Growl For Your Soul

Chapter 5

Zinnex's POV

'Peek , Peek' , A very annoying voice has woke me up from my slumber. I got up from my laying position and hugged my knees as I found myself in a very greenish place. Trees , mosses and flowers... Those that I only read from books had appeared in my eyes...

'No! Don't get distracted by the beauty of nature in the enemies' of the nation!' I thought as a guard yelled.

"All hail for the return of Prince Agrona!" A yell of a Paiog guard had opened the doors to Paiogs , my destination.My palanquin then passes through a line of Paiog citizens who bowed after their prince. They have the painted dog features and hair colour but the length and style of each and every citizens of Piaog was different.

Some had long , short , double buns , braid and even worst spiky hair that reminds of the Hedgies that lived much more inland than us. I have to say , those hairstyles really fit them , a lot.

I turned my neck and saw the gate that was made off obsidian and the fence was 9 Lionard man tall with additional of whistling thorn vines. The gate was controlled by the guards with one single handle. I turned back , thinking , 'Those thorns were deadly harmful to my paws , he did prepare for this all along...' 

As my mind was wondering somewhere else , the palanquin was stopped in front of a huge building. And I was stunned by the size of the building.

Like honestly ,  the houses back in Lionards were mostly cave houses just with an addition of some walls for separated rooms and holes for windows , or a clay made house in the shape of a hemisphere and more of those above them with stairs connected to each other one , dried branches as roofs and some have a balcony. Those are only for filthy rich Lionards and royals like Clyde.

But this....

This was utterly bombastic for a palace...

The house of a Paiog peasant was out of woods and bricks and the roofs was a balcony with green plants. 'So green nature was everywhere in here. It's just so much different on the north of the savanna.' I thought as a hand reached to me. I turned and found that jellyjerk who lifted off the curtains of my palanquin.

I turned my head to the other side , ignoring him , making him embarrassing and awkward  in front of his people. And....I just don't get this blockhead's mind. Instead of standing there being all awkward , he instead grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me into his arms.

"Don't let me be awkward. Don't forget , if I was embarrassed , your name will be inked by embarrassment of mine too..." He whispered into my ear , making me realised that I almost humiliate myself too. "Oh...Okay...I mean , " I said while brushing my hair with my claws , back in my serious voice , "It's the first time here. I had no idea with the rules." 

After found myself a perfect excuse , I felt something intertwined with my fingers. I looked down , and saw that dog jerk just knitted my paws with his dog paws! "YOU-!" "Quit the hisses , kitty  " , He said while slammed my mouth shut ,  "You said you don't know the rules of my nation. then , follow my lead to learn them." I growled deeply and choose my only option.

He lead me into a hallway where huge frames of pictures of each passed king of Paiogs in generation were hanging on the white marble wall along side with the banners of Paiogs that were designed with a red background and a black paw symbol in the middle of the banner.

"King Bergstrom , Queen Iyuna , may I present , your son , Prince Agrona." A Paiogs servant yelled as the white door with gold trim was slowly pushed open , revealing the king and queen of Paiogs who's sitting on the throne. 

Queen of Paiogs , or Queen Iyuna , as the servant just called , was dressed in a white one long sleeve shirt and a golden dress with an addition of a belt , a silver chain necklace around her neck and a layer of white fabric with black heels. She had painted dog fur colour short hair with her ear stuck out and a tiara with jewels attached onto it. Her face was written with mother love and kindness , but I don't believe it.

King Bergstrom was dressed in a black collar long sleeved buttoned shirt and a belt around his waist. He also wore a black pants and knee length shoes and armor on his knee. He had a fur coat wrapped around his shoulder and a dark gold colour crown with a square shaped ruby in the middle. His stubble beard has frightened me and his ears that were stuck out from his painted dog fur colour quiff hair quivered a bit as he saw me.

"Father , mother , I have returned." "Agry my son! Are you hurt?!" Queen Iyuna barked as she ran to Agrona and squishing his cheeks. This causes every word of struggle from Agrona became unclear. But, honestly,  the nickname 'Agry' what the Queen called and his face made me let out a small giggle , which quickly caught the attention of the king and the queen who were sunk under the happiness of their son's return.

"Son , who's this meat girl you bring?," King Bergstrom asked while walked to me and examine my leopard marks ,sniffed me ,  "This was a great meat and way to celebrate the return of my son. guards , take her to the butchery." The king demanded as guards grabbed me by the arm. "You know , if you want to eat me , you can just mention it. You don't need to carry out some idiotic fiancee nonsense , clad." I uttered to the jellyjerk as the king stopped the guards and turned to his son.

"Care to explain?" "Father , this is Zinnex Langford from Lionards. And she'll be the one to stay by my side and rule over Paiogs when the time has came." I immediately looked away from the eyes of the king as he started to question almost everything about me.

"You know I mentioned that the mate you choose must be a royal , strong to defend herself and rather die for love." After hearing that sentence, I mentally slapped myself. Having the thought of 'die for your love' sounds for lovesick people. "Father , she's the famous BusinessAniture , Baron Langford's daughter. Secondly , she was trained by the most professional and best knight on Lionard , which makes her the best."

"But-" , Before the king say anything , Queen Iyuna placed her hand on her mate's chest , comforted him , "Love , we talked about this. Besides , I feel the girl's boldness and her father was the famous BusinessAniture. This can help us in the economy of the nation." The king looked at the queen who just caressed him by the forehead.

"I mean , " The king cleared his throat , "She was a great choice of yours. Just I won't be accurate about the fact you're the next king. You still gotta see what you brothers bring." I turned to him, seeing him smiling confidently. 'So , he had brothers..I just knew about it... So , if he wants me to rule over Paiogs with him...then I had some rivals to come with.' I thought as I was dragged away by that clad with him yelling , "I'll take my bride to my room before there's additional rooms prepare for her!"

He soon dragged me to his room that was designed with dark purple walls with a hanging chandelier in the middle of the room and lamps next to the bedside and on the walls. There's long dark green curtains next to the enormous windows and a balcony lead to outside with several pots of flame lilies bloomed. A enormous sized bed with a lot of cushions was connected to a rock slab similar object with amazing designs and a cloth was on the bed. 

"Being amazed by a- Oh yeah , you kitties who at the north of the savannas doesn't have these facilities. Of course you'll be amazed." He uttered while received a hiss from me. "What? That's a blunt statement." "You know what , jellyjerk? I'm not arguing with you. Where's my case anyway?" He pointed to a door , which appears to be something similar to a storage room. In there was weapons that were blunted or armour that weren't shined.

"You just send these to the blacksmith or just sharp them with your claws. It's a waste to just throw these aside." I uttered softly as I felt a hot breath by my neck while I was examining the weapons. I turned and found that blockhead's head on my shoulder. I immediately moved back , hissing at him , "What are you even thinking about?!" "Gee , is the kitty being that sensitive for her mate's breath on her neck?" 

"It's just....Wait a second , why am I telling you?! It's not your place to know about this!" I growled at him as I walked to the couch , have myself a catnap , ignoring the dog there. 

'Life was never the best on Paiogs... I have no idea what else was waiting for me...' I thought as my eyes slowly closed...