KING OF BEASTS (Hiatus)

The night was as calm as any other night and the tentative peace between Ares and Boranran remained in place. No others had arrived during the night, though Ares wasn’t sure if that would remain for long. Eventually the dawn’s rays crested over and beat down against the group to reveal the seventeen buffalofolk, sans the individual that had left in the night. Ares’ own group were still unknown to the enemy, or at least that’s what Ares assumed.

 

Ares had kept the others a secret, and since he was on watch and it was becoming light, he informed his group to keep hidden for now. He had the advantage in some sense as the enemy had not yet seen how many that Ares had, and therefore he could keep his fellows a surprise, especially the Bitan and the Reptai, and he wasn’t entirely sure how they were going to deal with the human either.

 

“Ezak, make twice as much as normal, and make sure everyone eats half as much as normal,” Ares lifted a finger up to summon quite a bit of meat for Ezak to use. Ares’ stomach tightened, threatening him for food. He would keep the rest of the food for back up in case they were hungry and needed a quick pick me up during a fairly bad situation.

 

Eventually seven buffalofolk appeared, and Ares could make out which of the buffalofolk was the single figure that had left. For it was a woman, she was about as tall as Ares and her body was quite shapely with muscle. The other six however were like Boranran, far too muscular than they had right to be. They were giants, they made the woman look like a doll with how tall and wide they were, like boulders that were rolling towards them.

 

‘What the hell?!’ Ares narrowed his eyes slightly and he tensed up. These guys were shredded, and yet their biceps were so much bigger than Ares’ head. He wondered just how strong they really were. His heart pounded wildly, urging him forward to find out, but he kept his wants at bay for the moment. It was now that he had wished Saykkera was here, for at least she could have tested to see how strong they were without him doing something stupid.

 

Ares remained silent as his crew began to eat, Torak whispering if Ares would like any. Ares glanced back and then reached down, shifting the bowl into his hand before he lifted it back up and then dipped in some of the bread that had been cooked. He had shifted away the rest of the food as well, the giant pot that had held the soup and the pile of flat bread that Torak had helped make.

 

As they ate, the buffalofolk did so too. They had pulled out some form of rations, dried fruit and such, and they were even making bread out further away. Ares chuckled, for they looked like a small troop in a military, though with less tents and such. The Swole Six, as Ares had dubbed them, had brought with them a large bag, mostly filled with some form of vegetables that they had put into a soup.

 

At least they were prepared, Ares could at the very least respect that. He wondered if they were planning on fighting, Ares’ wouldn’t mind so much all things considered, he was sure that the Statue Seven could easily handle the twenty four buffalofolk, especially considering that one of them was fairly tired after travelling all night.

 

His troop had finished eating, and whereas the buffalofolk were not yet done, Ares raised a hand and summoned a flaming arrow that shot near towards the buffalofolk. Boranran stepped out to meet with Ares, covering about a third of the distance between them before stopping.

 

“So,” Ares began, “what brings you all here?”

 

“You have come to trespass on our lands and we will see to it that you leave,” the large buffaloman snarled in return.

 

“Oh? Do you really think I’d let you storm into my land and threaten my people and what… I’d let you go?”

 

Boranran made such a face that Ares had thought the man had bit into a raw lemon. “We did not come to raid your land, that blasted single-horn went for you.”

 

“Using buffalofolk, some of yours?”

 

Boranran did not reply, instead he narrowed his eyes. His muscles rippled as they tensed, before he relaxed. Ares smiled warmly towards the man.

 

“What? Cat got your tongue?” Ares cocked his head like a cheeky brat.

 

Boranran remained silent again as Ares looked out to the people. “So you have brought some guests along, are they here to make sure we leave?” Ares said as his eyes gleamed, he stared at the muscular lot that had arrived. “I do wonder if they’re any strong.”

 

“They will be more than enough to deal with the likes of you,” Boranran snarled.

 

Ares smirked and then cocked his head the other way. “Is that so? How much do you want to bet on that? I’m not exactly alone, am I?” Ares stared at the warriors, who were keeping a keen attention on him.

 

“Ranran! Enough chatter,” one particularly large man said as he stepped forward, a giant axe in hand, “I bore of such pleasantries.”

 

Ares turned his face to the large man. He noted that one of the massive figures was a woman, though Ares couldn’t entirely tell since it was just that her pectorals were sightly larger than the other buffafolk.

 

“Keep it down, Uta,” Boranran replied. “The chief and the King speak.”

 

“I tried of such speak,” the one known as Uta said as he pulled back his axe as if to throw it, judging the distance for a short while. “Is he as strong as they say?”

 

“Who knows?” Ares replied with a smile. “Why don’t you come and find out?”

 

Boranran stared at Ares, his eyes curious now. “So why have you come, oh King Ares? Have you come for vengeance?”

 

“If I had come for vengeance, I would have brought my army. I merely wanted to explore the land and offer to your people a chance at a better life.”

 

“Our lives are well enough,” Boranran replied.

 

“For now.” Ares smiled and then he popped a piece of flatbread into his mouth menacingly, chewing it slowly as though he was crushing their way of life with such a gesture. “I will allow you your peace, until I return.”

 

“If you return,” Boranran said.

 

Ares paused and then smiled wide. He rather enjoyed the banter, for he had once made the same joke. “Well now, I’m glad you have some wit about you.” Ares said as he hopped down and then he cracked his neck. “Torak, Orndu, Beor,” Ares called for them. “Come, let us talk with such fine fellows.”

 

With that the three appeared, gear at the ready. Torak saw the huge figures and straightened slightly, Beor did so too. Orndu was always straight and ready, so he did not need to do such a thing.

 

Ares stepped forward to meet with this Boranran, moving almost half way as Boranran, Uta, and two others came, each of them the muscled warriors. Ares and the others had to look up as these beings towered over him.

 

“I suppose you haven’t met yet,” Ares said as he motioned with a hand. “These are my companions. You will see Torak, Beor, and-”

 

Ares was cut off as a blast of wind flowed out towards him. The one known as Uta had gone feral and had brought down his giant axe down, and yet it did not cut Ares’ head clean in two for Orndu had stepped forward, also feral as his blade met the axe. After a moment there was a shower of metal that flung across towards them, though they had not reached Ares and his party for the metal had shifted away.

 

Ares raised his hand to calm Orndu, who dropped his feral form at Ares’ gesture and Uta followed right after. Uta held the wildest grin on his face.

 

“Oh!” Uta said with great delight. “So you are strong.” Uta laughed heartily, holding onto his chest as his laugh echoed through the plains.

 

“No. You are weak,” Orndu said.

 

Ares’ eyes went wide as he coughed, trying to hold back his laughter. Uta’s laugh fell silent before it echoed even louder than it had before.

 

“Oh! I am weak you say! Then what is this King of yours?”

 

Orndu glared up at the warrior, trying to think of a few words in response. “Strong,” he stated simply.

 

Torak reached over and then pat Orndu on the back. “It is unbecoming of one as strong as you to poke fun of the weak, careful Orndu.”

 

Beor grumbled quietly, “I had expected better on this expedition.”

 

Ares clenched his jaw taut, trying to keep the laughter from leaving his lips. He winced slightly as he waved a hand. “Enough,” he managed through a gasp and then he cleared his throat. “Enough, we’re not here to start a fight… yet.” Ares flashed another sweet and warm smile, as though he was simply being a friendly neighbour to the buffalofolk.

 

Uta grinned wide. “So, you’re strong are you?” he asked Ares, his eyes a gleam.

 

“No, everyone else is just weaker than me. Well…” Ares trailed off for a moment. “Not everyone. Peros is pretty strong and so is Xan, the Storm Lord.”

 

Uta’s eyebrows raised in such a way they threatened to leave his forehead and then fly off to the moon. “Look at this nonsense!” he roared with laughter escaping his giant maw.

 

“Well, I wouldn’t say I was stronger than them, but I don’t think they could beat me at my prime… perhaps?” Ares laughed as well.

 

“This one has the greatest jokes! Peros he says! They say he’s returned,” Uta said as he elbowed his friend beside him. “Did you hear that?”

 

The other sighed, not wishing to reply. He seemed to be the kind of guy that was often dragged along with his foolish companion in order to humour him.

 

Boranran replied instead, “I have heard such humorous inclinations as well.”

 

“He has come back,” Ares said. “I recall him almost gutting me with his blade of light, it was rather painful.” Ares then motioned a hand at the others. “They were…”

 

Ares paused. “Oh… right, none of you had come with me.” Ares continued to think for a long moment. Who had come with him? Ares then quickly stood up straighter and then glanced over at Orndu. “Right… uh, Orndu’s father here was slain by Peros.” Ares reached over and then grabbed onto Orndu’s shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. He felt his stomach wrench and then he cleared his throat.

 

“I had lost a few companions trying to conquer Dragon’s Spine, but I suppose that was expected. I met with Rivee soon after to speak with him, it had been a while since I last spoke with him,” Ares was trying to name drop as much as possible to see how they’d react.

 

They were, of course, quite amused by such antics. Ares merely smiled. “What? You don’t believe me?”

 

“As much as we believe you are one of those, birds of myth and legend, flames and healing.”

 

Ares cocked his head aside and then he reached up with a hand. He curled his fingers slowly until only his index finger was pointed forward. He raised a brow toward Boranran.

 

“Go ahead. Pull my finger.”

 

Boranran raised a brow and then reached for the finger, but instantly it had turned to flames. Boranran stepped back, and so did the others. Uta had done so as well, but he had clenched his fist in order to attack. His fist met Torak’s as the pair clashed, both feral now.

 

“Relax, relax!” Ares exclaimed before he laughed. “It was merely a show, there’s no need for such rudeness.”

 

Boranran stared at the flames for a while before Ares shifted them away. Then he looked up at Ares.

 

“My warriors, did you kill me?”

 

“I did not, not that I recall. An ally of mine had, Zika, who was once Queen of Zanz.”

 

“Zanz?” Boranran said. “A Reptai?” he asked.

 

“Yes,” Ares said. “Zika, we have someone who wishes to meet with you.”

 

So out came the tall and powerful Zika, with her scales and horns and her body that seemed to rival the buffalofolk, yet with glittering scales like beautiful gems.

 

Boranran remained silent. “Very well then,” he said, “we shall listen to what you have to say.”