Free Web NovelChapter 47: Episode 047: Caius’s Lack of Social Love
The neighborhood near the Convergence was meant to be quiet.
Caius stood in the center of a small, muddy plot between two cabins. His posture was rigid. His golden eyes were narrowed into slits, scanning the area with the intensity of a general surveying a battlefield.
His thick, black hair was pulled back, and his tail was coiled tightly behind him, thick and lethal.
Two neighbors, a middle-aged hog-beast and a very nervous deer-shifter, stood a few feet apart. The hog-beast looked ready to snap. The deer-shifter looked ready to faint.
"The fence," Caius rumbled. His voice was deep, smooth, and entirely devoid of any patience. "You say it was broken at dawn. How did it break?"
"I... I think he hit it with his cart!" the hog-beast grunted, pointing a thick finger at the deer. "He was in a rush to get to the market. He didn’t look where he was going."
"It was a gust of wind!" the deer-shifter squeaked, his hands waving in the air. "I swear, I was nowhere near the fence! The wind is strong here!"
Caius stepped forward. The ground seemed to sink under his heavy weight. He looked at the broken wooden slats of the fence, and then at the hoof prints in the dirt.
"This is not a wind pattern," Caius stated. He turned to the hog-beast. "You have been complaining about the deer’s property line for weeks. You wanted to expand your garden. You broke the fence yourself to create a reason for a dispute."
The hog-beast went completely pale. His jaw hung open.
"And you," Caius turned to the deer, his eyes flashing a dangerous red. "You are clearly terrified of conflict. You would rather let him trample your garden than say a single word. That makes you a liability to the safety of this perimeter."
Rue walked out onto the porch of their cabin. She was wearing a simple light-blue dress and had little Theron tucked firmly against her chest in a soft sling. The baby was awake, watching the world with bright, curious eyes.
Rue sighed. She adjusted the baby and walked down the steps. The grass flattened under her soft slippers.
"Caius," Rue called out. Her voice was flat, bored, and completely unimpressed.
Caius turned instantly. The red in his eyes vanished, replaced by the warm, intense gold. His tail, which had been whipping the air with aggressive, warning snaps, suddenly went still and curled politely around his waist.
"The sector is insecure, Rue," Caius reported, his chest puffing out. "I am currently trying to solve the issue, so it wouldn’t disturb you."
"You sound like you want to kill them though," Rue corrected, walking up to the two terrified men. She looked at the broken fence. She looked at the two neighbors who looked like they were about to burst into tears.
"Listen," Rue said to the neighbors. "It’s a fence. It keeps the wind out and the chickens in. Hog-beast, you need a bigger garden. Deer-shifter, you need a sturdy fence to stop the cart from hitting your flowers. If you help each other fix it instead of shouting, you both get what you want. Do you understand?"
The two men nodded frantically. They looked like they would agree to anything just to get away from the giant snake-man.
"Good," Rue said. "Fix it. Now."
She turned back to Caius. She grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the cabin. "You are not a general here, Caius. You are a neighbor. Save the threats for the battlefield."
Caius looked down at her. He didn’t look happy about the loss of control, but he allowed himself to be led back to the porch.
"They were disturbing the peace," Caius muttered. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"They were being neighbors," Rue corrected.
Inside, the cabin was warm. It smelled like cedarwood and the sweet, lingering scent of tea. It was small, but it was theirs.
Caius retreated to the kitchen. He was still clearly vibrating with the need to exert order, but he respected Rue. He began to prepare a drink, his movements efficient and sharp.
Rue sat in her favorite padded chair near the fireplace. She set Theron down on the thick, soft rug. He was strong enough to roll over now. He flopped onto his stomach, pushing his little chest up and looking around with wide, golden eyes.
Caius walked over. He knelt on the rug, his large, muscular frame looking slightly out of place in the cozy, sunlit room. He reached out and picked up a small wooden toy Rue had bought at the market. He shook it gently.
Theron’s eyes locked onto the toy. The baby giggled, a tiny, bubbling sound that made the room feel brighter. Caius’s face, which was usually as frozen as stone, cracked open. A slow, gentle smile spread across his lips.
Rue watched him. She saw the way his hand hovered over the baby, terrified to be too rough, terrified to break something so perfect. She saw the way his tail, usually a weapon of war, slapped the floorboards with a steady, happy rhythm because his son was laughing.
He was a predator, but here, he was just a father.
Rue smiled. It was a small thing. A genuine, warm smile that reached her eyes. She felt the tension in her own shoulders melt away.
Caius looked up. He caught her expression.
He froze.
The toy stopped shaking. His tail slapped the floor one last time and then went completely still. He looked at her as if she had just performed a miracle.
She’s smiling at me, Caius thought, his heart hammering against his ribs in a way no battle ever caused. She is actually smiling.
He felt incredibly exposed. He felt completely overwhelmed.
Rue didn’t look away. She let the smile stay, feeling the strange, warm weight of it. Instead of going cold, she allowed herself a giggle.
Not knowing that would invite trouble.
Theron let out a soft yawn and rolled onto his back, his golden eyes fluttering shut. He curled into a ball on the rug, his breathing turning into a steady, soft whistle.
Caius stayed on the rug, but he slowly pushed himself up. He was now taller, closer to her chair. frёeωebɳovel.com
He looked at Rue. His golden eyes were darker now. He shifted towards her.
Rue felt her heart stop for a second. She pressed her back against the chair. She didn’t move. She didn’t look away.
"W-what... why are you coming closer?"
