Sorry for the delay on this people! You should thank Keph and that last video of his for inspiring me to at least finish this fan fiction before quitting PWI. I have it planned out until the end, which I hope to be quite explosive.

Anyways, as you'll possibly notice, nearly all the author's notes have been taken out of previous chapters. I've been doing a lot of editing and since I've changed up so much, they're not really needed anymore. I didn't change anything major, just mostly adding in small details here and there, trying to improve on things that are not my strengths, make my style flow better, so on and so forth.

Anyways, without further adieu, here is my 14th chapter. Thanks to all you guys that are still reading this.

14

Odd Tiger

My introduction to the two I was left behind with had been a quick one. At least now I knew their names. They were very much in a hurry to get me to town, so much so that the blade master, Daemon, had taken to carrying me despite my protests that I could walk.

It felt rather awkward being carried like a back pack…

"So…" Daemon began, breaking a tense silence. "What does Jarlath want with a pretty little lady like you Miss Catriona?"

A blush came to my cheeks, causing them to burn slightly. "I-I um… who?" I stammered. "Who's Jarlath?"

"He's some archer, kills for money. Sounds exactly like the person you described."

"Really?" I questioned. So that was his name… Jarlath. The name sounded just as harsh and unforgiving against my ears as his half whisper voice. "How do you know who he is?"

"Long story." Daemon replied.

"That woman is going to help my friend right?" I questioned. Aiden had me worried, but the way that woman ran off before. It didn't seem that she was at all concerned with saving anything.

"You mean Kyna?"

"Don't worry. She'll make sure your friend lives if only to spite Jarlath." Lillian replied from up above. She had taken to flight since her wings were faster and also to serve as a look-out. Despite her reassuring words, she herself seemed worried about something, her eyebrows furrowed as her eyes scanned our surroundings.

"Lillian! Can you see camp yet?" Daemon shouted up to her.

"Yes, we're close. I'll stay there with Miss Catriona, you take someone with you to help Kyna."

"Got it."

It wasn't long before a few huts came into view. By now there were very few trees and what trees did grow out of the sand had giant palm leaves… not something I had seen much of. There was nothing of the like around plume until one headed further south.

The moon cast it's pale light across a white sandy beach, and could be seen reflected along with the stars in the calm waters. Perhaps I could have actually enjoyed the sight if I weren't so worried. "Where are we?"

"This, would be Valley of the Hidden Orchid." Daemon answered.

One hut stood out a bit. A camp fire burned in front of it and a few figures could be seen loitering about. This hut seemed to be where they were taking me. Just how many of them were there?

As we approached the edge of the camp I could better make out the rest. A few had very animalistic traits, the bodies of humans but the ears and tails of animals. I stared in fascination at them for a moment. The Untamed? I had never met one… There seemed to be yet another human there as well.

"Hey! They're back!" One of the Venomancers shouted, prompting yet two more people to come out of the hut, one a large Werebeast in his humanoid form… the other… the other confused me.

Daemon seemed to light up when this odd man walked out. "Well, look who finally made it back!" he exclaimed.

The odd one came forward with a toothy smile to meet us as we slowed from a near run to a walk. "Just made it." he answered.

So in this group I now knew there were three humans, one wing elf, and four untamed… well at least I thought this odd man was untamed. He didn't resemble the Werebeast with him, instead he looked more like one of the Venomancers… just bigger… and male…

I had been told all my life that male untamed all looked like that other Werebeast, fur from head to toe, an animal-like face…

This one was different. His eyes were bright blue, very cat like. Out of his black and messy hair protruded two cat ears with the stripes of a white tiger. He even had a tiger's tail, which stayed in constant motion behind him.

"So." he began, "Brought me a present did you Daemon?"

"Huh?" I thought aloud. I went wide eyed when his gaze rested on me "What!" I exclaimed. My reaction was met with laughter from the rest of the group.

"It's okay miss, I'm just joking." the weird untamed said, giving me a good-hearted smile. He seemed to search the small group of us for something, then one thick black eyebrow went up. "Where's Kyna? I was told you two went out to look for her… and that girl is too cute to be her."

I didn't know how to feel about that statement. That could have been an insult aimed at that Kyna woman… or a compliment aimed at me. Or both.

Daemon allowed me to get down, I felt much less awkward now, but still, this group being so new to me, it all made me nervous.

"We found her." Daemon stated.

"Then what happened?"

Lillian sighed, landing gracefully at Daemon's side. "She found Jarlath."

This woman didn't joke. Aiden stared in disbelief at the fight before him, grateful that the assassin's attention had been diverted. These two seemed matched in skill level… and from the looks of it the assassin was no longer playing around…

On the other hand, the woman wore a wicked smirk, fighting a crossbow with nothing but her fists.

They had been fighting for quite a while already. Neither had managed to land a solid blow on the other yet. She had gotten close to him a few times but each time he slipped away before too much damage could be done. Likewise, she wouldn't allow him a chance to get range on her or aim well.

Aiden tore his attention away from the fight. He took a deep breath, attempting again to move. His bow had landed a few feet from him, if he could reach it maybe he could finally put an arrow in that killer while he was distracted. That woman might not be happy with him but it would end his problem with this guy… for good.

He pushed himself up with his arms gasped in pain before sinking back down. What was wrong with him? He had hit the ground so hard. Since, his body refused to work with him! His legs would barely move and even when they did the pain that issued from his back was nearly unbearable.

A decrease in the noise and movement caught his attention, once again the blade master woman was standing between him and his attacker, fists at the ready. She and her opponent both seemed winded.

"You," she said quietly, the first words she had aimed at Aiden since she had arrived. "What's wrong, why aren't you moving?" she questioned, never taking her eyes off her opponent. She wouldn't be taken off guard by a sudden move.

Aiden was taken aback by the sudden question. So she hadn't forgotten he was there. "I-I can't…" he replied hesitantly after a moment.

"Damn…" she muttered under her breath, a frown coming to her face. "Well that complicates things…"

She put her full attention on Jarlath. He stared her down for a moment but he seemed distracted, his expression even more angry and bothered than before. The human didn't hear it, but with the sharpened senses of a Wing Elf, Aiden could make out the sound of a loud roar that echoed through the forest.

"What's the matter Jarlath?" the woman said mockingly, "Not worried about something are you?"

"We'll finish your grudge later, Kyna." He grumbled suddenly, spitting her name out as if the very mention of it offended him. In a flourish of feathers his hawk like wings appeared.

"What the- Hey!" Kyna shouted after him in surprise as he took off, leaving the dust to swirl in the area he had previously been standing. She looked as though she was ready to give chase, but she paused as another roar echoed through the trees, close enough for her human ears to detect.

Much to Aiden's surprise, instead of tensing, up in anticipation for another fight, the woman took a much more casual stance. It was as if she knew what was headed their way.

"Wh-what's that? What chased that guy off?" Aiden questioned, the confusion obvious on his face.

"Tiergan."

Almost as if on cue a giant white tiger burst through the brush into the small clearing. Such a magnificent looking creature while in form! The large cat paused, raised its head to the air and tried to catch a scent. "Heh… ran off did he?" it questioned, sounding satisfied with itself.

Aiden stared in disbelief. He had heard stories of the Werebeast. Even seen a few in the city from time to time, but never in form like this. Never before in his life had he ever seen such a large cat! Of everything in form, the only thing that set this Werebeast apart from looking like any other tiger were the eyes. One could see the intelligence in those sky blue eyes.

"About damn time you returned." The woman grumbled.

He laughed a bit before he began to change, swirl of blue light enveloping him. When it disappeared Aiden was shocked. Tiergan didn't look like any barbarian he had ever seen before. Where did all the fur go?

Standing where the beast had been before was now something that resembled a human man more… Just who were these people?

"While I can't say I'm happy that you scared Jarlath off before I could kill him," Kyna began, her arms crossed, "I could use your help getting the boy back to town. His friend is probably worried."

"So you've seen Lady Catriona?" Aiden questioned. He did his best to ignore being called a boy… he surely wasn't in any position to be outwardly indignant. He was still in a world of pain, just keeping his head up was a challenge.

"So that's her name; that pretty wing elf girl back in town?"

He let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Yeah…" he all but whispered.

So this was the help she had gotten. Some odd bunch of people she had found! From what he could tell, so far there was a Blademaster that didn't even feel the need to use blades, and a Werebeast that wasn't purely Untamed… Couldn't she have found a cleric? He found himself thinking as he let his cheek rest in the dirt. It even hurt to breathe.

"Hey kid… you alright?" He heard Tiergan question but he lacked even the energy to answer.

"I'm not sure exactly what happened but we need to get him to Lillian. Fast."

TADA!

Hope you guys enjoyed it and I hope I'll be a little quicker with the updates from now on

-is shot- Yeah I know you've heard that one before….

Anyways, I still don't plan on totally giving this one up so stay tuned!