Free Web NovelChapter 40: Episode 040: Iris came for a visit.
Rue completely froze. Her pale hand hovered in the air between them, her fingers stinging from the heavy impact.
Her human brain finally caught up with her biology. The blind, terrifying panic of being grabbed suddenly vanished, instantly replaced by a completely different kind of panic. She lowered her hand, her pink eyes going incredibly wide. She stared at the red handprint rapidly forming on his dark, scarred cheek.
She had just slapped an apex predator. She had physically struck the King of the Nightwhisper Jungle.
"Oh my god," Rue gasped.
Her heart hammered against her ribs. She expected him to roar. She fully expected his golden eyes to bleed into a violent red, for his thick fangs to completely extend, and for him to throw her across the courtyard.
"I am so sorry," Rue started apologizing frantically, the words tumbling out of her mouth in a terrified rush. "I panicked. You grabbed me and I just completely panicked. I didn’t mean to hit you that hard. Please do not bite me."
Knox did not roar. He did not growl. His eyes did not turn red.
The giant panther stood perfectly still. He did not let a single drop of his heavy, suffocating fear aura leak out into the air. He slowly reached up with one large, heavily muscled hand. He touched the stinging red mark on his own cheek.
He closed his eyes for a brief second and let out a very long, heavy sigh.
"I deserved that," Knox said. His deep voice was completely calm.
He dropped his hand and took a very deliberate, slow step backward, instantly giving her back her personal space.
"I moved way too fast," Knox admitted, looking directly at her with nothing but genuine regret. "I completely let my instincts take over. I am sorry, Rue." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Rue stopped rambling. She stared at him in absolute shock.
He didn’t get angry. He didn’t blame her. He just took the hit, stepped back, and apologized for scaring her. He actually used his manners. It was the absolute, undeniable proof that he had truly changed.
The heavy, terrifying tension in Rue’s chest completely shattered.
A small giggle bubbled up in the back of her throat. She tried to swallow it down, but she couldn’t. The sheer absurdity of the situation hit her New York brain all at once. The giggle turned into a full, genuine laugh. She covered her mouth with both hands, her shoulders shaking as she laughed out loud in the middle of the dark courtyard.
Knox blinked, completely confused. "Why are you laughing? I just ruined everything."
"Because you were so bad at it!" Rue laughed, dropping her hands. She shook her head, looking up at the highly confused King. "That was not romantic at all, Knox! You just grabbed me like I was a piece of raw meat. You have absolutely no game."
Knox’s dark face flushed a furious, completely embarrassed red.
"You have to ask permission before you kiss someone," Rue explained, wiping a tear of amusement from her eye. "You do not just dive at their face in the dark."
Knox groaned loudly. He reached up and fisted his scarred hands into his own thick, black hair in absolute frustration. He looked completely humiliated by his own lack of social skills. He let out a rough, self-deprecating laugh, shaking his head at the stone floor.
"I am terrible at this," Knox admitted honestly.
Rue stopped laughing. She took a step forward, closing the distance he had respectfully given her. She reached out with her small hand. This time, she did not swing it. She very gently pressed her palm flat against the warm, uninjured side of his dark jaw.
Knox froze entirely. He leaned down slightly, practically melting into her soft touch.
"You are learning," Rue soothed him quietly. "And you stepped back. That is what matters."
She slowly dropped her hand and took a step back toward the fortress doors. She gave him a soft, entirely genuine smile.
"We will be waiting for you, Knox," Rue promised softly. "At the Full Moon Festival."
The next morning, the bright sun rose quickly over the heavy stone walls of the Nightwhisper Jungle.
The massive wooden gates at the front of the fortress were pushed wide open. The damp morning air smelled entirely of wet leaves and fresh dirt.
Caius was already prepared. The Left General of the Swamps had shifted completely into his massive, terrifying black snake form. His incredibly thick, heavily scaled body rested on the stone path. He was huge, looking exactly like a dark, lethal train waiting on the tracks. His bright golden eyes watched the courtyard closely.
Rue stood near his massive head. She wore a fresh, light green dress from her system inventory and held little Theron securely wrapped in a soft white blanket against her chest.
Minx walked up to her, carrying a large leather bag.
"Here," the brown-skinned panther said, handing the bag over. "Fresh fruit and clean water for the road. Do not let the snake eat all of it."
"Thank you, Minx," Rue smiled, taking the heavy bag. "For everything."
Minx nodded, offering a small, sad smile. "Keep the baby safe."
Rue turned to face the four massive, scarred Panther Elders standing nearby. Just five days ago, these old men had laughed in her face and tried to paralyze her with fear. Today, they stood perfectly straight. They did not sneer. As Rue looked at them, all four elders bowed their heavy heads in a grudging, but entirely genuine, show of respect.
The tiny rabbit had completely tamed their violent King. She earned their silence.
Finally, Rue looked at the open gates.
Knox stood right by the thick wooden doors. He wore his dark leather armor. He looked exactly like a fierce, untouchable apex predator.
But he did not step forward. He did not block the path. He did not beg her to stay this time.
He stood incredibly tall. He kept his face completely calm, using the exact deadpan expression she had taught him. But his golden eyes were bright and entirely focused on her face.
"Safe travels," Knox rumbled deeply. "I will see you at the Full Moon Festival. I will prove my clan’s worth."
Rue nodded. "I know you will."
Caius lowered his massive head to the ground. Rue carefully stepped up and settled herself comfortably between the thick, protective ridges of scales right behind his neck. She tucked Theron securely against her stomach.
With a smooth, incredibly powerful movement, Caius slithered forward.
They passed right through the heavy wooden gates. Rue looked back over her shoulder one last time. Knox was still standing there, watching her leave until the thick green vines of the jungle completely swallowed them from sight.
The journey back was long but incredibly peaceful.
Caius moved with blinding speed through the dense underbrush, completely avoiding the dangerous feral beast territories. His massive body glided silently over mud, roots, and heavy rocks. Rue leaned forward against his cool, smooth scales, letting the rhythmic motion lull her and the baby into a quiet, comfortable sleep.
By the time the afternoon sun started to dip lower in the sky, the air changed entirely.
The heavy, stifling heat of the jungle faded. The air became cool, incredibly damp, and smelled exactly like fresh rain and deep, murky water. The trees thinned out, replaced by twisting mangrove roots and dark, still pools.
They were officially back in the Ironwood forest.
As the familiar shape of the cozy wooden house came into view, Rue breathed a massive sigh of relief. She was finally home.
Caius stopped near the front steps. He gently lowered his head so Rue could slide off.
Before Rue’s feet even hit the damp grass, the heavy wooden front door of the cabin swung completely open.
A female beastman stood right on their front porch. She wore a bright, incredibly colorful dark green dress that stood out loudly against the dark, muddy swamp. She had bright violet eyes and a massive, completely infectious smile on her face. She held a large woven basket entirely overflowing with colorful swamp fruits and baked goodies.
It was Iris.
"Hiiiii Rueeee!" Iris cheered loudly, waving her free hand wildly in the air. "I came to visit!"
