Chapter 323 - Unexpected Interruptions From a Traitor

"What sort of news?" asked the fox.

"Hurry and take me to Commander Hurman! This could mean life and death for the army!" shouted Gar, surrounding himself in lightning essence. "Which way is it? I need to report this!"

"Follow me!" Eager to help his chief and the army also, the lynx scout rushed away with a nod to his partner, who remained at his station.

Gar said nothing more as he followed his fellow lynx at top speed. His body was already feeling the pains of exhaustion after distancing himself from Vloz's group. But now he had to adapt on the fly and the lynx didn't see a newly-ascended, early-perennial as a threat.

The lynx duo charged toward camp and quickly drew the attention of other scouts, particularly those stationed just outside the campgrounds. Yet they didn't stop to report anything. They continued into the main camp as the scout led Chief Gar to the main tent.

"Here's the tent. Commander Hurman's tent."

"Thank you…" Gar nodded and replied softly as he bolted into the tent. 

Immediately, the lynx chief shouted and demanded attention, "Terrible news! I have terrible news!"

"Then out with it! Why hold it in?!"

That laughing response caught Gar off guard. All of a sudden, the lynx chief regretted his impromptu charge into the tent, not knowing about the silenced barrier inside it. But Gar kept up his facade with nothing left to fall back on. "Master Rathe, why are you here? I was told--"

"You're just in time!" Rathe chuckled, sauntering toward the apprehensive lynx with a tender expression. "What've you got to share? If you're here then either the best or worst scenario has happened, right?"

"That's… right. Unfortunately, it was the latter…"

Rathe's shoulder's drooped and his demeanor soured after hearing that. His quickened steps hesitated as he neared the lynx chief. Instead of reaching Gar Rathe stopped and turned back toward the map on the table. He merely motioned with his arm for Gar to come forward. "Please, explain…"

"Yes." Surprised to see the battle-hardened gorilla down on himself, Gar tiptoed through the topic to fish for a better reaction from Rathe. "I'm sorry, Rathe, but there was nothing we could do."

"You mean--"

"So they're wiped out?" Rathe interrupted Nixt's impulsive question, letting even more emotion ooze out of his soft gaze. "Please, explain in detail."

"The human Lizbeth was the first to go," continued Gar, keeping up his act while examining the ever-saddening face Rathe showed. The lynx chief got closer to Rathe and threw his long tail comfortingly over Rathe's shoulders. "Vloz tried to hold off the leader but we couldn't take on a group of perennials that outclassed us. And instead of escaping to leave us to perish, Vloz lashed out to give us a chance to escape. But I'm not sure if anyone else managed to survive if I'm the only one here…"

"What was the order?" 

Gar blinked and witnessed the softest expression that Rathe had ever shown. With a nod, Gar added, "The final order was to alert the army and retreat to Iron Town for fortifications. That was the last thing I heard before escaping death."

"I… see…" Taking in a sharp breath through his nose, Rathe fought back tears. Gingerly, Rathe threw his right arm around Gar's shoulders, the nearest person to him. "Thank you, Chief Gar, for your service and support…"

"It was the least I could do. But we need to hurry and--"

"I assure you…" Rathe added, finishing his drifting statements, "that we'll do what's best for the army's and the territory's survival…"

"Of course--"

Without warning, Rathe's gauntlet-covered, left fist rocketed into Chief Gar's face. At the same time, Rathe's right arm wrapped around the lynx's neck, putting the large cat into a chokehold. 

Most everyone in the room was startled and unsure was what was going on. But a few were less surprised, such as Eila and Nixt. They watched without any shock or bafflement as Rathe pummeled Gar's face while pinning Gar to the ground. Nixt wanted to step in but the ground wrapped around Rathe's feet and earth essence encased his body, all while Gar's tail and rear claws attempted to push the beefy gorilla off of him. 

But Rathe tanked every blow. There was no water in his eyes and now tenderness in his expression. Now, there was only rage and loathing. The gorilla chief let the lightning attack rack his body over and over as he continued to wale on the lynx's swollen face. 

"WHY DID YOU DO IT?!"

"... I… Caa…"

"SPEAK UP!!!" Hurling another fist into the lynx's jaw, Rathe refused to let up.

"I… can't…"

"WHY NOT?!?!"

"Cho… king…"

"Oh, why didn't you say so?!"

Rathe's arm finally loosened from around Gar's neck, letting the lynx take in some much-needed air. However, Rathe's right hand instantly repositioned itself. With a firm hold of the lynx's throat, Rathe's mighty fingers threatened to rip Gar's throat from his neck without warning. 

"NOW SPEAK UP!!!"

"I-I can't. Not like this--"

Two teeth flew through the tent after Rathe's fist drilled into Gar's mouth yet again. "SPEAK! UP! OR! DIE!!!"

Falling for Rathe's act, the lynx chief was left astounded and helpless. He could barely keep his eyes open as one was almost too swollen to see. "O-okay!! Then please--"

"SPEEEEAAK!!!" 

Another punch nearly bore into Gar's bad eye, grinding against the already-swollen flesh. Then, Gar noticed a change in Rathe's gauntlets. The silver gauntlets he had seen all this time were replaced with bronze gauntlets of lesser quality. However, the spikes and barbs atop Rathe's knuckles left little to the imagination. 

"WANT TO DIE, SCAREDY CAT?!?!"

"NOOO!!!"

"THEN TALK!"

"ALRIGHT!!!" Gar shouted, noticing Rathe ready his torturing gauntlet. "I SOLD INFORMATION!!"

"SHUT UP!!"

Everyone was confused by Rathe's unexpected response. But they couldn't stop him from throwing a barbed blow into Gar's defenseless c.h.e.s.t. "And last time?! WHY DID YOU HELP THEM TAKE OLI AWAY?!?!"