Xior tried opening the third and final door but it didn't move a single bit. The other two were easy, so why not this? He left it as there was no time to waste. He took the now transformed offspring along with him and walked back to the surface.
He reached the side of the mountain and punched through the side making a hole big enough for both of them to pass through. The offspring followed him closely, never letting his get too far.
He arrives at the Wolf Tribe and seeing the wolves the offspring gets scared and clings to Xior. He grabs her hand and guides her through the street.
"Don't worry, they won't hurt you." He said as he reached Tharnak's building.
He was standing outside and saw Xior alongside the offspring, his eyes widened and a chill made his tail twitch. But he endured, Xior saw this and stopped.
"Chief, relax. She won't cause anyone harm."
"I know but it's how everyone in the Tower reacts to a nameless." Tharnak replied.
"Nameless?" Xior questioned.
Tharnak didn't respond, Xior understood this topic was not to be discussed in public. Tharnak gestured Xior to come inside.
Kayla who just stood on the side went inside after her father as Xior and the offspring also entered.
*****
Xior sat on the opposite side of Tharnak. On the sides elders of the Wolf Tribe sat, all of them tall and covered in scars indicating they were warriors of great caliber.
Kayla stood behind her father and the offspring stood behind Xior, almost copying Kayla.
"Elders and Xior, I've asked all of you here to discuss the matters regarding the other tribes. Especially the Tiger and the Dragon Tribes." Tharnak said.
"Took you long enough, cub." An elder nearest to Tharnak said with a chuckle.
"Elder Tarlock I respect you a lot but please, don't mock me." Tharnak retorted.
"I'm not mocking you cub. I'm simply stating the truth.
The Tiger Tribe has been continuously attacking us and causing us loss, in both finances and people.
I'm simply astonished to see you finally ready to talk on this issue." Tarlock replied glaring at Xior.
"I agree with Tarlock." Another elder spoke followed by others.
"Indeed."
"Can you shut up Tarlock?"
"Eat shit old bastard."
Multiple insults were thrown out but it quickly died down. Tarlock still glared at Xior while Tharnak massaged his temples. The elders of the Wolf Tribe were great warriors but their personalities were worse than a dogs.
"I was waiting because if we had decided to launch a full scale attack on them, tell me...would you have participated in it?
Would any of you have had stepped forward and fought alongside the younger generation?
Don't give me this shit, you're all old dying bastards. You won't go in the battlefield and die a dogs death. Rather you'd enjoy being lazy in your homes and dying without honor."
"Chief Tharnak well said, let me add in something. Looking at all of you, I can tell you were great warriors in your active period but now you all are nothing but extra weight on the Wolf Tribe." Xior added.
"And who do you think you are? Outsider, to meddle in the business of us wolves?" Tarlock asked ready to attack Xior.
Xior pulled his shirt back and revealed a tattoo similar to Tharnak's on his bicep. He was an honorary member of the tribe.
"Do you still believe I shouldn't meddle?"
No response came, Tarlock sat on his chair waiting for Tharnak to continue.
"The Tiger Tribe has a total of 43 prisoners of ours while we have only 6. Apart from that they've attacked our hunting parties numerous times.
I'm going to send Xior here, with a proposal to the Rabbit Tribe. Their chief has good relations with all the tribes except for the dragon bastards." Tharnak said.
"What is this proposal you speak of?" An elder questioned.
"A call for alliance against the Dragon Tribe and a request to their chief to help us in freeing our brethren from the claws of the Tigers."
"Anything else, Chief?" Xior asked.
"Yes, while you're doing all this I will prepare the remaining soldiers to attack the Tiger Tribe if they refuse to release our people while there is still peace."
*****
Xior changed into better clothes, a brown fur lined shirt with dark brown leather pants. Commando boots and a bone necklace made by Kayla for him.
He was missing some fur, ears and a tail otherwise he'd fit perfectly among the Wolf Tribe. He left the offspring in Kayla's care. She was surprisingly great with children despite being a fierce woman.
Xior was given a map to know where he had to go, he walked down the mountain halfway and jumped down the rest. He turned right and walked.
In the distance he could see an almost modern city structure inside high walls. That was the Rabbit Tribe.
They were the most passive tribe and were amazing when it came to architecture. He arrived at the entrance but seeing his Wolf Tribe attire and a bone necklace around his neck which only Tharnak and Kayla had he was let inside.
The inside was beautiful, clean streets, a lot of greenery all around as little rabbit children hopped around playing with each other.
Not far away in the main square of the Tribe stood a woman who felt all too familiar to Xior. She was short but was mature, with long black hair, white rabbit ears coming out of her head.
Her eyes were golden in color and she wore a simple brown dress, her smile replayed the scenarios of the Abyss again and again.
He walked towards the crowd gathered in front of her as she spoke to them with confidence. Her arms bore all types of scars, Xior realized those were from the last attack before being separated from her.
He stood at the end of the crowd, he was tall enough to be the tallest person there. Alice looked at him as she continued speaking.
As soon as their eyes met, Alice felt as if she knew who it was. Her lips parted and a name almost slipped out of her mouth before she swallowed it.