Chapter 13: Brewing a Storm
The morning sun filtered through the dense foliage of the Panther Village, casting a warm golden hue over the forest floor. Yue Lixue stirred awake, her heart still beating rapidly from the reaffirmation of her bond with Korran the night before. She stretched, her movements graceful as she glanced over at Korran, who was already dressed and preparing to leave.
"Where are you off to?" she asked, her voice soft and filled with affection.
Korran turned, his golden eyes gleaming with determination. "I need to hunt some white rabbits," he replied. "I thought you might appreciate their pelts for warmth, and their meat is small enough to manage."
Lixue nodded, her approval evident. "That's thoughtful of you," she said, her smile widening. "Be careful out there."
Korran chuckled, his confidence unwavering. "Always am," he replied, before stepping closer to her. He leaned in and whispered, "By the way, I noticed your matemark darkened last night. It's more detailed now. You look even more beautiful."
Lixue's heart fluttered at his words, a warm blush spreading across her cheeks. She reached out and kissed him sweetly, her gratitude and love for him evident in the gentle press of her lips.
Korran pulled away, his expression filled with determination. "I'll be back soon," he promised, before swiftly transforming into his panther form. With a fluid motion, he leaped onto a nearby branch, his agility and grace a testament to his connection with the wild.
Lixue watched him with admiration as he moved from branch to branch, his movements sure and swift. He descended through the treetops, each leap graceful and precise, until he reached the lowest shrubbery. From that distance, he looked no larger than an ant, and Savannah soon lost sight of him in the dense foliage below.
The sun hung high in the sky, with a hue of light painting the Panther Village in hues of amber and gold. The air buzzed with excitement as the villagers prepared for the arrival of the Jaguar, Deer, and Gorilla delegations in 5 silver moon cycles: Korran, ever the attentive mate, had taken it upon himself to venture into the forest, determined to hunt for white rabbits. He's overheard Yue Lixue saying her clothes smelled and wanted to get her something nice to wear. He knew that their pelts would provide warmth and comfort for Lixue, and their meat was small enough to be manageable for her, and burning it wouldn't offend anyone.
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As the morning progressed, Lixue found herself mentally preparing for the tribal circle of elders. The meeting was not open to the general village people—it was a serious gathering reserved only for the leaders of the tribe. She knew what awaited her there: a discussion about her role as the Moonborne and the expectations that came with it.
Yue Lixue took a deep breath, her heart racing as she made her way to the communal tree hollow where the elders gathered. The air was thick with tension, and she could feel the weight of their expectations pressing down on her as she stepped into the sacred space.
Zevaris, the village chief, stood at the center of the circle, his expression stern. Halika and Veylan flanked him, their faces filled with the gravity of the situation. The other elders sat in silence, their eyes locked on Yue Lixue as she took her place in the circle.
"Today, we speak of the future of our tribe," Zevaris began, his voice resonant and steady. "The delegations from the Jaguar, Deer, and Gorilla tribes are soon to arrive, and we must be prepared to navigate this new reality with wisdom and strength."
Lixue nodded, her hands clenching tightly at her sides as she listened to the chief's words. She knew what was coming next.
Veylan stepped forward, his expression somber but his demeanor blunt. "Yue Lixue, you are perceived by several elders of this council to be the Moonborne. Many may view your coming as a bridge between the old and the new," he said. "You carry great powers of destruction and creation, the powers bestowed to beast female ancestors to create and destroy. With that power comes responsibility... so as the future leader of this tribe I ask; where ate your loyalties?""
Lixue's breath hitched in her throat as she felt the weight of their words settle heavily on her shoulders.
"Korran," She whispered the words like a soft caress. Soft enough that only Halika and Zevaris, who sat the closest, could hear her words, "My loyalty is with Korran."
Halika, her sillver hair catching the faint light filtering through the tree canopy, stepped forward. "Do you know Korran was once promised to a daughter of the Jaguar tribe, as a cub?" she said, her voice calm but deliberate.
Yue Lixue gulped, "No..." her voice choked on her words, at the thought of her interfering in an arranged marriage. Although beasts didn't really have marriage.
"Now that you have taken my son's his heart, and I am thrilled by how much you have made him happy these past few days. Honoured that the Moonborne is part of our family,." Zevaris continued, "Although, you must also be prepared to take on the challenges and responsibilities that come with disruping this arrangement. The Jaguars are coming with the caravan with the arranged mate for him, although now both if my sons are mated, there is now a problem."
The older female chimed in, "My sons are mostly mated and many are no longer in the tribe and in several of the beast cities however, Zaric one of my eldest has no mates, is still here and is a 1 star beast. He may be somewhat old for the Jaguar female - although she may still accept."
"This is a good counter measure if Yue Lixue cannot." Zevaris considered, deep in thought
Veylan's gaze sharpened as he leaned closer, his voice taking on a crude edge. "So, Yue Lixue, would you be willing to take a mate from the Jaguar chief's sons? You know, to help us avoid bloodshed and war? Korran might be your only current mate, but a political alliance could strengthen our position. You'd be doing your duty."
Lixue's heart raced at his words with anxiety and the thought repulsed her. The bluntness of his suggestion left her momentarily speechless, a mix of shock and indignation flooding her senses. She could feel her cheeks flush with a mix of anger and embarrassment. The idea of bedding another man, especially one from the Jaguar tribe with the new understanding of their tensions, felt like a betrayal of Korran and the whole tribe. Yet she understood the weight of the situation and her own implications.
Halika's expression shifted slightly, a hint of disapproval at Veylan crossing her features, but she remained silent, allowing the moment to linger.
Lixue took a deep breath, struggling to find her voice. "I... I need time to think about this," she finally managed, her voice trembling but firm. "I care for Korran deeply. We are happy, Zevaris your sin and I are very happy and trusting your words and guidance reaffirmed the mate bond to ensure no harm came to him, as the elixer Sable gave caused side effects and an accidental mating initially."
Sable shifted uncomfortablely on his cushion and the elders glanced at him suspiciously but only for a mere second. Halika's gaze wavered the longest.
"After hearing from Halika how this might endanger him, I had to ensure he was safe as he cares greatly for me and is why I am here in the tribe now. I'm not ready to consider… this." Yue Lixue had to make sure that her new father-in-law understood that she had heeded his words, as well as the elder females story. The elixer and Sable's knowing that day still didn't sit right with her.
As the discussion continued, the elders spoke of the need to ally with the Deer and Gorilla tribes. The Gorillas, with their monogamous nature and role as peacekeepers, were seen as valuable allies in the delicate balance of tribal politics. However, the elders also warned of the Jaguar tribe's cunning and the need to remain vigilant against their tricks.
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As he stalked through the underbrush in his panther form, he used his shadow element to an ambush advantage. Korran felt the thrill of the hunt surge through him. He was a skilled hunter, but today held a different significance. Today, he was hunting not just for sustenance but to show Yue Lixue that he cared deeply for her well-being. After a successful hunt, he returned to the village, his arms laden with the fruits of his labor—five plump white rabbits.
The hardest part had been finding all white rabbits. Catching them was the easy part.
Meanwhile, Korran had returned to the village with the rabbits he had hunted. He left them outside their dwelling and would bring them inside later on. Knowing from their exchange earlier in the morning, that, Lixue would appreciate the gesture.
As the son of the chief, he knew he had two grounds of attendance at the tribal circle: one as a leader of the tribe, and another as the mate of the female who had been summoned by the tribe elders to the circle- and unknown, yet to Korran, she was the Moonborne.
Unaware of the discussions taking place in the tribal circle, Korran made his way to the meeting, his heart filled with a sense of duty and loyalty. He arrived just as Yue Lixue was being confronted with the possibility of a political mating, his presence adding an unexpected twist to the proceedings.
"Welcome son," the old panther chief greeted, never meeting his son's eyes for he couldn't. He felt like he was risking betraying his youngest. He waited until Korran was beside Yue Lixue before continuing right back where he was, "We must approach this visit of the Jaguars with caution," Zevaris advised, his voice steady as he gestured to the gathering crowd. "The Jaguars will not easily forget our past conflicts and neither will we."
Veylan added eagerly, "We need to show them that we are united, not just as a tribe, but with our other allies."
Halika nodded, her wisdom shining through. "This is true, we must be prepared for any trickery. The Jaguars are known for their guile. We cannot let our guard down, even for a moment."
Korran unexpectedly added a great angle of strategic insight, "Let's not forget the Gorillas, then. They bring strength, but they also bring a different perspective. Their women only take one mate and they see themselves as superiorand diplomatic leaders. Their allegiance could tip the balance in our favour if tensions rise."
Lixue caught his eye, her heart sinking as she realised he had missed the crude suggestion made by Veylan and agreed on generally by the elders.
She worried how Korran would take the news—if it came to that—and what it might mean for their future together. Would he understand the complexities of her position? Would he feel betrayed?
With the council meeting winding up, Korran took Yue Lixue's hand and kissed it in front of the elders. "I have hunted the dinner for my mate and seeing as her stomach growls in hunger, I would like to return home with her and ensure she has her meal."
Zevaris nodded, as did all the elders. Dismissing Yue Lixue and Korran from the elders meeting, being the tribe chief, only he could do this.
Korran with glee, picked her up bridal style and left the communal spaces with her.
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"Do you really think it wise to mate the moonborne to a Jaguar?" Asked Halika, her tone serious and leaving no room for nonsense. "If she really is the Moonborne that could turn out very badly, as could any medelling with fate." Her gaze was stern. First landing on Sable and then Veylan.
It was Sable who answered, "Halika... you may be getting on in your years of wisdom over beauty. Yet you still believe the long tails of cub stories."
The older female looked as though she wanted to rip the Shamens throat out.
Unexpectedly it was Zevaris who answered, "I has only been happiness and peace I have wanted for my two boys. I am thrilled to see my oldest and youngest both have mates, your mother would be proud of you both."
At the mention of his mother, the eldest of the Panther beast brothers softened visibly.
It was Halika who finished their thoughts for them, "Would she be proud of what you are trying to force one of their mates to do for the Panther Tribe?"
Both older son and tribe chief looked ashamed.