Chapter 419: I’m Sure
Tala lay on the ground with a dead wolfs jaws all but clamped through her torso.
Nevertheless, she continued her gurgling laugh even as she did what she should have to begin with.
This was something thatwith a mere moment with her normal level of enhancementshe realized with ease.
She had aura superiority, of course, so she grabbed the iron within her torn-free body parts and pulled them back to her.
At that point, the once-again-active healing magics rejoined the flesh, working to replace and repair the area around the connection, pulling the needed materials from her vast stores.
The iron within the wolf was already one with the rest of her iron merged with Flow, even if it was still within the corpse. She could take it whenever she wanted, tearing it free.
Still, she wasnt satisfied.
She wanted the wolfs hide, too, not just the iron within the hide and fur.
It was ridiculously durable.
She also didnt want to try to harvest and process it. That seemed like an unnecessary amount of work.
She hesitated, then.
No, she didnt want it.
It was already hers.
MINE.
Her elk leathers extended tendrils outward, even as they were regrowing her clothing overtop of the newly reattached flesh.
These tendrils, however, extended into the body of the wolf, melding with the hide and joining the iron already within as anchor-points for her authority.
In that moment, Tala felt two things bound to and merged with her soul resonating in sync with her actions.
Kit was a devourerjust like Talaand this method was much more in line with Kits feeding than Talas usual methods.
The dasgannachs magics, abilities, and authorityno longer there in truth but still there in capacity and conceptseemed to hum in harmony with the stated and enacted claim.
Nothing could stand in the way of Tala claiming what was rightfully hers.
She pulled in a breath and spoke, so there would be no misunderstanding, Mine.
There was power in her voice.
She had layered her desire, along with the sure knowledge that the kill was hers, and therefore so was the body by right of the kill.
She had filled it with her magic and her authority both over the area in general, and over the corpse that still weighed down on her specifically.
As the sound of her voice went out as a wave, she felt her authority truly sink into the fur, flesh, viscera, and bone of the wolf.
She pulled.
Why use her bodys reserves when the wolf corpse had everything that she needed?
When she pulled in another breath, the wolf seemed to deflate, her own flesh swelling with new growth, coming fully back together once again.
Her elk leathers pulled back in, drawing their new material along with them.
A moment later, Tala lay on the ground, unburdened, surrounded by churned earth and snow, no vestige of the fallen wolf remaining.
A rumbling laugh rolled over the battlefield. Anatalis will be pleased indeed, human.
With her three-fold sight, Tala was able to watch as Mistress Vanga arrived beside Rane and worked to heal Terry.
Good, he deserves to be fully restored. She felt nothing but gratitude toward Terry. He had been instrumental in facilitating her victory.
Tala got up slowly, keeping her back toward Alefasts wall and her front toward the Anatalins.
The massive snow-white wolf came forward, her indigo aura somehow perfectly contained along each individual hair of her pelt.
Tala, still recovering mentally, spent an overlong moment just utterly stunned at that level of minute aura control.
I really have a long way to go.
-But, hey, were alive.-
Alat! Are you okay?
-Been better, but I was able to observe the whole time. I just didnt have enough to actually be helpful I am sorry about that.-
Im just glad that youre alright.
Human.
Tala reoriented on the leading she-wolf, and only then did she notice the presences around the massive lupine.
Hidden to mundane sightand even obscured to her three-fold sightwere seven slightly smaller wolves, arranged in a half-circle behind the leader.
Each of their auras was held in close, but Tala was able to catch just enough to see that they were solidly blue in color to her magesight.
Then, they vanished from her sight in all forms.
They specifically let me catch a glimpse of them. She shuddered.
More terrifying than their presence was the fact that theyd seemingly correctly assessed her detection capability well enough to give her that passing glimpse and nothing more.
Tala stood up tall, banishing her armor but keeping Flow in hand. Wolf.
Some of the pack back among the trees growled but not many.
The leader just laughed, causing the snow around the area to fluff up some from the vibration-induced air alone.
What are you called by your kind? The wolf asked.
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My name is Tala, and I am called Mistress Tala.
She harrumphed. Humanity complicates such simple things, but I am not so rigid that I cannot bend. Mistress Tala.
Tala gave a shallow bow, keeping her eyes on the wolf. What may I call you?
I am no god-beast to be named, but you can call me by what I am. There are only a few of us, so it should not cause great issue.
Tala waited a moment.
Den Mother.
Wait only a few? There are more wolves as strong as she is?
-Focus, Tala.-
Greetings, Den Mother.
The wolf dipped its head slightly. Greetings, Mistress Tala, acknowledged of the Pack.
After the greetings, in total defiance of expectation, the wolves all turned and started walking back to the woods, seeming almost to vanish among the trunks one by one.
Tala was about to call out after them, but Master Grediv was suddenly standing beside her. Let them go.
Thats it? She frowned his way.
He returned the look, chuckling. What did you expect?
I I dont know? They came to test humanity to ally with us or something?
Yes and no. Anatalis has seen humanity as a toddler, stumbling through dangerous woods for time beyond memory. He was here, stalking the forest before the first gate. He watched over gateless humanity on these plains all the way back then. His smile turned wry. Apparently, he almost killed the first gated who came, because he saw us as invaders whom the gateless couldnt hope to handle. Thankfully, our ancestors convinced him that we werent here to exterminate but to join with those who lacked gates.
How did that go? Tala smiled in return, despite her exhaustion.
Well, they apparently claimed that their magic would bring prosperity and power. He disabused them of that. Though, he did acknowledge that their new way was interesting. Regardless, he eventually allowed our existence, but took on a position of benevolent-yet-apathetic neighbor.
And now?
Now I dont know. One fight wont raise us in the eyes of the Pack, but it will open the door to more.
She grunted.
He looked her way once more, the last of the wolves having faded from vieweven for Talas three-fold sight. You seem worn. That was quite the clash.
Yeah. Hes one of their best?
Master Grediv hesitated. For his age? He is an absolute prodigy, beyond even the standards of their race. Overall? Among all Anatalins? He is likely their weakest, or near to it. So, no, he isnt the best, not by a foot or a mile.
Tala frowned, not understanding. But hes the best of his generation?
Master Grediv shook his head. That doesnt actually have meaning to them. Aside from the more mundane wolves that they uplift, their numbers grow very slowly. The Pack, as a whole, only has one pup every fifty to one hundred years.
She blinked in confusion. Then, she understood. Because theyre immortal, truly immortal so long as Anatalis lives.
Precisely. If they had litters as mundane wolves or dogs do, they would overrun the world in a matter of decades. They have never desired to rule Zeme.
That was a terrifying thought.
Come, lets get you back inside the city.
She nodded, feeling her tiredness once more.
She wasnt really hungrier than usual.
She had used a bit of her reserves, but shed actually mainly healed using the body of the wolf, even refilling her reserves a bitonce againin the process.
It had been a novel experience, but not one that was really outside of what she should have expected.
Shed just never thought to do it before.
Tala would have to explore the extent to which she could control and utilize it in the future.
It didnt take long for them to get back into the city, where Master Grediv led Tala to a private dining room in a restaurant near the gates.
Within, Rane and Terry were already waiting along with Talas unit-mates.
Congratulations and adulation abounded for a few minutes before each of the unit-mates implored her to take time to rest and recover, leaving her to do just that.
Terry had immediately flickered to her shoulderseemingly fully healedand Tala had made a point of thanking Mistress Vanga for healing her partner and friend.
He headbutted Talas cheek before nuzzling down and drifting off to sleep.
Master Grediv also departed after verifying that she didnt need anything further.
Alone with Rane and Terry, then, Tala suddenly felt a bit nervous.
-Are you going to tell him?-
Tell him what?
-What you realized.-
I dont
-Nope! That ends now. You cant continue to lie to yourself. Yourself doesnt believe you anymore.-
Fine.
Tala firmed her stance, tried to calm her suddenly thundering heart, and looked up to meet Ranes gaze. She suppressed her through spike. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it honestly, no illusions in effect.
At that moment, Rane began to speak. Tala, I need to tell you something. I
She held up her hand. I am sure that it is incredibly important, but I have to say something, and if I wait, I dont think I will be able to get it out.
He stood there for a moment, mouth open and clearly conflicted, but then he slumped slightly, sighing and nodding. Go ahead.
Tala felt her cheeks heat. I like you, Rane.
He tilted his head to the side and frowned. I know?
No. She shook her head, feeling her face flush even more, though she didnt understand how that was possible.
Pull it together, Tala. You just fought a horse-sized wolf. This shouldnt be this hard.
I want to be more than friends. She felt like she about died. Considering she had literally been on the edge of death less than an hour earlier, she felt that she was in a good position to make the comparison honestly, shed prefer to fight the wolf again.
Rane gaped at her for a moment.
She felt the need to continueto clarifybefore he got the wrong idea, I I dont want to get married, not yet. I have too much going ontoo much messed up in my own mindbut I want to be more, and I dont want to I dont want to lose the time that I could have had with you.
A moment of silence later, Rane barked a laugh, quickly covering his mouth.
Tala paled, feeling horribly embarrassed. Oh, rust. Hes moved on. Rust. He is no longer interested. RUST! Theres someone else
Rane was shaking his head. Im sorry, Im sorry. I shouldnt have laughed.
She grimaced, then, thoroughly confused. Then, why did you?
He chuckled, nervously this time. Well, Im just really glad that you went first.
That put a hitch in her thoughts. Oh? What were you going to say?
He grinned. I have made my choice. Im going to Refine. I was approaching it wrong. I dont want to Refine just to stand by your side, Tala. I want to Refine so that I can protect those I care for. That does include you, true, but thats just a part. Really, its everyone. I havent felt like enough since I let that family die due to my arrogance He took a deep breath, let it out slowly and smiled. I choose to become enough to protect those I can.
The burn wolves. She hadnt considered how closely her fight with a wolf might mirror his teenage experience. Oh, Rane, are you?
He nodded, cutting her off. Im fine. More than fine, I think. He laughed again. So, Im going to Refine, and you want to court me. He gave a cheeky smile. Once again, Im so glad that you went first.
She flushed once more at that. Thats not how I would have put it
Really? Because thats exactly what I heard.
-Yeah, thats pretty much what you said.-
Terry didnt open his eyes, but he let out a lazy, affirmative squawk.
Tala grimaced again, but the grumpy expression was fighting a growing smile. Fine, that is sort of what I said She met his gaze again. So?
He raised an eyebrow, not understanding. So what?
She felt like the blood in her cheeks was boiling. So, are we going to? Court, I mean?
Oh! It was his turn to flush. If thats what you want, yes.
Just if I want it?
Well I obviously want itI have for a whileso youre sort of the deciding vote here Right?
That made her smile, and so she teased. Ahh, relationships by aegis of voting. That sounds like an exceedingly wise thing to do.
Well, I suppose if we actually have to vote that is a bit of a failure He chuckled. So really? Youre sure? He stepped closer, placing his hands on either side of her waist with hesitant movements.
She reached up, resting her hands on the underside of his elbows as she looked up at him and smiled. Yes, Rane. Im sure.
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