As Cougar left with her people, Jamie turned to Fear with a jumbled glance and asked, "What the heck just happened?"

Fear replied, "It's my to be future wife, master. When I was the pack leader, her father offered me her paws, but like today you've seen she was always the wild one. Many broke engagement with her because of this. When I was defeated, she left without even looking at me, which made me quite angry. I questioned to myself what's wrong if I'm weak? But thanks to you, master, I learned where true valor lies."

Jamie pressed further, "I get all that, but your feet were literally shaking. Why is that?"

Fear's expression darkened, "Fight with her and you'll get the reason. She became like this due to her father. Her father trained her like a boy from a toddler till her teenage years."

Shadow chimed in, "I also advise the same."

Jamie tried to defuse the tension, "Alright, let's not get too riled up on it. Anyway, where's Morona?"

Shadow replied, "I saw her running away while crying in that direction."

Jamie thought inwardly, "Maybe she was afraid of her also. After all, she's a kid." He sprinted as fast as he could and upon reaching Morona, he said resolutely, "Don't worry Morona, big brother will save you from that bad meany woman!"

To his surprise, Morona didn't stop crying but instead left with more tears. Suddenly, Fear's sister, whom Jamie had named "Forty meters please," came to pinch him with her claws and yelled, "You idiot!"

Jamie yelped, "Ow!"

"Men are so idiotic," Forty meters please said before leaving.

Jamie called after her, "I'll talk with you later. You better be ready."

Jamie pretty much knew what was going on inside little Morona's head, but he ignored it as a little girl's fantasy. Still, seeing her like this, he decided to fix what needed to be fixed at some point.

He went to the place where he usually spent most of his time, and as expected, Morona was there weeping. Jamie positioned himself behind Morona and said, "What you have in mind can't be done no matter what."

Morona ruefully asked, "Why? Is it because I'm a used piece?"

Jamie yelled, "Don't ever say that," which made Morona frightened and she started to cry more.

Jamie softened his tone, "I know I'm black, but I'm honest on the inside, and I see you as a sister or my own daughter whom I'd love to live without any loose strings."

Morona asked, "Is it because I'm not beautiful or is it my race?"

Jamie yelled again, making Morona cry with hiccups. He sat beside her and said, "It's not unnatural to feel attracted, but it's not because of your virginity, nor is it for your race or of you not being beautiful. Instead, it's because you'll one day meet someone much better than me, and he'll find you faster than I found you."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Morona's eyes gleamed, and she asked, "What if he's a bad guy?"

Jamie replied, "I'll give him a scolding then." That made Morona smile broadly and laugh heartily while hugging Jamie.

Shadow coughed and said, "I'm glad that you patched up, but master, your human friend Srides says she's in trouble and has come to our tribal ground to seek aid."

Jamie replied, "Let's go there at once," and they left to see Srides, who was facing who knew what kind of issues.

As they made their way towards the tribal grounds, Jamie's mind raced with possibilities. The recent encounter with Cougar, the revelations about Fear's past, and Morona's emotional turmoil all swirled in his thoughts. He knew that as a leader, he needed to remain composed and ready to face whatever new challenge awaited them.

With Morona walking close by his side and Shadow and Fear flanking him, Jamie felt a sense of unity within his diverse group. Despite their differences and the recent tensions, they were coming together to face this new challenge. It was a testament to the bonds they had formed and the trust they had placed in Jamie's leadership.

As they neared the spot where Srides awaited them, Jamie's resolve strengthened. Whatever trouble his friend was facing, he was determined to help her through it. The weight of leadership may have grown heavier, but so too had his determination to live up to the responsibility placed upon him.

As they approached, Jamie could see the worry etched across Srides' face. Her usual confident demeanor was replaced by a nervous energy that set him on edge. Srides stood at the edge of the tribal grounds, her eyes darting back and forth as if expecting danger to emerge from the shadows at any moment.

"Srides," Jamie called out as they drew near. "What's going on? Shadow said you're in trouble."

Srides visibly relaxed at the sight of Jamie and his group, but the tension didn't fully leave her body. "Jamie, thank goodness you're here," she said, her voice hushed and urgent. "I didn't know where else to turn."

Jamie placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Start from the beginning. What kind of trouble are you in?"

Srides took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "Not me, instead you guys. It's the humans from the nearby settlement," she began. "They've been encroaching further and further into the forest. At first, it was just small hunting parties, but now..." She trailed off, her eyes filled with worry.

"Now what?" Jamie prompted gently.

"Now they're talking about clearing a large section of the forest for farmland," Srides continued. "They don't realize or care that this land is home to so many creatures, including your tribe." She looked at Fear and Shadow as she said this, acknowledging the impact this would have on their people.

Jamie felt a knot form in his stomach. The delicate balance between the human world and the magical creatures of the forest had always been precarious, but this threatened to upset everything they had worked so hard to maintain.

"Have you tried reasoning with them?" Jamie asked, already knowing the answer.

Srides shook her head. "I've tried, but they won't listen. Some of them are even spreading rumors about dangerous beasts in the forest that need to be driven out. I'm afraid they might resort to more... violent means if we don't do something soon."

The gravity of the situation settled over the group. Jamie could feel the eyes of his companions on him, looking to him for guidance and direction. The weight of leadership pressed down on him more than ever before.

"We need to formulate a plan," Jamie said, his mind already racing with possibilities. "We can't let them destroy the forest, but we also can't risk open conflict. There has to be a way to make them understand the importance of this land."

Fear stepped forward, his usual bravado tempered by the seriousness of the situation. "Perhaps we could show them the magic of the forest," he suggested. "Let them see the beauty and wonder that exists here. It might change their minds."

Shadow nodded in agreement. "And if that doesn't work, we could use our abilities to make the land seem unsuitable for farming. Create illusions of rocky soil or pest-ridden crops."

Jamie considered their suggestions, impressed by the quick thinking of his companions. "Those are good ideas," he said. "But we need to be careful. If they discover our deception, it could make things even worse."

Morona, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, suddenly spoke up. "What if we made friends with them?" she asked innocently. "If they knew us, maybe they wouldn't want to hurt our home."

Jamie looked at the young girl, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the gravity of the situation. "That's a beautiful thought, Morona," he said gently. "And in a perfect world, it might work. But we have to be careful. Not all humans are as understanding as Srides."

As they discussed their options, Jamie's mind wandered to Cougar and her people. Despite their earlier confrontation, he couldn't help but wonder if they might be allies in this fight. The forest was their home too, after all.

"Srides," Jamie said, turning back to his friend. "How much time do we have before they start clearing the land?"

"Not much," Srides replied grimly. "A few days at most. They're already gathering equipment and supplies."

Jamie nodded, his resolve hardening. "Then we need to act quickly. Here's what we're going to do..."

As Jamie laid out his plan, incorporating ideas from each member of the group, he felt a sense of unity and purpose wash over them. The events ahead were daunting, but together, they stood a chance of preserving their home and the delicate balance between the human world and the magical realm of the forest.

Whatever the upcoming days might bring, Jamie knew that they would face it together to protect their beloved home and each other.