I was sulking at the bar and just about on my fifth drink when I got the call. Veera hadn't reported back yet.

For anybody else it wouldn't have meant anything but she was the obsessive type. She usually checked in more than she was expected to.

Something was wrong.

To be honest, a part of me had been looking for an excuse to go into the woods. I knew Pacem was there and there was something about her (even though she got under my skin more than one could believe).

I saw potential in her.

I thought she could really have the power to change things.

I realise that may sound insane. She's just one person and this battle had been going on for centuries now, but her eyes were a symbol of her power. One person who made a difference in the world was better than nothing, right?

Maybe I could help.

I've been under Alluna's thumb since I was a kid. From the time I'd woken up her because of the cryonics program. I'd had nothing to lose back then or to fight for, so I let her control me.

Pacem made me feel like I didn't have to listen to her anymore.

I made my way into the forest and travelled a little faster than usual.

Veera had left a couple of hours ago, which meant she would have been quite far already.

She seemed to think the only danger in this forest was the Karnoi, but I tried to tell her that it was a naive way of thinking.

Anyone can be dangerous if you put them in the right situation.

Not just Karnoi.

It didn't take me long for me to spot the smoke.

I was still a long way from where Malvin would have taken Pacem, but something about it had caught my attention. The smoke was so controlled. My guess was it was coming from a fireplace.

I decided I need to get a closer look, so I headed in its direction as stealthily as possible.

I immediately came to a halt when I heard the sound of crushing leaves.
Someone was coming.

I pulled my gun out of my belt and quickly got ready to attack. I usually didn't need a weapon in combat, but I wasn't taking the chance today.

"That damn woman," a male voice muttered to himself. "I swear one day I'm going to feed that bitch to the lion."

I waited for him to get slightly in front of me before I leapt out of the trees and held the gun the back of his bald head.

I spotted his shotgun before he could reach it and quickly took it out of his grasp.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"M- My name's Billy. I don't mean no harm or nothing."

"Is that your house?" I gestured to the fire with my gun.

"Yeah. I was just collecting some firewood for me and my wife."

I raised my brow.

This guy wasn't Karnoi but there definitely was something fishy about him. For starters, he smelled a lot like a dead rat when you leave it in a room for too long.

"Have you seen a girl around here?" I asked cautiously. "Skinny, long black hair."

He shook his head a little too eagerly. "Nope, we don't get a lot of girls around here."

Somehow I didn't believe him.

"I'm real sorry I couldn't help you, Sir," he said, "But I best be on my way."

He started to shuffle around and before I could stop him I heard a loud gunshot followed by a high-pitched squeal. My head shot up in the direction of the house, immediately identifying the scream.

Unfortunately that had given Billy enough time to reach for his gun and hit me in the face with it.

It wasn't particularly hard, but I was out of my senses enough for him to hit me again. I grabbed the gun with both hands before he could try it again and I dropped my pistol onto the floor.

It was easy to overpower him.

The poor guy looked like was really trying, but he was no match for my Karnoi strength.

I kicked him and he immediately let go of the gun. He fell onto the dirt and moaned as he grabbed his stomach in defence. Something about the wild look in his eye made me kick him again.

He grunted and flew backwards to the ground.

"What are you planning on doing with her, huh?" I asked.

To my disgust he started to laugh.

"She was going to be our dinner." He fumbled on the floor and tried to get up.

I hit him again so hard I heard his nose crack.

"You think that's funny?" I asked. "Hurting an innocent girl?"

He continued to laugh, which only answered my question. I heard a distant scream, and I knew I needed to end this soon. I didn't have time to waste.

Without hesitation picked up the gun and shot him.

The fire of the gun was so loud I heard birds scatter from their trees and Billy let out one final moan before falling limply to the ground.

I didn't linger.

I ran straight for the house, but even I couldn't help stopping right in my tracks when I heard a loud sound that resembled a lion's roar. I'd heard the sound earlier but it had been so far away that I couldn't quite identify it.

It wasn't possible... I thought, These woods were full of crazy things, but no lions...

Nonetheless, I jolted up and started running in the direction of the house.

As I got closer, I heard the sound again, which only made me attempt to speed up. Unfortunately speed wasn't my speciality.

The door was already opened when I got to the porch of the cottage. I had to stop myself from leaping inside to save the day, because I quickly realised there was no damsel in distress.

Pacem was okay.

The first thing I did was take the gun out of Veera's hands (just in case) and then I walked over to Pacem who was busy cradling the massive lion.

I'd immediately understood the situation. Karnoi had a very strong bond with nature and there'd often been cases of people having unusual connections with their pets. I'd never heard of it happening with a lion, but Pacem was special.

I wasn't particularly surprised.

She looked up at me and acknowledged me for the first time.

"Jake?" She looked up surprised. "What are you doing here?"

I smiled at her. "Looking for you."

Who is team Jake?
And is Pacem the hero he thinks she is???