"If I may ask why did you two decide to join up with us?
Rakasha don't join with outsiders unless they are forced to submit after a duel?" Asked Storm.
'Necessity, mostly. Our tribe has been mostly nomadic.
Moving from region to region, always trying to stay one step ahead of the hunters.
But eventually one needs to turn around and confront the hunter." Explained Raja.
"Your gnolls saved us from an ambush awhile back and told us about the sanctuary you were building here.
"Since our tribe needed room to expand, and you needed additional warriors, we thought we could assist each other." Added Paja.
That that moment a black furred Rakasha approached the trio.
She was clearly female based on the thin, but muscular frame and her feminine bust.
Her long black hair was tied together into a series of long dreadlocks that ended at her waist.
Where most of the Rakasha resembled tigers however, she had the features of a graceful black panther.
Leather armor covered her chest and back, but she had no coverings for the shoulders and belly.
Leather bracers covered her arms and a long leather loincloth covered her waist and groin.
Her lower legs were covered in leather greaves that ended at her knees.
In her hand was a staffsword with blades on both sides of the staff.
She stepped in between the two brothers and gave Storm a respectful bow.
"Greetings, Dragon. I am Anasheebu.
Mated partner of the chieftain of the Sha-Batti. " introduced the panteress.
"Which one?" Asked Storm.
"Both" said the brothers.
"You have the same mate!?" Asked Storm.
"We share everything with each other. So why not also our partner?" Said Raja.
She hooked her free arm around Raja's arm and rubbed herself up against Paja.
Causing both brothers to begin purring like kittens.
"Why did you two decide to rule side by side?" Asked Storm.
"We were both born at roughly the same time as the sons of the previous chief.
Normally the eldest cub succeeds their father upon his death, but as we were twins, it was expected that we would duel one another to determine the proper leader.
Despite this, we were inseparable as children, we trained and fought together, working on each other's weaknesses until we fought more like a single entity, than two seperate individuals.
When our father did eventually pass away, we fought one another as we were destined to do." Explained Paja.
"After a fierce fight, I prevailed. But as my brother laid before me and waited for me to deliver the final blow.
I found that I was unable to do so.
Killing him would have only weakened me, like cutting off one of my limbs.
So I not only chose to spare him, I also made the rather controversial decision to share custody of the tribe with him.
When Anasheebu's tribe merged with our own, we were unable to decide who she should be mated with, so we both ended up taking her." Explained Raja.
"Do you have any siblings, Dragon?" Asked Anasheebu.
Storm smiled fondly.
"I have both a brother and a sister.
"Though I am sad to say that our bond isn't as strong as your own."
"Do they not rule beside you?" Asked Raja.
"Not exactly, no."
"They fight by your side atleast, do they not?" Asked Paja.
"They want to. But I fobade it." Said Storm.
"Why do you not honor their wish?" Asked the brothers.
"Because it's too dangerous!!" Exclaimed Storm.
"Can they not defend themselves?"
"I'm sure they can!" Said Storm.
"Do you not trust them?"
"I would trust them with my life!" Exclaimed Storm.
"Then I do not understand why you would go against their wishes?" Said Raja.
"I fear for my brother's safety all the time, and yet I trust he has the skills necessary to survive. "
"And what would you do if anything happened to him?!" Asked Storm.
"Then I would avenge him, then go on without him.
I can't shelter him from all the dangers, I can only ensure that he is properly prepared to deal with it himself. " said Raja.
By late afternoon, Storm was exhausted from his tour and decided to retire to his dwelling early for the night.
Aurora was eagerly waiting for him.
"So... how was today?" Asked Aurora.
"Exhausting." Said Storm.
"I heard there was some.... excitement... today?
Want to talk about it?" Asked Aurora.
Storm rolled his eyes.
"Should have known they'd come running to you!!
I'm not reversing my decree, Aurora!"
"May I ask why you are so against the idea of them fighting ?"
"They're too young, Aurora!" Exclaimed Storm.
Aurora rolled her eyes.
They're not much younger than you were when you fought your first ogre!"
"That's different to fighting an entire stronghold of hunters, Aurora!"
Aurora chuckled.
"You make it sound like they will be fighting by themselves?
Everyone else will be part of the battle too."
"You know how unpredictable battles can be, Aurora!!" Exclaimed Storm
"They've been training for this ever since they were hatchlings, Storm.
So what is really bothering you?"
Storm was silent for a moment as he averted his eyes.
"They gave their lives to keep them safe."
"Your parents?" Asked Aurora.
Storm nodded his head.
"What would my parents think of me if I allowed them to place themselves in such danger?"
Aurora understood immediately.
"You're not the only one that lost their parents on that day, Storm.
Their drive for vengeance is as great as your own.
What would you do if Pyros woke up and forbade you from seeking retribution?" Asked Aurora.
"I'd tell him to take his objections, and shove it up his metallic..." started Storm.
"I get the picture!! And would your bond with him be the same again after that?" Said Aurora.
"....no.... it probably wouldn't be..." replied Storm.
"You cannot shelter them for the rest of their lives, Storm!
Only thing you can do is prepare them for when danger does eventually find them!
All I'm asking is for you to give them a fair chance to prove themselves to you!
If you're still unsatisfied, then do as you wish!" Said Aurora.
Storm considered it for a moment, before nodding his head.
"I'll test them tomorrow. But I warn you!
If they fail to impress me, then they will not be joining the battle!"
Aurora nodded her head.
"Now that the family business is out of the way!
She climbed into the nest and laid on her side.
"What do you say to adding a sibling or two for 'little Orian' to grow up with?"
Storm did not need to be invited twice.