The Bloodforged Kin

Chapter 248 - 242: Maisy - Is Loyalty Only for the Strong?

** System Announcement: Congratulations! You have successfully completed Phase 1 of the Cryptid Challenge while retaining at least 50% of your domain!

Phase 1 tested your survival, strength, and ability to come together. Phase 2 now demands expansion. Your goal is to conquer new territory and grow your domain. How you do this is up to you - through force, alliances, or cunning. But remember, the larger your domain the more challenges you will face. Can you hold what you have taken?

Additional Rewards Unlocked:

Domain Bonus: Loyalty. When loyalty to the domain owner is greater than 90% all residents within that domain receive a bonus of 15% to all stats.

Expansion Bonus: Skill Evolution. For each territory gained, via any method, all residents within the conquering domain will be eligible for one skill upgrade.

Expansion Bonus: Class Evolution. Domain expansion will be met with the following rewards at the end of Phase 2 of the trial:

50% territory gained or 50% population increase:

1 class evolution for the domain owner.

75% territory gained or 75% population increase:

1 class evolution for the domain owner and 1 class evolution for a species within that domain, to be chosen by the domain owner.

75% territory gained AND 75% population increase:

1 class evolution for the domain owner and 1 class evolution for 50% of the species within that domain, to be chosen by the domain owner.

100% territory gained AND 100% population increase:

1 class evolution for the domain owner and 1 class evolution for all species within that domain. Synergistic skills and abilities between multiple species will be gained as well, allowing for new and exciting powers based on the diversity and strength of your population.

Adapt. Conquer. Survive. ***

"The pack remains loyal."

Solstice eyed the pack leader of the Frostfang Wolves. Even sitting, he was proud and defiant - the perfect picture of controlled power. "I have not suggested otherwise," Solstice said. This situation was delicate and even he didn't know how best to navigate it. Months of working alongside predators did not undo hundreds of thousands of years of evolution. "I am simply saying that the herd remains strong by protecting all, not only the strong. Our leader is a mighty hunter."

"The mightiest."

Solstice dipped his head in acknowledgement. He would have to pick his next words carefully or risk the wrath of the pack. "You speak true and I do not deny it. But, and I say this with no disrespect, hers is the mind of a hunter. She seeks to dominate through force - that is all she has known."

"It is how she has grown!"

"It is, but that is not the only path to strength. Others must be protected while they grow."

Solstice saw the Radiant Stags and Shadow Fawns dipping their heads in agreement. The Frostfang wolves were chewing on the idea, some literally, working their jaws as if trying to understand the deeper truths behind the words. They were a pack and, thus, closer to the herd than Maisy, but their protection of the weak was limited. Solstice knew that they were the lynchpin - halfway between the predators and prey, and the most loyal to Maisy. If he could convince them, he would gain the rest.

Ashclaw of the Cinder Lynxes wandered off, already bored. Her loyalties were unknowable, possibly even to herself. The fiery cats were a lesser version of Maisy herself and they would stay as long as it suited them to stay, and not a moment longer.

"What is your goal, Solstice?" Gravelguts' rumbling voice asked. He was the leader of the Badger Sentinels and was clearly on the fence. His people were strong and they respected the strength Maisy displayed, as well as the protection of her domain. They wanted to be left alone, get in the occasional scrap, and have a safe place to sleep. Their loyalty extended as much as it served those purposes, but they were also stubborn when their minds were made up. Until the last fight with the Abominable Snowman they had been firmly and staunchly loyal to Maisy - well, to living in her domain anyway. Now there were grumblings that this place may not be as safe as they'd first thought, especially if they were going to be expected to leave their comfortable dens to fight for more territory that they neither needed nor wanted.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Yes, Solstice. I, too, would like to know your goal." Thornjaw's response held a barely-veiled threat.

Solstice stamped lightly with his front hooves and dipped his antlers, clearly indicating peace, deference, and a frustration at not being understood. "I do not wish for power and I do not challenge the leader. My loyalty is strong, as it should be. But loyalty does not extend to the death of the herd. I simply wish to find a way that we can work together for the survival of all!"

"Just spit it out, ya blasted meal-on-legs! Even The System Itself didn't give you herd creatures the gullet to just speak your mind. Say it and stop wasting our time."

Solstice eyed Gravelguts with irritation, but he was right. His herd would have understood what he was saying, not needing it to be spelled out so directly. These predators were too straightforward, even more so after gaining sentience.

"Fine, Gravelguts, I say this: We will do as she asks, but we may also need to conduct other missions. I swear by my antlers that she will see only the way of the predator in this challenge, forgoing the other methods. She will want to attack and conquer, gaining territory by force. That may work, but not for all. I simply propose that we talk to some of the other domain holders. Seek out those with whom we can make alliances. There are more ways to gain territory than simply killing, and every attack weakens us."

He watched them mull over his words and gave them time. Thornjaw was the first to speak, and his words surprised even Solstice. "Her territory is our strength, this is true. But what is also true is that the weak will fall. What of the ones we cannot replenish? The pack is strong when it is whole."

"As is the herd," Solstice said in agreement.

There was a long period of silence as the animals did the things that animals do while thinking, none in a rush to speak first. It was no surprise that the impatient badger was the first.

"Alright, ya aren't wrong. The way I see it, if we can get power without having to die for it, I'm all for it. We badgers love a good fight as much as the next thing, but we're not overly fond of dying from it. If we can gain territories without fighting, we're in."

Solstice nodded in gratitude, then turned to face Thornjaw. The wolf met his eyes evenly.

"I have heard nothing of her opinion on this. What does she say, Solstice?"

And there it was - the challenge he knew was coming, and the most dangerous part of this exchange. He had to move forward, though. This was their only chance and if he was going to die later he may as well die now.

"She has said nothing because I have not spoken to her of this. I will, but she will not agree. She is mighty, and her might blinds her to other paths. There will be times when we must act without her knowing."

Thornjaw growled and his pack responded in kind. None rose to their feet, but not one of the prey animals in the group missed the subtle raising of fur on their backs. Solstice stared him down. You never turned your back on a predator unless you were ready to run for your life. Thornjaw locked eyes, his growl intensifying. The wolf climbed slowly to his feet, padding forward with deadly grace until he was looking up at the stag.

Solstice lowered his head, not in deference this time, but in challenge. Their eyes remained locked until their faces touched, neither moving, neither giving way. Frost began to huff out of Thornjaw's mouth with each breath and Solstice's antlers began to glow in response. Magic crackled between them as each started taking minor damage from being so close to the other's attack spell. Animals started making throaty noises and moving in place, unsure if the next moments would end in a bloody battle.

Thornjaw whipped his head back and howled to the sky, shooting a blast of super-cooled air towards the moon. Every primal instinct in Solstice made him want to leap away and run, or trample the wolf to death, but he held stock-still, eyes locked on Thornjaw's.

The wolf finished his howl and lowered his head slowly, appraising Solstice as he did. A deep, throaty chuckled coming from his chest. "This plan of yours will require strength and cunning. You are not weak, nor scared. The pack will assist you in this, so long as it does not work against her."

Solstice wanted to huff in relief, but he held it in. The threat had not passed - with the wolves, it never did. Instead, he held strong, knowing that to show even a moment of weakness would lead to his death. Instead, he dipped his antlers in acknowledgement.

Thornjaw turned his back to Solstice, a clear sign that he did not see him as a threat, but also that he did not see him as prey. There were no more words to be spoken - animals were not humans, they did not blather on once a decision had been made. They would support him so long as it benefited her and her domain. When it didn't… well, animals were not humans - they didn't bow to past choices that no longer served them. They tore through their old ties, leaving behind only what would endure.

Solstice remained long after the animals had departed for their slumbers. He stood, feeling the weight of obligation and his herd's loyalty pressing heavily down on him. He had felt this before - the leader of the herd always did, but never to this extent. If he made no decision, his herd would fall. If he made the wrong decision, his herd would fall. Even if he made the right one, many would fall.

He shook his antlers, driving away the doubt and fear. No matter the cost, the herd would survive - even if it meant leading them out from under the Huntress's shadow.