As Xeta took form in a cave in the North East of the U.S, she sighed softly to herself. Looking about, and reaching behind a small rock formation, she found a satchel she kept full of more normal clothes, and make-up to hide the birthmark over her right eye.

With her eye looking more normal now and dressed after the fashion of local teens, she stepped from the cave, hiking the short trek to her dopple-ganger's house.

Long ago, she had made contact with the girl, who was called Autumn, and on her advice, had hidden some things in this cave whenever she wanted to get away from the Council for a little while and escape from the pressures of her training.

Emerging from the woods, she approached the house, silencing the guard dogs with a whispered word, a small gesture, and a touch of calming magic. Though ordinarily, she would have no power over any canine, she was well familiar with these two dogs and had cast only a mild general calming spell.

Making her way up to the house, she knocked softly on the door, a smile lighting her face as an all too familiar face opened the door. Dark auburn hair and hazel eyes shone out of an all too innocent face, a grin lighting the features as sunlight through the clouds. With a soft, glad cry, the girl launched herself at the Tiger Princess.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Xe!" She giggled softly, as she hugged the other to her. "It's been AGES! What are you doing here? Tomorrow's the Ritual, right? You never show up so close to Halloween!"

"Yeah, I know. The council's been riding my ass for ages now, and I finally couldn't take it anymore. What with me turning eighteen tomorrow, they're coming down on me even harder to go after Colvent. But first I have to go to the Ritual and be affirmed as an adult or some hooey. Oh yeah, and they're making me go with Adrial."

"What? Ew! Isn't he that slimy snake prince? Oh, he's so gross!"

"I know, right? But they're insisting. I'd have rather have gone with Renock, but... well actually, I'd rather skip the whole damn thing." Xeta replied as the other girl opened the door, and let her in. "So, I don't have a choice, and I just have to deal. Hopefully, it'll pass quickly, and then I can get on with the business at hand."

"Hunting?" Asked Autumn.

"Hunting," Xeta replied with a smirk. "It's about time we stopped that family for once and for all. And I for one look forward to stopping the bastard. I'm just glad that I was picked, and not you. I at least look forward to ending him."

Autumn smiled at her friend and shook her head slightly. "I think we both know that I'm too gentle for something like that. You have the instinct to kill - I don't."

"Prey and hunter, Autumn, it's the way of the world. I never have understood your reticence. You'd be torn apart in my world."

"I know... and sometimes, I think that's why you were picked. But ..." She paused, sighing softly. "I still hate seeing what you've been forced to become."