He arrived with Rori and Torak back to his people, leaving behind Heria and her wolffolk, as well as the Marching Blades. Ares felt as though he was going to fall down when he finally returned back to his people.

They had already begun the festivities, Asyllia had returned to tell them of his glory, though he wasn’t entirely sure if she had everything correct herself. Still, a few thousand people coming to cheer for him, well… that felt great. It was something exhilarating. He had thought perhaps he should keep his ego in check, but as the dancing became far more wild, the drums echoing in the air, well… maybe he could have a big head today.

He waved towards his people and then began to roar out, though very quickly realised that was a bad idea as his chest and side ached. He very slowly pulled his arms down and made his way up to his tent, though was quickly grabbed by Lana, who noticed him wince and then let him go slowly.

“You alright?” She asked, raising a brow in surprise and a confused smile.

“Fine enough, we’ll talk about it later but… hands down, yeah?” He grunted in through his teeth.

“Fine…” She said as she gave him a little space before she motioned her head. “You need to take a seat at the head.”

“Right, right… guest of honour and all that…” He said as he made his way and then took a seat where there was an empty space, his three children nearby with some milk mothers as well as a few of his Roaring Tridents. He nodded towards them all as he sat and then was poured bowl after bowl of soup, with giants slabs of cooked meat sprinkled in some salt and spices.

He ate as much as he physically could before he felt as though he was pregnant with a food baby, shifting away his armour so that his stomach could expand slightly. He reached down and then rubbed it.

He was still feeling a little on edge, but today his worries disappeared, at least for the moment. He looked beside him to Lana and smiled before he looked out to all his people as they continued to dance and sing, hell there were a number of others having much more fun. Men and women, men and men, women and women.

He couldn’t help but wonder how these people were so liberal, but then again, it made sense as his own world had been similar at a time. He didn’t mind it at all, it seemed that parenthood was somewhat different. He’d have to learn more about this place, though he supposed war was probably a little more important for now. He enjoyed the festival and the feast before all went quiet.

Lana motioned a hand. “They wish to hear your story… we have heard it from Asyllia, but we wish to hear if from you, Ares-kin…”

“Yeah, yeah. Of course.” He shook his head and chuckled. He sighed out and then stood up, beginning the tale of what he had done. He recounted the oxfolk with the arrows, then the fight. He left out the phoenix part of course, that was to be a secret for a bit longer. He continued along, drinking a little and became far more tipsy with each passing sentence.

Finally he started talking about rallying all the oxfolk under his banner and that soon the Kingdom would expand once again, that he’d create a giant wall against the humans to keep them out and then he’ll become a god to unite all the beast folk before Lana finally grabbed him and led him back to his tent before he collapsed into his bed.

Lana lay beside him and then pulled his cloak aside to see the scars. She winced and then reached over to rub them gently. “What happened?”

“Fucking lightning.” Ares replied back and then he reach up to brush along her hair. “It was a bit of a shit, I’ll say that much.” He closed his eyes and winced at Lana’s touch.

She continued to rub her hand all along his body, leaning in to kiss his neck and then she stared into his eyes. He returned the stare and then reached up to brush her lips with his thumb.

“Fuck lightning.” She said as they kissed before Ares lay back, letting her atop of him. He allowed her to take control tonight, the warmth of her body meshing with hers. After some time they lay together, her front against his back. Her fingers were intertwined with his own.

“Was everything fine?” He asked, pressing his cheek against hers.

“Fine enough. Nothing of note.”

“Any mass killings or orgies?”

“No, no. I wouldn’t have you miss such events.” She joked and he chuckled.

“How were the kids?”

“They were well. They enjoy walking.”

“Walking? Can they walk well now?”

“They are steady.”

“That’s good. I’ll need them steady if they have any chance of ruling after me.”

“Who is your favourite?”

“All of them, especially Runar.” He laughed.

“Why Runar?”

“She was my first.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all.”

“Then am I your favourite?”

Ares shook his head. “You, you’re one hell of a woman.”

“Shall I take that as a yes?”

“Take it as you will.”

Ares laughed and then ran his fingers down her neck. “Perhaps you are my favourite then…”

“I am glad to hear that.” She said as she sucked around his neck and Ares winced.

“Oh yeah? I didn’t realise my opinion was so important to you.”

“Of course it is. You are my King.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“No.”

“May I know the other?”

Lana turned his head so they stared into one another. Her gaze was intense and Ares pulled his head back. “Alright, alright. I get it.” He grumbled and then they continued to cuddle.

“I didn’t expect any of this.”

“Any of what?”

“This. Being King, having my own Kingdom, killing people… that, and more.”

“What did you expect?”

“I suppose… I suppose I did expect that. It was probably the only way to help the people here…” He shook his head. “If there was any better way…”

“Is there not?”

“I don’t know. I’m not smart enough to figure it out.”

“You are smart enough.”

“Maybe. Maybe.” Ares sighed.

“Must you think of such complex things before sleep?”

“My mind is clearer now, though I am still tired.”

“You are welcome.”

Ares laughed and then rubbed the tips of her curved ears and they fluttered against his tips.

“There is much work to be done.”

“You say that often.”

“That’s because it’s true.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

“What work?”

“The army, the shelter, the food, the relationships, the laws, the … the everything.”

“We already have an army.”

“It’s only the start.”

“Didn’t I say? Everyone is willing to fight in your name.”

“Didn’t I say? There is a different between soldiers and warriors.”

“You are unbearable.”

“That’s because I’m not a bear. I’m a phoenix.”

Lana laughed and then ran her fingers through his hair. “You’re a phoenix? Did you rise from the ashes?”

“Something like that?”

“Oh yes? How is it then? Flying so high?”

“Flying is amazing. It was a good thing I am a phoenix, otherwise I wouldn’t have made it to Rori-kin and Torak-kin and they would have been meat for the humans.”

Lana laughed. “Was the ox that quick?”

“It wasn’t. I left it so that I could fly.”

“What do you mean?”

Ares turned his head to look into her eyes. “I flew to Rori-kin, in the sky.” Ares smiled. Lana looked at him confused. Ares just chuckled. “I’ll show you tomorrow.”

“Show me now.” She said as she pulled away from him.

“No, tomorrow.”

“Show me. Now.” She repeated, her brows furrowed in confusion.

“Fine, but don’t scream or anything.” Ares said as he rolled onto his knees, cursing himself for doing so as a sharp pain filled his side. Then he sat up finally and raised his arms on either side of him. They flared with hot fire, white and gold as they always had been.

She reeled back from the sight of it, the flames splashing heat against them. Ares laughed as she pulled away.

“Do you believe me now?”

“You are a phoenix?”

“I’m a phoenix.”

Her eyes began to scatter, looking this way and that, before then settling on him. Her face was confused, that was for sure, but there was much more. Fear, curiosity, even a pained expression, perhaps even guilt? Ares couldn’t quite tell.

“Is everything alright?” Ares shifted the flames away and then was about to move closer, but then instead lay onto his back.

“You are a phoenix.”

“Like I said.”

“How?”

Ares shrugged. “It’s me. That’s how.” He laughed and then he looked up to the sky. “Rori-kin figured it out pretty quickly. He teased me a little too, what a mean guy, you know?” Ares laughed. “Torak was probably a little taken aback, and the Marching Blades… they seem to accept it for now.”

“You are a phoenix.”

“You keep saying that. Is that good or bad?”

Lana remained silent but Ares kept chuckling.

“I hope I’m still Ares to you.”

The silence continued. Ares thought little of it as he then rolled onto his side, cursed at himself, and then went back onto his back.

“I’m going to sleep. Wake me up if you need, if there’s an emergency or some such. You can sleep beside me if you like, otherwise you can head out.”

Lana left him alone.