ELRETH

When Elreth finally stepped back her eyes were clear. She looked back and forth between her parents that were both staring at her, waiting, serious and concerned.

"Is it Aaryn?

" her mother asked quietly.

"His mother?

"

"That too,

" Elreth said in a hush, her heart speared all over again by the pain her mate was facing.

"But this… this is a lot bigger than that. I'm not here for my parents. I'm here for the former rulers. The Cohorts, Captain, and council leaders are at the cave—or they will be in a few minutes. I'm calling an emergency meeting. And we need you. Both of you. To learn what you know.

"

They looked at each other in surprise. Her father frowned down at her first.

"But, Elreth, the elders know everything I did during my rule. I mean, I'm happy to contribute of course. But you need to show strength and—

"

"No, Dad,

" she said, her heart shriveling in fear of what this might do to them.

"I need you both because Mom… Mom's been involved in some stuff for a long time that we just learned about and I need to hear what she knows. We all do.

"

Her parents eyes locked, her father going stiff and her mother sucking in a breath, drawing back slightly.

"What… what are you talking about, El?

" her mother asked. Her father never took his eyes off her, his face unreadable.

Elreth sighed.

"Gar became the Alpha of the disformed today,

" she started.

Her parents both gasped,

"What?!

"

But Elreth just continued.

"And you both know we've learned there are humans in Anima. There have been for a while. Just a few, we think. But now we know there's more than were… invited.

"

"What?

" Her father repeated, his voice dark and warning.

Elreth nodded.

"Mom… Gar told us about the prophecy. He's… he's convinced he's got some role to play and that the time is here to—

"

"HE DID WHAT?!

" her mother snarled.

Her father flinched like he'd been hit, but Elreth knew she had to keep going.

"I don't understand what he's saying. He says you know more than he does. I didn't want to continue the discussion there—we had joint councils!—but my Cohorts and the leaders are here, like I said. We need… we need to understand exactly what we're facing. And Gar says you can explain that better than he can?

"

Her mother's face had gone deathly pale. She stared at Elreth in horror.

"Gar did what?!

" she breathed, like she hadn't heard it, or wished she hadn't.

"He told us,

" Elreth said gently.

"Told us there's a prophecy and that the disformed are at the center of it. That it was hidden from us hundreds of years ago to protect us all—though I still don't understand how that can be. And he said… he said that you've been working towards this since before I was born. That… that if we don't do this right, all of Anima will die.

"

Her mother's face had gone a shade paler with each of Elreth's statements, until her skin appeared gray. She swayed on her feet, and Elreth's father's hand shot out to take her elbow, murmuring her name. But she shook her head and reassured him with a hand to his chest and a grateful look.

But the shock and horror never left her.

"How can he know?

" she breathed.

"How can he be so sure. If he's wrong it's all been for nothing…

" she dropped her face in her hands and Elreth's father pulled her into his chest, whispering words of comfort and reassurance. But even El could feel the tension in him—and his skin appeared a couple shades paler than his usual ruddy brown, too.

So, her mother really hadn't told him. He really was ignorant, just like Elreth herself.

Elreth's stomach twisted in fear that she'd just sent a fox among the chickens of her parent's lives. She was glad she'd come alone, so they could have this moment to accommodate whatever it was they were going to have to face. But she prayed they would face it. That this wouldn't break them.

When her mother finally pulled out of her father's arms, stormclouds were gathering in his eyes.

"I'm sorry,

" she said to them both,

"But I have to ask you to come now. I know this is a shock—it's a shock to all of us. But we have to know. And… Mom… we can't have any more secrets. I know you've been holding this a long time. But Gar's put it out there. And he says that's because it's time. That we're facing this now—like, it's coming. And if that's true… I really need you to tell me anything you know. Everything. Is… if there's something you think you can't say in front of other people, can you please tell me? Please?

"

Her mother had her hands over her mouth and was staring at her father over them, her eyes wide and pleading and scared. She didn't even look at Elreth, just whispered,

"Yes. I mean… if it's out there, there's no more reason for secrecy. We have to fight now. We have to move forward. Together.

"

Her father grunted, and Elreth sensed a subtle shift in him—from shock, to anger—but he didn't take his hand from her mother's arm.

That was a good sign, she told herself.

While her parents gathered cups of kaf (her father), and shawls to throw around shoulders (her mother) Elreth stood by and watched them for signs of that canyon that had appeared between them months ago. But even though her father was tense and obviously disturbed—his forehead always got more wrinkles when something bothered him—his eyes always followed her mother, and he put a hand to her back as they met walking for the door.

Her mother's eyes were still wide and haunted, her face pale, but she walked with her shoulders back and purpose in her strides.

And her father hovered at her shoulder as he always had, throughout Elreth's life.

Please let them be okay after this, she prayed silently as they all walked through the door into the meadow. Let them get through this together.

Please.

*****

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