Beasts- Chapter six- Minotaur

Clara squinted as the morning sun blinded her. Brick’s hand moved to her back as she paused. A all to familiar scene looked back at them. He couldn’t help himself as he smiled. Many bovine moved around the fields that nestled up to small wooden homes. Children laughed and played along long fence lines. A few chasing one another, others playing games.

“Is this it?” Clara asked him.

“This is my home lands.” He answered.

“Is it always like this?”

Brick looked down at his small companion. “Yes, my kind are a loving, peaceful race. Clara, I will not swear this to be an easy adjustment for you but I do hope that you will call this home.”

“I know that game!” suddenly her ears perked up. Though still a bit floppy she looked excited. Her hand pulled on the cloak he wore, “Brick I know that game. Father always said it wasn’t appropriate for girls to play but Alpine and I would sneak out of the castle and play it with visiting children.” Her lips pulled back in a grin, her sharp teeth showing. She giggled as one child called out having lost.

He chuckled, “Come I wish to be sure everything is as I left it.” They moved through the remaining trees to the village.

“Lord Brick!” a few children came running up to him. “Lord Brick, you have returned!”

Brick smiled at the children that ran to them. “I have.”

“Did you bring us gifts? You promised you would!”

“Unfortunately i was unable to do so this time.”

“Aww.” Many of the kids called out disappointed.

“Brick!” a woman minotaur ran toward them. Her hooves thundering along the ground. She leapt through the air and tackled him to the ground. “I’m so relieved to see you safe.”

Brick chuckled, “I see you faired well with out me.”

She giggled rubbing her face against him as she lay over him. “Mother will be so happy you have returned.” She removed her body from his and stood. Quickly she grasped his arm and pulled him up. “Come on! The whole village has worried for you.”

Brick laughed as she pulled him hard. “Clara. Come.” He motioned for her to follow as he was drug away.

A few of the children stayed close to Clara as she followed. “Ow!” she jumped when one pulled on her tail.

“It’s so soft!” the boy called out. “Miss wolf, your fur is so soft.” He grinned up at her making her lose any irritation nearly immediately. She paused and moved to her knees, “My ears are softer if you wish to feel.” The children of her home town had loved to play with her soft floppy ears. her mother had always said that she was an idol to them. proving that even royalty had what could be seen as flaws but show how these things made them more beautiful. her father though strict had always told her, her kindness towards children and adults alike was astonishing.

The child grinned big at her and nodded. His small hands moved to her floppy ears. “your coloring is so pretty!” another child said as the group moved close to her. She smiled and giggled with them for a bit until a large shadow moved over her. She and the children looked up. She smiled at Brick.

He smiled down at her. “Children allow me to steal this fine wolf from you for a it. Tomorrow should she still wish to remain in our village I will allow you all to meet her properly and perhaps if she wishes you may all play.”

The children cheered. “Lord Brick.” A small girl tugged in his cloak. “Lord Brick, will you play with us as well?”

“Once I am sure my work is through I will.” He patted her head. “Come Clara.” Brick held his hand down to her.

She placed her hand in his and stood. He moved them toward a large house in the center of the village. “This is my home.” He told her. “My twin sister lives with me when she is not bouncing from one farm to another.”

“Was that your sister that drug you off before?”

Brick chuckled, “no. That was my eldest daughter. Her mother is my second.”

“Daughter…”

He paused looking down at her. “Gesibell is nearly 300 years old.”

She resume walking at his side, “How old are you?”

“433.”

Her eyes grew wide as he pushed open the front door, “how long does your kind live?”

“Bovine tend to live at least in to their 1000’s.”

“Wolves have a much shorter life span than Bovine.” She said.

Brick motioned in to his home, “I am aware.” He gently pushed her in to his home. Inside stood the woman from before and another woman who stood with her hands on her hips. an angry scowl on her face.

Clara instinctively moved behind Brick when the Minotaur’s eyes settled on her.

“What is this?”

“This is Clara. It was with her aid that I was freed of the Castle’s blood sport.”

The woman’s eyes move to Clara once again, “What did a cub do?”

Brick looked down at Clara, “Clara is gifted in the magic arts. She posed as a guard and freed me.”

The woman’s face still held a frown but she moved to her knees, “Then for our Village I thank you.”

Clara’s eyes moved from her to Brick and back slowly, “I need no thanks.” she said softly. She wasn’t sure Brick wished to make their relationship known. She didn’t know who this woman was or how close she was to Brick.

“Clara, this is my second in command Chessabell. Everyone calls her Chessa, this is our daughter Gesibell.” He motioned to the other woman. “This is Clara.”

“That is a Bovine name.” Gesibell said as she looked down at the small wolf.

Brick nodded, “It is. For wolf kind if they accept a name their past is absolved.” He watched the two women before him, “Clara will live here in our village at my side.”

Chessa stood, “At your side? Brick you cant mean to take this cub as your lover.”

“I do.”

She sighed, “As your second it is my duty to remind you that taking a lover of another race is not only forbidden.. it is… Brick it could mean to distory your leadership.”

“If that is what is to happen then it is to be.” He answered, “Clara was my comfort while imprisoned. It was she that fed my stomach and heart while I was confined and shackled in nothing more than a mold filled cell.”

Chessa’s eyes moved to Clara. “Very well.” she turned to Gesibell, “See to it the elders are made aware of this situation. Tonight we will celebrate our Lord’s return and properly thank his savior.”

Clara shook her head, “I don’t need thanks. Really.”

Gesibell smiled, “Mother is harsh with her words for good cause. she too at a time took a lover not of Bovine. I am sure that she wishes you not go through what she went through. Come, I will make you each a hot bath.” she turned to her mother, “I will seek out Daisy and Bessie. I’m sure they can make some fine clothing before tonight for our lord’s savior.”

Chessa nodded, “Yes. Then see the elders are notified.”

Clara was led to a lavish bathroom where a large tub was being filled with scented water. “I hope the scent is not to strong. Our kind is known for our herbal oils.”

“I have always loved the smell of Bovine oils.” Clara said as she took a deep breath. the scent of rosemary and peppermint filled her nose.

“Was it Lord Brick that gave you the name Clara?” Gesibell asked as she tested the water temperature.

“Yes.