Authors note:

Here's the next chapter. Yugioh doesn't belong to me I'm just using them for my own entertainment.

Telepathic speech

Life of the Nile

Joey and Yugi crouched in the shadows of a busy city. Their foreheads were covered by headbands to hide their jewels. Familiars are very rare and if anyone found out they were familiars, they would forever be on the run.

For any normal person, if they had a familiar their magic abilities would rise and they would be able to control stronger duel monsters. For trained mages, having a familiar was a necessity which was why there were so few full fledged mages.

Familiars helped keep mages' powers in check so they don't get out of control. If one didn't have a familiar, then one couldn't become a master mage, they were stuck as a student mage.

Yugi looked at Joey and both rose and eased into the crowd, holding hands so they wouldn't lose each other. Dodging and weaving through the crowd they would rather not be in Joey and Yugi made their way across the city. They wanted to cross the Nile themselves, but unfortunately the only way cross the Nile was to hire a boat to bring them across and this was one of the only cities where they could hire someone without being questioned.

A sudden commotion from behind them was making everyone clear the road, dragging Joey and Yugi along with it. They climbed up onto the roofs to see what was going on. Down the center of the street, a bunch of thugs were dragging a white panther with brown stripes across its back. The tip of the cat's tail along with its feet were also brown.

On the center of the panther's forehead was a silver jewel, around the familiars neck a gold necklace with the sign of a noble shone in the bright sun showing he already had a master. Farther up, in the distance, a bunch of nobles on horse back were fighting against even more thugs. Three of the nobles were casting spells. One was casting slightly more powerful spells, telling Joey and Yugi that he was the panther familiar's master. The panther let out a growl and tried to slash to net that was holding him, receiving a kick in the ribs for his trouble. The familiar yowled in pain and renewed his struggles.

Familiars could be stolen from their masters if a natural bond took place or a forced bond was done. A natural bond was when a familiar bonds to his master. The bond starts to as soon as their eyes meet. The familiar and mage were destined for each other. The other way to naturally bond was to bond with time. Then there was a forced bond where the mage forces the familiar to bond with them; it is very painful for the familiar. If a forced bond is done on a familiar who already has a master, the pain is tripled and the master will feel pain as well.

It was obvious that someone wanted the panther familiar.

"We have to help him!! Yugi said biting his lip and wincing on the familiar's behalf as another kick landed on the panther's ribs.

"I know we're going to regret this" Joey sighed.

"Thanks Joey" Yugi said happily, giving Joey a quick hug.

Both of them crouched down, out of sight slipping the headbands off. Yugi closed his eyes and started to glow violet. When the light faded, a black fox with red tipped ears and three red tipped tails swayed behind him, stood in Yugi's place. Beside him, Joey turned into his wolf form.

Be careful, Yugi

You too

They sprung into action at the same time. Yugi went into the shadows of an alley to wait for his chance. Joey, on the other hand, jumped onto the roof of a carriage and let out a howl. The thugs turned and froze when they saw him.

Out of the corner of his eye, Joey saw the nobles reach the road they were on, still fighting thugs.

"It's another familiar!!!!" One of the thugs, who was dragging the panther familiar, shouted.

"Get him as well!" A commanding voice shouted.

Joey turned his attention to the black cloaked figure before dropping to a defensive position, growling. The panther had stopped struggling and was looking at Joey in awe. He obviously hadn't seen another of his kind. His struggling quickly renewed as he started to get dragged faster.

Joey dodged a couple of ungraceful thugs and tripped one of the thugs dragging the panther familiar. The panther familiar almost pulled free, but a few of the thugs, who were holding the ropes to the net, pulled the ropes back to try and prevent the panther's escape. Just then, Yugi darted out, jumping from one thug head to another, causing them to scream and let go of the remaining ropes.

The panther familiar broke free, dodging thugs as they tried to recapture him. The nobles finally reached them and the panther familiar jumped up onto the lap of a long white haired noble. His piercing dark brown eyes glared at the thugs.

If a glare could kill, every single thug would be dead now. Joey was just glad the glare wasn't directed at him. Yugi bounded over to him.

Let's get out of here Yug Joey thought to Yugi.

Yugi gave a slight nod of his head. They turned and shot off, racing, expertly dodging random people who tried to grab them.

Wait!! I didn't get to thank you! A voice they didn't recognize called, which meant it could only be the panther familiar.

You just did Yugi said, giggling mentally.

What are your names? The panther familiar asked.

I'm Yugi and the white wolf is Joey Yugi said.

Nice ta meet ya, who are you? Joey asked.

I'm Ryou the panther familiar answered.

You two should be careful a bunch of nobles are getting ready to hunt you. Ryou stated.

And are you going to be in the hunt? Joey asked.

Of course two of my master's friends need familiars, so don't expect me to go easy on you just because you saved me Ryou said.

Well thanks for the warning Joey said before shutting Ryou out of their mental link.

We had better move fast Yugi said.

They picked up their pace, racing into the endless desert.

Authors note:

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.