The next day came faster than I thought, most probably because I was getting super excited about the thought of wiping the floor with Dumah. I also felt dread as I wondered if I would be strong enough to do any damage to someone wielding the darkness, but it would give me the chance to see if I was strong enough to wipe him of the face of Gaia.

“Remember to trust in your abilities, they will guide you to victory,” smiled mum.

“Thanks mum.”

I met everyone on the other side of the twin lion bridges, just on the outskirts of the forest where my so called test was being held.

A knight was waiting for us, I saw the spread of darkness around him, another poor soul fallen to Dumah’s influence, this test would certainly be one sided.

“This way.” He led the way.

“I can’t believe I let you twist my arm into doing this,” grumbled Brendan.

“You don’t mind sparring, but this is too much?” Dash gave him a weird look.

“You’ll find out eventually that Fang invites trouble,” commented Brendan.

“Well as his friends, isn’t it our duty to help him, like he did us,” smiled Dash.

I twisted round to walk backwards. “Life dept Brendan, so stop grumbling.” Brendan snarled at me. I had no idea where this attitude in helping me had come from, but it had started to occur after the events of the cavern and when I told him what happened to Queen Daz.

“Now behave boys.” Tigra shook her head.

“Are you sure you want to do this, your highness?” asked Zack.

“If I want Fang as my future Guardian then I’ll push him there if I have to,” she answered, then lifted her arm towards me. “Fang.”

“Ouch.” I walked straight into a tree and got laughed at for it.

“Some Guardian,” remarked Zack.

“Still on this,” I sighed. “I know for a fact you all at least owe me something.”

“He’s right,” nodded Ibiki.

“Here we are Fang,” said the knight. “The test begins.”

“Thank you.” I looked around as he left. As suspected Dumah had set us up next to the river where Cutter would have the advantage. “No problem, we expected this.” I took a breath in, even though I had most situations planned in my head, I wasn’t any less nervous. “Let’s set up camp.” Everyone just got on with it, before long we were all sat in a circle chatting away as if this was some trip, not an important test.

“We just wait then,” said Dash.

“Wait for my orders Dash,” I responded. “Oh, Ibiki did you master that technique.”

“I did,” he nodded. “But I have not used it in a battle situation as of yet.”

“You’ll do fine,” I waved my hand.

“Weird not having the lions about,” commented Tigra.

“Well, the rules stated no talisman,” I glanced at them tied together on my back, to prevent myself from using them. “They understood the agreement of the test, but Arata wasn’t too happy.” I smirked. “You know the agreement of our contract and blah blah.”

“He’ll have you for that,” said Brendan.

“Yep, most probably get a shock,” I sighed.

“What will you use then?” wondered Dash.

“I’ll be using this.” I drew the sword at my waist, the special sword mum had crafted for me to imbue Larana’s power. I hadn’t needed it since I received the lions but kept it just in case.

“Whoa, that’s made from some rare crystal,” awed Zack.

“He had the one Tigra wields made for her too,” mentioned Brendan.

“Really with such rare crystals, aren’t you lucky,” said Ibiki. “Who knows next you two will be dating.”

“What!?” I was alarmed by his words. “No, we are just friends.” I’d gone all flustered unable to hide or control my panic.

“Yeah, just friends.” Tigra looked away from me. I could never tell if Tigra felt the same way for me. I would become her Guardian and perhaps one day I would find out.

“Anyway.” I became serious sensing what was to come. “Dash, can you get more firewood, take Zack with you.”

“No problem.” Dash would begin his search for Dumah’s location.

“Do I have to go with him,” complained Zack, but got up anyway. He would hide not too far from here awaiting for Dumah’s wolf pack, I wasn’t taking any chances of being surrounded.

I picked up a bottle. “Tigra wouldn’t mind collecting some water?”

“Sure.” She took it and rose to her feet.

“Make sure it’s high voltage,” I added.

“Count on me,” she grinned, walking over to the water’s edge.

“Ibiki, do you think it’s getting a bit chilly.” I glanced upwards to see a circling bird.

“Now that you mention it.” Ibiki held his hands in front of him where an ice white energy began to build; the temperature dropped in about a second.

“You ready for a party.” I looked at Brendan.

“Fine, but you know I dislike conflict,” said Brendan.

“I know.” I waved my hand, still hoping that part of him would one day change. “All you have to do is pin them.”

“Oh,” he grinned. “Like our game.”

“Yep.” It was kind of like wrestling I could never win. Brendan’s physical strength was on a whole different level to a Feles, but I wondered how he would handle himself against another Ursus.

I glanced between all those I had chosen; the test was about to start, and I had faith in everyone to wipe out their intended targets.