THE ROGUE KING'S HOUSE

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON

Although they had meant to enter the Rouge King's house from the back patio, but Savy heard footsteps and male voices complaining about the little money they received for delivering the goods.

"****, is it just me, or is Beta Lorent getting cheaper?"

"Shut up. Let's just get out of here."

"What? But -"

"This place gives me the creeps."

Savy quickly dragged her mate off the porch as they neared. Her instincts told her to stay out of the building, "River, we should leave."

"But the little girl!" River insisted.

"Please, River. We need to report back home. My dad would know what to do." Savy was feeling quite desperate.

"That's a good idea!" River brightened, "You go get back up. I'll save the little girl."

Because River was a dumba** like that.

Naturally, Savy couldn't just leave him alone in that place. They tried to make their way around the building. Savy was looking for another entrance, hopefully a low and opened window.

This was when River had to trip and fall into an open trap door into the cellar. You'd never guess what the Rogue King kept in his cellar.

WHAT WAS IN THE ROGUE KING'S CELLAR?

A) Large cages

B) Strange machines and contraptions

C) Dentist chairs with leather straps

D) All of the above

(ANSWER = D. Well, it wouldn't be ice cream.)

Overall, it was a weird smelling place - this observation was made by River, and not Savy. I'm going to just assume that if it were a smell big and weird enough to be noticed by a human, it was something really weird.

Anyway, Daisy was crying in one of the cages. The both of them went over to examine the cage. It had no doors, and Savy found out that it was just an iron bar box put upside down over the rogue pup. She managed, but just barely, to lift the cage off the ground enough for Daisy to crawl out. River was really impressed by Savy's great strength. He couldn't even move the cage a little bit. River really needed to work out more - just IMAO.

They heard noises outside and escaped up the cellar doors they had fallen through. Then they made a run for it.

Unfortunately, their scent was not hidden - not even the "weird smell" covered it. Here, I'm going to guess it was Savy's free wolf clean citrus soap smell that stood out the most. Anyway, they quickly found themselves being chased by rogues.

River was really bad at running. So Savy told him to take the rogue pup and run one way while she shifted to face their pursuers.

"She did what?" I was growling immediately. Savy wasn't a fighting type of wolf. I mean, she's not bad at it, but her wolf was a little snowball! Savy was a princess meant to be protected!

This would never have happened if I were there!

"Don't worry, goddess. Prince River proved himself admirably." Ki assured me.

Why? Did River fight off the rogue wolves himself? I couldn't imagine it. Did he "use innocence as his shield" and protected all three of them?

Prince River took the pup, hid her behind a fallen log and thicket, and then doubled back. By then the rogues had caught up, and Savy had shifted. One of them had a gun.

Of course they would have a gun! Grrrr....

"How could Savy just throw herself out into danger like that?" I was seriously fuming. I should've been there!

Ki only smiled gently, "Perhaps your sister is more like you than you realize."

WTH! I DO NOT THROW MYSELF OUT INTO DANGER!

Urm... not on purpose anyway.

I tossed my head, "Continue the story, please."

Ki chuckled.

The moment the gun shot and River realized that Savy was going to get hit, he just panicked and blanked out.

His stone took over, and a strong wind stirred around them, falling trees left right and center. One of them fell between Savy and the gun, taking the hit for her. The other trees fell on the rogues.

And then as usual, River passed out. Right there. In the middle of the Warlock Forest.

In what way was that "proving himself admirably?"

Grrrr... WTH. Once all this was over, I was going to have to get River to shape up. I mean, its not that River was human, although humans were weak to begin with, but look at Wilhelm! He was human! I was quite sure Wilhelm would be able to stand his own against a warrior wolf one on one. He'd never leave the fight unscathed, but at least his opponent would hurt from it too.

Geesh...

The rogues were trapped under the fallen trees, but still alive though. Poor Savy pulled River by the scuff of his winter coat to move him to safety. The rogue pup followed and helped her. The rogue pup was very brave, and also religious. She kept praying for the goddess to come help them.

They ran all night.

By dawn, Savy managed, with the rogue pup's help to get River into the safety of a cave hidden behind a waterfall.

Eh? Eh? Eh?

Savy smelled Dad and Beta Lucas' stuff in the cave and pulled out some warm clothes for all of them. Then she mindlinked Dad and Beta Lucas... who were trapped in some kind of enchantment on the other side of the warlock forest that made them go round and round in circles.

But they managed to break free from it, return home, and run down the secret underground tunnel to meet Savy, River, and Daisy.

River had woken up just in time to face Dad's wrath. The moment Dad ran in and saw his baby puppy in his oversized clothes with a guy, he pretty much chi-ka-boomed on River. Beta Lucas managed to stop him before any real damage was done.

Once things calmed down, they had to deal with the little rogue. Poor Daisy. Rogues were shoot on sight. River suggested that if she remained out of sight, then she won't be shot, right?

River was an idiot x 100. What made him think that this hallowed pack law could be so lightly stepped around? And he was suggesting it to the Alpha himself!

Beta Lucas came to the rescue again. We could also capture the rogue for questioning. Yes, that would be exactly as protocol dictated.

At this point, it was obvious that Dad and Beta Lucas were two big old softies trying to smuggle a small rogue child to safety through the loopholes of our pack laws. BUT Daisy didn't realize that. She did understand enough of dungeons and rogue laws to burst into tears though.

But there was no helping it. Dad and Beta Lucas put her into a crate, which was not the first time they put a pup in a crate. I've been transported in one more than once in my life. BUT of course Daisy wouldn't have known that since she was brought up by a normal dad.

And then Ki was told to keep her safe in the dungeon. Barry was with him in the kitchen and recognized Daisy. Ki then found out that the special team had helped Daisy and her family before. He scheduled them to "guard" the little girl - but mostly, they were supposed to keep the girl company and protect her while she was there.

It was a good thing the renovations made in the dungeon had been completed and the space was quite sanitary now. Barry had commented that it was a clean as a top fight dog's cell. This might sound bad, but I've been to Bell's cell before, so I knew that top fight dogs were kept in clean spaces. Vampires turned out to be quite responsible pet owners.

Ki reported to Dad's office after settling the little girl, only to find Savy yelling at Dad to let go of River.

He mindlinked for Mum to come to the rescue. Mum came and took Savy away, and by then, Dad had calmed and River, despite being lifted off his feet by his collar and shaken like a rag doll by my King Kong Dad's hand, was able to still recount what happened.

In conclusion, Savy and River saved Daisy and got themselves home pretty much all by themselves. Dad and Beta Lucas spent all night not rescuing them. But all's well that ends well, right?

And Savy was home. I can't say how happy I was to know this.

Throughout this story there were some little details that didn't add up - like Beta Lorent was dead right? Was someone impersonating the dead delta? And why would anyone kidnap Daisy for ransom? Her family wasn't like in anyway rich or anything. Who did they think would pay the ransom for a small rogue pup?

But the point was, Savy was home. Safe.

If River ever took her out on this kind of stoopid date again, I would minimally headbutt him. No, hahahaha, I've got the perfect punishment for River. He was going to train... under, hmmm... I tried to think of the worst trainer I had ever had.

He had to be the kind of trainer who enjoyed pushing someone just enough for it to be excruciating without completely wiping you out... Just so you can suffer as long as possible.

Flynn.

Muahahaha. I'm so evil.

"Goddess?"

I realised Ki was watching the evil glee on my face, "Urm, yeah?"

Ki smiled cautiously, "Your schedule for the rest of the day... Should I repeat it?"

Oh. Since I didn't even know Ki had run through my schedule, I nodded.

"Alpha Kingsley would like to see you in his office post haste." Ki started.

Post haste. Hahaha. Lorents used such weird vocabulary.

"Stephan has also reported that your Luna had been put on lockdown in his bunker. The lockdown had been quite successfully implemented, with only minor casualties." Ki smiled serenely, "Luna Bell had been fully enraged, but has since quietened in his bunk. He warns of eminent attack."

"What do you mean attack?" I asked.

"Did you believe that your Luna would quietly accept having his army locked down?" Ki asked.

Now that Ki put it that way...

"I'm quite sure his silence could only be the calm before the storm." Ki warned me.

Because everyone knew the storm needed time to plot.

I sighed. Oh man, what did I just do?

"I'll talk to him when he wakes up." I promised, "Maybe if I can just reason with him."

Ki nodded, "I suppose we might try that."

Thanks for the overwhelming confidence, Ki.

Maybe if I just explained why I had to do that, he would understand. At worst, maybe we could negotiate something. You know, I lift the lock down, he promises to stop destroying the world. I think anyone could see I was making a rather reasonable request.

"Thursday Night training session is on tonight. Will the goddess be participating?" Ki moved on down my agenda for the day.

"Who's the trainer? Is it Hank?" I asked.

"Yes, goddess." Ki nodded.

"Then is Flynn free to help me with something?" I asked.

"Would you like me to arrange for it?" Ki asked.

I nodded, "Yes, please. Tell him to meet me at the training hall just before Thursday's session."

What? Did you think I would have forgotten about my dear friend, River?