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    If there were one thing Elev wished she could see it would be more of what's on the outside instead of the inside. This spoke in volumes physically and mentally for the dark-furred serval, always being able to gaze into others and see what may lie ahead. Of course, the visions were always blurry and mostly erratic, thus making deciphering them a hassle on its own to her. It was incredibly rough when her father, the king, yearned for an answer quickly.    As for being physically limited within the Desert City, she had always wanted to venture out and explore. Her heart had wanted to escape, even for just a few moments, of the city's walls. Being a king's daughter made her unable to gain any moment of serenity away from things. Guards were constantly assigned to her on a daily basis, usually depending on deployment for watching the city's defenses. She hated the war raging on between her people and the Westerners. It wasn't like they all were hostile or wanted the same thing.    Nearly every guard had been a scowling face with no sign of change from day to day. When asked if she could even go for a walk most of them gave a scoff or even shoved at her shoulder to order her back down. They did have their orders but they were all so cruel about fulfilling them. It was as if they felt like they were babysitting the girl instead of guarding her, she saw. It didn't take a Seer to notice that kind of attitude.    Perhaps she got lucky early on in her childhood. The moments where she could go and head out a little bit from the city and meet up with her dear friend Venus were very special to her. She learned so much and gained such an amazing friend in her. Elev sighed inwardly, doing her best not to make the noise audible so the guard didn't huff and snarl again. The serval settled her legs, clad in such fine silks and veils, atop one of the pillows in the room near the only window she had. Her garments flowed like a gentle breeze through the air as she knelt down and let her mind ease as much as possible while gazing out to the city. The limited view wasn't all bad. She could still see the sky and a few buildings, despite the small alley separating her room and the building across. Either way, she seemed content in simply reminiscing of her days as a younger feline.

     In earlier years, the city hadn't looked almost any different. The same dirt and clay colored walls around many corners and plenty of banisters and flags. It was during the festivals that Elev remembered best. Everybody would be thrilled to see each other and she was even allowed to venture outside of the city's walls. Being able to sneak off to the nearest desert forest always made her happy.    In the sands and dunes that cast out far beyond what most could see, the stark contrast of the lush greens and tall trees called to her instantly. She couldn't have been more than eleven years old the first time she saw

it all. It was magical and simply unbelievable. To think that the area could harbor such life in a place so barren left her in awe. The young feline didn't have to travel far for it, luckily. Her father would have given her a stern talking to and possibly more if he found out of her visits to the place sooner at such a tender age.    Upon her inspection within, Elev had heard drums and a new style of singing. It wasn't the gentle tone she was being taught but a louder and more energetic call. Regardless of the words she didn't understand, she loved hearing it. Deeper within the area lead her towards the sound of the voice and those beating drums. It was as if the sounds themselves were leading her deeper into the brush and cooling shadows of the tall trees.    Before long, she had noticed movement and quickly crouched her young legs down to hide within the near bushes. Her small tail gave a few flicks as she watched several men and women of another race of feline walk about a small clearing with bowls full of liquids and thicker substances. Elev eyed the felines a bit, letting her ears twitch with each sound, as she studied their fur carefully.    While in the Desert City, she had seen various species and different races of the same species as well. This was the first time she had managed to catch a look at what she later found to be a tribe of cheetahs. They had longer tails than her own which she subconsciously gave her small one a wiggle. The one thing that caught her eye most were those spots. She loved the decorative pattern on them and even felt herself becoming a bit jealous. Her fur was a drastic contrast to their own with it being a dark grey for the most part, nearly black. The ends of her hands and feet swiftly changed to white as well as her chest to her loins. The serval's tail looked like the end had been dipped the same as her paws while her dark ears sheltered the similar white within.    Elev lacked any kind of fur decoration like these cheetahs did. It was a short lived jealousy as she continued to watch, seeing them clad in simple cloth but enjoying themselves even more than the people in her city. She glanced down to her own garments, the fine silks easily covering her. Once she becomes of age she would be able to show her body more, which was an idea that made her uncomfortable when her mother told her.    Her parents would either be lost in the hustle of the festivities or think Elev was doing the same, so she had plenty of time to admire the newly discovered locals. They looked like they were having plenty of fun, too. Elev squirmed a little, tempted to come out but she feared she may scare them away. It took some time until she finally decided she couldn't sit there forever. Her legs were becoming numb staying crouched anyway.    Slowly, the young serval feline rose from behind the bushes and tilted her ears back as she waited to be noticed. They were quick to

acknowledge her presence with most of the tribe stopping but never faltering their smiles. It wasn't hard to see the difference in color of her white and blue silks in comparison to the greens around her. Many of the cheetahs waved her forth, beckoning for her to join in their own festive nature.    It only took her a second of hesitation before she came bounding out from the brush and giggling happily at being welcomed so warmly. It seemed they knew of her royal heritage, many of the felines making sure not to dirty her pretty cloths and offering her many of their own festival treats. The festival was one of their region, usually thrown in order to welcome a new year but sometimes to celebrate a new entry into the royal family.    It wasn't far into her enjoyment when she met a younger feline than herself. The little cheetah was careful to tug on her silks, only looking slightly younger than the serval by a few years or so. It seemed to be lucky for them both that her language was one of the land and understood by most. Elev gave the cheetah a smile and let her tail give a frenzy of wiggles as she inquired about her.    "Venus," said the cheetah, giving her chest a small pat while looking endearingly to Elev. "Venus," she repeated with a happy tone.    Elev leaned down slightly to become a bit more level with the younger cub as she nodded. Her paw took Venus' and held it lightly as she spoke to her lightly, "Elev."    Venus tilted her head lightly, her round ears giving a flick while she gazed into the serval's eyes. "El..," she started, a bit unaccustomed to royal names. That didn't seem to hinder Elev in the slightest.    "El-ev," she repeated a bit slower and gave her own chest a small pat. Elev smiled warmly, enjoying the sounds of the drums in the background as she patiently awaited the girl's reply.    It seemed the slightly slower pronunciation did the trick. Little Venus' eyes lit up like some of the rare fireworks Elev had seen during these very festivals before. The cheetah's ears flicked as her tail swished along behind her, nodding quickly. They repeated their names again and then the others name to signify they had got it down perfectly. Elev had never met someone so energetic and full of life such as Venus, the smaller feline only seeming to appear different in age but just as mature as a royal member.    They had an amazing time of playing games and enjoying the music, which Venus seemed to love repeatedly beating the drums when time allowed. A few times, she even tugged Elev along with her to try it out. With as much energy as the cheetah used in her drum beat, it seemed her auburn hair had as much bounce as her personality.    The evening stretched into the night with the tribe dancing and singing, making a wonderful rhythm in the air. Elev had been treated to a few new treats made by the tribe, Venus feeding them to her in a playful manner almost

every time. The serval had some of the sugary goo on her cheek at one point in an attempt of trying to show Venus she could feed herself, which clearly didn't go according to plan. The two eventually traded off, feeding the sugar mixture of thick paste to each other by finger.    Despite being able to communicate verbally they rarely did other than laughs, cheers, and playful giggles. It went on that way further into the night before Elev finally had to give her farewells. When she asked why they weren't startled by her presence, Venus explained they usually see many people from the city who enjoy coming by. The silks were a clear indication where she hailed from behind the walls, though. They were both happy she had let her curiosity get the better of her, the serval blushing beneath her fur and smiling.    Venus gave the kind promise of not letting her protective parents know where she had gone so long as she tried to visit more often. It was a playful tease and Elev giggled in agreement, not wanting to spend too much time away from her new friend.

     The guard coughed and gave a grunt as he shifted himself against the wall near Elev's door to her room. The serval furrowed her brow, taking a slow and deep breath to calm herself. It wasn't that the guard was necessarily annoying or a bad guy, but she had other guards in her past that she never took a liking to and it seemed to stick with her.    Elev sat up and leaned near the water basin near her window, scooping up some of the cool liquid and carefully pressing her hands to her face. From her face to the top of her short-furred head she ran her fingers up, getting the water into her fur as much as possible to cool the heat of the day trying to rest upon her.    Each marking her fingers passed made her smile to herself, finding her fingers tracing a few of the spots that now dotted parts of her furred cheeks and brow. They weren't natural to her fur, the bright, white markings, but she loved and cherished them deeply. Her childhood friend, Venus, had shown her how to make them and apply them. They were permanent, too. Her fur tattooed in the designs for the rest of her life. She loved them but also felt a bit of regret upon first receiving them.    It was her first time catching a true vision. It labeled her as the city's Seer, and on rare occasion their fortune teller, and shifted her already limited freedom into something nonexistent. It was harsh and she only wanted to be outside of the city again. Sadly, her first vision also seemed to coincide the start of the war they were currently engaged in with the Westerners. She felt as though it was her fault the war had started.    Elev frowned and placed her hands together in her lap, her blue pads cushioning against each other while she let her thoughts subside until new ones came to greet her. Her hands settled again over the delicate and airy fabric along her

legs before she had her mind in a much more calm state.

     Elev's heart raced with anticipation as she stayed hidden within the trading cart that had come to the city. She was staying behind a few of the boxes full of various spices which made her nose wrinkle at every sniff. It was quite a few years since her first meeting with Venus and they two had met various other times outside the city. The teenage serval stayed as still as possible with the cart jostling once in a while, her dark cloak hiding most of her fabrics and features from view. It was made by her father's servants but decorated by Venus and her tribe around the hem. Slight bits of gold she brought for them were used as well as their personal designs upon it.    She had told her father about meeting the cheetah girl a while back. He hadn't been pleased but he seemed more content that she had a friend now instead of being cooped up in her room so often. It wasn't easy to see Venus so often, though. Many times she had needed to sneak onto the trading carts or slip into a large group as they were leaving the large walls of the city. It seemed more common to sneak out at night after she waited for the guards to be more weary.    The serval always had a small knack for knowing key moments of when she could slip by. Almost as if she could sense it. Whatever her luck, she used it to her advantage as many times as possible to spend time with her bouncy and bubbly friend.    The cart stopped a moment, two traders leading it talking about where they wished to head next or if maybe some rest was in order. Elev slipped out of the cart and scurried away quickly with her white and light blue veils barely able to trail behind her. It was cold but her cloak held in most of her warmth as she headed to the small forest.    Her mind had memorized what little path there was into the brush before she came upon the tribe's small village within. Torches had been lit with many of the cheetahs still out and about as if night was mere a darkened day. She even spotted a few other species that made their home within the tribe in the past few years.    It didn't take long for Venus to call out to her, bounding over a few rocks and one of the sleeping tribesman near a hut. For a moment, Elev nearly thought she would trip. The two reunited in a hug, Elev's hood from her cloak drifting back as her ears perked up. They exchanged their greetings before they both ran off to a secluded section in the forest. It was their favorite spot since nobody tended to venture there unless they were found making too much noise with their laughter and squeals.    Venus took her serval friend's cloak, placing it aside and flicking her tail as she prepared to hear more stories from inside the city. They had the hand-made blankets from Elev's own cloth selection settled out on the ground as they began to talk. A few times, Elev had brushed her

fingers over the lovely design her cloak had been given, remembering that Venus had told her it meant something similar to hiding or to be hidden.    "What's wrong?" Venus asked, her body leaning forward as her tail flicked. She had always cared for her dear friend.    "It's nothing.. I just seem to be a little..jealous," she said, smiling some and looking to her cloak once more.    The cheetah glanced over to the cloth and back to her friend, apparently not understanding as she brought herself closer. Her eyes squinted some, trying to understand, before she finally spoke again with, "Jealous? Of clothes?"    "No.. Well, yes, in a sense. I..I love the design and the pattern. You were born with such a beautiful look to your fur, too," she admits, moving her hand to Venus' arm and lightly running her fingers over a few of the black spots.    "It's my people's heritage. It means fast or quick. These," she continued, running a finger down her long stripe next to her muzzle and at the corner of her eye, "mean to watch."    Elev listened in fascination, learning of her friend's history of her species while soaking up all the information she could. It was always fun to learn new things from her feline friend. Little by little, she got more meanings from designs and symbols that Venus would draw into the ground nearby. It turned into a small game soon after, with Elev drawing symbols that came to her mind and seeing if she could find one Venus didn't know.    A few times, Venus had laughed at some, waving her finger to Elev and whispering, "Naughty, El!" This prompted both girls to laugh and settle in a bit closer. The night was getting colder but the laughter and her friend's warmth were more than enough to keep Elev from being chilly. The serval thought a moment and began drawing again after wiping the ground clear for some space.    This time, it was a pattern that she thought she had seen before. It could have been she simply thought it was rather pretty looking. Slowly, Elev took her time to draw this one. It looked sharp but the middle intertwined like it were pieces of a puzzle fitting together. The serval wasn't the best at drawing, so it came out a little more box shaped than she intended, but with the look on Venus' face it must have been enough.    "Who?!" Venus asked, her eyes lighting up as she nearly bounced to her friend.    "Excuse me?" Elev replied, clearly not understanding.    "You know what it means, don't you? Not many can draw it but I know it when I see it!" the cheetah exclaimed, her hair bouncing with her bobs, hoping her friend answers truthfully.    Elev shook her head and looked to the symbol again. She didn't know what it meant or even where she saw it. It did look pretty, though. The dark-furred feline tilted her head, thinking maybe she was looking at it wrong.    "Together!" Venus nearly shouted, biting her

lip quickly.    The serval jumped a bit before she settled again. "Together, what?" she asked, still not understanding.    Venus gave a small look of disappointment before she smiled again and spoke softer with, "It means together. Or, to be together. Something of that nature. It's a very unique symbol and only meant for those who mean something special to you."    The cheetah took a stick, carefully detailing the work and perfecting it as best as she could. The tribal design was even more impressive with the detailed touch up, Elev noticed. It was possibly a few minutes of staring at it before she glanced back up to her friend.    "Like...marriage? A ring?" Elev asked, now very curious as to what it was and even more curious where she saw it.    Her friend closed an eye and bit her bottom lip while she thought before slowly shaking her head. "No...not quite like that. More like...a soul mate patch or...someone very important. It's a symbol given to those who have earned their place in the giver's heart or soul. It also means 'protection,'" Venus tried elaborating.    Elev was intrigued, obviously curious as to the whereabouts she had seen it as well as why or who the people were involved. The serval wiggled her hips and tail, excited at the idea of learning something so intimate. A look to her friend and she saw a faint blush beneath the fur, both of them giving small giggles and pointing to one another. Eventually, she came to terms that it was possibly on one of the bodies of the tribe or even something she lucked into drawing.    The two spent the next few hours drawing a few more things, discussing why the city keeps the walls up, and their ideal life. Surprisingly, Elev found herself trying to perfect the symbol the way Venus had done while she spoke of the defenses the city had in place. Both of their lives seemed to center around being with the tribes more, though Venus already had that luxury.    It was in the midst of Elev's twelfth drawing of the symbol, mixed with a few other ones, that she stopped and closed her eyes. There was a bit of pain but her facial expression indicated more than that. Her ears folded back as she tensed up and whimpered. Her eyes may have been closed but she saw so much.    The flash of a knife. A cloaked figure. Her father. Blood. Elev hugged her arms and chest, shaking as she whimpered and finally opened her eyes. Venus was looking worried down at her, having helped her down to the cloths while she was in her state. The spark in Venus' eyes had gone, replaced with a very concerned focus before she gently helped the serval back up.    "What was that?" Venus asked, her fingers caressing her friend's cheek and pulling her in close.    Elev hugged her tightly while she went over the images she had seen, trying to make sense of it. "What happened?" she asked.    The cheetah held her close as she spoke,

"Your eyes lost their blue. Like you were seeing but couldn't see..."    "I could see...but it wasn't here," Elev stated, thinking hard until she let out an audible gasp. "My father! I have to go see him! Now!"    The two quickly stood, Elev grabbing her cloak while Venus helped her slip it on. In no time, they were running out of the small oasis, sprinting towards the city in a frenzy. Elev no longer felt cold in the night air nor warm with her friend by her side. It was worry and dread she felt more than anything as her legs carried her through the entrance, merely flashing her face before the guards and taking her friend's hand in tow to lead her in.    The wonders of the city would have been an amazing note for Venus to take in but they didn't have the time. Elev was worried about her father and they needed to reach him. Since it was the teenage cheetah's first time within the city walls she let Elev lead the way, often finding herself needing to catch up so she didn't tumble.    As they rushed through alleys and down streets, they came to the palace and hurried inside while yelling to a few of the guards that she feared for her father. The polished floor of the main room lit up from the tiles as they swiftly moved deeper into the area. They passed rooms and halls, going down a number of others before they came to the thick doors of her father's room. Her parents had their own rooms to enjoy a bit of space and to fill out the expansive palace more.    Elev was trying to catch her breath when she saw the door was already cracked open, which was something her father never did. Two of the guards that followed moved in closer and prompted Elev and her friend to stay back. The lightly armored feline and rhino pushed the door open with their shoulders and drew their curved blades.    In the small bit of light, the shape of a cloaked figure hurried towards the window as it sheathed a small dagger. The rhino was the first to close the distance in the room, instantly slamming the hooded figure to the wall and nearly toppling onto him. In the loud rustle of their attempted capture of the would-be assassin, the king stirred awake and sat up.    Shouts were being thrown in the room, the rhino tugging the assassin up and dragging him out of the room by the arms. The hood drew back in the fray, revealing a dingy rat beneath the cloak, screaming profanities and kicking his legs as he was being carried away. The rat would die, no doubt. Possibly by the rhino's own hands once they were out of ear shot.    "What is the meaning of all of this?!" Elev's father spoke up, looking rather tired and annoyed.    "Your daughter had reason to believe your life was in danger," Venus spoke up from behind the feline guard, peeking around.    "You must be...Venus?" he asked, sitting on the edge of his bed and waving a hand away at the guard.    The armored feline took a bow

and headed out, sheathing his sword and returning to his post without a word. Elev didn't care for how mean him and the rhino both looked.    Venus gave a nod and a small bow at being acknowledge. The two girls then explained the details as to what had happened, Elev folding her ears when speaking of sneaking out. It was surprising when her father seemed to brush that aside upon hearing of her visions.    "Then you must be...a Seer. The window to the future," he muttered, looking his daughter over and ushering her forward. The two embraced, Elev shaking in her fear of nearly losing her father and the strange instance that lead to it. Their discussion went well into the night, her mother coming in eventually to speak with them all and learn what was going on.    Elev and her friend learned that a Seer was person of special interest. Something akin to a fortune teller but able to get a vision of what is to happen or see within others. When Elev protested her dislike of what happened when she got her vision her father silenced her and reminded her that she had just saved his life.    "I wouldn't be here if you didn't see it about to happen, my dear. You need to learn to control it, though. It may end up doing that again if you don't," he warned her. It was clear he was interested in her new ability, wanting to make the most of it but also worried for her own safety of it. The two of them argued for a while before Elev grudgingly agreed to do what she could to make the situation better.    Venus had tried chiming in several times to which the queen simply shook her head and held her close. They watched and listened the bickering, letting Elev explain herself before her father came to his rough conclusion.    "I'm disappointed you have sneaking out to visit your friend. You know we have friends within the tribe ourselves. Jebediah has been coming to visit me personally during the day, meaning there was no reason to travel by moon. You may still visit Venus but I won't allow anymore night visits. I'm going to assign you a guard every day while I look into matters on my assassin. I can't have them after you, either. Is that understood?" he asked rhetorically. It seemed useless to say more as Elev nodded her head and moved back to her friend and mother.    He didn't mention it though he also wanted to protect her ability by guarding her. It was a very important tool they could use, should she have anymore of her visions and learn to control them. It could prove to be valuable if the rat didn't talk, or possibly didn't get the chance to. They agreed to try and get a little rest before resuming anymore talk, her father giving her permission to let Venus stay the night in the palace with her.    Venus did her best to help Elev forget about the stressful night, wanting to see her friend happy and being her curious self again. It seemed to work, for the most part. The cheetah had examined

her room from floor to ceiling and back again. Many questions of, "What's this?" and more kept Elev's mind occupied for a while, having the bubbly, spotted feline inspecting all sorts of things.    Elev let her sleep in the bed, large enough to hold them both, while the serval intended to take the numerous pillows and cloths decorating the room. Venus would have none of that. The cheetah promptly tugged her friend into the bed with her, smiling wide and telling her there was plenty of room for them both. She even joked that a third could possibly fit, getting a small laugh out of the serval.    The two went to sleep rather quickly when their talks calmed, bringing them the sun much quicker than usual. Elev was first to wake, removing her silks and kneeling at the basin of water with a cloth to wash herself lightly. Once she was done, she slipped the smooth fabrics on once more and gazed into her mirror at herself. It was hard for her to be pleased with herself, feeling like a blank canvas. Something about the patterns and designs still drew her in, wanting to see them more often. Now that she should be on constant watch, she wouldn't be able to see her friend's lovely pattern as much as she wanted.    Venus stirred awake, yawning widely and simply pawing her hair out of the way before getting out of the bed. Elev raised a brow and smirked, learning how her friend got that bounce in her hair now. The cheetah made her way over to the serval, looking over her shoulder and into the mirror before touching it.    "What are you looking at?" she asked, not wanting to admit she had forgotten what a mirror was in that moment.    Elev sighed and tilted her head from one side to the other. "Your pattern is so beautiful... I don't want to miss it like I'm sure I will with the guards watching me now."    Venus tilted her head with her friend before she wrapped her arms around the serval's waist and hugged softly, "I know what I can do. Let's go to our special place later. I have to go and gather the materials, okay? Meet me there soon!"    With that, the cheetah was off, possibly destined to get lost in the palace for a while before climbing out a window. Elev toyed with the thought and smiled, always finding her friend so fun and entertaining. What idea did she have in mind? Was it something about the patterns and designs? Elev wiggled her small tail as she thought and went to find her servant in training, Alterise.    It wasn't like the serval to be crude or hateful towards her servants. She wanted them happy to do what they did, not resentful. She had heard tales of servants killing their owners or those they worked for because of the way they were treated. In a sense, she almost feared them. They were let into the living space of another to tend and care for them with access to nearly all areas. It was a risky move to employ someone and give them so much.    Finding Alterise

wasn't too hard. Elev simply had to listen to elegant clopping of her hooves to the tiles. The issue with this was that she often heard two sets of them. Alterise's slightly older twin brother, Jasu, also roamed the palace learning the ways of a servant. The serval was lucky this time, finding her quickly and telling the horned girl of her eager meeting with her friend.    "Oh, it sounds like a wonderful time," Alterise said, bowing to her and smiling warmly, her white hair draping over one shoulder. Elev had always wondered if she and her brother were lambs or goats or some combination of. When asked, either of them would snicker and evade the question.    "It does, doesn't it? I would like a small favor. Could you refill my water basin and find me some more garments?" Elev requested.    The horned girl gave a nod and smiled brightly while answering, "It would be my pleasure!" The hooved female always enjoyed the room of the king's daughter. She had even dressed it up a few times to surprise her which was met with constant praise from the feline. It wasn't too surprising that most of her silks and veils consisted of the royal blue their city was known for. Alterise wore it proudly, always keeping the color visible upon her.    For most of the day, Elev checked up on the servants, got herself dressed in new silks, and used the fresh water to clean herself a bit more thoroughly. She noticed a guard nearby at all times, always scowling or at least appearing as though he hated being where he was. The serval did her best to ignore him until it came time to leave. She passed by Jasu, who hugged her softly and then sauntered away with a bit of air to his walk, before beginning to head out.    "I'll make sure Alterise sees you first when you get back," he teased, tracing his own  horns and humming softly.    It was evident what sexual orientation he was, never once trying to hide it. Elev found him more approachable than most males due to that characteristic alone. He was perfectly happy being himself, something Elev was jealous of now. She wished she was happy she had her new-found gift but it scared her.    "Tell her I loved her choice in the silks," Elev commented back to Alterise's hooved brother, gazing down to herself and smiling at the numerous thin strips covering her form while leaving her stomach exposed.    Jasu gave a soft wave and a smile, nodding to her from over his shoulder as he headed off before disappearing around the corner. His elegant steps echoed off as Elev made her way out of the palace and through the city. She couldn't wait to see what Venus had in store. It was nice to be out during the day. The serval's mind eased as she began filling it with the things she learned about such symbols and designs with her friend just last night.    She didn't wander long, quickly making her way out of the city while a guard stayed rather near the entire trip.

The moment she got to the forest she ordered the guard to stay put until she came back. He looked reluctant to obey but he was under command by king and queen and their daughter. He had no say unless her father had told him to take orders only from himself. Lucky for her, he stayed put and gave a long sigh.    Elev slipped through the brush, passing the familiar trees, waving to the various others from the tribe along her way. When she met the huts, she took a turn and began heading towards Venus and her's special spot, giving a cheery greeting to most of the tribe before running off. Upon her arrival, Venus was patiently waiting near the water out a little bit. Or, patiently in Venus' aspect.    The cheetah was hopping in place, watching the trees and kicking some sticks but looked happier than ever. When Elev came up, Venus gave a small squeal and rushed over, hugging the serval tightly. The two giggled and laughed, happy to see each other again even though it hasn't even been a day from the last time they were talking.    "You mentioned you like my markings, yes?" the cheetah asked, guiding her friend by the hand to a few rocks with several bowls set upon them.    "Yes. They're so lovely. Why do you ask?" Elev questioned, her tail giving a small wiggle in anticipation.    "I talked with Jebediah about it once I had left your large home. Confusing as it was, when I got back with the tribe I asked him if I could teach you the art of tattoos. He agreed and now," she explained, lifting one of the bowls gently, "I think you've earned your own markings, too."    Elev blinked a moment, her ears flicking as she took in the statements. Jebediah she had met only once before. The large water buffalo was intimidating under any circumstances. It was only last night she had learned the news of him visiting her father.    "Did you plan this before leaving?" the serval asked her friend, sitting down gently over the cloth laid out for them.    "The art of tattoos? No. That came to me when I was making the recipe to make your markings," Venus said, swirling the thick liquid in the bowl with a finger.    Elev eased back a little, a worried look upon her face as she looked to the bowls. Her body squirmed a bit as she let the silence encompass them slowly, her tail wilting some while she waited. It was a few minutes of her watching her friend swirl some liquid, mix a couple others, and begin moving forward when she shook her head.    "No, wait. I remember hearing that they hurt...a lot," she said, finally speaking of her worry.    "Oh? If you mean the tribes of the North, yes. They use needles and more to make them. Not the herbs and natural recipe we have. It will sting, but not until later," Venus told her honestly.    It took a moment to sink in completely but Elev gave a nod and took a slow breath. Her heart raced as she waited before her friend backed

away this time and smiled.    "Disrobe," she said simply, as if it were something so common.    Elev stared at her friend wide eyed before looking her over and seeing that her spots were on more than her head. They were along her arms and legs, and she remembered seeing them on her back, as well. It was only them, but she was of royal blood. It seemed Venus knew where her thoughts were going and she gave a gentle caress to the serval's soft cheek, stating it was okay. They were the only two there.    The serval gave a reluctant sigh before he nodded and began to undress. The silky fabric dropped from her shoulders and slipped free of her arms before she placed them aside. She stood and removed the rest, blushing furiously beneath her fur as she settled back down and closed her eyes.    "Don't worry. I need to give you proper markings. Keep your eyes closed until I say," the cheetah said softly, taking the mixture from the bowls and dipping her finger in it again.    It was a delicate task but she stayed more still and steady than she had ever been around her friend. Her finger dabbed at the serval's cheeks, placing dots along the soft fur. She repeated the fashion above her brow, making the lack of hair over her fur a blessing. It was slow work, making sure she was as perfect as could be. The liquid, more as a gel or cream after the mixture, stayed upon the serval and cooled at every breeze.    There was more. Venus made gentle work under her friend's eyes, being ever so careful not to slip. Two triangles leading down to their points under each eye. A few more touches over her head and Venus spoke again.    "Stand, please. Do your best not to move. Try to keep your eyes closed," she said and took her friend's hand, helping her up. Once she managed to keep Elev from swaying, and from covering herself too much, she went back to her steady work.    Venus' finger traced to the front and sides of the serval's thighs, making horizontal stripes a good several times or more. She did her best to make sure they matched on both legs before giving the dark hips of her friend a couple of stripes as well. The fact there was no real delay when moving from one thing to the next lead Elev to think her friend knew exactly what to give her.    There was movement, Elev folding her ears back before her friend cooed to her, reminding her she was still there and it was just them. The thing she felt was her tail being touched. She let out a small gasp at the cool touch of the substance before relaxing back. A few stripes over the small extension of her body, which she couldn't help but give a small wiggle at the light feeling. She could hear her friend stifle a small giggle and smiled to herself.    The work was slow but it was careful. Venus had focused her energy into this and only this. Her next and final area was her friend's back. This time it seemed there was hesitation. For

a moment, she thought deeply before she smiled and went straight to work. There were a few times she dipped two of her fingers in to work the substance along her friend's back, making sure she had it all right. It felt like more dots and some lines that went horizontally and vertically. There was a small spread of the line that traversed down her spine at the tip.    During this entire time, Elev noticed the cream had yet to really sting like Venus had claimed. Maybe she was trying to get her to sit still easier. Or so she thought. When Venus spoke up again she learned otherwise.    "Markings are drawn but they won't set yet. Keep your eyes closed, please. I'm going to guide you to the water and we'll go in. When the mixture touches water, it reacts and burns. If you need to, squeeze my hand," the cheetah whispered to her and began to guide her friend along the way.    Elev gave a small whimper, holding the tribal cheetah's paw tightly. Venus gently caressed the back of the serval's hand with her thumb, sifting through her fine coat slowly as they walked. Before they stepped in, Venus took a leaf and wiped her fingers clean, making sure she didn't tattoo her own digits after this. There was a mixture to use to clean the cream better but she didn't worry about it. The leaves seemed to do just fine for her this time.    Both of the felines stepped forward, one guiding the other, letting their toes dip into the cold water. Elev had been listening to every little sound since her eyes closed. She could even hear a stream nearby that possibly trailed into another part of the forest. Each step took them in deeper, from their ankles to their knees where they stopped.    "Are you ready?" Venus asked, holding her serval friend's hand gently. The cheetah herself had yet to remove her clothing, having gone swimming in this area plenty and drying herself naturally.    "Yes. Quickly, please," Elev requested, her ears still pinned back for the most part. She didn't enjoy pain in the slightest, but it made sense as well.    "Hold your breath," the spotted feline said, waiting until she heard and saw her friend take in a deep breath quickly.    It was a scary moment. Elev was being eased back swiftly, finding her legs bending until she attempted to sit where there was no seat. The cold water traveled up quickly, nearly making her gasp but she held strong. It took a second but she felt the stinging in her legs and hips, tightening her grip on Venus' while she endured. It burned a bit more than she thought, having let her mind tell her it would be something simple. The pain also went along her back when she felt her friend lowering her into the water by hand.    The time that passed felt like minutes but it was only mere seconds, Elev being dipped further and scrunching her beautiful face as the water engulfed her whole now. The stinging reaction of the cream had her squirming a bit,

though no hiss or bubbles came from it. It was a quiet pain under the water, the liquid working the substance in immediately. Elev feared of it constantly burning until her hand was pulled, lifting out from the water and clinging to her friend.    "It's over," she heard the familiar voice speak, letting the cheetah caress her back. "Shh," Venus cooed to her.    Elev listened, shaking the water from her head a bit and trying to clear her ears more. Her skin beneath the fur felt much better than it had second prior. The burning at stopped mostly, though it was still a dull ache. It was nothing to complain about anymore. The serval weakly opened her eyes, blinking away any excess water dripping down as she took a small step away and glanced down to herself.    Contrasting her lovely, dark fur were now white marking that stood out greatly. Her thighs were mostly striped and when she tried looking over her shoulder, she saw a bit of the spots and more lines or stripes. A turn at the waist revealed her now brightly striped tail which wiggled in excitement despite her fur dripping and making it look smaller than usual.    "Oh, Venus," the newly marked serval whispered out. "Oh my.. It's all so beautiful!" she says, nearly afraid to touch what she could see.    "I'm so happy you enjoy it!" Venus exclaimed and jumped a little in the water, sloshing it about them. "Let me show you the rest," she said, taking her friend by the arm and hurrying her out of the water, legs shaking the loose water free, and back to her silks.    Venus handed her another cloth, dabbing at the serval's accented face before letting her dry herself. After most of the water looked to have been shaken off, the cloth getting the rest, the cheetah girl reached behind a rock and pulled out a small mirror. It was one that Elev had let her have early on, clearly not used as the cover was as pristine as the day she gave it. It was a cherished item and Venus didn't want to wear the item out or break it. They were uncommon commodities to most as it was. The lid that covered the mirror flipped open, Venus staring at it like a precious stone for a moment before she turned it to her friend.    As Elev had thought, the mirror itself was in incredible condition. She had certainly given her friend an item that the cheetah held very dearly. A closer look into it and she saw the white triangle outlines beneath her eyes and the spots to her cheeks and brow. There were a few stripes atop her head that ran between her ears as well.    "What do they all mean?" she asked in awe, turning her head and looking at the different patterns from various angles.    "You know of the spots. I gave you my spots for how quickly you had rushed to your father's aid. Your stripes show bravery from head to tail. The symbols beneath your eyes indicate you see more than others. Embrace them," she said, noticing Elev's ear tilt down. "Do not be

ashamed of who you are, Elev. You're a wonderful friend and one with an ability I wish you to learn and never abuse."    The last part of Venus' statement made her look to the cheetah, thinking about how her father might attempt such a thing. It was her gift. She would accept the guards and would take her time to sharpen her skill, but she will never let him abuse it. If the guards were to protect her, then she was to protect such a rare ability.    The serval gave a nod, her spirits much higher about herself than before, as she turned around some to look at her back in the mirror from over her shoulder. It was a hard look but she could see larger stripes going down and the one in the middle splitting out like a tree's roots near her tail. Between most of the lines were more spots trailing down with them and one horizontal stripe near the shoulders. It connected all the vertical ones to it at the top.    "That one was for you," Venus said, looking at the design she had made down her friend's back. "The one at the top means live or life. I wish you a very long one. The spots and lines below mean to slow down once in a while. Don't rush yourself. Life has many things to offer and I wish for a friend as dear as you to see it all with your own eyes."    Elev looked over the pattern again before seeing the split end of the middle line. "What about the middle? The one going down furthest?" she asked.    Venus smiled and gently traced the split lines as she spoke. "This one means to settle. As a tree does in a forest, you should settle at some point. With or without a male or your ability. With or without your servants and treasures. You should make a life for your own and embrace it as a tree's roots to the ground."    Elev couldn't help but feel her heart nearly blossom. Her vision wavered as she felt the warm tears welling from the corners before she leaned forward and hugged Venus tightly. The cheetah held her gently and stroked her back with a smile as she hummed a soft melody. Elev shivered a bit and gathered herself while she stayed close, sniffing and wiping at her eyes before eventually easing back.    "Thank you," the marked serval whispered. Her breath was shaky but she continued. "Thank you so much, my dear Venus. This means a great deal to me and will take these markings to heart. Your thoughts will stay with these and I will never let them go."    This time, it was Venus' turn to cry. The two held each other, happy to know what such a wonderful friendship was like and to have somebody they could easily turn to in a time of need. It was a moment they would never forget, being so full of joy to have a dear friend to speak to and simply be themselves. To listen and help one another if there was trouble.    "Thank you for being my friend," Elev whispered.    "You're a wonderful friend to have," Venus replied as they smiled and separated.    Elev

gathered her silks and veils, slipping them on after her tears had dried while Venus began bringing up different bowls and explaining what each one was. The serval finished dressing herself, feeling a lot more comfortable with something to cover herself with, though she very much wanted to keep seeing her designs. It was hard for her to keep track of each substance so she asked a few times what one bowl had held.    Venus never once stopped explaining, bringing whichever bowl in question to her friend and letting her inspect it. A few times, Elev had to dip her finger into it and test how thick or sticky it was. The serval let her curiosity consume her for the moment as she sniffed and touched various herbal creams and liquids, listening to what Venus called each one. They spent a good hour going back forth over them until Elev nearly memorized their names and the looks of each one.    It was then that Venus moved onto how to obtain each item. A few were made by grating the leaves or petals into a paste with the mix of some oils. Others were gathered by simple collection as they were mere oils or liquids alone. Every one of them had Elev making mental notes and nodding when she figured she had understood it enough. Several times through the examination of the bowls and their contents, Venus asked if she needed to go over them again just to be sure.    Once that was done, the cheetah then explained the process of mixing them and the order. Her tribe had a very specific method for it all and it actually helped Elev memorize it more instead of it being a cluttered mess. It could all be mixed by finger or simple stirring until turned into the tan paste or cream Venus had applied to her. One item to another, then two more to that. It wasn't a long list, but it certainly needed preparation to make. It was all new and exciting to Elev, though. She was fascinated such common items could be used to mark her fur in a tattoo as if it was originally there to begin with.    She would need to explain this to her father, but there was little he could do to change it now. It was her decision to have her own markings and she loved them dearly. He would be upset with her for a few days or less and eventually get over it. It would be harder for her to visit her friend whenever she wished, but she could possibly find times to still sneak out if she needed.    "Please understand that this is my tribe's special mix. No other tribe or city has this to work with for permanent markings as you do now. I would hope you do not share the ingredients or combination to anybody else," Venus said, entrusting her with the special recipe.    Elev took it to heart and swore to never give it out. The special bond of their friendship was more valuable than letting the tribe her friend's concoction fall into another one's hands. The serval made sure her silks were on properly, the tattoos still making her skin feel a dull stinging

beneath, before she stood too look over the ingredients once more. She wanted to memorize it in case it would ever be of use to her. She also thought maybe she could instill tattoos and markings of her own to others, possibly with the help of her new ability.    If she was to embrace her life and live it as her own, she would have to first understand and identify her way of seeing things differently. It would have to be studied by her and in private. Concentration would probably need to be key. The serval checked the sun through the trees and sighed. It was starting to get a little late, yet she hadn't known they had been talking for hours like they always do.    "Venus, I need to get going, sadly. I'm afraid my guard won't wait on orders past dark. He doesn't look too friendly," she admitted with a wilt of her ears and her eyes lowering.    "Don't fret, El. Venus will be waiting tomorrow and the next day and more!" the cheetah declared, her head nodding as her hair did its bounce.    Elev smiled and hugged her close. The two shared a few more minutes to talk before the serval left and began heading back to her city. It was distracting to have a guard constantly nearby and watching her. More than a few times she had caught his eyes lingering far longer than need be. A simple glare from her glared that up, though. He seemed to mind his own business from then on, just watching where she was going and making sure nobody else got too close.    Upon her entrance to the palace, Alterise came running up to her with a big smile. The two hugged as the horned and hooved girl took a second look before gasping.    "Oh! They look lovely!" she exclaimed, her small tail giving a cute series of wiggles.    "They do~" Elev sighed in admiration, touching to some of the spots on her cheek.    "I'm so very happy you enjoyed my choice in silks today, my Lady," Alterise said while attempting to bow.    Elev quickly touched her arm to keep her from moving down any further. Her gaze never left her servant as she leaned in and spoke gently with, "No. You don't need to bow to me. Just simple thanks and help are more than enough for me. Please, enjoy your night."    It wasn't rare for Elev to give the servants a much easier time than her father or mother, but the tone she used this time sound far more sincere about it. She had always been kind to them but not bowing was something they didn't mind. It took a moment for Alterise to completely register it before she smiled and simply gave a soft nod.    "Yes, Miss," she said and smiled more before giving Elev's markings on her face another look and trotting off.    Elev made her way to her room, glancing to her door as she went in to see just how far this guard was thinking he could go. Lucky for him that he decided to stand outside and across the hall. She made a simple and curt nod to him before closing her door, but

not before she saw him return that scowl to her. The feline gave a small shiver and made sure the door was closed completely. Unlike the main doors, her own lacked the barricade beam or even a simple latch.    The marked serval took her time in preparing for her bed. The moon had greeted the Desert City and the cool air was beginning to take over the land. Elev made her small routine and decided to let her father know about her markings tomorrow. No sense in possibly upsetting him before bed. Perhaps now would be a good time to concentrate on how to focus her ability and avoid any mishaps with it. Just an hour before bed sounds good.

     Elev sighed softly to herself, keeping her eyes closed. She had been in her room all day today and her father had restricted her from traveling outside the city almost entirely by now. The lovely serval had told her father the day after she had received her markings. He had been furious that his own daughter had desecrated her body. When she explained she was still pure and unclaimed he seemed to calm, though.    That day also held the information of the West sending an assassin to kill the king. The rat had told little else other than the West's ambition to seek the land and claim the precious few resources they had. It sickened the serval but she couldn't do much about it. She was no soldier or hired blade. All she could do was attempt to see into prepared ambushes for advancing troops or if somebody might come from an unprotected side of the city.    The years had passed since she had her first vision showed greatly within the city itself. The outer walls were now reinforced and stationed with guards at many areas. There were large doors to the entrance that replaced most of what it once was. It was impossible to sneak out at night at all now. It felt terrible to her.    The years didn't go unnoticed to Elev, either. Her body had grown and matured, still being her pure self and changing the placement of her silks while also wearing fewer. She was still far from indecent but the heat was one thing while trying to garner the attention of a potential man to marry was another.    Elev grumbled a bit, not liking the idea of being wed. It was her father's idea, wanting to protect his royal heritage and move the bloodlines along at some point, even if she wasn't related by blood. That was a touchy subject for her. Not many males were interested, though. The war that now waged between East and West was on everybody's mind. It wasn't easy to ignore the potential issue that they could come under attack at any day.    Since her visions had come to develop more naturally and she had been able to either suppress or conjure them, Elev's title was not that of a princess. Despite being the daughter of the king, she had been titled as the city's priestess instead. The feline had spent some months learning of their ways and more, doing her best

to make her father proud. There was one thing she never did, and that was using her ability for petty things. A fortune teller may have sounded good at one point but it was helpless to her people against the war.    Every few days her father would come by to ask of any important notes. She usually replied with the same tone and no news, wishing she could left alone a bit more. It wasn't just her father who came in to question her about her ability. One of the generals in charge of guarding the front gate had inquired a few things from her. He was lean looking raven with a bit of an odd walk about every time she saw him with each eye a different color. The left one blue and the other red. His name was Malik and he didn't exactly ask a few times. Several instances he nearly demanded to know something before one of his men helped calm him down.    The one to calm him was a camel. Jasoul. Rather tall but he seemed gentle in nature. It made Elev blush when he took her hand and gave it pat, apologizing for Malik's behavior. This one had an aura about him that nobody would need a Seer for to distinguish which side of the field he played in. He was much more lean than Malik, sometimes wearing some of the baggier clothing in the city as a polar opposite from his body. Elev never spoke of it but, she had seen a few occasions of the camel wearing clothing of the opposite sex through the more sheer pants.    The other of Malik's men was a bull of sorts. Maybe an ox, instead. Elev couldn't tell and rarely saw him. He looked rather mean and gruff but he didn't act it. He had a nose ring and several other piercings in his ears. His hair was always drawn back in a ponytail with his arms crossed most of the time and his pudgy belly rounding out for those arms to nearly rest on.    Elev had tried more than enough times to calm herself and make sure she could bring news to Malik, fearing his heated tempted. When she did, he left without another word and left his men to apologize to her while quietly leaving. At least she didn't have to put up with him long if she gave any news. The serval sighed and let her mind begin to focus once more. She was tired of having her concentration broken.    The next hour passed and Elev enjoyed every second she didn't hear the guard scuffling about outside her door. Her legs stayed crossed as she sat before the basin, breathing calmly and searching within herself for a step forward. Anything would work. Her fur bristled at the back of her neck as she felt her body sink into itself and finally reveal a piece of a puzzle.    In her vision, she saw swords clash and a splash of blood. It made her grimace, but she let it continue. A flash of something along the ground. Some armor? She tried focusing on it to see it clearer and furrowed her brow. It was the armor her soldiers wore. The leather straps around the waist that hung down to their knees. The iron and brass plate-like scales

over the chest with leather supports. She could see the soldier was still donning them but failed to see who it was, or where.    Elev tried focusing more, wanting to know what was happening. Another clash of swords. The attacker was still alive and fighting. She could almost hear the footsteps and shuffling of the two. The dead soldier seemingly forgotten in the time of battle. It tugged the serval's heart to know this was how war was. The dead were rarely brought back at all if the casualties became too high. A glimmer of something else caught her attention, immediately bringing her focus towards it. It looked like a bit of sil-    The knocking at her door startled her, making her jump and gasp. The vision faded quickly as she let her eyes adjust and took a deep breath. The marked serval grit her fangs and clenched her furred hands into fists. It was hard enough to get her concentration done properly, let alone when she actually does have a vision.    "Yes?" she seethed through her clenched teeth.    "Your newly appointed guard will be here shortly," said the voice on the other side. He sounded relieved.    "Thank you," she replied curtly and took a deep breath.    Even though it was procedure to tell her when new guards would be on shift, she hated being bothered by it. It was for her own safety, though. She needed to know there would be a new guard so nobody could sneak into the palace unaware. Another one of her father's doings. When she heard the footsteps leaving, Elev stared into the water before her.    She had changed so much. Her fur, her body, her mind. Everything about her life had changed at such a young age. Her reflection stared back with just as much thought while she gathered herself and dipped her hands in to drink from the basin. A new guard wouldn't be too bad today. She might be able to get him to let her roam the city, at the very least. Maybe even make a trip to see Venus once again. It had been weeks since she last saw her cheetah friend.    The serval put her nerves to rest, calming herself quickly as she stood and began preparing to venture out. Her supplies of herbal remedies and simple mixtures seemed to be running low as it was. Getting more of the compounds would be a good idea while she was out. Venus had taught her plenty in their time together. Little things of how to treat a poisoned wound or heal abrasions faster. Even how to make the delightful treat she had when they first met.    It was only minutes before another knock at the door and she was greeted with much more rough voice. He probably used plenty of the tobacco that came in during trading venues. Elev didn't even answer as she opened the door, making a quick statement of needing to head for supplies. The guard was a tall panther, his teeth stained a murky yellow from what she could only think of her proper guess second prior.    The panther snarled a bit before he

slammed the end of his pike down onto the tile while he sighed. He knew he would have to let her out into the city during the day, at the very least. His sword and scabbard hung at his hip, probably rarely used. Elev didn't want to know.    The serval hurried herself towards the palace doors and smiled as she was greeted by Alterise. The lovely servant had changed during the years as well. Both, her and her brother, had managed to get piercings along their snout and around the ears. They had even managed small nose rings and decorated their horns with others. The two certainly loved looking alike.    "Oh, good day, my Seer," Alterise spoke, bowing at the waist lightly.    "Please, no need for titles, Alterise. I wish to head into the city and find some supplies. If my father asks, please tell him I have my guard with me," Elev spoke and bowed in return to her.    The two exchanged a bit of small talk, enjoying the company of one another before Elev finally had to leave. She didn't want to end their conversation so soon but if she was to gather what she wished, and try to ease in the talk of visiting her friend, she would need to hurry before sunset. The serval hugged her horned servant, smiling softly to her before heading out the doors and into the bright light of the day.    It was a lovely day, despite it being hotter than most. Elev was right in wearing her lighter silks, not wanting to overheat out here. The trading carts were all ready set up and displaying their goods in a few rows in the market. The serval walked past a few, eying some of the prettier things but moving on quickly. She was never really into vanity items. A few more carts she passed sold some of the rare fruits she did love, though. A quick glance to her guard left her unaware of her surroundings for that split second.    She felt herself stop and run into a larger body, nearly toppling herself backwards. A hand quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her steady while she heard her guard beginning to hustle himself over. Who she ran into was a tall wolf, clad in a simple vest and more form-fitting pants than her region wore. The designs on the legs and around his vest indicated he was an outsider from another region, but he didn't seem to mean any harm.    "Let go of the priestess!" the guard snapped, his fangs showing as his lips curled.    "Please, everything is fine. He didn't do any harm," Elev told the brutish guard and waved him away.    The guard scoffed and backed away slowly, his eyes never leaving the wolf while he held his pike tightly. Elev noticed her guard had taken more than a few steps back, as if he was begging the outsider to try something now. After a few seconds, it proved to be a childish taunt with the panther scowling and turning away once nothing happened.    "My apologies," the wolf spoke up, gently letting go of her arm. His voice was soft but a bit deep.  

 "No, no. I wasn't watching where I was going," Elev said, admitting her own fault.    "Neither was I. This city's pretty large. Got a little caught up in sight-seeing," the wolf said and smiled warmly. It seemed as though he wasn't afraid to let others know he was an outsider.    The tall wolf had a slightly unique fur pattern about him. His jaw was a dull white or gray which traveled down his neck and looked to cover his chest and stomach. It was hard to tell completely, even with his open vest. His arms were black from shoulder to elbow but then turned the same gray up to his hands. The pads of his palms were black, as were his fingers. It almost looked as though he was wearing some fingerless gloves, to an extent. The hair atop his head was groomed back and into a long ponytail that was currently enjoying the small breeze.    "Not from around here?" Elev asked, trying not to brand him the label of an outsider completely.    The wolf shook his head and kept that smile. It was gentle and warm, hardly overbearing. His hazel and gold mixed eyes glanced to her own behind his glasses before looking to the fruit cart. When he looked back, his hand held up a simple apple as he raised a brow.    "This what you were looking for?" he asked, offering her the fruit.    Elev's heart lifted as she was offered one of her favorites, graciously accepting it as he placed it in her hands. Another look to his glasses showed they seemed to be made with great care. It was very strange to see an outsider so comfortable with himself in her city. Most of them acted odd or simply didn't act at all.    "Thank you, kind sir. It was a pleasure meeting you," Elev said, regretting that she was in a hurry. He was a kind enough male she could have shared more words with.    "No worries. Enjoy it," the outsider replied and gave a nod to the apple while his tail swished from side to side, fishing out some money to pay for the item to vendor.    The two departed as her guard moved back up and began speaking in a low tone. He was very clear at voicing his disapproval of outsiders and her interaction with them. Elev tried several times to tell him nothing was wrong and that the wolf was kinder than most of the locals. The panther had none of that, his fur bristling at the neck clearly. There seemed to be no arguing with any of her guards.    While she made her way, Elev ate the apple she was given, enjoying the sweet taste and juicy flavors they always gave. She was still a clean feline, licking up any small drop of the flavor when nobody was looking. Her little tail wiggled excitedly at each crunch from the bites while she made her way towards the end of the carts.    Finally, she managed upon the seller of her herbs and more. Sadly, most of the items she eyed were pricey as usual. Even she could afford it, she didn't want to spend too much on things she didn't need. She had

frequented the cart many times before, the trader and seller knowing her well and seeming to have her usual items gathered all ready.    "Will there be anything else?" the jackal asked, handing her the small basket of items and taking her coins.    "Not today. I'm sorry," Elev said, hoisting the basket above her head and smiling.    "Oh? I just happened across a trader who was selling this sweet," he said, pulling up a jar that was hidden behind the cart. He seemed to be hiding it just for her. "A nice supply of sugarcane. I know it may not be rare but I thought of letting you have first grab. What do you say?"    Elev looked at the jar full of stalks of sugarcane, flicking her ears a bit. The treat sounded nice to her and she hadn't been able to enjoy anything like it lately. Eventually she caved in and bought it, finding it to not be a bad price after all. She could even take some to Venus when she goes to visit. Maybe even make the sugary treat they enjoyed to share with her.    Once she had the jar nestled in the basket with her other goods, the serval made her way back the way she had come. Her guard seemed to be in his own world now, pacing himself at random intervals while they headed back to the palace. Alterise was eager to take her basket of items and head off to place them in her room. Jasu followed shortly, waving playfully to Elev with a smile.    When the serval turned around, Malik was standing just a few feet away with his eyes looking down to her. Elev gave a gasp and placed her hands to her chest, folding her ears back. The raven didn't budged, only letting his eyes study the feline for a moment in silence. It was hard for her not to give his beak a swift smack for startling her so bad but she refrained.    "I have no news today," Elev said, trying her best to appear tougher than she felt at the moment.    "And I have no interest in such today. I'm looking for your servant, this..Alterise. She around?" he asked, finally moving his gaze from the feline and looking about the palace entrance.    "She may. What business do you seek with her?" the serval asked, her ears moving back against her head.    "Just a simple inquiry. Let her know I was by," he stated and walked away with that awkward look about his legs.    It was hard for Elev to not keep an eye on him until he was out of sight. Her ears pinned to her head as she stuck her tongue out in the ravens direction, clearly not enjoying the startle he gave the feline. It took a few minutes for her collect herself and remember what she had come back to the palace to do.    The serval trotted herself along, her guardsman taking no interest in the things around him before he realized they were back. Instantly, he sat in the chair outside of her room and crossed his arms, paying no mind to the priestess. Though, it wasn't as if Elev really cared if he noticed her. She secretly

wanted him to forget about her so she could go about unescorted through the city and more.    As she was about to head in, Alterise came out with a smile and tried passing her by but was blocked by the feline's movement to stay in front of her. The two looked to one another before Elev finally broke the silence.    "Malik was here...and looking for you. What's his reason to see you?" Elev asked her servant.    "He was thinking of starting a business here. I don't know the details yet but I told him I might be interested," Alterise explained.    Elev thought for a moment before she sighed and gave a nod. After all, if her father felt like it, Alterise could be purchased from them rather easily. The only real issue would be money between them.    "I hope you make a good decision on it," Elev told her and brushed her cheek against her servant's.    "I will. He's told me he would give me plenty of freedom after a while if I chose to accept it. Jasu could even come along," the hooved girl said, smiling and nodding.    The two talked for a while longer, still no closer to understanding what Malik's intentions were but neither of them wanting to worry about it now. There was a war going on and every minute spent wondering was another less spent doing something more productive. At least, Elev thought so.    Before she could even think of visiting her friend, she would need to make sure everything was set. The serval closed her door, after a friendly farewell to Alterise, and began removing the items from her basket. One by one, she categorized where each item went and hummed lightly to herself. A few minutes of this and she was ready to start making that sugar cream treat.

     It was a few hours later until Elev had even begun to think of heading out again. Her tail wiggled as she lightly tasted the bowl of thick paste, enjoying the sweetness to it. Unlike most of her kind, Elev enjoyed more things of the sweet nature in terms of food. Fruits and vegetables were far higher on her list than meats. That didn't mean she refused them, but she always looked for something else first.    A bit more of the water from her basin and the treat was ready for consumption. Elev smiled and placed the bowl aside as she began cleaning up and looked into the mirror. Oh, her markings were always amazing to her. She stopped and turned, looking herself over before nodding in approval and continuing on. Venus had done such a lovely job of choosing just the right designs for her. It was hard not to admire the lovely markings when she caught herself in the mirror.    As she finished cleaning up, her eyes glanced to the window which made her ears lower. It was getting close to sunset and she would really be pushing it to meet her friend by now. They wouldn't get any time to talk before she would have to head back or have her guard come in after her and carry

her back. Elev let a small growl escape her throat at remembering the one and only time that did happen.    She shook her head and cleared her thoughts, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Tomorrow would be a new day and one she could start off by going straight to see Venus. The feline gave herself a nod and began dampening a cloth in the basin. Her hands carefully wrapped the damp cloth over the bowl of the treat before she set it back down and decided it might be best to lay down. Waking up early would give her more time to see her bouncy and bubbly friend.    It was one step after the other, Elev doing her usual routine for bed before she sat the edge of her bed and looked to the corner of her room at the scrolls of parchment she had managed to buy throughout the years. The feline stared a moment longer before reaching out and grabbing one of the few blank pieces, rolling it out on her floor before her and grabbing her ink and quill.    A part of her wanted to leave a note to her guard and father, stating how she had run away. She resisted, though. Her hand held the quill delicately, using her arms to keep the paper as flat as she could before she began to draw. It was a tiny hobby that she enjoyed, finding time to draw various symbols or designs that struck her. She often let Venus tell her what they were or meant when she showed them off, only understanding prior that they looked pretty or that she had seen them somewhere before.    The feline spent her time before bed drawing various designs, finding it soothing to lose herself in the act. Something that let her mind ease and her eyes relax. Lines and dots and more were slowly filling up the paper as she continued, making sure to ink her quill constantly so they all showed up brilliantly. It seemed as though she was in her own world where time didn't exist now.    Before long, a few hours had passed and her parchment had filled considerably with intricate designs and patterns, one of which continuing to pop up here and there. The box-shaped tribal design that looked more clean through the years of the serval drawing seemed to always come up once or twice when she decided to draw. She had been told what it meant but still didn't understand where she saw it.    A glance to the sky made he gasp as she quickly began putting away her utensils and the paper, making sure it was all clean and dry before rolling it back up. It was a bit rare to have paper and she wished not to waste a single scrap of it. Having her references of the designs nearby would help her understand labeling certain things. In fact, she had already sewn one design into the inside of her cloak. It was nothing fancy, but the circle with warding arrow-like lines around it was supposed to mean 'safe' or 'secure' from what Venus had said. Somehow, it made her feel more comforted when she wore it.    As she cleaned up, Elev made sure things were done and

out of the way once more. Within her bed, she let her mind take her away to those far away lands she could only hope to visit some day. Perhaps when she woke there would be plenty of time to enjoy the company of her dear friend. With that last thought, her eyes grew heavy and she finally slipped away into the comfy slumber.

     The dark room echoed out in a frightening manner. The walls were hard to make out as well as the floor. There was no way to tell where she was but she knew she wasn't alone. The sound of shuffling could be heard before Elev saw the body on the floor. It was her latest guard, the panther. He was in a pool of blood, motionless.    The sudden ring of sword clashing made her jump, her ears pinned to her head. She had no idea where she was or what was going on. Was the war here? Was she even there? She tried to speak but couldn't find her voice. The feline was as still as she could be, hoping to not be seen or heard as the fighting in the dark continued. Nothing was under her control, no matter how hard she tried to change the dream.    Another clang of metal, followed by a brief glimpse of two figures. They were much closer than Elev had thought. The flash of the two was far too quick to get any real details. She almost felt as though one appeared slightly familiar. It was pointless to squint her eyes, not finding any true light source to help her in the time of need. The various sounds were muffled together now, making it impossible to tell what most were. Some sounded like voices while others might have been the two getting more rough.    Elev closed her eyes and did her best to calm her nerves. She knew it was a dream but it seemed so real. If she were to reach out and touch her dead guard she was certain she would be able to feel his fur and the armor he wore. Nothing was bringing the dream to halt, though.    Her eyes scanned her surroundings once more, hoping to find something of value to take note upon. When she looked to the guard's body once more, she saw the blood from under the panther's body forming oddly. It was seeping to small creases or cracks in the ground. After a moment, she gasped and held her furred hands to her open muzzle. They were on a tile floor. She only knew of one place within the city that had a tile floor.    Her palace.

     Elev sat up quickly from her bed, panting and holding her head. It was light out, possibly heading towards noon from the sun. She didn't get out of bed immediately, taking a glance to her door and then quietly taking a few deep breaths. Her fingers massaged her temple and brow, trying to help her nerves calm as she let her mind go over what she had just witnessed while asleep.    It was hard to focus. Every thought always moving back to her horrible dream and her inability to control it. A terrible though occurred to her after a moment. What if she was having

visions in her sleep? How would she be able to get any proper rest or focus her mind on things when she was awake? The thought was quickly pushed aside as she forced herself out of bed and sighed.    "No dream will keep me from seeing my friend," she mumbled, her ears inadvertently staying tucked back.    She got herself ready, slipping on a more comfortable set of her silks that seemed more inclined to look like robes at a certain aspect. The nightmare she had seemed to have left her a bit chilly and the slightly heavier fabrics felt better on her. The serval let her troubled mind move from step to step, trying to keep her focus forward before she eventually began easing up.    Venus would be thrilled to see her, possibly more thrilled at the prospect of her treat. It was always a great time around the cheetah, the priestess thought. The two of them always managed to eat up time and belay the worries of their lives for the time they were together. That was certainly something Elev would love right now. To forget about her constant need of a guard or her visions she can't understand right now. It would be wonderful to let her mind be at ease.    It felt a bit cooler today than the weeks prior. Elev took this as a pleasant coincidence that she had dressed in her more comfortable wear, seeing as it was a slight bit heavier. The sun was out but the slight overcast made the feline frown a bit. She was hoping to enjoy the warmth of the sun upon her while traveling to make the shade in the forest much more relaxing.    When she opened her door with a few scrolls and the treat in tow, she looked to the slacking guard and walked over. It was a new guard, possibly one that changed overnight, and he seemed far more tired than he sounded. He was a bit young to employed by her father but with the war going on she knew the males had to be ready to defend their city, should it come to that. The young tiger looked to her and gave a nod as she spoke of her travel to the forest nearby.    They were just about to go before her guard from yesterday pulled the tiger aside and began speaking to him. The two exchanged words in hushed tones before the tiger gave a nod and went in a different direction. The panther looked to the serval and twisted his tongue his maw, possibly contemplating giving her a stern word or two. Lucky for them both, he seemed smarter than that.    "He's getting rest. I'll accompany you to your destination," he finally said and stood straight. He looked to only be carrying his sword today.    Elev knew better than to try and sway her guards from coming along. There would be no fighting it and she disliked them being around her so often. She wished she could at least have guards that were a bit more friendly or that she could carry on a conversation with that didn't involve her location. At least she didn't have to worry about him entering the forest with her. Her father

trusted the tribes at least that much.    They made their way down the halls and out of the palace without another word between them. Elev held the few scrolls she wanted to share with Venus tightly to her. The small bowl of their treat was wrapped in a few cloths, making transportation easier as well as keeping the sand and dirt from entering it. Her eyes took in the area around her the entire way, making note of the various fur colors and patterns, the different clothes, the assorted voices and more. It wasn't something she usually did but it seemed to be helping her clear her head.    Malik looked busy badgering one of the soldiers while Jasoul kept reasoning with the raven. Surprisingly, it looked as though the camel was able to make Malik calm down a bit and halt his yelling. The soldier in question was looking haggard and weary, rubbing his eyes constantly. Elev suspected it may have been something about him falling asleep at his post.    A glance to the markets held almost nothing interesting. It seemed most of the people were clustered around the clothing vendor today. One thing Elev learned at an early age was if the day was cold then the night would be freezing. A few felines, a tiger and two lions, were busy trying to barter over a few shirts. The vendor certainly had his hands full with the crowd still eager to get warmer clothes in preparation for the night.    Elev saw a few others simply watching the commotion or minding their own business. There looked to be a rhino trying to pick out the proper fruit for his wife, a tall and dark wolf admiring the scrolls in a cart, and a cheetah who was very clearly obsessed with the exotic foods. All of them managed a wave to the serval when she passed by, which she happily returned and smiled. At least there were still others that made her feel more welcomed instead of like she was on some altar to be praised and protected.    As she continued, her panther guardsman looked to be lost in his own world already. She let herself smile inwardly, thinking she may be able to coax him into letting her stay a bit longer with her friend. If he didn't wish to travel so soon after arriving, he may agree. Not to excite herself over the idea, Elev calmed her heart to prepare for him to talk down the idea.    "I think I may stay a bit longer than usual today. Are you okay with traveling during nightfall?" she asked, almost tensing up  to brace being shot down.    "That would be fine," the panther said, looking off to the side. His eyes were a bit vacant, leading Elev to believe he was still in his own world.    The serval let her smile show as she gave a nod, quickly thanking him and beginning to pick up the pace of her walk. If she could help it, they would make it to the forest within half an hour. Elev's small tail gave a wiggle of excitement while she lead the way, nodding to a few others that she passed by and swiftly out the large

gate. She paced herself accordingly, making sure not to lose her items or to become winded in her rush, though she came close to it several times.    Despite the dreary looking day, things were starting to pick up a bit for her. She happily let herself get a skip in her step at times, very careful not to start dancing. At least, not in front of her guard. The priestess serval would save that for when she was with her friend. They often took a bit of time to dance out their emotions. Venus was clearly more energetic about it all, letting her hair toss about and her body nearly follow.    It wasn't long before they arrived near the forest and Elev let her guard take his post. More than once, she had thought about sneaking out the other end of the forest but that would take more time to go through it all, hook around, and try not to be seen by her guard than if she just went back and let him follow her back to the city. It was still tempting but it clearly not worth the effort. The panther leaned against one of the trees, enjoying the shade even though it was a cooler day today, and let Elev go on her way within the forest.    The serval made her way through the various plants and trees, passing by one of the small streams the two liked to enjoy, until she finally came to the slowly increasing number of huts. Elev saw Jebediah, the water buffalo, letting Venus climb up over him and hang from his arms. He was like a father figure to the girl and it looked as though the large male was slightly annoyed with how much energy the cheetah had in her. Considering he wasn't telling Venus to stop lead Elev to believe he secretly liked the attention.    "Venus!" Elev called to her, seeing the cheetah perk up and sit atop Jebediah's shoulder some.    "Oh~ El!" Venus exclaimed, almost losing her balance as she began scrambling to meet her friend.    The water buffalo quickly grabbed the girl by the waist and carefully set her down with a smile. The instant Venus' feet touched the earth she made a line straight to the serval. The two hugged tightly, both of their tails twitching and flicking about. It filled Elev's heart with glee to finally be with her friend again, having not seen her in a while. As they enjoyed their little embrace, Jebediah came up and spoke softly.    "Be sure to take care of her, Lisa," he said and turned to walk away without waiting for a reply.    "Yes sir!" Venus said and hugged Elev just the slightest bit tighter.    "Lisa?" Elev questioned, not understanding name change of her cheetah friend. She looked to with an ear tilted to the side, obviously confused but curious to know more.    "It's a bit of a story. He thought my name was Lisa when I told him Venus after we met. We were next to the stream closest to the city, so I think he didn't hear it clearly. Since then, he tells me he likes both names and calls me whichever," the cheetah rattled off,

obviously a bit more than a little excited her friend had come to visit for the day.    Elev smiled and gave a nod, now understanding the odd naming, before she pulled away from the grip of the cheetah. It was hard to pull out of the grasp since she hadn't seen her in a while, but Venus also let herself squeeze a bit tighter than anybody else who has managed to hug the serval. That was possibly Jebediah's influence.    "I'm his pretty Lisa Venus!" the spotted feline said proudly and smiled wide. The tail behind her flicked and swayed as she backed up some to give her Seer friend room.    "I like it, too," Elev said calmly and motioned towards their area near the water.    The two of them went along the way, detailing their days apart, some parts a bit more embellished on Venus' end, before they finally made it to their spot. Elev settled down with her assorted items and handed the bowl to the cheetah. It appeared Venus could tell what it was almost immediately. The spotted girl pulled the cloths away and made a little squeal before quickly swiping some of the paste up and into her mouth with a low purr.    The sound reminded Elev that she hadn't purred in what felt like ages. It wasn't that she didn't want to, she just never felt herself to be as content. The closest she got to her relaxed state to do so was with Venus and she still didn't do it as much as she would like. Almost as if she could tell what was on her friend's mind, Venus nosed to Elev's cheek and held her finger up with the sugary treat upon it. The serval slowly smiled again, sitting still for her.    It was a little tradition of their own to put some of the treat into Elev's fur on her cheek. It always happened when they had the treat, reminding them of their first time tasting it together. Elev had been an insistent girl, wanting to show Venus she knew how to feed herself and not understanding how the tribe acted. One slip and she had left a nice swipe of the sugary mixture on her cheek which stayed the entire time.    This time was no different as Venus quickly swiped her finger along her friend's cheek and giggled. Elev smiled and joined her cheerful laugh as the two began eating the treat together. Feeding themselves and each other, the two girls spoke of their wishes, worries, and all things in-between. It had been a long time for Elev to get everything off of her chest. It felt nice to have somebody to talk to about it all, even if it was beginning to be more rare times to do so.    As they enjoyed their time, Elev rolled out a few of the scrolls for Venus to look at. She enjoyed the small game of pointing to random ones and hearing what they were from her friend. A few times, she would even point out ones she knew or had asked about previously just test and make sure the cheetah wasn't making them up. Some alterations were spoken of which Venus drew into the ground with a stick. It was always

interesting to the serval to learn more symbols and play little games like this with her friend.    The hours passed for them as they enjoyed the time and moved onto other things. They didn't seem to stop their chatting, laughing, and simple enjoyment of each other. From dancing around and telling stories to day dreaming and planning out their next meeting, the two savored every second. Elev couldn't remember the last time she was this happy other than the last time she got to meet her friend.    Before they knew it, the day was winding down and the sun was ready to set. The two hugged again and Elev began rolling up the scrolls as she told Venus of a hopeful day to visit her once more soon. While she was cleaning out the bowl in the water, she heard Venus speaking of her tribe becoming more tense lately.    "I don't like it. We're kind to others and welcome all into our forest but I think this war is making everybody nervous," she explained while helping the serval clean the bowl.    "Nobody likes it. Even the soldiers at the city are becoming weary. Do you think my city and your tribe will fight each other?" Elev asked, a bit worried she may lose her friend over the likes of some selfish region wanting nothing more than a bow at their feet. Resources or not, brute force was never the way to get things.    "Not at all. My tribe is kind and has been eternally grateful of your city's constant kindness. Should you come under attack, we will come to defend," Venus said and offered a cloth to dry the bowl.    "You don't need to do that. I would hate for something to happen to you or your people," the serval said while lowering her ears. She didn't want harm to come to those who have been nothing but kind.    "We know of the risks. It'll be our choice. Nobody has to go but those who choose," the cheetah said, nodding. It sounded as if she had talked it over with Jebediah or the others in making sure her friend was protected.    "This...isn't because I'm a Seer, is it?" Elev asked, not wanting to have her title be the reason others would rush to her aid.    "No, El. I don't want my friend to be hurt," Venus said, quickly wrapping her arms around the serval and hugging her tight.    Elev returned the gesture and held her for a moment. It was a scary thought of losing her friend under any circumstance. She just wanted a brighter future for everyone. No need for some senseless war. They would gladly share what resources they had. At one point, they even sent a negotiator to tell them there was no need for bloodshed. Two weeks later, they were given a heavily wrapped item from the West. Inside were a severed ear and two fingers of their late messenger.    The serval shivered, trying to wash the image out of her head. It was harder than she thought, but she managed. Venus was oblivious to the whole ordeal, leaving Elev a bit more relieved. She didn't wish to

tell her of the horrible things she had seen with her own eyes or that within her mind. She had even refrained from telling her of the latest vision, unsure of what it meant.    "Right?" Venus asked, helping her gather up the scrolls.    "I'm sorry, could you please repeat it?" Elev apologized, clearly letting her mind make her oblivious to her surroundings.    "I said, it would be nice to have it all over with so you can visit like you did," the cheetah repeated, not noticing the troubling look upon her friend in the dimming light.    "Yes, it certainly would. I promise to try and visit again very soon," Elev said, taking her things and leaning in to nuzzle their cheeks together. Lucky for Venus, Elev had cleaned the treat from her cheek when they had decided their time was growing late.    "Please do! I enjoyed today. It had been too long," Venus said, appearing just a bit pouty.    Elev couldn't blame her. There was a bit of a gap between when they last saw each other. Determined, the serval promised to visit within the next week for sure. She didn't know for how long but they would make it last. Her spotted friend bounced happily and nuzzled to her once more. They took a moment to talk just a bit longer next to her guard, discussing various herbal remedies and treatments, before they finally gave their farewells.    "Remember! It's the pointy one! Not the fat one!" Venus shouted, trying to keep it in Elev's mind that one plant leaf was the ingredient for a burn.    "Thank you!" Elev shouted back, waving as she walked away with her bodyguard giving a disgruntled sigh.    Her panther guard seemed to be plenty out of it today. It seemed the war was taking a toll on all of the soldiers in some form. Everybody was kept on their toes, making little time for the armed guards and soldiers to rest. Fatigue was setting in among the ranks and it could possibly be the one thing that made their city crumble.    Elev did her best to keep her focus on something positive, reminding herself of the pointy leaves of a plant and other simple herbal recipes. This seemed to help her quite a bit as she barely knew they were at the city wall soon after. Once inside, she gave a nod to the guards who gave a slightly lazy one in return. She took no offense, knowing most of them were tired enough, and moved along.    Inside the city, the serval noticed a few others still mingling about and buying or trading goods. The gates would close very soon but it seemed they were in no rush to leave. Perhaps they felt safer inside the city instead of traveling at night. A rhino gave her a wave, lounging by the nearest cart and donning a new wrap for his head. She also saw a wolf nearby, giving a few glances before smiling warmly, though a bit forced, with a nod to her. She returned the gestures in kind and continued on her way.    When her mind went to laying down it

suddenly felt like she had a spell placed upon her to make her so tired. The comfy silks and sheets would be wonderful to lose herself in and drift to sleep. The more she thought about sleep just added fuel to the fire, making the feline rub her eyes as she slowed her pace.    A yawn behind her was clue enough of her bodyguard's own state. The panther gave his own face a hard massage, rubbing his eyes and blinking several times. He would probably call upon another to take his post once Elev got to her room so he could rest. The dark panther continued with her, staying just a bit behind in his step while he followed her up into the palace.    They both traveled in, echoing the area with their steps and the small shift of the panther and his armor. Alterise and Jasu must be in bed early. There were no sounds of their hooves to greet them or elsewhere that Elev could tell. She smiled some at the thought of being able to tell Alterise a bit of the fun she had with Venus while she was out. The serval slowly made her way towards her room, guided by the candles and torches that gave their soft glow against the walls.    It wasn't until she was about half-way down her hall before she noticed something was wrong. When she stopped, she noticed it instantly. The flames had been put out in her area and very recently. The air still smelled of the smoke from the wicks and wood, making her clutch her scrolls a bit tighter.    Her stop had apparently brought her bodyguard out of his own world and back to reality quickly. He glanced around and gave a sniff before he moved up some. Somebody had purposely put out the lights towards her chamber moments ago, but for a reason she didn't understand. The panther gripped the handle of his curved sword and took a few more steps towards the darkness. That was when Elev remembered her vision.    It was too late for her to give a warning. The panther turned, about to speak to her, before the blade of a straight sword pierced out of his side. The very dim lighting was just enough to see the glimmer of ruby now coating the once-clean steel, making the serval gasp and back up. The scene was almost frozen in time with the blade staying just within sight through her guard, details being burned into the girl's mind quickly.    After what felt like several minutes, the sword disappeared back within the panther and a very wet cough came from his throat. The sword had punctured the area of his torso with no armor along the sides. It was a straight shot through his lungs and heart. The brutish feline dropped to his knees and keeled over instantly, rolling onto his back with no more signs of life about him.    The ruby liquid filled in the creases on the tile flooring, quickly pouring from the panther's body. Elev made a small noise, backing herself to the nearest wall and trying to calm herself quickly. The smaller feline took a few quick breaths and eyed the sword that

still laid within the scabbard at the panther's side. How was she to defend herself enough to run at her unknown attacker to retrieve the weapon? The decorated feline gave a small cry in her throat, her ears pinned back as she closed her eyes. Maybe it would be quick and painless...    The sound of footsteps made their way in her direction. The serval waited, not knowing if it was another attacker and their palace was under siege or one of the patrolling guards who heard something. She found no strength to move her legs, becoming weak at the knees as she awaited the arrival of another.    "I'll have your head, you witch!" the figure in the dark sneered, moving closer and showing the stained sword. "You'll predict nothing more and let us claim this land in our name!"    Elev had a good mind to at least tell the tall figure, another black panther similar to her late guard, that her region would never give up the land. She may be physically weak but that didn't mean she couldn't speak up. It was when she opened her teary eyes that she felt it. The wind at her side and the brush another coming from behind. The tears had dampened the fur along her cheeks and still streamed which made it hard for the terrified girl to see.    When she quickly rubbed away the excess, she saw a familiar figure lunging forward and diving low. It was the wolf from before that gave her the apple. He was wearing a relaxed pair of pants once again with a simple design along the bottom of the legs and matching vest. Under the vest was a shirt similar to what the vendors sold when in the city. The only other thing he looked to be wearing in addition was a shemagh wrapped around his neck.    The wolf made a clean dive down, managing to grab the sword of her fallen bodyguard and quickly pulling it free. It almost looked rehearsed with how clean his movements were, seeing him swing his arm up and knocking the panther's blade away from him. As the clang of metal sounded out, it became clear what side he had chosen despite being an outsider.    The panther gave a snarl and clutched his blade tightly before giving a harsh swing to the side. The wolf looked focused, his eyes giving a soft glow of gold in the lighting, as he stepped back and smacked the oncoming blade away once more. He appeared calm at a glance but Elev could see the intensity in his eyes. He wasn't a professional at this and he knew the risk he was taking.    Another clash of the blades sent the echo off the walls as the wolf backed up more. He wasn't attacking in retaliation. Was it his first sword fight? What was his plan? Elev managed to move a bit more out of the way, giving the two the space they needed for their encounter.    "What the hell do you think you're doing?" the panther snarled, feigning a lunge.    "I could ask you the same," the wolf calmly replied, stepping forward instead of away at the false attack.    "That

witch over there keeps us from claiming our territory! She halts every damn plan!" the angered feline yelled.    "No need to call her that," the dark wolf replied and gave a glance back to Elev out the side of his glasses.    "She's nothing but a filthy witch that needs to be done with!" the panther explained and took a hard swing down to the wolf from above.    The wolf had good reflexes, but they weren't the best. The blade came down faster than he could bring his up which meant he misjudged the swing. His back step wasn't far enough and the end of the blade made quick work through his vest and shirt and bit of flesh beneath the fur. His face winced as he felt the cold steel leave a mark before he got away.    There was no time to rest as the panther was on the wolf instantly, swinging again from the top. A loud ring of the swords sounded out, signaling another block. This time a first came in right after and collided with the wolf's side. Elev could have sworn she nearly heard a muffled yelp from the impact of the punch. It could have easily been her, unable to sit still as she watched her brave protector and the angered assassin fighting.    Elev couldn't help but notice several times the wolf could have easily slain the panther without having the fight prolong. He seemed to be avoiding any life-threatening attack to the assassin for some reason. There was an instance of the wolf's ponytail being grabbed and held, the panther ready to finish the fight for good. Instead of swinging up to lop off the arm and turn the tides, the wolf simply made a quick slice along the panther's arm and side. Nothing serious but enough to make him let go and back away.    Every so often, the wolf would glance back to Elev and then the hall when he got a chance. If he wanted her to run he didn't state so. When she saw his eyes flick from her to the hall and back again she finally understood. He wanted her to go get another guard or two to help. To have her get to safety without the panther knowing.    Each glance back cost him dearly as the attacking feline kept up a barrage of swings and punches, even mixing in a few kicks at him. The wolf hardly made much noise other than a few grunts or so. His pattern was simple but not easy to pull off. He wanted to keep the panther's attention on him while Elev got away. The reason he didn't kill the panther was still a bit unclear to her, though she had a feeling he may not want her to see more blood than needed.    A kick into the panther's shin crippled him down to his knees in a heap. The wolf raised the sword high and held it tightly with one hand before he stopped. It could stop right now with him making one swing. Elev stayed put, unsure of what she should do now. Did she still go get help? Would he be okay if she left him?    "Where do you hail from?" the wolf asked calmly, keeping his blade raised and stepping onto the broadside of the

sword the panther held.    The panther gave a tug before he saw it was useless to pry it loose, giving a sneer to the wolf over him. "The West. You?"    "Southern region. Looks like we're both a bit far from home. Why are you wanting to kill her?" the canine asked, grabbing the panther's ear and giving it a tug to look to Elev.    Both felines made a sound, one of pain and the other of surprise. The panther growled and glared up to the wolf as he spoke. "She's a damn witch that can see things nobody should. She's hindering our advances to this region."    "I say she's doing a good job if this place isn't yours to begin with. Right?" he asks, giving the ear harsh tug.    The black furred feline cursed and winced, staying mostly silent otherwise. His hand stayed firm on the sword, tugging every once in a while for that slim chance the wolf had let his weight off the blade. It was in his eyes that he wanted nothing more than to kill them both. The panther no reserve for holding back his hatred, nor did he want to.    "If your region wants something here, why do they such force?" the tall canine inquired, apparently wanting to learn about the whole situation more. It seemed this was why he didn't want to kill the panther. Getting information from him was a risky move on his part but Elev was a little fascinated he had held back from killing the attacker first thing.    "It's our way. We have the largest army under our command. The best generals to guide them. We take what we need and offer those in our way a chance to join us. It's the better option," the panther said, slowly snaking his free hand to his side.    "It's mindless. You use your army to take what you want instead of initiating trade or even just asking. It's pathetic," the wolf said, furrowing his brow slightly. Clearly, he hated the idea.    The wolf lowered the sword, lifting the curved end under the panther's chin and giving it a tap. The panther glanced up and tried pulling away from the tug at his ear, which was in agony from the tight grip on it. He bared his fangs and tensed himself, slipping his fingers into the hidden pouch under his leg. The wolf mimicked the fangs and leaned in close, whispering just loudly enough that Elev could barely hear him.    "I wouldn't," he said, pressing the tip of the blade to the panther's throat and waited.    The panther held still, Elev staring wide-eyed at them both. They were both cut up a little, some blood showing through the tears in some of their clothing. One of the wounds on the wolf had worried her since it happened. His chest had taken a rather heavy swing and his shirt only seemed to absorbed more of the crimson life he was letting out.    "I would," replied the panther, tugging out three hidden blades between his fingers from the pouch and pulling his arm back.    "Look away!" yelled the wolf, giving a glance to Elev

as his eyes focused.    It felt like time stopped for the serval, watching the two of them lock eyes and their movements begin to flow like in water. It was hard for her to look away, afraid of the outcome. The panther's arm swung forward, looking to carry as much force as he could with it. The sword under his chin moved back, angling down at an angle away from them both. It looked to be going nowhere until Elev saw the panther's arm move into its range and right into the path it was taking.    She finally closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands, whimpering as she heard the steel of a blade make contact with something. There was a scream and some shuffling, her ears pinned to her head as more steel was sliding along the floor. A quick clang of swords and then another sickly sound. Something metal clattered to the ground loudly. Another scream followed shortly after, this one higher pitched but quickly cut off with a wet cough. A few more sounds of some slow and heavy breathing before something heavy but softer hit the floor along with a low draw of metal from what sounded like mud.    Everything was quiet for a moment until Elev heard somebody move closer. She let out a scream when she felt someone grab her shoulder. The serval felt her tears begin moving down her cheeks once more, feeling like it was all over and her mystery protector had been slain. All because she never went to get help. All because she was a Seer.    "Hey! Hey, calm down. Shh," said a calm voice, the hand rubbing her shoulder lightly.    Elev slowly opened her eyes, meeting the soft glow of two golden eyes before her behind some glasses. "It..it.," she stuttered, still lightly sobbing but finding herself calming.    "It's okay. It's over. No," he said, gently guiding her head head away from the area he had been standing not long ago. "I think you've seen enough of that for a while. Are you okay? You hurt any?"    The serval took a few breaths and looked down at her robes, nearly feeling a little ill at a small spray of some crimson that had landed upon them. It was much less than she had seen spill prior, though she never wished to see it at all. Her vision was a bit blurry, making her rub her eyes a bit more to dry them properly. She could see the wolf had purposely let himself come to harm in trying to get some answers, his shirt soaked in the front and various patches of his arms and legs staining the rest of his clothes.    "I..I'm okay..just a little shaken," she managed to tell him and nod. Her blue eyes lingered a bit longer on his wounds before she spoke again. "Do they hurt?"    "Yeah, it stings quite a bit. Also ruined my new shirt," he said in jest, smiling warmly to her.    It amazed her that he was able to brighten his mood for her, just to help ease her own nerves. She reached out and lightly touched near one of his wounds, feeling the cooling blood on the cloth

but the warmth beneath. He didn't seem to pull away from her inspection. Her fingers pressed lightly to a few areas until she looked back to him.    "Well?" he asked, raising his brow in interest at her light touches.    "No poison. Your chest looks the worst," she said and pointed to his torn vest and shirt.    The wolf glanced down and gave a few nods before he gently held her arm and stood up, lifting her with him slowly. "Then I think I came out better than it looks. I should go and get your proper guards. I'm terribly sorry for trespassing, though."    Elev tilted her head slightly and gave his shirt a small tug when he turned. "Wait. Why did you trespass in the first place?"    "I thought had seen you head in before in a cloak. When I actually saw you, it worried me a bit and I decided to follow. May have been against better judgement but I'm glad I did," he said, looking off to the side a bit. He knew it sounded a bit like he was stalking her and it wasn't something he wanted associated with him. "When I noticed nobody else within the halls, I rushed ahead," he explained while trying to guide her away from the area they were in.    "What would you have done if everything was okay and a guard found you?" she asked, curious how quick his brain was working in the race against time.    "Simple. Just explain I had just arrived in the city and didn't know I wasn't allowed in here. Just play dumb, basically," he told her and smiled. His nose gave a few lifts, smelling the metallic odor of the blood in the air and cringing just slightly.    When he wasn't looking, Elev dared a quick look back to the hall and saw the aftermath of what happened. She could piece together the details to the best of her ability. The wolf had cut the panther's hand free of his arm with the first swing and managed to lose his weight on the sword from the defense. The panther looked to have pulled the blade up until the canine swiped the panther's other hand. The killing blow was a direct pierce into the chest and through the heart, leaving the large feline to tumble back. How the wolf managed to do all three strikes so quickly was lost on the serval.    "What's your name, stranger?" she finally asked, realizing he had saved her life by endangering his own and she had yet to catch his title.    "My name? It's nothing special," he said, trying to brush it off a bit. His accent was a bit heavier than those she heard around here. Possibly due to his homeland of the Southern region. She kind of liked it.    "Well, mine's Elev. I'm the city and region's Seer," she said, then added, "I wish I wasn't the only Seer here, though."    "I think it makes you unique. What exactly is a Seer?" the wolf asked, guiding her along at her side.    "Tell me your name and I might answer that," she teased, finding herself easing back into a more comfortable state of mind.

Especially from the light compliment.    The wolf raised one brow and smirked, giving her a light chuckle. "Heh, seems you got me there. The name's Klein," he says simply.    "Klein of the South?" the serval asked, flicking an ear some.    "Eh, just Klein. No need for a title for me," he said while shaking his head some.    "Then it will be Sir Klein," she said glancing to his chest some and making sure his wound wasn't bleeding too much.    "I like the sound of that, but it's just Klein, dear. No need to add Sir to it," he told her and dabbed at his chest as well, quickly hiding his worried look when he noticed she was looking. His fingers pulled the shemagh from his neck and tucked it away to keep it mostly clean.    "You deserve the title. Not everyone can be given such a title," Elev told him, eying his look and becoming just a little worried herself. "Are you all right?"    Klein kept his eyes forward, smiling slightly and nodding as he answered with, "Yes. I'll be okay. Just need to get you to your proper guards and let them know what happened. As nice as the title is, I'm just an outsider. I simply did what I felt was right."    Elev looked to him as they walked, never hearing of someone so modest and not full of himself. Her ears tilted some, wondering if all people of the Southern region were so kind and brave. As she thought, she noticed the sounds of hooves nearby. The serval looked around, almost worried if Klein were found within the palace but she was a little afraid to be left alone at the moment.    Alterise rounded a corner and let out a startled gasp at the sight of the tall wolf. Elev felt sorry for scaring the girl, knowing that it had to be frightening seeing a stranger in the palace, bloodied and bruised a bit, taller than herself. Certainly a sight not common in the area. The goat girl covered her mouth as her eyes stayed wide, backing up a little and finally looking over to see Elev.    "It's okay, Alterise. He's welcome. He won't hurt you. Will you?" Elev asked, looking up a bit to the male.    "No, I won't. I need to speak with your guards. Do you know where they are...Alter..Alterise?" he questioned, hoping her heard the name right and attempting to say it properly.    "Y-yes. There should be two stationed just beyond the corridor over there," she said, pointing down the area. "I was sleeping and thought I heard something. Dear Elev, are you safe?" she asked, skittishly moving closer as she looked the wolf over before returning her gaze to the serval.    Elev gave an eager nod to her servant, lightly patting Klein's arm and getting him to move back for her. "I'm fine. I'm..alive, all thanks to this wolf. Klein, is his name," she explained to her friendly hooved servant.    "Sir Klein, I'm grateful of your protection over Lady Elev," she said quickly, giving a bow and lowering her eyes.  

 "No title, please," Elev said, noticing Klein smile from the corner of her eye. She never really thought of herself being modest, though Klein's gentle gaze seemed indicate he could see something she didn't.    "As you wish. Please, this way," Alterise said and hurried along to guide them.    They had no time to chat as they met up with the two guards just beyond, both of them brandishing their blades to Klein. Elev and Alterise had to talk them down before the wolf got himself hurt any further. It was a blurring process after that. Elev knew of small moments but only the important ones seemed to stick with her.    They all rushed to the gruesome scene, Klein being the one to tell the girls to turn away and stay around the corner. He explained what happened, both of the females listening in. Elev had predicted as much when she saw a small glimpse of the body moments ago, but hearing Klein talk about it sounded as though it was something so easy and without effort. He eventually got the guards to laugh over something, Elev couldn't make out what it was, before they headed back.    "We'll need to take you to see the king. We appreciate your services," they say, one guard accompanying the wolf down a hall as the other ushered the girls in the opposite direction.    Elev was a little worried about the wolf. He had come to her aid without a second thought and protected her, also managing to interrogate the assailant. It was an amazing thing for her to witness. For all she knew, her father would cast him out and banish him from the city forever just because he was inside the palace without permission. He could even be executed for trespassing.    The thought made the serval frown, shuffling to Alterise's room with her. Since there was a mess in her hall they would be using the same room until tomorrow. Alterise noticed the feline's face change and gave her arm a touch.    "If he really did save you, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, then he should be fine. I doubt your father will overlook your safety for a simple trespass on his part," the goat girl spoke to her.    Elev looked to her and smiled some. It was very possible, especially considering how her father had put guards to protect her constantly. The other possibility still weighed heavy on her mind but she decided to try and move away from it. If she were to tell her father her side of the story then she needed proper rest to convey it coherently.    Maybe she would see him again. He might be given a title, as much as he seemed against the idea, and allowed to venture in the city. As stubborn as her father could be at times he still could see the obvious. Her thoughts seemed to circle around what may happen to the wolf before she felt the soft veils of Alterise's spare clothing brush to her arm.    "It's not much, but it's the only bit I have at the moment. Please," she said, offering the

clothing to Elev and bowing her head.    Elev thanked her and took the clothing, heading to the small bed and stopping. As she looked back to the hooved girl, she saw Alterise nodding and smiling brightly. It was going to be a bit snug but she didn't mind. Alterise had been a kind and very loyal servant to her. The night was cold as it was and the extra warmth might help.    The two began preparing for bed, undressing and slipping on more comfortable attire. As predicted, the night was cold and only getting colder, leaving Elev to cuddle against the hooved and horned servant in bed. It was much better than she thought, though the small space left her shifting about overnight. The main reason she couldn't sleep were her thoughts still weighing heavy on her mind. As the night went on, she slowly began to drift to sleep.

     When Elev stirred awake, the serval noticed she was alone in bed and had an extra blanket atop her. She was still among the servant's quarters, still dressed in Alterise's additional attire. After she remembered the events of last night she sat up and began to quickly get ready for the day. She could see the sun high in the sky from the nearby window, surprised that Alterise had a better view of the city than her own room but she would never be jealous of such a small thing. It was midday which meant she had slept in.    The serval panicked some as she began putting on her own robes again, halting a few times to look at the stained blood within bits of it. It was a hectic night. A stranger from a distant region had gone out of his way to keep her safe. Something about was nearly poetic but she smiled at her imagination trying to run with it. Her mind quickly changed to the fate of said stranger, the wolf, and how he might be doing today. The moment she had dressed herself, Elev tugged the door open and gasped.    Standing there, clad in some of the royal armor, was Klein. His back was to her but she knew the scaled front and backing of that chest piece from seeing it every day. Beneath it, she saw he had managed to get a new shirt, wearing the metal bracers and matching leggings that covered him from knee to ankle. It looked as though he wasn't wearing the leather straps of a simulated kilt, though. In place of that, he wore his pants that fit his form in a relaxed state, and rather well.    "Hello again," he said, glancing over his shoulder as his ponytail swayed behind him. He still had that smile, warm and honest.    "You...you convinced my father to..employ you as a royal blade?" she asked, nearly skeptical he would have been allowed to do more than be welcomed in the city.    "Well, not really. It was his idea. I told him of what happened and that I was sorry to trespass. He thanked me for what I did and then called upon your servant. Um...Alt..Alterise," he explained. He was still getting the hang of some of the names around these

parts.    "How did he choose you as a soldier?" Elev asked him, looking him over as she approached, almost wary if he was an illusion.    "She put in some good words for me as well as those guards. They thought I was pretty good with a blade. Your father also liked that I did all I could in protecting you," Klein said, nodding some and looking a bit to the side as if he was trying to remember all the details as he told them.    "I'm happy to see you look well," she said, looking to him from head to toe a few times.    Klein shifted a bit and let out a soft laugh. "Some bandages and tolerance go a long way," he said while patting his armored chest lightly.    The serval looked down the hall on both sides before she brought her gaze back to the wolf. "Where is my bodyguard for the day?"    "You're looking at him," Klein answered and gave a soft nod. "Today, tomorrow, and any other I can. I guess your father was really impressed."    Elev smiled but quickly caught herself before she gave a polite nod and looked away. It wasn't like her to be friendly to the guards. They had done little to even speak to her, let alone try and look so positive. She didn't want to let her own defenses down and have him turn into the brute the others did. If he wished to talk, he would.    "I'm supposed to follow you around but...I think I can give you a little more space here and there. I don't want to suffocate you with my presence," he joked and grinned, wagging his tail.    Elev couldn't help but smile at that and nodded again, this time with a slow bow of her head. "Thank you, Klein," she said and began making her way back to her room.    On the way there, Alterise passed them and gave Klein a bow after she had done so for Elev. It was rare for her to bow to anybody but the serval and the king and queen. Klein seemed a little bewildered at the gesture as well and returned with something his region possibly did more of. He waved. He seemed to hesitate and try to return the bow quickly, leaving Alterise to giggle and trot away.    They continued on, neither of them saying much, heading towards her room. The silence was more than likely due to him having so much change around him and simply trying to take it all in and settle. Elev was silent for her own reasons, not wanting to put herself out there and be made a fool again. When they passed another guard she couldn't help but turn to the wolf and speak up.    "Why is it that you don't wear our traditional lower armor?" she inquired to him, glancing at his waist and back up.    "I felt that it restricted my movement too much. I don't want to be slowed or hindered by my own equipment," he told her, then he snickered and added, "I also don't wear skirts."    She had to admit, he was certainly more charismatic than all her previous guards combined. The serval let out a soft laugh and smiled. Her

eyes shifted to his glasses, curious about their own origin some before he realized she had locked eyes with him. A swift look away and she continued onward.    Near the hall to her own room, they crossed paths with Jasu. He was clad in his own set of veils and jewelry, happily humming to himself before noticing them approaching. The hooved male gave them both a bow before he stayed bowing to the wolf. Klein looked slightly uncomfortable but he also had a smile still upon his muzzle.    "Thank you for helping last night. I really appreciated it," Jasu said simply before rising again. "You didn't need to go out of your way for me, though. I could have managed the clean up myself."    Klein shook his head and waved a hand some, trying to stop the horned male from displaying his gratitude. "No need to thank me for it. Honestly. I was the one who made it, I should at least help clean it. Besides, I wasn't doing anything else at the time," he told him.    Jasu smiled and leaned in as he gave a quick kiss to the wolf's nose before he shook his head. The small bits of jewelry clattered softly in the movements while he repaid his thanks once more. "You're too kind, sir. Thank you again," he told him before moving aside for them.    "The mess?" Elev asked, curious what they were on about.    "Last night. I didn't mean to leave so much blood for someone else to clean up. When I saw him trying to lug a body away I had to help," Klein told her, his face losing a bit of that smile. It seemed like he didn't enjoy thinking about what he had done.    "He's very happy you came along to help," Elev told him.    The wolf chuckled and rubbed his nose lightly. "I could tell."    "That's just his way. You'll get used to it," she replied and went down her hall, surprised to see it cleaned so well. Klein and Jasu must have worked hard to get everything removed.    Once she got to her door, Klein seemed to understand his role and stood outside as he waited. Elev told him she would only be a bit, closing the door and letting out a soft sigh of relief. It was odd to be around a guard that seemed much more lively than her previous ones. The serval rubbed her brow and began collecting some garments for the day. If she asked politely, she may be able to get him to let her see her friend today.    "Klein?" she asked through the door, leaning against it with her ear.    "Is something wrong?" his muffled voice came back with.    "No, I was simply wondering if we would be allowed to head to the forest today," she replied and waited. It was a little troubling with the silence until she heard his voice once more.    "There's a forest?" he asked, sounding highly skeptical.    The tone in his voice made her smile as she told him of the nearby desert forest that her friend lived in. He didn't sound too sure of the idea but agreed to check with the

king. Elev knew what his answer would be, though she hardly held it against the wolf. The wolf was in a new place and very new position so he hardly knew of what was right or proper. A bit of the charm was his tourist-like curiosity.    The minutes passed as she waited and got herself ready. Even if she wasn't allowed out today she still wanted to be outside. When she heard his footsteps return there was a pause. She waited for the loud knocking on her door, always hating how careless the brutes were when trying to get her attention.    "Elev?" he asked cautiously, keeping his voice low.    This was new to her. "Yes?" she asked, tensing lightly for his news.    "I'm sorry. The king says after last night it's best to keep you inside the city. I tried to reason with him," he told her, sounding a tad disappointed himself. He then added, "I did manage to have him agree with letting you go tomorrow, though."    Elated, she smiled and nodded to her door while she thanked him and continued getting herself ready. Had other guards tried reasoning with her father in her favor? She doubted it. This seemed like a rare moment to her. After a few more silks had been draped and fastened to her, Elev opened the door to see the wolf leaning against the opposite wall. He looked to be admiring his new armor before he perked up at her presence.    "What took you so long in asking him?" she questioned, remembering his absence and knowing talks didn't last as long as that. Her father's chamber wasn't even that far away.    "I got a little lost," he admitted, his golden eyes glancing down the hall in the opposite direction where he needed to go.    The serval closed her eyes and smiled, giving him a light hum. The halls were rather confusing for those who didn't know them. It would take a little time for him to be a bit more speedy, she assumed. No faults to be had. When she opened her eyes, she saw he was looking to her as his eyes seemed to lose focus.    "Is everything proper?" she asked, tilting her head.    "Sorry, yes. That was just..really soothing," he told her and stood up straight. His tail gave a small wag before he let his hand rest to his sword hilt and the scabbard. "What can I do for you?"    Elev's eyes widened a bit, never once hearing that kind of question from her guards and them mean it. This had to be a trap or a ruse. Her mind tinkered with the ideas the wolf may have in store before she cautiously looked him over. Nothing had changed about him, other than his armor and cleaned up cuts. Was he joking? A few of her guards had toyed with her by asking such a question and then telling her to fetch her own servant.    "Did I say something wrong?" Klein asked, lowering an ear and raising a brow.    It took the serval a moment to realize he was trying to be of help before she stepped back and apologized. She was still wary of his kindness

but it was hard to deny such a welcoming change. Elev requested nothing extra of him and said simply she was to head out in the city for a bit. The wolf gave her a nod and let her lead the way as she headed out.    It was nice to be out in the sun again for the serval. Even though she had slept half the day away, she felt lively and much more at ease being able to move around a bit. The wolf kept his distance, just as he said, while he kept an eye on her from where he was. It seemed as though his personality still didn't change.    Elev caught him putting his nose into some scrolls to read and still enjoying the sights more often than not. When she caught his eye, he would smile and give a nod to her. The wolf appeared as friendly as before, making small talk amongst a few of the others but she saw him slightly shunned now. Several folks merely walked by without a glance in his direction after he had greeted them. It would only to get harder for him. The guards before and soldiers that guarded the city weren't the kindest and have already tarnished the reputation before him.    It distracted the serval enough to where she couldn't remember what she was thinking of purchasing. The wolf eventually let his interest lead him to a vendor that had a rare few books for sale. Even to Elev, they drew her in. It wasn't easy finding books and they weren't nearly as common as scrolls of paper. The scrolls weren't exactly easy to find either. It took another person brushing by her to snap her out of her little world.    She decided to buy a spare bottle of ink and a few more quills, just to be safe. She couldn't remember how much she had left but being over prepared was better than not at all. She dropped the few coins from her money pouch at her side to the merchant's hand as he thanked her. It wasn't much to carry which was fine by her. Elev took a glance back to the cart that had the books to see the wolf was gone and felt her heart quicken for a moment.    Her head turned to the other side and she let out a soft sigh of relief. He was closer now and glancing around calmly. He looked to be doing his duty fully. The thing that made the serval look away were her thoughts on her reaction just now. Why had she panicked? Did she worry about him being gone? Did she care about his life? About him?    All the questions made her hold her bottle of ink tighter as she frowned. She didn't like having emotions or reactions she couldn't fully understand. He had saved her life last night and helped clean up the mess. He had tried persuading her father into letting them venture to the forest, too. Why was he so different? Unique. That's the word he used last night in relation to her.    She would take time to sort things out properly and understand them when she could. Right now, she needed something to eat. As good as some meat sounded, Elev found herself wandering off more towards the fruit and vegetable

stands. Her eyes were dazzled by the assorted colors and shapes that were stacked upon the stands. She was nearly ready to try and purchase all she could. Everything looked so pretty to her here. Bananas, apples, oranges, and more. Most of it from the other regions as her own had little in the way of farmland.    "Here," said a familiar voice behind her.    Elev turned around and smiled at being greeted with an apple held by her bodyguard. Her tail gave a small wiggle as she looked to it and then back up at him, nearly ready to refuse it. She felt like it could be some sick joke until he extended his arm more to her and smiled. The serval took the fruit graciously and whispered her thanks before she turned around and bit into the delicious treat.    Her cheeks were tingly and felt so warm now. The feline was nearly swaying in place as she delicately ate the apple, chewing it as quietly as the fruit would allow. Sensing her wolven guard behind her still made her cheeks grow warmer. The blush was hard to hide, knowing she was possibly losing herself in her favorite food item. Today seemed to bring her many emotions out of her that she didn't expect.    She was ready to turn around and tell him to stop laughing, feeling as though he was holding back from being noticed. When she did, she saw him pulling his glasses off and begin using his shirt to rub at the lenses. Her eating stopped as she watched, looking to his face without the glasses. He seemed calm and minding his own business until he looked over and saw the serval staring at him. His muzzle slowly slipped on that smile before he reached over and ran a thumb gently to the side of her smaller one.    "Careful there," he teased, giving a wink and licking the apple's juice from his thumb he had swiped from the corner of her lips. Without another word, he returned to cleaning his glasses with his silent purpose.    Elev felt embarrassed about having some of the fruit on her fur without noticing. He was at least kind enough to help out. It was a moment before she managed to get back to work on the snack she still held. Her mind played through various ideas of what his true intentions were. Could he really be this nice? He had to want something in return, right? What if he really is like this? Would it be so bad to have what she wished for? Was it so strange to finally have someone else she could possibly talk to?    "Would you like another?" the wolf asked, setting the glasses upon his muzzle and adjusting them properly before looking to Elev.    The feline swallowed the last bit of her snack before she answered him. "I..would," she said hesitantly.    Without a word, the wolf strode over to the vendor and began talking. She could tell he was still trying to grasp things in this region. He pulled out a small handful of coins, looking them over closely and mumbling to himself. The merchant pointed to a few and began

talking about which fruits were those amounts. Klein explained the situation and the lizard behind the stand gave a chuckle before handing him a few apples and taking a few coins from the wolf's open palm.    When he returned, the canine held out one of the apples and smiled. Elev took it and began her second snack of the day. Klein held onto the others as he let her walk where she wished and followed behind once again. It was strange to have a guard like this. The serval wouldn't be one to complain now, though. He had seemed rather genuine in his actions and appeared to be of no foul to her. There was one thing that disturbed her greatly, however.    Last night, he had shown skill with a blade not many of the soldier here even have. He had held off an assassin by himself and kept her safe with what looked to be little effort. Despite his cuts, he appeared as though the night before didn't happen. It was a side of him that he probably didn't let out much. What else was he hiding? Did he use to be an assassin or another employed blade? Is that how he was able to get her father to agree?    The latter few questions made her scared. If he was of a hired blade before, was he just trying to get close to kill her? Was the South after their land, too? Elev bit his bottom lip in frustration, hating to keep conjuring up these types of questions. If she was so curious, why didn't she ask? Was she scared she might reveal his true intentions and then kill her on the spot?    No. That was improbable. Her mind quickly began running through the events of the night, trying to remember what he had said. He had asked why the attacker was after her. He didn't know of any resources. The wolf had also managed to show his lack of knowledge in what a Seer was. Perhaps the Southern region never had one. Even her own Eastern region seemed rare in these kinds of gifts. While he was interrogating the assassin, the wolf had been in a different state of mind. Something more focused and far more deadly. He had also stated he didn't enjoy mindless violence.    To Elev, it appeared that he may just be acting himself. He was much more lively and bright than when he was fighting last night. Maybe it was his manner. His way. It was still something that scared her. If she didn't know what triggered it then she may be in danger out of ignorance.    "Sir Klein," she started, looking back to him at they walked.    "Please," he said, holding up his free hand as he smiled. "No titles."    "As you wish. I would like to inquire about last night," she said, slowing her pace to let their shuffling of the sand and dirt calm more.    "Okay. What would you like to know?"    "When you were fighting, I saw something different in you. Today, you seem very uplifting in contrast. What..triggered your sudden change?" she asked, now fully turning around to face him. If he was to lie, she at least wanted him to

do it to her face.    "I become..focused..more aware of a few things when I become like that. It usually happens when I become involved with something I care about. Something I..believe in or so. Hard to really explain it properly," he said, rubbing at his chest some.    Elev noticed his hand and lifted her brow. He was still hurting. "Like..a predator to its prey?" she suggested.    "A little. I tend to get more involved in the moment. Such as, everything around me tends to fade out and I see one or two goals ahead," he tried elaborating as his fingers finally moved away from the metal scales of his armor.    She at least understood him more clearly now. It was like his own visions but kept in a time of here and now instead of soon to be. Of course, it wasn't exactly the same but it was something she could grasp onto. The serval could relate a little with him on some level. Her hand came up and gave his chest a small pat onto the metal armor.    "How's your wound?" she asked tentatively.    The wolf sighed and tilted his ears back a bit as he answered. "It's still bleeding some. Not a lot. Still hurts a little, too."    Elev nearly gasped at his answer, surprised he had been hiding it so well from her. "What? Why didn't you tell me sooner!?" she nearly yelled at him.    He stayed silent but his eyes told her everything. She didn't need her visions to see what he was saying inside. He wasn't trying to look out for himself but for her. The bandages were done by him, alone. He was a stranger in a strange land and he was all by himself. Very little people to talk to and much less to relate with.    "Come," Elev said quickly, pulling him by his arm some, "We're going to get you treated properly. Now."    The wolf complied without any resistance, possibly more due to the tone in her voice. When she gave her tugs, she knew he could refuse if he wanted. He was strong and his stature wasn't inclined to move without his own will, for the most part. The two hurried back as quick as time would allow, the serval hoping he hadn't been foolish in his decision not to let someone know of the nature of his wounds.    They were back inside the palace before either of them knew it, Elev guiding the wolf along until she stopped at her door to open it. The wolf helped and then stood aside, knowing the importance of her own space. The serval took his arm and gave him a nod, letting him know it was okay to enter this once. She needed to make sure his wound wasn't infected or worse.    "Let me see. I've learned a few treatments from the tribes in the forest. Trust me," she said, looking to his eyes before running to her array of spices, herbs, and other assorted items on some shelves.    The canine complied, unfastening his armor and letting the metal and leather rest over her bed as he sat at the edge. His eyes watched her pulling a few bottles and

leaves into a small pile before she set it all in a bowl and hurried back over to him. Klein tugged at the shirt and lifted it up, revealing the bandages wrapped snug around his chest. The yellow strips of the wolf's handiwork were already showing signs of needing to be changed.    "When did you put these on?" she asked, quickly pouring a few liquids into the bowl and mixing a leaf or two into the mortar with the pestle. Her hand worked quickly to mix the ingredients until it was a slick looking paste.    "Last night. A bit before I found..Ja..Jasu?" he told her, questioning the name to see if he got it right. Even now, he was still trying to pronounce and remember names. His arms shifted to pull his shirt up and off, pull it out from under the bracers he wore.    "Yes, Jasu. Oh, my goddess," she whispered, looking over the straps against his chest. Her fingers began delicately undoing one end and slowly unraveling the messy cloth around him. It looked painful and she hadn't even seen the wound itself yet.    The slow reveal of his wound made her wince at just how bad it looked. It wasn't infected, thankfully. It was still bleeding a little which lead to her being slower at pulling the bandages free. She didn't want to tug a wrong end and tighten it, nor did she wish to pull a part that had dried and open the wound further. The wolf remained mostly quiet during the process, letting her work at her own pace.    A few minutes passed until she reached near the end and pulled a hair too much. The wolf winced and gave a grunt, gripping the soft sheets under him. Elev flattened her ears, glancing up to him with an apologetic look before moving to her water basin and running her hands in it. Her damps fingers rubbed along the dry area of the cloth before she applied enough moisture and slowly pulled it free without more harm.    "Sorry," she whispered, finally pulling the long strip of cloth off him and tossing it aside.    "It's fine. Is this going to hurt?" he asked, eying the mortar full of the paste.    Elev looked up to him after surveying his wound and smiled. "You've taken a hit and are still bleeding yet this is worry you have?"    Klein chuckled a bit at himself and looked away, possibly from a slight embarrassment. Elev looked back the deep cut, nearly afraid to touch him. It looked like it hurt plenty as it was and he was worried of her healing paste stinging. It was ironic but she didn't want to waste more time with such thoughts.    "Lay back, please. It needs to set," she told him, pressing at his shoulders.    When her canine guard complied, she noticed his toned nature a bit more. He was very well taken care of and certainly a sight that seemed pleasing. The serval shook her head to clear her thoughts once more and grabbed the mixing bowl before climbing up next to him. Her fingers dipped into the paste, the serval leaning in some and

resting a hand to his stomach.    "Try to relax," she told him, smelling the strong aroma the cream had. It was certainly going to sting.    When her fingers first applied the paste to his wound, the wolf bared his face and cringed. She used her free hand to pet along his stomach and arm to try and soothe him. It was supposed to be a strong concoction to weed out any possible infection and make sure any openings would be closed. The wound itself would heal over time, possibly with a scar if she didn't get to it when she did. If he was lucky, he wouldn't notice it had ever happened in time other than his memory of it.    Elev continued putting more of the paste on the wound while she waited between applications to help ease him. His body tensed each time, gritting his fangs and closing his eyes tight while he held onto the sheets. She was feeling sorry for putting him through more pain but it was to help him. Eventually, she finished and set the items aside as she got up and began washing her hands in her basin. The white compound she made and the blood the wolf seeped along the water until she had cleaned herself completely.    "Don't get up. It needs to set. Remember?" she said, noticing him trying to sit up and stop.    "For how long?" he asked, his breathing normal but in longer intakes.    Elev thought for a minute, trying to remember what Venus had told her about it. "Only for a bit. Just relax and let it do its job."    Klein gave a nod, reaching up to adjust his glasses while on his back. "Okay," he said simply.    Once Elev had dried her hands it was a bit quiet and calm in her room once more. She moved over and sat down next to him, glancing down at him with her eyes full of interest. The wolf noticed and raised a brow, a bit lost for words. The two stayed silent a moment longer before Elev finally broke it.    "What's the Southern region like?" she asked him, more tempted to ask if all people there were like him.    "The South? It's calm. Not too many worries other than those stricken by nature. Well, for the most part. The people there are mostly nice. Plenty that aren't, though," he said.    "Why did you leave it?" Elev asked, continuing her personal inquiry on the wolf.    Klein stayed quiet a moment before finally speaking up again. "I just wanted to see what else was out here. Read and heard about vast deserts, tall and snowy mountains, and more. It caught my interest enough to venture out. I had to learn a few languages, of course," he answered her and smiled.    "I notice you have trouble with our names here. A fast learner, though," she said and gave his stomach a small pat.    "You never answered me last time," he told her, lifting his head to look at her more directly. "What exactly is a Seer? Do you look at the stars?"    Elev smiled and shook her head as she began explaining her visions and

more. She went on to tell him about how she's under constant watch due to her need by the king and importance of how she could keep the war from destroying their region. The serval continued her talk, the wolf listening eagerly as he let his freshly tended wound settle more.    It was a little later of them exchanging small facts about each homeland before Elev helped the wolf up. Alterise was close by and was kind enough to fetch some clean bandages for him. The serval took it upon herself to dress his wound and make sure everything was proper. She had needed to clean the small bit of blood from his light chest fur but he looked to be much better situated now. It took only a minute to make sure the bandages were wrapped tight before she let him dress himself and slip his armor back on.    In a brief moment of thought, the wolf tugged and tore the sleeves from his shirt to leave them much shorter than they were originally. Elev looked to him, a bit bewildered, but he mentioned the armor made it a bit too warm for his liking. She smiled and gave a nod in understanding as he patted the metal donning his chest now and headed outside of her room.    "Klein," she said, a bit quietly.    The wolf stopped and glanced back, his body partially out in the hall. "Yes?"    "Thanks for talking with me. The South sounds very nice," she told him and gave a small bow with her head.    The tall canine smiled and gave her nod in return before he said, "No need to thank me. I enjoyed it plenty."    Elev smiled and thanked him again before she let him stand guard outside while she went to clean up her supplies. Perhaps her flood of emotions earlier were all because things happened so fast last night. She felt a lot more calm now. Maybe she could talk with him more often. He seemed genuinely interested in all things around him. Talking certainly helped her relax, too. Taking time to do it more might just help her be more at ease now.

     The next day came and went by smoothly for Elev. She was taken to the forest, as promised, and even allowed to stay longer than she thought. Klein had been a bit worried of leaving her at the edge of the forest but reluctantly gave in. She had told him all her guards had waited there for her and never pried into the forest after her. It took her telling him that she had never been in danger within the trees and lush green before he agreed and settled himself under a tree for some shade.    Within the forest, Elev made her way through the familiar paths that were most obscured. Her heart raced with excitement of seeing her friend again, eager to tell her of what had happened recently. When she passed the huts, she saw Venus concentrating hard with a small selection of bowls before her. Jebediah was sitting in front of her with his arms crossed and watching her carefully.    As the serval came in closer, the water buffalo

glanced to her and held a single finger up to signal for her to wait. Venus was staring intently on the items in each bowl, her tongue sticking out and lightly patting to her upper lip. The small gesture nearly made Elev giggle but she stifled herself and kept watching. It was hard to see what she was trying to accomplish until she grabbed a bowl and held it to the large male.    Jebediah took it and looked it over before he gave a nod and set it aside. His voice was low but very rocky. "Good, child. You saved the village today," he said and nodded towards Elev. "You have a visitor, Lisa."    Venus turned and jumped up, quickly leaping over to her friend and hugging her tightly. "Elev! Pretty, pretty Elev is here!"    The serval blushed at her comment and smiled, returning the hug before the headed off to their usual area near the water. "What were you doing? Why did Jebediah say you saved the village?" she asked, interested in knowing what had been going on.    "Papa Jeb likes me to remember which ingredients are for what and keep me on my toes. He told me that this time a terrible fever had broken out in the tribe and I had to pick the right ingredient that lowers it," Venus explained quickly while hopping about. The cheetah never failed to amaze Elev with how much energy she always had.    "He lied to you about a fever in the tribe?" the serval asked, finding it in very bad taste to be a way of letting her remember ingredients.    "Hehe, no~ Jebediah tells me it's a..a sort of..um..an exercise," the cheetah explained, clearly having another word on her mind instead.    "As if it were a real scenario?" Elev asked and began thinking the idea didn't sound so bad, so long as Venus knew it wasn't real.    "Yes! That's it!" Venus shouted and clapped her hands.    "Mm, well, it's nice to always remember the important items," Elev said as she sat down and looked out at the water.    The rocks and trees nearby made the area one of the only places she felt a bit more calm at. The serval had a hard time concentrating in her room with previous guards always making so many noises or purposely keeping her cooped up. That reminded her of Klein resting outside the forest and giving her a wary look for letting her venture in here. He didn't know her father's connections with the tribe, so it was easy to understand why he would be worried. She just wanted her space and to enjoy the area with her friend.    "I wanted to visit yesterday. Something bad happened and I was really wanting to talk to you," Elev spoke up, catching her friend's attention instantly.    "What? What happened?" Venus asked, settling in next to her as the two began picking up twigs and weaving them together.    "I..I was almost killed the other night when I returned home. My guard was slain right in front of me," she said softly, keeping her eyes down. It was hard to relive

the ordeal to tell it to her friend but she pushed on and explained the situation. It wasn't a long story but she made sure to tell all the details she could remember. From her guard dying right before her eyes to the wolf coming to her rescue and saving her.    "Oh, my! It sounds scary," Venus whispered and glanced to her friend. "This wolf that saved you," she trailed off, thinking a moment before leaning in some, "is he still around?"    Elev gave a slow nod to her spotted friend and smiled some. "Yes, he is. He's my guard today. He tried letting me come here yesterday, though it's probably good I didn't. He had a bad wound I needed to tend to. He's a bit stubborn about himself. Your remedy you taught me for bleeding cuts worked well," she told the cheetah and hugged her around the neck.    "Mhm! Jebediah said that's one I need to really remember with how hectic the war is sounding in distant lands. He's also trained me to use a bow and arrow," Venus said, a bit too happily. "I can hit apples a mile away if I take my time!" she gloated. She neglected to mention the detail of having to use twenty arrows to do it.    Elev was proud of her friend but still worried she was being taught to use weapons. Perhaps the serval should take it upon herself to learn the use of a sword. Maybe she wouldn't need a guard so often. It could at least help her be a bit more prepared if another attempt was made on her life.    "The wolf, Klein, is nice to talk to a little. He acts different than my last guards. You've seen them at times. It felt nice to be a bit more at ease and just have him listen. He was interested in so many things, too," Elev said, remembering him waiting for the cream to settle and telling her of the Southern region.    "Oh? Is he cute?" Venus asked bluntly. It seemed the cheetah had yet to get the hang of easing questions into conversations that were a bit more proper.    "Uh..well," Elev started, never really thinking about it before. Was he? Did she find him cute? Handsome, maybe. Her mind toyed with the thought a bit before she looked back and flushed lightly beneath her fur. "Well, he's pretty handsome, I guess," she admits. It was hard for her to let her guard down and admit something like that, though it wasn't like she was day dreaming about him.    "Oohh~ A handsome wolf! Elev has a crush!" Venus said and flicked her tail.    "N-nonsense! I don't have a crush on him. He's just a very defined wolf. Besides, I'm to marry into royalty as my father deems necessary. He's from the Southern lands. An outsider," she explained and furrowed her brow. It felt like she was trying to fool herself into believing all those things. They were true, weren't they?    "The South? Oh, tell me more! What's it all like?" Venus asked, almost bouncing as she faced the serval.    Elev repeated what Klein had told her. She moved on to each topic quickly, almost

as if she was trying to get onto another subject. The talk went from why he was here to how he acts, then it ranged from his homeland to his looks once more. Elev didn't mind speaking about it all but a part of her felt a bit embarrassed. It wasn't like them to discuss a male like this.    "Why do you want to know so much about him?" Elev asked, curious as to her friend's reasons.    "He's interesting and new. I never leave the forest other than a couple times so I don't know what it's like outside. When I first saw your home I got lost," the cheetah told her, twisting her paws around anxiously. "Not many visitors here, either."    Elev gave a nod to her and lightly pat her leg. "Okay. I just wanted to know," she said and smiled.    With that, the two girls began talking about other subjects. They talked about how the festivals had stopped after the years of the war escalating more. They discussed which colors made the best silks. Topics changed and the day dwindled down before they knew it. Elev let out a heavy sigh and gazed to the trees above.    The sky was the brilliant orange at sunset, her feet within the water as they relaxed. Venus had taken the liberty to swim around for a bit before hopping out and pulling her simple cloths back over herself. Elev always wondered she didn't dry off first but never bothered to ask. Could just be the way she was raised.    "I need to get going. I'm sure Klein will be upset if I don't head home now," Elev said while her ears flattened.    "Can I see him?" Venus asked, shaking her head to fling the spare water from her hair.    "I guess so. I don't know if he'll be upset already or not, though. Just a warning," the serval said and stood up as her feet left the water and onto solid ground.    They ventured back through the trees and brush, trying to hurry a bit. Jebediah gave Elev a friendly wave which she returned and hurried along. The tribe looked to be ready to set up for the night when she passed. Torches were being lit and a few were heading into the huts. When they approached the edge of the forest where she left Klein, Elev turned to Venus quickly.    "Please don't make him angry," she pleaded to her.    Venus gave a swift nod and let the serval lead her out. "Of course, Elev."    As they came through some brush, Klein peeked out from behind the tree he had rested under and smiled. His glasses gave a soft glint for a second before showing the eyes behind them. He looked content and not unhappy at all, at least from what Elev could tell. He had pulled his shemagh out and wrapped it around his neck at some point. It looked as though his armor was a tad cleaner, too.    "Hello again," he greeted them, glancing from Elev to the wide-eyed cheetah girl. "Who's this?" he asked, nodding his head towards Venus.    "This is Venus. She's been my dear friend since childhood. She's helped

me through a lot of tough times, too. We were talking and she said she wanted to meet you," Elev told him simply. If he was as genuine as he had been showing recently, he could ask for more information.    "Oh? How many years?" he asked instantly, smiling to Venus and giving a light nod with his head to her.    "I'm not certain. Maybe fifteen or twenty?" Elev said, unsure of the actual time frame she had known her friend.    "Quite a while. I'm glad you had someone close you could turn to for the most part. Things get rough and it's nice to have a friend," he said a bit quietly.    The girls agreed as Venus leaned in and looked him over closely. The wolf eased his head back some as he noticed her proximity to his face before she pointing directly to his lenses. Her finger inched forward until she managed to tap at the glass and gasped lightly. It was certainly something new to her, it appeared.    "What are those?" she asked in awe. Her eyes were wide and full of curiosity, flicking her tail quickly.    "Venus!" Elev said, feeling embarrassed at her actions. The cheetah acted like a child with her curiosity at times and it often lead to Elev or the other tribe members trying to get her to settle down.    "They're glasses. I wear them to see better from far away," he explained to her. He didn't seem upset, but he did look slightly uneasy to her close proximity to him    Without warning, Venus let her hand dart out and snatch the glasses, quickly running off with them. Klein blinked, suddenly his vision a little more blurred the further away objects were, not entirely knowing what to do. Before he could move forward, Elev placed a hand to his chest and gave it a small pat.    "Don't worry. She'll be back in a minute. She does this with the tribe elder, Jebediah, quite a bit from what I hear. Even did it a couple times to me. She just wants to look at them on her own," the serval told him, looking to him a bit. His eyes looked softer without the glass in front of them.    It took a few minutes of them waiting, Klein still trying to looking to trees and plants that were growing darker, before Venus returned with her ears tilted down a little. Her arms stretched out to him as she held the glasses out in her open palms while looking up to the wolf. Her tail curled around and hugged her leg as she stood still and spoke.    "I'm sorry, mister Klein. I've never seen these things before. Don't be mad at Elev, please," she said, apparently remembering her agreement not to upset him a tad too late.    "It's quite alright. Just ask before you do something like that," he told her and gently took the glasses before placing them upon the bridge of his muzzle once more.    It was surprising, to Elev, seeing him act calmly and smile to Venus even after she had taken his glasses. Venus seemed just as surprised, perking up a little before she moved in

closer. Her head moved from one side to the other, trying to get different angles on the wolf's face before she eventually stopped and gave a nod.    "You are nice," she said and looked back to Elev. "You're right," she proclaimed and nodded eagerly.    Klein remained silent but smiled wide, understanding a bit of what they had talked about. He didn't pry and didn't make assumptions on the little bit of information, though. It was her own time with her friend and he didn't want to intrude.    "You must be ready to go," Elev said, her eyes lowered from her guard.    The wolf tilted his head to the side and looked towards the sunset. "You sure? I thought you would be here a bit longer."    Elev and Venus looked to each other and then back to the wolf as the serval asked, "Really? You..you would be okay with that?"    "Of course," Klein said and smiled, his tail wagging. "Just don't be too long. King might have my head if you stay out too long after dark," he told them.    With that, Elev and Venus gave him a nod as they rushed off again. The two quickly began talking and giggling like children as they enjoyed the extra bit of time they got together. During one moment, Venus had mentioned to let Klein come in and join them. Elev disagreed and thought he might become impatient with them.    "He's a nice wolf, though. I don't see the harm," Venus said, looking back to the thick brush and cluster of trees as if she could still see him.    "You're right, he is. I just don't know yet. What if he turns out like all my other guards?" Elev asked, clearly not wanting this change of pace to go back to what she was used to. "He could become just as prude and impatient."    "You think too much," Venus teased and peered around some. "I think it would be fine. He was okay with you staying longer without him here. Maybe he would enjoy it more being included," she suggested.    The serval flicked an ear and bit her bottom lip. Her mind chewed on the new idea a bit as she contemplated it. She knew she would feel left out if others were having fun without her. Maybe that's what made all her other guards hate coming here for. The only problem with including the wolf would be trying to figure out how to keep him entertained. For all she knew, he could find their time dull and drawn out with drawing symbols, talking, and small chases in the forest.    "I'll think about it," Elev finally said. She was still unsure how it would end up if she did invite him along, but a bit of her secretly hoped he would have fun. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have another join their care-free time.    The rest of the hour seemed to slip by faster than they had planned, Elev rushing back to the wolf with Venus waving to her from the treeline. Klein seemed to show signs of being angry with her letting a bit of time slip away, nor did he look to be upset he was even there.

One the way back, he asked her about all she did, letting her know if she wished to not tell then he would understand.    Surprisingly, the serval found herself talking his ear off with how much fun she had. The wolf held nothing but a big smile as he listened and continued asking questions. He seemed full of them. Elev even teased he may be part feline with his nose being so curious. Klein couldn't help but laugh a little at the remark and agree.    Once at the palace and the entrance to her room, Elev bid him a goodnight and turned to close the door before stopping. It had been longer than she could remember where she was heading to bed so happy. The serval's tail gave a tiny wiggle as she stood still before looking back to Klein and smiling to him.    "Thank you for helping in bringing me this wonderful day," she told him and finally moved within her chamber, closing her door slowly.    "You're welcome. I hope to bring many more," the wolf said and gave a soft bow at the waist before letting her close the door between them.    It was unlike her to feel so at ease. She had expended much of her energy with her friend and even enjoyed telling her guard of the time she had. Perhaps if she let him come into the forest with her once in a while, he may enjoy himself plenty. It certainly was a thought that Venus had brought in a different light. Time would tell if it would be a good idea, she told herself while getting ready for bed. The serval could wait and see if his interest everything dwindled or kept up. If things went well, maybe she could end up trusting him. With those last few thoughts, Elev found herself drifting into the comforting sleep of such a great day.

     The days passed one after the other and, each time Elev had Klein as her guard, they were amazing. He always did his best to give her as much time in the forest or at least see if they could. Of course, this was met with times where she wasn't allowed and nearly let it ruin her day. Klein saw it to himself not to let that happen.    They had spent some days walking about the palace or the city just enjoying idle talks. He was just as curious as ever to know more about the land, the war, her life, the history of the place, and anything else that popped up in his mind. A few times, she had even shown him some of the scrolls in which she used to draw designs. It was almost like a game when he began pointing to some and asking what they meant or trying to call them out to remember them.    She was still hesitant about telling him more of herself at the moment. Days turned into weeks before she let him know of her markings and how she got them. His attention was unwavering as he listened to what she said, his tail kicking up a frenzy behind him. As she explained it, she told him of what Venus had said and pointed to a few of the places to say what each one meant. She had nearly turned around to

loosen her silks and let him see the back before he stopped her.    It was cute to see him act so awkwardly about her undressing only a little before him. It still made her blush some but she wasn't trying to seduce him. Elev felt comfortable around him after a while. He was certainly a gentleman for explaining himself in his actions of averting his eyes. He had said he didn't feel as though it was proper, even if it was just her back.    Instead, she drew the lines onto one of her scrolls and explained it to him that way. He looked much more at ease, possibly worrying about someone coming by to relay what they would see to her father. In hindsight, he was probably right in having her not show the markings. Explaining it to the king would be impossible.    Weeks slowly turned into months as she continued talk with him on a regular basis. Days without him as her guard were spent with her drawing, mixing herbs, meditating, and other assorted routines alone. Even with him as her guard, she found herself doing some of the same routines with him nearby. A few times, he had even meditated with her or watched her draw and mix ingredients.    It wasn't until one night that she saw more to him than he let on. It was a rare moment where she couldn't sleep with him outside her door and she had decided to maybe talk and help ease her mind some. There wasn't anything on her mind but she just couldn't rest her eyes well. When she opened the door, the serval glanced around and saw her guard sitting down against the far wall.    Klein was sitting down with his knees up in front of him and a rather worn looking book held within his hands. He glanced up to her and smiled, a leg falling to the side, as he closed the book with his finger between some pages. He looked far more comfortable than she could have guessed while sitting along the tile. The glasses upon his snout gave a light glint before he tilted his head and beckoned her over.    "Something wrong?" he asked, starting to push himself up before Elev held her hands up to him.    "Please. Stay seated as you were. I just can't sleep. What were you doing?" she asked as her eyes looked over to the literature still in hand.    "Just reading. It's something I enjoy doing when I can," he answered her, settling himself back down and smiling up at her.    "What's it about?" Elev asked, moving closer and trying to get a look at the book.    Klein chuckled and lifted it up for her see. It wasn't easy for her understand the lettering, as Klein saw from the look on her face, and the gentle wolf spoke up. "Fairy tales. No long journeys of any sort."    "Oh, are they the same in the South as they are here in the East?" the serval asked, now very interested in what sorts of tales were on the pages. "Books are a rare commodity here."    "I noticed. Been searching for some fun ones each time I'm in the market. I don't

know if they're the same but I could tell you what some are about," he said as he lifted the book up and opened it again. "It's from my homeland. Traveled pretty far, as you can see," he mused, lifted the book some to show the worn cover and pages. It was like a complete opposite of him physically.    Elev sat down in front of him, hugging her legs to her chest as she listened with rapt attention to the wolf's voice. It hadn't dawned on her until now that his voice was rather soothing with that bit of his accent in there. His Southern traits were still upon him and she surmised there would be no change of that. Her ears perked up as she watched him read some and tell her a bit of the tale.    The few he did tell her about sounded close to what she had heard before. There were a few differences here and there, a different character or small change from the ending but she enjoyed them plenty. As she listened, she almost wished he would simply read to her. A slight bit of shyness occurred and she refrained from asking. She may sound like a child for requesting such a thing. Still, it sounded nice.    They continued on for a bit until the serval finally stood and thanked him for the time. He did help her relax and let her mind ease towards needing sleep at least. She waited at the door for a moment before she spoke again.    "Maybe you could read it to me sometime," she said, hoping it sounded light a playful joke while also secretly holding her breath.    "I think that would be nice," he replied with and gave her a nod. "Just say when," he told her and let his tail wag a bit.    Elev hid her smile by facing away from him for a moment but couldn't seem to stop her small from giving a wiggle. The proposition elated her and she was very eager to find a time to do so. She knew she was ready for bed at night for the most part, but perhaps sometime during the day would be fine.    "Then I'll be sure to let you know," she told him and gave him a smile with a hint of a blush. "Goodnight, Klein."    "Goodnight, Elev. Sleep well," he said softly, watching her close the door until it shut completely.    With that, they both went their separate ways. Elev slipped into the soft sheets of her bed, giving a light coo as she enjoyed the comfort. Klein let his eyes travel along the words written among the pages before him, reading at his own pace and losing himself in the book. She didn't know he was so keen on reading. He even enjoyed fairy tales, which was something most of the males around her land would never admit. If he read often, he probably knew of other tales or bits of history she could enjoy learning about from him.    The serval squirmed in her sheets a moment before settling down and hugging one of her numerous pillows against her. She was eager to know more now. The only issues would be her needing concentration for her visions and to let him report them to the

king as usual. It wasn't as though she stopped trying, but her visions had been coming less and less as the days went by. She wasn't sure if it was a good sign or a bad sign. One thing she did know was that her curiosity was now at its peak.

     Days went on, weeks slowly counting up, and Elev began finding herself far more comfortable while being around the wolven guard. He didn't act as her regular guards and didn't take on the grumpy attitude they had. It was nice to have someone enjoyable around her for most of the days. Even someone who did their best to let her get out of city as often as possible.    She had asked a few questions about him, curious about simple things at first. His favorite food or color, or knowing what season he enjoyed. Elev was surprised to hear about this thing called snow. Ice that falls from the sky but is gentle? She had never seen of such a thing here in the desert. Rain was rare enough for her to see. It took her some time to settle in more before she decided to start asking about him on a deeper level.    While they were headed to the forest one day, she decided it was a good time to begin. At first, she was shy and slightly afraid he may turn away from the idea of talking about anything more. He had certainly enjoyed talking about the good and easy things. The thing that bothered her most was that she knew he wasn't telling everything. Whether that was for her own safety or because it troubled him, she still wanted to know. It was easy to see in his eyes that he had things on his mind but didn't say.    "May I ask something, Klein?" Elev finally said, noticing a bit of their walk had been in silence.    "You may," Klein said as he glanced to her.    "Do you miss your home?" she asked, looking back to him from over her shoulder. She saw him lower his eyes and tilt an ear.    "Well..some," he said, staring at the ground as they walked. "It's hard to explain. I miss certain things about it. My knowledge and language of the area were nice to have but are pretty meaningless out here. I've learned to adapt, though."    Elev slowed her pace, wanting to keep their conversation going. "I enjoy hearing about your homeland. It sounds like a lovely place to visit."    Klein stayed silent a bit longer before he spoke softly. "Yeah.. Visit."    "Is there something wrong?" she asked, now nearly stopping to listen carefully.    "I lived there plenty of my life. Know some people I enjoyed being around." His voice was unusually low now. "Knew," he corrected himself.    "What happened?" the serval asked as her ears folded back some. She could hear something in his voice that made her worry.    Klein stayed quiet a bit longer, his steps getting a bit slower. Elev nearly thought she may have to speak again but let him choose to talk when he wished. It was a few minutes before he finally let her

hear his words once more.    "I don't know," he managed to mutter. "They slowly left my side, one by one. I never did anything different around them, so I don't understand it. Perhaps they just grew tired of me. I had a hard time making any new friends for a while. By the time I made one, I seemed to lose two or three."    Elev stopped and turned around to face him. He nearly bumped into her for letting his eyes travel the dirt and sand before stopping and having his eyes move up. The serval had her ears folded to her head, her eye brows high and her hands held tightly together. She didn't know he had been lonely even in his own land. No wonder he had been acting so friendly here. He just wanted to be accepted.    "Klein, I'm sorry. I never knew," she said, stepping closer.    "No, it's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. You're not at fault. I just never found myself a place where I felt as though I fit in after that. I had traveled to the North a little but found myself struggling with the language more than I would like. It's a lovely place and cold, which I enjoyed. Read some scrolls that were being carried across the lands and learned of the Eastern region and its beauty. Hardly knew of the war before coming here. Thought the city walls were a bit strange," he admitted and gave her a weak smile.    Elev managed a consoling smile in return as she reach out to give his arm a small pat. "I know what it's like not having many people to turn to. I'm sorry you've lost your friends."    "A rare few I lost without their own consent. Death saw to that," he said and took in a slow breath. "I try not to think about it. It is nice to get it off my chest, though."    "I'm glad you can tell me," Elev said, giving his arm a small tug to encourage him to move his feet once more. "I think today will be special for you. I want you to come into the forest with me. You can meet the tribe and Venus and I could show you our favorite spot. Would you be interested in that?"    Klein's ears perked up as he heard her suggestion, unable to hide his lips sliding across his muzzle into that warm smile again. "I would love to, should you have me."    Elev gave a nod and hurried him along as they made the rest of the trek towards to the lush forest. As promised, the serval guided him along inside and lead him to and fro through the brush and trees. It was rather cute to see him nearly tripping half of the time as his eyes were taking in the whole area. He had only see the beauty from outside and none of the majestic wonder that was held within. She couldn't blame him, either. Every time she visited, it was just as wonderful as the last to her upon seeing the area.    Klein eventually found himself within a tiny clearing of huts and unlit torches. Various other folk walked about, giving him a friendly nod and even a few waves he was more accustomed to. The wolf responded in kind,

noticing a number of felines but a few other species as well. A water buffalo that looked a bit gruff but gentle gave him a warm smile before lifting Venus off the ground and onto his ground. The cheetah girl made a giggle and held tight until she noticed the visitors.    "Elev! Oh, you brought Klein in? How do you like it? This is our village! You want some treats? We got-" Venus began rattling off, clearly a bit hyper from either the aforementioned treats or simply his presence.    "Calm, Lisa. I'm sure the wolf doesn't want to be over-burdened on his first trip here," Jebediah told her, cutting off her rambling.    The cheetah gave a nod and quickly buttoned her lips while she sat herself down upon the male's shoulder. The water buffalo was a bit taller than the wolf and clearly a bit more built. As he walked forward, Klein stood his ground and let his eyes travel up as the large male got closer. He wasn't intimidated by the buffalo, especially after being greeted so warmly.    "Klein, is it?" the bigger male asked, tilting his head.    "Yes. Who might you be?" the wolf asked.    "My name is Jebediah. These are my people," he said with a low rumble to his voice.    "Your people?" Klein inquired, his brow raising a bit.    The buffalo gave a soft laugh and put a hand to the canine's shoulder with a heavy pat. The force was enough to catch Klein off-guard and make his knees nearly buckle before he tensed himself a bit. Jebediah explained that Venus had told him of the wolf, letting him know how he had been kind with her when she snatched his eye wear and how he let Elev stay as long as possible. He also explained a bit of the tribe and how he was essentially their elder.    "I try to get her out of the city as much as possible. I don't like seeing people cooped up so often," Klein told him and glanced to Elev.    "Well, I'm happy to hear you aren't like her other guards. Venus has taken a liking to you as much as Elev, I'm sure," Jebediah said, giving the cheetah's leg a small pat on his shoulder.    Both of the girls looked away, one blushing and the other giggling. Whether for the same reason or a different one, Klein had no idea. The two males talked a bit more, Jebediah telling Klein of the war and the tribe's part in it. Klein expressed his interest and his care by trying to reason to the buffalo of not having his people come to harm.    Elev found it unique how Klein had just met with the male and was already trying to help him stay out of harm's way. It had been how the serval had felt about the situation since she first heard of it. She didn't want her friend hurt and she certainly didn't like the idea of a whole tribe becoming slain from an invading army. Eventually, Klein saw there was no way around it and thanked him for his time.    "I just don't wish to see anybody as kind as you folks coming to harm. I understand the

king has given plenty of items and more, though I just hope you may not have to fight if it comes to it," the wolf said, giving a small nod.    "I see where you come from. I do appreciate your concern for us but we've learned to fend for ourselves in this forest for years. I don't think some swords and arrows will be any more dangerous than nature herself," Jebediah told him and gave the wolf a much gentler pat to his shoulder. "Thank you for your care. I will keep you in good light among my people."    The two ended their brief conversation as Venus climbed down from the buffalo and took off into the trees with a bright smile. Elev nearly followed before giving Klein's arm a soft tug. The canine began turning and following, giving a glance back to Jebediah as he saw the buffalo give a nod before he felt Elev's hand grasp his own.    The canine let the serval pull him along, leading them through a few thick areas of brush and some heavy branches to either duck under or move around. It took a minute or two until he could hear some running water. A waterfall or a stream of some kind. His tail wagged as he was finally pulled through a bit of leaves and revealed one of the most serene bodies of water he had ever seen.    The area was surrounded by some rocks and the treeline made a perfect blanket around the place. The light coming through the leaves and branches above was just enough without being too little or too much. It was much cooler than other areas and far more cool than being outside of the forest. He could still hear the running water, curious as to what it may be but decided to wait until another time to find the source.    "This is where Venus and I like to spend our time," Elev told him and let go of his hand slowly.    It took a moment before Klein could speak, finding himself lost in the beauty of the place before he let his voice be heard. "It's amazing. Simply beautiful," he said, turning his head this way and that to see it all.    "We think so, too," Elev said quietly and admired the area herself.    Venus was already climbing upon some rocks and swinging upon branches or vines that she found. It was certainly a spot to just enjoy and ignore the outside world. Klein could see why she never wanted to leave. Her friend was here and this place was too wonderful to not stick around.    It was a very relaxing spot and Klein was in the process of looking for which place looked best to read in. A few of the rocks he could lean against and watch over them if they needed something. One of the trees that had fallen over long ago looked sturdy enough to sit upon and relax on. He was clearly enjoying the possibilities until he felt a light pat to his chest.    The wolf blinked as he brought himself back from his small fantasies of reading and looked to the pat. Elev was smiling to him and gave her head a small nod towards a tree that was at a small angle

towards the water and a few large rocks next to it. He followed her quiet signal and helped her settle down where she wished near the tree before taking himself a seat against one of the rocks.    "Venus will bounding around for a bit, so not to worry if you hear her yelling. She's full of energy," the serval said, giving a soft laugh.    "I could tell. It wouldn't surprise me if she never slept," Klein joked and smiled.    Elev laughed a bit more and agreed before she calmed herself and spoke again. "I didn't bring you in here just to see the area. I wanted to talk a bit more. If..you would be okay with that," she explained.    "That's perfectly fine by me. What did you wish to talk about?" he asked her, leaning back along the rock to situate himself more.    "You," Elev said simply. Her legs laid at her side while she ran her fingers along the ground below, her other arm supporting her stance.    Klein lifted his ears, his eyes looking her over to make sure she wasn't toying with him. "Me? I'm not too interesting," he said modestly, hoping his dark fur along his cheeks and muzzle could hide the slight blush.    "I think you are. You saved my life, you've been nothing but kind to me and everyone around me, you don't ask for anything in return, and much more. I want to know more," Elev said, her voice soft as she watched him try to avert his eyes from her own a few times. "Since the day you saved me, I've wondered about something specific. I know you told me not to look once you had killed the assassin, which I truly appreciate the kind gesture, but I had to take a peek."    Klein shifted a bit uncomfortably, looking out to the water and trying to find ways to keep himself occupied as casually as possible. His fingers straightened the bracers, he shifted his chest piece, his legs moved into various stances where he sat. All of the things he did seemed to not help him feel any less of being put on the spot.    "It was very impressive work. No need to be uneasy. I don't expect the use of a sword on someone and there not to be blood. I was wanting to know how you were able to wield it so effectively. Like you had done so your entire life," she said. Her tail flicked behind her as much as it could as she waited for him to speak.    "It's an odd gift. Like your visions, I have my own small ability, though it's not as involving. I can watch or read up on various forms of fighting and learn to do most of them rather easily. With weapons, it's about the same. I picked up bows faster than swordplay, though," he said, running a finger along the sheath of his sword at his side.    "You mean to say that watching another region's soldiers or trained assassins practicing moves would let you be able to do them as easily?" Elev asked, her eyes wide as she leaned in closer.    "A bit. It depends on a few things. I'm not as nimble as some so I may be slower

or just not able to pull off certain moves. I can at least find ways around them, should they be used against me. Reading up on some fighting styles has let me adapt myself better in coming out ahead," Klein explained and looked to her. "I don't why it's so easy for me to learn it. I will say, I'm thankful I can."    "Why is that?" the serval asked, flicking an ear at the sound of Venus making her excited sounds from jumping branch to branch. The cheetah had learned to let Elev relax a small bit before trying to get her energetic if she didn't follow immediately into their area.    "Because it saved you. I was afraid I would get there too late that night. Your palace is large and the halls are still a little confusing even after these months," he mentioned, smiling to her.    Elev looked to the ground, knowing the markings on her cheeks did little to hide the blush within their white cover. "I thank you dearly for saving me. I doubt I would be here today enjoying this time talking with you and still able to visit my friend if you hadn't come along. You're a very brave wolf."    "There's a fine line between bravery and foolishness," he comments and smirks. "Not sure which I really was that night, but I am happy things have worked out in your favor."    Elev let out a soft giggle as she scooted herself a little closer to him. "What's bravery without a dash of recklessness? I still say you're far more brave than any soldier that night."    Klein chuckled and gave a nod as he thought about it. It seemed proper and well said. He had to give her that one. "Since you're asking about me, can I inquire about you?" he asked.    The serval thought a moment, now understanding Klein's own feeling as though all eyes were on her. "If you would like, yes. I'm okay with it."    "Your markings," Klein began, reaching out and letting a finger brush to her cheek. "You told me your markings were given to you by Venus, correct?"    Elev nearly caught herself purring at his touch before she answered him with a quick, "Yes. She did." She had never purred in years, yet she nearly let herself from him. Was she really this comfortable with her guard?    "I've seen a few of your breed before. The king and queen are of the same, too. If you were birthed by them, how did you not have markings already?" he asked, looking over the white spots and the triangles under her eyes.    "I..wasn't birthed by them. I was born as blank as a scroll yet to be written on. Don't know who my true parents are. When I was adopted off the streets by royalty, it was pure luck. The queen is barren and the king wanted one of his own breed to carry on his name."    "Do females still carry the name of their father here?" Klein asked, wondering if the customs were that much different.    "No, but if a male weds into royalty through the female heir, they can assume prince status and

carry the name of my father that way. I know my father doesn't enjoy me thinking about being taken in and my true parents, but I can't help but wonder why I was left," she told him, her blue eyes looking out to the water.    Klein sighed and hesitated a moment before reaching over and lightly rubbing her shoulder and arm. "I'm sure they loved you very much. They may have wanted you to have a better life growing up instead of one of poverty," he tried explaining, hoping he was helping.    Elev leaned towards his hand and eventually let her head rest to his shoulder. "Thank you. I no not if your words or true but they help so very much. I hadn't thought of it that way."    "I'm sorry if my question brought any ill towards you," the wolf said softly, running his hand along her back to help her relax.    "No, I'm okay. It's nice to have a different look under the veil of the unknown," she murmured and let herself curl against his side with her eyes closed.    The two sat that way for a while, talking more of their pasts and how they came to be where they are. Elev was happy to hear that Klein had stopped renting out a room at the local inn and had a place within the palace recently. She told him of her childish jealousy of Venus' markings until she had her own which Klein chuckled at and held her closer. He mentioned everybody has small moments such as that and it's nothing to be embarrassed over.    They talked of their ambitions and dreams, encouraging each other to continue them. Elev had played with the idea of becoming a fortune teller for the city once the war was over. Klein thought it sounded interesting and she could put those designs she drew to good use. It was nice to hear it from someone else. She had begun thinking it was a terrible idea and her visions weren't to be played with in such a manner. He told her she could be more of a teller for the city and not each person. Describe events in her own time instead of having them demanded of her every week.    Klein was thinking of becoming an archivist. He enjoyed reading and collecting written works so he thought it would be a perfect dream for him. Being able to fill a study with various pieces of literature, history, and facts made him wag his tail. Elev liked the idea as well, finding it very different for a wolf who knew how to fight so well to rather take an interested in books and scrolls.    As they talked, Venus had taken it upon herself to move around and listen in on their conversation. She was nearly disappointed that Elev had yet to try and talk with her or make time to play some of their games. When she heard of her friend being sad, she quickly stifled her jealousy and simply relaxed with them nearby. For a bubbly attitude, her pace seemed to be calming now, which was rather nice. It was also interesting to learn more about the wolf.    For once, Elev was able to enjoy the most comfort and

relaxation she had ever been given. She stayed close to Klein, resting against him as they talked more and invited Venus in to their conversation. They were a little surprised she had come from the direction they weren't looking but not so much she had been listening in. They all talked and joked, telling of small tales or fables they had heard before. The serval found herself purring plenty as the wolf told of some odd tale she forgot most of. It was hard for her not to just rest her eyes and fall asleep right there against him.    When it was time for them to go, Venus had given them both a hug before rushing off to the tiny village. Elev helped lead the way back out thanking Klein for his time spent with her. She didn't imagine she would have been so comfortable around him. He was gentle and caring, interesting and full of curiosity. Elev eventually admitted to herself he was rather handsome, too.    Before long, she was inviting him more and more to the forest with her. She wished to spend more time with her protector, learning of any new things he wished to tell or teach her. It was strange that she was finding herself so interested in him in such a way. Nobody else had drawn her in as he did.    He had asked of her previous guards, wondering why they weren't so talkative or why they scowled so often. She never understood it herself but explained how she could relate with him feeling a bit lonely in her own land. Elev had even managed to tell him she enjoyed his company greatly, not wanting the other guards to return. Klein did his best to be there every day for her, even taking time to sleep within the hall next to her door.    A few times, he had woken up with a few of Elev's silks wrapped over his shoulders. It was certainly a sweet gesture on her part and he kindly returned them when time was proper. They seemed to be growing closer to each other as days went on, finding themselves able to confide in someone they could relate with. Elev noticed this and didn't want it to stop. She made mention of them needing to keep a little distance out in the city. If they were seen being a little too close, she had no idea what her father would end up doing. There was no need to risk it.    The more he came to the forest with her, the more they seemed inclined to spend it rather close together. Venus was hardly left out, welcomed in with open arms as they talked and joked. There were several instances that Elev had pulled Klein away just to let them relax together with nobody else around. Those were moments where they began heading into the forest in another direction.    Upon doing so, they did manage to find a lovely new area they began using are their more private spot. It was a bit further from Elev and Venus' original area and held a small body of water with the end of the stream he had heard from his first visit. In fact, the stream lead to a small but very relaxing waterfall at one end of

the water. Behind it was an alcove of rocks and an overhang of one large stone. They enjoyed the area plenty, finding it soothing to clear their minds, rest with a midday nap, or just talk and give each other consoling words or uplifting advice.    Elev had found herself cuddling up against her bodyguard more often, letting him drape an arm around her in the forest, and even gave him a very gentle nuzzle with her cheek to his once in a while. They were small bits of affection and he always returned them in kind. Elev wouldn't admit it, but they were acting as though they were a couple. The only thing missing would be a kiss from the wolf. The thought always made the serval blush and get a little shy.    It was one day in particular that seemed to settle their status in. Klein had been laying back on the ground, listening to the water and Elev's humming as they relaxed. Elev had been in a very pleasant mood, giving Klein a gentle tune to listen to as he rest. The poor guy always stayed up as often as he could to keep watch and had even fallen asleep a few times in the hall. She thought it was rather cute but she also knew he would get scolded if it weren't her to find him like that.    She had asked him about teaching her how to wield a sword properly but he wasn't too sure on the idea. He didn't want her in any more danger than she could be in if it came down to it. He even told her he wouldn't let it come to that. Brave of foolish, he was certainly a gentleman.    Elev lifted his head, settling her legs beneath him as a pillow, and continued to hum softly for him. Her tail gave a soft flick from side to side as she watched him ease into a peaceful state of mind. His armor lay in a pile at the nearby rock to him, having made it a custom to do so now. He found himself far more comfortable, he had told her and she allowed it. As she watched him, her hand came up and lightly ran between his ears and along the backs of them slowly.    Klein's face changed and his body relaxed more as the serval caressed his ears. It was a simple thing but it made the wolf become far more peaceful. She had also learned of his other weakness along his chin. If she gave him some scratches to his goatee and the fur along it, Klein would even make some soft noises she found adorable. After thinking about it more, she couldn't help but give his chin scruff a small scratch with her fingers and hear his light grunts and almost puppy-like noises as his tail wagged under him.    It made her smile every time, giggling softly before she leaned down and lightly touched her lips to his own. She didn't know what kind of impulse came over her but it just felt like a proper time. They had learned more about each other over the months and it was their own secluded spot. There was no harm in finally letting her defenses down for him. The two kissed softly, not breaking the moment for a bit until Elev lifted her head from him.    "I'm sorry. That wasn't very proper of me," she began to apologize as her face heated up from the intensifying blush.    "Don't be sorry," he said and smiled up to her before adding, "I really liked it. Happy you would share something so personal with me."    Without another word, Elev dipped her head again, kissing passionately to the wolven guard and letting the moment take them away. One kiss, then two. They piled up one after the other, the serval letting her heart flutter open and to her wolf. It was an amazing thing to experience and she was more than happy to keep it up. None of the kisses were heavy or sloppy, but rather sweet and intimate. It was as if Klein knew just how she preferred them.    They spent several minutes with their new form of intimacy before Elev finally stopped and gave the wolf's cheeks a few small caresses. His eyes were so very vibrant, even behind those glasses. The serval let her gaze linger more onto them this time. There were no words to speak, letting their eyes tell them just what the other needed to know. Klein was just as happy for this opportunity as she was.    The two admired one another for a while, listening to the soft sounds each other made. Elev was purring madly, his small tail twitching rather excitedly as Klein gave low coos for her. They stayed like that for a while that day, finding it hard to believe they were falling for each other so well and what felt like so quickly. It had been months since their first meeting but it only felt like a few days ago to them. In that time, they had strengthened their bond and deepened their admiration for each other.    Elev felt it was going to be the start of something new. Something amazing.

     Since that special day, the two had been kissing each other goodnight and enjoying soft moments of relaxation and cuddling within the forest. Elev was a bit wary of showing the signs of affection in front of Venus, telling Klein they should remain distant until alone. A few times, Alterise or Jasu had nearly caught them hugging or giving a soft kiss. Elev suspected Alterise had anyway, judging from the coy looks she gave her now. It wasn't anything demeaning, but she certainly enjoyed displaying that she knew something nobody else did.    One night, the female goat had let her know for sure. Upon requesting for fresh water in her basin, Alterise obliged happily and checked nearby before making soft kissing noises with a wink. Elev blushed fiercely before calming herself as the female servant reassured her that she would tell no soul.    "Love is blind, and I'm blind to your own," she whispered, giving the serval a small hug. "Be sure and keep him happy. He's a handsome one," she said playfully and quickly ran off to gather more water.    A little while later, she returned and Klein had come back from his small break. Elev gave them both a cordial nod

before Alterise left after pouring some water from a pitcher into the basin. The female goat walked by the wolf and stopped, giving him a wink and making a kissing noise to him, just as she had done to Elev. His ears perked and then tilted back, a bit worried before she gave his chest a small pat.    "Don't fret, big guy. She's a lucky girl. I see nothing but my service to this palace," she said and gave him a bow, then left.    Klein stayed motionless for a moment until he saw that Elev was refraining from a slight giggle at his stunned state. She told him that Alterise had done the same to her and it was okay. The girl enjoyed knowing things but never wished to use them against anybody. Not unless they had done something to harm her or those she cares about.    It still took him a minute before he relaxed completely and began talking to Elev. The wolf was clearly a little uneasy about the situation but he was getting over it fast enough. The night was young but steadily growing as they talked a bit before he reached into his armor and smiled. From within, he pulled out his book of fairy tales from his land and gave her a nod.    "Would you like me to read to you tonight? I know we've tried a few times but always get halted or otherwise," he mentioned.    "I would love you to. Choose one of your favorites, please," Elev said, settling down onto the tile before him as he did the same.    Klein's tail was wagging rather fervently as he began flipping through the pages and skimming through the lines before he made a light grunt. His eyes sifted through the text before he began his slow translation for her. The language was different and he had made Elev's seem like home now. The Southern language he still knew became choppy when he tried direct translation for her, so he had to read ahead and reword it after.    His words lightly echoed in the hall as he read to Elev without interruption for the first time. The wolf made sure to enunciate and add effect to certain phrases or words while smiling wide. It was obviously something he enjoyed plenty of and Elev was happy to see it. He was enjoying himself just as much as the serval was listening to him. They sat there for a bit, him continuing the story and her listening with rapt attention, before it finally came to an end and she gave a very soft clap for him.    The two laughed a little and bid each other goodnight, refraining from a hug at the moment to be safe. Elev stood and headed to her door, letting Klein enjoy his reading for the night before he spoke up. He wanted to let her know she was able to roam the forest tomorrow at any time she wished. The serval smiled and thanked him, letting him know his story telling was very appreciated and she had never heard of one so in depth. At that, she gave him a soft nod and closed her door with her mouth curled to that smile he always ended up putting there for just being himself in

front of her.    It was easy for Klein to pass the nights. His book had kept him interested constantly, no matter how many times he read it. He had even taken a few trips to the palace's library. They mostly had scrolls for selection but the rare book was still found within and made him happy to have something new to read. The only issue he had with the library was that no works could be taken outside the palace. Once he finished reading for the night, he would trek back and place the book or scroll right where he got it and wait for the female serval to wake up.    The day came quickly enough for him as he read and waited, taking a very small nap once daylight had come through a few windows. It wasn't much, but today they would be heading to the forest where he could become better rested if he wished. The wolf stood up and dusted himself off as he looked over himself. When Elev's door opened, he quickly looked up and gave her a nod as he grinned. It was hard for him not to smile around her now.    They made the most of their day, quickly heading to the forest and slipping around to their own secluded spot before Klein was already tugging off his armor and stretching out. Elev made herself nice and comfy before she beckoned him over and let him settle down with his head in her lap and his eyes closed. It was peaceful and perfect to her. To have someone she had grown to care about be just as happy around her. It was still hard to believe she had basically fallen for an outsider. An outsider who turned out to be her personal guard now.    They stayed quiet for a while, Elev running her fingers through his hair and along his ears. She had only seen him a few times without his ponytail and always when he had been trying to tie it back up. He looked so happy laying there with his head along her lap. The serval let out a soft sigh and traced her fingers along the edges of his ears a few times, trying not to giggle when they flicked some. It was possibly a few hours since until Klein made the first words.    "Would you like another story?" his voice asked, easing out without startling the gentle nature around them.    "I would love that," she replied and let him get up.    The wolf shuffled over to his armor and pried open a small area within the chest piece. Apparently, he had made his own makeshift holder for his book. It looked very clean and precise, just like his glasses. She had asked before and he had told her that his glasses were done by another. He didn't know much about working with glass. It took only second for him to be back and wagging his tail some as he settled down a bit.    "You want to get comfy this time?" he asked her, leaning back and resting himself against a rock before patting his chest.    Elev gave a nod and followed him over. Her smaller form leaned into him, curling up against his side while her head rested to his chest. She felt safe so close

to him, listening to his heart beating and his arm around her. She purred lightly for a minute until her eyes closed, listening to his heart and his voice rumbling in his chest at a surprisingly soothing tone.    It was hard for her to pay attention to the story but it was certainly one of the more relaxing moments she had ever experienced. Klein continued reading, translating it all just for her. While he read on, Elev's tail gave soft twitches, her hand rubbing against his stomach as she admired him more. Hard to imagine he seemed almost too good to be true. Her mind played with the idea of seeing him as a prince before she blushed and let herself listen to his story once more.

     It was a week later when Elev spawned an idea that she almost lost sleep over. It was perfect. The next chance for their forest retreat would let her give Klein something very meaningful. In secret, she spent a little bit of the day preparing, making sure everything was right. It was a little hard to hide it all from the wolf without her door closed but she managed. Luckily, their next trip was tomorrow.    Through the night, she prepared everything carefully, thinking of how to come about it and how to surprise him with it. She knew Venus was going to be training more with her bow which left them in no need to sneak by. The serval pulled a scroll out and tried to calm herself, drawing lightly onto the parchment as her mind eased. She was so happy she thought of something so unique for him and so special for them both. Her hand continued drawing until she nearly missed the quill in the ink before she decided to finally rest for the night.    The next day moved in quick once Elev had finally closed her eyes and laid her head. It was a bit of trouble but she managed to calm down enough to catch her needed winks. Klein was outside her door, as usual, and seemed to be lost in his own world at the moment. While watching him, Elev looked him over a bit to try and get a better judgment of how she would go about introducing him to the surprise but got cut short when he turned to see her.    "Ready to head out?" the wolf questioned, his tall form showing off the royal armor greatly.    Elev gave a nod as she replied with, "Yes. Let us go." She had taken all she needed before opening the door. All that was left was to reach the forest.    They left quickly, Elev wearing her cloak despite the warm day and began their walk to the forest. It felt like a longer walk to Elev than it had been all the times before. Almost as if she were a child again, making her way there. The walk continued, the serval making small glances back to the wolf as she smiled happily to him. There were a few times that Klein had asked if she were cold. She had to playfully move away from him when she said it was a little chilly for her as he tried bringing her in for a hug to warm her. This happened a few times, Klein

eventually giving up but chuckling to her about how a cloak might not be enough.    Finally, they made it to their destination with no trouble as always, not bothering to sneak by this time. Klein began unfastening his armor and setting it aside as he done many times before. While he stretched, Elev slipped her cloak free and began getting things ready. There would be no way to hide it from the wolf any longer with what she planned on doing now. No longer than she thought of him, he was nearly peering over her shoulder and raising a brow.    "What's going on there?" he asked, looking over the few bowls of items and odd substances in them.    "I'm making you something special today. Going to give you something that's been on my mind for years," she whispered as she mixed a few the ingredients together and swirled them around.    Klein watched and tilted his head, very interested in what she was planning on doing as the rest of the items were added into one bowl. The serval made sure to make the paste as properly as she could remember. While she was finishing up, she looked to the wolf and bit her lip. How was she going to do this? The question chewed at her for a minute until she spoke up.    "Take off your shirt, please," she said simply.    The canine pulled his cloth free from over his head as he shook some and straightened his glasses. His toned form was something she could admire all day. When he set the shirt aside, the wolf looked to her and then down at himself to make sure he did the right thing. The wound from his first encounter months ago had healed up perfectly, leaving no scar thanks to Elev's medical treatment. It had possibly just finished the complete heal over only recently.    "Good. Your sleeves were in the way," she told him and walked over with a bowl in hand. To be honest, he could have simply rolled the sleeves up, but Elev didn't want to risk the chance of ruining his shirt. "I want to give you something special, Klein. Something nobody else will get from me. Please, sit down."    Klein sat and stayed silent, watching her move around before settling on his left side. Upon being told not to move too much, he gave her a verbal agreement and watched closely. The serval let a finger dip into the bowl and draw out some of the paste while she began lightly painting at his left bicep.    The substance was cool to the touch when he felt it reach beneath the fur, staying still through the temporary shiver internally. When his fur lifted, she giggled softly and pet it back down with her other hand before continuing. It wasn't hard to draw with her fingers, using them as more dextrous quills to his arm. Soon, she found herself humming lightly as she worked, being careful to get it right and panning the drawing around his arm slowly. It didn't take nearly as long as it had for Elev years ago, but she was steady and made every line count.    Once

finished, she wiped her fingers free and rest a hand to his lower back to urge him up. In her attempt to sneak the items out right under his nose and do this, she had forgotten to grab a spare bowl. Looking back at the others, she thought of using one of them before deciding against it. If running the water over it instead of submerging it made the lines run then she wouldn't have that. Better safe than sorry.    "Into the water. Take it slow, not to ruin the work," she warned him and waited a moment.    Klein looked to his arm, able to make out a bit of the pattern but not all. He nearly walked right into the water before stopping and glancing back to Elev. If he was to submerge his arm, he would either have to lean far out and eventually douse his pants or walk out into the water and get his pants wet completely. There was a third option, though he remained still and wondered what to choose before he felt Elev's arms slip around his chest from behind.    "It's okay. I promise," she said softly and gave him a gentle hug before slipping away.    When he looked back, his eyes widened slightly as he saw her begin to disrobe while facing away from him. It had been the first time he had really seen the markings along her back, leading him to let his gaze linger just a bit longer than he meant. When her silks moved to her tail, he quickly looked away and took a deep breath.    It took him a good minute before he tugged the cord at his pants, unbuttoning them slowly, and eventually tugging them off. Next were his undergarments which were easy enough to slip free, leaving him in the buff as he kept his eyes from lingering over behind him. One step after the other, he walked himself into the water and shivered visibly this time. The cold and relaxing sensation of the liquid took grasp while he lowered himself in until he was waist high.    "Don't want to ruin these," he heard behind him and felt his glasses lift from his muzzle. Elev placed the eye wear aside on a nearby rock as she moved back in behind him. "Can you still see?" she asked him, rubbing his back gently to help calm him. Poor guy, she could tell he was a bit nervous. She was too. It was her first time seeing him like this and it would be a lie to say it didn't make her heart beat just a tad faster.    Klein gave a nod before he risked looking over his shoulder to her. "Yes. I only have trouble seeing things further away, remember?" he said and managed a wink.    The serval smiled in reply to him before she reached into the water and held his hand. His fingers intertwined with her own as she explained how he would need to lower himself. He was clearly larger and stronger than her, meaning she wouldn't be able to do it for him. He gave a nod and slowly began moving to sit back within the water. Elev watched carefully at his arm and winced when it went under.    She knew it would sting, possibly more than her own

due the complex pattern she drew instead of just stripes or spots as done with her own markings. The wolf gasped and shut his eyes tight for a moment, clearly not ready for the pain and grunted. Elev's hands rubbed along his shoulders until he eased up and opened his eyes.    "Did it stop hurting?" she asked him, letting him regain his composure.    His head gave a light nod as he spoke. "Yes. It stopped. Didn't expect it to sting like that," he admitted.    "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to hurt that much," she apologized and kissed his cheek from over his shoulder.    He smiled and shook his head. "It's quite all right. Just didn't expect it. Is it done?"    "Yes, it is. I do hope you like it," the serval said, her tail giving cute wiggles under the water.    Klein moved to stand back up, his fur clinging to his body for the most part while other areas simply hung and dripped the excess water. His dark furred bicep now had a rather intricate design wrapped around it. The tribal look was something he instantly took a liking to as he moved his arm about to see it from as many angles as he could. The white markings had two large outlines that formed an oblong box or perhaps a diamond on the side of his arm. It looked like he wore an emblem with how it was placed. The surrounding lines looked almost like stripes as the center moved out and around his arm until it met the other side.    "It's amazing. Where did you learn it?" he asked her, still looking over the design and wondering how a simple paste could have branded the tattoo upon him with the application of just water.    "I've seen it since I was young. Don't know where, but it keeps coming up in my mind once in a while. I drew it a lot when I remembered it some," Elev told him, running her fingers along the design now that it was set. "Know what it means?"    "No, I don't. I would love to, though," the wolf mentioned, marveling at the pattern.    "It means you're somebody very special to me. Somebody I would never want any harm to come to. It also means 'protection' I'm told. I want you safe, even though you put yourself in the face of danger by being my guard," she explained to him and hugging him from behind.    His eyes kept examining the tattoo until he rubbed along her arms and smiled. "I love it. I thought tattoos were done with needles."    Elev smiled and nuzzled to the damp fur along his back some. "Only in the North. They use sharpened bones."    Klein made a sound and then chuckled at himself before he looked back to the tattoo and held her hand. She was certainly skilled with her designs. Each point came to a sharp edge as if it were to ward off any attacker. His thoughts soon changed when he heard Elev's voice speak up once more.    "After the war, I won't be needing a guard regardless of the outcome. What will you do?" she asked him, her voice sounding

a little worried.    He had never thought of what he planned on doing after this. He had become settled in and comfortable with all the new things in his life that he didn't look ahead. His voice was low as he started speaking with, "I'm not sure. I didn't think about that. I had been wanting to travel to other lands until I came here."    "Maybe you still should. It would be nice for you to see more things and meet more people," she explained.    "What about you? Would you come with me?" he asked, hopeful.    Elev gave his hand a squeeze and whispered to him. "I'm sorry. I can't. I live here and under the rule of my father. My customs aren't the same as your own. I know of no other languages than those near me. When my father finds someone suitable to carry on his name, I must stay for him."    Klein's ears folded back as he stayed still and quiet. He had grown attached to her and she knew it. The same could be said of her, as well. It was just as hard for her to say those words than it was for him to hear them. The serval rubbed to his chest as she continued to apologize before she felt him turn around.    His arms moved out and brought her in, hugging her close him with his head resting atop her own. He wasn't angry. He wasn't acting out. He was a smart wolf and knew customs were different in other lands and regions. The wolf held her close, kissing the top of her head, between her ears, as he sighed and rubbed her back.    "I understand. I promise I'll come visit often," he told her and nosed to her ears.    Elev lifted her head to look up to him and smiled a little. "I would really appreciate that. I'm sorry if it feels as though I have crushed any dreams of yours."    He shook his head and smiled back to her. "No. I have no home here, sadly. As much as I wish to be your prince, that may have to be in another life. I'm an outsider and I could tell from your father's face that hiring me as your guard and an employed blade made him a little uncomfortable as it was. Anything more, I doubt he would have it of me."    It was nice to hear him explain things better than she could. To tell her and reassure her that it was okay they simply couldn't be together beyond what they currently have. He had made a friend whom he loved. Someone he cared about and could actually protect. That was enough to make him happy for now.    The serval thought a moment and blushed lightly, tentatively kissing his chest. "Klein," she whispered, looking back up to him. "I would like to give you something else today. Come with me."    She took his hand moved away, letting him look where he may as she began guiding him across the water. They moved along, letting the water raise to their shoulders and back down until she stopped him at the small waterfall. Her blue eyes cast him a soft look before she dipped under the falling water and went through. Klein slowly

followed behind, his hair becoming completely wet and hanging over his shoulders as the ponytail fell free.    The small alcove housed a couple of large rocks, one of which was now occupied with Elev sitting back upon it and her legs crossed. "As the king's daughter, I am to remain pure and untouched by another male until I am to be wed," she said, her voice echoing off the surrounding rocks and a bit more clear than expected.    Klein moved a bit closer, his eyes unable to keep from looking down along her before meeting her eyes again. "What does this have to do with me?" he asked, a bit unsure as to where she was taking this.    "I want to give it to you. As much as I should not, I want to let your time here be the best it can be with me. I trust you, Klein," her voice whispered out as he reached over and took his hand.    "Me..?" he asked, almost reluctantly. "Are you sure, Elev?"    "Yes. I'm positive about it. You deserve so much more for your kindness and gratitude. I offer you myself," the serval said, kissing to his lightly dripping goatee and leaning back. Her hand pulls his own, moving him forward until his larger form was over her, giving him a sweet smile.    The wolf was clearly interested at the offer, his tail beginning a small wag in the water as he gave her a nod and kissed her lips. His body moved in closer as he admired her lovely blue eyes while she let herself get lost in his golden gaze. Their bodies moved closer, his over her own until she wrapped her arms around him.    "Please..be gentle," she coos to him, kissing his neck as he moves himself over her a bit more.    He gave a slow and confirming nod to her as he did just that. His movement was slow and gentle, easing himself forward as they both gasped. It was an unusual feeling for the serval, never being intimate with a male before now, but it was far from anything bad. Her hand gripped the fur along his back as she tensed and felt a harsh stinging below.    "Are you okay?" he asked, holding still and caressing her cheek with his thumb. His hand cupped her soft cheek and cradled her neck gently as he waited.    "Y-yes.. Just..didn't expect that," she panted out and managed to raise her legs around his waist, hugging herself to him. "Please..continue," she encouraged.    The canine did just that, his arm moving under her to hold her close as he shifted himself and began moving forward once more. They both let out low sounds, their bodies warming each other from the intimate proximity. His hips stopped as soon as her legs tightened on him, kissing her neck and letting his free hand roam along her tenderly.    Their union was slow but gentle and full of pleasure for them both. Their bodies moved and found a rhythm that worked wonderfully, making the serval arch her back and the wolf hunch forward. It was magical to her, never experiencing such a thing as this. Klein

held fast, his body against her own as they made music with their voices that only such a moment could cause.    The faster their movements, the louder their sounds. Elev moved her arms up and around the back of the wolf's neck, doing her best to keep with him. It was hard for her not to lose it instantly with no experience prior. Her body welcomed him as they continued onward against the rock. The water quaked at the wolf's thighs, his deeper voice echoing in the small alcove.    It didn't take long for the rhythm to increase more, their hearts pounding away in their chests. The two kept up the intense pleasure, living it to the proper end and reward. Elev's toes curled behind his hips, her fingers moving down his fur and to his back once more to grip tightly. Unspoken signs were given on each end, doing their best to keep it going for as long as possible. It was simply too much, though.    Elev tilted her head back, hugging her protector close as her body tensed to him. Klein followed her directly after, hugging her to him and letting out a low howl as they reached their blissful ending together. The tempo stilled as their hearts beat heavily, attempting to slow down from the enjoyable acceleration. Elev relaxed, her body lay back upon the rock as her fingers ran along the canine's new tattoo while her other hand ran her fingers along his hair.    They were both panting and smiling, staying close. Klein let his eyes close at her gentle grooming through his hair, their damp bodies warmer than usual for the moment. His head leaned down to kiss at her cheek and lips until they could manage a few words. It took a little bit until they could, mostly spending the time still staring into the eyes of each other.    "Oh, my.. I never dreamed that would be so wonderful," Elev said, still trying to catch her breath and nuzzling her cheek the wolf's.    "No, you were the wonderful one," Klein said, a little lost in his haze but certainly remaining his flattering self.    They laughed softly and kissed once more before they heard another sound glanced to the source. They managed only to catch a glimpse of a very familiar spotted tail, possibly belonging to a certain, bouncy cheetah girl. Klein bit his lip as he stared at the area where the tail had disappeared through the waterfall, a bit frozen in place. It was only until he felt Elev's hand caress his cheek that he looked back to her.    "Relax. She's a curious one but she knows when secrets should be held. The only thing you need to worry about her is if she wants to take some of your possessions," she said and smiled. It would be foolish of her to say it didn't worry her some that they had been seen together in such a fashion. She knew better, but having been seen by another in such a way made her a bit shy once more.    "If you believe so, I trust you," he said and nosed at her neck before gently easing away from her.    Elev guided the pace for the most part, taking her time to relax until they were separated. They washed up quickly but paid special mind to each other as they headed back through the water and across to their gear. They couldn't risk having the scent of the other upon them or else Klein could be banished or worse. It appeared that their items were still there, a few things shuffled about and the royal armor inspected. It was clear Venus had come through here and found their spot.    "How do you think she found us?" Klein asked, shaking himself a bit to throw the excess water off him. He sat down upon the rock near his gear, letting himself dry up naturally for now.    "She could have followed us since we didn't sneak around this time. I just hope she isn't hurt and felt as though we're ignoring her," Elev said and sighed, using her cloak to lightly dab at her fur.    "I'm not," said a cheery voice behind Klein, making him jump and turn to hide his indecency.    "Oh! Venus!" Elev yelped, covering herself with the cloak to follow the same idea as Klein.    The cheetah smiled wide and flicked her long tail behind her as she looked to them both. "Naughty Elev!" she teased and then brushed her cheek to Klein's with a purr.    Klein simply blinked, the canine confused more than ever at the action while Elev blushed and looked away awkwardly. When she finished with the cheek rub, her shoulder joined in and pressed a bit harder to the wolf's arm, moving herself against him slightly before she turned away. It was impossible not to see the flaunt of her backside before she took off with a giggle. The spotted feline hopped out of sight and went along her merry way, giving light hums as she went.    "What was that about?" Klein asked, utterly lost and looking to Elev.    The serval remained blushing, her eyes looked to the wolf and said, "You don't understand?"    He shook his head, glancing around to make sure he wasn't going to have someone else sneak up on them. "No, why?"    "She's interested," Elev told him, awaiting to see if he would understand. When he still looked confused, she added, "She..wants to..," and trailed off, a little shy to even mention it.    That was when it clicked for him. His eyes widened as he coughed and felt his face go flush. "I don't see why. I'm just an outsider and all," he began, rambling and saying anything to keep the subject as low as possible.    Elev smiled and listened to his worried ramblings, knowing it was the tribe's way of letting others know they were interested in them. It was cute to see him learn a new custom in a strange way. The serval was hardly jealous that Venus was interested in the male. After all, she had admitted to the serval before that she found him cute. Seeing Klein's reaction to it, he certainly wasn't sure what to think or how to act about it.    "Just let her be

herself. She can be a bit forward and it might embarrass most of the tribe since you're an outsider and a guard my father employed but she won't take things far. She does it to many males in the tribe, all of them embarrassed how open she is to flirting," Elev explained.    Klein took a deep breath and gave a nod, relaxing some and watching the serval begin dressing herself. He took in her beauty, clothed or not, offering a warming smile when she noticed him as she returned the favor. It took a bit longer for him to dry, Elev helping by using her cloak to lightly dab at his shoulders and hair until he was able to at least get dressed partially. His armor and shirt would have to wait a while more for his hair.    It was when he felt her pressing the cloak harder to his shoulder that he turned around and let out an audible gasp. Her eyes had gone vacant, cast over in white with no sign of the lovely blue he enjoyed. He quickly turned and pulled her to him, rubbing her back as she stayed still. While she was in this state, he looked over her back and around her head for any wound until she blinked and her eyes returned to normal. Her look was worried, scared.    "They're coming," she said and held tightly around his neck.    "Who? What do you mean? Are you okay?" the wolf asked, clearly worried for her own safety than anything else right now.    "The West. I saw it. They'll be attacking midday sometime. I saw the sun, high in the sky and many of their forces ready to advance. They were close to my city," she told him, whispering the last part.    "Then we have to warn your father and all the others. Do know what day?" he asked, helping her stand and quickly donning the rest of his clothing. His armor was a bit harder to do in such a rush but he wasted as little time as possible.    "No, I don't. I'm sorry," Elev said, flattening her ears.    "Don't be sorry. You're doing great. We'll figure out when and be on alert from now on," he told her and rubbed her back softly. "Don't worry. I'll do everything I can to protect your home."    Those words seemed to work better than any others he could have said to her. Elev raised her head to look into his eyes, seeing just how true he was speaking. When he gave her a reassuring nod, she knew he was telling the truth. It wasn't even his home and he had no reason to stay here but he planned on helping Elev and her people keep their place. To keep their lives.    "What about you?" she asked, a little hesitant to bring up the talk from earlier.    "I'll find myself a home when I need to. Right now, your home is in danger and we need to protect it," he said simply.    It was his tone and that gaze he gave her that made her nearly swoon. Hard to believe he had such an effect on the serval. Her ears perked up as she gave him a nod and hugged to his chest, not minding the cool touch of the armor from it being in

the shade. He returned the favor and took her hand as they headed back through the forest. Elev's eyes strayed more than once to his new tattoo around his left arm, smiling some to herself.    When they crossed into the tribe, Klein stopped and did his best to relay as much information to them as he could. Jebediah saw the new marking and glanced to Elev, smirking some before he continued talking with the wolf. It was going to be hectic and tense until they knew when the army would arrive. The water buffalo agreed to keep watch as much as possible, giving Venus a small pat as he spoke in her ear. The cheetah ran off instantly, returning only moments later with her bow in hand and quiver of a dozen arrows.    "I can't ask you to put her in danger. I wouldn't want something to happen to her or any of your people. Please, just stay on watch," Klein pleaded, hoping to reach an agreement with the larger male.    "I know you care of many others. It's a very good trait. We know how to take care of ourselves. We will fight if we have to and we will win," Jebediah said proudly. He had plenty of confidence in his tribe and those around him.    Klein let him go on that, not wanting to waste time to try and persuade him. If the army were here today then they would be cutting it far too close in warning everyone. They took off again, both of them saying their praise and wishing of no harm. Everybody knew there would be harm. There would be death. It was war.    Across the desert, the two ran as far as they could, doing little to take a break in the midst of it all. The day was hot and dry, leading the wolf to slow down a bit more. It wasn't his type of climate, especially for running like this. Elev pulled him along, making sure he got to the city's walls before letting him stop.    Looking out into the distance, it was hard to tell if some army were attacking or not. The heat waves moved and swam across their vision like a sheet of water in midair. From what they could tell, it was relatively safe at the moment with no sign of advancing forces. If today wasn't the day, they had enough time to prepare defenses for the city. Nothing heavy for an offense yet.    Once he caught his breath, Klein took her arm and hurried them into the city, warning the guards at the gate what was going on. They quickly spread the word to other soldiers, some less armored than Klein, as word would eventually reach Malik and his two friends. It was a blur reaching the entrance to the palace, both of them rushing in and past Jasu who dropped a basket of silks in surprise.    It had become a second home to Klein, navigating the halls as fast as he could remember and quickly coming upon the king's chamber. A few knocks and no noise made him growl and knock harder. Still silence. The wolf glanced around and thought before he took off again, working his way around and to the dining hall where very few feasts were

ever held. A look around still showed no sign of Elev's father, making him grunt in frustration and begin running once more.    It took a few more minutes of them running about before they nearly ran into him and quickly told him of the urgent news. The two men talked of issues, ideas, and tactics until things were finally set in place. The city would be under heavy guard until they enemy forces were spotted. All armed personnel, including Klein, were to report to the wall for tomorrow. After that, it was up to Malik.    Elev looked to the wolf, worried about him and hearing of his departure for the next day. When her father left to go attend to others who have yet to hear the news, the wolf gave her chin a small brush with the back of a finger and smiled.    "I'll make sure things are set right," he told her and began guiding her back to her room.    "Thank you, Klein," she whispered, risking a small kiss to his cheek.    They arrived at her room not long after, not many words spoken between them but plenty on their minds. Elev was worried of the wolf's own health for coming days. Klein was worried of the serval's own city being under attack too soon. There was going to be no ease of minds coming soon with the weight of the war drawing closer to them. Elev had never been so distracted by the well-being of another before. She only hoped she was worrying over nothing.

     The next day came quickly for many. Elev had spent the night talking with Klein and repeatedly telling him to be careful. While they talked, he had tried several times to get her to get some rest but she refused until a guard came by to tell him it was time for him to post outside at the wall. Elev wished him well and waited until the guard left to give him a hug. All he could keep doing was telling her everything would be okay in the end as he left.    It was hard for him not to look over his shoulder as he went along his way, just as worried about the serval as she was of him. The halls felt so empty to him, echoing his sounds down the paths until he reached the entrance and made his way towards the city gate. The whole city felt lifeless and abandoned. He didn't like it at all. Merchants weren't selling items, people had taken to hiding in their own homes or within alleys. The guards had all formed along the wall surrounding the city itself. Many were on the platforms above, looking out towards the west while the gate remained closed and the varying soldiers within talked about what to do.    "Think we'll see them before they arrive?" one asked, a smaller leopard with basic gear.    A larger male, a crocodile, gave a hearty laugh as he picked up his pike. "They won't stand a chance against us, whether or not we see them coming."    Klein remained silent, simply listening in on the talk going on among the soldiers. A few had shunned him anyway for being an outsider

and finding no trust in him. He didn't blame them. This wasn't his home. It didn't make a difference to him, as he was bound to protect it as he would if it were his own land. Elev shouldn't suffer from the brute force of another.    "I see you got some war paint on," said a softer voice near the wolf.    Klein turned to see a camel kneeling down to him, tilting his head. The wolf looked him over and raised a brow before he remembered the tattoo and quickly covered it. "Yes. War paint," he said passively, not entirely sure what to reply with.    The camel let out a soft laugh and gave a gentle pat to his the wolf's hand. "Oh, no sense in hiding it. I like it," he said, settling down near him.    Klein remembered the camel's name a little late but still tried to be just as friendly. "Jasoul," he mumbled, getting a little of his own accent into the mix before he continued, "do you think we have enough to hold them off?"    The camel thought a minute and sighed. "I honestly don't know. Malik is frantically trying to scrape together a few items to held defend the city. The bright side is, now you get to have some my own cooking," he said, his brown eyes almost sparkling at the wolf.    The sudden notion caught Klein sideways as he looked to the lean camel and eventually chuckled. "Sounds good to me."    "Naiil thinks it's the best. Don't tell him I told you this, but I think that pudge in his belly is from a bit too much of my food," Jasoul said, stifling a small laugh as he wrapped his longer neck up a bit.    "Could you forward something to Malik?" Klein asked, knowing that Jasoul and Naiil were basically friends of the general.    "Sure, dear. What is it?" the camel asked, patting the wolf's back.    "If there are any catapults, to try and place them behind the city walls. It would at least give us an advantage of them not knowing what all guarded the city," he said, relaxing a little to pats.    Jasoul gave a nod and stood up as he dusted off his pants. His armor was slightly more ornate than all the other soldiers, leading Klein to believe he was high within the ranks as well. "Will do. Just get that cute hide to the camp grounds tonight for the best food you'll have tasted."    It was hard not to smile at that, Klein accepting the offer and watching the effeminate camel leave. It surprised him a little with how comfortable the camel was being himself, but also made the wolf feel less as an outsider and more of a welcomed friend. A glance around showed that many of the soldiers were still tired. Some were leaning against walls or one another, some trying to keep awake as much as possible. Perhaps tonight would give them a bit of rest. If the West was going to attack during midday, it would have happened by now. Tomorrow was another day.    As the canine waited and watched, his mind went through various scenarios in his head of how

they may be able to hold of the advancing army. He was certain not all catapults would fit within the city but maybe a few placed behind would help. The only problem would be properly adjusting them in time to not bring the boulders or other items down onto the city.    He also thought about going back to see Elev and make sure she was okay. She was probably pacing her room or the halls, doing her best not to worry too much. It scared him to see her have a vision like that. He had thought she had been wounded or he missed an assassin that had been nearby. It would have been his fault for it all, seeing as he was to guard her. Venus sneaking in on them was certainly enough and gave his heart enough of a jump that he had thought it nearly tried escaping him.    The night came soon enough and all the troops began catching their rest. Klein had made his way to the large camp site and experienced the fine cooking Jasoul managed to bring up. A great soup and some bread were certainly what he needed to help him relax. His tail wagged as he ate, catching the camel's look and snickering to himself.    "I guess you take after your species rather well," Jasoul commented and looked to him    Klein swallowed the bit of bread he had been chewing and raised a brow. "Why is that?"    "You're wolfing down your meal faster than most here," the camel replied and laughed softly. "Don't worry, though. I made plenty for everyone and there might be enough for Naiil and a few others to have some more."    The prospect of more food made the canine perk his ears up, unable to hide his flurry of wags behind him as he gave a nod. "That sounds really nice."    "I bet it does. I usually only cook for the troops under Malik's command at the time if it's anything big. Mostly just for Malik and a few others. It was nice to make a bigger batch of things," said the camel, looking around at the soldiers and smiling at the large number that had fallen asleep right after their meal.    "Can I ask something?" Klein questioned, looking over to the male.    "Anything. If it's about Malik and the catapults, he said he'll be moving as many as he can into the city. The rest might be in front," Jasoul said.    "No, not about that. You've been kind to me since you saw me, but I'm sure you know I'm just an outsider. Is there..a reason?" he asked, looking to camel.    Jasoul looked the wolf over and let a finger brush under the canine's chin and the goatee attached. "You're here under your own choice and you haven't run off yet. You're more family to me than most. You're defending a city and the land it rests on by your own choice, and it's not even your home. That says a lot. Besides, you're cute, too!"    Klein did his best not to smile but failed miserably as he chuckled. "Heh, okay. Thank you. Oh, and about the spare catapults," he began before he felt a hand on his shoulder.    "What about them?" said a cold voice from behind. The raven  was nearly glaring down at the wolf, the white patch on his forehead that traveled down his beak making him look angrier.    "I..was just going to say, you could place them behind the city to still keep them hidden. Adjustments would need to be made so anything thrown doesn't hit the city or land in it," Klein finished and found himself staring up at the avian from his seat.    There was a long pause before he gave a nod, the raven's features looking less angry, as he gave a pat the wolf's shoulder. "Good idea. I'll make sure I get some men on it first thing in the morning. Were you the one who talked of hiding them before? What's your name?"    "Klein," he said and stood up, finding himself just a tad taller than the lanky raven. "Yes, I was."    The bird's multicolored eyes lingered a bit longer before he raised a brow and gave a grunt. "An outsider that actually helps. Imagine that."    With that small phrase, the raven left and began walking towards the large pots of soup, his eyes peering into them. Klein watched him a bit longer until he felt a soft tug at her wrist. When he looked down, he saw Jasoul giving it a light pull an exhausted expression. The wolf sat back down and looked back to the bird a few more times until the camel spoke up.    "That's just his way. Don't worry about him too much. He actually enjoys it when he has to do less work, he just needs to feel superior in some fashion. Don't let it get to you," he said, rubbing Klein's shoulder.    The wolf stayed quiet for a minute until he agreed and relaxed some. "Okay. He should wear a sign around his neck or something, though."    Jasoul snickered softly and clapped his hands together a bit. "That's a good one! Secretly, we think his temper spawn from that right eye of his. The blue one is there only for looks."    The joking made Klein ease up more and laugh, telling the camel of other ones he had heard on his travels so far. The time passed by quickly before he began feeling the effects of sleep trying to take hold. Jasoul let him be and went to clean things up, ending up smacking the back of Naiil's large, ox hand from trying to take a pot. The two almost acted like a couple, with Jasoul agreeing to let the ox take only one of the pots to enjoy before he cleaned it.    The stars in the sky made Klein realize just how far away from home he was. A distant land and a place not of his own, yet he felt comfortable here. He wondered if he might find other places he would feel this way. To call a home away from home. He would need to brush up on the North's language more if he planned on heading out at some point. Still, that was a bit far off from where he was now. A turn onto his side and he felt his eyes lid before sleep finally carried him away for the night.

     Klein awoke the next day

to the sound of yelling and hurried steps. His eyes took a moment to adjust until he saw a few of the soldiers grabbing their swords, pikes, or axes and heading to the large gate. The wolf shuffled to his feet, grabbing his sword at his side and following them before climbing up a ladder to one of the platforms nearby.    His vision took longer to adjust but he saw what they were all hustling about. There was a large storm heading their way. Dust clouds and sand that were at least thirty feet high and heading right to them. It wouldn't reach for a little bit, but it was best to prepare for it. Many of the troops began covering their faces with their shemaghs, the wolf doing the same. The keffiyeh would keep the harsh winds from pelting his face and all but his eyes. Of course, he wouldn't be trying to look into the face of the storm, so that much was safe.    Naiil, the draft ox, had taken a position next to Klein, remaining silent for the most part. It wasn't long before they both noticed something wrong. As impossible as it seemed, they could make out something within the storm, possibly behind it. Klein's eyes tried focusing more until Naiil's voice muttered a few curses in their language.    "Impossible," he said, staring at the rising cloud while he looked over to Klein and shook his head.    The wolf had no comment, knowing there was nothing more to be said as he looked around to see how many others had noticed. Only a few looked to be gazing into the storm itself. Of those few, they were banging their knuckles on their fellow soldier's armor to get their attention. Some fingers pointed, others called out something odd, but none knew what they were looking at exactly.    "They're here!" Naiil shouted, grabbing his large axe and sliding down the ladder. The ox took little time in rallying the troops, Klein staying on the platform.    It was hard to believe that the West was riding the storm here. Their forces within the cloud of flying dirt and sand as they marched onward and towards the Desert City. Klein looked to the sky and saw the sun hanging between them. Midday was here and he had slept through the morning. From how groggy some of the soldiers looked, it appeared many of them had as well. At least they had some rest. Some more stamina to hold off the invading army.    "They've been marching for a while if they've been riding that storm!" Naiil yelled, his axe tapping the ground near him. "We've rested and we can overcome them!"    Klein had to admit, the ox had a way with his voice to make him feel a bit more prepared for this. His hand gripped his own sword, holding it tightly while he watched the storm and listened to Naiil ramble on about how he demanded to see the troops slay as many of the enemy as he could. This was counting all troops against the ox, which sounded a bit far fetched. He watched the ox stamp around, swinging his axe but clearly mindful of

those around him. The large male wore little in terms of armor, carrying only bracers and his chest piece. Other than that, it seemed he wore a simple, sleeveless shirt beneath and a pair of torn pants, lost from the knees down.    As the ox talked, Klein let his mind run through the various things to mentally prepare himself, always moving to Elev. He hoped she was going to stay safe and out of trouble. With all the forces keeping the enemy away, nobody would be there to stand guard at her door or wherever she might be in the palace. His attention snapped back when he heard his name, almost sounding like a cough from how harsh it was yelled.    "Klein! Down here!" Malik yelled at him and gave a wave.    The wolf hopped onto the ladder and slid down, standing before the raven instantly. Malik looked impressed to see the wolf so ready, his own beak and head wrapped up as well. He told him of the catapults being ready and that he wanted him to stay close to Naiil. Jasoul would be leading the troops right after them. Klein gave a nod and ran over to the rambling ox who let out a proud laugh at the news.    "I can tell I'll be up to a challenge with you here," Naiil said, chuckling to himself. "From how I heard of your ability to wield a sword, you might be right behind me in kills."    "We'll just have to see, won't we?" Klein told him and grinned under the fabric. His glasses wouldn't keep the flying particles out of his eyes, but they would help some. He could use them to his advantage to get in closer.    "Guess I better follow the bright idea," the big ox said, taking his own cloth out and tying it over his snout and behind his head with those large horns still exposed.    "When will the catapults go off?" the wolf asked, looking out to the closing army and the large cloud they were inside.    "Before we head out, I would hope. Would hate to let myself get crushed by my allies," Naiil joked, slapping the wolf's back in jest.    Klein felt the sting of his slap, cringing and moving his shoulders to work out the pain quickly. Hard believe he felt that through his armor. The canine kept his eyes outside the city through small slots or areas in the wall. He didn't want them to suddenly sneak up closer to the city without his knowledge.    Minutes felt like hours as they waited and watched. Everyone was keeping a keen eye on how far the storm was from them. Voices went silent and everybody stood ready. Klein and Naiil were against the wooden and metal gate, waiting for the sign to move out and lead the first platoon into battle. It was tense and the sound of the wind was getting louder.    Just when Klein thought they may end up stopping, Malik let out a call from atop a platform and swung his arm forward. The sound many ropes pulling free and heavy, wooden beams released from the strain sounded out from the city before dozens of boulders and chunks of

rocks flew overhead. Like a true commanding officer, the raven watched until the stones touched ground then signaled for Klein and Naiil.    The gate did the creaking swing open as they pushed once the supporting beam was lifted. It was heavy and only opened out to the desert, which worked in their favor as the two used their combined strength to open the large and heavy door-like blockade. The moment they could slip through, they stopped their push and moved out with a flood of other soldiers at their heels.    The storm looked much bigger than before now that it had drawn closer, the army within slowing their advance once the rocks came down upon them. It looked as though it certainly helped dwindled a few of them, small gaps in the line appearing as silhouettes disappeared. Naiil was the first one to charge in, yelling loudly in his battle cry as he held his axe with both hands over his shoulder. Klein followed closely at his side and heard the troops behind them letting out a cry of their own to sound larger than their forces were.    Half way to the storm and the army hidden in its veil, Klein heard a quick whistle to his left and saw one of the soldiers fall. An arrow had claimed their first casualty and death, sticking from the leopard's eye. Another whistle and the wolf felt the sting of it graze his shoulder. They were good shots and he was going in a straight line right to them.    "Break!" Klein shouted, his body ducking just in time to hear another arrow over his head. The wolf took off towards the left, still advancing as he saw the soldiers nearby try to imitate the dodging.    Naiil was already ducking and weaving himself closer, barely missing the arrows as his large body was a much bigger target. The ox had apparently not noticed his own arm cut a few times from the close proximity of the arrows aimed at him. Another soldier went down from the pointed projectile landing within his leg. It was a rhino, staggering to get back up before four more of the feathered sticks found themselves lodged along his chest, making the large male collapse.    If they pierce through the thick skin of a rhino then they had some deadly arrows they were using. Shields would be useful only for a limited time unless they were cast from metal. A look back to some of the soldiers with wooden shields confirmed his suspicion. A few of them had blocked plenty of the arrows but now either had their arm pinned to the shield, due to the piercing ends, or had to try and pry them loose. Some had discarded the wooden barrier completely as they continued onward.    The closer they got, the faster the arrows were being fired. Klein had to lay in the sand for a moment to find a break before leaping back up and moving with the group. His dodging proved to save him several times over as his leg nearly caught an arrow as well as his covered face. He could feel the wind against his cheek from how close that

one came, tearing at the shemagh and grazing his fur.    Naiil was sounding as though he was in a bloodlust. His voice was loud and deep, slipping into the whirling sand and dirt as he finally met the enemy's front line. It was hard to tell what exactly was going on, but it was easy to see which of them were enemies once Klein got closer. The shining plate armor was a silver hue instead of the bronze or golden colored metal most of the East wore. Naiil's axe made wide arcs and cleared the area around him, a few screaming after the sound of some heavy hits to the armor.    When Klein met the storm, his eyes squinted as he let as little dust and sand near them. Almost immediately, three of the armed troops of the West were taking swings at him. His reflexes were fast but slightly jerky from the sudden action. The wolf brandished his sword before him and batted their blades away until he found an opening. They looked to have removed their armored leggings from the heat, as well as the arms. They still held their weapons tight with their gauntlets and even a few had their helmets still upon them.    The first swing was a bit of a risk, aiming to incapacitate instead of kill. The canine whipped the blade across one of the soldier's legs, the sharpened steel tearing through the stallion's cloth and into the muscle. The other two retaliated as their fellow soldier dropped down with a cry, leaving Klein to jump back and watch carefully in the storm. He found it amazing they could fire arrows so accurately within this haze.    No longer than he thought that did he hear the whiz of another by his ear, causing him to duck and leave him open. The other two soldiers threw their arms down in wide swings, wailing on the single blade of the wolf's. Each crash was deafening, so close to his head, doing his best to regain himself until he heard that familiar cry once more.    The two troops had little time to react as Naiil's axe swiped one at the waist, cleaving him in half with ease under the armor as the other got knocked to the ground in a clump. The red mist of the first flew with the wind as Klein stood up and heard the ox mumbling a number to himself. It seemed that he took battles seriously and enjoyed them like a game, counting his kills instead.    With his save, Klein rushed further into the hazy and windy storm, slashing at all those that he saw with the silver looking armor. His sword met metal and flesh alike, taking no chance for a close call like that again. He had yet to see any of the archers that continue raining arrows down into the East's troops. Many species were falling around him from both factions, his eyes barely able to get more than a glance before the sand obscured them or another armed soldier ran at him.    He took limbs and lives, his heart racing the entire time while he wove himself further into the invading forces. He couldn't try to be careful around the enemy now.

As much as he hated it, they wouldn't stop until he stopped them. Naiil made quick work of many who opposed him, lifting them off their feet with the harsh blows into the armor from his axe. Klein was a bit more agile, trying to quickly stop them his own way by attacking the weak spots in armor or the areas without.    He was far from perfect. Each encounter ended up with him getting cut or lightly jabbed as well. That was the risk with fighting multiple enemies at once. His armor deflected most of the blows, denting areas and making him wince from the force. A few swipes at his ankles made him thankful for the leg bracers he had, only tripping a little and returning the favor.    The battle was heated, Klein only managing to catch glimpses of his allies while he fought on and dealt killing blows over and over. It was bloody and he didn't enjoy it at all. As skilled as he may be, it wasn't a profession he liked doing. His sword was stained in the crimson of others, his clothing and armor speckled and splashed with more. Another swing and he claimed the head of a fellow wolf for his own.    The muscles in his arm were growing weary after a bit, all his swings and deflecting taking a toll. The storm was starting to pass through, clearing up and revealing what was left. Klein panted and shook his head, making sure to shake a bit of the caked on dirt from his body as he saw exactly how much was left. There were twice as many still heading towards the city.    Klein stopped his attacks as he looked to make sure, seeing rows of the armed forces of the West marching forward. Sections were accompanying their own catapults, loaded full of rocks and ready to be sent off. In the  halt of his attacks, Klein felt a sharp pain in his side and dropped to his knees. His elbow brushed to the wooden pole of arrow lodged in his side where his armor was light and he knew it wasn't going to feel good what he had to do next.    His free hand gripped the wooden length of the arrow, giving a few quick breaths before he grit his fangs and yanked hard. The pointed tip popped free, his blood stained on the end as he groaned in pain and doubled over, clutching his side. Another arrow slipped over his shoulder, narrowly missing his neck. The wolf took some more breaths before picking himself back up and staggering to his feet. It hurt, but it wasn't going to stop him.    This was Elev's home and her land she loved. He wasn't about to fall to these forces. His wound wasn't deep, lucky for him. The leather along the sides did enough to halt the arrow from going deeper and causing internal damage. Could have been fired from the forces further on back, though he had no time to think about it. No sooner than he had moved forward did another arrow hit the ground in his wake. Then another.    The wolf kept his legs moving, doing his best to ignore the pain in his side as he finally met his first archer. The poor soul

had ran dry of arrows in his quiver, changing to a short sword at his side and rushing in to attack. Klein knocked the advancing tiger's hand away, swinging his curved blade back around and cutting the feline's neck across instantly. Even though he had no arrows left, it was one less archer to worry about. For all he knew, the tiger could have fallen back to retrieve more eventually.    Another loud groan off in the distance and he saw Naiil practically throwing a soldier into another. The axe was soon to follow, slamming into the two dazed bodies with a loud crunch of metal and cries of pain. When Klein could see him, he noticed the ox had caught a few arrows himself. Two in one arm and another in his leg, all broken off to keep him moving. It was frightening to see him still going and not slowing down in the slightest. The canine was thankful he was on the same side.    When he looked back, he saw Jasoul rushing up with their second battalion and possibly last offensive push. The storm was still going but not as heavy as it was during their first push up. The camel was making quick work of the ones trying to flank the rest of the first group. Another roar of their forces came out as they quickly caught up and engaged more of the enemy. Jasoul saw the wolf and quickly came to his aid, making sure that he wasn't too deeply injured. After Klein told him everything was fine, the camel moved on gracefully continued the assault.    It wasn't long until they met the first line of the larger force. The catapults were set free, launching their own retaliation as the rocks flew in the air towards the dwindling Eastern forces and their city. Klein barely managed to dodge a spray of rocks that were released from one of the swinging arms. They weren't too large of rocks but they made enough of a sound in the ground near him that he didn't want to be hit by any. Just one could probably knock him unconscious.    The sickening crunch of one of the boulders was enough for the wolf to know one had hit a target. He didn't need to see the aftermath. The vibrations under his feet had him realize more were falling around him. Moving or not, he didn't know which would be better considering where they might land. The canine rushed in one direction, seeing Jasoul gracefully moving as well. Naiil blundered off in a few different areas as well, making sure to run to where boulders last landed. The possibility of them landing in the same spot were slim but present. Still a better idea then blinding rushing, Klein thought.    More moving lead him towards the wave of their second offense, greeted with pikes shoved at him from different angles. His arm wrapped under one, keeping the soldier's weapon in tow as he knocked another of the bladed staves into the ground. The third was easy, pressing his curved sword under the rat's arm and into his chest from the side. A quick pull to free his weapon and he cleaved the muzzle clear off

the wolf before him. Another twist of the blade and he stabbed the end through the opposing canine's throat.    The third was still tugging at his weapon, trying to free it from under the arm of the wolf until it was let go. When he saw the lizard scramble about on the ground, he didn't expect what happened next. A large hammer landed upon the covered head of the scaled soldier, spattering it in different directions instantly. Klein jumped back and readied his sword until he saw the large water buffalo pull the now stained blunt instrument back up.    Jebediah had his own face covered in a make-shift mask of woven sticks and leaves. He let out a soft laugh at the surprised look in the wolf's eyes, nodding softly. It was nearly a relief to see him, and other members of the tribe in similar masks, coming to fight alongside them.    "I can't let that be for naught," he said, pointing to Klein's tattoo. "You'll make it through this."    Even though the tribes of the forest didn't account for numbers against the enemy, they did have their own specialties. A few were throwing daggers into the enemies, possibly coated in a poison they made. Others were using swords with quite a bit of skill and dedication. Some weren't so lucky to have joined in the fray, instantly falling victim to arrows, pikes, and more.    With the buffalo knocking the wind from some of the men and clearing a path, Klein continued forward. If he could keep them from advancing then perhaps they could still win this. There were only a few soldiers guarding the city by now, Malik having sent all he could to keep the invaders from getting any closer.    With their slow offense, they made their way through armored soldiers, losing plenty of their own in the process. It was clear they wouldn't stop while their own general was out on the battlefield somewhere. There was a good chance he was also barking orders or simply watching the slaughter. Without a clear indication as to who he was, Klein came to the conclusion he would just have to keep going until he found the commanding officer.    More men fell on both sides, blood staining the sand a ruby red as they fought on. Klein felt his side sting and nearly dropped, thinking he was hit with another arrow until he saw he was bleeding. He had opened his wound more from all his fighting. He couldn't stop with all of them out here. I didn't need to retreat for himself.    Another thundering quake behind him and he saw that a boulder had landed and broken apart. He was still far enough away but that didn't change the fact it was still too close. They obviously haven't fired off all their catapults, meaning he still needed to watch himself.    The sudden impact in his chest made the wolf stagger back and topple over, coughing to regain his breath. A soldier with an axe stood before him, clad in full armor as if the heat and weight were nothing to him. The metal

plates shifted as the soldier lifted his arms and raised the axe high before bringing it down quickly.    Klein rolled over and felt the ground shift behind him before turning and landing a kick into the metal stomach of the armored trooper. His leg stopped quickly but he knew the force went through and continued with another. This staggered the heavily armored male enough for the wolf to grab his sword and get back up to his feet. A glance to his chest showed the clean line the axe made in his armor, nearly breaking it.    As the soldier drew his axe back up, Klein studied him, looking for a weakness. Everything was armored or well protected and defended against. Another look over the invader and he smiled. Almost everything. The wolf juked right and slipped around just enough from the armored male before bringing his sword down and lopping the lion's tail free. There was a roar and angered swings to which Klein evaded until he brought his sword up.    The hit was perfect, landing under the armored lion's arm and into the small area where there was a sacrifice for movement over plating. Another roar and the wolf yanked his blade free, bringing it up again. Then again. Before he knew it, the arm came free and the axe fell to the ground. Even without an arm, the lion was reaching for his weapon, clawing at the ground. Klein made it quick, slipping the end of his blade under the neck of the helmet.    That's when he heard the yell of Malik close by. He was at the top of his lungs, wearing his more ornate armor and simply walking along the battlefield as if it were nothing. The raven's voice was only slightly muffled from the cloth and the dying storm, but everyone heard him clearly. His sword kept him talking, giving him time to repeat his phrase over and over.    "Fall back! We're no good out here! We need to head back to the city! Defend!" he called out, reaching to where Naiil and Jasoul were fighting before turning back. His beak never stopped calling out the order, issuing them to retreat.    It was tough to hear but Klein followed after the others who had begun to fall back. Few arrows were being fired now, possibly having their archers running low. One did manage to find the wolf's back, pinging off the metal but leaving it's impression and making him stagger. The remaining forces, tribal included, began heading back to the city. A few were picked off the moment they turned around, most able to get away with little harm.    The run back made the wolf hurt all over. His side was screaming at him and the dozens of cuts, jabs, and scrapes didn't act so quiet either. His chest burned and throbbed in pain as he continued his way back, moving around bodies, boulders, and weapons. The whole area was a slaughter and he nearly lost his way if he hadn't seen Jebediah beckoning him forward in the distance. The storm was becoming lighter but the city looked to blend in with it quite a

bit.    Once he staggered through the gate, he heard several others rush in behind him until the heavy groan of the gate closed. The large blockaid laid over their end of the entrance, a few soldiers moving it in place. There was little he could pay attention to, his limbs numb and his body aching as the wolf finally toppled over and collapsed into the dirt.

     Elev had heard the beginning of the attack, moving around the halls and one of the towers in the palace to watch from a window as it started. Alterise and Jasu were next to her, keeping their eyes on the soldiers as they moved into the cloud and practically disappeared. The serval had jumped when the catapults had launched, not expecting them to go overhead. When the storm came too close, they eventually pulled the shutters closed from outside the windows and waited.    She was worried about Klein, especially after seeing him be one of the first to head into the battle. He looked ready to go, watching take off with Naiil near him. They kept moving odd and she saw plenty of soldiers fall behind them. It was more than likely arrows they were trying to evade. The serval twisted her silks in her hands, her ears flat along her head as she sat in silence.    Alterise had gone to fetch spare cloths for bandages, knowing there would be wounded. Jasu remained at Elev's side for a while longer, telling her everything would be fine. His words were nice but they didn't help with what she needed. Eventually, he let her be and gave her a bow before heading off to help his sister.    Elev sighed and waited, listening to the sound of swords and crashes. The wind picked up somewhere along the lines but she couldn't remember. It took her a bit longer to hear the voice of the raven calling out and fading in the sounds of battle before returning. He was issuing a retreat and to barricade the city. Was it lost?    The serval quickly scrambled out of the palace as fast as she could, rushing towards the soldiers and looking for that special one. The one with the tattoo she gave him. Her eyes surveyed the men quickly, rushing past many until the last few entered in and the gate closed. The feline looked from one to another until she saw it.    The tattoo on the arm of the wolf she knew. He was on the ground, bloodied and motionless. Her hands moved over her mouth, rushing to his aid and kneeling next to him. At first, she was afraid of touching him, worried his heart had given out. When she saw the armor move with his breath, she quickly turned him over and began wrapping his head. The storm was ending and it wouldn't reach past the walls down at the ground.    Her fingers brushed to his cheek as she whispered softly to him, urging him to wake up. She didn't care who saw her like this, caring for an outsider and soldier. Even if he had to leave here sometime, she didn't want him to leave forever. Not like this. Lucky

for her, everybody else was far too occupied with tending to their own wounds to notice their Seer trying to tend to oneof the troops. Her fingers ran along his black hair, trying to ease him back to reality.    After a few minutes, his eyes opened, grunting and shifting as he laid where he was. His eyes focused as best as they could without his glasses, noticing the familiar face above him. His lips curled into a weak smile, reaching up and caressing her cheek as he finally came to a bit more and tried sitting up.    "Hello there," he whispered to her, doing his best to act as though nothing was wrong.    The serval helped him up and squeezed his hand before noticing the wound in his side. Her eyes widened, letting out a gasp as she lightly pat his back and told him to stay put. Klein looked to her and glanced at the gate before he agreed and shifted himself near the wall of a building. Elev nuzzled to his cheek for a moment before rushing back to the palace and inside.    She made a mental note of basic supplies she would need, rushing by Alterise and telling her to bring as much water outside to the soldiers that she could. The female goat gave a quick bow and ran off to let her brother know and help. Elev continued to her room and grabbed various herbs and items, picking up a few spare bowls, and rushing herself back outside.    When she came back to the wolf, she dropped all of her items before him and began opening a few glass bottles, pouring contents into the bowls and mixing things together. Alterise set a small pitcher of water next to them before moving to a group of soldiers and setting another down. Jasu began tending to some of the wounded while he set out some bandages. Everybody was doing what they could to save their land. To keep their lives.    Elev worked her knowledge of the recipe she had been taught by Venus, mixing and working fast before she finally had the paste ready. Klein winced as he unfastened the armor and pulled it away to show her his wound more, turning to lay on his side. She pulled his shirt up, worried about the other wounds but this one looked to be worst. Her fingers swiped up some of the paste looking to him for a minute and sighing.    "This is going to hurt a lot. Please, try not to move," she told him, waiting for a nod before she lowered her fingers.    The paste pressing into the wound some, Elev wincing as he did and biting her lip. She whispered an apology as she kept up the application to his wound. The mixed items would take a bit to set in and work, yet she knew he would be wanting to get back up and fight as soon as possible. Her fingers kept up their work, making sure to coat the wound and keep it from bleeding much faster.    "You'll take a while to heal, so it may appear to scar a little like your chest for some months," she told him, grabbing a few strips of cloth that Alterise had laid near her and began

wrapping up the wolven soldier.    His eyes watched her work, grunting some when she tugged the bandages tight before she finished. When he saw her washing her hand with a bit of the water, he slowly sat up and fastened his armor back over him. A look along the ground showed no sign of his glasses, his vision blurred in the distance as he tried searching. A hand slipped in front his eyes, holding out the eye wear in the feminine pads as a chipper voice sounded out.    "Looking for these?" Venus asked, having a slightly strained smile upon her face. Her craft mask hung around her neck with her bow slung around her body and her quiver shy of half the arrows.    Klein smiled and took the dusty spectacles, wiping them clean with his thumbs and then his pants before placing them back on his muzzle. It was nice to see familiar faces still up and around. Elev had finished with her hands, letting out a soft gasp as she saw Venus. The two hugged and talked briefly before they sat down and tried to relax near the wolf.    Outside, the storm had finished its own assault, leaving a much more clear and shocking look at the battlefield. Elev stayed close to Klein, not wanting to look out there if she didn't have to. The serval was scared for him, not wanting him to take anymore hits like that. Judging from the armor on his chest, he had hardly escaped a close encounter with another.    "Okay, they outnumber us more than I liked to think," Malik said, climbing up onto a platform. "I didn't anticipate them to bring so many and be so heavily armed. I will say, we still did plenty of damage to them. Naiil and Klein easily paved way for the rest of you to move in and disrupt their formations and wipe out their first offensive wave. Their second wave looks to be meaner and we hardly did much to them. We lost of a lot of people out there and I-"    It was sudden. Almost too sudden to catch what happened but everybody saw it. Just as Malik had turned to survey the area, an arrow slipped by with ease and grazed the bladed tip along his left eye. The raven made no sound as he fell, dropping from the platform quickly with a hand over his eye and bleeding.    Alterise rushed over and swiftly started cleaning the blue orb until finding the arrow had down more than graze it. He would either be blind in that eye or have limited vision with it. The fall had done more damage, making any chance of it possibly healing back to the way it was a pitiful wish. The servant goat wrapped his head swiftly and carefully, all eyes on him and awaiting to see what was going to happen next.    The raven was silent, holding his head and covering the bandaged eye as he scowled. His other eye, the red orb, gazed around in a craze before he sat up and grumbled. It took him a minute to stand back up and use his good eye to look upon the wounded soldiers under his command. He looked more intimidating than ever.  

 "Don't you dare let them get away with this," he says, clearly angered but sounding far more calm than he was.    Klein sat forward and stood up, Elev helping him slightly before she looked up to him. She was worried about him moving around so soon after the medicinal treatment she gave him but he had a look in his eyes. Those golden colors shining bright as he moved forward and used a slot along the wall to peer out. He certainly had something in mind.    The wolf stood there for a few minutes until his tail gave a small wag behind him. When he moved away, he beckoned Venus over and smiled as he pointed to the small opening and whispered to her. While she looked through, he came back to Elev and smiled a bit.    "I think it's only proper we return the gesture," he commented and began climbing the ladder. All eyes were on the cheetah and wolf now.    When Venus was done, she scampered up the ladder to Klein and pulled her bow from around her. They stayed lower, usingthe top of the wall as cover while they talked until Venus finally drew an arrow and steadied it on the bow. Pulling the string back, she peeked over the edge and waited. It was a long while that she waited, his tongue slipping from her lips and flicking lightly.    "Remember, the pretty one," he told her and watched patiently.    It was a while longer while she waited, aiming and adjusting herself as closely as she could before finally letting go. The quick thrum of the string sounded out as the arrow shot in the air. Klein followed it the entire way, barely making it out until it hit one of the soldiers, dropping them instantly. He gave a nod to Venus and told her to try again, watching her draw the arrow back but then reached over and tapped her amr from underneath lightly. The tiny touch made her lift a hair before she launched the second arrow.    This one looked to follow the same course as the first until the very end. Its descent was quick, swooping down until it made contact with its designated target. The commanding officer of the West was wearing rather ornate armor as Malik was. In fact, the lion had a small cape attached to the back of his armor. Vanity items or not, the arrow dipped and pierced the lion's skull, sticking out like an odd protrusion.    It took a minute, but the lion toppled, falling over and crumbling in the midst of his men. The entire army stopped and turned all attention to him, moving in to crowd around him. It looked as though they didn't expect archers of their own accuracy to be firing back. When Klein turned to tell the soldiers below of the news, they cheered and raised their fists in the air. Malik even managed a smile from his beak.    Sadly, their cheering was short lived as Venus tugged on Klein's arm and pointed out to where the lion had fallen. When the wolf took another look, he saw the feline staggering back up with the arrow missing. The armored general

had unsheathed his own sword and looked to be yelling orders. The Western soldiers instantly began advancing, rushing towards the city now.    Klein ushered Venus down the platform as he followed and told Malik of the issue. The raven looked to the sky, hardly able to believe it was getting ready for the sun to set soon. Plans would have to be quick or things would be scattered. Eventually, Malik had no choice but to tell them to hold the city and make sure it wasn't taken. If they could hold out until night then they may still stand a chance.    It was hard to sit idle and wait for Klein. He knew they were coming and he knew their general was angered and wounded. As for how wounded, he wasn't sure. Despite seeing out in the distance, it was hard enough to spot him moments ago. The wolf sighed and paced the ground as Elev watched. When the wolf thought, he seemed lost in his own world. As she watched him, she jumped with a light scream at the sound of the gate being hit from the other side.    The gate didn't look to budge too much, but it did shake. Another slam into it made her move away and closer to the wolf. From the various grunts on the other side, it sounded as though they were trying to use their own bodies to break the barricade. Klein reached into his armor and shuffled his arm around before he pulled out his book and flipped through the pages in thought.    "Here," the canine said, taking Elev's hand and placing the book in it. "I want you to keep it safe for me, okay? Can you do that?"    Elev looked at the worn cover and pages, lightly holding it in her hand before she let her gaze move back up to him. "Where are you going?"    "I noticed they all stopped when they thought their general was dead," Klein explained, sighing some. "I'm going to go out there and make sure I finish it."    "Klein, no!" Elev protested, holding the book to her chest and using her other hand to tug on his arm. "Please, don't do this! You don't have to go out there!" she said, tears brimming in her eyes.    The tall wolf sighed and looked to her, his face more solemn than she had ever seen it before. "This isn't my home. It's a wonderful place and a lovely area. I don't want anymore of your people dying trying to save it. I know what the general looks like. I'm an outsider. I won't let you lose your home, your land, or any of your friends."    "Klein," she whispered, resting her hand to his scarred armor, "you're my friend, too."    "Then I'll be sure to keep that promise," he told her and smiled. His eyes lingered on her own for a moment before the crash at the gate broke the moment and he turned to Malik. "I want all the soldiers to push the gate open when I'm over the wall. I need just a bit of a distraction to get to their general. You think they can do that?"    Malik raised his brow and looked to the gate before looking back again. "You're either brave or

foolish. They can handle it. If we manage to open it, might even have a battle right here to keep things interesting."    Klein gave a nod and looked to Elev, watching her clutch his book tightly. "Get someplace safe. You'll know when it's over."    Following his instructions, Elev began moving away, finding it hard to continue until Venus and Alterise helped her along. Jasu followed behind, picking up any spare pitchers of water or strips of cloth to take with them. It wasn't going to be easy, but she would do as he said. He sounded sure of himself and looked confident in his plan.    The wolf waited until she was far enough away before he climbed the ladder to the platform once more and stayed low. Malik kept his eye on him closely, making sure not to miss a beat before the signal was given. As Klein peeked over the edge, he saw the mass of armor and bodies below, pushing agaisnt each otehr to force their way into the city. In the back was his intended target, watching the troops do as he commanded and bleeding from over his right ear.    Klein gave a nod to Malik who, in turn, gave the signal for the troops to lift the barricade and push back at the door. The force from both sides made it begin to creak but it didn't fail. With that, Klein hopped over the edge and used the nearest soldier to cushion his fall. The lizard he had landed on had little armor and seemed to be out of commission instantly. The wolf shook off the shakey landing before drawing his sword and running forward.    To him, he thought landing next to the large platoon would have been a good idea. This seemed to be the opposite as most began to turn and take swings at him. One caught his arm, cutting his right bicep a bit while another nicked his cheek. He didn't slow down or stop, swinging out to bat away any arms he saw ahead of him. A few times, he managed to take out a couple of the soldiers with some quick slashes.    As he advanced, he saw the lion snarling and notice him quickly. The fight was going to be taken to him, it seemed. As they both made their way to each other, the gate finall opened with a cacophony of battle cries and yells. The invaders were now faced with either attacking the lone wolf at their flank or the sudden rush of a platoon before them. The answer was obvious, Klein hearing the clash of swords behind him and various pings off armor.    It was down to the lion and him, minus a few other armored soldiers in his way. Klein made quick work of them before finally meeting with the angered feline, his mane coated in blood and his armor losing that shine from the crimson and dirt. The wolf was nearly ready to start the attack until the lion made a lunge forward, extended his arm.    The sword grazed by Klein's hip, slicing into him from the attack before he batted the straight sword away. His curved blade was bathed in the blood of the lion's men. All of whom had been under this now

insane general's command. The wolf swung his blade, denting some of the ornate work along the lion's armor and chipping his sword in the process. Another swing, hitting the same area and causing some damage to the armor itself.    The lion retaliated with another lunge, catch Klein's hand as he tried diverting it from his chest. The blade slid painfully along the back of his hand before he could aim it up to deflect at an angle. He had no time to tend to his wound, using both hands to come down heavy in wide arc on top of the defenseless feline. His swing was too slow, catching the shoulder of the male's armor instead of his head and bouncing off. It was hectic, both of them taking chances to attack each other, deflecting off armor or causing minor injuries.    Klein knew that fighting someone this full of rage was dangerous. Every swing was hard to dodge or block, doing his best to return attacks when possible. The armor along the lion slowly grew more warped and scarred as they fought. The wolf's own chest piece was losing its value quick, hardly able to use his bracers in knocking the piercing sword away constantly.    Each swing Klein gave the lion damaged the decorated armor more but at the cost of his sword as well. The chips were becoming very noticeable, his arm getting tired from blind swings and blocks. There were areas he knew he had weakened the armor but he still needed to get in close and be accurate with his diminishing sword. The battle had worn the blade too much and he would be at a risk if he tried dropping it for another.    A dodge to his left and he narrowly missed another stab at his chest, some having been aimed at his face. Before he could recover, he felt the sting under his chin, the lion's blade cutting along him cleanly. He was lucky it missed his neck, coming from the side. Klein growled and waited for the feline to pull his blade away before making a harsh swing into one of more weakened areas. The loud metal sounded out and saw the opportunity now. The lion guarded his head constantly after the arrow but his chest taken a beating.    It was a bit longer of the wolf having to guard and evade before he saw his chance. The lion's sword went low, cutting along the side of the wolf's leg and nearly making him fall. He took the chance and angled his sword properly as he aimed. It was going to be now or never. A quick thrust was all he needed, lifting his arm fast and gripped the lion's mane to keep him steady.    It was a clean stab, sinking his blade into the armor and the muscular body within. The wolf kept a firm grip on his sword and the lion's mane, tugging both as he dug the steel in as deep as it could go, touching the other side of the armor from the inside. The feline's body tensed, then went limp. Klein placed his foot onto the chest of the general's armor, pushing him away and feeling his sword give. The blade snapped off inside the chest of rival land's

commanding officer, his body falling backwards and landing with a dull thud.    Nobody seemed to notice yet, the wolf standing over the body of the general while he panted. He was out of breath and aching all over. It hurt to just breathe for him. It took him a minute before he could take in a deep breath and finally howl in the victory. The sound was loud enough to be heard over the battle taking place right the city's gate, many of the soldiers turning around to see only one standing and the other a mere shadow of his former self.    The fighting died down quickly, the soldiers having no direction or command now with no real run of their battle anymore. Nobody had been placed as a second in command and nobody looked willing to take the place of the fallen lion. It was over. As long as the war had gone on, it had stopped so abruptly. Their king would have no other generals to step forward if they lost one from a fight only against one other. He would suffer the backlash of his own selfish nature, possibly crumbling the structure of their society and rebuilding with new ideas in mind.    Klein hoped they would be peaceful ideas. A new king or perhaps a new ruling completely. It wouldn't be his problem or Elev's. It was over.

     The days that followed after were slow but easy. The remaining armed forced surrendered their weapons and withdrew that night. Elev was happy to see that Klein had kept his promise, even if he had a few more wounds to pull through. Her land was saved by an outsider. A stranger with a heart. Now that she wasn't to be used for seeing things relating to war, Elev thought of eventually taking up her inner reading idea. It would take a while for them to repair the damages from when they opened the gate, but it would be done.    Klein didn't wish to leave just yet. He stayed to help the serval with the city, making sure he took time to teach her how to read his book. The wolf enjoyed hearing her speak his language. It was cute. They knew they wouldn't be able to get any closer than what they were, but the time they spent would never be forgotten. Klein kept her company every day, reading to her and letting her read back to him as she learned his langue to the best of her ability.    Upon seeing Malik and his men again, Klein had made a joke in asking if the raven was going to be constantly angry now that his red eye was the dominant one. Surprisingly, Malik laughed pretty hard at it and shook his head.    "Nah, I think I'll retire from the military. I enjoy giving orders but I rather do it without the risk," the raven said, and chuckled. "Maybe I'll use my earnings and buy the local inn. Turn it into a brothel or something. That sounds pretty fun."    Klein raised a brow at the idea, not entirely sure what to think but finding it a bit interesting. It was looking to be that everybody was trying to look towards a brighter future.

Despite the losses and the heartache that followed, those that lost loved ones still held their heads up high. It wouldn't be easy for everyone, but it was the start of something new. Time would heal all wounds.    Eventually, it came time for Klein to leave. He had taught Elev as much as he could about his language without her spending time using on a regular basis. When asked where he was going to travel to, he told the serval that he planned on visiting the North, seeing thing around there and possibly heading back home for a rest. After everything had been said and done, he could use a good rest after this visit alone.    "Please don't forget to visit here often," Elev said to him, hugging aroung his chest and listening to his heart beating.    "I won't forget. It would be impossible to forget this place. It would be unforgivable to forget you," he mentioned, sighing softly and hugging her back. He hated goodbyes, finding them hard enough to say as well as hearing them from those he cared about.    "Don't wait too long between visits," she insisted, nuzzling her cheek to him some before releasing him and stepping back. "Sir Klein."    He gave her a nod and lightly brushed his finger under her chin. Hearing her purrs made him smile wide, delaying his departure as long as he could. "I won't. I'll make sure to come by as often and quickly as possible."    As a farewell present, he left her his book, climbing into the trader's cart that had agreed to carry him a certain distance along the way. He hated seeing her cry but he stayed strong and gave his homeland gesture with a wave as the cart rode off. She returned it lightly and gave a soft and slow bow as she stayed in the same spot until the cart disappaeared over a dune. Elev glances around at the walls being torn down and rebuilt around the city. They would be the same height but stronger. More appealing, too.    It was hard for Klein to keep his face smiling until he went over the dune. Once he lost sight of the serval, he let his own tears fall. He didn't like the idea of letting her see him cry. He would be her strong guardian no matter what when she saw him.

     Months passed since Klein's departure. Elev had been making her own progress within the city as a counselor of sorts. She would provide insight into those who needed it but not for cheap thrills. She had decided not to take on her fortune telling idea completely, not enjoying how people wanted to pay only to know if they would be getting a certain girl at the brothel that night. Alterise and Jasu had been taken in by Malik, given a wonderful room each, and paid rather well.    Elev agreed with their decision to leave the royal servant roster, having served well in their time under the king. They were technically free from her father and bought, agreeing to work for the raven now. The House of the Raven sounded like a strange name,

but Elev figured it would adjust over time.    Venus and Jebediah had continued their lives in the forest, Elev paying visits to them nearly daily and enjoying their company. She still elarned new designs, herbal mixtures and recipes, and fun stories they enjoyed telling. A few times, the serval had brought along the worn book Klein had given her and read a story or two from it for the whole tribe. It was easy to relate on why the wolf had enjoyed reading so much, especially to her.    On her way back home one night, she went through the halls of her palace and reached her room. It wasn't too surprising at not seeing the new servants around much. Everyone had taken things into their own hands and the servants under royal employment spent their time keeping the palace clean.    When she opened her door, she noticed a figure looking out her window, their back facing her and undisturbed. She also noticed that on her bed rested two apples. And a new book.