Cyrus stormed up to Hunter and started yelling at his son for not
following Rose, which only made Hunter upset and leave the
stables.
Rose looked at Kovu. "Thank you. I just hope to find someone before
a dragon is killed" she replied. "I don't want to be forced into a
marriage that way."
Kovu sighed as he slightly disagreed with her.”I understand the
marriage part, but dragons are much different. If they attack us
like last night, we have to retaliate. Maybe you can persuade your
father to call off the marriage proposal and go against your mother
if one is killed.” He nodded. “Could say you are engaged to
someone, a close friend perhaps, then your parents can’t do
anything. Don’t get married till you find the right person.
Engagements can be forever.” He laughed a little.
Rose sighed. "Unfortunately my parents would pester me until I told
them who, and knowing my mother, she won't be pleased. She would
probably end up exiling whoever I tell them it is." She shook her
head as she looked to the sky. "I want to try and figure out the
dragons before we lose more people, and before we kill them."
Kona finally was coaxed out of bed hearing of the news about the
dragon supposedly attacking the village. She was alarmed and
hurried outside to see many people bascially setting up a
protection system against any dragon. She watches as Roda goes
among all the men she would want her daughter to marry and tell
them of her proposed offer. While Stryke just helped set up
catapults, or father rocks, something else than what his wife was
doing.
Kovu looked at Rose confused.”Why? We do not know if they speak,
they want to eat us and can’t be friendly... they’re dragons. I
think it is a lost cause. If we were meant to be friends with the
dragons, don’t you think we would already?” He looked over at her.
He thought it was way too dangerous to even think of what she
wished to do.
Rose shrugged. "The dragons are interesting. At least to me they
are. Each one seems to have their own power. If we can learn them,
maybe, just maybe we won't have to worry about them."
Kovu seemed rather skeptical on her thought and shook his head.”I
guess I just have to tell you to be careful and that you would be
the only one to think that. I don’t know another soul in the
village who doesn’t fear or hate dragons.” He nodded. “I personally
believe they cannot be trusted and on purpose try to starve us or
hurt us.” He looks ahead.”They just have powers to use against us.
I bet they feel the same way we do and it would be better if you
stayed safe... by being away from them. I know if your parents
found out you were trying to study the dragons, all heck will break
loose!” He was trying to persuade Rose out of her thoughts, he
didn’t want her to make a fatal mistake like today could have ended
up. He was truly worried she would get herself killed by even
trying to learn about the dragons. “Farther away the safer you are.
I would hate to hear a dragon killed you! What an irony filled
death.”
Rose shrugged. "I think it would still be worth while to study
them, or try to anyway. Can you help me" she asked. "By not telling
anyone and covering for me?"
Kovu sighed with a small nod towards Rose.”Of course, I can cover
for you. I will say you were out raspberry picking and your horse
thought some bear was coming through the woods. When all it was
just a deer.” He smiled weakly over at her.”How about that? I can
make it more detailed if your parents ask, you just have to follow
along. No word of dragon can be uttered by a single person now.
Saves you from whatever fiery temper your mom may have.”
Rose smiled. "Thank you Kovu. You don't know how much that means to
me" she said as she blushed rather slightly to think that he was
willing to help her.
Kovu smiled at Rose and ran his hand through his hair. “You do have
a lot on your plate. Far more than anyone here in the village.” He
smiled softly. “If you do go out ‘hunting’ dragons at least tell me
so I can come up with a backstory over that. If Hunter doesn’t want
to help you, then I can offer my assistance.” He bowed his head.
“You are kind of like the future leader, just a little less power I
guess. I am not really sure since your mother barely shows her
face. Does she have the same power as your dad?” He asked. “Just no
title.”
Rose nodded. "My parents have the same amount of power, and I have
a little less than they do, but rarely do other actually listen to
me. And I'm pretty sure Hunter won't help" she said as she saw
Cyrus following Hunter and yelling at him. And now with someone
near, she had proof.
"Why wouldn't you want to become the leader of this tribe! You
would have so much power" Cyrus yelled.
Hunter shook his head. "I don't want to become the leader! I don't
want to be stuck with Rose!"
Cyrus rolled her eyes. "You could get rid of her after you marry
her being leader" he said a little quieter, too quiet for others to
hear.
Kovu listened to Rose and was glad to hear that she would have
equal power to whoever she married. It seemed rather lopsided with
how her father ran the village as Roda barely seemed to care.
Therefore, she wouldn’t voice her opinion as she just didn’t care
what happened to the village as long as it didn’t affect her
personally. He then looked off at the feuding two and was rather
surprised to hear the words Cyrus was speaking and almost offended
by what Hunter muttered. He looked back at Rose, shaking his
head.”Wow.” He whispered shocked.
Kovu glances away with a small nod. ''Yeah, I am just angry he
would say that. Not like you are a terrible person or anything at
all.'' He glared a bit off towards Hunter before looking back at
Rose. ''Will your father believe me or does he like Hunter?" He
asked seeing his cousin approach Stryke asking what she could do as
a healer preparing.
Kovu nodded ever so slightly to Rose.”Yeah, that is terrible he is
being forced to be your friend just in the hopes of marrying you. I
can’t believe his father would force that upon him. I didn’t think
Cyrus was that crazy!” He nodded. “I mean, yeah my parents want me
to become Tribe Leader, but don’t even think of forcing me! So I
feel bad that Hunter is being forced and how rude his dad is on the
topic.” He sighed before seeing her father.”Looks like he is
speaking to my cousin, I am sure we can catch him now.”
Rose nodded. "Thank you Kovu. And to be honest, I hate when people
force their children to be my friend just because I will be one of
the next tribe leaders."
Kovu smiled towards Rose with a nod. ''Then I am glad I didn't
force my friendship! I really don't think we have ever talked this
long in forever! If anyone is bothering you, just tell me so. I
would enjoy to be your back up like now. It beats setting up for
dragon attacks, dealing with the shires and dealing with the
fields.'' He nodded. ''I hate farming.'' He laughed.
Kovu looked over at Rose with wide eyes. ''Really?" He asked. ''I
would love a break from the constant labor! It is so tiring that I
just want to sleep forever in the morning as I am too tired to go
back to the field.'' He sighed with a smile. ''Just terrible. I
rather work in the stable...much less labor than miles walked in a
field.''