An Enemy Appears?

"I suppose I do know of a lot of dishes and tools from my homeland I can share with others." After hearing what River said about this female full of ideas Oribella could only assume she wasn't the first to transmigrate into this world. She wondered what kinds of waves she could make with the little practical knowledge of food and fabric she had under her belt.

Before she could continue her thought (she wanted to ask River more about the clothing in this world) Oribella found herself surrounded by the strong arms she had grown oh so familiar with.

"Poppy you're back!" she cheered and squeezed his arms. She didn't realize how much she liked Poppy until she was without him for nearly half a day. "Where were you off too for so long?"

"I needed to go hunting. I managed to take down two colossals." Poppy opened his hand and revealed several gemstones, round and glistening. "With the three I already had saved I can secure us a high quality room in Bear Castle. You'll be extra safe there for the time being since you only have me to protect you.

River chimed in "No! Save those to trade for things Oribella wants! I'll make my Father give you and Oribella a room! If he tries to say no I'll have Mother team up with me!"

"I know we're family, and he is one of my fathers, but it's HIS territory. Unless he invites me you know I can't live in there without offering up something in exchange."

River pouted, "well at least save the majority of your power crystals! Oribella deserves some gifts!"

"I will." Poppy leaned into Oribella from behind so their faces were cheek to cheek, "is there anything in particular you would like?"

"I have some ideas that I can talk to you about... Have you ever heard of-"

"IT CAN'T BE!" A deep enraged voice rang out from a dozen yards away. Oribella looked up to see a man sprinting twords River's house, his eyes locked on Poppy.

"HOW CAN IT BE!?" He skidded through the thin layer of snow and came to a stop inches from Poppy "I HEARD RUMOR THAT A FEMALE HAD ACCEPTED YOU!" this man was extremely loud, and the angry tone in his voice was upsetting Oribella "BUT I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT UNTIL I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES!" Oribella was frightened! Why was he so mad that Poppy was HAPPY?

The stress of nearly dying, beginning to date someone, and trying to navigate an entirely new world with completely different social rules was already hard on Oribella. Her emotions all came crashing down now that a mad man was screaming at her boyfriend, and she started to cry. Oribella was fine with loundness, her Mother's side of the family was Italian, her Father's Greek, but she wasn't okay with a strange man being so angry twords 'her male' while in per personal space!

"HOW IS SHE ABLE TO IGNORE YOUR PAST!?" Oribella was still in Poppy's embrace and he could feel her body tense and her breathing change.

"DID YOU NOT TELL HER AB-"

Oribella gasped for air before leaning twords this stranger and screaming back: "POPPY TOLD ME EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS PAST!" Hot tears rolling down her face. The man, startled by a female matching his energy, stepped back. Oribella left Poppy's arms and followed him. "YOU DON'T GET TO SPEAK TO US THAT WAY!" Even though this man was taller than Poppy and equally muscular he tried to back away from Oribella as she advanced "POPPY SAVED MY LIFE! WHY WOULD I LET SOMETHING HE DIDN'T EVEN DO AFFECT MY FEELINGS FOR HIM!?" not wishing to look weak, the man stoped when he realized he was retreating from a female.

Once within range Oribella began delivering blows to the man's chest and stomach. She wasn't physically strong or skilled in martial arts, even by Earth's standards, so the formless hits she started delivering to the man's chest and stomach did nothing other than draw attention of others.

"WHAT GIVES YOU-YOU-" Oribella's tears progressed and she couldn't keep screaming through her sobs "GIVES YOu the-the right *hic* to-to speak to my *sniff* MY male like that!?" Poppy snapped out of the shock that seeing Oribella's fighting spirit put him in and quickly picked her up and began to comfort her. Oribella threw her arms around his neck and wailed into Poppy's body. Sobbing and gasping for air between her cries.

Bailey felt not only the angey eyes of Poppy, River, and Quinten on him, but Oribella's screaming and sobbing had pulled the attention of the neighboring houses. Bailey feared he may never socially recover from this...

Females began looking out of their bedroom windows, and males started running over to see what had caused a female to start crying so loudly.

"It's alright Oribella, I appreciate your actions but you don't have to fight on my behalf." Poppy's voice was soothing his mate but his eyes were staring daggers at Bailey. How dare he make Oribella sob like this.

Bailey was a peer of Poppy's and an aid to the Bear King. Poppy and Bailey had both came of age the same year nearly 3 decades ago. Like Poppy, Bailey had horrible luck trying to find a female. But unlike Poppy, who was being socially cast aside for his father's actions, Bailey was simply not someone that females enjoyed being around.

Bailey was proud and arrogant. Whenever he would show a female his hunting or crafting skills the females felt he was presenting mediocre work with the confidence of a master. But now, for the first time, his personality made a female CRY. Bailey didn't know what to do and had frozen. Running away would frame him as a coward, but he couldn't keep standing in silence.

Oribella lifted her head to look Poppy in the eyes and spoke with a weak tone, but enough volume for everyone to hear it "Why is he so angry that I love you, Poppy?"

Poppy was well known in the Bear Kingdom due to his family's history, and there was a wide mix of reactions from the small crowd when they heard a female say she LOVES Poppy. His married friends wanted to congratulate him, his single friends were jealous, and the few females within earshot were unsure how to feel.

"Oribella..." Poppy wished to rejoice at those words, 'I love you, Poppy,' but he looked at Oribella's face and saw her wet cheeks and bloodshot eyes, he heard her breath staggered and choppy, and he felt ashamed that he couldn't protect her from such a small threat. Physically she hadn't been in danger but how could he forgot about her emotional safety!? He knew not everyone in the Kingdom would be happy for him the way his friends at the gate were. He should have given Oribella a warning that there would be people like Bailey. Bitter and envious of their relationship. Angry that Poppy found a female who loved him, because they were jealous, spiteful, bachelors.

"I'm so sorry Oribella. I'll make sure he never says these things again."

Poppy couldn't put Oribella's tears back into her eyes but he could certainly punish the man who'd made her cry.

Poppy sat Oribella down next to River. He planted a tender kiss on Oribella's forehead before turning to walk twords Bailey.

River leaned over to comfort her future sister-in-law. "Quinten, please bring her some hot water with honey!" Quinten left to fetch the drink, "don't worry, Oribella. Poppy will put that brute in his place. Just you wait!"

The crowd backed away, giving the two space for the fight that was certainly about to happen. But the crowd also grew larger, with passers by wishing to see the spectacle at the steps of Bear Castle!

Poppy walked close to Bailey, so they could speak before the brawl began. Oribella was sipping her sweet hot water, which was helping calm her down, but she never looked away from Poppy.

"Bailey, you might be bigger than me, but I'm stronger now!" Poppy removed the fur shawl covering his shoulders and tossed it back, landing infront of Oribella, who picked it up and held it tightly against her chest.

The crowd gasped and Bailey's face went pale when Poppy revealed his stripes. He had kept his marks covered for the last few months. This time last year he was only two stripes, at the same level as Bailey, but he was now a Tetra-Marked male! And he was going to bring a world of pain down on Bailey for causing Oribella to shed tears.

"Now, Poppy, please! You don't need to FIGHT me!" Baring merely two stripes like he did the year prior Bailey knew he would likely die if Poppy fought him with full force. "I'll apologize! Please! Let me BEG her forgiveness!" Bailey knew it made him look pathetic but what choice did he have? He didn't want to die this way!

Poppy turned to look at Oribella, he shouted so she could hear him: "Bailey wishes to beg for your forgiveness, Oribella!"

Oribella felt she was a Queen overseeing a Knights' Dual. She knew everyone was looking at her, but she was only looking at Poppy. She stood, holding Poppy's shawl against her chest with both her hands.

Her body now calm, she was able to speak clearly and sternly "Reciving my forgiveness will not teach him anything, Poppy. Do not kill him. But make him learn his lesson!"