A shout silenced the Tameka Forest, halting Sable and Kaimana in their tracks.

"What is that?" Sable asked, moving toward the direction of the sound. It was extending from the west of the river, close to the cave which was one of Bluey's hiding spots. Worried thoughts sped past her mind, thinking that the shout could had belonged to a soldier who found Bluey.

Kaimana listened for further sounds coming from the forest, but her ears could not pick up another sound. "I can't make out the cry," she began, "but it doesn't sound too pleasant."

"I have to go there," Sable said without hesitation, already walking toward the forest. "Bluey could be there—it's one of her hiding spots. Someone could've found her in the cave."

Kaimana nodded understandingly as she followed closely behind Sable. "There's also a possibility it could be Sasha."

Sasha must not been too far waiting for Kaimana's return from the dungeon. The thought of the lycat waiting forever for her made Kaimana overwhelmed with regret that she had to put the lycat into that position. However, Kaimana knew that that lycat Sable saw was Sasha. There could not be other lycats roaming Tameka Forest; they only existed on her home Island.

Rustling from the bushes stopped the two rangers in their steps. Sable and Kaimana held onto their weapons.

The appearance of a scratched alacat-like animal appeared, copper eyes dimmed with exhaustion. Sable recognized that it was the feline she saw at the river.

"Sasha…?" Kaimana's voice trailed off with surprise.

The familiar human voice made the lycat's tipped ears perk. The feline sprinted toward Kaimana.

"Sasha, I missed you so much," Kaimana said softly, burying her face into the feline's fur.

Sasha purred loudly, missing the human's comforting scent. The lycat licked Kaimana's hand. Tears welled up in Kaimana's eyes, happy to finally see and touch Sasha again knowing that she was safe. Sasha's fur smelled like Tameka Forest, completely masking the scent of sea from home—the fact that Sasha had been living in the forest for years waiting for her, it made sense.

Sable smiled at the Kaimana's reunion with her feline companion. She was happy for them to find each other again; the two endured hardship of long distance. She remembered when she lost Bluey when she was a cub which was devastating. Now Sable herself had to find Bluey again or her only alacat will be lost to her forever.

"You two should head to the shore now," Sable began, drawing Kaimana's attention. "There should be boats that can help you get back to the island. I will continue looking for Bluey."

Kaimana shook her head. "I need to repay you for helping me escape prison, and I also need to tell you what you need to know about your alacat. Now that I am back together with Sasha, we are stronger together. I will help you look for Bluey. It's the only thing we can return for your kindness."

Sable smiled at her words of gratitude. "All right then, let's get going."

Sable was about to walk toward the direction to the cave, but Sasha growled.

"What's wrong?" Kaimana asked Sasha. The feline refused to follow Kaimana.

Sable gasped when she saw Bluey appeared out of a bush, walking alongside the short black-haired knightess that rescued Sable from the fire. She assumed the herbal remedy was working on the knightess's system, healing her from poison, since the knightess was able to move. Bluey's copper eyes widened to see Sable, but immediately edged back with a growl at the presence of Sasha. Both of the felines tensed up, hissing at each other.

"This isn't a good time for a catfight…" Mei began, rubbing the temples of her head. She had too much today with fights, and the energy she had left while healing from the venomous bite was being quickly consumed.

Sable and Kaimana both had to hold their felines from lunging at each other.

Sable noticed the wounds on Bluey, especially the nosebleed. "What happened to her?" the ranger snapped.

Mei winced at the unfriendly response since she was the one who stopped the two giant cats from killing themselves.

"I was looking for you, and I came across Bluey in a cave. She was already injured." Mei pointed her finger briefly to Sasha and continued. "That cat came out of nowhere and pounced me. Bluey saved me and they had a fight, but I broke the fight off. We then went to search for you two."

Kaimana glared at Mei furiously. "Lies! Do not blame Sasha," she hissed. "You probably hurt Bluey yourself. I would expect it from a knight."

"Believe what you wish because I have no time to argue with you," Mei began. "It is my duty to take you back to the dungeon."

Mei stepped toward Kaimana, burying her anger from the accusation. There would be no point in arguing with the prisoner. However, Sasha blocked between the two and growled at Mei. The knightess was no match for the giant cat.

"I'm not going back," Kaimana growled. In a spilt second, she and Sasha sprinted off together toward the direction of the shore.

Mei grumbled as she watched the prisoner disappear.

"You need to let her go," Sable began, drawing the knightess's attention. "She was thrown in the dungeon for the wrong reason. She was considered committing a crime because she was freeing bear cubs from cages at a circus to allow them the chance to return to the wild, their home where they were meant to be."

Despite the prisoner was trying to do a moral thing for the animals, it was considered a crime to the people of Lesendi. To free bear cubs would mean losing business and finances which is theft. To claim property not as your own was against the law.

"I'm sorry," Mei replied silently as she started to walk off, "but she broke the law."

Sable grabbed Mei's arm which startled the knightess by her touch.

"Would've you have wanted those caged bears to become an addition to a circus of enslaved animals?" Sable demanded angrily. "Wouldn't you want them to live a natural life in the forest? The ones committing a crime are the ones who start claiming animals as their property. Animals are no different from you or I, or any other human being. They are living beings just like us humans."

Mei remained silent, beginning to regret letting the ranger talk to her like that. It was true what Sable said, but if she would let Kaimana go, she would betray Queen Fajra and her people. Mei would be lying to her duty as a knight which would also cost her own life for betrayal. She was a knightess for human causes, not for animal causes, so why was she letting this ranger talk to her like that? She was being soft on Sable.

Mei sighed. She and Sable looked over to Bluey who was growling in pain from her wounds. The two both tore off pieces of cloth from their clothes to help treat Bluey's wounds.

Sable's aggression toward the knightess softened as she watched the knightess wipe off blood from Bluey's body.

"Thank you…" Sable said, her voice trailing off, realizing she did not know the knightess's name. "What is your name?" Sable was thankful for her for helping Bluey and finding her.

"Mei," the knightess replied. "What is yours?"

"Sable," the ranger answered.

"We'll take care of what we can now, Sable," Mei began, "but right now we should—"

"See no prisoners yet!" a distant voice hollered.

Mei winced, knowing the voice belonged to Troy's. "We better go quick now before my soldiers find you and Bluey. Because you escaped with the other woman even though you weren't supposed to be in the dungeon, they will accuse you for helping her escape. They also think Bluey died."

"Well, Kaimana left to the shore where there are boats that I can try to use," Sable said.

"Try to use?" Mei questioned.

"I never used a boat before, but I can figure out how to row one." Sable was a fast learner, so she knew she was capable of figuring out something as simple as rowing a boat.

Mei stared hard at Sable wondering if the ranger was really willing to take that risk. Did the ranger even know the sea well? She can imagine the disaster of Sable being lost in the vast sea when she had no experience in sailing. "Never mind about that," Mei muttered, grabbing Sable's arm. "I'll go with you on the boat."

"But—" Sable did not finish her sentence as Mei pulled her toward the shore. Bluey sprinted after them.