Taming the Queen of Beasts

<strong>GAR</strong>

"It's a human!"

"She's worn clothing into the Rite—she comes to lie to the Creator!"

"This is exactly what we were talking about—"

"How could a human defend an Anima?"

The voices climbed and became more agitated, the crowd closing in. Gar's heart began to thrum in his ears and his body, already tense, began to quiver. His instincts to protect her, to step between her and the others—but they were coming from all sides!—and to defend her, beginning to overwhelm his thoughts. His body twitched, and his lip curled back from his teeth.

But then a large hand landed on his shoulder, and he looked over Rika's head to see his father, reaching across, gripping his shoulder, his eyes piercing.

"Breathe, son," he said quietly. "Be calm. She's family. We won't let anything happen to her."

Gar sucked in a breath, then turned to look at Elreth, who stood in front of them looking like a cat with its hair brushed the wrong way. But when he met her eyes and waited, she rolled them, then nodded her agreement.

As the crowd's agitation grew, she turned, calling over the chaos, "Anima! Attend! Return to your places. Gather in your tribes. The question has been asked, and the challenge placed. The human has come to provide information and answer. The Elders know her. We will explain," she growled at the end, then turned back to Gar and raised her eyebrows as if to say, see?

Gar mouthed, "Thank you," but then they both turned because Lhern and Huncer had stepped up. As the tribes slowly shuffled back to their places, still asking questions and muttering to each other, they put themselves on either side of the bowl and spoke to the gathering.

"She is an Ally," Lhern bellowed, his deep voice almost cracking with the strain. "She has been tested and examined, and accepted by the Elders."

"She is an ally, and the mate of Gar," Huncer added. "We had planned to introduce her after the Rite. Gar follows in the footsteps of his father. The Creator chose a human for him."

The crowd went quiet for a split second, then the babble of voices rose again, higher and faster this time, all of them peering at Rika and examining Gar himself.

More than proud to stand beside his mate, Gar was only worried for her fear. He looked down at Rika, inhaling her scent.

She was terrified, but it was under control. She wasn't yet at the chittering fear he'd seen when he killed Marryk. Murmuring a quick prayer that she could stay on her feet, keep her wits about her, he nodded to the crowd. "She is my mate," he said. "The bond is incomplete, but it has been affirmed by the healers."

Another ripple of shock fluttered through the crowd, but there was more space around them now and Rika was finally breathing.

The birds returning to their place behind them, still squawked and protested, but they were being shushed by the other tribes, to Gar's satisfaction.

Elreth beckoned to their right and into the wolf tribe. "Jayah, you have her scent. Would you please stand for the people and scent her for truth?"

"The wolves are loyal to the Lion Queen!" the birds screeched. "Let us bring a healer, to test her truth!"

Elreth took a deep breath, but nodded. "A healer of your choice—who will vow to speak the truth," she warned.

There was a quick conference within the Avalines, then a female stepped forward, slim and long-limbed, she was graceful as she hurried down to stand alongside Rika.

Gar wanted to growl, but he knew the female. She was quiet and could be critical. But she was honest as far as he knew. He was just glad it wasn't one of the bigger males.

Rika eyed the female as she approached, shrinking slightly, but then she caught herself and rolled her shoulders back. She had the forethought not to raise her chin too high, which Gar applauded. She was already learning.

Finally Elreth turned and found everyone in their places and she spoke up again, her voice frustrated, but calm.

"Rika, your testimony is sought on behalf of the disformed. You say you have information that would answer the challenge?"

"Yes," Rika breathed, then she cleared her throat and said more loudly. "Yes, I do."

"What is it?"

Rika blew out a breath then Gar's chest swelled with pride as she made herself turn and face the birds, pushing between him and his father to stand on their other side so the tribe could see her clearly.

"In my world I'm what's called a scientist," she said clearly, her voice rolling through the bowl of the Hallowed Grounds. Gar wanted to roar with pride for her courage. He wanted to weep with joy. His mate was here. And she was proud. She would make herself heard! "I can tell you that the humans who mean the Anima harm see all of you—including the disformed—as one people. They know you are one people, and you aren't purely human. It's believed that the disformed have skills and talents the other tribe don't have, but the… the humans are still unclear what the pure difference is. It's part of our research plans to identify…" she trailed off, realizing that the Anima didn't want to hear about how the humans intended to dissect them.

Rika cleared her throat and started again. "Every living being, every created thing has… a signature. We call it DNA. It's a measurable portion of who you are—we can test for it and identify the differences in everything. Every living thing. Plant, animal, human, anima—it doesn't matter. Each created thing is unique—so unique that with the right technology it's possible to identify what has touched a surface or who. And—"

She broke off again as the crowd began to murmur and hiss, talking to each other instead of listening to her.

Gar's stomach sank.