“Azzo.” The catman shook hands with Ares.

Ares eyed him up, trying to figure out what Azzo was good at. The only thing Ares could figure out was that this catman was some kind of hippie or something, because he was high as all hell right now as they spoke.

Azzo nodded. “I didn’t know we were leaving today. Had some fun last night and continued it this morning.” He shrugged at Ares.

“Right… do you have a weapon?”

Azzo looked up at Ares and then stared into the man’s eyes. “Yeah I do,” he said eventually and then he pulled out a pair of long daggers from behind. Then he tossed one ahead before it disappeared and returned to his hands.

Ares’ eyes beamed with delight. “Wait a second, show me that again!” Ares stared intently at the catman who smiled. He tossed the daggers once more and then they reappeared in his hands.

“My father… found these,” Azzo said. He nodded and winked at Ares with a grin.

“Right, right.” Ares laughed.

He looked out to his little squad. Saykkera the silent dragonwoman, Kask the scout oxman, Ampa the berserker oxwoman, Teorn the silent bearman, and Azzo the blazing catman.

‘Is everything going to be okay?’ Ares though to himself as his eyes snapped from each person to the next. ‘Well…’

The sun had yet graced them with it’s presence. Ares had awoken quite early, wanting to head out as soon as to not be disrupted on the way. A few of the people had already been informed, though he had rudely awoken a couple of them from their slumber to make their way. He had offered each of them a little bit of the snake leather he still had and they didn’t really complain.

As Ares guided them to the path that was made to head to the fort quickly, he heard Torak call for him.

“Ares-kin, you are missing a member,” he said. Torak then motioned his head to Emerli who had grabbed a backpack and was carrying it with her.

Ares looked over to Torak and then to Emerli. “I don’t think I am missing a member,” he said. “Emerli, I can’t take you with me.”

Emerli avoided his look but walked over to the group. Ares looked back to everyone else and then sighed. “Alright, fine,” he said as he motioned a hand towards the group. “Torak, stay here and make sure no one else follows.” Ares turned his head to look passed a few home, staring right at a little catgirl that wanted to follow along. “Especially not you know who.”

Torak laughed.

Ares and company trekked onward. Ares kept a backpack with him as the others followed, each with their own backpacks too. Most of them brought along essentials, he assumed, as he had quite a bit of meat with him in his ring, as well as other foods.

“Kask, I’ll leave the hunting to you. Take Azzo with you when he’s more… clear,” said Ares as he threw a look back to Azzo who was keeping up well enough, looking up and around at the sky.

‘What have I gotten myself in to?’ Ares sighed.

The group continued until they arrived at the fort, causing a little bit of panic as Ares wasn’t expected. Ares was about to calm them down when he saw that they had finally created a large gate for the fort.

Ares raised a hand and then gave them a thumbs up, though they had no idea what it meant as he walked passed everyone. Heria eventually rode up to him.

“We didn’t expect you.”

“Nobody expects the Rivean Inquisition,” Ares said. He smiled and then bowed his head to Heria. “It’s good to see you, Heria-kin.”

“What do I owe the pleasure?”

“I’m heading out to the Western frontier. I’ll be seeing you.”

“Is that all you will tell me?”

“I’ve let Rori and Lana know about what’s to happen for the future. You’re in charge of the Battalion as I go, but the other two still outrank you. I hope you will serve them as faithfully as you have served me, and I hope they will serve you faithfully as I have served you.” Ares reached up and then grabbed her forearm. “I am at ease knowing you are here to guard the entrance to Rivea.” Ares bowed his head.

Heria raised a brow, though seemed slightly flustered at such earnest praise and faith. “Right, well…” she glanced aside to avoid his piercing gaze. “No one will enter Rivea without my say so.”

Ares laughed and waved at her as he then looked back to his group and then nodded. He led them away as the army saluted them as they left.

Ares made his way to the nearby wall that had formed with the slave labour. He hopped over the side of it and then helped the others over it before then dropping aside with Emerli in his arms before placing her down.

“Alright. Everyone should know their roles. Kask, most of this is on your shoulders though.”

Kask nodded his head. “I will guide us through,” he said. He reached over to shake Ares’ forearm.

“The most pressing business is to figure out a name for our group,” Ares said.

They looked between one another and looked at Ares queerly. Emerli especially didn’t hide her look of confusion.

“What? It’s important.” Ares raised his brows in return.

The group, which Ares tentatively dubbed the Super Seven, which caused him to cringe and then change the name to Storm Seven since they were storming through the Western lands in order to explore it, continued along the way. They naturally began to fall into their positions, with Kask leading up the front, followed by Azzo. Ares then walked beside with Emerli, with Anka and Teorn right there behind him, before Saykkera remained at the back.

They continued to travel for a few hours until Ares glanced aside to notice Emerli was sweating. She reached down to grab a bottle and then was about to drink it when Ares grabbed her wrist.

“Hey, what is this?” he said as he held onto her wrist. Emerli avoided his gaze as he then took the bottle from her and sniffed at it. He pulled away and clamped his eyes tight, looking aside as though he had taken a bite out of a lemon. ‘Holy! Damn! Whoa!’ he thought. “What is this?” He coughed.

Emerli was already panting but she shook her head, pulling her hands to her chest.

“Are you tired?” Ares asked.

Emerli remained silent and did not look up at him. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Seriously, this girl…” Ares reached up to rub the top of her head. “Let your brother know if you need help, that’s what I’m here for,” Ares said. He sighed and looked out to the others. “Let’s take a break. Saykkera and I will be on watch…” Ares then looked around at them all.

There was a long moment of silence as they waited for their King to continue. “Do… do any of you know how to cook?”

Teorn rolled up his sleeves.

Ares clasped his hands together and then bowed his head slightly. ‘Thank you.’

Teorn got to work with what meat Ares had splayed out for him. He carried with him quite a knife, though Ares was on watch so he couldn’t really admire it. Emerli had sat down by herself, and though Azzo tried to approach, even in his state he realised Emerli wanted to sit alone.

Ares wondered if he should have taken Lana along to keep Emerli at ease, but then he crossed his arms so he could think more clearly. No. Emerli would need to become more comfortable with the others.

As Ares kept watch he looked out across the plains. The oxfolk that had settled nearby were still around this area, he could see them not so far away, though it was the oxfolk right at the edge of the area.

They had even come to check just who was moving through the lands, but when they noticed it was Ares they had just nodded and let him through without much fuss.

He continued to stare off into the distance, though was brought back to attention by the sweet smell of cooked meat.

“It’ll take a few days to go beyond the lands we inhabited,” said Kask as he plated the food for Ares.

“Sounds good,” Ares said quietly, not really paying much attention to anything in particular.

“Are you alright?”

“Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“How much trouble we’ll be getting into.” Ares smiled.

Kask laughed.