"A traitor?" Kyera whispered remembering when one such being within her own clan resulted in the death of her brothers . Aggie nodded . "Then we will have to investigate . I will try and keep this from happening to anyone else . I'm so sorry Aggie . May the Shadows Guard you and the Time heal your heart . " Kyera turned and this time disappeared into the crowd many things on her young mind .

Aggie watched her walk on, and sighed . "May your Father guard you as your mother should have, young one . " Her words too soft for the youth to hear as she wove her way into the crowd, headed for the woods again .

Advertis.e.m.e.ntKyera came to the the fountain at the center of town and glanced around . At the water's edge normally livestock would be tied . Horses of travelers and farmers sheep occasionally drank from the cool water fountain . What Kyera didn't expect to see was a little girl with tears on her cheeks .

She was just a child, maybe 7 years of age? Just a little girl with black waves of hair and dressed in silks that no villager could afford . The embroidery of lion cubs on her skirt making it clear she was of the royal seed . Kyera sniffed the air, there were no other humans here . Why would such a young child be alone? Slowly she went to continue on, but the little girl's heart broken cries echoed her own heart and instead… She stopped .

'I am so going to regret this . ' Kyera lamented to herself before walking over and kneeling by the child . The soft smell of blood wafting off the child was unsettling as Kyera looked her over . Her knees were sc.r.a.ped and her arm was bruised as if she had been drug along by it not too long ago . Frightened little blue eyes met Kyera's gentle gaze .

"h.e.l.lo little one . Are you lost little Cub?" She asked and the little girl nodded, raising her hands to be picked up . It was easy to see the child just wanted comfort and didn't care much who from at the moment . Kyera hesitated for only a moment before lifting her under her arms and settling her onto her hip, holding the child . Almost instantly she laid her head down on her shoulder and quieted a bit . "Good girl . Shall we take you home?" Kyera asked gently and the child nodded her agreement .

"Thank you . " whispered the shy little voice . Kyera couldn't help but smile, a soft warmth filling her chest . She was so small for her age, pet.i.te was almost a understatement of the little girl's size . Perhaps 3 feet tall?

Kyera caught herself purring to sooth her, just as she would any cub back home . With one hand at her back,and the child's bottom settled on her hip nested in the curve of her waist, Kyera made her way toward the castle . Using her cloak, she hid the child's ident.i.ty to avoid suspicion but before they made it out of the little alley way, their way was blocked .

Three men, all rather burly in size stood in her way . All three dressed as guards of the royal court, but the baby trembled at the site of them . Her little voice whimpered from within the cloak . Kyera's nose quickly gathered the information that their outfits didn't show . They weren't guards, those uniforms were freshly laundered but their own skin held the scents of blood, whisky, and a the smell of the forest . It was too strong for hunters, these men had the smell of jackals deep in their skin . It wafted from their hair . They were shapes.h.i.+fters, and by the looks of it they were well aware of what she was as well .

"Let me pa.s.s . " Kyera stated using her voice first, hands holding the child just as firmly but one sliding out of site into the cloak by the child's feet . The three seemed to chuckle as though a unknown joke was pa.s.sed between them .

"Of course, Lady Shade of the Moon . However, give us the human brat first . " The first man replied stepping closer offering his arms to take the child . Kyera stepped away to avoid him . There was no way these men with eyes like cruel ice was going to take the child from her . They had no good intentions .

"No, I don't think I will Jackals . I suggest you return to your pack and behave as s.h.i.+fters should, not like scavenging dogs . " Kyera replied patting the child's back with one hand as the other slid over the hilt of her dagger hidden by the cloak .