I woke up still confused about what had happened yesterday. Tigra was the first thing I thought about when I opened my eyes. Staring up at the ceiling, trying to figure out why just thinking about her made my chest tighten.

Mum was making breakfast, Athena had made herself at home, trying to help out but it was obvious she was still upset from her home being destroyed. Athena followed mum around, perhaps she was looking for someone to fill in the void.

“Hi.” Athena came up to me. She looked to be a few years older than me.

“Hi.” I responded.

“Alex, right.” I nodded. “I hear your training to be a Guardian.”

“That’s right,” I responded.

“You must be really strong,” she smiled a little.

“I wouldn’t say that.” I was wondering where this was all coming from, she’d been silent when I arrived home yesterday.

“Alex.” Tigra ran in, she paused as she saw Athena.

“Tigra.” My eyes widened at the sight of her, I hadn’t expected to see her so soon after yesterday’s race.

“Um…Sorry about yesterday,” she got her words out.

“Oh that, don’t worry about it.” I looked away from her, feeling flustered.

“I thought I would also apologise for my master; she was out of line.” Tigra held anger in her voice.

“I wouldn’t worry about it, everyone treats me like some stray,” I shrugged my shoulders.

“But they shouldn’t,” she put on a small smile. “I mean your fur is slowly growing back.”

“It is?” I looked at my patched fur. “It is.” I cheered.

“A smile, finally,” commented Tigra. “You haven’t smiled a whole lot lately.”

“Sorry.” I lowered my head a little. It was because I knew I had let everyone down when I was unable to escape the basic class, all because of that Dumah.

“Don’t worry so much.” Tigra came closer and patted me on the back. “And don’t forget to smile.”

“I’ll try.” I nodded feeling inspired by my best friend.

Tigra looked over at Athena. “And who might you be?”

“Athena,” she replied. “You.”

“Tigra.” She smiled, such a beautiful smile.

“Princess Tigra.” Athena lowered her head.

“You don’t have to do that here,” I said giving her a weird look. Tigra hated when others bowed to her. “We are all equals here, right Tigra.”

“Right.” Tigra got pretty close to me all of sudden. I gulped. “Since we don’t have training today, how about we go steal some fruit from the royal orchards.”

“But you own them.” Athena was confused.

Both Tigra and I looked at her, speaking at the same time. “They taste better when you take them.” We looked at each other again and laughed.

“Can I come?” asked Athena.

“Sure,” smiled Tigra. “With your wings we can get to the best ones.”

“Wings.” I mumbled to myself, thinking it would be so cool to fly. Larana could grant her master flight, but it was an advance skill, and I had yet to even stay airborne.

“Let’s go,” cheered Tigra.

Together we left the bakery, all saying bye to mum. Heading through the castle and out the back, where the great lake was; over the bridge was the royal orchards. I looked down at the crystal clear waters, I felt almost drawn to it, like I had a connection to it.

“Come on Alex,” called Tigra. “Before the afternoon patrols.”

“I’m coming.” I looked away from the waters as we all broke out in a run.

The orchards were massive, always a sight to behold. Tigra told me once that apparently there were over two thousand trees here.

“What should we get first?” asked Tigra as we got lost in the sea of trees.

“Some bokens,” I said hungry for my favourite fruit.

“Should have guest,” laughed Tigra. “Bokens are this way.”

Boken trees were always distinguished by their twisted trunks, heart shaped leaves and pinkish fruit. The fruit you cut open and scooped out the inside, they were sweet and juicy.

“Just in time for the best ones,” I smiled.

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“Athena could you please get them?” asked Tigra.

“Of course,” nodded Athena, she quickly flew up to the ripe fruit.

“Wings.” I mumbled to myself.

Larana appeared sitting on my shoulder. “Do you want some too master?” I just glanced at her as wind gently blew around me. “You can fly too.”

“Really?” I said surprised.

“Of course,” she nodded. “But it is an advance skill, you’ll get there someday.” I sighed, how mean of her to get my hopes up like that.

“Alex.” Tigra started with my name. “Are you really trying your best with your training?”

“Of course, I am,” I protested.

“I don’t think you are.” Tigra looked up at Athena gathering fruit. “I know you can do better than this. I think you are afraid of what you can really do.” She looked me in the face. “Don’t you want to protect me?”

“Of course, I do,” I said, more than she knew. “It’s just I don’t have complete control of Larana’s power yet.”

“If you practised from the start like you were supposed to you would have.” Tigra shook her head. “You would most probably be flying up there with Athena collecting fruit.”

“What if I hurt someone,” I said. “Her power is so strong.”

“A talismans power comes from the wielders heart.” Athena floated down with her arms filled with fruit. “If you do not wish to harm someone, then the spirit will not harm them with their power, if protection is what you want, they will protect you.”

“Nicely said Athena,” nodded Tigra proud of herself. “Tomorrow you should show everyone what you can really do, but first let’s enjoy the boken fruit.”

“Freshly picked.” Athena handed them out.

“Hey you!” We heard voices shouting, it was the knights who guarded this area. I looked in their direction, staring I saw a scene of fire all around, I blinked, and it was gone.

“Run!” shouted Tigra as we ran in the opposite direction.

The knights gave chase, they were fast on our trail being highly trained. I quickly turned around, swinging my arm, sending out a huge gust of wind, blinding and confusing them.

It was the first time I didn’t think about using Larana’s power, I just did it. I felt completely in control, her power was my power.

We went to our usual hiding place, in a pile of rocks there was a little entrance leading to a small cave, it was the secret hiding place mum had told me about, where her and dad used to hide. The knights had never caught us before, and they wouldn’t today either. We settled in and ate the boken fruit.

“So, Athena, where is it you come from?” asked Tigra.

“Not sure.” Athena stared at the fruit in her hand. “I was found by a group of travelling Ursus when I was a baby. There I grew up with my best friend.” She paused. “I don’t even know if he is alive, all the Ursus caravans have been attacked lately. We split into smaller groups in the hopes of hiding better, unfortunately we lost contact with them all before mine was attacked.”

“Sorry to hear that,” I said.

“Perhaps, I could have the attacks investigated,” suggested Tigra. “Maybe Master Lance could set it up as our first mission.”

“You’re crazy.” I shook my head. “We are hardly Cathopia’s finest.”

“Oh Alex,” sighed Tigra. “You are far more skilled than you give yourself credit for and you know it.” I looked away, no idea where she kept getting this image of me from. “He can figure out where someone’s been and will go, even see it.”

“Really.” Athena looked at me.

“We should head back before the fire starts.” I stood up.

“Fire?” They both looked at me puzzled.

“A fire is going to consume the entire orchard, and I suspect it will be intentional,” I responded.

“What?!” Tigra rushed to her feet. “We should hurry and tell dad.”

“I doubt he’ll do anything,” I commented.

“We have to try,” snapped Tigra.

I looked at her, seeing the desperation in her eyes. “Alright, let’s go.”

We quickly made our way back to the castle. Tigra led us straight through into the throne room, where King Alton had just finished a meeting with dad. Dad was coming out as we rushed in, he stopped to see what was happening.

“Dad.” She slightly raised her voice, then she froze as she saw Dumah talking to the king.

“Tigra.” Dumah casually walked over. “My dear betrothal.” He smiled placing his arm around her.

“Betrothal?” The words shocked me and strangely hurt, but why?

“Oh, didn’t you know, as soon as Tigra becomes of age we are to be married.” Dumah spoke slyly as I sensed the room darken.

“Get off Dumah. “Tigra pulled his arm off her, then she glanced at me before going closer to the king. “Dad I think the orchards are in danger.”

Dumah laughed. “How can an orchard be in danger.”

“It is one of our food sources, destroying it would have an impact on trade and winter food stocks.” Tigra protested. She had a valid point with her argument, but who would destroy it, the only real access to them was from the castle, on the other side were tall mountains. I knew what I saw, and it was going to burn.

“I doubt anyone would burn down the orchard Tigra, they are just trees,” sighed King Alton. “No one can access them except through the castle and they are regularly checked by the knights, there is nothing to worry about.”

“But…” Tigra didn’t get a chance to responded.

“Now, you must spend some time with your betrothal.” Dumah smiled as King Alton said those words. I couldn’t help but wonder how infected the king had become.

“Never!” shouted Tigra, then stormed off.

“Feisty,” snarled Dumah.

“Come on Athena.” We quickly followed after her. “We won’t be getting any help here.” I glared at Dumah. I was still shocked with Dumah calling Tigra his betrothal but at that moment my concern fell on how she was feeling.

“If looks could kill Fang,” he laughed.

Athena and I wasted no time in catching up with Tigra, she was clearly upset by her father’s words. I wondered why Tigra had not told me about Dumah, just thinking about it made me angry.

“Tigra!” I called after her. “Wait.” She stopped on the spot. “Tigra.” I said her name more gently.

“That is not my dad.” She turned around her eyes full of tears. It was the first time I saw Tigra cry. She moved towards me burrowing her face into my chest. “He would never say they were just trees.” I softly put my hand on her back. “That orchard has been special to our family. The first King of Cathopia planted them.” I felt a little awkward as others who lived in the castle passed, giving me the weirdest looks.

I put my hands on Tigra’s shoulders, gently pushing her away. “I will protect the orchard for you.”

“Alex,” she said my name as I wiped away her tears.

Without another word I turned away and took off. It wouldn’t be long before the orchard would be attacked by Dumah. I knew no matter who I told, they would not believe me, especially with him being betrothed to Tigra, and allied with the king.

“Alex.” Dad called after me.

I glanced back. “Sorry dad, I’ve got something to do.” I ran off at full speed, I needed to hurry before it was too late to save the orchard Tigra loved so much.