Chapter 18 The attack.

After Caden left, Sydney remained seated obediently besides Shawn and the silence shrouded them. It wasn't suffocating but not comfortable either.

"You never told me about your family." Sydney spoke to break the barrier between them. When they were three of them, it wasn't weird but with just Shawn whose temperament was calm and he rarely initiated a talk, she felt a little weird.

"I'm the first born in the second litter of four wolf pups." Shawn said feeling a little muddle headed. He really didn't want to talk about those times but what could he do? His female was curious about him. "I'm also the strongest in my litter." he boasted with a smile. It was true since his other brothers were third rank males which made them hate him the more. He had always thought that ranking sooner would earn him his father's acceptance but that also never happened and he had put a stop to focusing on ranking higher. It would gain him nothing in the end!

"That's cool!" she praised him with a huge smile but from his facial expression, she could tell that he didn't really want to talk alot about it. Spending the last two days with him, she had learnt of how sensitive he was to emotions. "I also have a big brother and little sister...we all grew up along with our cousins but I wasn't close to them." Sydney chose to speak about herself. She had already told both Caden and Shawn that she was no god sent gift and despite their skeptical gazes, they believed her and warned her from saying anything about it to anyone outside.

"Did they bully you?" Shawn sat up with a frown his eyes narrowing down.

"Not really. Am I that easy to bully?!" Sydney raised a brow and Shawn shook his head. Of course she wasn't easy to bully, he was there when she dealt with Ken. "Then why weren't you able to get along with them?" he wondered.

"I just didn't want to. I'm not usually this talkative, I love my peace and quiet alot but when I came here...I realized I need to change that habit." She said her eyes getting emotional. "I'll make sure to talk alot when I go back home some day." Sydney said and stood up from where she was seated.

"Let's talk about something else....how long does it usually take to build houses in the beast city?"

"Two days at the most." he said with certainty stopping Sydney in her steps. "Two days?...did you say two days?" she asked in disbelief but Shawn nodded. "Even the eagle castle??" she asked.

"It has been there for so long but with helping hands from fellow clansmen, it'd take a day and a half." Shawn explained to the best of his ability.

Sydney was stupified as she looked at Shawn in awe. She really bore respect for these men. If a building only took them two days to build...did it mean it won't be long and she'll be in her home? Wasn't there a need for finding cement, forget the iron bars and all the other equipment! Wow!!! " So you only use stones to build?" Sydney asked in awe and shawn nodded like it's the commonest thing to do. Of course they used stones!

"Can we go and see where those stones are got?" Sydney walked up to Shawn and intended to use the puppy eyes on him to get what she wanted but on looking into his unfocused eyes, her expectations fell.

"The stone mountain is a little far from here behind the beast city and remember I'm supposed to watch over you." he reasoned with her.

"But I'm only going to peek alittle and we shall return..." Sydney pouted. What's so wrong about going over to see. Intrigued by how things worked around here, she wanted to oversee the whole process with her own eyes!

Feeling his female's displeasure towards him, Shawn was tempted to take her there. It was fine as long as they stated in the city but with recent attacks from the strays who disguised as normal males, it was risky to take her out there. That's why it had been established that a female was to choose her males from those that dueled to win her over. They were trying to minimize the risks of a female being misled by a stray and face a terrible end.

A sudden rustling of the small bush nearby had Shawn on high alert and he hurriedly grabbed Sydney sheilding her with his body. He strained his ears and sniffed the area. Sydney was caught off guard but seeing Shawn being in defense, she felt that something was a miss. She too got on alert!

From behind the bush, a young male emerged and smiled at Sydney but the smile sent chills down her spine. The young male had no rank markings on him but even just from looking at him, Sydney could tell that he was dangerous. The scent initially had been masked but now that he was out in the open, Shawn could tell that it was indeed a stray male from the crocodile tribe. He let out a growl and the young man stopped in his tracks before he proceeded to walk over.

"What do you want?!" Shawn asked.

*Is that even a question?" he sneered. Tilting his head, he looked over at Sydney who was perfectly hidden. "I want the female you have. Hand her over nicely and we can all get out of this unharmed." the young man negotiated.

"A stray like you has the nerve to give commands here in the beast city?! I find your courage quite commendable but don't you think you are being reckless?!" Shawn asked as he tried to buy time. He was sure this small beastman wasn't on his own and he was sure they were surrounded. With how destructive these stray beastmen were, they didn't care about how many others were hurt for as long as their aim was fulfilled.

Sydney who had been listening to the interaction noticed that a few other beastmen gave off an odd feeling just like the one of the young man before them. They were around five more. She knew at a single glance that she had to fight and defend herself or else, she'd be taken away to God knows where!

"What kind of beastman is he?" Sydney whispered.

"Crocodile...." Shawn replied and moved his unfocused eyes to Sydney. It was then that he noticed that she was on high alert and her whole demeanor was like that of the spiky beasts (porcupine)

He needed to call for help...he had a female to protect but he wasn't sure if he'd have enough time to help her escape. He remembered that Caden had left them some eagle beastmen to keep watch but he realised that those beastmen who had scouting around them were no longer there.

"I told you~" the crocodile beastman said in a sing along voice.

"I need a weapon." Sydney spoke out loud. Shawn turned to look at her but she winked at him. He knew what a 'weapon' was because Sydney had told them about the weird terminologies she had been using.

"Female....I can give you that thing. Come with me and my Lord shall serve you to your satisfaction." He said looking all smug. Even the female's voice sounded sweet. They had overheard beastmen who were out hunting talk about the female sent by the god of beasts. Praises of her beauty had been sung and claims were made on how she'd help her males gain more ranks easily. This news had made their lord delighted and he sent them here to get the female.

After monitoring her movements and knowing the clans she had on her side, they had devised this plan really well. They could use this female to officially enter the city of beasts.

Shawn who heard her ask for a weapon reached for a stone blade wrapped in animal skin and handed it to Sydney.

*Don't waste our time and hand over the female!" the beastman spoke his voice showing his impatience as his comrades stepped forward.

Nodding as a signal, Sydney broke into a run not daring to look back and Shawn attacked the crocodile beastman transforming into his beast form and snapping the beast man's head off with his strong jaw. Relying on his sense of smell, he ran to catch up with Sydney.

Having not expected the female to run off, the stray beastmen exposed themselves letting out growls and howls as they charged at full speed to catch the red haired female. Sydney whose heart was nearly leaping out of her chest as adrenaline pumped looked to her left where she saw a huge tiger was leaping towards her. Had it been back on earth, she wouldn't be daring enough to test how many lives she had but knowing these beastmen were at a disadvantage against her, she dodged the attack with a skid to the ground, her animal hide boots scrapping aganist the gravel. Unsheathing her well sharpened stone blade, she regained her momentum and ran towards the tiger catching it off guard.

Was the female running towards him?!! Did the female notice and finally like him?!! How did he get so lucky?!

Sydney's light body bolted like a bullet as she attacked but soon noticed that the tiger was in a daze looking her way. His big eyes stationed on her were bright to the point that she could see her reflection...if only she had a choice!!! Nearing the beastman, she used her blade and skilfully slashed the beastman's neck making blood splatter all over the place and on her body.

The other stray beastmen who had exposed themselves were stupified and left in shock seeing that a female had actually killed a second rank tiger beastman who was thrice her size. In their moment of shock, Shawn and Ken had attacked and killed six more stray beastmen.

A tiger beastman who watched his brother being killed by a female roared painfully and ferociously charged towards Sydney who had her back against him.