Chapter 121

[Treel POV]

Treel woke to her mate's nuzzling, and as she stirred, she gently nipped at Foire. He dodged her halfhearted attempt, then nipped back at her cheek and half bit half licked her frill there. His tender roughness sent a little thrill through her, and in response, Treel easily submitted to his flirtations. It wasn't long, however, before she nudged him with her head, and he released her to stand and stretch. 

As she rolled her shoulders and shifted her hips, she could feel the small, foreign feeling at the base of her hips. She couldn't quite shift it, but eventually, it wouldn't be a problem any longer. Until then, and after then, she supposed, she would continue with life as usual, and as such, needed only to focus on today. Treel walked out of the little hollow she and Foire had dug out for themselves and began to observe the pack.

Treel understood the power of words, and had often felt that power through the Alpha's voice, but she believed more in the truth of the body. More than words and sounds, the body spoke, and Treel listened. She watched every member of the pack, Foire's quiet confidence and eagerness to please, Took's desperation to prove herself, Shemira's uncertainty contrasting with her growing comfort, Vefir's self-doubt and worry… The Alpha's strength, power, and battle-lust.

She had seen him the day before, stalking through the jungle nearly with fire burning in his eyes. He'd found himself frustrated at the lack of worthy prey, though he'd tried to hide it. The Alpha led the pack well, listened to Foire's scouting, planned, and made sure that the pack was safe and successful. He was truly a good Alpha, especially compared to the other, weak Alphas that he had taken under his command. Treel respected him… and feared him. His strength, his rage, his ability to change others, and more all showed that he was a powerful individual, and he would do what he considered necessary, and, if necessary, cut her down in the process.

There was comfort in that fear. The Alpha would rip down whatever stood in the way of the pack's progress, and the pack would follow his every word. Her responsibility was simply to follow his directions, and she would find success. She had spoken the strange words along with the Alpha, Foire, and the rest of the pack, "Forged in battle, tempered in our blood, by our sacrifice". There was something that had changed in her when she had spoken those Words, and she wasn't sure what it was. That the Alpha could bring those words to her lips, without commanding her to, was another thing that proved his power and worthiness to stand as Alpha.

The Swarm Alpha was the only other one who Treel could see and feel was made to be an Alpha. Just being near him had nearly forced her to tremble in fear, and she got the impression that her Alpha somehow protected her and the rest of the pack from the Swarm Alpha. Another sign of his strength, she supposed. Watching the pack mingle, Treel could tell that the Alpha had left his personal room and was ready to go on the hunt. She was glad to have had Foire wake her before that, and looking at him, she could tell that he'd known that she wanted to be on this hunt. Without thinking about it, she leaned down and curled her head over his neck and nuzzled her snout into the base of Foire's jaw.

He'd seen her coming, and moved his head to the side to offer her easier access to the sensitive, soft part of his jaw for a brief caress. Both didn't want to delay and chance being left behind on this second hunt, so they didn't let the moment linger, instead stepping forward into the Alpha's view. Treel noticed Took and Shemira also stepping forward in the same way, quietly seeking his attention. Behind the Alpha, Sybil stood, her body language quietly communicating some level of satisfaction. Treel didn't let herself think for too long on that, instead focusing entirely on the Alpha.

He immediately looked at Foire. "Are you ready for the hunt?"

"Always," Foire responded, bowing slightly. The Alpha flared his frills in acknowledgement and turned to Took and Shemira. "I trust you two to lead another pack than mine. You don't need to hunt, but begin to scope out the area, find what prey will be suitable for the hatchlings. I don't think there are many of the frogs we hunted as hatchlings around, so find something equally small and generally harmless." Treel's eye immediately shot to the two females the Alpha was addressing as he finished his command. 

Took's tail flicked as she subtly shifted her stance–she was happy to be given a command, but felt that she could be doing more. Shemira was simply pleased to be trusted, as she still felt she needed to prove herself. The Alpha's voice cut through any further observations Treel might have made. "Foire, you and Treel gather a pack, however many as you want, and prepare to move out with me soon. It'll be a quick hunt, just enough to find something to bring to the hatchlings that'll be out soon."

The Alpha turned to confer with Sybil and a couple of her hangers-on about something, and Foire looked to Treel to gather the pack for the hunt. He didn't like to speak to the rest as a whole, and whenever possible, would delegate to another to take that responsibility. As it was, Treel didn't mind gathering a pack for the hunt. Since the hunt was to be quick, she stepped through the den and collected enough that looked to be ready for a hunt, excited but disciplined. Silf had already been selected by Took and Sybil for their scouting, and though Foire would be a little more reserved than usual to not have his favorite spotter with them, Treel thought it for the best. 

Before long, the pack was ready, letting the Alpha lead them up and out of the den and into the unfamiliar forest. The area was similar, but Treel had come to learn how different the jungle could be, depending on where she was within it. Foire had tried to explain his understanding of it all, but he simply couldn't explain it how he wanted, and Treel had simply let him speak however much he wanted to about it. 

Once they all entered the forest, the quietly companionable air of the pack shifted, becoming wary and alert. All eyes were focused on the jungle around them, and once they entered the jungle proper, Foire quickly began scaling a nearby tree. Treel kept her eyes on him, having designated herself his spotter for this hunt. It wasn't long before his posture changed, but in a way she couldn't read from so far away. Foire began to sign down to her, and after having to repeat himself once, more slowly, she understood.

Two prey. Large. Close. That direction.

Treel told the Alpha, and he signaled for the pack to prepare themselves. They did as Foire dropped down into their midst, and quietly spoke to the Alpha.

"They're the big birds. The terrorbirds, as you call them."

The Alpha stiffened a little at Foire's words. He hated those, for killing Oncli, she supposed. 

"Just two?"

"Yes, Alpha." Foire flared his frills, and the Alpha gave a quick command.

"You all, just make sure they don't escape."

The meaning was immediately obvious, and the pack stealthily hunched through the brush until they arrived close enough to the terrorbirds to begin to encircle them. The Alpha didn't wait long before rushing into battle. No, to the hunt. The two massive terrorbirds, though they fought as a team, stood no chance against the Alpha's ambush. 

Though she herself was about as strong as the Alpha, she couldn't imagine herself doing what he was. Before the terrorbirds could react, from his throat exploded a cry, one that nearly stunned Treel herself, and she was much further from him than the two birds. The large predators couldn't begin to try to fight back as the Alpha tore into them. With one hand he ripped massive chunks of flesh from a leg, and with the other, he grasped the base of the other's skull. The gesture from him, though it mirrored the one she'd shared with Foire, lacked the tenderness and trust that she'd shared with her mate. Instead, the Alpha's claws sunk deep into the soft skin of the bird's neck, and brought the head low, low enough to bite into it. His jaws sunk true into the beast's nape, and its mate began to flee from the carnage. It was far too late. 

The surviving terrorbird was already hindered by its wounded leg, and the Alpha, with an unspeakable rage bubbling under his eyes, grasped the creature's dead partner with one arm, spun, and hurled it at the fleeing prey. Treel could hear the snapping of bones as the massive terrorbird corpse smashed into the fleeing creature's legs. It went down, its body thudding against the ground as the Alpha trotted closer. He didn't show mercy, simply reaching down with both arms, one at the base of the skull, again, and the other about a foot below that. Then, with a flexing of his claws and a wrenching of his shoulders, he snapped the neck before slowly wrenching the head entirely from the terrorbird's corpse.

Yes, the Alpha would cut down everything that stood in his path. And maybe some other things too, if they got close enough.