A gentle breeze of fresh air caressed Ike's mane when colors and space stopped vibrating and twitching and he finally stepped on solid ground again. It had been so long since the last time he had felt anything remotely similar to wind in his fur that it almost seemed like an old friend's hug. He took a deep breath in and held Zèon tightly in his arms. He would have liked to see a reaction, but he was painfully aware that it simply wasn't going to happen.

They had arrived at twilight. Lykans' sky, which generally showed a rosy color, had become slightly purple, a sign that the night was close. The sun, lost in the distant horizon, lighted up with its last sunbeams the lands of the fehlar and the kane.

They were home. After all that time, they were back.

-It's cold –Koi complained, pulling Ike's paw.

The lion nodded, giving him a faint smile.

-I guess that's because after all this time we've got used to the Box's temperature. But don't worry –Ike reassured him -, I'm sure in a couple of hours you will have adapted to our climate again.

Koi didn't seem to be very sure, but he nodded energetically and turned his violet eyes to Zèon, whose head was resting in one of Ike's shoulders. He opened his mouth to say something, but at that moment Shiba made her way through a group of fehlar who were talking idly and she headed towards them.

-Oh, excellent. You're here at last –she said, in a tone that mixed reproach and relief. It took Ike a few seconds to understand that, being a Sentinel, the tigress probably hadn't liked losing sight of him when they had crossed the portal -. The fehlar were asking for you, Ike. They want to know what we must do now.

The lion blinked a few times, surprised.

-How could I know? I just arrived here. I don't even know where in Lykans we are…

-In Plumbland –Shiba informed him, gently -. We've checked it several times and our calculations appear to be correct. 

-That is close to the Flameswamps –Ike sighed, and Shiba gave him a meaningful look.

The Flameswamps stretched along the western region of Lykans, covering the north-west of the continent. They got their name from the vast red wheat fields that the fehlar farmers raised in their lands; the ears of the wheat, when waving at dusk, seemed like a raging ocean of flames. However, the region wasn't only important for its agricultural tradition, but also for the presence of the castle of the Ember Tooth, which stood proudly in a slightly wilder space that wasn't suitable for cropping.

The region adjoined Plumbland to the south-east, and that was why they were at the moment just a few days of travel from the castle of the Ember Tooth. And although that relieved Ike, since it meant he was close to a comfortable warm bed, it also made him uneasy.

-What had the kane said? –he asked, a bit worried.

-That they're leaving –Shiba answerd, raising an eyebrow -. Obviously.

-And has no fehlar disagreed?

Shiba gave him a faint smile, quickly glancing back. There was something that seemed to amuse her, but the lion could not quite understand what.

-Yes, some of them didn't want to let them go so easily, but… let's say it didn't take long before they changed their opinion –the tigress said after a few seconds, still smiling.

Ike gave her a long look, surprised.

-Sometimes you scare me, Shiba.

Those words seemed to amuse the tigress even more and her smile got wider, but she didn't say a thing. Ike noticed then that, in fact, he hadn't seen Shiba smiling for a long time… maybe, even from before they got into the Box. He couldn't blame her, after all; they hadn't had many reasons to smile in that horrible prison.

-Are we going to visit the king? –Koi asked innocently, looking at the tigress with his eyes wide open.

-I guess we'll have to –Ike sighed.

Shiba's smile froze in her face.

-Wait. Are you going to take Zèon and the husky to your father's court? Are you crazy?

-It'll be alright, Shiba –Ike tried to reassure her -. I'll make sure nothing happens to them.

-That would be fine, Ike… if we weren't talking about your father –the tigress reminded him, frowning -. He won't host two kane in his castle. I will think us lucky enough if we manage to take them alive to the Flameswamps.  And as for Koi…

-I will go wherever Zèon goes –the husky declared, bravely.

Ike gave him a thankful look and then fixed his eyes in Shiba, determined.

-See? Koi will go wherever Zèon goes. And I'm not leaving Zèon behind. –He made a pause -. Had it not been for him, we would still be in the Box, do you remember? And besides –he added, in a lower tone -, you know that's not the only thing I owe him.

Shiba looked around cautiously, making sure that no one had heard the lion's words. Then, she seemed to consider them for a few seconds and finally swore.

-Alright. Take them to the Flameswamps if you want. But you'll get yourselves killed –she said, forcefully -. Don't say I didn't warn you.

-Don't worry –Ike replied, giving her a faint smile -. I think I have something in mind.

-I hope you do –the tigress sighed -. Because if you don't…

He stopped in the middle of the sentence when she heard a great commotion that came from a place not far from there. Ike also heard it clearly and, worried, he walked a few steps forward until he was next to the tigress, who had turned to the way the uproar seemed to come from. Uneasy, both turned their attention to what seemed to be a recently started fight between a kane and a fehlar. For what Ike could see through the circles of people that had appeared around those two, one of them was a puma and the other… the other was a hyena he already knew well.

-It seems that, after all, we're going to get off on the wrong foot –Ike sighed, disillusioned. Then, he squatted down next to a tree and left the artic fox he had been carrying in his arms resting against the trunk -. Koi, take care of Zeon. I'll try to keep the peace.

-Then I'll try that you don't get yourself killed –Shiba replied.

Both walked hastily towards the circle of kane and fehlar, leaving the husky and the arctic fox behind. Shiba managed to make her way through those who were watching and, in some cases, encouraging those who were fighting. Fortunately, it seemed that none of them had at hand the weapons that they had taken from the guards in the Box, so the fight wasn't going any further. Still, Ike knew that it could at any moment, and he wasn't willing to let the alliance between kane and fehlar that had been so hard to achieve simply faded away. Not so soon, at least.

They finally got to the center of the circle and could see what was happening. The puma had just fallen to the ground after being shoved and was getting ready to stand up and fight back. He had been punched in his jaw and spat blood to the ground, with a mix of disgust and rage that made Ike shudder. However, it wasn't the fehlar the one that worried him the most.

Kainn was standing proudly in the center of the circle. He was grinning from ear to ear, in spite of having took a swipe in his face that filled his nuzzle with blood. He watched the puma who was in the ground with a mix of pride and happiness, and Ike realized that he was waiting for him to stand up so he could hit him again. Unlike his opponent, he didn't look angry at all, and there was something in his wide grin, in the feverish gleam in his eyes, that made Ike shiver. It almost seemed like he was enjoying that fight; not only because he was fighting a fehlar, but just for the sake of hitting another living thing and see its blood splash on the ground.

-Enough! –Shiba exclaimed authoritatively, standing between them -. What the hell do you think you are doing?

A low murmur rose among those that had been watching the fight. Ike got to listen that some regretted that the tigress had intervened.

-We are fighting –Kainn answered, tilting his head and still with that disturbing smile painted in his bloodstained face.

Ike knew that Shiba was holding herself back from hitting him due to the way her knuckles cracked when she closed her fists forcefully.

-That is quite obvious –she finally said, gruffly-. I want to know why.

The puma who was on the ground stood up, reeling, and gave the hyena he had been fighting a few seconds before a look full of hatred. Then, he put a paw on his jaw and groaned, with absolute disdain:

-Because of the human prisoner.

-Because of the human prisoner? –Shiba repeated, asking for a better explanation.

Ike then spotted Sophia, who was standing not too far from there, surrounded by the guards that he had assigned her. She seemed to be watching the scene with apparent interest from behind her glasses, in spite of the neutral expression of her face. The puma huffed, still angry.

-This kane wanted to take the human that his Highness wanted to prosecute. When I told him that he couldn't do that, he attacked me without giving any reason. I was just defending myself… but I would have finished him if you hadn't intervened, Shiba –he groaned, looking at the tigress with irritation.

-I have no doubt you would –she muttered -. And what about you? What do you have to say?

-I was within my right to take that damn human –Kainn answered, shrugging -. After all, Ike and I made a deal.

-A deal? –Shiba asked, turning to the lion. He had turned pale.

-Yes. I agreed to a truce with the fehlar. In return, we would be allowed to get out of the Box… and do whatever we wanted with all the humans that stood in our way. Am I wrong… “your Highness"? –the hyena grinned, turning to Ike.

The lion squirmed when everyone turned to him.

-No –he finally admitted, quietly -. You aren't.

The memories of the hard negotiations he had been through with the kane the day before came back to his mind easily. Despite the fact that in the Box wasn't anything remotely similar to a kane monarch (Ike wasn't even sure that it existed in Lykans), there were some people who had certain acceptance among them, due to their leadership, their charism or simply the family they belonged to. After he arrived to the Box, it had taken him a long time to notice that fact and a few days had gone by before he found out who he had to address in case he wanted to creat an alliance with the kane. Luca had been the first he had managed to talk with, but he wasn't the only one. All of them had agreed, sooner or later, to start a truce with the fehlar in order to get out of the Box.

All of them, except Kainn. Hatred towards the fehlar seemed to be deeply rooted in the hyena's dark soul and the negotiations with him had got really difficult. Ike had only got him to agree after several hours of unsuccessful attempts, promising that he would be allowed to do whatever he wanted with the humans that tried to prevent them from leaving the Box.

Unfortunately, at that moment he hadn't thought that their deal could turn against him. After all, he needed Sophia alive.

-See? –Kainn said, smiling -. Your prince agrees with me. –He gave a sarcastic look to the puma and added, mockingly -. If I were you, I would die of embarrassment.

-Maybe you had a deal with me, Kainn, but that doesn't justify this fight –Ike intervened then, stepping forward -. If you wanted the prisoner you should have told me, instead of hitting the first that came along.

-I understood that I didn't need to talk with you anymore after we sealed our deal –Kainn replied, squinting.

-True. But you know very well that I have a special interest in having Sophia judged by our tribunal for the crimes she committed, not only against the fehlar, but also…

-Ha! Bullshit –Kainn interrupted him -. A fehlar tribunal will never consider crimes against the kane. If that was so, the first ones you'd have to execute would be yourselves. Besides, I know very well what are your reasons for keeping that human close, and they aren't as altruistic as you want to make those stupid pussy cats believe.

Ike turned slightly pale.

-Be careful what you say, hyena! –Shiba blurted out, moving a step towards him and showing her teeth -. I remind you that you are still in fehlar territory, so right now if you come out of here alive or not is up to us.

-Oh, then our truce is over? –Kainn inquired, raising an eyebrow -. I thought that was why we were arguing, weren't we?

-Stop it, Kainn –Ike said, trying to overcome in spite of the paleness in his face -. I know well what you want to do with this, but you're not going to start another fight. Not while I'm here, at least –he assured him, proudly -. What do you want the prisoner for?

Kainn opened his mouth to reply, but he finally seemed to think about it and gave a sadistic look to Sophia, who shuddered almost imperceptibly.

-Well, I can think of a few things to do with her… but I can summarize it by saying that I'd like to hear this whore scream until she has no throat. And I think we would love that spectacle.

Shiba also smiled wickedly. Ike, for some reason, felt uneasy.

-If you want her to suffer, you should already know that we fehlar are best suited for it. As you have mentioned before –the tigress said, squinting -, we have some years of experience.

A tense silence followed those words, as the kane gave hostile looks to the fehlar around them. Shiba's words had brought a lot of memories; most of them, painful.

Ike held his breath. For some reason, he couldn't help but turn his attention to Sophia and wonder what would she think of all that was happening. Would she rather be a prisoner of the kane or the fehlar? Did she mind? <<If it was up to me, I would give her to Kainn without a second thought>> he told himself, frustrated <<But I can't miss her so soon. Not without first…>>

Then Kainn let out a shrill laugh.

-Alright –he accepted, finally -. I guess I can do without her as long as I gice her to you. If you're half as 'kind' as you've been to us these years, she will live in hell. –A delighted gleam went across his eyes -. But promise she will scream a lot.

-Oh, she will –Shiba answered, turning to Sophia -. I can tell you she will.

The woman looked back at her without looking afraid and said nothing.

-And as for you… -Kain added, fixing his red eyes in Ike's -. Make sure he comes back.

Ike shuddered slightly when he understood the meaning behind those words, but he nodded decisively. Then, he looked again at Sophia, who was still surrounded by the fehlar guards.

If there was something Kainn hadn't done badly, it was reading the lion's hidden intentions. As he had said, the reasons why Ike wanted to keep Sophia by his side were less righteous than he had made the rest of the fehlar believe. However, from the moment he had realized Zeon was still alive, he had known that if he wanted to get him back there was only a person that could tell him how to do it.

And that person was, no matter how unhappy he was about it, Sophia.

But he also knew that the fehlar wouldn't completely accept the fact that his prince wanted to save a kane who, in addition, had also been a sexual slave. Until then, he had explained his relation with the kane with the building of an alliance that would allow them to go out of the Box, but now that they had escaped, he technically didn't have any responsibility towards them. In that sense, the version of the crown prince who wanted to prosecute Sophia in order to demonstrate the legal power of his race was a lot easier to accept.

And as for why he was carrying Zèon and Koi with him… Ike sincerely hoped that no fehlar asked him that directly.

-You took a big risk –he reprimanded Sophia when she joined him a few seconds later -. If Kainn hadn't agreed, the hostility you created could have leaded the kane to attack us.

-Well, I wasn't really worried about that –Shiba murmured, shaking her head -. I also had to take a risk before. Do you remember I told him that no fehlar would prevent the kane from having their way? It was because I told them you wouldn't approve it, and you would act consequently.

-Shiba! –Ike exclaimed, annoyed -. You know I don't like… well, using authority in that way.

-I knew you wouldn't do it. That's why I did it before you came –Shiba clarified, shrugging -. Besides, I find it quick and effective. I don't know why you don't take advantage of being who you are more often.

Ike shook his head gently, but he couldn't help but thinking that maybe the tigress was right after all. He decided to change the subject.

-I have to talk with Sophia –he said, softly -. Alone –he added.

-I was expecting it.

-Could you make sure that no one bothers us? –he asked. As always when he asked Shiba something, he tried to forget that he really had the power to order her to do it.

-Alright. But promise me you'll be careful with her, Ike –Shiba asked him, looking at him straight in the eyes -. I know we caught her, but… for some reason I think that, even being here, we're still playing her game.

-I'm not that sure, Shiba –the lion replied, shifting his weight -. After all, what could she do here? She doesn't even know Lykans.

Shiba shook her head, but didn't say anything else. Ike decided to leave her with her thoughts, since he already knew that she wouldn't share them with him. So, without further delay, he walked towards the group that guarded Sophia.

The human saw him coming and turned to him, with a gleam of expectancy in her eyes. It almost seemed like, whatever the circumstances, she knew what the lion was going to do at any moment. For a few seconds, the lion remembered Shiba's theory, but he tried to get rid of those thoughts and kept walking.

-Excuse me. I'd like to talk with her alone –he informed the fehlar around her.

-Are you sure, my lord? –a black panther asked him, a bit worried. As always when someone addressed him that way, Ike contained a sigh -. This human can't be trusted.

-I know. –He had an idea then -. That's why I'd like you to keep an eye on our surroundings together with sentinel Shiba. Go with her and follow her orders. She will know what to do.

-As you wish.

The men left one by one, leaving Ike alone with Sophia. During the first seconds, the lion felt slightly uneasy, maybe fearing that reducing the number of people watching over the woman had been a mistake. However, her hands were tied behind her back, so she wouldn't have been able to do anything even if she had wanted. And as for escaping… Ike wasn't sure, but he would have bet humans weren't precisely fast.

After a few instants in a deep silence, Sophia gave him her usual half smile and murmured, without showing emotion at all:

-It took you longer than I expected.

-I had to prevent Kainn from killing you –Ike answered, containing his rage. After all, he couldn't forget that he was talking with the woman that had kept him prisoners for more than a year, that had murdered Luca and left Zèon in that state -. I hope you thank me for that.

-Oh, please. You know as well as I do that you haven't done it for me –Sophia replied, with a certain tone of tiredness in her voice -. Even that hyena knows it.

Ike remembered then the strange words that Kainn had said to him when he had agreed to let Sophia go. <<Make sure he comes back>>, he had told him. Therefore, the hyena should know that Ike's true intention was to regain Zèon's consciousness. However, and although it seemed a bit surprising, it seemed that Kainn hadn't shared that information with anyone else. Even though he would have benefited from it.

He shook his head, confused, and decided to focus on their conversation.

-Then you also know what I've come to ask you –he said, answering the last words of the woman.

-Of course. And the answer is yes. There is a way to wake up Lagopus Z's consciousness again, but it has a price. And also that I tell you how to do it.

Ike clenched his paws.

-I think you're in no position to put a price on anything now.

-You think so? I'd say I am. Think about it: I can't lose anything, but you can win your lover's life. Oh? Did you think I didn't know about it? –Sophia asked, sharpening her smile when she noticed Ike's astonishment -. There's nothing that happens in the Box that I don't know, Leo I, and during the last months I've been paying special attention to Lagopus Z. There are still a lot of things you don't know about him, things you'd like to know, but I think it'll be better for you to find out when the time comes.

Ike didn't say anything for a few seconds, thoughtful. It worried him that the woman knew the kind of relation that Zèon and him had, but it wasn't unreasonable. After all, the Box was Sophia's prison, and she was right when she said that nothing that happened there went unnoticed to her.

However, that wasn't important at that moment. He only needed to know how to bring Zèon back. And Sophia had told him “when the time comes", so he was starting to think that the woman could be really willing to tell him how to do it. He took a deep breath and asked, anticipating the answer:

-And what do I have to do so you tell me how to bring Zèon back?

Sophia's smile got even sharper, and in spite of having her hands tied, Ike thought she was more dangerous than ever.

-You know it very well –she said, and a clever gleam appeared behind her glasses -. Oh, yes, you know it very well.