"There are many soldiers standing guard on the bridges," Blanc sighed, "We cannot pass."
Miyanna sighed, "You jinxed it, Celine."
"Push the thought away," Celine countered, "It was just a simple deduction from the things happening around us, far from being a jinx."
"Then we stay as discussed, right, brother?" Kael asked, tilting his head towards him.
"I do not plan on going against it," Blanc nodded, eyes stuck on what lay in the distance.
"Sounds like a however is coming," Lune added.
To which Blanc chuckled, "Exactly. I want to get a bit closer to hear what the soldiers are talking about; maybe we can learn something important from it."
"Not a bad plan to know what we're dealing with," Celine agreed, "How close do you think you need to get?"
"We are half a mile away from the first bridge, and the river below gets in the way of my hearing, so I assume two-three hundred feet closer," he thought out loud.
"Too close for comfort," Miyanna said, not liking what she was hearing, "Can't we just go back?"
"It's important," Celine intervened, "Think about it. What if we learn important information as how many guards are at each Garden exit? Or what is really happening outside right now?"
"It's too good an opportunity," Blanc nodded, turning to look into Miyanna's eyes.
Miyanna gave up, knowing damn well she won't convince the two when things followed their reasoning, "Fine. But not for long, okay?"
"Ten minutes and we are on our way back towards the burrow," Blanc said, looking towards the bridges one more time. "Good enough, little ones?"
"If that is the extent, then yes," Kael said, as Lune nodded in agreement to the arrangement.
With that, they began their slow, silent walk towards the bridges, trying to make as little sound as possible to allow Blanc to focus entirely on the conversations the soldiers were having.
"They are coming, run towards the Turtle Path!" a soldier yelled.
It did not even need Blanc's hearing to hear the panic in his voice, as all five of them were able to hear the man's screams.
They froze, instinctively turning toward one another, thinking that they had been discovered.
But when Blanc leaned out from behind the trunk of a nearby tree, his breath held, he saw that the soldiers weren't heading their way at all.
Instead, they were sprinting off the bridge that linked the taiga to the two Gardens, rushing instead toward the one that connected the rainforest to the wetlands.
Even as he watched, more soldiers emerged from the wetlands' side, forming ranks across the bridge and blocking the path entirely.
"What in Vita's name is happening?" Blanc muttered, as this time all peeked over, watching what was going on.
Luckily, they had a direct view of the bridge from a few hundred feet away.
Having a clear sight of all the soldiers that stood, defending the bridge.
As well as the beasts that were approaching at a frightening speed.
One of the beasts, a Spirit Bear, jumped high in the air, the fur letting go of its shape, leaving only the woman that remained in its stead.
"Allegra," Celine muttered, eyes wide in surprise.
A white light left Allegra's eyes towards the soldiers.
"Jump," she commanded, her voice travelling clearly all the way to Blanc's location.
A second later, the soldiers climbed the edges of the bridge and threw themselves off into the gap.
Lune yelped as the first of the soldiers made contact with the violent river, which, under its power, ripped the poor man to pieces.
Kael and Miyanna couldn't watch the violence as it happened.
But Blanc and Celine weren't even paying attention to it, as the voice that spoke from the wetlands, loud enough for all to hear, drew all their focus away.
"Such hatred… Your barbarism knows no end," said the man whom Celine recognised immediately.
"Alvin of Noble Blood Certa," she muttered, just as more soldiers poured from the wetlands forest, carrying people on their shoulders and placing them one by one on their knees in front of Alvin.
"Hubby, isn't that?" Miyanna whispered.
To which Blanc nodded, "Yes, that Heru and that tailed woman, safe to assume that all of the others are Metamorphs as well, and the one behind them is the former enemy of our Blood. The Patriarch of Blood Certa."
"Brother…" Kael muttered.
"Not to worry," Blanc said, turning on his heels and petting Kael lightly, "We will not get involved. Let's go back towards the burrow."
Loud exhales could be heard from Lune, Kael, and Miyanna, hearing his words.
"I AM THE ONE WHO DECIDES, NOT YOU," yelled Alvin in the distance.
"He killed one of them," Celine said, loud enough for all to hear.
"May the Vita rest his soul, now let's go," Blanc said as he started walking away.
"Wait," Celine said, "We need to help them."
"No, we fucking don't, Celine," Miyanna sighed, walking towards her, trying to drag her away, "We are five, and inside the Wetlands is a whole army, we cannot fight."
"We are not five if we help," Celine replied, "Think about it, my love."
"I won't risk all our lives for them," Blanc shook his head, "We will not make a difference, and we still need to get stronger in order to be able to change anything, love."
Celine sighed, turning her head towards the conversation that was taking place between the Patriarch of Blood Certa and the older man with white eyes.
Truth be told, she did not want to help them either.
She knew the risks involved, especially that they would go against all that they previously discussed.
Staying hidden and getting stronger in the Gardens for a month before they continue towards her father's Domain.
That was the plan.
But things sometimes change, and in that change, many opportunities may lie dormant.
Dormant until someone brave enough to reach for them, grabs them, pulling them into the light.
"When a thousand swords press against your skin, no amount of strength in this world will stop all from piercing your heart," Celine muttered, as she turned to face her husband, "For a thousand swords, the best strength is another thousand of your own, my love. I know how much you value your own strength. I do, too. But our strength against an entire army will not suffice to rescue your family or live a good, normal life. What we need are allies. Not just my father, but as many as possible."
"This is not the time to make allies, Celine," Blanc looked into her eyes, not convinced by her reasoning.
"What better time than now?" Celine asked, moving towards Blanc, "Now is the best time to get the Metamorphs on our side or have them owe us a favor. We have the means to solve this by nightfall and have them at our call."
Blanc turned to the side, looking at Miyanna and the twins, before staring into the gap for a few moments.
"The fights we will find ourselves in the not-so-distant future will require numbers and allies more than personal strength," Celine continued, "And if the first step towards ensuring we will be ready when the time comes is to throw away all our plans and take the opportunity in front of us, why waste it?"
Blanc remained silent, his eyes still in the gap below.
"I hate how much sense it makes," Miyanna sighed, gently kicking at a pile of snow nearby.
"I do not want to do this," Kael shook his head, "But if we have to do it, I will follow."
Lune clicked her tongue, "I knew it. Well then, shall we?"
Which made Blanc chuckle, seeing that his little sister had more courage than even he did.
But after all, he hated the idea with all his being, yet there was nothing he could argue against.
His wife's words were flawless, devoid of any gaps in logic.
Was this the only choice they had?
Certainly not.
Would it be best to turn on their heels and walk away towards the burrow?
Perhaps so.
Was heading into the mouth of the snake for people they barely met and fought with a good enough reason to throw away all their plans?
Maybe not. At least they could ensure they got the most out of it.
"Do you think you can make them our allies?" Blanc asked, looking over his shoulder at Celine.
"With ease," she grinned.
"Well then," Blanc sighed, "Let's join the fray."
They dashed forward, passing the bridge that took them back into the rainforest without being noticed, as all present were focused on Alvin as he spoke.
"Finally, some emotion. But that is unfortunately a wrong and totally unsatisfactory answer, mind you," he said, just as Blanc and the group reached the bridge.
"Snakes ought to be snakes even after they shed their scales," Blanc spoke out loud, taking the jaguar pelt off him, revealing his hair color.
As all the eyes turned to face them, they began walking on the bridge.
"Blanc…" Allegra muttered.
He nodded back towards her as he approached the gathering of Metamorphs, staring at them.
Many were giants in their own right, scary-looking people.
"Ah," Alvin gasped, annoying voice drawing Blanc's attention to him, "If it isn't the vanished pups of Blood Denegis."
"I would lie if I said it is good to finally meet you, Lord Certa," Blanc bowed sarcastically as he was now shoulder to shoulder with a confused Allegra.
"The sentiment goes both ways since it seems you have entered the Silver Gardens illegally," Alvin muttered, eyes exhausted, "But what can you expect from the noblest of Bloods, who torture and steal, then act like it's their birthright?"
"I don't remember you wearing such a tongue last time we met, Lord Certa," Celine said, taking a step forward.
"What a delightful surprise," Alvin bowed, "My Lady Maroux."
"I am of Blood Denegis now, My Lord," Celine replied, pointing out the truth.
"Ah, yes, forgive me," Alvin smiled politely, "My Lady Denegis. But forgive my sudden question, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, since, as you can see, I am quite preoccupied right now."
"That truly is unfortunate, Lord Certa," Blanc said sardonically, "But you see, these people are under our protection."