482 The Hunt Begins

There was a light fog playing across the forest edge. The shadows seemed darker than before, oozing with something wild and angry. Kyera had a hard time recognizing these woods as her homelands. Even the smells had changed since the Bazaar had been destroyed. She took in a long full of air trying to decipher the scents but nothing came to mind. There was the normal smells of plants but the normal animal overlay was wrong. So many wild ones were fleeing the center of the forest and gathering at the edges, hiding in the forest rim. The tiger at her side looked up at her, his eyes asking a silent question. He was close enough to feel her heartbreak.

"I will be fine." Kyera reassured him glancing at her husband and child who stood waiting to send her off. Raina instinctively stayed on the other side of her father, away from the forest. She could feel something was wrong in the way only a child could.

"Mommy, don't go." Raina hugged Kyera's legs her voice filled with concern. The child surprised both her parents, but Kyera just swept her up into her arms.

"Raina, I need you to be brave. Before I was your mother I was your Warrioress.  I was Princess of the forest, there is nothing hiding within it that I can not purify by forest law." Kyera explained, keeping eye contact and being sure to confident as she chose her words.

"Okay…" Raina replied rather hesitant as she hugged Kyera's neck tightly. The child didn't want to let go even when her father took her from Kyera.

"Your mother will be fine." Clovis kissed Kyera on the forehead and offered a tender smile. He was palace born, as far as he knew this foreboding was how the wild forest should be. If he had known, he never would have pet her enter these woods. "Take care of her, Kan." He added still not sure he trusted the tiger Kyera had chosen to come with her.

"I love you both, stay close to Talis, Raina. Stay with him." Kyera repeated clearly wanting her to keep that in mind. Raina nodded her hand reaching for Talis who pressed his side against the Princess so she could lean on him. His eyes locked with Kuera as he nodded raising a paw. She could see the wrap on his ankle, beneath it was the paperwork she had so painstakingly prepared.

Kyera turned to Kan and he slowly crouched down, letting Kyera sit on his back. The short side skirt was fine in this position, the pants keeping it classy. The other hunters took their places on their steeds. Feya, Lalia, and a woman Kyera assumed was the third Prince's wife were on horseback nearby. Each had a bow and dagger, dressed in long simple dresses made of varied shades of leather. Kyera couldn't help but sigh. Ella Von had made her stand out quite a bit… not that she minded. It would just make others talk but what was talk but empty words?

"I bless this forest hunt, in the ways of our forefathers. Every year we hold this hunt as a reminder of what our Emperor's duty to his people is. He is the provider for his people, in mind and body. When the Emperor is busy with the duties of the court it falls to his wife to see to the people's well being, and she must take up bow and hunting dagger to fill in as a hunter. Today we test the women our Princes have chosen to see if among them there is a Empress." The Emperor made his speech and the people cheered obviously hyped up over the competition to follow. "Tomorrow we will hold a ball, and while the royal ball is in progress there will be a banquet in the village, made from the kills of our fearless ladies. Now Princesses, a word from your Empress Dowager." He turned and waved to his mother who stepped forward. Vivian cleared her throat and stood tall as she addressed these fair women.