Otto shrugged his small shoulders, picking at a loose thread on his oversized shirt.“Resources important.Water, food, medicine plants.Some have more than others.”
“Oh, so it was about natural resources?”When Otto nodded, she pressed on eagerly, her detective mode kicking into gear.“What resources did they fight over?Like which kingdom had the most water and stuff?”
The little lizard brightened, and she could tell he was happy to share his knowledge.Katy got the feeling that people rarely stopped to listen to Otto.“Kingdom of Tides.It by big lake, richest for fresh water.Fangs controlled mountains with healing flowers.Kingdom of Silver was land of fruit trees.My kingdom, Venom, had mines.Metals for tools and weapons.Kingdom of Silk made finest garments and blankets.They not really needing land.Resources come from inside.”Otto pointed to his little stomach.“Kingdom of Hooves also weapons, but most bows, and also very strong ropes—use their own hair.”
“Wow.What about the Kingdom of Claws?”
“They hunters.You get the finest meats from them,” Otto answered.
She tapped her chin.“That’s only seven kingdoms.What about the other three?”
Otto’s big eyes blinked.“Kingdom of Fur dealt wood for building.They trade their claws, because they shed them, grow new ones, others makes weapons from them.And they known for foraging skills.They find any plant you possibly need.”
“Kingdom of Fur?Remind me who they are again.”
“Big bears.Very scary.”The little lizard stood up and raised himself on his tiptoes and lifted his arms to the sky.He gave what Katy assumed must be a growl, but it sounded much more like a strangled squeak.
Katy had to stifle a laugh.“This is fascinating.”She leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees.“Go on, please.”
Otto sat back down.“Kingdom of Wings trade their exotic feathers, make quills.They able to be spies, and make maps of the land because of their up view.”
Katy frowned.“Up view?”Then it dawned on her.Kingdom of Wings—birds.Duh, Katy.“So they made maps for the different kingdoms.”
Otto nodded.“Last is Kingdom of Chaos, of course.Chaos always last.”
“Oooo,” Katy said mysteriously.“They sound interesting.”
Otto made a non-committal sound.“They trouble.”
“Hence the name Chaos,” Katy pointed out.
“Kingdom of Chaos are half beast.They stuck in animal, or half animal, half human, or only human.But have the senses of the beast.Mostly, they mercenaries.”
“So they’re outcasts?”Katy didn’t like the idea of what sounded like a troubled kingdom.Was it their fault that they couldn’t fully change?Probably not.
“To some, yes,” Otto admitted.“But they some kingdoms that not care.”
Katy soaked this all in, trying to piece together the political dynamics.“So your kingdom had materials the others wanted.Did you trade at all or just fight them for it?”
“We try trade long ago.But others get greedy.”Otto’s expressive eyes grew dark with remembered pain.“Take what not theirs.War start.”
“That really sucks,” Katy offered sympathetically.“People can be pretty awful when resources and power are involved.”She worried her bottom lip.“But still… It must have been hard leaving your home realm forever.”
Otto shrugged listlessly.“Damaria dying land.Polluted by hate.Maybe fresh start best.”He managed a small, hopeful smile.“New beginning.”
Katy reached over and gave his clawed hand a gentle squeeze.“I’m really glad you shared your story with me, Otto.And that we’re friends at the beginning of this new story.”
The little lizard ducked his head bashfully.Then his expression turned somber.“In old world, I have mate once, too.”
Katy straightened in surprise.She hadn’t realized he’d lost someone.“What happened to her?”she asked softly.
Pain flickered in Otto’s yellow eyes.“War.She try help injured, get caught in fight between lions and cobra.Gone before I get to her.”
“Oh, Otto, I’m so sorry.”Katy’s heart ached for him.She couldn’t imagine the agony of losing Gage that way.Back the hell up, Katy Dire.She mentally growled at herself.What the heck are you talking about?There is no you and Gage and therefore,losing himisn’t a thing.Holy lizard scales, what is wrong with me?Otto shifted, drawing her attention back.
He gave a listless shrug.“Long time ago now.”But his mournful eyes said the loss still lingered.
Impulsively, Katy held out her arms.After a brief hesitation, Otto leaned over and let her wrap him in a hug.She embraced him tightly, offering what comfort she could for old wounds that time alone couldn’t fully mend.
