A Tiny Guardian

"Remember, we are only here to lead her to him. Nothing more and nothing less." Cobrantes leaned closer to Qemore as he as she whispered to him. Their horses were slightly ahead of Cateile , who had been in an apparent daze.

With an understanding nod, Qemore glanced back over his shoulder. The young girl was now following them. Now, how brave was this young lady? He thought. To follow two people off into the woods whom she just met a few months prior.

Qemore had learned earlier in life not to trust anyone but himself. He had only found two companions that he trusted more than his own mind, and one of them was sitting beside him, mounted on her horse.

"Do you know where we are headed?" Cateile questioned from behind.

She seemed to be weary of the two and where they were leading her, however, she still followed. She figured that her father was in the woods as well so she wouldn't be in as much danger.

"Of course we know, little cub."

They started their horses into a slow trot as they bent around a large boulder that separated two of the narrow roads. Well, they weren't roads. They were frequently traveled paths where the brush had been separated.

The path that Cobrantes turned down, led away from the city. This was a road that was less traveled on. Hence the brush became thicker and thicker as they traveled further away.

"How do you know where we are going?"

" Will you be asking questions the entire ride little kitten? Or would you care to stay quiet and follow along obediently?" Cobrantes snickered back towards Cat and rolled her eyes in the process.

Cobrantes adorned a hunting vest and pants in her usual gold and black fashion. Her hair was tied up in a bun at the back of her head. From behind her, Cat could see a marking, running up the back of her neck towards her nape. She wondered what the marking could but she could not see it entirely, because half of it was covered.

"Why would I do anything obediently?" She rode her horse, a little closer to the two, as she studied the path that they rode on.

Ulov neighed sharply as something out of the corner of the animal's eye caught it's attention.

Cobrantes and Qemore immediately stopped their horses and listened carefully.

"What is it? What is going on?" Cat frantically looked around her, but couldn't see anything with the sun descending so quickly.

" Tell me. What do you two see?"

"Be quiet!" Qemore quietly shouted back.

With his right hand's index finger, he covered his lips, and with his left hand, he signaled for her mouth to close. Whatever it was that was out there Qemore and Cobrantes could see it but Cateile could not.

After a long moment of silence, nothing happened. Deciding that the coast was clear Cateile opened her mouth to speak again.

Suddenly, Qemore had his bow and arrow in hand, stretched out pointing at Cateile .

A loud growl erupted into the night as something launched at her from behind.

At the same time Cobrantes skillfully rolled off of her horse, unsheathing her sword with one swift move. Qemore released his arrow aimed at Cat. The arrowhead connected directly with the metal sash that held her hunting cloak around her neck. Although it did not hurt her, it knocked her sideways off of her horse.

As she went tumbling towards the ground, a guardian was seen, jumping over to where she was previously at . The second arrow had already been released from Qemore's bow before Cateile even hit the ground.

Cobrantes was beside Cat, helping her to roll over and onto her feet. Then the guardian jumped at them. Using her sword to block off the attack Cobra snatched Cateile up, helping her to roll over and onto her feet.

" don't just stand there hurry, get behind me" cobrantes yelled as she pulled cat shoulder, causing her to stumble back behind cobra.

Qemor was now off of his mount, and rushing towards them with a stone in his hand. Cat was unsure of what the stone was however, it was glowing within the man's palm.

The Guardian slashed its paws at Cobra and connect ledit with her right arm, causing a small amount of blood to leak from the wound . Cobra dodging in time was able to counter attack with a slice towards the great lion.

Qemor side stepped out of the way as the guardian turned it's attention towards him and bit in his direction.

Cateile was trying to gather her senses as she had not yet drawn her sword from her horse, nor had she her bow and arrow. The weapons that she had were presently missing with her beloved mare, Ulov.

"Duck!" Cobrantes yelled as a white glow formed in the guardians eyes as it growled towards the two ladies. A ray of light shot out from its' eyes past the two ladies as Cobra forced Cateile down.

Qemor threw the glowing stone in the path of the white light managing to block the ray. The stone floated in the air, absorbing the power of the Guardian.

Realizing this, the guardian stopped and returned back to its physical attacks.

First, it launched back towards Cobra with its claws extended, and when the attack failed it bit towards Qemore.

"Get the stone!" While Qemore and Cobra fought off the Guardian, they yelled back to the young princess, who still sat on the ground in shock.

Scrambling over to where the Stone had dropped, Cateile attempted to pick it up. When she tried to touch the stone, it was burning hot, making it unable to be held. Ripping off a piece of her cloak, she scooped up the stone using the material.

"What do I do with it?" Cat yelled frantically. The stone was starting to burn a hole in her cloak, and she had to think fast.

"When I tell you to you are going to throw it at the Guardian." Cobra yelled over her shoulder. Her sword was extended in front of her as she withheld the force of the guardian. Qemores arrows whipped through the air but were dodged by the Guardian as it whirled around.

"Now!" Cobrantes yelled!

Cat release the stone and sent it hurling towards the lion. At the same time Cobra threw her sword and Qemore released his arrow in the path of the stone directly before the stone reached the Guardian.

Mere inches from the guardian's nose the stone exploded. Light hurled from out of the stone, blinding everyone, making them block the harsh rayswith their arms. it seemed as though the entire forest lit up in the night.

When they came to, the Guardian was laying on the ground of the forest unconscious.

Cat had no idea what she had gotten herself into, but she clearly understood that she was not ready. Although she was not ready that did not to tell her from her original goal. she would just have to make use of the skills of her sister and her second.

"What…happened?" Cat was still a bit dazed from the bright light. "Have you tamed the beast?"

Qemore was already beside Cobrantes checking her wounds. Although he was bleeding himself, he still heavily focused on the small scratches Cobra had.

"Yes, but we shall live her." Cobra shook her head to Qemore signaling that she was alright.

"So you'll just leave it?"

"Yes, someone else can have it. It's not what I desire. It's only a tiny guardian." Cobrantes whistled for her horses to come back wherever they had ran off to.

"Are you sure you are ready for Ajul little one?"

That question scared Cat.