Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #18 September 2015 | Page 55

would never deny her anything.

But she knew her mother would not permit her
to live the rest of her life with the shadowcats. So she
had to go.

“I promise. I’ll come back! Please… I must
go!”

The shadowcat female heaved a sigh, turned
to converse with the elder shadowcat who adopted
her. He bowed his head, padded up to Keilara and
gave her cheek a lick. *You are my daughter too,* he
murmured in her mind, a deep, gravelly voice. *I will
miss you.*

Keilara gave him a hug, heard him rumble a
loud purr, felt his paw on her back. “Can I give you a
name?” she asked hesitantly.

He nodded.

“I want to name you Shadowfire. Because your
eyes look like a flame.”

He rumbled in approval and she smiled.
“Come with me! Just until I see my mother. Please?”

She felt his agreement and she went off,
climbing the natural wall that surrounded the caverns.
It was so well-hidden by shrubbery and trees that
none would have ever thought they preferred living in
cavern walls. She remembered that and would always
know where to find them in the future, much to the
distress of her parents.

Keilara picked her way through the shrubbery
and undergrowth, Shadowfire nearby. She could sense
him, almost see him at times, but they derived their
name by blending so well with the darkness of nature.
Only his eyes did she see often. As she neared the
pathway that was forged by centuries of use by the
Aryvadsi, she spotted her mother and many of the
elven guard. In fact, she paused when she saw several
druids as well. It was so rare for the insular druids to
lend their assistance.

With fear shaking in her heart, afraid of what
her mother would say or do for running off the way
she did, Keilara stepped into view, Shadowfire right
beside her. She laid a hand in his fur, reassured by
his presence. Kryssania saw them and let out a cry of
relief.

“Keilara!”

Her mother ran up to her, completely ignoring
the shadowcat, and flung her arms around her
daughter’s slim form. She hugged her fiercely, shaking
with relief and worry. “Don’t you ever do that again! I
was so frightened for you!”

“I’m okay, momma,” Keilara said, returning
the hug. “I wasn’t in danger! They kept me safe!”

Kryssania drew back, knelt before her daughter
and the shadowcat. The only reason she hadn’t been
afraid of the fierce beast was because of how he sat
naturally beside her daughter, as if it were an everyday
occurrence. As if it were normal to expect to see her
daughter with a beast that could swallow her whole. It
left Kryssania speechless for a moment as that thought
occurred to her.

“Keilara…. How are you able to do this?”

Keilara opened her mouth, bit her lower lip
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