"Guys!!" Aurelia shouted, pacing as Wolfpack drew close, holding a sheet of paper in her hands and scowling. "I need your thoughts!!"
"What is it," Haru asked, stretching, tail wagging slowly; she wore a plain pair of sweatpants and a tank top, though she'd slapped a bandaid onto her neck for one reason or another- certainly nothing to do with Fox.
"Well, it's the… the King of Starria," Aurelia laughed, brandishing the sheet of paper as Ica and Lif settled into one of the couches near her, and Eileen arrived with Cecil, the two of them leaning on a doorframe. "I mean, it can't be the King for real, can it? But it seems almost like it might be real, and I don't know what to do; just, let me read this to you," She added as Lottie suddenly appeared behind Haru, hugging her lazily, putting her chin on the badger's shoulder; Fox, standing beside her, scowled, but there was a smirk in her eyes somewhere.
"Dear Wolfpack," Aurelia began, shaking her head. "It is my understanding that your lot have a simple task; protect the peace of the world. It is also my understanding that if your Queen were to give you unjust orders, you are required to refuse them, and turn on your leadership, should it be compromised."
For a moment, Aurelia hesitated, brow furrowing, but she pressed on.
"I want to talk about a peaceful resolution to this war. I know that if I invite you to my abode, it would scream trap; so with your permission, I request to visit your castle. Just myself and a few personal guards; that we might talk about a way forward without violence."
"I pray to hear from you soon, Wolfpack. Sincerely, Starria."
"What the…" Haru whispered, thinking, putting a finger to her chin and trying to ignore Charlotte's and Fox's arms coexisting around her waist, cheeks reddening. "That has to be a trap, right?"
"How could it be," Ica asked openly, splaying his hands. "I mean, he's asking to meet us here on our own turf with nothing but an honor guard."
"It is suspicious, but if it could mean peace, then we should accept," Lif nodded.
"Maybe I should talk with Aurum, first…?" Aurelia asked, angling her head. "I think getting an outside perspective could be good. He didn't say how to reach him back, but we can send a messenger."
"I think talking to the Queen is the right call," Haru agreed, nodding. "You talk with her, Aurelia, and we'll hold down the fort here? Or would it be better for us to come with you."
"I'd like for you to come with me, actually," Aurelia stated carefully, angling her head and meeting Haru's eyes. "If you would. Please. Co-leader," She added, increasingly awkward, before looking away.
"That means I'm coming to," Fox muttered, and Charlotte nodded, cheek warm against Haru's.
"Me too," She agreed, sleepy, and Haru nodded, swallowing, trying as hard as she could to speak levelly.
"Sounds good," Haru whispered. "When do you want to leave?"
"Tomorrow morning," Aurelia replied calmly. "Cobalt has been having a hard few days, she's under the weather; I want to let her rest up for today."
"Sounds good, then, tomorrow," Haru whispered, swallowing. "We talk to her, and if she agrees… we invite the king of our enemies… how's Alexander, by the way?"
"In and out. Let him be for now," Aurelia cautioned, nodding. "Even when he's awake, he's shutting himself in his room; whatever torture he went through down there broke something in the back of his mind. Let him come to us when he's ready."
"Got it," Haru nodded, wincing nervously as Charlotte gave her waist a tug.
Five minutes later, Haru felt herself shuddering as Charlotte shoved her back against her own door, shaking her head and glaring up at the Cheshire Cat. "H-Hey now, you can't just-"
"Yes, we can," Fox nodded, gently.
"Unless," Charlotte added, "-You actually want us to stop?"
"Fuck no," Haru laughed breathlessly, shaking her head and loosing a quiet, needy laugh. "It's e-embarrassing to say yes, though, y'know? T-To- well, this."
"Perfect. Safe word is gonna be flip-flops," Lottie decided with a predatory smirk on her face. "I don't hear it, I ain't stopping, got it?"
"Get the hell off me, you two," *Haru pleaded, winking, and Fox snorted.
"Don't think so," Lottie countered and tossed Haru into the bed, chuckling. "Gonna spend the day messing you up, I think~"
"The DAY?!" Haru huffed, trying to sit up- but Fox didn't let her, slamming her arms down and holding her on her back. "H-Hey, lemme go-!!"
"Nah," Fox smirked, wiggling playfully, but Charlotte suddenly paused, tangling a hand into Haru's hair and tipping her head back as the badger girl blushed darkly.
"Is this, okay?" She asked, angling her head. "I'm really bad at the whole courting thing- but you've known me a while. Seen me naked. Somehow, this doesn't feel like I'm overstepping- am I just- fucking up again?"
"No," Haru whispered sagely. "As for Fox-"
"I'm still number one, bitch, so shut up and put your head between her thighs," Fox snarked, choking on a laugh and slapping Charlotte's shoulder. "Haru and I talked, cat."
-
Alexander sat back against his headboard, toying with the cell phone that Aurelia dropped off for him, wrinkling his nose as he tapped at the screen; everywhere he touched, the ash that formed his arms stuck, leaving a print, before being magnetically pulled back into his digits.
His stint in the military felt so brief, now- but he remembered it. Crush the Starrians- slaughter the fascist pigs- for a long time, he stared down at his hands, thoughtful.
Who was I before, really? It seems like such a distant memory…
He tried to remember, but everything felt foggy, now. I knew when I came to this world, didn't I? I swear I remember telling Fox where I came from, or at least a bit about it… but it's all gone, now.
He tried harder, brow furrowing, but…
No. Try as he might, his memories began with the ranger outpost where they'd been found while fleeing from Starria. Whatever came before was gone, now.
As he stared down, more memories resurfaced slowly; the torture, and the fear. The certainty that his life ended there, and he would not survive.
The blood, the teeth…
Alexander shivered, shaking his head and curling up on his side, exhaustion beginning to win out again.
"Hey." A knock, at the door, and Alexander looked up, eyes narrowing warily. "It is Lif. May I please enter? I have no intent of harm, worry not."
"Sure," Alex nodded, as if he could be seen; and Lif slowly stepped inside, shutting the door behind him, holding a thermos in his free hand.
"I bring- brought- Soup," Lif smiled, walking closer and holding out the thermos; Alex took it gratefully, nodding.
"Thanks. What language did you originally speak, by the way?"
"Old tongue in Hell; not really spoken so much anymore, but I am old," Lif chuckled, sitting down on the edge of the bed, near the footboard, and leaning back, planting his hands. "Straight to the point, yes? I like it."
"How old are you," Alex asked, swallowing nervously and sitting up straighter, letting his chin rest on his knees.
"Old," Lif repeated, smiling wryly. "Long life is not a bad thing, altogether- but, it is not good, either."
"Why's that?"
"Well…" Lif smiled, looking down at his lap. "I was alive during the Old Wars. Do you know of them?"
"Nah, from another world and all that. You know I don't fucking belong here, and all." Alex winked, cringing inwardly as Lif chuckled.
"Of course, of course," Lif smiled, not replying to the bite. "Back then; Hell and Heaven, Demons and Angels- they were not connected to the world. They find holes in the gaps and make their way through- many, many died. More, and more, and so very many… angels and demons contracted humans, promising power, survival… I was one such demon," He chuckled, shaking his head. "A traitor. On the side of goodness. I did not hate, and neither did my contracted human."
"Then… how did the war end?" Alex asked, leaning back. "Also, why are you telling me this?"
"The war ended because… well, according to the history books, an unknown god of creation stepped in; she opened the portals to heaven and hell, she founded Contracted Arms, and then… she left."
"The way you say that," Alex mumbled, hesitating. "What uh… what really happened?"
"There are rumors," Lif began, smirking. "Of a mad god who calls himself a writer of plays; one who pretends that his power is finite. Limited."
"Eh…?" Alex angled his head, confused.
"They say he is from a world that bridges ours with all the others- some call it the Hill, and others; Court. They say, he came from there; that Court."
"Your God, supposedly came- what kind of rumor is that?" Alex asked incredulously, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes. Supposedly, our God came from another world. The one who made all that we see; so, if that's true," Lif began, chuckling, and his voice slowly dropped, becoming warm, conspiratorial. "-Then you have every right feel home here."
"Hold on- is this just some kind of made-up story to make me feel better?" Alex asked urgently, and Lif smiled slowly, winking. When the giant of a man spoke, Alex's heart stopped.
"Nah. Lif won't remember this conversation my man- but I hate to see someone feeling like that. My whole life, I was told that I'm unwelcome because of a difference; not from around here, too much life experience, looking different… get that dumb idea that you're not welcome here just because you're different out of your head, moron- and, drink your soup dude. You need some rest."
Standing, Lif chuckled and pushed out into the hallway as if he'd said nothing strange- as if he hadn't sounded like a different man, and Alex was left there stricken, staring at the door.
How much of that was Lif? And how much was… does Lif really know the… did the god hear his mention like a prayer…?
"L-Lif?!" He croaked, but the only answer was silence.
-
Chuckling, Lif made his way down the main streets of a nearby city; he'd slipped away whilst nobody was paying attention, telling the gate guard that he sought only a day off- to do some shopping.
His footsteps carried him to a warehouse on the edge of town, where he stepped past a door labeled 'Employee Access Only' and entered, looking around. There; a set of stairs leading to what should be the floor supervisor's office. Headed that way, humming, Lif reached the top of the stairs and knocked; silence, from the other side.
Heedless, the massive man pushed open the door, stepping inside and looking around.
"Ayano," He smiled. There were, scattered about, a number of corpses; and sitting on the desk, panting, a blonde woman with Pempan features glaring at him from under a curtain of bangs. "You've made no move to kill me or leave," He noted, stretching. "What's up with that?"
"Lif of Wolfpack. What do you want?" She asked, chest heaving. "Know you're not a killer."
"Yes yes, Lif that's me mhm," He chuckled, nodding, and Lynx tensed, suddenly drawing her firearm and letting two suppressed shots bury themselves in his chest- or rather, he let her try. The bullets fell, hitting the floor as he stepped forward toward her; and Ayano, to her credit, didn't seem to be preparing to run.
"Relax," Lif rolled his eyes. "I don't want to hurt you. I have a message."
"What's the message?" She snapped, narrowing her eyes still further.
"You can trust Wolfpack when your moment of need comes. Their goal is the safety of the world itself- no reason for them to harm you."
"That all?" Ayano snapped, and Lif shook his head.
"Nah. No matter how hard you look- you won't find The Giant. Not yet. These people- they're uh, how to say… useless to you. Every lead will turn up dead for a few more months. Do with that what you will. I gotta say though- you're snippy when you're not reporting to your retainers. It's kinda hot."
"Fuck you," Ayano snapped, but something in her spine went a little more rigid. "Who are you, really?"
"Lif! Of Wolfpack," He added, as if the clarification was needed. "I just… wanted to let you know. You can't find The Giant yet- not until you're able to do something with that info. I won't say you can kill him, but…"
"Whoever you are, let me be," Ayano said flatly, voice steeling. "I have a job to do."
"Right right, whatever," Lif nodded and turned away, shrugging. "I'll be going home now."
"Wait," Ayano snapped, yet again, her voice biting. "What um… what are you? Seriously."
"I'm Lif, of Wolfpack," Lif chuckled, and was on his way.
-
"Lif, wake up are you okay?" Aurelia snapped, and Lif jolted, sitting up and smiling.
"Yes, yes, I am okay- what is wrong, short woman?"
"Are you alright?" She repeated, unfazed by even the nickname for now. "I mean- Alexander said that you were being really weird, and he won't tell me the details. The gate guards said you were… different, too. Mentioned shopping."
"Yes! I am fine," Lif chuckled, nodding and grinding the heels of his hands against his eyes. "I am unsure how long I have napped, but I had a splendid dream; there was no war, and I slept with three beautiful women and a sheep the size of an elephant!"
For a moment, Aurelia just stared, tired… and then she nodded.
"I'm going back to bed."
"Myself as well," Lif chuckled, and let his head fall back into the couch, eyes closing. In moments, he was gone.