"Monster!" yelled some of the Metamorphs towards Blanc as he threw the wings at his family's feet.
Others watched while grimacing at the sight before them.
Many because of the gore of the situation, and others because their kin lost to a human, again.
But there were three who had not done either of these things.
Allegra, her father, Georn, and the Forest Mother were staring at Blanc and his hand, shocked by the power Blanc had just used.
But Blanc did not linger there for much longer, as he moved away from Heru and walked towards his family, who, as he walked, were checking either his wound or himself.
"How did you do that, my love?" Celine asked when Blanc got near them.
"I am not sure I understand everything completely, but once I do, I will explain it properly," Blanc replied to her.
"All that's important is that you are fine," Miyanna said, hugging her husband.
"Of course I am," Blanc offered her a warm smile in response, "But I still got a scratch because I underestimated him."
"It was so cool, brother," Lune said, an excited look in her eyes.
If one were to look at the sight before them, one would, with haste, come to realize an aspect present in Blanc and his family.
The screams of the suffering Heru did not end yet, not even after Metamorphs ran towards him, trying to heal his wounds as best as they could.
Yet here they were, hugging and talking excitedly about new powers and discoveries.
A detachment from suffering that would be considered heartbreaking when looking, especially at the twins who asked questions about the quills or voiced their excitement to learn this new power their older brother had just found.
No puking at the bloody sight, no discomfort at the screaming man in front of them, nothing behind their eyes, besides what they chose to focus on.
It was frightening to see eight-year-olds able to turn part of their brains off on command, so as not to feel some emotions that made them human.
However, unbeknownst to them, Blanc felt all.
All the screams, all the blood on the ground, all he had done.
And he wanted to be away from it all, as soon as possible.
Minutes later, when the screaming died down, as Heru fainted from blood loss, Blanc turned to face the important figures of the Metaphors.
"High-Chief," Blanc said, looking at the woman, "Do the terms of my victory still stand?"
"Of course they do, as displeasing as it is," the Forest Mother nodded, "You and your family are our kin's allies now."
"Then in the name of Blood Denegis, we thank you, High-Chief, for choosing us as allies," Blanc bowed. "However, this has yet to feel like a proper alliance."
"A blood-filled alliance is an alliance nonetheless," she replied, "And we, Metamorphs, keep our vows and promises once we make them."
"Quite the monolithic answer despite the discrepancy between all your kin," Celine added, drawing closer to Blanc and the Forest Mother.
The Forest Mother shrugged, "What can you do, human? Tell me, are all humans as monolithic as they seem? Or are they more warmongering between themselves than even we are?"
"So this is what it is?" Blanc asked, "A competition to prove yourselves that you are better than us humans?"
"Far from it," she shook her head, "We know we are better than you, with better morals and ethics than you, may I add."
"Quite the narcissistic belief, while we just defeated one of your own," Celine giggled, "But you are right, humans are not monolithic either. We kill our kin more than we kill any other being."
"You humans have a talent for war and destruction," the Forest Mother said, looking at the pair just as Miyanna on Blanc's side, and Allegra on her side, walked into their conversation, "Even if that destruction is against those most important to you, or to others."
"Tell me, High-Chief," Blanc said, "Why do your kin, and you specifically, hate humans this much? What made you attack the Domain of Noble Blood Certa? What pushed you out of the hiding place you call home?"
The Forest Mother stared at him, not replying to his question.
Many things were happening in her head, many memories giving Blanc the answer he couldn't see.
"Allegra," the Forest Mother muttered, "Take our… friends somewhere where they could properly rest."
"By your will, Forest Mother," Allegra bowed lightly before signaling for Nataly to join her, as Nataly awaited, with the logs Allegra requested still in her hands.
With that, the Forest Mother departed, letting Blanc's question hang in the air, without a reply to offer.
"Too hopeful of me to think she would actually answer," Blanc sighed, as Allegra and Nataly passed him and his wives.
"Follow me," Allegra said to them.
Wanting to get away from the gathering of Metamorphs, Blanc, Celine, Miyanna, and the twins, hoping to put a bit of distance between the two groups, followed the two Spirit Bears outside their campsite.
"I was under the impression we would remain inside," Blanc said as they walked.
"So was I under the impression that no fool would act like a madman, and an even bigger fool rip his wings off of him," Allegra sighed as she looked forward into the darkness.
"It had to be done," Blanc shrugged, "Consequences follow pride like a dog follows its master. And usually, death is what comes to these types of people."
"You have ripped the wings of an Eagle Clan member," Allegra muttered, "You have ripped off what makes him one."
"Do not try to make me feel bad, Allegra, for it will not work," Blanc said, stopping mid-walk. "Tell me, if he were to win, would he not have killed me?"
Allegra remained silent, thinking about the question Blanc had asked her.
She knew Heru, his personality, and especially how he acted a day ago when he wished death upon her for refusing him.
She knew Blanc was speaking the truth.
Heru challenged him at a moment when he should have thanked him.
If Heru were to win, Blanc would have been dead by now.
But her thoughts ran off to the moment Blanc cut Heru's wings off, and how he had done it.
There were too many questions for too short a walk, so she held her tongue about that, for now.
"You are right," she said, stopping in front of a straight patch of dirt, "He would have killed you and most likely your family after, if he had the power, thinking that it would be fair, as he was not part of the deal made."
"My point exactly," Blanc replied, shaking his head, "Let's just hope that this will change him."
"Either way," Allegra said, changing the subject, "We are here. You can use this place for tonight, and hopefully, things will calm down in the next few days."
"Thank you, Allegra," Celine smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Not only for this, but for seeing reason, when reason is due."
"Put the logs wherever, Nataly," Allegra instructed, ignoring Celine's words, her face remaining cold during the whole night.
At Allegra's words, the second Spirit Bear that came carrying logs nodded, placing them on a patch of grass close by.
"Well then," said Allegra, "Rest well."
And without another word, the two Spirit Bears took their leave, leaving Blanc and his family alone.
"Not one of them is normal," Miyanna clicked her tongue as she watched the two entering the Metamorph campsite, "All of them have something wrong with their heads."
"Must be the transforming into beasts part, I reckon," Blanc chuckled at her words as he took some of the kindling to start a fire, "But enough about that, we have secured an alliance, now we need to focus on what comes next, as well as that list of beasts for Blood Certa to bring to us."
And with that, as they set up the tents, prepared and ate dinner, they talked about the plans going forward until they were out of this Domain.
Further plans needed to be made, but Celine requested to postpone it for a few days.
"Why so?" Blanc asked curious after hearing her request.
"My father must have received the words I shared with the Daughter, and in a day or two when we meet with Blood Certa again, we should receive a reply."
"I'm sorry, Celine," Miyanna said, "But you only said weird things to that weird lady."
Words that sent a wave of laughter among the other four at calling a Daughter a 'weird lady'.
"What?" Miyanna asked, confused and embarrassed.
"I don't know what Celine said to the Daughter, I assume a coded message that only a Maroux might understand," Blanc sniffed, wiping away a tear as he replied, "But calling a Daughter a weird lady is…"
"Blasphemous," Kael added, "Never say that in front of one, sister Miyanna."
"Why?" Miyanna questioned, worried that she had let her tongue slip.
"I've seen people die for less," Celine giggled, "But yes, as Blanc said, it was a coded message, one my father ought to be really happy to receive."
"How so?" Blanc asked.
"I know the man, and what his mind is capable of," Celine replied, looking at the sky as she sighed.