The moment he woke up the male frowned and looked around, seeing him blink before trying to leap up but I held his shoulders down and softly hushed him. "Be still warrior, you must rest." He simply looked up at me through narrowed eyes before looking around the cave.

"Where is Jaxxeris?" Assuming he meant the ikran, I gestured towards the mouth of my cave.

"Your mount has gone to hunt, he will return shortly though I am sure. He is unharmed." Without another word I stood gracefully then walked towards the small trickle of water that trailed from the roof of my cave then snaked through the cracks in the rocks.

I lifted a large shell to the stream and filled it with the fresh water before guiding it to his lips. He turned his head away and sat up, holding out his hand so I handed him the shell and watched as he drained it quickly.

"Who are you, female? Where are we?" His voice was monotonous but husky, neither afraid nor concerned, merely annoyed at something which I found slightly amusing. Turning my bright silver eyes to the mouth of the cave my pointed ears twitched when I heard Jaxxeris flying towards us.

"We are on the outskirts of Omaticayan territory. I am not trespassing, if that is what you are asking."

"You were last night." Further amused by his accusation I smirked at him, holding out a hand towards the cave just moments before Jaxxeris flew inside. He purred, shaking his body from the dull drizzle of rain before pressing his head into my hand, allowing me to welcome him back.

"Had I not strayed further than I had intended, both you and your companion would have been the palulukan's feast. Surely you are not angry you had to be saved by a female?" He bristled slightly as I attacked his pride coyly. Smiling I rubbed my head into Jaxxeris's brow then sighed. "You are fit enough to fly. You may go." Without another word I grabbed my bow and arrows then jogged from the cave to catch some breakfast. Maybe some fish?

However I heard the male get up and follow me into the light rain, brushing off the tiny hairs of the tree roots. His steps were very quiet and I almost could not hear them but I soon became accustomed to the sound and knew what I was listening for, separating them from the other sounds of the forest.

"Who are you female? You are not from any tribe I know of." The male pestered me and my tail twitched in irritation.

"I am no one you should concern yourself with." Answering flippantly I turned and drew my arrow elegantly, facing it to his chest so that he stopped. His grip around his bow tightened but he did not move further. "Now stop following me."

"Who are you?" He pressed, his voice dangerously low as his golden eyes flashed dangerously. My stance did not budge.

"I am alone." Discreetly I replied, not wanting to tell him anything about me as I did not want to know anything about him. Obviously unsatisfied with my answer he tilted his head to the side and growled, the soft patter of rain sliding down his muscular shape. His eyes glanced to my elbow.

"You are holding your elbow too high, female." Blinking I parted my lips, wondering how to reply before slowly lowering the elbow that held back the arrow. He nodded. "Who taught you? They were a poor teacher."

"No one. I have always been alone." Watching each other carefully neither of us moved for a moment.

"Your tribe was killed?" I nodded my head. His eyes wandered over my form but not for the wrong reason, he was assessing me, like a warrior would his opponent. He started with my ears. They were smaller than his and tilted upwards into a point, elfin, like the grassland foxes to the west. Then he noted the strange shade of my eyes, peculiar shaping and colour of my markings and skin that covered my body, then to my slender waist and slightly rounded chest, down to my powerful legs and finally on my considerably smaller feet.

"Are you done staring?" Snapping impatiently I took a step towards him. "I want you gone. I saved your life and gave you shelter, now it is time for you to leave."

"You cannot live out her alone, female. It is not safe."

"I have managed these last few years." Challengingly I bared my teeth slightly, exposing my fangs to him but he did not budge.

"The past will not reflect the future, female, you do not know what might happen." He had a point but I refused to shift. "Return with me female, my leader, Jakesully, will welcome you to the clan."

"I have no need of a clan. I am fine alone, warrior, the forest protects me and that is all I need." He was stubborn, I'll give him that. We stood there for a very long time, glaring at one another in irritation before he called for Jaxxeris, who flew to his side. He mounted the ikran in one perfectly elegant move, turning to look at me.

"If you change your mind, female, you know where to find us." With a click of his tongue and a hunter's call the male flew into the sky, swooping up above the trees before disappearing into the dusty sky of drizzling rainclouds.

Finally, some peace and quiet. Turning I walked into the forest and began my rather unsuccessful hunt. In the end I speared a fish and it was all I could catch for the entire day. For many days and nights I sat in the mouth of my cave, wondering what it would be like to be a part of a clan again.

My clan had always loved to dance, we would dance every night around a massive fire, singing and playing music until everyone was worn out. Now all I had was silence, save for the music of the forest.

The strange male kept on playing on my mind also, his face swallowing my thoughts until I would growl and shove him from my head. Perhaps he had a point. I could not survive like this forever, I was a poor hunter with my bow, I was even worse at setting traps and had given up on such practice long ago.

My spearing was good although there were not many fish in these parts of the forest as it was upriver. Also, I did not know how to properly look after my health. Palu had shown me which plants I could and could not eat but they were few as a palulukan would only ever stoop to eating plants and berries in the harshest times of sickness or lack of prey.

After nearly a month of pondering what to do, I grabbed my bow, strapped my knife to my waist then strode into Omaticayan territory.