Spirit Animals - A Thief's Quest, A Warrior's Mission

Chapter Ten - I'll Join You

"Do you even know why they're so important?"

"Don't know, don't care."

"Well you should...cause you summoned one of them."

-Meilin-

Ever since they found out, the group had been moving in tensed silence as they tried to find an escape out of Zhong and towards Eura. Up ahead, Tarik and Shane were arguing about which route to take.

"I'm telling you that going through the Petral Mountains is the safest way to get through to Eura," Tarik was saying, trying not to shown his annoyance.

"My Redcloaks have reported of a battle happening over there with Euran soldiers and the Conquerors," Shane argued, "There's no way we could pass through unseen but if we go through the river, we can at least pass in disguise."

"And what if we get caught?" Tarik questioned him, "I can't risk it. We can't risk them falling into the hands of the Conquerors."

"But they would certainly fall into the Conquerors if we head towards the battle," Shane fired, more forcefully this time, "For Tellun's sake, they summoned Great Beast. Great Beast, Tarik, not just any normal Spirit Animals. Abeke moves like a hunter and she's already gaining powers from Uraza."

Meilin caught a slight blush appearing on Abeke's cheeks.

"And i'm pretty sure that Meilin's very capable of taking care of herself," Shane added, "She certainly knows how to act and with the help of Jhi, she could battle lots of Conquerors on her own."

Meilin noticed that Shane didn't call him Mistress Meilin anymore which reminded her once more of her father. She does know how to act and she didn't exactly need Jhi to fight on her own. She didn't see what a panda could do to help her fight, even though the panda was a Great Beast. From what Tarik told her, Jhi was a healer.

Lishay then sighed reluctantly, "He's right, you know. You may be their guardian but we need to start trusting them. They won't be able to learn if we keep on protecting them and doing things ourselves. We'll need all the help we could get and that includes them."

"Wait, hold up," Meilin interrupted, "Since when did we agree to help you? If these Conquerors are after the Great Beasts and the talismans, what would you Greencloaks do to us?"

"We'll keep you safe and try to get you back to Greenhaven," Tarik reassured her, then added, "but it would be much easier with you and the Great Beasts' help."

"What are you trying to do anyways?" Abeke asked but it was more out of curiosity then suspicion.

"We're going to be looking for more of the Great Beast summoners before the Conquerors reach them firsts," Tarik answered.

"We'll be stopping by Eura," Shane added, "According to my Redcloak scouts, Rumfuss the Boar has been spotted in a village while there were a few sightings of Briggan the Wolf nearby."

"Briggan has been spotted?" Tarik asked, sounding perplexed, "For all we know, there wasn't a single evidence if anyone summoning the Great Wolf."

"A small source tells us," Shane said, but it didn't sounded as if he was convinced, "but we're not really sure."

"We'll join," Abeke suddenly spoke up while her leopard, Uraza, growled in agreement, "We'll help you find the other Great Beasts."