Bery and Valerie made their way down the cave. Both had been able to smell the blood. At first Valerie insisted she could go herself while the kitten waited, but Bery assured Valerie that it would be fine.

"I appreciate how much you care for me, but I do not want to be shielded from everything horrible in the world."

Though she said that, the smell became even thicker and nauseating. They'd reached a dark rounded hole. Four cave trolls lay dead on the ground, stinking up the place. One of them had its head severed from its body, and the others had their heads completely crushed.

The sight and the smell rushed to Bery's head, and she stumbled, catching herself on Valerie.

"This is why I said that I could see it first, kitten." The dragoness held out her hand in front of her, and flames burst forth.

The fire touched the bodies and burned them to less than ash in an instant. Even all of the blood trails leading out of the cave burned to nothingness. The smell disappeared completely, and it was as if the trolls were never there in the first place. Not a single spec of them remained.

Bery blinked several times, her eyes watching in disbelief. Of course, she understood well that Valerie was strong. She'd seen her burn those bandits to a crisp before, but this was beyond the pale. It dawned on her how much she didn't know about Valerie. How much did I refuse to see?

She knew that her lover was one of the strongest in the world, but knowing and seeing were very different.

Valerie grabbed onto Bery's hand and used her other to hold Bery's face. "Are you okay, kitten? I know that sight was not pretty for your eyes."

Bery sighed. "It wasn't, but I'm glad that you're here with me."

"You know where this cave leads, right kitten?"

Bery nodded hesitantly. Even if it had been so long ago, she could still remember places close to her old village. That's why she found her past self even more idiotic. How could that little girl get lost so easily just because some people led her away?

"Val, can we just watch from a distance?"

"If that is what you want. I just want you to be happy, kitten."

Bery smiled. "I am fine. I might need you to support me, but I'll be fine. Remember what you said to me? You told me it's okay to cry if I can smile after. Did you not?"

Valerie's lips curled up, and she embraced Bery. "You are quite right. Ever since earlier, I've been the one who's been spacing out."

"You don't have to pretend to be okay with everything. I know that it hurts you to watch. Nonetheless, I still want to see them. I want to know that my people are okay."

Valerie's hand shook, but she ultimately nodded. "Now you are being unfair. I understand, kitten. Your heart is too kind for your own good."

"I wish I was half as kind as you, though."

The two of them held hands and left the cave entrance. Valerie had to fly Bery over a ravine, but when they reached the other side, the sound of loud voices echoed in the trees. Sunlight flickered low on the horizon, and spirits already came out to play, their light shining between branches of trees.

Valerie cast a fire spell on Bery and herself, saying that it would mask their presence.

Bery had no idea how a fire spell could do something like that. Before meeting Valerie, Bery assumed that fire was only for destruction and cooking. She vowed to herself that she would press Valerie with all kinds of questions later, but for now, she looked down at her village.

The primitive place was much unlike human cities. The beastkin below mostly lived in thatched or wooden huts. As a little girl, she never questioned it at all, but now it was absurd really. In the center of the village, there was a singular stone hut, much larger than the others.

Typically it was used for the village elders, but right now, it was being used for a festival. Blue leaves were placed in a ring around the stone structure, and children were huddled around the place with their parents. At the center of the place, Bery saw her father.

Not only was her father there, but she saw another man. He looked like one of the kids that used to bully her. Despite this, she couldn't remember his name. Bery'd tried her hardest to forget the names of the people who harmed her, but her mind never forgot his face.

The cheers of the surrounding villagers died down, and the elderly woman from the statue stood up to speak.

"Beneath Lady Kanai, we give grace for this day. The passing of leadership from one generation to the next has been our long held tradition. Today, Yehrmin gives over the mantle to Sin'ja'ra."

Bery's father looked around at the crowd, narrowing his eyes to each of them. "Where is Shau'na?"

The crowd became completely silent. Their longstanding leader stood there looking at each of them, trying to find a ghost.

Sin'ja'ra grunted, seeing this sight. "Such a disgraceful thing. Rin'wa, pass the mantle quickly, so we can be done with him."

Rin'wa, the village elder, sighed. "As you wish."

The woman reached into the stone hut, grabbing a large fur cloak. She knelt down before Sin'ja'ra, presenting the item to him.

Sin ripped it from her hands and threw it over his back, lifting his warhammer high in the process. "Tonight, the weak old man has been cast down. It is our duty as followers of Kanai to purge all weakness."

The young Kanai'n man grinned, pointing his warhammer towards Yehrmin. "I shall personally purge you and cleanse the forest of your weakness. Give your life obediently to the forest, old man."

None of the surrounding Kanai'ns said anything. They merely stared at Sin and the old rambling man.

"Where is Shau'na?" Yehrmin asked again, looking towards the trees.

Even though his eyes had not spotted her, Bery felt seen by his gaze. Her heart ached painfully. She wanted desperately for him to disappear from the world. She wanted to watch helplessly just like all of the others. The weak Bery that had been cast out was watching her deepest wish.

"Shau'na…"

"Are you not going to answer the call of my duel?" Sin asked. The young Kanai'n man shook his head, gazing at Yehrmin pitifully. "Very well, I will take your silence as acceptance."

He gripped his large hammer, and he bolted towards the confused old man.

Bery swallowed hard, her voice a whisper. "Stop it."

Valerie threw Bery onto her back. A pillar of flame erupted from the ground, stopping Sin's charge and separating him from the old man. The dragon's body transformed in the air, her huge wings sprouting, and her beautiful red scales displayed for all.

She flapped once, and she arrived at her destination. Her large maw opened, and she took Yehrmin into her mouth.

The crowd below them shouted. Screams of fear and disbelief about the appearance of a dragon, but the dragoness paid them no heed. She flew off into the distance away from the jeers of the crowd and away from the furious eyes of Sin.

Valerie flew far away, following the river to the north. Only when they were very far away did she finally land. The dragon landed softly on a large stone platform near the riverbank, and she spat out Yehrmin.

The old Kanai'n man landed with a groan and coughed several times, but his eyes remained closed off to the world.

Valerie let Bery down off her back and transformed into her humanoid form. The dragoness glared down at the man but seeing Bery, she stopped herself from doing anything.

"I'm sorry, Valerie," Bery said.

The kitten rushed forwards to the stone platform, checking on Yehrmin. His chest heaved up and down, and air passed in and out of his lungs.

"Notice. This man has passed out from shock. It seems that the sight of Lady Valerie has shaken him to the core."

I see, so he'll be okay?

"He should wake up eventually."

Valerie knelt down next to her kitten and placed her hand on Bery's shoulder. "This man tasted disgusting, not like you at all."

Bery couldn't resist laughing. She hugged her dragoness. "Thank you. I know this must have been hard for you."

Valerie shook her head. "I am much more worried about you. Why would you want to save him, kitten?"

Bery looked at the man she was supposed to hate, but she could find no such emotion in her heart. She sighed, watching a singular blue leaf fall from the sky and land on his forehead.

"I have no idea. No idea at all."

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