A horn echoed through the lands as a lionman rode close on his giant lion mount. He had long hair that went beyond his shoulders, and a thick beard that covered his bare chest. It was loose and wild, and he seemed looser and wilder yet. His body was thick with muscle, built like a sturdy tree. His eyes were copper, yet fiery though he looked bored.

"You there, human," the lionman said. "You trespass upon my lands and kill my people. What last words do you have?"

Ares glanced back and then looked back to the lionman. "Oh! You're talking to me, excuse me." Ares laughed as he sat up, hearing the shuffling within his camp as his people awoke. "I'm not a human so I was a little confused. I am King Ares, Master of Waters, Kin of all Riveans. I was merely travelling through the land to explore the West when I was beset by a few kittens. I dealt with them well enough, though it was mostly a companion of mine who had slaughtered them." Ares cracked his neck.

The lionman snarled, raising a hand as some of his warriors stepped forward. "You find yourself surrounded Ares."

"Oh? It seems I have. I hadn't noticed." Ares laughed. "Though perhaps you'd like your people back, Leonta."

The lionman narrowed his eyes, snarling once more. "My people? What have you done to them?"

"Nothing. I am not a coward, which is why I have given my name so eagerly." Ares smirked. "You are Leonta, aren't you? Or perhaps you'd like to hide behind another name?"

"I am Leonta, chief of this realm!" The lionman threw out his arms and roared, and the few hundred lionfolk did the same. The few lions they had with them joined in with the symphony of roars.

“What a pleasure to meet you,” Ares said. He sat on the edge of the wall that he had created around his camp. “Allow me to return to you your people.” Ares then turned to look at the lionfolk within his camp that had awaited to be set free.

Leonta waited with his arms crossed, his lion ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. Ares raised a hand, creating a hole for the lionfolk to leave. They were hesitant for a moment before the woman that spoke up before took the first step out.

All was silent. Ares remained still and so did Leonta. Both stared at one another as the four lionfolk left. With each step the tension in the air rose as if both leaders anticipated something. As the lionfolk slaves had finally reached their kin, Ares spoke.

“I have returned to you your people.” He raised a hand and then filled the hole up using dirt that was dropped up over a few seconds. As he did so, he used the sound to mask him dropping a few bows near his own people as well as some arrows.

“You are a wise human indeed, to return to me my people unharmed,” Leonta said.

Ares smiled and nodded his head. “No, not wise. I merely told them that I would return them if they brought me to you, but instead they brought you to me. I am just keeping my end of the deal.”

Leonta narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Ares. “You have found me to be in good grace, I will allow you to pass by my lands. Make haste.”

“You misunderstand. I did not come here to ask for your permission to pass through your land, though I suppose it was on my agenda. I have come to speak with you, King to Chief.”

Leonta roared with laughter, his hair floating for a moment as he threw his head back. “Is it me that misunderstands?” Leonta continued to roar with laughter.

Ares remained smiling at the lionfolk folk man who could not stop laughing. “I do wonder… what did I say that was so funny?”

“Who are you to make demands of me, oh King?”

“I’m Ares.”

Leonta continued to roar with laughter. The lionfolk woman that had led the others stepped beside Leonta. He continued to laugh as she muttered something in their tongue, and then the laughter died until silence surrounded them once more.

Leonta glared at Ares, his eyes now examining the King before him. Ares continued to sit casually on the wall, resting his forearms against his upper thighs casually. His cloak billowed every now and again.

“How do you have a dragon with you?” Leonta finally asked.

“Well, a friend of mine had offered her to marry me, but right now we’re on our honeymoon,” Ares said. He then tossed his head back in laughter, though very quickly continued. “She joined me after I conquered Dragon’s Spine.”

Leonta’s eyes grew dark. “You conquered Dragon’s Spine? I had heard that it was a god that had done so.”

“A demi-god, yes.” Ares smirked. “So you have heard of me?”

“A human demi-god?”

“No, I’m only part human. I’m part phoenix as well.”

Leonta’s eyes grew wide in surprise. “What madness do you speak!?” Leonta reached out and then a lionfolk stepped forward with a large spear. “Then come at me!” He roared as he charged forward.

Ares hopped onto the wall. “Allow me to show you the true distance between you and I,” he said as he then leapt forward, kicking off the walls to bolt straight towards him as he cut through the air. Ares was about to summon a spear, but then instead tucked his knees up to his chest as though he were a cannon ball. As they neared one another he shifted his leg into a talon and then grabbed at the lionman’s hand as he swung his giant spear. Ares was almost pushed back, but he slammed his free foot down into the ground.

Leonta’s eyes grew wide in shock at the talon. He continued to push against Ares, even his giant lion mount tried to step forward.

“You… what are you?!”

“I am King Ares, Master of Waters, Kin of all Riveans, as given to me by Rivee.”

“Rivee? The water-mother?”

“The very same.” Ares smiled. “The water-mother indeed.” Ares laughed.

Leonta remained silent, but then stopped trying to push Ares. He snarled something to the lion mount and then eventually it stopped as well. Ares then pulled back.

“I acknowledge your words, King Ares.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Ares said. “It would have been very unfortunate if you had decided to continue.”