The rays of the morning sun penetrated every single corner of the gardens in the courtyard. The flowers were in full bloom and arched toward the sunlight as they grew. It was all so different from the night. The silence that had been there was now replaced by the noise of the day.

"Oliza!" Oliza turned at the sound of her mother's voice and smiled.

Danica had been away at Hawk's Keep with her father for days. It was not unusual for her to travel from one place to another, making Wyvern's Court her stop in between. It was good to finally have her back. The sunlight enhanced the gold in Danica's eyes and hair, emphasizing her youthful appearance. The shifters aged slowly and Danica could pass off as Oliza's older sister. Yet, her eyes reflected age and wisdom. Danica kissed Oliza forehead and then placed her arm across Oliza's shoulders as they both walked around the gardens.

"Where's father?" Oliza asked her.

The exhaust of the trip could be noted in her mother's voice. "He's out speaking to one of the guards about a little inconvenience we found ourselves in."

"Inconvenience?"

Danica smiled at Oliza, and ignored her question with a sigh.

"Mother," Oliza insisted. "What inconvenience."

Danica sighed tiredly once more but yielded. "There was an argument that broke out into a fight at the Keep. An Avian and a Serpiente had a disagreement that thankfully didn't get off hand. Your father and I were there to stop it.

"Over what?" Oliza asked.

Danica hesitated in her answer. "Nothing important."

Oliza smiled bitterly. Her mother may not have said it but she was sure she knew what the disagreement was about. It was not the first it happened.

"Was it because…they don't want a…how do they say? Ah yes, mongrel to lead them?" Oliza stopped walking and freed herself from her mother.

Danica golden gaze fell on Oliza in heartache. "You are NOT a mongrel Oliza. I never said the argument was about you."

Oliza raised her eyebrow in question. "So I believe the Serpiente started the fight, am I right?"

Danica laughed softly. "Obviously he did."

Oliza looked up at the clear sky and sighed. "Don't punish them for what they think. Whoever it was that spoke out, treat him as fairly as the other. If they don't want me to lead them, I'll lead them anyway and prove to them that I'm capable."

Danica smiled proudly. "Once they know what you have to give, they'll accept you as you are."

"I heard the wolves closer last night…" Oliza took in her breath to see her mother's reaction. Danica nodded her head, prompting Oliza to go on. "I need to see how close they are to us in order to see where the danger lies."

Everything was silent for a moment.

"Oliza, are you sure of this?

Oliza nodded.

"When do you plan to do this?" Danica asked.

"I'll do it as soon as I possibly can. It's my attempt to protect my people from a danger that may threaten us in the near future."

Danica closed her eyes as she thought for a moment on her decision. She turned away from Oliza and then breathed out. "I'll speak to your father about this but I doubt he'll disagree. You may go but I'll send two guards to accompany you."