Chapter 50

Chapter 50
Falkor pov 
As Council Member Senna finally dismisses us for afternoon training after the lengthy opening ceremony, that didn’t really give us any information we didn’t already know, I trail behind Gina, Hydra and Sam as they discuss rotations to make the most out of our training space. We’d spend out Sunday doing nothing after the shock Hydra faced on Saturday and though I just hold her close to me all day, like I wanted to, watching her interact with everyone was the next best thing. I swear there is nothing like being among her clan that makes her shine the brightest. 
“Falkor? I thought that was you brother.” My spine stiffens as I turn around to find Sewell standing behind me, the smile on his face looks genuine enough but I’m sure it won’t stay that way. “King Daruis mentioned we might see you here, I thought he was joking.” 
“Why would he be joking?” Gina asks, coming up to stand at my left side while Hydra takes my right and Sam next to her. 
“Gina, still butting into other people’s business, I see.” Sewell sneers and I can’t help but roll my eyes. 
“Is there a reason you called me brother?” He’d never gotten over the fact that our uncle chose me over him to lead his clan, what was left of it anyway. 
“I just wanted to catch up, let you know you have a place with the clan whenever you decide to come back, we have enough space to take all your members. I’m sure you know about the expansion.” One that’s not nearly enough to hold my clan, if I remember the last update my father sent me correctly. 
“We’ll pass, thank you.” Hydra says, her voice sweet but by her tense shoulders I know she’s only being polite because it’s my brother.
“Are you going to let these women speak for you forever?” Sewell looks annoyed as he looks between Hydra and Gina. 
“She’s my Beta, so I trust her judgement in declining your offer.” His eyes widen at my answer as he looks Hydra up and down with clear disgust in his face. 
“You allow women in power? This is why you clan won’t make it to ranking. You keep making choices that will lead to your downfall but maybe that’s your plan huh? Fail and let the blame fall on the lesser gender for their spinelessness.” I lunge forward but Hydra grabs my wrist and Sam steps in front of me. 
“Not here, my King.” Gina warns and I see the glee in my brother’s eyes, at the fact that he successfully goaded me. If they didn’t stop me my clan would be disqualified from the Tournament, and he knows it and I stupidly fell into his trap. 
“I’ll see you in the arena, if you can control your temper.” Sewell smiles, walking away with his hands in his pockets, whistling a tune. 
“Let’s get to training.” Sam mutters and we all move, silence between us as we head to our training space where everyone else is already waiting for us. We start with warm-ups and Gina quickly divides the warriors into groups between Sam, herself and me for their sparring matches. The first two goes smoothly but then I start thinking about what Sewell said, what he implied about my clan and before I know it, I have my hand securely wrapped around Derrek’s throat as he looks at me with wide eyes. 
“I apologize.” I mutter, letting him go as Kayla rushes him out for medical attention. I’m careful in my next sparring matches, and so are the warriors that go against me. By the time training ends we’re all tired from the day, I’m highly agitated and it only gets worse when I realise Hydra is nowhere to be found.  By dinner time I’m tense and the whole clan feels it as we sit down at the tables. 
“Why does everyone look like they have a stick up their butt?” Hydra asks causing everyone to glance at me. She down right glares at me, causing me to look at her with some confusion, my agitation forgotten. “What’s wrong with you?” I look at Sam who shrugs his shoulders, taking a bite of his bread roll. 
“I think it’s because of Sewell.” Kayla finally supplies my Beta with an answer who frowns like she has no idea why I would be agitated by my brother. 
“That bottom feeder? I wonder if he knows how jealous his ass is of all the shit his mouth talks.” She says with the straightest face, keeping it even as everyone around her burst into laughter, effectively breaking the tension there was just moments ago. 
“Good one.” Kayla bumps Hydra’s shoulder and she gives my sister a soft smile. 
“Seriously though.” My Beta looks over at me. “I went to watch their training session, and they suck. They’re ranked in the bottom fifty clans and there is absolutely no indicator that they might improve. They might have started out as a strong clan but what I saw today, there is no way they’ll make it through his Tournament intact.” 
“How did you manage to watch their training session?” Sam asks. “Isn’t that against the rules?” 
“Not when you have an invitation from their arrogant Beta. Beta Thomas from the Gold Fountain Water Clan invited me along when he got their invite. I walked in with him, and no one asked questions. Your brother even thought I was there to see how a real clan trains; told me he’d give me some pointers if I asked nice enough. He’s going to be eaten alive by other head warriors.” She looks almost sorry for him. “Even though I can’t give you any inside information Sam, what I can tell you is that he’s no match for you. That’s for damn sure.” Sam snorts, amusement shining in his eyes 
“Thanks.” Hydra nods and then somehow the rest of dinner turns into a strategy meeting for the upcoming events until someone, Hydra, starts a poll for what movie to watch tonight and who’s going to provide snacks. For the next hour after dinner we prepare snacks, argue about movie line-ups and poke fun at each other until we all settle down in the communal area. As I look over my clan, I know I made the right decision in making Hydra beta, knowing she’ll shine even brighter as my Queen.