Of course.

Of course.

If Ares had been a betting man, he would have made quite a bit of money from the guess. He sighed over his bowl of meat soup. Abdan sat opposite him with a few humans, he only brought around his sister, a pair of nobles that were siblings, as well as a pair of guards. The Roaring Tridents remained nearby, though only six of them were around.

Nearby were the various members of the races that wished to join Ares on the expedition. He was surprised to see a few familiar faces with the oxfolk and the wolffolk, though he still felt fairly awkward when it came to the various wolffolk due to Inta.

Then there were a couple from the bearfolk that were related to Rori in someway, a couple dragonfolk, one being Saykkera, the other being The First Dragon. Ares was surprised to see the latter.

Then there was Mala. She was one of the only two catfolk, the other he recognised as being one of the original beastfolk that had joined him when he was a chief still.

Ares rubbed his forehead. “Mala. I’m not taking you.” He said finally, wanting to get it over with, like ripping off a plaster.

Mala narrowed her eyes and then she got up, marched over to Ares, and then sat down beside him. Ares raised a hand to one of the soldiers nearby who had stirred at the movement.

“No means no.” Ares said. Mala did not move from his side however, but he left it at that. He looked to the others and then quickly scanned them with his eyes.

“It’s a pleasure to meet with you all, I’m glad I have such noble and reliable fellows to choose from. Though I will say that I will have the oxfolk and the wolffolk choose amongst themselves who they wish to send along with me.” Ares then turned to look at the dragonfolk.

“I suppose I should leave Saykkera here, but…” He looked into Saykkera’s eyes, they pierced deep into his own and he suddenly felt a deep guilt. “You had helped me so much already yesterday…” She continued to glare into his eyes expectantly. “Very well, if that’s your wish, then…” Ares looked to the First Dragon, who bowed his head.

“It is understood, Great King.” He said with his deep voice that even made Ares feel a little tingly, especially after their last meeting. He still couldn’t quite recall what had happened.

Ares then looked at the bearfolk. “I also do not know much about you, so I’d like you to pick amongst yourself however you wish. I assure you that those not picked to go on this expedition will have another chance to do something else. I shall not forget about you next time around.”

“Either way, Ares-kin, you will need a tracker.” Kask said.

Ares nodded and then looked to the others. “Are any of you trackers?”

“We all know a little tracking.” A bearman said with a deep ashy voice, chuckling.

“We all also know how to cook meat, but that doesn’t make you a good cook.” Kask replied, his eyes darkening.

“It is true that Kask’s tracking ability is fairly high, it would be a great boon.” Ares said.

With that the other oxfolk seemed to retreat, Ares flashed his brows in surprise. He hadn’t realised it was going to be so simple for them, or for himself, to pick from them. Korra seemed a little disappointed, though then he turned to the wolffolk.

“You should be glad, oh King, I will accompany you on your journey.” Siff said, the tiny wolf woman that had come with him to conquer the mountain.

“Why are you going?” Asked Rob, another wolffolk that had come with him to conquer the mountain.

“I go.” Ampa and Anka both said at the same time. It was then they both stood up and walked off to go and fight.

Ares just chuckled as Anka, Ampa’s twin sister, returned and sat down victorious.

Rob and Slate both sighed and Atta then crawled onto Siff’s lap, seemingly overjoyed that Siff wasn’t going to join him on the adventure.

Ares wondered why each pair came, he couldn’t see them without one another. He thought that it would have been perfect if Inta had come with him and his mood quickly soured.

‘Ah shit…’

The bearfolk each fought with one another to see who would come, and it was great entertainment for the others.

“You are picking one of each race to go along with you?” Abdan asked.

“Yeah, this way no one will assume I’m picking favourites and this expedition will have everyone’s footprint into it.”

“What of your human representative?”

“We don’t really have any hum-…” Ares looked to Abdan. “I suppose that would be up to you. Though I’m not sure just how those in the West will see a human, they may try to kill a human first and then ask questions later.”

“On the outside, you too look human.” Abdan said.

“Sure, but I’ll very quickly dispel such a notion.”

Abdan remained in thought for some time before nodding his head. “If you are willing, I will speak with my warriors to see if any would wish to help you.”

“No pressure, no one has to come with me, it’s just an offer that I’ve given to all those here.”

Abdan bowed his head. It was then that Emerli appeared with Lana, flanked by a couple of Marching Blades.

“Ah! Emerli.” Ares smiled as he motioned a hand to his side, only to pet Mala’s thigh accidentally having forgotten she was there. “Excuse me.” Ares laughed as he shifted slightly to the side as Emerli took her place beside him and then Lana beside her.

“This is Emerli, she is the sister I told you about last night.” Ares smiled to Abdan.

Abdan stared at Emerli in surprise. “A Hablin?” Abdan asked.

“What?”

“She is a Hablin.” Abdan said as the other humans pulled away, though Ares could see that Abdan was restraining himself from doing so.

“She is my sister, I don’t really know what a Hablin is.”

“Beings of old. They were hunted until they were extinct on our continent.”

“Well…” Ares said as he raised his brows. “What?”

“They had betrayed our people many generations ago, during the time of my ancestor, and so they fought and my ancestor drove them into extinction. They had almost done the same to us.”

“Well damn.” Ares whispered. “I hope there isn’t an issue.”

“Emali is of your kin, there is no issue.” Abdan said as he turned to face his own people, saying something to them in his own language.

“Well, it’s good to know what she is I suppose. Thank you.”

Emerli had curled up beside Ares as she ate. She was sweating quite profusely. Ares reached up to pet her head. “A Hablin, huh? Well it’s nice to know.” He said to her. “Don’t worry, you’re still my little sister alright.” Ares said before he froze.

It wasn’t so long ago that she had seen him nude when she applied the stench ridden herbs onto his body. Ares rubbed his forehead with both hands, far too depressed at the thought.

“When are you leaving?” Lana’s voice broke through his thoughts.

“Ah, right… there’s still a few things that need to be done…” Ares thought about the new beastfolk, as well as the oxfolk that he wanted to stay at the capital. He sighed. “In a week perhaps?”

Lana frowned, but didn’t continue her line of thought. Once Lunch was done and they had finalised who was going to come along with Ares, he left to go for a walk around Rivea before settling down at the fountain.

“Yo, Levi. Are you there?” He asked the pool of water. Asyllia was nearby and Saykkera took her place on the opposite side. The pool of water rippled. “Just checking on you, everything okay?” The pool rippled again. “Honestly, I have no idea if that’s good or bad.” Then the pool whirled before rippling once more. “Right, so whirl is bad?” The pool rippled. “Alright, cool.” Ares chuckled and then as he was about to say something, someone hugged him from behind.

He felt two large bags of meat atop his head. “Lana, would you mind?” Ares said as he turned red, struggling onto his feet.

“You’re quite the man, Ares.” She dragged him up slowly and then wrapped an arm around his waist.

“Right? I feel as though that isn’t meant to be a compliment, my dear Lana.”

“It isn’t.” She said.

Ares turned to face her. “Would you like to walk and talk?” Ares asked as he reached down to hold her hand and pulled her along.

“You are leaving without marrying me?” Lana asked and then Ares stopped on the road to the river.

Ares turned to face her. “Oh shit…” He whispered. “Right, yeah, you’re right about that…” He said as he stared into her eyes. “I’m very sorry about that…” He said as he turned red.

She narrowed her eyes.

“I promise I will make it up to you.”

“I will remember that.”