You thought that was the ending? - No, far from it. That maiden may be shrewd, but she sure is naive.

You might've already figured out I'm a different person speaking. Well, you're right - I'm Dagur van Irbisen. From the little birdie's tale, you must already know who I am, though, so I won't go into details and cut straightly to the point.

I woke up in the tree-house, just like Theo has informed you. My little brother had bandaged my wounds, though I had sustained a lot of damage while busting out of that hellish place with our little chick. As always, you'd think she'd do everything as expected, but no, she messed up at the last minute and if I weren't there, everything would go to naught...

Anyway, from the way Theo has retold, you'd think all is her merit. Nah, we all know that's not true. The thing is_

"Lord Warden, they told me you woke up?"

"Shut your beak, de Corbet. I'm no longer 'Lord Warden', thankfully. Address me as Lord van Irbisen. And why are you alone? Where are those other headmen?"

"They're having fun at the party." Rufus chuckles (Yeah, he's the one to have entered and deranged my peace). "Why won't you attend? Are you perhaps not invited?"

"Save your cheeky chitchat for yourself, little bird." I snarl. I can hardly hold my claws from strangling this bastard. "Anyway, I should really thank you, for your service up until now."

"Well, you were my superior so I did as I was told." He shrugs. "Pretty ingenious, though: first, you told me to inform Theo about the truth regarding the deviants and the infected humans, then made me help her organize the break... She really did prove to your expectations, huh? We all are free, finally."

"Well, of course. It was because I knew what I was doing, as I always did. Now, would you mind calling my brother here?"

"Oh, he... he's still dancing with Theo at the bonfire party down there."

"Tell him it's urgent. He can have all the fun later."

I guess my voice and my glare tell Rufus enough because he darts out of the chamber just as fast as he's entered and flies off to the ground where they're having that bothersome party. Now all that's left is to wait.

Soon, the sound of Knut's feet jumping onto the porch reaches my ears. He's here, just as I expected.

"You called, Dag?"

He enters and takes a seat beside me. He looks so happy and uplifted... Hand it to that little chick of his. The more I think about their being together, the happier I grow that they've found each other. Knut really does need a girl like that by his side... for all that I've planned for him.

"I did, Knut."

Ugh, my jaw itches... Anyway, back to the point.

"I figure Theo's fine by now? With your medicine, it'd be no surprise."

"Haha, thanks, big brother!" He gives me the brightest smile. "She too has sent a greeting."

"Very thoughtful of her..." I smile back. "Well then, you've told her all about the new battle that is approaching, right?"

"Yeah, the battle against societies and their ideologies..." Knut heaves a sigh. "I only wish we didn't have to carry this whole burden."

"I wish the same, Knut, but we can't help it. You are the feline god and you must ascend the throne as is due."

"Damn, at times I really do think you're the true genius, Dag!" He laughs. "I mean, plot all of it out the minute you hear I'm interested in the girl and check her out on a camera... You sure are awesome!"

"Nah, kitty, you're giving me too much credit." I laugh too. "You're the true genius. Such a talented man you've grown into..."

I rub his head. He bites my ear. I bite his. We play like that for a while, as we often used to back in our childhood.

Finally, Knut places his head to my shoulder like he often used to when he was still too little and I'd put him to sleep.

"Say, Dag..."

"Hmm?"

"When you preserved my life all those years ago, was it because you saw a potential in me to become the future feline god, or because you loved me as a brother?"

Damn, I didn't see that coming... Hmph, must be that chick's influence.

"I suspect Theo's speech is what has led to those thoughts, somehow."

"Well... kind of." Knut laughs. "She did mention to me how Clara called me 'the feline god' before, and asked me what it meant, so I told her about all those myths you'd retell me in my childhood... And then, she and the others always talk about you in such a way... Meh, sometimes those thoughts get a hold of me. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

"Nah, who cares about my feelings..." I shrug. "It's just that, if you want me to be honest, Knut - I hated our father's notion of 'the feline god' so much that if that truly were your only worth in my eyes, I'd have killed you as an infant back then. I preserved your life because... Well, I'm sorry I've never told you this before. I guess I should have... It was because when I picked you up in my arms and wanted to end your life - the one whom my father considered worthy while wanted to kill me with his own hands - you ceased crying, and eyed me with those curious big blue eyes. Then, you touched my clawed finger with your tiny hand and giggled at me... Such a cute tiny ball of fluff! Nobody had ever smiled at me before, yet you giggled right into my bloody face... the face of a monster, as our mother considered, and of a disgrace, as our father thought. I broke into tears... How could I bring myself to hurt my little brother who was smiling at me like that? He didn't yet have a name, though. So, I gave him a name - Knut - and decided to raise him on my own, to become the great person that he was meant to be. I could say I've succeeded in that."

I rub his head. He only chuckles and embraces me in his arms. Ugh, this goofball, as fluffy as ever... I hug him back.

So, the proper ending for this story would be, not that some chick has attained her freedom (although that too, happened), but that we brothers have a lot planned and it's just the beginning. I was the true mastermind behind Theo's plans, I led her and the others to the breakout, I ended that stupid prison, and I'm going to make Knut the king he deserves to be.

Nah, you can still judge this story however you want. This one's just my version of the ending. I think I deserve to share my thoughts after all that I've done. Theo and her friends might think I was the villain (some might even believe I still am), because of the ways I've chosen, but that's their problem. Without my benevolence, they'd be screwed. Their fate was in my hands from the beginning. I chose to ally with them, so they succeeded. Simple as that.

As for the future... I don't feel like sharing any of my schemes with you just yet. But do know - I've got a lot planned for human and deviant societies, as well as our little heroine and her friends. The world had neglected me, thrown me into dust, but never did I surrender. I've raised my brother to be a king, and I will always remain his advisor. Someday, and that day is very close - I will make sure the entire world falls to its knees before us.

It's fully natural - the sun and the moon rule over the skies. If Knut is the sun, then it's only obvious that I am the moon.

----

You can now purchase the book on Amazon at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096HJ21KN

OR

You can play the branching-dialogue multiple-choice game featuring YOU as a character on the Tales app at the following link: https://link.talescreator.com/k6f5oBryXsb

Thank you for reading!