Chapter Ten

Alzie felt restless as he watched the dancers. Each one doing their best to win his affections. He wished for the days where he didn't have to worry about such things. Where he could just do whatever he pleased. Heili was the last to dance. She admittedly was the prettiest of them all. He would have chosen her, if not for how she treated Cyro. His mind wondered to how Cyro and Mira were doing. Maybe they were having more fun than him. After Heili finished everyone began dancing and enjoying themselves. He didn't see Cyro or Mira anywhere anymore.He wanted to go search for them, but it was customary to stay till the end. Which couldn't get here soon enough as a crowd of eligible females came his way.

"Chief those feathers look lovely on you." One of them exclaimed.

"Hmmm, thank you dear." He tried to pretend to enjoy himself. There were way to many for comfort. He began feeling very overwhelmed, all of them too close and crowding him. His felt like he couldn't breath, his pulse racing. Vision blurring.

"Ladies, ladies. Back it up." Relief washed over him at the sight of Sklai. "He will reveal his chosen mate tomorrow in the morning."

"Yes mistress Sklai!" They all pranced off with joy knowing one of them was to be his.

"Sklai, good to see you." He relaxed and melted into his chair. "Perfect timing as always."

"Of course, can't leave you alone to deal with everything." She smiled back.

She really was a kind woman. When his mother died, and his father secluded himself away, she was all he had. When his father would get put of control, she was there to help him hide. As the chiefs son many things were expected of him. If he didn't do those things his father would punish him. Not physically, he couldn't risk harming his replacement. Instead he would call him useless and take it out on the village. He would do anything to protect his tribe.

"I now see why you brought that... human here." She still couldn't stand her.

"Ahhh, and why did I bring her here?" He rubbed his temples, he could feel a headache coming on.

"So Cyro won't be so lonely." She said it as if it was fact. "Their up in his hut now."

What! He couldn't believe she would say that as if it was an everyday occurrence. Maybe she misunderstood them as just talking or something. Cyro couldn't, no wouldn't, form an attachment to a human. He didn't like humans. He remembered the question Mira had asked earlier today. Could it be there was an attraction. He excused himself from his seat and snuck off up the rope. He needed to see what she saw. When he got up there he didn't hear a single sound, except for a low growl. He snuck over to one of the windows and slightly pushed one of the leaves over. He froze in spot shocked. Their they were holding each other. He felt no attraction to the girl, he just wanted to keep her and study her. To him she was like a rare discovery. Priceless. He should have kept a closer eye on Cyro. Made sure he didn't get attached. He watched as Cyro laid her down and headed to the door. Her snoring made it eat for him to climb on the roof and stay hidden.

Perhaps all he saw was them hugging nothing more. He should give Cyro the benefit of the doubt. He snuck down the other side and climbed back down using the tree instead. He needed to get back to the celebration. Alzie couldn't help but feel something else when he saw them. He just ignored it and shoved it down. 'He only felt that way cause the human was his, not Cyro's,' he thought to himself. Cyro got do to as he please, no one ever cared what he did. He could come and go and no one would bat an eye. He had no rules to follow, no one to punish him. He was free. He can't have Mira too. When they leave for the tangerine tribe he'll make sure to keep a close eye on both of them. Just to be sure nothing more happens. She's human, not one of them. He went back to his seat to pretend he witnessed nothing. Soon Cyro was by his side. They didn't speak, but for the first time he felt and energy shift. The atmosphere was heavy and somewhat awkward. It was long before Heili began walking to them.

"So, Alziemar, how about a dance?" He could sense Cyros distaste.

"Sure why not." He didn't know why he agreed, he did however enjoy the look on Cyros face.

He tried to focus on dancing with Heili. His mind kept going back to seeing Mira and Cyro embracing eachother. They had to be just hugging. Cyro knew how important it was to him to study her. He couldn't do this to him. Anger began whelling up inside him. He threw back drink after drink, trying to forget ever seeing them. He could feel his mind fogging and everyone began to blur together. He dancing and drank and danced some more. He froze when he thought he saw Mira. He followed her out of the crowd and into the forest. Where was she going? She couldn't leave yet, not yet. He tried to grab her but fell to the ground. Suddenly he heard his father's voice echoing around him.

"Your worthless, you can't protect anyone!"

"Stop it!" He curled up into a ball and covered his ears as he tried to block out the sound. tears flowing from his eyes.

"Alzie! Alzie!" Cyros voice broke through the shouting.

"Cyro?" He looked up to see his friend bending over him.

"Alzie, it's okay. He's not here anymore." He allowed Cyro to lift him up and walk him back.

"Cyro your here!" He touched Cyro's face to be sure he was there.

His good friend Cyro, always there when he needed him. He never should have left the celebration. Never should have drank so much. He tried to climb up the robe, but had to have help from Cyro. This made him laugh. The strongest in the village and he couldn't even climb a rope while drunk. They finally reached the top as the sun began to rise. Because of his stupidity their trip would be delayed for another day now. Who will keep an eye on Cyro and Mira. As soon as his head hit the leaves Cyro was gone. He laid there and sulked till sleep took over.