Their Prophecy

Argument

When the Purebloods had surrounded Brentik, it was a black jaguar that stepped in front of the Chieftain.

They didn't have a great relationship typically and Brentik felt certain that the only reason Kai had decided to take a seat at his foot, staring glassily up a clearly enraged Violet was because of who his companion was. Azalea, standing at the edge of the brush, looked frightened and the fact that she cared for her Chieftains safety was enough for Kai to react.

"Kai move. I'm not going to hurt him," Violet hissed. Even the way she'd said it was volatile, unconvincing.

Brentik wasn't sure what to do, somewhat surprised by the deep huff that sounded from the cat seated at his feet.

He was always huffy, talking back regardless of his form.

"I might," was Xavier's response, offering a light shrug and deadly silver gaze.

"Me first," his elder brother said with a quirked smile.

Ravenous, deadly--Brentik was certain it was the Rosario's that would someday be the death of him. Supposing that someday wasn't actually today, of course. Clutching his head, he felt that same thrumming pain, from mounting migraines. He'd never had a problem with them before but recently it was getting harder to focus, the pain almost stabbing. Constant.

"You will listen to me when I speak," Violet snapped, taking a threatening step toward the distracted Chieftain.

Through his the haze of pain, he heard the cracking of bones, saw that the boy was standing before him, arm outstretched in a protective stance. "He didn't do this."

"These are his people," was Cronan's harsh rebuttal.

"They are not following his directives," Kai snapped back, unafraid of the creatures surrounding him.

Cronan took a threatening step forward before hitting a knee, tsking loudly as he glared toward Luca. Kai was under the protection of the Rosario brothers and therefore nobody would be allowed to put their hands on him, even if he was currently standing in their way.

"That is our daughter," Violet snapped, eyes still flashing that vivid gold. "What do you suggest we do?"

"Gee, I don't know," Kai scoffed. "Talk to her?" Violet's eyes changed back to purple and, taking a careful step back, she looked as if he'd just verbally slapped her. "You keep repeating how young she is and yeah, okay, she's young. She's also incredibly smart and strong and repeatedly told you she didn't want to participate in that ceremony."

The Ceremony of Metir. What a disaster that had been. Clenching his teeth against the pain, Brentik muttered, "I had no idea any of that was going to happen."

"Did you ever ask her why she didn't want to participate?" Kai asked.

The Purebloods looked around at each other. Violet frowned. "She said they wouldn't welcome her."

"And she was right," Kai said with a shrug. "Imagine how many right things she's probably said but nobody is listening to her."

"I listen to her," Xavier cut in with a frown.

"Me too," Cronan huffed.

Kai huffed back sarcastically, making Cronan look frazzled and pissed.

"I'm her mother," Violet stated. "It's up to me to decide what is best--"

"You were the one who demanded to speak to her before deciding who should guard her," Kai argued with narrowed eyes. "You were the one saying she was capable of making her own choices. What happened to that?"

"You," Violet snapped, the blame thick in her tone. "You happened to it! You took her to a trading post without permission--"

"I apologized for that!"

"--and now my daughters is being hunted by bounty hunters!"

"Which she handles with grace!" Kai shouted back. "Because she's not a child!"

"She is my child!" Violet screeched back, tears welling up in her eyes. "She will always be my child."

Panting, angry, the two stared at each other for a long moment and Brentik could see the expressions of the onlookers, most of whom looked something akin to aggravated. "The Cousel is wary of me," Brentik managed to interject into the thick fog of frustration rapidly building between the group, "and my men are no longer listening to my commands. They are losing faith in me as their leader because of you bloodsuckers publicly breathing down my neck." There was a stifling silence as the pain in Brentik's head began to slowly wane. Squinting, he saw that everyone was now glaring openly at him.

"Seriously? I'm trying to save your ass, and you're throwing around slurs?" Kai glanced over his shoulder, the look on his face completely unimpressed.

"It's how they view you," Brentik admitted, glancing around at the group. "Violent heathens. Bloodsuckers."

"Technically, they're not wrong," was Luca's two-cents.

"Well, you certainly are a violent heathen," Xavier agreed, earning a chuckle from his elder brother.

Brentik sighed. "My tribe was told we had gained autonomy and yet I let your kind roam free within our territory. They disagree with my directive. They think I am just your puppet, that King Xavier is running things. Your presence has cast doubts within my people and the emergence of Analise's powers, of the large bounty on her head, has caused an uproar within our boundaries."

"You are saying she is no longer safe here," Cronan stated carefully.

"Clearly," Kai snorted.

If Cronan could, Brentik was certain he would have maimed the shifter by now.

"I am saying I am uncertain that my tribesmen can be won over at this point," Brentik stated clearly. "They want her exiled. Dead. They view the girl as a threat to their security."

Xavier crossed his arms over his chest, Luca's eyes flashed silver.

There was no doubt in Brentik's mind what the brothers were thinking. If they couldn't win this peacefully, there was little doubt in Brentik's mind that they would choose a more tyrannical tactic to get their way.

"What do you suggest we do?" Violet asked softly. "Leave?"

"We can't leave," Cronan stated coldly. "The Circle would find us immediately."

Everyone knew what that would mean for them, how that would go.

"Well, you may not be able to leave," Brentik said with a frown as he watched Zechariah emerge from the wilderness, Analise tucked neatly against his chest, "but the girl can."