Chapter Forty-One

Cyro's heart pounded as they hauled him into the center of the room. His arms, hands, claws, and mouth were bound once more with vines. When they brought him to a halt, both guards kicked him to his knees. He looked around as the chairs began to fill. They had cleared the dining hall and blocked it off. Guards were posted at every doorway. The four tables were placed around him each with their own chairs. Too his left sat the Bronze tribe leader, a brown bear, and the Amber tribe, a golden looking mountain lion. To his right sat Silver tribe leader Indigo, and Ivory tribe leader Kylo. He took note that Kylo seems to have just come from a long trip. Behind him sat Alzie the leader of the Verdant tribe, no longer his tribe. Alongside him a small bobcat in black cloth, representing the shadow clan. In front of him sat Vilen, with Frazen standing behind him. What he had not expected to see was the Pythoness sitting next to him. They were beautiful and he didn't dare consider them less that some sort of god or goddess. Their golden/brown and white feathers shining in the light of the candles. He was in awe as he wondered how they could have gotten here so quickly. He heard so many rumors of their magick and how they could see visions of the past present and future. He honestly suddenly found himself wish to see the entirety of their body. He was most curious about the massive wings that could be seen poking out from behind them. He had never seen anyone from the sky tribes. Those of the sky tribes ruled over the land tribes. The carnivores ruled over the herbivores and the herbivores ruled over the rodent tribes. The sea tribes were nearly like myths to them. But the sky tribe they were said to have beautiful colors and soar through the skies. That magick flowed in their blood even before their new world came.

He stared into eyes that were blacker than the night, a small ring the color of cocoa beans surrounding the dark pools. It felt as is the eyes were staring down into his soul, drowning him in their power. Then her scent filled his nose and broke the strange trance he had been in. He looked as watched as she entered the room, her hair wilder than ever before. Her skin looked as if it was glowing, he could see her small bump. Barely noticeable unless you were looking and knew their secret. Even her hips were a little wider than before. She seemed to capture everyone's attention, he could feel the need to grab her in his arms and let it be known she was his. He didn't want her here, didn't want her to witness his fate if he should loose. He lowered his eyes too the floor in an attempt to calm himself as she stood next to indigo. Her scent filled his very being in that moment, the need to hold her growing stronger and stronger.

"Cyro, of tribe Verdant." Vilens voice rang out loud around them, now like a slick poison causing his blood to boil. "You are here to face judgement of your crime. We shall start by recounting the events that took place."

He went on to say how he told him that "More tests would be needed" and how he attacked "Unprovoked". He spued lies and made it seem like he was some primitive beast gone mad. Even then he wished to break the vines binding him but knew it would only be used as evidence against him.

"If there is anyone who wish to fight for Cyros innocence stand now and speak." Vilens voice was already rich with arrogance like he had won.

"I do." Kylo, Alzie, and Indigos voices rang out in unison.

"So be it. You all have the floor." He could hear the chair scrap the ground as Vilen sat down.

"The tale Vilen has told you all was quiet a pretty one, I'll admit." Indigo spoke not missing a beat as his chair scrapped the ground as he stood. The sound of his footsteps beginning to circle them. "However, it is a false one. Cyro was provoked into attacking Vilen." There was a pause as he let the words sink into the air. "Mira is Cyros mate.And when Vilen came to him he did not ask nor was he polite and respectful." Cyro looked up to see Mira staring back at him as Indigo kept speaking. Her hand resting on her belly. "Vilen told Cyro he wanted to make Mira mate in front of everyone.Said if he wasn't willing they would find someone else to mate with Mira." He shouted at the end showing the anger he and Cyro were both feeling. "Tell me if she was your mate would you not retaliate the way Cyro did to protect her."

"You say this, yet Mira does not bare any mating marks." The chief of the Amber tribe spoke. "So other than your word how are we supposed to believe she is his mate?"

"Simple. Look at her see how small she is," He watched as Miras walked past him to the Amber tribe chief. "Feel how soft, and fragile her skin is." Cyro quickly stood as she reached her arm out allowing the feline to touch her. "See even now Cyro protects her as a mate should. And you can feel how easy it would be to scratch her by accident."

"How is it possible to have skin so weak and soft?" The chief of the Bronze tribe now spoke touching her other arm.

"Vilen threatened Cyros mate, knowing he would protect her." Cyro found himself taking a step closer to Mira. "Knowing how fragile and weak Mira is. He wants Mira for himself and is trying to steal her for his experiments."

"I've known Cyro his whole life." When Alzie started speaking the room went quiet, Cyro turned to look at him. H didn't know what to think of Alzie, when he spoke up with Indigo and Kylo he was shocked. "He bares yellow markings, and his scales are the color of our females. I know none of you know the meaning behind this."

The room was silent as everyone focus on Alzie. He showed no emotion, and his voice was steady and calm. It was like they new he was a bomb ready to go off at any second. Not a single breath could be heard as they waited for him to finish.

"Red is the strongest of the tribe, orange the second strongest. Cyro has neither orange nor red, in fact he has yellow." He moved steadily towards Cyro. "Yellow is the weakest, on top of that he is the same color as our females. He is not a strong beast, why would he attack another beast knowing how weak he is."

"Are you calling females weak?" It Heili who spoke up.

"No, you are a great example of how strong females can be." Alzies mouth twitched as he spoke his calm voice mixing with a sinister tone. "Even you are stronger than Cyro."

"So, from their perspective Cyro is knowable weaker than Vilen, and therefore only would ever challenge and attack him if he felt it absolutely necessary when it comes to his mate." This time it was Shadow tribe speaking. "But what proof do you have that she is his mate?"

"On top of that, Alzie, how is Cyro the weakest yet he was the only one to make it too our wall still standing and conscious?" Vilen stood up Staring Alzie in the eyes. Cyro could feel something was terribly off as Alzies mouth twitched again and he claws flexed.

"You never mention that." Bronze tribe spoke.

"Knowing this information, I'd say it sounds like Cyro is quite strong and capable. And still no proof Mira being his mate!" As the Shaow tribe spoke Cyro looked to Indigo, panic slipping onto his face. They were losing.

"Anyone who finds Cyro guilty please stand." Vilen stood tall with a smile on his face. "Ayone who says he's innocent please sit."

"What about the female protection law?" Kylo spoke stepping into the center now.

"She is human not beast, it doesn't not apply to her." Vilens words hit with a final note.