Chapter 20

Disclaimer: I don't own spirit animals, blah blah blah. The people who WROTE it do. It's called fanfiction.net for a reason!

Nyal slowly stopped. Her heart raced and her side hurt. With an exhausted sigh she sat down. Russet and Larquin quickly following suit. Trusting they were far away enough from the prison, they released their animals. Minke chirped and stretched her wings. Nipping Nyal's ear gently, Nyal stroked her feathers, then the bird took to the air, soon a small dot in the sky. Cumba yawned, showing his super sharp, super long teeth. Then laid down, setting his head on Larquin's lap. She absentmindedly stroked his head, Valkyria sat next to Russet, her tail curled elegantly around her. After a few strokes the fox trotted into the undergrowth. Nyal heard her bound away.

Larquin looked down at Cumba. "Are ya gonna be a lazy cat? Minke and Valkyria are going to explore, how bout you?" Cumba opened one eye lazily, he let out a small growl, that could only mean yes. Larquin rolled her eyes but didn't press the subject. "So, guys, I really don't know much about you. Other than that you have a seahawk and fox for spirit animals and are crazy good fighters. Guess we never had time to mingle."

Nyal glanced at the sun, it was sinking lower and lower. She held up her pointer finger, telling her friends to wait then walked deeper into the forest. She found some good sticks and a few rocks, with her arms full she turned to leave, then, a twig cracked behind her. She whipped around mace out and ready. She could just make out the figure of a buck. Next to it was a boy. Suddenly Valkyria was there, she came from Nyal's right, glanced at the buck and boy then dashed away. It took Nyal a second, but she realized that she was looking at Reanly and Comu. Reanly finally noticed her, he nodded his head in acknowledgement then continued on. Nyal turned back and made her ways back to her friends. She dropped her findings and made a pile of sticks, then began to strike the rocks against each other, making fire.

"I'm from Amaya, I was taken right after Minke was summoned, my father died when I was young, he had a lemur for a spirit animal. My mother hasn't summoned an animal, but she was alive before I was taken. I'm not so sure now. I want to help fight, to make a difference, we are in Amaya, I know that much for sure. I wasn't transported over seas. Plus, this is an Amayan forest." Nyal finished talking as she finally got a spark from the rocks. She held it closer to the sticks and soon a small fire kindled. Nyal made it bigger and bigger than pulled out the fish. Larquin and Russet had been setting up a stick that hung over the fire when she was talking. Nyal pulled out some string she had found and tied the fish to the stick by it's tail. Then she leaned back and relaxed. Suddenly, Cumba got up and wandered off, Larquin rolled her eyes but told them about her.

"I'm from Nilo. I know, I know I don't look it. My family moved there from Eura before I was born. My father and mother are both alive, that I am very grateful for. My brother summoned a cheetah, he helps defend my town. I lived in Okaihee. A cougar isn't the most common animal to summon, Cumba must have come because of my Eura descent. I was taken a day after Cumba was summoned, I was helping my brother defend the city walls when the Conquerors came. Me and Cumba weren't as close then, while my brother fought them off I was taken, he tried to save me but... I remember being transported over seas. Then brought here I want to find my family, to know if their okay." She stopped talking. She looked sad, but stayed strong. Suddenly Cumba was back she stroked him again and looked expectantly at Russet.

Russet poked the fire with a stick, Minke came spiraling down from the air and landed on a tree nearby, the seahawk started to groom herself, pulling out old feathers with her beak. "Well, I'm from Zhong... my mother died a year ago, in a skirmish with some criminals. My father was left to care for me and my two baby sisters. It was a lot to handle. He did have an animal, a red panda, it helped him care for us. I tried my hardest to care for myself. Often I earned money by doing small jobs for other people. I'd give that to him. Whenever my sisters needed feeding, or attention. I helped. I tried so hard, some nights, when the girls were crying, I'd get up myself and calm them down. I did that all night once. My dad was so tired, so he didn't awaken to the cries. Then I summoned Valkyria. I was taken shortly after, I was so happy, my dad was proud of me. As the attack began I saw my father, whisked away by the fleeing crowd, my sisters on his shoulders, his panda on his head, calling for me. I was captured before I could reach him." Russet's eyes were hard, no sign of tears. But her expression was sad.

Valkyrai emerged from the brush and settled down in Russet's lap. Russet smiled and stroked Valkyria. Nyal nodded, then untied the fish from the fire and started to cut it, and skin it. Half an hour later the fish was ready. A good sized piece for everyone, including the animals. Minke chirped and fluttered down in front of Nyal. She picked up a morsel of her food and ate it, smacking her beak. Nyal popped one into her mouth, savoring it's taste. Once everyone had a full belly the sun was down. Minke stayed near Nyal for a bit. Then, as Nyal laid down to sleep the bird flew off, going to find a suitable sleeping spot. As Nyal drifted off into sleep, for once, she felt content.

Hope you liked this ch. it's not as exciting as most, but I needed to get some backround on the characters! Plz review and follow and favorite.