Authors note: I hadn't realized when I edited this chapter last night, the chapter I ended didn't save. I re-uploaded the chapter so the mistakes should be fixed ^^ For those complaining, everyone makes mistakes...and frankly with my dyslexia sometimes i don't catch everything so...you can read this...or not. WE (kage and yuki) are writing this for ourselves. We don't even have to be posting it if people are not satisfied with it.

Chapter Twelve

Parker had never felt such fear, anger, and desperation in all his life. His feelings were a jumbled mess as he ran his hands through his hair for the hundredth time. One hand snaking down to grasp at the necklace Kagome had made him, even now it was warm as if trying to comfort him. A low growl escaped him as he turned to face the other males. After Bai and Kagome had been pulled into the water he had tried to follow but he wasn't the best of swimmers and that damn snake seemed to flow through the water like a goddamn mermaid.

He had returned to the surface, sputtering and gasping for breath, and had let out a roar so loud and heartbreaking it had the other males in the village answering his call. Ever since then he had been on his feet, searching every single inch of the surrounding forests, sending word for help from other nearby villages.

"Maybe we should just give u-" He rounded on the male, his hand lashing out to land a sickening blow across his face, sending him to the ground with a loud pained whine. "No, I will never give up." His eyes were pools of fury as he glared down at the whimpering male, he turned to face the others in the hunting party. "You keep searching. I'm going to find my father." With that he shifted into his leopard form and began the five day long trek to the city of beasts.

As much as he didn't want to rely on his father's influence for help he would swallow his pride, he would do anything to see Kagome again, even if it meant dealing with his father's teasing and prodding.

Three days, it had taken him three days of non-stop running to reach the city of beasts. His eyes burned, his body ached yet he refused to rest, instead, he made his way towards the home of his father, he was greeted by guards and castle servants alike, he waved them all off, growling as they tried to get between him and the door that led to the room he knew his father was frequently found in.

Shoving the large doors open he glanced around the room, his eyes seeking out his father. They landed on the sole female in the room, she lazed about a large purple cushion, her long form fitting dress a lighter shade of purple. Upon her brow sat a small golden circlet, a purple gem dangling from it. Her long locks flowed down her back like fields of golden wheat, she looked no older than twenty years old, her skin tan and supple, her purple eyes glittering like jewels.

"Where is my father?" He was a man on a mission.

Purple eyes took in his disheveled looks, his face was sweaty and dotted with dirt, his hair was a tangled mess. The bag bags under his golden eyes made him look dead on his feet. In an instant, she was on her feet pulling him into her arms. "What has happened my sweet cub?" Her chest rumbled with a purr meant to calm.

Parker slumped lightly in her hold, his arms wrapping around her slim waist, his nose twitching as her long blond hair wafted under it. Her familiar and motherly scent wrapped around him and he was loath to pull out of her embrace but he had to. He wasn't here for her but for his father.

"Mother, where is father? I need his help. A feral has taken my female." His words sent a shockwave through those within hearing range.

Frowning at the words that fell from her cubs mouth, Meimi could only clasp the space above her heart, her mark flaring to life alerting her mate that something was wrong.

Opening her eyes she frowned as she cupped her son's face in her hands, wiling her strength into his tired body. "He is hunting behemoths with the eagle tribe. I have sent a message through our link. Come, rest. We shall wait for him to return." She moved to guide him to the pillows and furs she had been lazying about on yet he merely dug his heels in and shook his head.

No matter how badly he wanted to give, to let her pull into the bed of furs and cuddle and coddle him like she had when he was a cub...He was so damn tired, his body was barely holding, his eyes burning from the lack of sleep he knew that to give in to the temptation he would damn his Kagome and he would never do that.

Never.

He had begged her to let him stay by her side and if he didn't fight tooth and nail to stay there did he really belong there? The question made his stomach churn, he would not stop until she was within his arms once more.

In this life or the next.

"I've no time...I must return to the hunt. Have father join us if it pleases him. I must get Kagome back no matter what." His words were full of his conviction and it made Meimi's heart fill with pride, when he had left he was nothing but a boy. Cocky, arrogant and eager to prove his worth. Vowing not to return until he was able to best his father...yet here he was a man. Swallowing his pride in order to protect his female.

He was no longer her small cub, no he was becoming a man and she hoped that he would be able to find his female, for she wanted to meet the woman who was the catalyst for such a positive change in her son.

Even so, she couldn't help the flurry of worry that fluttered in her chest, she was at the very core a mother. While her son was now a man she would always care about and want the best for him. She just hoped her mate was in a helping mood, lest she be forced to intervene. Though as it stood Parker was her first mate's favorite cub at the moment, the one with the most potential to take on the mantle of leopard king when the time came.

He would be hard pressed to refuse his son's call for help, if only to tease him about it later as well as to persevere the future of the clan. She wondered what tribe his female was from and what their cubs would look like! Oh, she hoped they were half as cute as Parker had been as a cub if not cuter.