"Last one."

Serene dipped her paw in the river to rid herself of the excess tiger blood. Her scouts weren't the only ones tailing the mysterious angel. Alexander had sent some as well. Even at 'peace', she would have quietly eliminated them, but now she didn't just kill them. She savored rippling their putrid faces off their heads.

It did little to calm the madness that swarmed in her heart. No matter what anyone said, it was her fault. She was in charge of security and she knew Alexander was at the top of their watch list, he always has been. There was no excuse for her to have let her guard down. None. Gathering or not, she was in charge of so many lives and now she was at fault for so many deaths.

So many deaths.

She tried to still herself before she lost control of her emotions. Guilt still ravished her body, but she couldn't afford to break down. Especially not here and not now.

Around her were her most trusted scouts and spies. Bar the few that would never again walk among them. These were the ones that should have been standing guard after the Gathering, but she had foolishly stationed them around the other colonies. She'd likely die still regretting that decision, but there was one positive that came of it.

They had spotted an angel, a very powerful one at that. One that could control the skies. It had attacked the tigers' colony for some reason and then flew off up the river. They didn't know what this angel's motives or goals were, but that last time an angel wandered into the jungle it had caused a massive war.

Serena wasn't a hundred percent sure if this was the best path, but if they could get this angel to start another maybe they could level the field. If most of the colonies are weakened, their own weakness wouldn't make them an easy target. As things stand now, they were dangerously close to being wiped out completely. They desperately needed to do something, even if it was to start a war.

"Hold! What in Aegeus' name is that?"

Their party of eight had discreetly hidden the tiger bodies and continued along the path laid out for them by the advanced scout. Serene had sent groups of two to observe each of the colonies. While one of the two she sent to the tigers came back to give their report, the other followed the angel and marked their path.

The path was fairly straightforward and mostly involved just following the river upstream, but as they continued to do so that came up to something different. Some sort of river beast. It was exceptionally long, but it looked as if its insides were melted into goo. Its… shape just didn’t hold up. It was actually kind of horrific to look at. They did so anyway, against their stomachs best interest, they had to at least attempt to identify the beast.

Serene struggled to discern which of the river beasts it was, the depressed state it was in made it difficult. She could tell it had died recently though. There were a few creatures happily chewing away at its carcass, too few. Something this massive should gather a far bigger crowd than a few jackals and birds.

“Do any of you know what that is?"

Most said no, the others shook their heads.

Not all of them could speak the tongue. There were only a select few who knew it instinctively like Serene. They were known as the Blessed, due to being blessed by Aegeus with knowledge. The tongue could still be taught to the others however. They need only take the time to learn it. For some, it came easier than others, but they could all learn it. It’s basics at least. There was only a small handful that could claim they were fluent in it. Thankfully, Aegeus was merciful. Even for those who could not speak or write it themselves, they could still understand it when it was spoken to them.

"No matter then. Can we assume this is the angel's doing?"

"I say yes. It would be a great coincidence for something else to have passed through at the same time and killed this… thing."

The rest nodded their heads in agreement. Normally she wouldn't feel the need to ask about such an obvious thing. The answer was clear, but its that sort of arrogance that put them in this situation in the first place. She won't make that mistake again.

"Then let's continue. Caleb, draw a picture of the beast for our records. I know, I know. Just try your best."

He did and they continued on.

The further they travelled along the path, the more Serene felt they were on the wrong one. Not literally, they followed the advanced scout's trail perfectly, but as a colony. The angel almost assuredly headed to the camp of humans.

There was nothing wrong with humans. The colonies were surrounded by them and they coexisted well enough. It's the specific camp it chose. Those humans, were bad news.