As soon as we arrived at the site it was bustling with life. The place was decorated with different coloured lights, balloons, and banners above the different food stalls. My nose began twitching as I could smell the food.

My gaze swept across the food stalls, spotting dango, fish cakes, meat burgers, my favourite boken covered in sweet chocolate and so many others.

“Are you drooling?” Giggled Tigra.

“No,” I gulped.

There were other stalls too, some selling masks, pendants, pins, and other festival souvenirs. Then there were game stalls, throwing rings on to bottles, catching the fish to win prizes, tests of strength and accuracy.

Wow.” Athena’s eyes widened with excitement.

“Okay I guess.” Brendan crossed his arms, acting as if it was nothing.

“Really Brendan,” I glanced over at him, he was smiling.

“What first?” Tigra’s eyes gleamed as she tried to drag me along with her.

“Hang on,” I yelped. “We need to make a plan.”

“You don’t need a plan,” snorted Athena. “Just have fun.” She headed over to the mask stall.

“Wait, did anyone bring any coin with them?” I asked. Athena, Brendan and Tigra looking at each other then looked at me shaking their heads. “Are you guys serious.”

“We don’t earn anything living with you,” shrugged Athena.

“Plus, you earn being a knight-in-training,” added Brendan.

“Not a lot,” I commented. “And you Tigra, this was your idea.”

Tigra shrugged her shoulders. “Well, being royalty, I don’t need to carry coin when you sort of own the place.” I let out a long sigh.

“Looks like you’re paying,” laughed Larana. “Surprised you didn’t see this coming master.”

“Can you get me a mask, please,” smiled Athena, already picking one out basically giving me no choice but to pay. The only problem was she didn’t end up the only one I brought masks for.

As we headed to the next stall, we all had masks placed on the tops of our heads. I had picked a mask, representing the winged lion of fire, he was one of my favourites from mum’s stories. Athena picked a bear, which I thought was funny considering that Brendan was related to one.

Brendan went for a red demon looking one, with great fangs, kind of creepy to be honest, and Tigra chose a dragon shaped like a lightning bolt.

“Food next,” cried Tigra heading for the sweetest food stalls. “I remember these from your sixth birthday party,” she was smiling as she looked at the different coloured dango, being served up.

“Yeah,” I nodded. It was the first of many foods we dug into, of course I had to pay for all of it.

“Next,” said Athena dragging us over to the boken fruit being dipped in chocolate. “Just too good to miss.”

“Why don’t we start with some less sweet stuff and use these for desserts,” I suggested, but quickly got shut down as they made the biggest order.

“Alex.” They called me over to pay for it.

“It’s Fang, while on duty,” I snapped.

“You’re not on duty.” Tigra shook her head sighing.

“I have to guard you,” I commented.

“At least try to have some fun,” snorted Brendan.

“He’s been taking things a little bit too seriously since becoming a knight-in-training,” mentioned Athena.

“It takes hard work to become a Guardian, you know.” I was getting a little annoyed as the three of them seemed to be teaming up on me.

“Please, enjoy yourself Alex.” Tigra gazed at me, her eyes glinting with this strange sadness. “You haven’t been the same since your dad headed off.” I looked away from them. “I know you miss him.”

“You are the biggest idiot ever,” snarled Brendan. “She brought us here for you, stupid.”

My gaze shot back to Tigra. “Is this true?” She nodded, smiling. “Tigra.” It left me feeling this pain in my chest, to think she would do this for me.

As I stared at her, I felt the pain in my chest tighten, she really did care for me, my very first best friend, she knew me so well, her heart strong and unwavering in what she wanted to do, even in bringing me here, doing everything she could to persuade me.

I glanced down at my money pouch, which was only half full. I had been wanting to save it up, but it didn’t really matter anymore.

“Well, are we going to stand around here all day?” asked Athena.

“Thank you.” I looked at them all. “So, what’s next?”

“Some games,” answered Tigra.

“Games it is.” Tigra grabbed hold of my arm and we headed off deeper into the festival. I stared at the back of her head, letting my heart feel so light. Her hand slipped a little from my arm and held my hand instead.

“Tigra,” I whispered under my breath. I wished I could tell her with all my heart. I could have told her right there how I felt, but I knew I couldn’t, but just being in her presence was good enough for me.

The first game we came to was throwing the rings on bottles filled with prizes. Tigra went first throwing them, one after the other, but even with her accuracy with lightning she had no luck getting the rings on the glass.

“Let me,” I smiled paying for three more rings.

“Remember no talisman power, knight,” the stall owner spoke.

“I don’t need Larana for this,” I responded, throwing my first, it missed, but I just did that on purpose to show the stall owner I was not going to cheat. I smirked as I threw the next one, landing on a pink bottle, then my last landing on a green.

“We have a winner,” said the stall owner.

“Awesome,” grinned Tigra.

I picked up the pink bottle, letting the beautiful brooch, decorated in gold with yellow, blue, and red gems shaped like a bird fall into my hand. I held it out to Tigra pinning it to her dress.

“For you,” I said.

“Thank you,” she went a little bashful, was receiving a gift embarrassing or something.

Within the blue bottle was a brown crystal, obviously earth based, no good to me. After I had finished examining it within my hand, I threw it into Brendan’s direction. “Suits you better.”

Brendan caught it without even thinking about it. “Thanks.” He glanced at it, then popped it into his pouch.

“Come on then,” I pointed towards the crowds. “There is far more to see.”

“Yeah.” Everyone cheered and I began to relax, perhaps it was okay to enjoy myself once in a while.

We wondered off within the crowd, playing more games, like trying to catch the fish, they must have been super smart fish because no one had any luck catching one. I kept glancing up at the stall owner, a fish Animalia of some kind.

“I just can’t get one,” cried Athena.

“Can’t win everything,” I shrugged.

“This is rigged master,” said Mila.

“Really,” I stood up completely straight, sensing it. “I must insist you stop manipulating the fish with your water talisman.”

“What?” the stall owner was shocked.

I pointed to my choker. “I have a water talisman myself and I can easily sense yours.” He was looking in every direction. “This is a festival of fun, if you do not stop manipulating it like you have I will have to escort you from the festival.” With my words, Athena finally caught a fish.

“Yes,” she cheered.

“Remember if I hear bad things about your stall, I’ll be back.” I smirked. He nodded frantically as he handed Athena a plush bear. “Good.” Happy with the outcome of that we headed off to play more games, even the ones for strength.

They had different difficulties depending on the Animalia, considering that an Ursus such as Brendan had far more physical strength then me and I was clearly stronger than a Rattus.

Both Brendan and I had a little go, Brendan had it reach the very top. I thought he would be so proud of himself, but he just shrugged as if he had gotten a goodish score.

My score on the other hand was okay, but that didn’t really matter, for my lack of physical strength I made up for in my abilities to use talismans.

“You’ll do better next time,” encouraged Tigra.

Athena looked up at the sky. “The main event will begin soon.”

It was getting dark, and the lights from the festival were becoming the main light source for the festival, it gave the place a completely different feel. I glanced at Tigra watching the lights dancing over her, this little trip out was completely worth it.

“Let’s find the best spot.” Tigra tugged at my sleeve dragging me off, I didn’t resist following contently after her.