Understandably, my parents were beside themselves when I sauntered into the inn just after midnight, two hours after I should have returned. After a long, long lecture, my mother finally noticed Tsune on my shoulder. “Where’d you find the cat?”

“Cat?” I said, looking at my shoulder. I took a double take. The wings were gone, and Tsune’s rounded lion ears had become distinctly more pointed. “Oh, Tsune,” I replied. “I saved him from a couple of kids who were trying to catch and torture him. That’s why I was late.” I had already decided there was no point in telling my parents the story. It would only worry them more, and I was safe with them anyways. Besides, if I told them, they would undoubtedly try to contact authorities, and if the old farmer was to be trusted, the police were probably in cohorts with the slaver anyways.

As for Tsune, I didn’t doubt for a second that she had the power to shift her form. Shedus were incredibly powerful beings, and it made sense that even a cub would possess some powers.

My mother seemed a bit taken aback. Slightly mollified, she said: “Oh. Well, I guess…” she sighed. “I guess you did good to save her. But next time, you come home on time, you hear me, young man?”

“Yes, mother. I’m very sorry.”

“Oh, and, congrats on your bond.”

“Bond?”

“Bond. That cat looks very close to you. Has it not been communicating with you?” Tsune mewed, then hopped on my head possessively, curling up in my hair. Mother laughed. “See? It’s bonded to you. You’re very lucky, Gilan. Only a few hunters ever get a chance to bond with a wild animal.”

“Yeah, but, what does a bond do?”

Mother sighed. “Patience, Gil, patience. Over time, a bond will allow you to gain even greater powers, as well as share them with your bond.” She gestured at Tsune. “It takes great trust for a beast to bond with you. Treat her well, and you two will reach heights you could never imagine.”

“Hear that, papa?” Tsune’s voice rang out inside my head. “It’s a privilege to be with me,” she said smugly.

“Woah, telepathy,” I replied silently.

My mother smiled. “So you two are communicating,” she said. “After you’ve bonded long enough, and you grow powerful enough, Tsune should be able to talk out loud. But, for now, she will only be able to speak to you. I’ll give you two some more time to talk, but-” she glared at me once again. “Don’t you even dare think about leaving this room, you understand me? I’ll be right back.”

As she closed the door, Tsune bounced onto the bed. “Once you grow powerful enough,” she said aloud in a self-satisfied tone, puffing out her little chest. “She’ll be able to talk out loud. But I can already speak out loud, can’t I? I will accept my congratulations presently.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I sighed. “I’m very proud of you. But, why did you hide your wings?”

Tsune blinked, then tilted her head as if it was obvious. “I was taken because of my form, right? If I hide my true form until I’m stronger, I won’t be taken by any bad men.”

I laughed. “That’s fair, but I think you can trust my parents. I’ll respect your opinion, though. You can reveal yourself whenever you want. But why didn’t you hide them before?”

“I didn’t have a name,” Tsune said. “I have one now, so I’m much stronger.” Then, yawning, she curled up on the bed and fell asleep.

“All you do is sleep and talk,” I scoffed in mock disgust. “Where’s my unimaginable power?” I patted her gently on the head. “A name, huh? Good night, Tsune. Sleep tight.” Laying down next to her, I let the exhaustion crash over me and drifted asleep.