Thirteen Men on Horseback Part 3

"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.

Kyera 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 scraped 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.

"Hello 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, petite 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 identity 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 shapeshifters, and by the looks of it they were well aware of what she was as well.

"Let me pass." 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 passed 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 Shifters 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.