"That is the only way for you to stop this," the Forest Mother said, sitting back on a chair, her horns almost scraping the wall behind her.
"...I see, thank you, Forest Mother," Allegra replied, her eyes lowering to the ground, "But may I ask, if I were to win, would you agree?"
The beautiful horned woman looked out the window, her eyes perhaps looking into a past long gone before she replied.
"I would," she nodded, "But only temporarily, to plan, to regroup, and to await the next opportunity to strike again."
"Is this because of the promise you made to that man?" Allegra asked, her face neutral despite who she was talking with and what she dared to ask.
And the eyes of all went wide, including the Forest Mother's.
"The next time you question me, will be the day you die, child," the Forest Mother muttered, her eyes full of untold rage. "Decide whether you want to do it or not, and get out of my sight."
"I understand," Allegra bowed deeply, before turning on her heels, "We'll send word once it is done."
And without receiving a reply, she was out of the hut with the others following closely behind.
"Are you going mad, Allegra?" Melsa yelled once they had made some distance between them and the hut, "What possessed you to ever ask such questions?"
"Curiosity," Allegra replied flatly.
"Here we go again with the one-word answers," Melsa sighed, "At this point, I can't tell what you are or what you are doing this for."
"I am the same as I've always been," Allegra shrugged, "That hasn't changed in decades."
"Yet since you met those humans… You know what, never mind," Melsa gave up but turned to Heru and Iahmi. "It's time to choose. Fight the humans or follow her to her death. Because that's the path it seems she chose for herself."
"Allegra," Iahmi spoke, "Please reconsider. Your mind is poisoned by humans. Don't throw your life for it."
"What makes you two so certain I will die?" Allegra asked, her demeanor remaining calm.
"Look at her," Melsa laughed, not believing her ears, "She's going mad."
"Heru? What about you?" Allegra asked, not minding the insults.
"I hate that man, and all his kind for that matter," Heru began, "But I find myself more inclined to agree with you. We cannot win this. For that, my clan and I… or those willing to at least, will follow you."
Melsa sighed, hearing Heru deciding to side with Allegra and her newfound madness.
It was frustrating to see one of the men you loved follow his heart without even considering what that meant or the consequences that would follow.
"So be it," Melsa clicked her tongue and jumped in the air.
By the time she touched the ground, she was in her cheetah form.
She turned back and tilted her head to the side as she looked at Iahmi.
"You have disappointed me greatly today, Allegra," Iahmi muttered just as the strands of his hair began lengthening greatly, leaving only the lion, who began moving away, together with Melsa, from Allegra and Heru.
Cowards, thought Allegra as she watched their backs.
The reason for all the choices that appeared so out of place, so drastic in essence, was because, despite the coldness of her clan, she knew she cared.
She cared about those who died, and those who yet lived.
She couldn't show it normally, but she tried to show it by trying to stop the death that would follow.
Even though she would rather dream, she chose to do this for the Metamorphs.
Yet they called it madness.
She was about to undergo something she knew she would regret, even if she was successful, all for them.
Yet they called it betrayal.
She wanted them to keep living.
Yet they called her poisoned by humans.
Fine, she thought to herself, I'll do it alone.
"It seems it's just the two of us," Heru joked, as they watched the two Metamorphs start running.
"Leave," Allegra muttered.
"Hm?" asked Heru, turning towards her, not sure he heard her well.
"Leave, Heru," she repeated, eyes on anywhere but Heru.
"What the?" Heru raised his eyebrows, "I told you I am on your side, yet you push me away? Why?"
"Heru," Allegra spoke, finally turning towards him, her crystal white eyes digging into his soul, "You aren't on my side, you do this thinking it will make us get closer. But you are wrong. Your feelings are wrong," Allegra explained.
"That's not true, Allegra, I-" Heru began defending itself, but Allegra interrupted.
"If that's so, where are your clan members that came with us?" Allegra asked.
The question made Heru freeze, "I just sent them to, uh, to tell the rest of my clan of my decision and join us later, before…"
He tried to defend himself, but as he watched Allegra's face, he knew he couldn't lie to her, so he sighed, frustration building in his chest.
"Try again," Allegra muttered.
And Heru's frustration exploded, "Is it that fucking bad that I found myself loving you? Wanting to help you? I swear to the Forest Mother, I cannot understand why you are so ungrateful and defensive about everything. Shunning me away like I am some sort of disease or annoyance to you, when all I do is want to please you. I ignored marriage proposals from others just because I wanted to be with you, and you alone. Why do this to me?"
"Be quick then," Allegra said, her face cold as she pointed towards the sky, "Go accept those proposals before they die in the field against the humans."
Heru went silent, his heart audibly breaking, seeing that most of his words entered Allegra's left ear and left through the right the next moment.
But he was wrong.
"Listen, Heru," Allegra began, but Heru shook his head, making her fall silent.
"No, I will not listen," he shook his head, chuckling, "Nor to you or your poison."
He turned towards the two running in the distance.
"I hope you die, so my heart can find peace," he added before turning into his eagle form and flying away.
Allegra watched as Heru flew, her mind empty, her heart unbothered.