It was as though all of Osawa had come out to watch the fight. Wolf beastmen formed a tight ring and held sharpened spears that formed the edge of the arena. Clan members sat atop trees and earthen burrows to get a better look. On the north end, Kanae and Sheeba accompanied Pack Leader Thames into the fighting pit. Yordo was waiting on the south end, flashing his sharp fangs as the much smaller beastman came into sight.
Thames trembled. He was shaking all morning ever since waking up. His harem had come to cheer him on, unbeknownst to them that they could very well belong to Yordo in a few minutes.
"You know what? I-I'm not so sure about this fight. How about I just flee in shame? At least I get to escape with my life," Thames whispered.
"Maybe we should let this wimp die after all. I'm disgusted just looking at him." Sheeba glowered.
"Absolutely not. I need you to win, because Yordo isn't going to join the Commonwealth as Pack Leader. Now get in there and follow the plan." Kanae shoved him forward and casted Bond.
Fear. Trepidation. Shame. All of Thames' swirling emotions flooded into Kanae's being, reflecting how he felt about facing Yordo, the one who was probably meant to have been Pack Leader after Rauma died.
"Wait a second… I'm supposed to fight while bricked up?" Thames asked.
"Get your head in the game!" Kanae pointed ahead of him.
Thames turned around just as Yordo was upon him. The hulking beastman grabbed his throat, lifting him high into the air.
"Time to show the clan how weak you are." Yordo sneered and flung him across the arena.
"AHHHHHHH!" Thames screamed in flight until he ate dirt.
"Your Majesty, I don't think Bond is enough. Are you sure this plan will work?" Sheeba asked worriedly.
Yordo was throwing Thames around like a ragdoll. If it wasn't for Bond, he would be red paste on the ground. Unfortunately, empowering him still didn't close the gap between the two. Kanae already knew this, having made use of Bond on plenty of people. In the end, it really depended on their own power. After all, the spell buff didn't really make stronger someone who had no strength to begin with.
Which was why Kanae formulated a back up plan ten hours earlier…
After helping Thames back into the Pack Leader's tent, Kanae and Sheeba pushed him into bed. He fell flat on his back, still groaning from being thrown by Yordo. Outside, the clan was buzzing with people excited to see a fight in the morning. If drastic measures weren't taken, Thames was going to be reduced to a sack of bloodied meat tomorrow.
"How exactly can you help me again? I'm not allowed outside assistance or have anyone take my place in the duel. I need to fight him with my own strength," Yordo said.
"No one has to know where your strength comes from. Now, get hard for me," Kanae said.
"What?"
Kanae casted Turn Horny. Thames tensed up, and his canine cock sprung erect from its sheath. She climbed on top amidst his confusion and planted herself down on it. He wasn't as big as Yordo, but the knot felt good regardless.
"Ohh… Ohhh! Don't get me wrong. I love sex, but what does this have to do with making me stronger?" Thames asked, eyes rolling back and claws clenching the sheets.
"It's just a prerequisite. Just lie back and enjoy the ride." Kanae bounced faster and faster until the beastman let out an unflatteringly meek howl. Hot cum filled her insides. It oozed out of her pussy and down his fiery red shaft. She got up, picked up her wand, and magicked away the mess.
"We're done already. I was hoping for more…" He pressed his fingers together.
"Get up," she ordered.
Thames did as demanded, and Kanae planted a hand on his shoulder and casted Bond. A torrent of emotions assailed her. Worry plagued his mind, but their recent fuck had him thinking about more sex.
"Ooooh! I feel oddly… desperate to have sex with you again," Thames said.
"Sheeba, punch him," Kanae instructed.
"With pleasure." Sheeba pulled an arm back to do just that.
"No, wait!" He threw up both hands to shield himself. The blow connected, sending him skidding to the other side of the room. "That… That didn't hurt as much as I expected!"
"As expected, Bond is a pretty damn powerful succubus skill." The lioness clicked her tongue for not being able to hurt him more.
Too bad it could only help so much. Yordo was stronger, faster, and a better fighter in every sense. He beat Sheeba easily without breaking a sweat. Against someone like Thames, it would be a slaughter.
"Hehe. Now I can kick Yordo's ass tomorrow!" Thames cheered.
"No, you won't. Bond is just to make you a little more durable, so you don't outright die. During the fight, I want you to take a beating. Find an opening to use this." Kanae showed him the teleportation pellet Eliza had given her in case they needed to return to Ehmvier.
"What is it?" When he reached out, she snapped away.
"This will teleport anything caught within it elsewhere. Give it some mana, then toss it at Yordo's feet. Don't be too close when you do it, or you're gone as well. I want to say, maybe… three meter radius," she explained, then dropped it into his palm.
Back to the present, Yordo continued wailing on Thames, who could do nothing against his superior might. Even Sheeba had put up more of a fight. Thames just took it all. Thankfully, he wasn't dead. Bond made him stronger, even if he wasn't fighting back. His left eye was swollen shut. Some of his claws were cracked. A fang fell out from his gums.
"Look at this weakling!" Yordo held Thames by his head and walked around the ring. "We called him Pack Leader! He can't even lift a finger against me. Claw and Fang needs a new Pack Leader, and that will be me!"
Thames' groupies started muttering behind Kanae.
"Was he pretending this entire time?"
"Why isn't Thames fighting back?"
"I don't want to bear the cubs of a puny mutt…"
Yordo tossed Thames into the ground, taking premature victory laps around the arena. It seemed to be a thing he liked to do.
"Come on, Pack Leader. Where's your fangs? Where's your claws? Are they dulled because you never actually use 'em?" Yordo taunted.
"Ughhh… You haven't… beaten me… yet." Thames pushed himself to his feet.
A brave front, but it wasn't looking good. If Thames actually lost, Kanae and Sheeba would kiss an alliance with Fang and Claw goodbye. However, as she was losing hope, Thames ducked a swipe and threw a punch into Yordo's gut. The larger beastman staggered back, unhurt but surprised.
"You don't care about Fang and Claw, Yordo. You just want to rule. Sure, I may be weak, but I love this clan. I want what's best for it! That includes keeping your mangy claws away from being the Pack Leader!" Thames shouted.
"Tough talk for being so toothless. I'll rip the rest of your teeth out myself since you have no use for them!" Yordo dashed in close and unleashed a flurry of attacks.
Thames took them all. He was too tired to even dodge. Sharp claws gouged into his body, shredding skin and fur. Yordo cackled in the midst of it all. But the chest-thumping and grunting that usually accompanied these fights had seemed to stop. Kanae began to notice the worried expressions on many clan members' faces, watching the fight unfold in Yordo's favor.
"Is this all that Fang and Claw can muster?" Sheeba shouted, keeping her eyes on the one-sided duel. "You watch your Pack Leader getting wrung, and all you can do is fall silent? Is this the clan I thought was strong enough to bring into the fold? Where is your fervor?"
The masses remained silent for a second longer, then—
"Fight back, Pack Leader!"
"Get that bastard, Thames!"
Dozens and dozens of howls voiced their support for Thames, despite being bloodied and teetering on the edge of consciousness.
"What?" Yordo spun around and gasped.
"Yordo!" Thames slugged Yordo across the face, sending him reeling a few steps back. No one could have seen such a tiny pellet fly off his hand unless they were paying attention. But Kanae did. The teleportation device activated and swallowed him whole. Yordo was nowhere to be seen.
Everyone was stunned.
"Yordo is… gone? Pack Leader Thames is victorious!" a beastman shouted.
Throngs of people howled and cheered. Thames' harem rushed in as he collapsed onto the ground. Kanae and Sheeba pushed past the crowds to find him barely conscious in the arms of his women.
"I… I did it…" Thames blurted out past broken teeth.
"Kind of. Keep your mouth open." Kanae positioned her tail over his mouth and let Nectar of the Grove drip in.
The Pack Leader's dislocated shoulder popped back into place. His missing teeth and broken claws regrew. Swelling over his left eye subsided, and he was able to see through it again. Kanae extended a hand for him to clasp and pulled him to his feet. She pulled him in close.
"Time to keep your end of the bargain," Kanae whispered.
"Of course!" Thames turned to his people. "Fang and Claw! Hear me, your Pack Leader. For too long we have lived in isolation, sending any that came too close to us. It's time for a new era. Beginning today, we lend our strength to the Commonwealth!"
The clan responded with roaring approval. Celebrations spread across the entirety of Fang and Claw, all the way to the farthest reaches of Osawa. Big games were hunted and brought back to be roasted, the scent of their cooked meat heavy in the air. Thames retreated back home to sleep with his harem.
As night fell, Kanae had a male and female wolf beastman in each arm, pampering her. Sheeba brushed away advances with a snarl.
"Chieftain Sheeba, Empress Kanae! Are you two enjoying your night?" Thames had finally emerged with a new woman, struggling to stay standing from being so drunk.
"Don't forget, Thames. A thousand warriors," Sheeba reiterated.
"You will have the finest Fang and Claw can muster!" Thames promised.
The lioness grabbed him by the collar and yanked him closer.
"And you're going to be accompanying us back to Talahurah. Tomorrow," she added.
"Y-Yes, Chieftain!" He gulped hard.
Thames hurried off to make preparations. Kanae shooed the beastmen away until only she and Sheeba remained in front of the fire. Roasted slices of meat rested on a stone block in front of them. She picked one up to eat and grimaced. No seasoning, not even salt. Just a weird gamey taste.
"What happened to Yordo anyway?" Sheeba asked.
"The pellet's calibrated to Ehmvier, specifically to Elizabeth Bedlam's tower parked behind my castle. With any luck, she realizes what happened. I'll make use of Yordo somehow," Kanae said.
By morning, Pack Leader Thames held true to his end of the bargain. A thousand Fang and Claw warriors presented themselves, volunteering to join Talahurah's unified force. As such, Sheeba, begrudgingly, named him War Chief and granted him the power to lead a War Band in the event of a war. The ambassadors they had come with would stay to work out diplomatic relations between Fang and Claw and Talahurah. Having access to the clan's territory opened up all sorts of opportunities, including lands flourishing with wild game.
On the way back to Talahurah, Kanae sat on top of the Rown carriage. She kicked her feet, watching the highlands slowly pass by. Ahead of the convoy, a thousand Fang and Claw beastmen marched with Thames at the head upon his dire wolf. Sheeba climbed out from the roof hatch to join her.
"Doesn't it just make you want to jump out there and race across the hills on two feet?" Sheeba asked, stretching both arms above her head.
"Maybe not my feet, but definitely my wings," Kanae said.
"It is looking like there will be another war, I take it?"
"Yeah, I just don't know when. Next time, it won't just be against Ortesia, but also Temptation. That's why getting Fang and Claw was so important."
The lioness laid down to stare up at the sky. "I thought strength meant being able to defeat anyone and everyone. Watching Thames get his shit kicked in… I know now it's having the guts to face something no matter how weak or strong you are. The Cult of Lust and Depravity can try to take Talahurah. They better be willing to pry it from my claws."
"That's why I trust you as Chieftain of Talahurah." She laid next to her and smiled.