I RETURN! WHOO! FINALLY have another chapter up, SO HAPPY! So yeah, I'm gonna shut up right quick and let you all get to reading! It's been a long overdo wait, so ENJOY!

Chapter thirty seven: Another day, another plan

*A week later*

Bran'ika watched Rose stumble back, as she parried Shadow's blaze, and tried to riposte, but only got parried and kicked in the stomach, causing her to double over in pain.

He wanted to run over and help her, but Shadow had told him he was not to interfere with their bout.

He watched Rose get up from her place on the ground and try again. Shadow was an amazingly skilled swordswoman, and Rose had to fight even to stay in the small circle they were bouting in.

'How can she take it, after all Scorch put her through?' Bran'ika thought curiously.

He watched her chest heave, and could see her fur dripping wet. He thought about trying to lower her body temperature some, but feared it would either distract her, or Shadow would get mad.

And the last thing he wanted was Shadow mad at him.

After fifteen more minutes of bouting, Shadow finally called 'halt', and Rose fell on her knees, panting for breath.

Her whole body trembled, and she finally dropped her sword to the ground and put her paws on the stones, to try and get her balance.

"Well..." Shadow panted, "that was... intense."

Rose ever so slowly met her eyes. "Ya think?!" she exclaimed, before her arms gave way under her and she landed in an exhausted heap in the dirt.

Shadow shook her head, then sheathed her sword and shakily headed back towards the palace.

"When you're done getting to know the dirt, come in and get some water." she playfully called back, as she walked inside, flicking her tail as she went.

Rose shook her head. "Yeah, see ya next year..." she muttered under her breath.

She laid her chin on her paws, and Bran'ika came over and sat down next to her.

"You look really tired and hot." he said, smirking.

She turned her head and glared at him. "Of course I am, I've just been fighting, non stop, for forty five minutes!" she snarled softly.

Bran'ika rolled his eyes and ran a paw down her back. "You need to chill." he quietly said, letting a cool sensation tingle down her spine, making her fur stand up on end for a few moments.

He slowly stopped and she sighed softly. "I forget you can do that." she said.

He shrugged and smiled. "I forget half the time myself!" he said, causing them both to burst out laughing.

They both calmed down after a few minutes, and Bran'ika got up and helped Rose to her feet, then helped steady her, as she wobbled towards the palace.

"And to think, you're a dancer." he joked.

"Yeah I am, lets see you fight for forty five minutes without stopping, then get up and walk inside without wobbling." she said, looking over at him.

He threw up his paws in surrender and laughed. "Okay, okay, point taken!" he said.

She smiled and then they both headed inside for a cool drink.

*Deep in the bamboo jungle. Tanis' hideout*

Tanis drummed his claws against the arm of his chair annoyedly. He was very angry with Scorch's failure. Shaunty stood before him, head hung low, tail between her legs.

"You said he would finish the Elemental Leader off for good!" Tanis roared, as he stood up from his chair, towering over her.

Shaunty winced and slowly looked up at him. "I am sorry. I have... talked with him, he will not fail us again." she said softly, thinking back to the punishment she had put Scorch through, only for him to end up hitting on her, again.

"You both had better not. I can find someone else who has the drive to do this right." Tanis said, as he slipped back into his chair.

Shaunty's blue eyes flared with anger. "I've wanted this my whole life!" she snarled. "I think I, of all people, have the drive."

Tanis brought his paws up in front of him and put his fingers to his lips, deep in thought. "Perhaps you do child." he said, causing Shaunty to snarl in anger again, at being called a child. "but I am lacking the proof."

Shaunty bared her teeth in anger. She was furious that Tanis would dare to say she lacked the drive to bring the Elemental Leader to her knees.

Tanis sat back and stared deep into her deep blue eyes. "You are dismissed." he said simply.

Shaunty huffed softly, then turned on her heels and sauntered out and walked to her room, fuming.

"How dare he speak to me, as if I am a young pup! Just because my mother tried to change me, by reducing my age so greatly from Tanis', doesn't mean I'm a pup!" she growled, as she slammed her door shut, fell on her bed and buried her face into her soft creamy colored pillow.

She slowly turned her head and looked out the window. "Some day mother. I will have my revenge..." she muttered softly, curling her lips back, revealing pure white, sharp, fangs.

"You really gotta get out more."

Shaunty sat up, drawing her dagger, ready to fight off whoever had startled her, only to find it was Scorch, who was standing in the door way, smirking at her.

"Sorry, did I scare the puppy?" he asked, as he walked in.

"I am not a puppy." Shaunty growled, as she sheathed her dagger.

Scorch rolled his eyes. "Then prove it. Prove to me you're a real wolf." he said, making Shaunty growl again.

"Get out of my room, before I really get mad. she snarled.

Scorch replied with a roll of his eyes, as he turned and walked out. Shaunty sat down on her bed and stared at her paws.

"Once this is done, I'll show you how much of a wolf I really am." she said, smiling slightly.

She pulled her dagger out again, and began sharpening her claws against it, smiling still.

"Just you wait Scorch. Just you wait..."

*Jade Palace Kitchen*

Rose and Bran'ika finally found their way to the kitchen, where Shadow had been nice enough to leave them both cold water and a few almond cookies, which the two white tigers scarfed down instantly.

"Man, bouting really makes me hungry!" Rose said, as she finished off her last cookie.

Bran'ika popped his into his mouth and nodded. "Yeah, just watching you two was beyond exhausting!" he complained, which in turn, earned him a slap on the arm from Rose.

"Next time, you're bouting with us." Rose said stubbornly.

"Awww!" Bran'ika groaned, casing Rose to laugh.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you some cool moves." Rose said. "But not all my moves." she finished with a smirk.

Bran'ika laughed and shook his head. "Whatever."

Rose smiled sweetly at him. Then after a few minutes, Shadow walked in. She sat down at the table, and snatched up one of the cookies.

"Well, you survived, good. That means we've got more training to do." Shadow teased Rose, making her groan this time.

"And just what else do I have to do with training now?" Rose asked.

"Babysitting." Shadow replied.

Rose widened her eyes, and Bran'ika laughed like crazy. She leaned on the table and stared at Shadow like she was a ghost.

"You're joking, right?" she asked, almost pleadingly.

Shadow shook her head. "Oh no, I'm not joking at all. You're going to babysit the twins for me in a few days." Shadow informed her.

Rose stared at her, then began banging her head on the table. "I'm doomed..." she muttered, in between bangs.

Shadow and Bran'ika both laughed, and Bran'ika quickly slid his paw between her forehead and the table.

"Oh chill, how bad can it be?" he asked.

He burst out laughed at the look on her face, and laughed more when she began banging her head again, quietly muttering to herself.

"I'm doomed..."

Well, looks like Rose is in for quite a challenge, eh? This outta be interesting! And if only you all knew how interesting it will get, HAHAHA! Soon! Well, as soon as I feel up to writing a long chapter, haha. Oh well, I hope you all enjoyed this, I am very, VERY sorry for the long wait, just been extremely A, busy, B, sick, C, busy, D, sick, and then E, all of the above. SO yeah, hope you liked, PLEASE leave a review, and I'll talk to you all soon!