Tigris and Lyo attempted to build a fire large enough to signal their friends that they were still alive however; the problem was that there was no place for them to be picked up. The trees were much too tall and did not allow for much room for the Sky Sailor to land. They moved deeper into the forest hoping to find a clearing big enough for the ship to land. Tigris focused her hearing on their surroundings even if she told Lyo that there were no animals that were able to put up a fight the truth of the matter was that it has been a while for her since she roamed the borders of Zul-Aman. As far as she was concerned there could be other animals that may have already taken up residence.

“If we aren’t able to find a clearing in time do you think we’ll have to walk all the way to Albion?” Asked Lyo.

Tigris considered the prospect of walking all the way there if they could not make any contact with their teammates, but to get to Albion they would have to go through Amani. She did not keep up with recent events in Zul-Aman, but if her family was still alive… She preferred to avoid going anywhere near the city at all to avoid the Gaist camps along the way. And given who she was accompanied with it would not help their situations at all.

“If we do we’ll have to take the long way and that would take us about… thirty to forty days if we are lucky that is.”

“What about a shortcut?”

“We’d never survive the shortcut. Last time I was here the Gaericists, Sovereignists, and Gaists were all trying to kill each other for control of Amani.” Explained Tigris.

“Azura told us that the Gaericists and Sovereignists were ready to make amends.”

“Just because you and I aren’t killing each other right know doesn’t mean we don’t try to sometimes.”

“Fair point.”

“Besides…” Tigris’ ears perked up as she heard the sound of a branch snapping.

Lyo saw Tigris’ ears move and held her wooden makeshift spear firmly with both hands. “What is it? Is it just one or more?”

“Hmm…” Tigris hummed as she tried to focus on the point of origin of the sound. Whatever it was that made the sound stopped moving altogether. She began sniffing the air around them hoping to catch a whiff of whatever it was that was stalking them.

“Anything?” Asked Lyo as she looked around their surroundings for any trace of their alleged hunter.

Tigris caught a hint of the creature’s scent just a few meters away from their position. She transformed and prepared herself. She pointed to where the creature was hiding and signaled Lyo to cover its flank. Tigris made her way to its hiding spot ready to attack at a moment’s notice. As she neared the animal’s position the bushes began to move and from hem emerged a horned hound. The hound was small, probably still in its infancy, it had a thick mass of fur around its neck that trailed along its back, its horns were barely protruding from the top of its head, and it seemed rather frightened at the sight of Tigris.

Tigris let out a chuckle. “Ha come over here and look at it Lyo. Little fur ball looks like it’s about to piss itself.”

“Uh Tigris…” Lyo began.

“What?”

Lyo aimed her spear at the giant foetodon closing in on the pair. The foetodon was snake like in shape with four legs and measured at least ten feet long; its bites could paralyze its prey, and was rather fast, nimble, and agile as it could also climb trees. Tigris looked at small hound at her feet. She kicked the hound to the foetodon hoping it could buy them time. Tigris and Lyo ran as the foetodon began to eat the small hound. Tigris looked behind her to see the foetodon begin to give chase.

“Fucking thing probably ate him in one bite!” Exclaimed Tigris as the duo ran through the wilderness.

“Any ideas?”

“Run and not get eaten!”

“Fuck!”

Tigris looked at the foetodon beginning to cut the distance. “Lyo I’m going to distract it. I want you to climb one of these trees and get the jump on it. Stab it in the eyes if you get the chance.”

Lyo nodded as she and Tigris split up. Tigris waved her arms at the beast whilst Lyo began to climb one of the nearby trees. The beast focused its attention on Tigris as it hissed at her. Tigris transformed and looked at Lyo whom was still struggling to climb up. Tigris resumed her sprint and made sure to keep the foetodon within the same general area. Lyo struggled to climb up the tree as there wasn’t much to grab on to. She pulled out her knife and used that as a means to get further up.

“Any fucking time you want Lyo!” Screamed Tigris as the foetodon scrambled to get a bite.

“Shut up!”

Tigris quickly jumped up one of the trees to give herself a few seconds of rest. As she rested atop one of the branches she saw the foetodon beginning to climb up.

“Motherfucker!” She yelled as she quickly jumped off the tree and rushed back to Lyo’s position.

Lyo readied herself as she saw Tigris coming in fast with the foetodon close behind. Tigris raised her fists armed with just a knife. The foetodon jumped her and landed right on top of her. Tigris fought back against the beast stabbing it repeatedly with her knife. Lyo jumped right on top of it and used her wooden spear to stab it on its head. The creature let out a dying howl as it suddenly went limp. Lyo climbed off the creature and looked at Tigris who was trapped underneath.

“Ugh get this thing off of me.” Tigris groaned.

Lyo helped Tigris remove the foetodon and helped her up to her feet. “I guess it really does pay off to have friends in high places.”

“I guess it does.” Answered Lyo.

“C’mon we have to find a clearing and get the fuck outta here before we run into something else.”

“Lead the way.”

Tigris and Lyo kept walking hoping to find a clearing large enough for their friends to land and pick them up.

“Are you going to look up your family once we reach Albion?” Asked Lyo.

Tigris laughed. “Ha! Fuck no! I’m not crazy.”

“But we might see them… Won’t we Tigris?”

The fact that Dawon climbed through the ranks was problematic. She would have to deal with him one way or another.

“We might be able to use that to our advantage… Perhaps… If they have no control over Amani.”

“Why Amani and not Albion? Albion is the capital of Zul-Aman after all.” Asked Lyo wondering why the Gaists would waste their time taking control of only half of Zul-Aman and not all of it.

“Amani is where we come from. Gaists will give it their all to control that place.”

“Where Gaeric killed the last Divine?”

“Yep. Champion Icarus and Champion Argus both turned on Gaia and helped Gaeric bring her down.”

“I can’t imagine any Gaists being too happy about that.”

“Pretty much. The Sovereignists and Gericists erected… I’ve always wanted to use that word.”

Lyo rolled her eyes.

“They ‘erected’ a massive dick made of stone in his honor in Amani.”

“They built a statue?”

“Sure if you want to take the fun out of it. But my way of saying it is better.”

“How strong is Dawon anyways?”

“I dunno. I haven’t seen hide or hair of the bastard in years since I became a legionnaire. But if he’s leading the clans then it must mean that my father is dead, and in all likelihood my mother as well.”

“Was there ever a time you missed them?”

“No never. There was one person but she’s probably dead in all likelihood.”

“An ex?” Asked Lyo knowing full well of Tigris’ exploits with other women.

“No I was too young back then. Now I wonder what she looks like.”

“You’re gonna fuck her if she’s alive right?” Asked Lyo.

“Of course I’am it’s only natural. What about you? You get to visit the holy land. It’ll probably be a lot easier for someone like you to blend in.”

“Yeah probably.”

The two reached the edge of a dirt road leading straight towards Zul-Aman.

Tigris sighed. “Who says you can’t go back home.”