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Ty awoke with a tear on his cheek. No matter where he lay when he fell asleep, as far back as he could remember, he always awoke on his back. Last night, gods, that dream was one of the happiest and most agonizing he had ever had, but those final words echoed in his mind. Take care of her, Ty. I'll be watching.

Ty looked to his right, seeing Kaya curled into a tiny ball, with her tail covering most of her face. It was still dark, just before sunrise. They had eaten all of the leftover venison the night before, leaving only the clothes on their backs. The embers from the previous night's fire were still glowing faintly, so Ty threw a few twigs and sticks onto them to stoke the fire again.

Watching the flames, Ty understood their potential. Not many people understand fire's power, or respect it. He made sure to minimize any chances of a wild fire. After all, it was fire that had killed his sister. Kaya woke up as the sun began to rise, scratching at the side of her head before brushing her hair back. "Sleep well?" Ty asked, staring at the flames.

Kaya looked at him and nodded, smiling quietly. The tiger rose from where he sat, grabbing a pile of dirt to douse the fire. He threw mound after mound onto the flames until they were completely extinguished. "When you're ready, we should be able to make it to the next village today." Ty said with a shrug.

Kaya grabbed her head wrap and tied it around her head, before standing and running around to stand beside Ty. A scent on the wind caught his attention, then a sound that forced a reaction. Ty scooped up Kaya with one arm just as a throwing axe buried itself in the dirt.

"Protecting weaklings again, Ty?" A familiar voice yelled from the trees.

"If you have business with me, Jade, then come out and face me, warrior to warrior!" Ty yelled back, infuriated, feeling Kaya pull the white fur on his chest.

Sure enough, the tigress landed in front of him, a look of utter disdain on her face. "You left without a word," she said coldly. "Did you forget all those sparring matches? What about all that time we spent together? I always wanted you to be mine; my protector, my lover, and my companion...! But you only had eyes for your sister."

Ty stood silently for a moment as Jade glared him down. "Throughout my childhood, you attacked my sister, unprovoked. My blood, my kin, and when I protected her, you turned your aggression on me. Why would I ever accept someone who does that into my heart, or my bed?"

Jade's green eyes flared with rage at the cold disregard from Ty. "I told myself that you would be mine, and you left me alone in that cesspool we called home!"

Ty crouched, still holding Kaya, and picked up the throwing axe he'd saved her from, throwing it into the tree directly behind Jade. "You only have eyes for yourself. That is what makes you weak. Go back and forget you saw me."

Jade stood, dumbfounded as Ty turned and started to walk, still holding that puny wolf-girl. "You bastard!" Jade screamed, drawing her dagger from her waist. "I've loved you my whole life! If I can't have you, I'll just have to kill you!"

Ty froze in his tracks, looking down at the wolf-girl he held in his right arm. She was so light, small, and fragile, compared to any tiger. "Kaya," he whispered down to her. "See that big oak?" The little girl looked and nodded. "Go hide behind that, I'll be over there soon."

After he set her down, Kaya did as instructed, while Ty turned to face Jade. Ty sighed heavily as he faced off against the tigress. He had about five inches on her, not to mention his skill in combat. If she forced this fight, she would lose.

Jade charged forward. Ty focused on every movement, planning to block every strike before it was made. Jade's left leg twitched differently from a running step. She was going to kick. Ty blocked the second it began, stopping her leg just before his ribs. She twisted, switching feet, and brought her heel towards his head.

Ty ducked and swiveled away, flawlessly dodging. The moment Jade saw Ty stop, a good five feet away, crossing his arms, she froze. "What happened to you?" Jade asked. "I thought for sure that would bring back the Ty I knew."

"I remembered the real me," Ty replied, thinking back on his dream. "For the first time since she died, I have a reason. Can you say the same?" Jade stood for a second, dagger in her hand, staring at Ty. "Go home Jade."

Ty turned again, this time Jade yelled, "Wait!" Ty stopped, looking back for a moment. "Why?" she asked. "Why did you change back to the way you were? You used to be the fiercest warrior I knew. You would have just destroyed me today if you were still that warrior."

Ty looked over at Kaya, recalling once again, the end of that dream. Take care of her, Ty. I'll be watching. He thought on that for a moment and looked back at Jade. "A word of advice, Jade. Find something worth fighting for. When we were kids, my self-worth was measured by my ability to protect my sister. Once you find that, you will be able to fight at your best. It's the very reason I never lost to you. It's the reason I stood through every beating I was given. Go home."

Kaya was watching around the tree as Jade and Ty talked. Jade made a face past Ty, which he noticed. It was of pained curiosity. Ty could see the tigress planning her next move. She sheathed her dagger, her temper seething, but she knew that she would never be able to win. The warrior she knew used to shrug of her every attack like a horse would a fly. If what he said was true, than having to defend that girl would only make him deadlier.

Ty turned back to kaya, this time not hearing a protest. He briefly paused when he heard the throwing axe pulled from the tree, noticing the silence afterward, he continued walking. "Let's go Kaya," Ty said quietly.

The sun was just creeping over the horizon, judging by the light filtering in through the trees. It was a quiet walk, save for Kaya's heavy breathing. At about mid-day, the forest finally ended, giving way to a village completely surrounded by trees. In view, Ty saw a blacksmith's shop and tavern. It was all fairly decent, people working, people talking, and most important of all, no one staring.

Ty felt a small hand brush against his. Kaya was nervous, simply being in a city again. He stopped in his tracks, kneeling and putting a hand on her head. "We are only staying tonight."

After that, she stayed close, especially so in the blacksmith's shop. The blades, clubs, and other weapons made her extremely nervous. "Ah!" The shopkeeper yelled from the forge. "If you need anything, just ask."

"Yes," Ty said, looking down Kaya. "I need a weapon suited for her."

The smith, a large, black bull, stood and arched his back. "Alright, I suppose I should get away from the forge. Only been there since the sun reared its face."

"Any recommendations?" Ty asked.

"I have one, but it involves starting a fight out back. Let her try out a few of the practice weapons," The bull said, scratching his head. "Let her get a base type."

Ty agreed with a nod, guiding Kaya out back. The bull picked up a small crate filled with wooden weapons, bringing it with. Once the smith put down the crate and let Kaya rummage for a weapon she liked.

Kaya eventually found a long, tipped piece, carved to look like a spear. Suddenly, the bull slapped his forehead. Ty and Kaya looked at him for a moment before he said anything. "Neither one of us are small enough to spar with her!" the bull shouted at himself. Then he sighed, quickly calming down. "I guess I could see if James is available."

"Whenever you can manage it," Ty sighed. "We can wait until he's available."

The bull nodded, walking away. Ty stepped back and sat beside the building, where he watched Kaya as she started swinging the wooden spear, occasionally making a clumsy attempt at a stab. It brought the first smile in almost a decade to his face.

In truth, despite his attitude, Ty is only twenty-two. The last time he smiled was early the day his sister died. He was thirteen at the time, his sister eleven. From that day forward, his face was as solemn as a man facing death. That is, until now.

A short time later, the bull returned with a young lion cub walking beside him. The cub was larger than Kaya, and just about as shy, by his reaction. Kaya hid behind Ty's knee, while the lion cub, presumably James, attempted to hide behind the large bull.

"James, I can pull you out, you know," the mild mannered bull said, as he looked straight ahead. "Just go say hello and save us both the trouble."