Kion's P.O.V:

"It has been a few months since I started showing Mkail small things about the roar. But today is a big day. As I looked out on the balcony today, Mkail has to go outside the safety of the Tree of Life without me, Rani, or any other adult for the first time. She is not 16 anymore; today is her 18th birthday. It is hard to believe.

I heard a voice behind me and it said, "Babe, there you are." I looked over to see Rani and said, "Yeah, sorry, I was thinking." She asked, "Are you worried about Mkail's first big adventure?" I replied, "I am just not sure if she is ready."

Rani reassured me, "Kion, she is about as ready as ever. You have shown her everything there is to know to keep her safe. She will be fine." I said, "I hope you're right." She smiled and said, "She will do great." I replied, "I know. I just worry. The roar is a big thing. And now that she is 18, she is a little younger than I was when I got my scar."

Rani comforted me, "Kion, she will be fine. Besides, you have started her training. She will be fine." I said, "I know."

Mkail's P.O.V:

"I woke up to the sun coming up and said, 'Today is it. The day I have been waiting for.' It's also Manail and Mallen's birthday too, so I am excited. Normally Dad or even Mom doesn't let us go anywhere without an adult. But today, I am 18 and my parents said I can go out without an adult for the first time after we turn 18.

I am ready for this. My dad showed me a few tricks about the roar. I know he is worried about me as I have heard what happened around the time he was my age. But I am sure I will be fine. Besides, I know a lot about animals around where I am going. It is a kingdom not far from here, but I am going by myself for it. Manail and Mallen have a different thing to do. They are a kingdom who are well-known. They are not an enemy or an ally. So it is my job to have them become an ally as they border a lot of kingdoms. We need them as an ally so we can finally stop..."

group, I have to show my parents I can do this. It is my choice to show I can do more than they think. I know I am not my sister, but I can do it. I can make them see the real threat at hand. So, I am going ready."

There was a knock on the door, and I said, "Come in," as I was fixing my hair. I heard my mom's voice, and she said, "Look at you." I replied, "Mom," and she handed me a brush, saying, "Here, let me help you." She asked, "How did you get it this way?" I responded, "I am not used to having to do anything with my hair." She finished brushing it and said, "There, all done." I thanked her, and she commented, "You are growing up so fast."

I teased, "Mom, you're not going to start crying, are you?" as I noticed her eyes watering. We both know that means she is going to start crying. She laughed and said, "It's just that you look just like your grandmother." I asked, "Grandmother Nala?" She replied, "No, my mother." I expressed surprise, saying, "I never heard about them." She explained, "That's because it hurts to think about them." Curious, I asked, "What happened to them?" She revealed, "They were killed when I was 6. A group of Vikings attacked when your brother and I were playing outside. My parents were there, but my uncle Surak got me and your uncle Baliyo to safety. Unfortunately, I got hurt in the process."

I connected the dots, asking, "Is that how you got your scar, Mom?" She confirmed, "Yes, I did. I was trying to protect Baliyo as we were trapped. They were all around us, and one of them grabbed hold of me. I tried to fight back to free us but ended up getting slashed by one of their swords." Concerned, I said, "That's why you're afraid of Vikings, isn't it?" She replied, "Yes, that's one reason. They have almost killed your father many times too." Surprised, I asked, "What?" She explained further, "I don't want to lose any more family to them."

I empathized with her, saying, "I get it, Mom," and hugged her. She expressed her thoughts, saying, "You're so much like your father." I playfully remarked, "I thought I was like grandmother." She clarified, "You look a lot like your grandmother but have the personality of a warrior. You will do well today. Once you're home and safe, we will celebrate you and your siblings birthday"

"I said, 'Thanks, Mom,' and I hugged her before running out. I saw the rest of my family at the front door and said, 'You're all here.' Aunt Kiara replied, 'Of course, why wouldn't we see you off?' I thanked her and she said, 'Go make us proud.' I replied, 'I will,' and walked over to my horse. My dad was nearby and he said, 'Come home safe.' I reassured him, saying, 'Daddy, I will be fine. I'm strong.' He chuckled and said, 'I know you are, but still be safe.' I hugged my parents and siblings quickly before Manail said, 'Be safe.' I replied, 'Hey, I may be your little sister, but I will always have your back.' She smiled and said, 'Me too. Go, you know they are picky about times.' I replied, 'I will. Bye everyone, see you in a few days.' With my friends cheering me on, I rode off.

Later, as I was getting close to the Pride Lands that I would be traveling through to get to the Kingdom of [omitted, it started raining hard. A noise from the storm spooked my horse and I was thrown off. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt. However, my horse was too spooked to hear me calling her back. So, I had no choice but to go on foot. As I was walking, I saw what looked like an abandoned fort. I knocked to see if anyone was home so that I could take shelter from the storm but no one answered. I continued walking, knowing that I had to find a place to take shelter and start fresh in the morning.

While walking, I suddenly felt some pain on the side of my leg. I looked and saw a small wound that was still bleeding. I figured it must have been from one of the falls. Frustrated, I said to myself, 'Great! I have to get something to stop the bleeding and find somewhere to stay dry. But I don't have anything on me that would work. I just have my sword and a small bag for food and water. I didn't plan for going out in a storm without my horse.' As I was looking for shelter, I started feeling dizzy. I knew I had a fever because I had been out in the rain for a long time with the wrong clothes for it. My vision was getting blurry and I knew I was getting sicker by the moment. So, I stopped to rest just when I heard a voice say, 'Hey, are you okay?'

I saw a stranger with what looked like blonde hair but couldn't really tell. I asked him who he was but he said it didn't matter because I didn't look well. When I tried to stand up, he told me to stay back. Behind him were a few others who came up and one said, 'Well, look who it is - the rest of our problem - the great Sijur.' The blonde boy turned and said, 'What do you want? I am not joining your dumb group. I don't like to kill people like you and your friends and family. I am different and my parents would never stand for it. My parents saved many people over the years and yes, my friends think I am weird but that is why we live near the Pride Lands - it is safe.'

One of the other voices said, 'Then we will make you join.' They got hold of him and I knew they would kill him if they could. So, I stood up and asked them who they were. As I started to grab my sword, one of them said, 'Well, it seems that Sijur has made a pretty little friend.' I replied firmly, 'For the record, we just met and no one hurts others while I am around.' They asked me who I thought I was as another one said, 'I am MKail, leader of the Circle of Life Defenders.' They stopped and asked me to back away. The one who was their leader said, 'Oh, we never back down just because you are famous - that doesn't mean anything to us.' They started attacking me but I used the roar and sent them flying. After that…[omitted]

Sijur's POV:

After the girl sent the idiotic group flying, she started shaking and fell unconscious. I ran over and caught her. She was really light and had a small wound on her leg. Her clothes looked like they were made of fine fabric and even her sword was made of fine material. She must come from some high-class family but needed help as she was soaked to the bone from the rain and was bleeding from the wound. She might also have a fever as she had been out in the rain for a long time with the wrong clothes for it.

I started walking towards my parents' house as we lived nearby and that would be the safest place for her right now. When we got there, my dad was standing outside and asked who she was. I replied that I wasn't sure - I found her out in the woods. He told me to get her inside and my mom started making soup while I laid her down on a bed. My mother told me to get dry clothes so that I wouldn't get sick too."