The next morning, we were invited to breakfast, everyone was high spirited, but I still saw that same fear I saw yesterday, what was causing such fine warriors to feel fear. I was growing anxious to find out what was happening here.

I spaced out for a moment, not having even finished eating my chosen meat for breakfast. I could hear voices. “Shadows move like ghosts amongst the forest leaves.”

I felt this pull within and I’d learned I needed to follow these feelings; they were something that absent-mindedly guided me. I stood up, walking off without a word.

“Fang.” Raoul was almost alarmed.

Ibiki raised his hand to settle him. “Leave him, he senses something.”

I headed towards the outskirts, the same place we had arrived yesterday, standing in the open I saw a wavering figure, shrouded in darkness, just like Dumah, almost identical but did not hold the same toxicity, almost weaker incomplete somehow.

I blinked and it was gone. I noticed the damaged herbs growing just on the outskirts to the forest. I moved out closer to investigate but was stopped by a hand upon my shoulder. I glanced back to see Raoul.

“I would not venture out there, my friend.”

“Then tell me what’s been happening,” I demanded.

“Okay, but not here.” I nodded as we headed to Raoul’s hut, beneath their tree of protection which looked somewhat unwell. I remembered Raoul telling me this tree was the first tree to be planted here during the barren age of Fang, becoming a guardian tree of sorts. Was what happening here making it sick?

I sat in silence with my unit with me in Raoul’s hut which was bigger than I remembered. Ibiki was sat next to me while the rest had spread themselves around the hut. I had yet to tell Ibiki about him becoming my number two.

“Well then.” I insisted as we had sat there in silence for quite some time.

“About a month ago, some of our gathers were strangely being attacked while amongst the trees. We thought nothing of it, simply increased the number of warriors to accompany them.” Raoul let out a long sigh. “But even they could not protect them let alone themselves.” His eyes glanced between Ibiki and I. “At first the attacks only happened every few days, only seeming to cause us fear, but they have become more frequent, more aggressive, so much so lives have been lost, for how can we defeat something we cannot see. I had no choice but to ban all entry to those areas.”

“So, no one’s seen these attackers?” questioned Ibiki.

“No, almost like a ghost,” replied Raoul. I looked away remembering the words I had heard. “Tell Queen Daz, we thank her for her concern, but nothing can be done for us.”

“Well, that’s where you’re wrong.” I looked back at him. “I was sent by Queen Daz to help and that is exactly what I will do.”

“I cannot allow you to risk your life for us.” Raoul shook his head.

“It is what my ancestor would do,” I smiled.

Raoul held a gentle smile as he realised, he could not talk me out of helping him. “Thank you.”.

“Alright then.” I got to my feet. “Let’s have a look at these ghosts.”

“Are you crazy?” remarked Ibiki. “After what he just told you.”

“Trust me number two.” I grinned as he quickly realised how I had addressed him.

“You sure you want me as your second?” I nodded to his question.

“Congrates,” cheered Edge.

“I wondered who you would pick, but no surprise really,” commented Lin.

“Come on, we have a mission to complete.” I bowed to Raoul. “Leave it to us.” And I left with my unit close behind me, wondering how this would turn out, who were the ones attacking this peaceful village and was it Dumah related.

We reached the edge of the village right at the point of the attacks. I held my hand up, signalling them to stop. “Alright, you guys stay back.”

“We can’t let you investigate alone,” commented Edge.

“I will first assessor the situation before involving you in a plan. If I am attacked my wounds can be quickly healed by Mila, but for you, it would take a little longer.” I smiled. “Trust me.”

“You heard him.” Ibiki spoke up.

I nodded, slowly heading off into the forest, the first thing I noticed was the eerie silence, no wildlife roamed here, not even a bird.

I tried to focus on what I was seeing, to see if this place had been inflicted by the darkness like Cathopia. My instincts were telling me to turn and leave. I had to fight through them, heading in a little deeper.

The herbs in the area were shrivelled and dull in colour. I couldn’t tell if it was due to the lack of cultivation from the Panthera Pardus or damage from whatever was attacking them.

“Be careful master,” warned Raziel. I glanced at him as his body became tense, almost like he was preparing for something to happen. Arata appeared on my left snarling. I moved my hands up preparing to draw their swords, if they were this riled up, something of ill intent was definitely here.

I felt my fur stand on end; I stopped my tail moving an inch. I gulped, was I actually scared? Breathing heavy as I forced myself to breathe slowly.

I saw something move from the corner of my eye. I quickly turned, hoping to get a glimpse of it, but I missed it, then behind me as I heard Raziel and Arata move.

“Master,” said Arata. I glanced behind me to see a figure in black clothing with strange marking on a mask the shape of a wolf they were wearing, and their entire body was shrouded in a mist of darkness.

I turned to face them, my nose twitching as I tried to search for their scent to see if I knew who it was, but nothing; I presumed it was the darkness or the remaining smell of lingering herbs preventing me from picking it up properly.

“Identify yourself,” I ordered, but got nothing in response. “Why are you attacking this village.” Still nothing.

I inspected the figure, analysing every inch as they just stood their staring back at me, their head moving occasionally. I realised this Animalia was female. She slowly lifted her hand, pointing behind me.

“Don’t take your eyes off her master,” said Raziel being the one to check behind me. “A second, identical.”

“A third,” mentioned Arata.

“Fourth over this side, master.” Larana appeared.

“Are we surrounded?” I wondered, dispersing wind all around me, sensing the area through it. There were at least twenty in amongst the trees, all the same. “Not the cloning thing again.”

“Perhaps it was unwise to come alone,” commented Larana.

“You might be right, my mistake, but we’re here now,” I responded, slowly moving my arms to grasp the twin lions. “Obviously they aren’t good whatever they are.”

“We are only here to assess the situation master,” warned Raziel.

“I know, but if they attack first, I don’t want to be left open.”

“You won’t be,” encouraged Larana. “You have the lions remember.” I nodded, my hands on the hilts my swords, ready for anything.