm thankful. So… can I ask what spurred this on?

"

The Bear shifted in his seat and grumbled, a tiny growl resonating in his broad chest.

"Wolves everywhere, **ing stink,

" he muttered.

"When you didn't make it to us—twice—I knew something bad had to be happening. Didn't think you'd start a **ing war though, Reth. So much for unity in the tribes, huh?

"

"As you know, our enemies choose the most unexpected times to attack.

"

"You've had attacks?

"

"Just the past day or two.

"

"Why?

"

"Because I peaceably banished anyone who supported the action of the Wolf Alpha. He'd been trying to kill my mate.

"

Gahwr's eyes narrowed. He had a True Mate, and he was the Dominant of his tribe. Thought the bears were far more scattered and self-sufficient than the other tribes, he understood what Reth's statement meant on a number of levels.

"Somebody grew some balls, I guess.

"

"No. Someone let their resentments fester until they couldn't control themselves anymore.

"

"Lucan?

"

"Dead. At my hand. When he tried for my mate's throat. In front of me.

"

Gahwr whistled long and low.

"Wish I'd been here to see that.

"

Reth was glad the Bear hadn't been. They were erratic at the best of times. In a moment with that kind of tension it was a bet each way whether the man would have killed half a dozen wolves just for looking at him, or busted out of the building directly through the window. But Reth just shrugged.

"They tried to call me a traitor. They were wrong. And Lucan didn't like finding out that my mate had more support from the tribes than he'd anticipated,

" Reth growled.

Even mentioning Elia was like slicing his own skin open. Where was she? What was she doing? Was she safe? Was she physically healthy? Was Elreth… safe?

His chest wanted to cave in on him, but Reth just clenched on fist on his thigh and held eye-contact with Gawhr. The man was here for a reason. He just needed to make sure it was a reason he could use that wouldn't lead to more problems.

"Eventful week you've had,

" Gawhr said.

Reth nodded and didn't smile. The Bear wasn't joking.

"And it's going to get worse. How far away are you from The Sleep?

"

Gawhr swore.

"We should have been curled up a week ago. But between the late summer in the highlands, and now wolves standing between my people and everywhere they want to den, things are… tense. No one's sleeping yet.

"

"I'm truly sorry, brother. I didn't anticipate—

"

"No, you didn't.

"

They stared at each other. Reth kept his shoulders and expression relaxed. Bears would always test him before they'd really talk. Gawhr needed to see he hadn't weakened.

Behyrn cleared his throat and sat up, but Reth just held the man's gaze and waited.

Gawhr was the one to break the gaze. Then Reth could breathe again.

"So we have a problem,

" Gawhr started, eyeing Behryn next to him, then his path to the door.

"Tell me,

" Reth said simply.

"One of the young mothers was attacked by the wolves when she was hunting for a den.

"

"What?!

" Reth snapped.

"What kind of attack?

"

"The kind that threatened to blend bloodlines,

" Gawhr said through his teeth. All Anima took ancestry and offspring seriously. But the bears were obsessed with it. A fact that baffled Reth.

It was helped by the fact that they didn't live or regularly mingle with any other tribes. But it meant they were even more protective of their females than the usual Anima.

"I'm so sorry, Gawhr,

" Reth said, and meant it.

"Is she…?

"

"We found them before it reached its inevitable conclusion, but the wolves did not survive.

"

Reth shuddered to think what had happened to those particular wolves. He dropped his face in his hands. Rape was incredibly rare among the Anima. If the wolves were going down that path…

"Do you know… which ones it was? Were they with Lerrin, or just… Loners?

" Reth hadn't considered what would happen if some of the resentful wolves didn't want to stay under an Alpha and accepted his invitation to leave, but created their own anarchy. He looked at Behryn who looked even more tense than Reth felt.

"We didn't stop to ask where their political alliances fell, Reth,

" Gawhr said dryly.

"But I hope you understand why I'm here. If this is what the WildWood has come to—

"

"No, no, Gawhr. This is… this is not what's happening here.

"

The bear nodded, but his eyes were dark.

"You've been good to us, Reth. You've let us live our lives and follow our instincts. If I was ever going to submit, it would be to you. At least, it would have. But this? The WildWood is in chaos, and I have mothers and cubs to protect. So you tell me what I'm supposed to do with this? We have to sleep.

"

Like their Silent One ancestors, the Bears took beast form and hibernated for the coldest months. The females who'd been blessed that year with offspring, gave birth during that time, waking to their new, precious cubs. Reth had often wondered if these months spent in beast form every year were the reason the Bears were so much more… animalistic than the rest of them.

"I hear you, Gawhr. I do. And I want to help.

"

"You can't even control your own people, you aren't protecting mine,

" Gawhr growled.

Reth held his gaze firmly.

"Not protecting, perhaps. But I believe I could come up with a… mutually beneficial arrangement that will offer me the assistance I need, and you the safety you require.

Behryn snapped his head to look at Reth, but Reth didn't drop Gawhr's gaze.

"Why would I want to benefit you, Reth? You're the reason I have this problem in the first place.

"

"Actually, the wolves are. And it's in all of our interests to clear the threat from the WildWood, or this won't be a problem only now. You'll be fighting wolves off all winter—and then next year as well. Come, brother, let me make a proposal to you.

"

"Brother, huh?

" Gawhr said dismissively his lip curling back from his teeth on one side. But Reth just waited.

"Very well, I'm listening,

" Gawhr growled.

"But I make no promises.

"

Reth nodded and launched in.