Dad and I had spent hours looking out on the scenery of the lakes as I had been reluctant to leave the beautiful scenery as every direction I looked in was different and dad had told me more stories of what else was in the world.

After dad had persuaded me we would come back another day, we eventually returned home where mum was just closing up the bakery for the day. As we entered a huge smile crossed her face.

“Did you boys have fun?” she asked. I was worried mum would be mad with us for being so late, but she didn’t mind at all.

“Yeah.” I ran over to her as dad parked up the cart. “Dad showed me the whole city, it is so big. I got to see the wind fairy bridge too. She was really pretty and there were so many Animalia.”

“Sounds like an adventure.” Mum gave me a hug.

“I plan to go on even bigger ones.” I broadcast.

“Yes, you will.” Mum glanced at dad. “Now off you go. We need to finish closing up.”

“Okay.” I nodded, heading out through to the back of the bakery, passed the kitchen and into my home. I paused at the entrance picking up a new scent in the air, it was sweet like an open orchard. “What’s that?” I sniffed the air even more.

“We have a guest.” I heard the voice of the talisman I would receive on my birthday.

“A guest.” I repeated, looking around the room.

“Follow your nose silly,” she laughed. I let out a little giggle at her comment.

I sniffed the air quickly following the smell, it was coming from the little storage area at the back of the living room, behind a pile of boxes I found a little Album Tigris, crouched down. It was my first encounter with the future love of my life, the one person in this whole world I would sacrifice everything to protect.

“What are you doing?” I asked confused by her arrival in my home.

“Hiding.” She crouched down lower, whispering. She looked at me with curious eyes.

“But you can’t be back here.” No customers were allowed behind the counters or even out back where I lived.

“Dad told me to hide here,” she was smiling.

“Your dad did?” I wasn’t sure how to respond to this. I’d only ever interacted with the customers.

“Yep.” She nodded with a mischievous look. “I asked dad where the best place to hide in the castle was and he pointed to here.”

“The bakery is no place to play games,” I said, still unsure of what to do.

“Want to join me?” She asked mischievously.

She looked like she was enjoying herself, much like I had done on my adventure with dad today. I wanted more adventure. “Sure.” I smiled, thinking I would actually have a friend to play with.

“I’m Tigra.” She introduced herself politely.

“Alex.” I responded, remembering her name from earlier today. I crouched down beside her.

I took her by the hand, and we hid together. We stayed in our little hiding spot, giggling as we could hear those that were searching for her. We could hear them calling out Tigra’s name, by the sounds of it they were starting to panic.

“Please Princess Tigra, time to come out now!”

“Your father won’t be happy with us, so please!”

“Who would get in trouble you or them?” I asked curiously.

“Them.” Tigra giggled. Her high spirit was infectious, so I giggled too.

I didn’t think her dad would be that mad with them considering he told her to hide here. “But he told you to hide.”

“True.” Tigra nodded.

“Why are you hiding from them?” I asked another question, curious about my new friend.

“For starters it’s fun.” Tigra smiled, but then looked out in front of her, thinking about something. “And there is some stuff I don’t want to do, but they make me do it.” She looked so sad when she said that.

“We can hide here for as long as you want,” I said putting on a huge smile. I didn’t like my new friend looking sad when we were trying to have some fun.

“Thank you.” Tigra smiled back. “This is now my favourite place to hide.”

“Really.” I responded finding it a strange honour.

“Yeah.” She nodded.

We remained quiet for ages, hoping no one would find us. I looked at Tigra, she was just like Queen Daz, with stunning white fur and black stripes, compared to my ordinary looking brown fur.

“And what are you doing Alex.” Mum had found us, guided by the sounds of us giggling and the smell of our scents. She paused surprised to see that I was with someone, especially the princess.

“We’re hiding mum.” I answered.

“Princess Tigra, your mother will be wondering where you are.” Mum leaned down to our level, both happy and concerned.

“Please a little longer. I don’t want to do my lessons today,” moaned Tigra, practically in tears, I had a feeling they were fake.

“Alright.” Mum sighed, then smiled. “A little longer.” She looked at me. “Why don’t you take Princess Tigra to your room. I’m sure it’ll be much more comfortable than down here.”

“Okay.” I jumped to my feet, grabbing hold of Tigra’s hand.

“But that wouldn’t be hiding,” argued Tigra. I glanced at her as mum responded.

“It does,” she nodded. “As they still don’t know where you are, just because it isn’t down in a small corner, doesn’t mean it isn’t hiding.”

“Come on Tigra.” I encouraged.

“Okay.” Tigra slowly followed, and together we ran off to my room.

“And this is my room,” I boosted proudly as we entered.

“Your room is small,” commented Tigra.

“Is it?” I wasn’t sure what she was talking about, wasn’t this the normal size of a bedroom. I picked up my two foam swords. “Want to play?” I didn’t own much, but that didn’t matter, I finally had someone to play with.

“Sure.” Tigra took the foam sword and held it up, posed to strike. “I should warn you I am trained in swordplay.”

“Well, so am I,” I said to sound tough, not sure why, maybe I didn’t want to be shown up by a girl.

We began to play, swinging the foam swords at one another. Tigra was really good, I just couldn’t keep up with her or land a single hit, but I wasn’t going to give up until I did.

After about an hour, Tigra put the foam sword down, being the victor for the tenth time. “I better go,” she smiled.

“When will you be back?” I asked not wanting my new friends to leave. I loved having someone to play with, instead of being alone.

“Tomorrow.” She laughed. “Got maths lessons, I don’t like those so I will be back.”

“Okay.” I was glad to know she would return.

“Um…don’t you have lessons too?” she asked.

“Not really.” I shook my head.

“You’re so lucky.” She headed towards the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Yes.” I nodded. I couldn’t wait until I saw her again, and it came quicker than I could have hoped.

-

Tigra showed up the next day earlier than the last time. I was helping mum when she snuck in behind a customer. I noticed a knight run past calling her name. She was already smiling.

Mum saw her and let me head to my room with her, she let out a small sigh, but smiled.

Dad was sat in the kitchen getting the last of his deliveries ready. “Princess Tigra.” He held surprise as we ran past.

“Shh.” I hushed as we went passed.

“You sure, he won’t tell?” asked Tigra.

“He won’t,” I replied. “He’ll be too busy on his deliveries.”

Tigra and I played for hours. We fought with foam swords again taking it in turns at playing the hero this time, she even made me play the damsel in distress which I was not a fan of. We threw balls at each other to see who could hit the most away and built a fort with my covers where we just chatted away.

I had only known her for a day, but I felt like I could tell her anything, like we’d become best friends already.

Tigra would come to hide at my place whenever she didn’t want to face her lessons she told me about, apparently they were so boring she’d fall asleep and not learn a single thing. She was jealous of how dad taught me things, taking me around the city, meeting loads of Animalia, her dad said it was too dangerous to be wondering around alone, maybe when she was older.

Tigra thought that was what her Guardians were for, to keep her safe, but since she couldn’t leave the castle she started to play hide and seek with them, saying how it was so much more fun, than her lessons. Mind she said there were a few things she liked to learn, like swordsmanship and dancing.

We spent a lot of time together, hiding from her Guardians, weather it was in the bakery or around the castle, it was fun spending time with Tigra.

Guardian was the title given to those who protect the children of the royal family, they were appointed by the queen and were usually the most powerful knights in Cathopia.

I found out early on that Tigra didn’t have any friends, being a princess tended to scare some Animalia away and she was busy most of the time, when she came to the bakery, it was the only real time she got to play around. She had lessons on a variety of things, from maths, crystal studies, how to act like a princess from speech to walking, swordsmanship and so much more.

I told her. “Being a princess, I think is awesome.” I wanted to encourage my best friend.

“Thanks Alex.” I got a hug for that one. “You always know how to cheer me up.”

“It’s my job as your best friend.” I responded proudly.

“I’ll hold you to your words.” She grinned.

“What should we do tomorrow?” I asked.

“I have the perfect plan, if you don’t mind exploring outside the castle,” answered Tigra.

“Won’t we get lost?” I was concerned. I’d only ventured outside the castle with dad, on my own with her, made me filled with worry.

“Don’t worry, mum’s taken me there loads of times.” Tigra sounded so confident it made me want to go.

“Alright, you’ll lead the way tomorrow then.” I nodded.

“Leave it to me, you’ll love it.” She was smiling again.

I felt excited wondering where it would be she was going to take me; it could be anywhere. She had shown me so much of the castle already, all the secret passageways to get away from her Guardians, to super shortcuts.

I had seen her room, which was triple the size of mine, no wonder she’d had such a reaction to the size of mine, she also had so much stuff, that she didn’t even know what to do with. Most of the time we only went in there to use her bed as a bouncy castle as it was so springy.

The news she’d take me somewhere new filled me with anticipation and excitement, I couldn’t wait to see what my home of Cathopia had to offer.