As Ren, Ki and I walked into the forest, I could feel a sense of foreboding creeping under my skin and sinking into my bones. The world around me seemed to shrink down and I felt isolated. The dampness of the undergrowth left a stench under my nose and the dense foliage left little light to shine down upon our heads.

“ Where to now young master “ Ki stated as if we were on a holiday.

[ She sure doesn’t scare easy ]

“ I am choosing where we go?” I almost whispered and held myself a little.

I could hear the sounds of creatures far off into the distance echoing into my ears.

“ Of course, we are here for you young master,” Said Ren as he looked around and sniffed the air.

I had never been in the wilderness before, the closest jungle I had ever been in was made of concrete so I was worried I would lead us astray. My self-confidence was shrinking by the minute.

{ Abrupt Mission: Capture feline type spirit beast before leaving the jungle | Reward 50 DD }

Kibble's voice rung in my ears and seemed to calm me.

[ Kibbles are you there? ]

“ Yes, Meowster! Need anything” said kibbles as they were tucked away inside what I assumed was my soul.

[ No just glad to hear your voice. ]

“ Meowster how sweet! Well, I am here if you need me! “ Kibbles responded. They then seemed to materialise and land perfectly on my shoulder.

Kibble's warm fur and weight seemed to calm me like a hug, I thought for a minute before asking “ Do we have a detailed map?” to both Ki and Ren who were waiting for instructions.

“ We sure do!” Said, Ren, as he revealed a map.

After checking it over for a little while I chose for us to head northeast avoiding going too much further in. As we walked there we saw various footprints for animals as well as humans. Some were hooves while other were like chicken feet.

We had walked for a few hours before there was a strange smell wafting in the air, Ren quickly drew his sword, while Ki grabbed her daggers.

“ What's wrong?” I whispered as I unsheathed my sword.

“ Something’s off,” said Ren

“ Mm this smell is bad young master... It’s a scent used for drawing spirit beasts.” Ki said before she was cut off by the sound of heavy hooves.

A ball containing pink fluid was thrown at our feet by an unknown assailant.

“ We are surrounded!! “ Shouted Ren

Thirty or so spirit beasts had surrounded us each gnashing their jaws and baring their fangs. They started to charge at us. I looked up to see the massive teeth of a creature about to bite my arm off. It stood on four legs and had a massive tail like a salamander.

What was unique about this creature, however, what was strange was that it was covered in deep black features and its mouth was a beak covered with razor-sharp teeth.

I abruptly dodged to my side but was almost trampled by another one. I looked over in shock to see Ki shout “ Young Master! “ before charging towards me. She was leaping over spirit beasts like she was possessed. She fought like a bloodthirsty death god stopping me dead in my tracks.

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[ Ki can fight?! ]

“ Young Master Look Out! Behind You!” Shouted Ren hysterically as he also went to reach for me.

But he was too late.

I felt an arm grab me.

The last thing I saw before being knocked out was the sight of Ren and Ki running after me.

Everything went black.

Some unknown time later I awoke to the sounds of “ Meowster, Meowster! Wake up Meowster!” and a tiny paw nudging at my face.

It was terribly dark but there was a fire light right in front of me. I tried to move but it was futile. There were thick ropes tied around my arms and waist and I was tied to a tree. I struggled for a bit before I heard footsteps.

I closed my eyes pretending to still be asleep.

“ Those people in town flashing their money, we got one hell of a fat sheep this time!” Said one voice.

“ Those Tama pigs pulling out gold while the people of Vance starve, Serves them right that a rich kid or two goes missing,” Said another voice.

[ People from Vance?! What are they doing in Tama forest?! ]

“ We will have to get moving to the border soon. Fire Ice Fang and Death Dealer should still be around looking for this runt. We manage to give the slip in the spirit beast stampede but that only slow them down and not kill em.” replied the first voice.

“ Still I wonder what a high-class mercenary and a well-ranked soldier were doing guarding a runt like this, wasn’t death dealer retired?” said the second voice.

[ Oh good, they should be safe, wait! A mercenary? Who? If Ren is the soldier then Ki is the…]

I felt stupid, the hints were all there it had finally dawned on me that Ki was not just a maid.

[The input she had on my sword and breathing techniques should have been a dead give away… ]

[ But why would she hide it from me? ]

Just as I was thinking the excruciating pain of a boot landed on my side. I winced in pain and tried not to bite off my own tongue.

“ You up yet lad?” A voice said above me and laughed a guttural laugh.

I looked up with one eye to see an older man with scars etched into his face. One eye was missing and he basically looked like a sewn up doll. There was not one part of him that did not look battle torn.

I glared at him as I tried to swallow every curse word I could think of shouting.

“ Wakey wakey rise and shine!” said the second voice sarcastically. The second man joined in laughing at me.

The second man was abnormally lanky, every time his chest moved from laughing he looked like a willow tree swaying in the wind. The camp was a crudely made one, we were situated just outside a cave. The moon was hanging high up in the sky.

“ Don’t think your hired help will be able to save you, boy, we are in the middle part of the forest so if you run off or shout for help you will be a spirit beast’s dinner in no time. If you're a good lad when we get to the border, you will be sold to a good family for a nice price!” said the second man.

“ Of course we could always sell you into a not so savoury household. The Vance just love to keep Tama dogs as pets! Good or bad the choice will be on how you behave, now get up! We have some ground to cover” said the first man, he seemed to kick me again for good measure before untying my ropes.

I instantly fell to the ground in the fetal position trying to catch the breath that was torn from my lungs.

“ This isn’t looking good meowster, I hope you have a plan. Of course, if you were to live in Vance you wouldn't have to worry about being left homeless in Tama…” Kibbles stated as it appeared in front of me.

My brow had creased after hearing its comments.

[ What about mother and father? I can’t run away, after all, they have done for me! Riku, Ren, Ki the princess and the princes… I .. ]

Clenching my fists into a ball and crunching my teeth down hard I tried my best to stand. The first kidnapper used one arm to hoist me up, his hand covering most of my waist.

He dropped me so I stood on two legs still holding my chest.

“ You better drop that nasty look on your face before you get kick number three,” Said the second kidnapper.

“ Right we found the herbs we needed from here and now we have our bonus, so we should head off” kidnapper one had said.

Kidnapper two reached over into the pouch on his side and shoved a black flower in his mouth. He walked over and gave the second kidnapper the same herb before walking up to me. He was at least a meter taller than me so he had to kneel before pinching my jaw open and making me swallow a third black herb.

[ What the heck did he just feed me? ]

The second kidnapper poured water on the fire and it all went pitch black. A cool feeling wafted into my brain from my stomach and suddenly my eyes hurt. I clutched them in pain and groaned a little.

“ Don’t worry kid, we didn't kidnap you just so we could poison you, what Delta over there gave you was a night witch herb. It's so you can see in the dark for a few hours. Wouldn't want our paycheck damaged. “ Said the first kidnapper.

[ The tall one is Delta not that it matters ]

I tried to focus my mind on anything other than the pain I was experiencing. After a few minutes it finally calmed down and I opened my eyes.

The world had gone from pitch black to strange shades of black, whites and greys. I tried to hold myself together as kibbles jumped on my shoulder.

I walked in between the two men into the night.

[ Ren, Ki I am counting on you... ]

The eerie sound of beast howls filled the area sending chills down my spine.