Within the hour I had everyone on the move. I had read out my instructions from Queen Daz as soon as I mentioned it was in Amaris, Edge’s eye lit up like light crystals, I had to shoot him down quick.

A lot of male Tigris wanted to find the village as it contained the most beautiful females. I was certain none of them could beat Tigra’s beauty,

I had a map given with the parchment, with extra instructions to burn it afterwards. Like the Panthera Pardus village, they didn’t want their village to be known to others, perhaps fear they might be overrun by males, but another rumour said the were ferocious warriors, closer to their wild cousins than most.

“What if one likes me,” grinned Edge, hoping to attract one’s attention as a mate.

“I doubt that,” commented Lin.

“You never know,” snarled Edge, who then glanced at Kiba. I don’t think he liked Kiba being interested in his sister.

“I heard they kidnap males they like,” commented Rex, which surprised me he wasn’t usually interested in casual conversation like the others.

“Maybe they’ll kidnap me,” sighed Edge, daydreaming about such events happening.

“You do know they don’t keep the males around right,” giggled Lin. “Only the tribal leader keeps her mate.”

“What?” Edge really had no clue.

“Just being near wilds makes me nervous,” admitted Kiba.

“You’ll be fine,” smiled Lin encouragingly.

“It doesn’t matter what happens, I want everyone on their best behaviour. From what I’ve heard these Tigris are wilder than those in the city and very picky on who becomes their mate,” I said.

“You interested too.” Edge gazed at me.

“No. I am on a mission, more important things to worry about.” He was starting to annoy me; wish he would focus more on what we were set to do.

“Take Tigra anywhere nice?” asked Finn.

I glanced at him. “No.” I didn’t mean to snap, but it happened. “What I do in my private time is nothing to do with you.” I was trying to think of where the ingredients for King Alton were but couldn’t focus with all this nattering.

“Calm down.” Ibiki spoke up. “What’s wrong?”

“The escort mission isn’t the only one today, I need to find something for King Alton, not too far from Amaris. So, I’ll have to leave you there for a while when I do, you’re in charge.” I looked at him. “No questions.”

“Understood,” nodded Ibiki.

We continued to travel through the forest. I often wondered if the area had been completely explored, considering how dense it was in places, most Animalia kept to the paths, worried about bumping into wilds, perhaps some had even been kidnapped like Rex had said, I wondered if that was even true.

We spent four days following her highness’s map. To head over wind fairy bridge, keeping to the road until you came to a pair of fruit trees at that point enter the forest until you come to the edge of a think fog. Stop, on the map it had a huge warning sign over it. Walk around.

“This is so strange,” commented Kiba, waving his hand through the fog which stopped abruptly like a wall.

“No one returns from those fogs,” said Rex. “No place for Animalia.”

I stared at the fog, sensing something, seeing the energy flowing through it, something was creating this fog, a talisman maybe.

To be honest most of the times was spent walking around this fog, it would have been quicker to go through, but I was reluctant after Rex’s words, but held my curiosity as to what could be creating it and for what could be inside.

“Not far now,” I said as we moved away from the fog and the trees began to thin a little.

My noise twitched as I picked up the scent of other Animalia. It was the scent of females, we had arrived.

There were huts built right up against the trees, a network of ladders and ropes, looked like they led up into the tree canopy, tall poles with light crystals attached to them, a campfire at the centre, only ambers burned.

I felt the hairs all over my body stand on end, I could feel eyes on us, we were being watched. I looked around to see eyes glaring at us from the trees and shrubs, it was hard to know how many surrounded us.

“Fang,” gulped Kiba.

“It’s alright.” I stepped forward. “I am Fang. I am here on behalf of King Alton.”

“Welcome Cathopian warriors.” A female stepped from the undergrowth. A normal Tigris with glistening orange fur, rough stripes, black hair, her golden eyes seeming as if they could see straight through my soul. She was a few years older than me as she held a mature composure. Her clothes were completely weaved from leaves only just covering her chest area and short skirt getting longer at the back and an animal pelt in the form of a shawl around her shoulders.

The rumours were indeed true, she was beautiful, but nothing compared to Tigra. “I am Reira.”