Chapter the Seventh

Kazheo was exhausted. He had been thrown out of the Shadow Raider Tribe after his deliberate unmasking. As the two young creatures had left, his own followers had turned upon him growing fangs and claws and lashing out at him with magical attacks. They had left him out in the middle of nowhere and they had taken away his ability to change back into a shadow which meant that he needed food and water. He stayed there for many days hiding in an old den, regaining his strength. When he had had enough of doing nothing he crawled out. Only to face the sun's burning rays. Shadow Raiders only attacked at night and stayed in their shadow forms during the day. To take their material form when the sun was up was considered suicidal. Many lesser shadows had succumbed and merely melted away but Kazheo was stubborn he couldn't die yet.He was on a mission. He had to find the two animals that owed him their lives.
Five days later the two creatures in question were taking a break. Having found a large patch of grass beside a waterfall they lied down and enjoyed the view.

"Hey Scyler.""

"Yes what is it?"

"What do ya think happened to that cat that saved us a few days back?"

"What cat? I didn't see any cat I just woke up and followed you."

"But you must have seen em, he was as big as us!"

"Nope not that I can recall."

Kallana gave up and flopped down on the grass. Did I really see him, or was it a trick of the light? She shook her head as if trying to dislodge the thought No, I saw him alright. As plain as the beak on my face. After a time, Scyler got up and wandered off mumbling something about looking for berries.

A frightened scream shook Kallana out of her musing, sending her to her feet

"SCYLER! Where are you!"

She heard yells coming from ahead and lunged forward nearly tripping over herself when she saw what he faced. It's the cat! I wasn't imagining things!

Kazheo growled deep in his throat, trying to discourage the young colt from trying to slice him open. It would only end very badly for him. Till he caught sight of the winged horse to the left of himStopping abruptly he turned and bowed low.

Scyler, thinking that the cat was about to leap gave a yell and charged forward sending his unsuspecting opponent a few feet into the air. It growled again, twisting in midair to land perfectly of it's feet, once again facing off against the stubborn half-grown.

"STOP!"

The bellow shook them out of their battle haze and caused both of them to put down their ears, partly because of being ashamed and partly because it was so loud. They turned to look at the mare who looked at Scyler triumphantly.

"See I told ya there was a cat!"