Fay looked out into the distance. He finally saw a great green forest—one that resembled the place where he had first arrived in this world. It was in that small patch of greenery that a large wyvern had taken the mutated dog and, in doing so, saved both him and his sister.
This forest, however, seemed far more vast. Lush green trees rose from the earth in thick clusters.
As the others crested the hill behind him and saw that their destination was near, they began to cheer lightly with growls and howls.
It would still be at least half a day before they entered. Fay turned back to check on his sister. He had been studying under the old shaman she called Awi—even if her real name was Agwi. The silver-furred catwoman had quickly become a grandmotherly figure to the small girl, and if anyone would look after Mira while Fay went farther out to hunt, it would be her.
"Hey, Mira, we're almost reaching what will be our new home," Fay said gently. "I'll go out with the others to explore before we enter, just to make sure it's safe. Stay with the group, and don't leave Agwi's side."
He held her by the shoulder, staring into her eyes for a few seconds to make sure she was paying full attention.
"Yes, Feyfay! Jiggz will protect me!"
"Yes, it will—but you don't go out. You hear me?"
He pinched her chubby cheeks lightly to emphasize the point, and the girl nodded.
"Good. Now be a good girl, okay?"
Fay kissed the top of her head, then left. The others were already preparing to set off. Even Horin would be joining them this time. Her vulture would remain over the camp to keep watch and alert the warriors if anything happened while they were away.
Fay climbed onto Grin, who had recovered after a few solid meals. He wasn't quite at his best yet, but he was fit enough for the journey.
Though she didn't like it, Horin sat behind Fay—her father's orders. She had to ride with either Fay or Murha. Since Kimya's panther had been sent ahead to scout, it wasn't an option.
"Horin," Fay asked, "what kind of creature did your father have?"
Fay, who hadn't gotten any answers the day he fought with the lions, was still curious about the powerful beast the tribe leader must have once tamed.
[Shakar. He was like my grandfather… a great beast of fire. Had a powerful mane, like the sun. He never hurt me—always protected… but he grew too strong. I won't say more. Only told you because you helped my dad.]
Fay sighed. The petty girl only seemed nice to him after his encounter with the lions, yet returned to ignoring him after just a few words.
It was as if she couldn't make up her mind. He didn't know if she hated him or just wanted to annoy him, but he didn't push his luck. He needed to focus on the next task.
Everyone dismounted and followed the chief, who was checking for tracks and signs of recent entry or exit from the woods. His sense of smell was something few in the village could match. He didn't need to put his nose to the ground or anything like that—he simply picked up a leaf or a stick and sniffed it, his eyes never missing a clue.
These were the details Fay paid close attention to. He was still just a novice hunter, but he wasn't going to stay that way forever.
Soon the chief signaled for everyone to relax. It seemed this part of the forest hadn't been visited by any of the hums or their pets. The village would still need to find a spot with access to water, food, and shelter.
[Horin, do the signal—have the others come closer. Fay, go with Kimya. Be careful; we're in magic creature territory now. Rely on your hyena's nose and Kimya's leopard's hearing.]
"Yes, Chief. I'll be careful."
Fay turned to Kimya, who nodded silently in acknowledgment.
Within a few minutes, they had entered the rough terrain of the forest. Dead leaves littered the ground, and roots stuck out in every direction, making it hard to run.
[This is going to be your new challenge, little hunter. Get used to moving around roots, and find shoes that make less noise. Tell S—Sihra you want new leather shoes. Make sure they're soft at the bottom.]
Fay smiled. He had yet to fall in love, but if there was one thing he was certain of, it was that Kimya liked the young leatherworker.
Sihra—the one he had traded his coat with—was Kimya's weakness. The only problem was… he had never spoken properly with her.
"Kimya… why don't you tell Sihra for me? I think it'd be better if you explained why I need the shoes," Fay suggested.
He even winked at the cat-kin, but Kimya's only reaction was a slight twitch of the ear.
[I'll tell her…]
Fay smirked, just enough to keep the older warrior from noticing.
"Yes, I think it'll be a good excuse to talk to her, right?"
He nudged a little further, feeling mildly devious for coming up with such a simple plan.
But before he could press more, the two suddenly heard the distinct sound of something cracking nearby.
Both turned toward the noise but saw nothing at first—until Kimya shoved Fay to the side. The boy barely managed to brace himself to avoid injury from the fall.
[Be careful, little hunter. I heard the sound of something being shot.]
Fay hadn't noticed anything until he caught a flicker of movement—something pink shot toward Kimya. He tried to point, but the warrior was already moving. Kimya struck the flying object mid-air with a jab and shifted his stance immediately.
"What was that?" Fay asked, eyes narrowing.
He looked up and followed the line of the attack. It stretched into the trees—there, a large lizard-like creature clung to the branches.