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A man of beastly appearance sat in a chair in the corner of a dark cabin. He stared at the young unconscious woman with admiration. He'd never seen such a beautiful lady before. The moment he saw her in the forest, he was immediately reminded of when he was a boy with his mother. His mother always looked like an angel, just like the woman before him now.

Three or four men dressed in dark garments had cornered her in the forest. They were about to capture her when he jumped in with his axe. More and more men had continued to show up, like shadows in the night. With every swing he made, every punch, his rage burned in him. It was something he got from his father. In the end he had killed them all and brought her to safety.

The woman shifted on the poorly made bed on the floor. At first glance at the man, she looked for something in reach she could use as a weapon.

"Relax," he said, getting up from the chair.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

She then remembered what had happened.

"You should not have saved me," she said softly as she checked her body for broken bones and bruises. He glared at her.

"Really?" He spat on the floor.

"A simple thank you, would do." Inside he was smiling; this woman had the same stubbornness as did his mom.

"Do you not know who I am? Who they were?" she asked in a louder tone as she tried to stand up. He watched as she stumbled, then grabbed her head.

"You've probably suffered a concussion," he said as he caught her and placed her back on his bed.

"My name's Roan."

"I shouldn't be here. They will find me. He will find me."

"Who?" Roan asked as he handed her a cup of water. She took the cup and stared at it for a moment. Content the liquid was safe, she took a sip.

"Who is after you?" Roan persisted. For a moment it seemed like she was hesitant.

"The Shadows," she finally replied as she took another sip.

The Shadows. Damn. Roan thought to himself. He recently heard the rumours about groups of men dressed in black that were creating problems wherever they went; killing people, burning down buildings. The woman finished her drink and looked him up and down.

"Are you a shifter?"

He gave her a puzzled look.

"A shape shifter. Into a bear? Your form is rather-"

"Oh!" he interrupted her.

"No, no. I take after my father's build." He chucked as he stood up. Bear. He was reminded of his companion. Almost everyone had an animal they were companioned with. They called it Spirt Bonding. Sometimes though, companions were killed. Roan had lost his companion, Lucian, many years before.

"My name's Amaya," the woman said, breaking Roan's chain of thought. She smiled at him.

"My companion, Nishii, will be out there looking for me."

Roan cocked an eye at her.

"You were reading my thoughts?" he asked.

"I can read people's thoughts, sometimes. It's why The Wrath wants me."

"The Wrath?"

"It's the name of the men's army that were after me in the forest. I'm sure you heard of them?"

"Somewhat," Roan replied as Amaya stood up. She was steadier this time as she walked to one of the windows.

"I wonder if you heard. Recently a young mother was killed. Not too far from here." She went from window to window as she carefully looked for any signs of danger.

"I'm a bit of a recluse, but yes. I heard. Just north of the forest, small village called Velronde."

Amaya nodded.

"She was my sister."

"Biologically?"

"No," Amaya shook her head.

"We were not related in any sense. The same reason they killed her is why they want to kill me."