‘Was there ever a doubt? And yes, Jocelyn knows. Alcatrix will also serve as her bodyguard, joining her as soon as we stop. The governor has agreed to feed her well and provide cushions for her to lie upon in sunny places throughout the rebuilt governor’s mansion.’
“They rebuilt the mansion?”
“We did leave a bit of a mess last time we were there,” Micah offered.
‘I think I may have had something to do with that…’ Brandt’s booming voice joined the group conversation.
“We appreciate your efforts to come to our rescue.” Braden affectionately slapped the bull’s side.
‘We didn’t do the building any favors, either,’ Bounder added.
“Between lightning spears and rampaging Aurochs, it’s surprising there was anything left at all.”
‘Ergo, the need to rebuild.’ G-War looked sound asleep as he and Fea lay curled up together on Brandt’s head. But their minds were actively engaged as they coordinated their takeover of the known world.
“The price of lasting peace is a soft bed and a good meal.” Braden looked perplexed as he contemplated the ‘cat’s approach. “Is that all it takes? Micah and I have been doing it the hard way, and the wrong way?”
‘Relax, human,’ G-War started. ‘Once power becomes its own goal, then the only way is the hard way. You have created the conditions whereby we can keep the peace, before power for its own sake takes hold again. We couldn’t delay any longer.’
“We were enjoying too much of the peace to keep it,” Micah suggested. “Weren’t ‘cats already in positions where they could influence the direction of humanity?”
‘We need more ‘cats in more places, and they need clear direction. Too many ‘cats can’t be bothered with the affairs of humans. That’s why they need to have their world rocked. They need to answer to me, and then they will do what needs to be done.’
“You are the best friend anyone could ever ask for, G,” Braden said as he hugged Micah tightly.
‘Don’t try to pet me. I will scratch you.’
“When you least expect it,” Braden promised.
Aadi held on to Brandt’s short tail and bounced along too close behind the great king. ‘This is most undignified,’ the Tortoid finally said.
Braden found a length of rope and tied it around his waist. The group waited for a moment while Aadi shifted position.
“Better?”
‘Yes. Thank you,’ Aadi replied.
Whitehorse was winding down from whatever the day held for it. Late afternoon saw the people heading for their homes or standing about making small talk. The sight of the governor leading a herd of Aurochs, a creature that had been previously unknown in the north until Braden and Micah appeared with Brandt pulling their Old Tech wagon, gave them pause.
The herd made everyone stop what they were doing to watch.
‘Maybe you keep the herd outside of town?’ Micah told Brandt.
Brandt relayed the instructions to his people while he closed the gap, joining those on horseback as they entered the town. He made the streets seem narrow, but they could handle carts and wagons of Whitehorse’s expanded trade.
Jocelyn raised a hand to stop, tying her horse at the post near the front of the former government building. Micah climbed down from Brandt, and Braden followed. She looked at him knowingly. Braden grimaced.
“We shed a lot of blood doing it the hard way.”
“Remember the wise words of a certain prince,” Micah replied with a wink. She wasn’t bothered at all. When someone threatened her, she dealt with it. Woe to those who would do violence to the president.
Braden nodded. He felt like he was in the river again, hanging on for the ride as the raft raced down the rapids. Hang on, he told himself. It’s not out of control.
Two multi-colored ‘cats joined Jocelyn, rubbing their bodies against her legs. She saw it as affection. ‘Cats saw it as marking their property. Braden didn’t explain it to the governor because it wouldn’t change anything.
“You’re here to deal with an upstart,” Braden said.
“Yes. Let’s see how they respond to our show of force.” Jocelyn wasn’t a fan of flexing her muscles. She saw the destruction that her now-dead husband wrought by flaunting his physical power over the people. She looked warily at the Wolfoids, who were walking upright and carrying their lightning spears. “Maybe we’ll gauge their response to intelligent creatures who aren’t human first.”
Nearly all of the ‘cats had climbed from their Aurochs mounts and walked into Whitehorse. Jocelyn shook her head, but continued on her mission. Servial reassured her that all would be well.
“I don’t know why, but I find it comforting to have you in my head,” Jocelyn said out of the blue.
The others knew exactly what she was going through and with whom she was talking.
“Are you guys feeling the love?” Braden asked the advisors.
“I don’t know what you mean,” one of the men replied.
“Do you think our mission here will be successful?” Micah clarified.
“I’m sure that our mission was always going to be successful. I’m not sure about now, but we’ll see.” The man looked at the menagerie that accompanied the governor. Alcatrix strolled by, stopping momentarily to drive a long claw into the man’s calf. He yowled in pain and started hopping on one leg. He tried to kick the ‘cat, which only earned him a face full of anger and two long scratches down each arm.
“Stop goofing around and come on!” Jocelyn growled. The man had the wherewithal to stop complaining. He shied away from Alcatrix. The ‘cat darted toward him and he almost fell over before the ‘cat, with tail held high, trotted away.
As the advisors moved together, almost shoulder to shoulder, Braden and Micah forced their way between them. G-War and Fea walked close by.
“A new group of advisors is in town, boys. You’ll support the governor or there will be grave consequences.” Braden slapped the injured man on the back and with a hearty laugh, picked up his pace to catch up with Jocelyn.
G-War tripped a different advisor. He stumbled and fell. G-War jumped out of the way to keep from getting landed on. “Come on, G, that was just mean.”
‘I’m making a point. I’d like them to change their attitudes, but they are taking too long. They need a proper dose of fear.’
“Do they have it?” Braden wondered aloud.
‘Not yet, but almost.’
Jocelyn powered through the town square, trying to smile and wave, but she was singularly focused on the task at hand—reining in an upstart.
Braden suspected the ‘cats were helping her focus. They were probably hungry and wanted to eat, but knew they wouldn’t get anything as long as Jocelyn was distracted.
Micah held Leah’s hand to make sure the young girl stayed out of the mix. Brandt loomed over the group. The advisors cast furtive glances his way and at the Wolfoids who stayed near Micah and Braden.
‘I do not like this place,’ Bounder said.
‘This used to be the last safe place in Warren Deep, but when they stole from me, G-War and I went south,’ Braden replied.
Before Bounder could answer, Jocelyn stormed up to a door where two burly men stood. They blocked her way. ‘Cats swarmed around them.
“Hey!” Braden exclaimed. “I recognize you.”
From a window to the side, an old man stuck his face out. “There’s nothing for you here, little girl.”
Micah bristled, but Braden held her back. “This isn’t your fight, but if it needs to be, we’ll jump in. This guy owes me.”
Micah nodded while baring her steel.
“You owe me eight platinum, old man. I’m here to collect your debt,” Braden called.
“I’m here to stop your interference with my directives.” Jocelyn glared at the old man. The guards continued to block the way.
‘Move,’ Brandt boomed. The humans winced and cleared a path between him and the door. He pawed the ground and started to c
harge. The men’s courage failed them, and they dove out of the way. Brandt slammed into the door, ripping it from its hinges and sending it flying into the house. The doorframe was twisted from his horns, which didn’t fit through the gap. Brandt backed away.
‘Cats with claws out stood over the men. The two didn’t move. Aadi let go of the rope and hovered peacefully.
Jocelyn strolled through the opening and turned left, heading for the room where she’d last seen the old man. Servial and Alcatrix followed her.
Braden smiled. “I like this new arrangement.” They remained outside, waiting.
Bounder and Strider loped around the side of the house, spears slapping the ground as they ran. A shout suggested the quarry had tried to escape. Braden and Micah walked around the house to find the old man against the wall, Wolfoid spear tips pressed against his chest, and Jocelyn standing with her arms crossed.
“You owe me eight platinum,” Braden reiterated as they approached.
A focused thunderclap sounded from the other side of the house. Braden took one step and stopped. If anyone needed help, they’d call for it.
“Well?” Braden leaned close.
“I don’t owe anyone anything.” The man thrust his chin out in defiance. Bounder pulled his spear away, reversed it, and slammed the butt end into the man’s forehead. The old man’s knees buckled and he slumped to the ground. Jocelyn reached down to help him up.
‘Stop!’ Alcatrix commanded. ‘It’s a trick. He has a knife.’
The ‘cat jumped in and slashed the man’s wrist. When he pulled his hand away, a small knife fell from numb fingers. Alcatrix continued her attack with two quick slashes before walking away.
‘It is done.’
Jocelyn’s mouth hung slack as she looked at the widening pool of blood beneath the old man’s body.
“You don’t kill anyone without my authority!” she declared.
‘This is where we see what you do not. That man would forever be a cancer to everything he touched. It is better this way, and that is why you will have to trust that we have humanity’s best interests in what we do. If you approved what we did, then you would be responsible. The Hillcats have relieved you of that responsibility and in the end, humanity will be better because of it,’ Servial explained while Alcatrix calmly groomed her face.
Bounder and Strider stood with their spears facing the sky. Braden shrugged and the four walked away, leaving Jocelyn and the two ‘cats to work out their issues.
When they reached the front of the building, they found the two men on the ground, blood dripping from their ears.
“They tried something?” Braden asked.
‘To their misfortune, yes,’ Aadi answered.
G-War and Fea were surrounded by Hillcats in poses showing a variety of ‘cat emotions, from complete indifference to mild interest. The two guards started to roll on the ground and grab their heads. G-War stared at them. When he looked away, they stopped moving.
“Did you just kill them with your brain?” Braden stepped back, eyes wide as he tried to understand what he saw.
‘If only…’ G-War lamented. ‘No. They needed to forget a couple things and remember a couple others. I think you’ll find them to be more amenable to being decent human beings now.’
The men struggled to their feet, swaying uneasily.
“They need you to help out in the market square,” Micah suggested. They nodded and staggered away.
Jocelyn appeared in the destroyed doorway, bracketed by two ‘cats. “Well then, I guess that’s that.” She looked at the three men who were her advisors. “I’m putting you three in charge of recovering the property that he took from the people of Whitehorse. Return it to them. Retain ten percent for the government, which I expect you’ll be able to find in property that has no owner.”
She didn’t bother to make any threats. The ‘cats would oversee the recovery. She wouldn’t have them closer than she found comfortable.
Leah and the twins were sitting on the ground and watching. Surrounded by Hillcats, she was talking and gesturing.
The Wolfoids returned from behind the home. Aadi floated near Braden and Micah. Brandt snorted. G-War and Fealona stood, shook themselves, and walked away.
“I guess we’re leaving?” Braden asked.
‘Our work here is done, and we must get to Ankhmar.’
“We’ll be leaving you now,” Braden told Jocelyn. “It was great to see you. Maybe next time, we won’t leave any dead bodies behind.”
“Maybe,” Jocelyn said sadly, before brightening and smiling widely. “Until next time, when we can simply celebrate living in a better world.”
“That is the hope,” Micah replied.
‘That is the plan,’ the Golden Warrior added.
Ankhmar
The carcass from the side of water buffalo sat near the firepit. The small amount they’d carved off for the humans and the Wolfoids cooked quickly over the small fire. The ‘cats had ravaged the rest. Most of them were still sleeping off the food coma.
The Hawkoids had also helped themselves to the water buffalo, and they too were sleeping it off. They filled the trees surrounding the camp.
Jocelyn had been kind enough to purchase the meat for the group, although Braden tried to pay for it himself. As she said, friends buy presents for friends. They had accepted and all had benefitted from her generosity. The Aurochs had cleaned out much of the scrub along the road north out of Whitehorse, the way to Cameron.
“We’ve quite the mob,” Braden said softly when he saw Micah’s eyes were open. They were awake early, but they weren’t the only ones.
G-War’s eyes glinted in the pre-dawn light. The ‘cat’s mind was racing. Today was the day he’d confront the rest of his people. Fea rubbed her body against his. He finally closed his eyes and leaned into her.
“I think he’s learned the burden we carry. It’s hard to be in charge. Everyone looks to you for answers and most of the time, you don’t have them,” Micah said softly.
“All the time. We make it up as we go.”
“Do we?” Micah asked. “You have more of a plan than you let on.”
“Are you in my head again?”
“Always, but you keep your secrets buried.”
Braden kissed her on the cheek before throwing off his blanket. He found a Wolfoid tail too close to his face. He pushed it away before standing and stretching. Bounder rolled over, smacking his lips as if dreaming.
Aadi floated serenely nearby, eyes closed and legs dangling.
Brandt snored loudly. Other Aurochs joined him in snorting and wheezing.
“I’m not sure I like sleeping on the ground,” Braden said.
Micah nodded. “I know that I don’t like it, but it’s part of the deal. Until we can have places throughout the land for travelers to stay, it’s the ground.”
“More construction bots?”
“Maybe that’s the answer. Let Old Tech work for us.”
“Old Tech is already working for us. I know that it’s time for Old Tech to work for everyone else too, especially if the ‘cats can help keep people from subverting it. We can’t have another war. We just can’t.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Micah replied.
Braden turned toward the scruffy orange and black ‘cat. “Come on, G. Let’s get this menagerie on the move. It’s time to face your people.”
‘Yes,’ G-War answered. ‘It is time.’
The rolling hills signaled the entrance to Ankhmar, the home of the Hillcats. Having fed and rested, the Aurochs herd made short work of the trip. Early afternoon found them dismounting. The ‘cats were nervous.
Some yowled while others remained on their Aurochs, hesitant to jump down.
G-War was at the end of his patience. ‘Get down here,’ he commanded. There was no hint of a conversation. Slowly, the ‘cats complied, gathering in a loose semi-circle around their prince and his mate.
Braden, Micah, the twins, the Wolfoids, Brandt, and Aa
di remained behind the group. Braden and Micah checked their blasters, dialing them to narrow beams, so that just in case they had to use them, they wouldn’t burn the forest down. The Wolfoids checked their spears. Klytus and Shauna leaned against the twins, as much to give their support as to get it. Aadi watched as he usually did, not wasting his words on small talk.
‘We will go up there, where they have no use for our sort because we have chosen to rejoin the world. But the time of ‘cats keeping to themselves has come to a close. We have a role to play, the biggest role of any of Vii’s creatures, and that is to guarantee the peace. We’ve seen the world destroyed because we didn’t answer our calling. We cannot allow that to happen again. Humanity is destined for great things, as long as we let them.’
A few of the ‘cats stretched, exposing their claws and raking the ground. Klytus’s hackles raised while Shauna puffed her hair, making herself look bigger than she was. She growled low in her throat. Others took up the call. G-War looked from face to face, gauging if any would lose their courage if it came to a fight. He saw some who were afraid, their eyes and pupils wide.
‘Follow me,’ G-War said unnecessarily. He turned away from the group and headed uphill. ‘Where are you all going?’
‘We are in this with you, big man. We’re not staying behind.’
A hundred wings beat the air as the Hawkoid Nation took to the sky. They climbed and ominously circled the hillside.
Even Brandt followed, weaving his way along the widest path between the trees, working his head back and forth so his massive horns didn’t get caught on the trunks.
‘Hear, hear!’ Aadi called over the mindlink.
‘It smells like ‘cats in here,’ Bounder grumbled. Strider chuckled softly.
‘That’s the drawback when one travels with ‘cats. I expect they would say that it smells like Wolfoid. It took me two turns to get dog smell out of the hovercar. Don’t ever go in there again if you’re wet.’
‘Your unrefined human senses do you a disservice. As big as your noses are and you can’t smell the difference between aromatic musk of a Wolfoid, a dog, and ‘cat stench,’ Bounder replied.
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