When I woke up the next morning, Kelsey and Ren were already sitting by the fire but Nalin and Kishan were both gone.

I let out a soft whimper which draw Kelsey's attention to me, she sighed and went over to rub my head, "I'm sorry Akira, I tried everything I could to convince me but they didn't think our adventure will work."

I huff and then change to human, "I appreciate you trying though,"

"They did say that you two should go hunting before we head out though, especially Ren."

The white tiger just huffed and rolled on his side

"I'm being serious, I promised that you would go, and I'm not going to leave the jungle until you do." She stated

I look over at Ren "Come on brother, it won't be so bad."

The white tiger considered me for a moment the stood up and began circling around our campsite, rubbing himself against a couple trees

"What are you doing?" Kelsey asked, "You have an itch?"

Ren ignored her and continued, rolling in the dirt. I knew what he was doing, he was marking his territory, hoping his scent would keep other wild predators away.

I flinched when Kelsey yelled at him, saying if he wanted to roll in the dirt rather than let her scratch it then he can have it. With a stop of her foot she gathered her backpack and went into the tent

I try to stifle my laugh as I looked over at Ren, "Do I even want to know what that was all about?"

The white tiger changed into a man and shook his head, "No, you do not. Come on, my brothers are right, you need to get a hunt in you, your wolf is looking a little thin."

"Hey, you're one to talk, wolves are not solitary hunters you know," I defend myself, "Bet you I can catch something before you do." I challenge

His blue eyes lightened up, "I will take that challenge, but first I have to find Kishan and ask if he will look after Kelsey while we are gone, so don't start until I say so."

I grin "Yeah, yeah."

With a bright smile we take off running into the jungle in our animal forms

It's been a couple hours since we left camp and all I was able to catch was a rabbit for a light snack, but I knew that wouldn't be enough.

It was early in the afternoon, when the sun was at its highest and despite the trees overhead, providing shade, it was still too hot. After drinking from a stream, I find a spot near a tree and lay down, closing my eyes.

Something was tickling my tail, thinking it was a bug, I flick it but soon feel a sharp pain

I jump up with a yelp and freeze when I see the culprit, a jaguar cub. I slowly look around knowing its mother is not too far. I try pulling my tail back it just bites down harder making me snarl at it.

The small cub lets go but starts growling back, I turn and start running but something collides with me, sending me flying into the water. I stand and shake the water out of my eyes to see the mother snarling at me

'Of course, … The little guy just had to call for help.'

I let out a warning bark at the big cat but she just roars and lunges for me, I quickly dodge and go to bite her back leg but she is too fast and I feel long razor sharp canines sink into my own back leg and she presses down until there is a loud crack.

A loud whine escapes my muzzle and I fall onto my side, my leg still in her mouth. She drags me out of the water then drops my legs, I close my eyes knowing where she is going to go for next, the kill.

I hold my breath waiting for the sharp teeth to tear into me again but instead there is a loud roar and a gust of wind blows over me. I open my eyes, Nalin, he had come to my rescue.

Him and the jaguar wrestle in the grass until she realizes she is no match for the large tiger, she grabs her cub and flees into the jungle.

Nalin lets out a warning roar before he turns to look at me. I still lay on my side, half of my body still in the water, I let out a low whimper as I pull myself out then change to human.

"Thanks." I say trying not to make eye contact, I turn my eyes to my bleeding wound, my ankle was broken in two places.

"Let me help," a warm voice says before I hear fabric tearing, I look up to see he was tearing his shirt to help as a bandage "I'm going to have to set the bone back into place, will you be okay?"

I meet his bright green eyes then look away clearing my throat, "Yeah, uh, I will be fine. Just get it done quick." I say before closing my eyes

"I will try."

I feel his hands wrap around my lower leg, "Deep breath, I will do it on three... One… Two…" His hands squeeze my leg sharply and I bite my tongue to keep from screaming in pain, he then begins to wrap it "There… Should be back to normal in no time," he slowly picks me up and sits me against a tree then turns to leave

"Nalin what,"

He stops but doesn't look at me

"Will you stay with me… Please?" I ask

He hesitates then huffs, "Alright." He morphs to his tiger then lays down a few feet from me

I look over at him and before I can stop myself, I ask, "Why do you hate me so Nalin? I thought you loved me…"

The orange tiger looks at me and growls lightly before turning his back to me

I scoff "I see. It's that easy to cut me out of your life isn't it? Then again you did decide to abandon me for 300 years."

"Enough!" a man yells, his eyes glowing bright, "Your father told you about the man that cursed us, and you still went to him!"

"I didn't know it was him! He was wearing a disguise." I reply

He scoffs, shaking his head, "Yes, I'm sure it was very easy to fool you,"

Ignoring the sharp pain, I stood up and stuck my face into his, well sort of given he was taller by a head, "I thought you were dead! I was desperate! I lost my best friend; I didn't want to lose my mother too!" I yell back at him, feeling tears leak out onto my cheek

His eyes softened and reached up, wiping them with the back of his fingers, "I'm sorry Kira…" he whispers

I can see the turmoil in his eyes, and it doesn't surprise me, he and Kishan were out here on their own for so long, they were comfortable out here and didn't want to face the darkness of their pasts, let alone have their hopes raised to have them crushed again

I lean into his hand, "Come with us… Please?"

He leans forward, touching his forehead to mine, "I will consider it. Alright?"

I smile and nod, "I will take that."

He smiles lightly, "Come on, I will take you back to Kelsey." He morphs to his tiger and lays down; I morph back to my wolf and climb onto his back. After making sure I wouldn't fall, he starts a slow trot back to camp.