Errol gave them a moment with their spirit animals. Tagu shook his shaggy coat and flicked his tail to flick a fly away. All the other animals looked more compliant than Tagu, a lot more complaint. Tagu looked around the room, studying the weapon racks, training scarecrows, Errol, the younger recruits and the spirit animals.

Tagu lowered himself on the ground and looked at him. 'I need your help, to fight, even when you don't want fighting to happen, I need to fight. We do it to protect the defenseless, we need it to protect each other.' Tagu looked at him, eyes giving a strange twinkle.

He took his coat off, and prepared himself to fight. Drake gave him a dirty look. 'Travis, you fight with Penelope. Nego, you fight with Drake. Ready, yes, good.' Errol gave a piercing whistle, and it began.

Rayon flew at Tagu, who until now had been lying down on the floor like a white, fluffy rug. Drake swung his sword at Nego's head, and he deflected it easily. Tagu reared himself on his hind legs, a foreboding sight that made most people cower in fear, except Nego was thinking, 'Don't look into his eyes, don't.' Tagu was a peaceful creature, intimidation was his best shot.

The buffalo was docile, a slow but sturdy creature. When he reared on his hind legs, it meant that the buffalo was trying to scare away its attacker. Nego knew the buffalo wouldn't attack.

Drake charged at Tagu, but Nego tripped him up. Rayon came barking at him, pinning him down and flying at his face. Tagu charged, but Drake knew about Tagu enough to charge too. Nego tried to throw the fox off, but it clung on stubbornly.

He didn't feel anything coming yet, but his hands tingled. The arrow felt smooth, the fox scratched at his chest. Errol yelled something, maybe to tell Drake to call Rayon off. Tagu was busy with the foxes summoner.

Drake was trying to cut Tagu, but the buffalo was a blur, which was surprising, even when galloping, the buffalo travelled at a leisurely pace. Rayon jumped off his chest, and Nego felt the world dim.