My belief that the horses normally used to draw farming machinery across the fields would be able to make the journey was being tested to the limit as we trotted through the forest, but so far we had not had any trouble. The thick, snow-laden evergreen foliage provided ample coverage, limiting the snow on the ground to no more than a few inches, and keeping the forest floor a few degrees warmer than average.

All in all, we had been keeping up a comfortable pace, such that it looked like we might reach Azura before nightfall, and return with the supplies late the next day. We were stopping to rest and feed the horses every few hours, taking it in turns to rest and stand guard.

Fergus, a Basitin in his prime and a good friend had agreed to come along for the trip and I felt quite sure we could handle anything the forest would throw at us, which so far had been surprisingly little. I chalked it up to good luck and the winter weather, but Fergus was a little on edge, muttering more and more about how our 'luck' was eventually going to give out.

"Are you good to take this one?" I asked, as we came into a clearing. I'd stood guard at the last stop, but I still wanted to check.

"Of course," Fergus replied. I'll scout the area while you take care of the horses. I think mine is a little tired."

"No problem," I tied the horses to a tree as Fergus disappeared into the wood. I hung the feed bags on their heads, and began brushing the forest out of their hair. As I did so, my thoughts drifted to the tiger Keidran I'd left behind.

"No way!" Sari exclaimed, sitting up in the bed, after I finished explaining what I'd agreed to do. "There's no way you're going out there in this weather."

"Come on, Sari," I replied, "the town needs those supplies. Without them, how long do you think we'll be able to survive on cabbage and parsnips alone? A lot of people are going to go crazy if they don't get meat." The cattle and livestock Lyn'knoll did have was starting to thin out, and the slaughter of that too was being rationed.

"What if something happens to you out there?" she asked. She looked worried, and she had every right to be. I put my hand on her stomach and ran it over the bump, which was becoming more pronounced as the days passed. Underneath the fur, her skin was mottled with scars left from the attack. She put her hand on mine and I stopped.

"Don't think I don't remember," I replied. "I remember how I felt when I thought I was going to lose you and I wouldn't want to put you or anyone through that. Everything will be fine. Fergus is coming with me and it's unlikely that we will encounter anyone along the way."

"Keep safe out there," she led down next to me and I wrapped my arms around us.

"I will," I said, and moved my face close to hers. Just as I was about to kiss her, a shout brought me back to the present.

"Rhyn," Fergus ran into the clearing, his sword drawn, "we've got company." Two tiger Keidran bounded into the clearing after him, stopping at the edge of the forest. Fergus turned to face them and I moved to stand by his side, drawing my own sword. One of the tigers snarled.

{And they say we're the ones who turn straight to violence,} the tiger said, in Keidran. Fergus started towards them, but I put my hand on his shoulder to hold him back.

"Hang on," I said. {We mean you no harm,} I replied, and resheathed my sword. They looked to each other.

"What are you doing?" Fergus looked confused and angry.

"Just give me a minute," I said. Something about what I could see of the tiger's fur pattern seemed eerily familiar.

{Why are there a Human and a Basitin in our forest?} the tiger asked.

{We are travelling to Azura, to collect supplies for our town. This was the quickest route.}

{Where do you come from?}

{North, from above the river.}

The tiger turned to his companion, {I heard the snow has been quite heavy up north, it's possible they're telling the truth.}

{They still should not be in the forest, Vasek.}

{I'm sorry, did you say Vasek, of the Ket'ai tribe?} I blurted without thinking and slammed my hand over my mouth. The tiger turned to face me, standing as upright as he could, somewhere between 1.6 and 1.7m, and stepped forwards. I gripped Fergus' shoulder again as he moved into a defensive posture.

{You know my family line? Have we met before?}

{No.}

{Someone else from my tribe?}

{Yes.}

{Someone else from... my family?} Vasek's voice was faltering increasingly.

{Yes...} as was mine. I knew what his next words were going to be before he said them. The Ket'ai tribe I knew kept very much to themselves, and rarely ventured out. Anyone leaving the forests into Human territory would usually end up captured and a slave, but there was one who instead of finding the Templars, found me.

{Sari...} Vasek's voice amounted to barely more than a whisper. He coughed and raised his voice, {You enslaved her! You enslaved my sister!} He lifted his sword to my throat. Fergus immediately responded in kind, but I put my arm across his chest and pushed him backwards. Fergus and Vasek growled at each other.

{No!} I responded, {I would never do that! We...}

{You what?}

"I... we..." {I... we...} I stuttered, jumping between languages.

Vasek's expression blanked, {You will take me to her.}

{Y... yes, of course. If you don't mind, we are almost at Azura, but you are welcome to travel with us tomorrow,} I was nervous, and sounded it.

{I will,} he said, and turned to the other tiger again. {You will go back to the tribe and tell them... I am going north to find my sister.}