Southend

It did not take Serenity long to change her clothes, but she was not surprised to see King Theron and two members of the Royal Guard waiting for her when she arrived in the stables. She frowned slightly at the agitated look on the Bengal and Sumatran's faces. She imagined they weren't very pleased to be escorting the King and his bird into the Southend. Royal's were not usually well received in that area of the Den.

King Theron was wearing a blue formal jacket over his white button up shirt and vest. It buttoned at the center and had a high collar around his neck. He looked very kingly. Serenity noticed that he did not wear a crown. The only thing that would give away his position was the simple fact that he was dressed formally.

Serenity dressed in brown slacks that tucked into brown leather riding boots and a black peasant shirt. The laces of the shirt were undone far enough to reveal her milky white cleavage. Over her shoulders, she wore a long sleeveless brown duster that fell all the way to her boots. She felt Theron's eyes on her as she approached the small group of tigers.

"Lord Michael is not accompanying us?"

King Theron shook his head. "He has other matters to attend to."

Serenity nodded as she mounted her horse. The King smirked as she did so because she needed no assistance. The three men mounted their horses and one of the Royal Guard led the way out of the stables. Serenity steered her horse to fall into step next to the King. They rode at a slow pace, making their way past the palace gate and out into the heart of the city of the Den.

Serenity had never been out into the city during the day and even at night, she had only ever flown over it. The maze of streets was bustling with tigers of all shapes and sizes. Serenity had never seen so many shape shifters before. There was barely room for the crowd to part so that they could get by on their horses. Everyone was in the streets doing business; buying or selling. There were booths selling anything imaginable from food to clothes. Small children ran through the streets playing as their mother's yelled from the windows of the apartments that lined the streets.

Serenity was taking everything in as they trotted down the street. The buildings themselves were built nicely of red and orange brick. Most of the houses had windows with panes of glass in them and doors on hinges. There were stoops and benches for people to sit on in front of the apartments and small shops. People kept baskets of flowers hanging out of their windows or grew them in pots on the sidewalk to add color to the already vibrant scene. The people in this portion of the city were dressed very similar to her at that moment, except almost all the women wore dresses.

Gradually, as they moved farther away from the palace, the crowd began to thin. There were fewer booths selling goods and less people to buy them. The buildings around the streets also seemed to change. The paint and color of the bricks seemed to fade. Buildings suddenly had fewer windows with glass in them and some buildings only had a curtain for a door. There were no baskets of flowers in this part of the city. People sat on the stoops, but there were no benches. Even the street itself changed, it was no longer made of cobblestone, only dirt.

More children appeared to be running through this portion of the city, but no mother's were yelling at them from windows of apartments. Serenity bit her bottom lip as she studied the people before her. They were dressed like many of the birds at the palace, in torn dirty clothes. Some tigers were barefoot or had no shirt on. There appeared to be more men out on the streets than women.

Serenity frowned as she glanced back over her shoulder at the palace. She could see the balcony to her room from the street they were in. They had reached the Southend.

Everyone's eyes were on them as they marched down the dirt street. Either the individuals living in that part of the city had never seen a member of the royal family or they had never seen a bird. Serenity felt very out of place as they watched her and Theron move, flanked by the Royal Guard.

"Why is there such a class distinction among the tigers?" Serenity whispered to Theron. He glanced at her as he held the reins to his horse tightly.

"Every society has class distinctions, usually based upon the distribution of wealth within that society."

Serenity looked at him sharply. "The distribution of wealth? I don't think that is a fair assessment. It implies that someone-or something-divided the wealth unfairly."

"Some would argue that is exactly what happened," Theron responded. He didn't elaborate. Serenity took the hint that he did not want to have a philosophical discussion about the distribution of wealth and class system at the current time.

"This way, your Majesty," said the Royal Guard at the front. He turned a corner into a narrow alley that led the party to a side street of much smaller homes. Serenity frowned. The homes were barely put together with brick or stone; some had stone walls, but others had walls made of sheets of metal or planks of wood. Material hung over the tops of some the houses to block out sun and even rain. These were the slums.

Serenity looked ahead and saw another Royal Guard standing in front of a house with his arms crossed over his chest. A thin looking woman was standing next to him. Serenity looked at the woman immediately. She looked frightened. Her long blonde hair was half tied back out of her face. She wore a simple brown dress and faded red apron around her waist. The dress was torn with holes at the bottom. She had brown leather boots on, but the soles looked worn down.

Other people in the neighborhood had started to gather at the sight of five royal horses in the street. The two Royal Guard that had escorted Serenity and Theron to the Southend remained on their horses in front of the house. Theron dismounted and moved to Serenity. She swung her leg over the horse and Theron grabbed her waist, lowering her down gently. She looked past Theron to the woman next to the Royal Guard.

"Your Majesty," said the Royal Guard stepping forward and bowing. "The falcon is inside. This is her daughter."

"Thank you," Theron said to his guard. He stepped past the guard to the fragile looking woman. "Hello, I appreciate you and your mother agreeing to see me."

The woman bowed to the King. Serenity studied her closely. She was a bird. As she bowed, her hair fell over her shoulder and Serenity saw light brown feathers at the base of her neck. Her eyes were golden yellow and her skin well tanned.

"It's our honor, your Majesty," she said calmly despite looking frightened. "Please come in."

She pushed the curtain for the door out of the way and disappeared into the house. Serenity bit her lip as Theron held the curtain open for her. She walked in, him after her and a royal guard after the King. The royal guard remained in the doorframe, blocking anyone else from coming in.

Inside the shack of a house was a small fire, with smoke disappearing up the chimney. There was a stove and small counter top with a basin on it near the fireplace. There was a round wooden table with four chairs around it in the middle of the room. Off to the right, there were two puffy chairs to sit in around a knit rug that covered the dirt floor. No one else was in the simple home.

"She's in the bedroom," the woman said. "I'll retrieve her."

Serenity looked at Theron once they were alone. "Are there other birds in the Southend?"

Theron nodded. "Those who were released or bought their freedom in some way."

"Are there many?"

Theron shook his head as he crossed his hands over the hilt of his sword on his belt. "No, my family did not make it a habit of releasing many birds." Serenity nodded as she looked around the home again.

"Your Majesty," said an old ragged voice.

Serenity and Theron turned to see a hunched over old falcon walking out of the back bedroom with assistance from her daughter. The falcon was escorted to one of the puffy seats, where she sat down comfortable and yawned. She had dark leathery looking skin. Her hair was thin and white, pulled back out of her face in a loose braid. Her eyes matched her daughter's. Her nose was hooked forward, much like a beak.

"Ah, and the dove," she said as her golden eyes peered at Serenity.

Serenity felt as if the old bird was staring right through her.

"I never thought I would see you again," the falcon looked back at King Theron. "You left so rudely last time."

Theron nodded. "I did not want to hear what you had to say."

Serenity frowned as she glanced between Theron and the falcon. He had come here before?

"Whether you wanted to hear it or not makes no difference. It's not any less true today than it was then."

"Yes, thank you," he said swiftly as he glared at her.

"What didn't you want to hear?" Serenity asked curiously. The falcon didn't look at her when she asked her question. Her golden eyes were on Theron, staring straight into his purple gaze. It was as if they were speaking to each other, silently, in their minds. Serenity felt as if she were invisible.

"But, the past is not why you're here," the falcon said studying Theron carefully as she crossed her arms over her chest. She seemed surprised as if she was expecting to address whatever happened last time they saw each other. She looked at Serenity again and rolled her eyes. "Of course, the dove."

Serenity didn't appreciate the way the falcon called her 'the dove' with such disdain.

"Tell me about your dreams," she said as she stared at Serenity with a harsh yellow glare. Serenity felt as if the falcon was annoyed that she had come. Somehow, she was disturbing the old bird.

"I drown in a room full of blood," Serenity replied quickly.

"You must have killed someone," the falcon responded easily. Serenity glanced at Theron, who met her gaze for a moment. Neither of them said anything. The falcon smirked. "It makes no difference to me. Your dreams don't lie. It's not difficult to deduce that your mind and emotions are trying to work out the trauma of taking another creature's life."

Serenity nodded. "Thank you," she said. "I think we can go now."

She made to leave, but Theron grabbed her arm. "Please, wait."

Serenity glared up at him with heavy navy blue eyes. She didn't want to stand here and listen to the falcon criticize either of them. She didn't particularly care for the falcon's bedside manner.

"He didn't want to hear me tell him to let you go," the Falcon said softly.

Serenity looked at her surprised; Theron released his grip on her arm and looked at the falcon with a nasty glare. The falcon just smiled at him as she rocked in her puffy chair. She folded her wrinkled hands on her lap.

"I told him he had to let you go if he wished to change his family's history," she said as she rocked. Serenity looked back at Theron with heavy eyes. She had already forgiven him for leaving her in the Den with his brother.

"He did," Serenity whispered as she looked up at him with loving eyes.

"Hardly," the falcon retorted with a chuckle.

"I did not come to discuss how to change my family's history. We both have different opinions on how that can be achieved," Theron said sharply before either woman could begin to argue. "I was hoping you could help Serenity with her magic."

This comment made the falcon laugh loudly. "I cannot help her. The magic of a dove is completely different than the magic of a falcon. Hers is built on peace and healing, while mine is built on strength and power."

The falcon was looking at Serenity like prey. Her golden yellow eyes pierced into Serenity, who held her breath and rolled her shoulders back to stand up straight. She wasn't going to let this old bird intimidate her.

"It takes a great deal of strength and power to bring peace and heal people," Serenity responded.

"But it's hard to bring peace when you're hands are covered in blood," the falcon retorted.

Serenity heaved a sigh. "Did you bring me here to be insulted?" she questioned looking at Theron.

"No," he shook his head. "Like I said, I hoped she'd help you with your magic."

"You assumed incorrectly, your Majesty," the falcon said sternly. "Not all magic is the same. I cannot just teach someone how to manage their magic if I know nothing about it. I doubt there are any birds left that know the magic of doves. They are rare."

Theron nodded in understanding. "That is why I can't let her go," he said easily. "Thank you for your time." He turned to leave, taking Serenity's arm so she wouldn't linger behind. As he reached his guard at the door, the falcon spoke again.

"You cannot take her as your mate," she said in a desperate tone.

Theron paused and looked at the falcon over his shoulder. "I warned you to let her go because she will be the end of you. Loving her will bring you nothing but pain and death."

Theron turned to face the falcon fully. "That is a cost I am willing to pay."

"It's not just personal cost, your Majesty. If you mate her, you'll bring an end to your family's reign. The Tigerian territory will destroy itself and there are many hungry predators waiting to pick up the pieces," she advised. "All of your people will suffer. Her most of all."

Theron frowned deeply as she looked at Serenity. He said nothing else and pulled her out of the small house back into the street. She didn't say anything as he mounted his horse. She followed his lead and jumped up onto her stead. The Royal Guard were ready to go immediately; this time Theron led the way back to the palace. Serenity stayed on his heels, the guard behind her, wondering what exactly was Theron running from?

How would Serenity becoming Queen destroy the Tigerian Territory?Serenity's mind was racing as they rode back to the palace in silence. It would cause a civil war. She was sure that a portion of the population would support the King, his mate and all the political implications it had, but she was also sure that the other portion of the population would not support him. Raising the status of birds would cause a split in the tigerian people that may not be manageable if the King were also married to one. It may look like the only reason he freed the birds was because she told him to.

Perhaps that was what the falcon was warning. Theron had to let Serenity go, marry a tiger who agreed with him, so that he could stay in power and make the changes to society that he wanted to. He had said once, that he hoped to bring enough change to the territory that anyone could marry whoever they wished, no matter their status. But he also told Serenity that he would not marry her if it was not the right decision politically.

Serenity frowned. Theron confused her; probably because he was confused himself, constantly pulled between what the falcon warned and what his heart desired. Serenity wondered how much of a driving force the falcon was behind him leaving for Allur so long ago? Had he left in hopes that Serenity would be so angry with him that she'd never forgive him, despite how much he wanted to be forgiven?