Chapter 7: A night of a final battle
Cletus hears this from the young human talking, feeling his heart sink into a pit when coming to learn what is to be done to his people once the sky darkens.
Even if he did not mean to go this far in backstabbing these people in the back there is a will inside him: a voice is telling Cletus to do the right thing here and that is to at least die here and now at least.
“If that is so then kill me as well then, I will not take part in this attack no matter what, I won’t have their hands on my hands you hear me,” Cletus says, but his voice does not hold up to one trying to be brave at the moment.
“Didn’t you hear me; your life's end isn’t for you to decide anymore my lords since lord Gale was kind enough to allow a thing like yourself to stay alive? Being very useful with what you're capable of is what's going to keep you alive as long as it is there to be.”
“Even so then, I have no choice then, I have to try at least to stop you both here and now.”
Yet before he can make any sort of move Gale steps forward towering over the were-tiger demi-human. Who at this time comes to be affected by the presence of this overwhelming pressure that anyone would not want to feel at all?
“If that is how you wish to die then I will be happy in landing a hand to make sure your life at the moment experiences the highest level of pain. That even when death has come the feeling will never go away.” Gale says with a very cold tone.
Cletus movements have become frozen and any words that can be said would immediately be trapped halfway in the throat. Just a few more seconds the legs could no longer keep the body standing as he fell to his knees before the man.
“Good that you are starting to understand your position, you damn beast. Then be ready to take us to your village, so then they may come to be eliminated tonight.”
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{later at night at the were-tiger village}
Beia during the night was watching a peacefully sleeping Gonten after spending more of his energy playing with his friends, even going through the training the two had at the early son's rise.
After the talk with Gabriel, the two of them decided to hold off on the topic of moving or standing ground against the humans that have been given the land they have lived on the past seven years for the new day gathering everyone, so they may give their answer.
She at the moment feels joy to have been gifted by the tiger god to birth the late Gonten child. A living cub sharing both her and that man's blood favorite upon the tiger God to one day return his people to their birth lands.
That is something Beia has always foreseen in the dream vision a time ago. She had questions about the matter of herself being one day as the vision dream didn’t tell the women much of that.
“Do not worry Gonten one day, you will be standing on the lands of our people's birthplace. Yet to do so there is much you must go through to be the proud tiger warrior. The hardships and loss are to come, but in the end, all will be worth it for what the future is to be.” Beia whispered.
During the moment she gently rubs the side of Gonten's face thanks to their beds being close to each other.
“BEIA! We have a problem as a large number of individuals are making their way to our village.” Gabriel enters her hut unannounced to tell her this.
“WHAT!? damn it all this can't mean anything good. It would have to mean we are going to be under attack tonight.”
“Yeah, same idea here, those of others in the village could hear the sounds of the footsteps. I bet that it will be humans who are coming over here.”
“Indeed, it has come that we have been betrayed by our own; our new home has been exposed sooner. There isn’t time we could be ready for because of this.”
Gabriel was quiet then after a clear understanding of the meaning where there is one person who can come to this guy's mind and anger starts to build up inside him.
“Cletus! he is the one to turn his back on us, but why is there gain for working for an enemy who had no love for people like us, I don’t think so Beia.” Gabriel voices his doubts.
“I doubt we can get any answer out of him whether he is going to be there, or he is long gone.”
At the time as the two are talking Gonten starts to awaken from their voices sitting up and rubbing one of his eyes.
“Mm…*yawn*... mom, what's going on with the talking… huh? What is Gabriel doing here?” Gonten throws questions while still in the awakening state.
Beia and Gabriel look at the young boy for a moment then she turns back to look at the man.
“Gabriel, you remember what, I have asked of you.” Beia comes back to that question.
“Yeah, I do, a veteran warrior like me won't forget something as serious as that.”
“Yes, do so at once if there is a chance to save as many of those not ready to fight the enemy and those who must be ready to stand their last stand making sure those can get out alive.”
Gabriel silently nods his head knowing well enough what he must do but hates it since he would not be one of the ones staying behind to fight against the enemy. Yet it seems such a role won’t happen for another time later in life.
“Mom, what is going on?” Gonten called out to her and in the next second came to feel the tight hug from the women.
He is not that young to not get the hint that something must be wrong here to have his mother act like this. An unusual behavior which is not of her normal character from what Gonten has come to know.
“Gonten in all my heart, I’m so grateful to have given birth to you and to at least watch over you this long in these seven years. My time has come to an end tonight, but yours isn’t because Gonten, you have an important duty in leading your people to be strong and wise, my child.” Beia says, containing the sadness in our voice, so that her son would not hear it.
“Mom… why are you saying all this what is going on.”
“Forgive me son for I won't be able to see you grow up to be who you are physically but know in your heart I will always be there in the spirits watching over like your father and the many others as well.”
That is when Gonten feels the sense of himself getting hit by his mother when those eyes awaken. Now I came to fall asleep once again as that small body lost the ability to hold up. The reason this was to happen is that Beia knew well the boy would be a problem in refusing to leave the man willingly. This was for the best.
“Take him Gabriel and escape away from this doomed village with the others. It is to be upon you now to make sure my son is ready for what he must do.” Beia orders him a last order; it seems he will be given by the women.
“On my Life, lady, that is what I promise as a fellow tiger.”
Beia nods her head with a smile knowing her son is to be in good hands as Gonten takes the boy from his mother's arms and into his leaving the hut right away. For the moment to pass, she broke down and couldn’t keep up the brave faking letting out the sad tears alone in the hut.
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{at the front of the village wall}
Beia with other were-tiger people on the front of the fort heard the sounds of footsteps soon to show a large number of about five hundred humans in armor with a few among them holding a torch to bring some light to the night.
She looks upon them as the army has come to a stop from a range not far from their village. One person is standing out from the rest being all tall with a full set of armor and a large hammer in one hand. It wasn't hard to tell this is to be this army leader from the looks of it.
“So, this is how it is to come then let it be this night we spill as much of their blood then they do ours.” Beia thought.
She turns around to face the rest standing ready with their weapons. Whereas at the moment none show any signs of fear at all when knowing they are going to die tonight.
“MY FELLOW BROTHER AND SISTER CHILDREN OF THE TIGER GOD HEAR ME. LET THIS LAST NIGHT OF OURS BE ONE OUR ENEMY CAN NEVER FORGET AS WE KILL MUCH TONIGHT OF THEM EVEN IF THEY KILL ALL OF US. WE ARE THE PROUD TIGERS THAT RUN WILD AS THAT MEANS THE SAME WHEN IN DEATH.” Beia's voice rings proudly to all of them listening well.
Soon they let out their roar together creating a loud volume of their voice which the other side heard causing those among them to get a little scared by it sounding more like beasts in that village.
Gale at the front for a time heard this too with the feeling of one respecting a fellow enemy for their bravery.
“How interesting they are, it is something to stand up against this army without fear. I feel it to be lost in killing all of them, don't you think lord Gale.”