Behind them, Cheyin coughed weakly and then laughed under her breath. "Well," she said hoarsely, "that answers a few questions."

  Papa Solrift glanced over his shoulder, his eyes sharp but not hostile. "You pushed her hard."

  Cheyin winced as she shifted. "She asked for it."

  Idalia stuck her tongue out. "Nuh-uh! You asked for it, and your beasts did too."

  She winced; everything ached! She grumbled as her head, her body, particularly her forehead throbbed relentlessly.

  Papa laughed as he licked her head. Idalia took that opportunity to climb atop his back. He continued, "Indeed she did, Cheyin. And she gave more than you expected."

  Idalia buried her face briefly against his head, the mane tickling her nose. "Papa," she giggled, "I think I broke the sky."

  He chuckled, deep and warm. "You always did aim high!"

  Slowly, carefully, Idalia pulled herself back together. Her heartbeat dropped, each thud less violent than the last. The world settled into place again.

  She lifted her head and looked at Cheyin, really looked this time.

  "…I'm sorry," she said. "I lost myself."

  Cheyin met her gaze, still smiling despite the blood and bruises, though she lay sprawled on her back. "Good. That means you found where the edge is."

  Idalia swallowed. Her head swiveled at the noise. Sprinting toward Cheyin, Idalia saw Lief, Elemae, and Cheyin's subordinates gathering around the woman, panic flaring on their faces.

  Elsewhere, Kelix, Rhaya, and Vestella approached but kept their distance, their eyes steady on Papa Solrift as if he were ready to implode into a rampage at any moment.

  So silly.

  Idalia turned her gaze back to where Lief and the stout Wanderan man knelt beside Cheyin. The two had their hands hovering over her. Idalia sensed the flow of mana before her {Sight} perceived the ripples.

  They were healing Cheyin. It was like Quantumoon's mending rituals for the wounded.

  Papa Solrift finally approached Cheyin, causing the group standing around her to stumble backward.

  "So this is the true extent of a Harbinrex's power. Even a hero falls to a youth…" Papa murmured.

  Idalia's eyes narrowed. She thought Harbinrexes were mythically rare, never mentioned by other Liorexes, yet he spoke of them reverently.

  "And now, Ida" he said gently, "you need to step back from it."

  "From what?" she asked. Then a light flickered in her mind, and questions sprang forth. "You were gone for moons. What happened to you when Cheyin and her pack of Wanderans took you?"

  She heard Papa hum. He tilted his head in contemplation. "Taken…" He shook his head. "Ah, yes. However, it wasn't Cheyin who whisked me away from Vulkhanzhar. Nay. She freed me after I had been captured by another group."

  Idalia blinked, surprised. If it wasn't Cheyin who took Papa, did that mean she was no longer a threat? Was Cheyin innocent?

  "So… how did you meet Cheyin?"

  "Circumstances, my dear Ida. She freed me from captivity. After impressing each other, we have come to a mutual understanding. We now share a common mission. It may upset you to know, but..." he hesitated.

  Idalia frowned. "You're not coming back to the Pride, are you?" A whine welled up in her throat. "But I want you to come back home. The Pride needs you! Mama needs you. Mama thinks you're gone for good."

  Bounding forward, Idalia dropped in front of Papa. She saw sadness in his eyes, which reflected her own inner turmoil. "Is this mission really so important? Can't Cheyin fix her problems? There's so much we need to catch up on!"

  Her claws scraped deep gouges into the soil.

  "I'm no longer Idaliakit, Papa. I've been given an Apprentice name: Idalia Idarift! I'm proud to be a Rift like you! You can make a guess as to why Alpha Pawail bestowed that part to my name!" Her eyes welled with tears.

  She blinked rapidly, feeling the sting of the salty droplets cascade down her cheeks. The thought of her father, her protector, not returning to their family gnawed at her heart, an ache that twisted painfully in her chest.

  Papa Solrift's gaze softened, and he lowered his head so that they were eye-to-eye.

  "Ida," he began, his voice steady yet tender. "You have grown so fiercely, and I am proud of the Idarift you have become. But there are times when one must choose a path that is not easy, times when loyalty to the greater good outweighs the comforts of home."

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  "But, Papa," she protested, her voice trembling, "I don't understand! Why can't you be both? Why can't you come back to help the Pride while still fighting for what Cheyin believes in?"

  Cheyin, shifting uncomfortably on the ground, cleared her throat. She was held up by the back by another subordinate.

  "The world is vast, Idalia. There are battles that stretch far beyond our territories. Sometimes, the choices we make place us in roles where we can affect change. Your father has a bigger fight ahead, one that needs him—just as much as you and your Pride need him."

  Idalia felt the weight of those words settle heavily on her shoulders, yet she couldn't shake the gnawing worry that bubbled within her belly. "But doesn't that mean he could—"

  "—fail to return?" Cheyin finished for her, a pained understanding crossing her face. "Yes. But in every battle, there is a risk. And sometimes, we must let go, trust that the ones we love will find the strength to forge a new path."

  "But you promised!" Idalia hissed, her gaze sharp and heavy on Lief. The elf flinched. "Lief! Did I not win this duel? Cheyin is not honoring her terms!"

  Lief nodded, glancing from Idalia to Elemae to Cheyin.

  "That is true. You're the winner of this match, Ida. Though I am merely an announcer in this accord, so it is not for me to determine the future of this situation." He hesitated. "But maybe there is a way to honor the promise without disregarding the greater mission at hand."

  Idalia's heart raced as she considered Lief's words, her frustration sparking bright like a fire in her chest. "What do you mean?" she pressed.

  Mission? What was this mission? Papa mustn't go on another mission. That was how she lost him the first time. Not again! She couldn't tolerate any more secrets!

  "I think," Lief said, glancing nervously at Cheyin, "that perhaps we can negotiate. You defeated Cheyin in combat, but perhaps that doesn't mean your father's choices must change. What if he could help you and your Pride while still fulfilling his duties with Cheyin?"

  Papa Solrift locked eyes with Lief, a flicker of hope threading through their shared gaze. "It is worth considering, but you must understand that my commitments are deep. I cannot simply abandon them."

  "Then let’s find a way to make it work," Idalia urged. "Maybe you can split your time. Help Cheyin with her mission, but return home to us. We can create a balance. If we work together, we can find a solution!"

  Cheyin watched the exchange, biting her lip as her gaze shifted between Idalia and Papa Solrift. Finally, she spoke, choosing her words with care.

  "What you propose is not impossible, Idalia. But the challenges we face require collaboration. If your father helps us win this conflict, he may be able to return to you and your family once we establish peace."

  Idalia's heart lifted slightly, though shadows of worry still loomed. "But what if that peace never comes? What if you need him forever? I can't bear to think of losing him that way."

  With a soft smile, Cheyin nodded. "I understand. But remember, courage doesn't mean the absence of fear; it means moving forward despite it. Sometimes, bonds can stretch without breaking. Trust in that. Trust in him."

  Idalia looked at her father, searching his expression for reassurances. Papa Solrift's eyes held her gaze with unwavering warmth. "I promise you, Ida, I will do everything I can to return to you as soon as it is safe and feasible. You are my heart, and my heart will always find its way home."

  Tears filled Idalia's eyes again.

  She looked from Cheyin back to Papa, searching their faces for any glimmer of hope. "But what if I lose you? What if you're gone forever, Papa?”

  Never before had a Liorex used such a word. It was foreign to her, but she grasped it tightly to her heart. Despite its simplicity, the term made her chest buzz with warmth.

  "What does that mean, Papa? The olive word."

  Papa Solrift smiled, showing fangs. "I've no clue. But Cheyin once told me it's for those who are most precious to you." He tilted his head. "A bit deep for my understanding. Though you should thank her for allowing me to discover it."

  "Well, if you put it that way," Cheyin said bashfully, cheeks flushed.

  "Hush!" Idalia snapped, sticking her tongue out. "This is my moment with Papa!"

  Papa then leaned forward. "Before my departure, please tell your mother this. It should ease the ache of my absence."

  Idalia leaned in, listening as Papa whispered words and a tale so rare that Idalia gasped.

  "Oh!" Idalia smiled. "If I tell her this, then she'll definitely be cured of the illness in her heart. This secret will only be shared with her. I promise on my pride!"

  "But you must remember," Papa said, "that my fight will be a long and arduous one. You have to be strong, not just for yourself, but for the Pride, for your mother, and for the ones that still look up to you."

  Idalia nodded. "I will be strong, Papa. I promise."

  Yet she was torn between the aching emptiness of losing her father again. As she stared into his eyes, a deep pool of love and history, she yearned for answers that slipped just out of reach.

  "What do you need from me, Papa?"

  Papa Solrift straightened. "I need you to promise me that you will stay true to your heart. Whatever happens, wherever this mission leads me, you must hold onto the strength that lies within you."

  Idalia nodded, determination resurfacing like a tide. "I can do that. I promise."

  "And Ida," he continued, his tone grave yet full of tenderness, "your path is your own. By the time we meet again, you will likely have become a full-fledged Fangborn. If the men of steel and spine arrive before my return, lead the pride away from Vulkhanzhar, even if it’s against Pawail's orders."

  His shoulders slumped, his eyes sharp with irritation. "Even if it means challenging him and Bloombark later on. You mustn't allow the latter to claim leadership."

  "Men of… steel and spine?" Idalia echoed. And why should she challenge Alpha Pawail? Bloombark was understandable, but facing her grandfather for the Alpha title churned her stomach like a swarm of ingested flies. "Like the Wanderans?" She turned her head. "Like Cheyin's people?"

  Cheyin shifted again. Her gaze betrayed an understanding that transcended words.

  The frown on Cheyin's face was one of great displeasure. Idalia could see that this was a shared journey, one that involved not just her father, but her as well and it filled her with dread.

  Idalia returned her gaze to Papa. "What is this mission? It sounds like a hunt but way worse! Allow me to help! I want to be part of this! I want to fight for the things we believe in—just like you!"

  Papa Solrift sighed, the faintest hint of a smile returning to his lips. "You already are, Ida. You're more than ready."

  He sighed again. "Here is a prophecy. This should aid you. Quantumoon can verify its authenticity."

  Silence.

  Everyone held their gaze on Papa, curiosity etched on their faces.

  Finally, Papa spoke, sharing the revelation.

  "The balance of the Liorex is threatened. A darkness stirs beyond the mountains; men of spine, ferocity, and metal seek to encroach upon our domain. Likewise, in time, a kin of calamity will soon be born—it is expected that they will bring disaster to our land."

  Idalia shuddered. How ominous!

  "Indeed. The omen is true. I have witnessed it." A new voice reverberated from the sky. "Either you will all be subjugated, or it will be your extermination."

  Idalia peered upward. A long, ferret dragon blotted the sky.

  Standing on the dragon's head was Tiamare, the sun shining brightly behind her.

  Cheyin's expression turned feral, filled with scorn and ire. "You…!"

  Hey Ida Packmates, I wanted to share something important with you.

  Chimeron Ultimatum has been a dream project of mine for over half a year. If you would like to support me and the future of Ida Rex, the single most impactful thing you can do right now is follow Chimeron Ultimatum on Royal Road. You do not need to read it immediately. A simple follow during this launch window makes a major difference in visibility and long-term momentum.

  With Chaos Chimera approaching its conclusion very soon, Ida Rex will once again become a primary focus alongside Chimeron Ultimatum moving forward. Every milestone Chimeron Ultimatum reaches will translate into milestones for Ida Rex as well. Growth there strengthens everything here.

  There is also something special waiting inside Chimeron Ultimatum for longtime readers. I think attentive Packmates will notice. ?? — Warm wishes to you all, Zelrift