The humans had left peacefully and Ares relaxed with the nearby soldiers. He eventually formed them into a unit by themselves, five Companies split into half so there were ten units at a time. He assigned Heria as the Colonel even though there was still a unit missing to form a true Battalion. Still, there was no need to be so rigid.

There would be a little over a thousand soldiers at the fort, and Ares did think about the worst case scenario in which the thousand soldiers rebelled and took over the fort, but he was fairly certain he’d be able to deal with it by himself. Also, as far as he knew, Heria was fairly loyal to him.

As he finished delegating various tasks to each unit, there was a shout from the Flying Wolves and Ark arrived on his wolf. He and his Company had been keeping watch for them.

“There is a tribe coming this way, about as many as our soldiers, all armed.” Ark said.

Ares had looked passed the wolfman as he spoke, seeing the thousand or so beastfolk of all kinds appear. They were indeed ready for a battle as they all were donned within heavy furs and wielded an assortment of weapons. Very few of them had shields, but they were ahead of the others as they marched towards Ares.

“Well Colonel, what do you think?” He asked Heria, flashing her a coy smile.

Heria nodded and then shouted. “Form up!” With that the soldiers began to form up into the positions they had taken the day before, but the several Majors, and the Second Majors, began shouting other orders and the army formed up roughly to how Ares had told them to previously. Ares chuckled as he watched them.

Ares lay back down on the fort wall, resting his head onto his hand as he looked out to the beastfolk.

It was then that the beastfolk ahead of them stopped in their tracks. One of them stepped forward, a large bearman with long black hair and hazel eyes. He was thick with muscle, one could have mistaken him for an oxfolk, if it weren’t for the lack of horns and his slightly rounded ears.

“What creature are you?” The bearman asked as Heria’s wolf trot up to the large fellow.

“This is the problem with you brats.” Heria clicked her teeth at him. “I’m Curnel Heria, what creature are you?”

‘Curnel? Curnel? Shit.’

“Heria? Heria of the West?” The bearman asked.

“Tsk. I’ve already asked you who you were.” Heria said, crossing her arms.

“Small of form, but vicious as any wolf. Yeah…” The bearman nodded. “Beor, son of Geor.”

“Geor? You’re far South.” Heria said as she threw a look back to Ares and nodded.

“What’s a human doing with your lot?”

“He’s no human.” Heria replied. “He’s our King.”

“A human as a King?” Beor let out a roaring laugh as the beastfolk behind him joined in.

Ares sighed. “You know, my Colonel already told you, I’m no human.”

“You look like a human. You sound like a human.” Beor spat onto the ground. “You’re a human.”

Ares hopped off the wall and then walked through the centre of his army up to Beor.

“I’m King Ares, Master of Water, Kin of all Riveans. You are on my land.”

Beor leaned in. “This ain’t your land.”

“I’ll take the word of Rivee over a nobody like you.” Ares replied.

Beor growled at Ares. “I ain’t letting no human speak to me like that.”

“No human is.” Ares replied.

Beor narrowed his eyes as he looked over to Heria and then back to Ares. Then he began to circle around Ares. “You’re no human?”

“No.”

“What are you?”

“Part god, part phoenix.”

“Phoenix?” Beor said, stopping in his tracks. Then he laughed. “If you’re a phoenix, I’m a cat.”

“Meow, meow, little Beor.”

Beor growled threateningly as he looked up to Heria. “Tell your pet to shut his mouth before he gets into trouble.”

Heria narrowed her eyes, her ears shot up and she bared her teeth, but Ares raised a hand.

“You talk a big game, but don’t write cheques your ass can’t cash.” Ares said.

Beor narrowed his eyes, though they were filled with both suspicion and confusion.

‘Oh… right.’

“You talk big for a little kitten.”

Beor snarled and then stepped forward, grabbing onto Ares’ cloak before pulling him in. Ares stepped forward and then head butt the bearman, causing him to pull back and shake his head as he was disoriented.

“Oh, excuse me. I seem to have tripped.” Ares smiled.

Beor snarled and then punched Ares. His fist met Ares’ cheek, but Ares did not move as he stared into Beor’s eyes.

“Little kitty has small claws.”

Beor pulled back as Ares’ army took a step forward, the beastfolk ahead of them did the same, grabbing their weapons. Ares raised a hand.

“Relax, relax.” He said as Beor pulled back and then narrowed his eyes again. There was a long silence.

“You ain’t no human.” Beor said.

“That’s what I said.” Ares nodded.

“Alright.” Beor said. “What happened to the other humans that came by? They’re your friends?”

“No. We just came to an agreement.”

“An agreement?”

“Yes, an agreement. I’m afraid I can’t tell you though, official business.”

Beor growled but nodded. “We came for a fight.”

“You came to die.” Ares said looking out to the beastfolk. “You were outnumbered three to one.”

“Each one of mine is worth four humans.” Beor stood a little taller and growled.

“Well then, nevermind.” Ares chuckled and then smiled. “So, Beor son of Geor, what business do you have in Rivea?”

“We were hunting some humans. Since they’re gone, I guess we’re heading back.”

Ares looked to the large army outside. A thousand eager beastfolk… “So you want to hunt some humans? Well… I may have a proposition for you, if you’re willing to listen.”

“I’m listening.”

“Let’s talk over some food, shall we?”