Miracle

Vav slowly awoke to sunlight peeking through the curtains. He slowly sits up and scoots back, so his back rests against the headboard. He yawns and stretches his arms above his head. A sleepy noise causes him to freeze for a moment. He looks to his left to see Mogar sleeping with his back to Vav. The covers rested on his waist, showing his bare shoulders and back. 

Vav smiled fondly and slipped out of bed. He pulled on his dark blue, cotton shorts and walked over to the dark oak table, sitting a little away from the bed. He sat down. He looked at some of the paperwork Mogar had forgotten to do the night after Vav had interrupted him for some…..activities. 

Vav grabs a pen and starts to finish some of the work. It was basic stuff. New armor for the guard, more crop seeds for the farmers, minimal taxes, and ‘treaties’ with Achievement city. 

Vav laughs as he feels arms snake around his shoulders and a chin rest on his head, “‘Ello, love,”

Mogar smiled, “Good morning Vav,”

Vav reached up to pet Mogar’s hair, “You’re up early,”

Mogar grumbled playfully and slunk into the chair next to Vav, he had pulled on his red trousers, “Mogar could say the same for Vav,”

Vav chuckles softly, “I’m always up this early,”

Mogar smiled and got up again, kissing Vav on the cheek before moving to the manikins that held his outfits. 

Mogar’s new outfits consisted of two bear pelts (One with a red cape sewn into the fabric with silver pauldrons, and his original one), red trousers to replace his mustard ones. His regular leather arm braces and boots, his crown, and his warpaint. 

Right now, Mogar pulled on his first bear pelt, arm braces, and boots. Leaving the crown and the royal pelt on the statue. 

Mogar sheathed his sword as Vav got up to get dressed. 

Vav’s outfits were not much different than Mogar’s. His original lion pelt. Another lion pelt with a dark blue cape sewn into the back, with black pauldrons, along with his crown, that outfit was hung a little away. 

Vav pulled on his original pelt, his dark blue trousers with his original gloves, boots, and warpaint. Grabbing his bow and quiver and strapping them onto his back, Mogar and Vav left the royal chambers and ventured into the castle. 

Servants and guards nodded their heads or bowed as they passed. Mogar and Vav made it the main hall, where two thrones stood on a raised platform. Both thrones had the Wilds’ Symbol, an orb with three crystals inside with claw marks on the side, surrounded by beautiful designs etched into the seating. The cushions on the thrones were purple. 

Servants had moved a giant table into the hall. The Captain and commanders of the royal guard sat at the table. There were two chairs at one head of the table, back to the thrones, and one at the other head, back to the door. Then 12 chairs, six on each side, lined the table. 

There were 12 commanders and one captain. 

Viper was made Captain of the Royal guard a few months after Mogar and Vav took the throne. She sat at the head of the table with her back facing the door. Viper had changed very little over the last two years. Her hair was longer, coming down to her waist even while braided. She wore the same snake bodysuit but now had a serpentine headpiece holding her bangs back. 

As Mogar and Vav entered the hall, Viper and the commanders all stood up and bowed. Mogar sat in one of the chairs at the head of the table, Vav sat to his left. 

“My King,” The hawk warrior, Marrow, spoke, “Achievement City is...disproving of the Wilds’ new choice of residence. They would like the Wilds to move,”

Vav sighed and held his forehead with his thumb and two fingers, “Well, we’re not moving,” He said, “Being closer to the City has advantages; clean water, fresher kill all year long, shelter if it comes to that. We’re hours travel away, what do they claim the problem is?”

Marrow went to speak when a gecko warrior, Treecko, spoke up, “The city has sent a representative to speak with the King and Queen,”

Mogar’s eyes widened, “Are they here?”

“Yes,”

Mogar stood up, Vav soon following. Mogar called servants to get his and Vav’s royal pelts and crowns, and to move the table away. 

The commanders lined the walls along the hall as the servants did their job. Soon the room was empty again as Viper went to get the representative. 

Viper walked with her hands folded behind her back, two reptilian warriors flanked her. She held her head high as she stepped forward. 

The City representative or representatives, for there were two. Were a male and a female. The male was tall with slicked-back brown hair with green eyes. He was older and wore a black suit with a white shirt. The woman was younger, his assistant maybe, with red hair and blue eyes. She wore a white blouse with black slacks. 

Viper approached them, a sour look on her face. They turned to her and almost looked disgusted by her appearance, 

“I am Viper, captain of the royal guard,” Viper said coldly, “Viper is here to escort city representatives to meet the King Mogar and Queen Leonidas,”

The man looked Viper up and down, “Must you talk like that?”

Viper raised an eyebrow, “Viper does not understand. If city representatives follow Viper. She will lead them to her leaders,”

The man curled his lip, “Like that. Such broken English, so improper,”

Viper shrugged, “Maybe to you. Viper grew up talking like this. Come with Viper,”

The city representatives followed Viper, the younger women looked uncomfortable, while the man looked disgusted. 

Soon they entered the hall, and the women eyed the commanders lining the wall wearily. The man ignored them. 

Mogar and Vav sat on their thrones, looking stoic. Their fingers intertwined on the connected armrests. The man and woman stopped a few feet away from them. Viper took her place to the left of Mogar’s throne, awaiting her next orders. 

“Good morning,” The man said, “I am Richard Milson, and this is my assistant Kat Muller,”

Mogar smiled, “I am King Mogar, it’s nice to meet you both,”

Vav opened his mouth to introduce himself, but the man cut him off. 
“Where is the queen?”

Vav nodded his head, “You’re looking at him,”

The man looked him over, “You?”

Vav’s eyes narrowed, “Yes,”

Milson scoffed, “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m under the impression you’ve both heard of the City’s…...mistrust in you,”

Mogar nods, “Mogar and his mate know, and they don’t understand,”

Milson’s eyebrow raised. He then sighed, “Look, your ‘majesty.’ The people of Achievement city aren’t ready for your kind yet. It was fine when it was just you, Mogar, but now you’ve brought an entire kingdom with you,” The man glared at Mogar, “Like I said, they aren’t ready for you and your kind. And I doubt they ever will be,”

Mogar’s eyes narrowed, “And why should that concern Mogar?” He asked, “Animalistic warriors are not invading the City, if they enter the City, it’s under disguise and an order not to intervene with the City’s tactics. Humans have no control over Mogar or his kind, so why must we make a deal with the City?”

Milson growled, “It concerns you because if the Wilds does not make a deal with the city, the city will be forced to move the kingdom away using force,”

“Excuse me!?” Vav asked, “How dare you! Animalistic warriors have been around longer than you were born!”

Muller now stepped up, “B-be that as it may,” She stuttered out, “The Achievement City council and mayor are not to be questioned. They have made a decision,”

Milson smirks, “You’re lucky we let you live out here,”

Vav growled, and Mogar put a hand on his arm, gently quieting him. The man continued, 

“We were sent to offer you a deal; You can either make a treaty with us or return to where you came from,”

Vav shook his head, “We don’t want war. But we do not wish to submit under the humans’ rule. I’ve been down that road before, it doesn’t end well for either side,”

Muller went to speak. She looked up at Vav, her eyes widened, “Vav?” 

Vav tensed in his chair, Milson turned around to look at Muller, 

“Vav’s here?”

Muller pointed to Vav, “He’s the queen,”

Milson looked at the queen more closely. An almost evil sneer curved his mouth, 

“It is you!” He said, “Vav, the cities hero. The people were devastated when you went missing and even more disappointed when X-Ray confirmed that you weren’t coming back!”

Vav’s eyes narrowed; he didn’t say anything as the woman spoke up, worry in her tone.  

“And now look at you! Wearing pelts and playing pretend. You are not an animalistic warrior! You should be back with us! Is Mogar forcing you to do this!?”

Viper’s eyes widened, and she took a step forward, “How dare-”

“Viper,” Vav’s eyes were hidden by his hair, “Stand down,”

Viper looked shocked but backed up, “Yes, my queen,”

Viper slowly rose to his feet and walked over to the human. In one swift motion, he grabbed them both by the shirts and dragged them forwards, they tripped and ended up kneeling before Vav. 

When they looked up, Vav’s eyes had changed, they were now cat-like a glowing. A growl escaped his throat, 

“Listen carefully,” Vav said, “The Wilds has chosen to move here, outside the City because we knew we could make peace. I have friends and family in the City. Even though I’m no longer human, I care deeply for the City and its citizens,”

Vav allowed the human to stand as he walked back to his spot beside Mogar, he turned back to them. His eyes transforming back to normal, 

“I am Queen Leonidas, former hero and the queen of the Animalistic warriors. Everything I do is for both the City and Wilds, for both sides of my family!”

As if it was rehearsed, all commanders drew their weapons and slammed them on the ground in unison. The echo silenced any objection. Mogar stood as Vav spoke again, 

“You may not respect me as a hero, but I am the queen of the Wilds,” 

The commanders slammed their weapons again, Vav allowed an inhuman growl form in his throat. Mogar took his hand, glaring at the humans. 

“You will respect that,”