Panthers

"You two seem as though you are fully satisfied." Adela said seeing the empty gazes of the two children.

Hearing this Althea and Lucian nodded as their faces formed into smiles as they relished the transic state they had entered.

It was a euphoric feeling as if colors were becoming more vibrant while their eyes seemed to be opening like flowers in the spring.

"I suppose now is as good a time as ever for you two to begin your first trial, after consuming the dark owl the best way to solidify its effects within yourself is to push yourself to your limit, I will not interfere until an hour has passed don't die." Adela said as the outside surroundings had come to a halt and their location had changed.

Adela opened the carriage door and the two were outside before they had even realized the carraige had stopped.

They could only hear the Matriarch's words replaying in their head, 'push to the limit… don't die…' they repeatedly internally as they had a clear understanding that this was the beginning of their journey.

They were in a forest covered in blood red trees. High in the sky hung 3 moons each glowing different colors and in different phases.

The green one was in the new moon phase, while the blue moon was full, the final one was a pright golden moon that shone half full.

The earth beneath their feet was cold to where they could feel the temperature of the ground beneath their feet.

As they observered the new territory they had arrived in they noted the carraige had disappeared and they were there alone.

As they looked around they could heard rustling of the leaves as their eyes were directed to the tops of the trees at the blood red leaves connected to the silver bark of the trees.

In the next instant the two jumped in opposite directions as a long black shadow descended upon them.

The beast resembled a panther, it was 3 meters tall and 6 meters long causing a small crater and cloud of dust to appeared where it landed. It was also emitting a dark mist that seemed to ship around as if it were alive.

Just as Lucian dodged he noticed another identical creature had appeared at his side where he evaded and Althea was in the same situation forcing both of them to make quick decisions in order to survive.

Althea disappeared making it easier for her to dodge, still the beast attack barely grazed past her indicating it still had a good idea of where she was.

"Relax" Althea spoke her voice projecting causing the beast to slow slightly for only a moment being lulled by the majesty her words carried.

The panther in between Althea and Lucian directed its attention towards her which they both noticed.

Lucian immediately activated his abilities causing him and Althea to swap places. Neither he nor Althea could explain it but they felt as though they had understandings about their abilities that would have eluded them prior to this day lest they trained for a year or so.

It was as if they were almost watching the events play out in slow motion, yet they knew the danger was real. The 3 panthers emitted a ominous aura of death intent on ending their enemies.

Lucian was aware of the space around him within 15 meters, he could feel the rustling of the leaves as if he were standing next to them. He could feel Althea's breath and her location more clearly than when they had faced each other in battle.

Althea immediately recognized her location had changed after only a moment she realized there was still a panther at the location she had appeared as the two could hear even more rustling in the forest behind them.

Althea struck the panther near to her as it registered an invisible entity had appeared in front of it. She struck directly towards the beast nose with an open palmed strike.

As if the beast could clearly see her it opened its mouth snapping it down towards Althea's hand. Seeing this her eyes went wide the beast reaction time was almost at the same level of hers.

She quickly jumped backwards as the rustling from behind the two came closer.

"We're surrounded, take the high ground in the trees." Lucian spoke as his body became to become obscured as if the space around him was being manipulated while he instantly reappeared on a abranch overhead.

Hearing this Althea didn't wast a moment she immediately turned and began climbing the tree she had jumped backwards into.

She quickly met Lucian on the branch he was on. "Do we fight or run?" She asked as the two watched 9 more panthers walk out from the shadows around them as they growled loudly.

'She said push to the limits and to survive, which could have two seperate implications but how would we know our own strength if we don't attempt to fight.' Lucian thought as he observed the panthers.

While Lucian was thinking a panther larger than the others that seemed to have grown additional tails and had a white jewel in its head approached the group only to stand behind its subordinates.

'That must be their leader, it doesn't look like it's going to interfere now…' Althea thought as she glanced at Lucian seeing his gaze was set ablaze in the direction of the panther leader.