Zorlo ran past about an hour ago. I found a small nook at the top of a tall tree. I know I'm safe here not just from the monsters of the forest but from the beast Jules too. Maybe tomorrow she'll be gone.

I am never going back to the town again. Never ever.

...

Another hour and it is starting to get dark. I think I will just fall asleep here.

My ear catches a sound.

I peek out of my hidey-hole and see the beast. She's even followed me into the forest!

"Oh nyo, Hilda! Zorlo! Scardy baby! Is anyone there! NYAAAH!" Jules cries out.

Did she come into the forest alone? That's not good, lots of monsters come out here in the night.

Snf snf.

Blood? Oh no her face is scratched up. They are going to come straight after her.

Zorlo, hurry and come pick her up, she's in danger!

Snf snf.

Oh no, it's too late.

Putrid green humanoid forms that looked like deformed men wearing scraps of leather and carrying clubs and knives begin to surround her. Goblins. Nasty little creatures they aren't very strong on their own, which is why they hunt in groups.

"Eek NYO! Please. Nyo. Somebody, anybody save me. Nyah." The beast cowers.

No, the girl is cornered.

The sounds of her crying woke me from my trauma filled selfish haze.

Her name is Jules, and she is a girl that is only three years old... and she's about to be killed!

A fire burns within me. I am stronger than her, and I'm stronger then them. I am the only one who can save her.

The next thing I know is that I am in Olympic runner position in front of her, between her and the surrounding Goblins. instinctively, raising my tails in the air and baring my teeth, I give the goblins pause.

"I won't let you hurt her!" I snarl my fiercest at the goblins.

This is the same feeling I had when I defended mama. I am not helpless anymore. I will use all my power to protect her.

"You're in our way, fox boy. That female is ours now." The ugliest goblin growls.

"Take her from me if you dare." A beastial growl is coming from deep in my throat. This part animal thing is really getting into my head.... I think I might have just claimed Jules as my mate.

That doesn't matter, right now it's me versus them. 

Instinct is taking over my senses.

There are seven goblins. I've never fought an enemy before, but I feel like I can win. No, I will win. I have no more doubts. Taking in my surrounding I plot my course of action. 

I hiss and then launch myself at the goblin leader. He isn't expecting me to be that fast. I grab him by the throat and embed him in the tree behind him. Leaping in the air I spin my entire body I create a whirl-ring with all four of my limbs and send them flying at the goblins, three were instant kills and blood sprays everywhere as those three are cut clean through.

I use the acrobatics I've been practicing, to charge one that dodged the whirl-ring. I narrowly avoid his club and spin to kick him in the neck. Just before it strikes I used a burst to give my foot more momentum.

I send him flying, but not before I felt the bones in his neck break.

I've never kicked anyone like that. but the adrenaline is keeping me from processing it. It was instinct that drove me forward, I spun while in the air and almost crash landed on the ground as i reoriented my body.

Catching myself, I was on all fours and faced the remaining two. I hissed and bounced through the air at them. I used more acrobatics and landed with a crouch in front of one of them. With an upper cut I knew I broke some teeth as he lifted a few inches off the ground. Before he landed I used a burst powered kick to his solar plexus and sent him flying into the other.

They crashed into a tree and two whirl-rings flung at them chopped them both in three pieces.

Blood, there was blood everywhere.

But this wasn't like the mall. It wasn't a slaughter of the innocents. They were the aggressors and they met their fate.

Blood. The smell was too strong.

I turned to Jules who had was staring at me with wide eyes.

We have to get out of here. I run to her and grab her hand.

"We have to go!" I could still see the scratches on her face. When a faint green light shined from my hand the scratches on her face disappeared as if they were never there.

She smelled different. Instinct told me it was the smell of vulnerable fear.

Can't blame her she is just a little kid after all.

I drag her to her feet and then sense something in the air... it's the same as that day with the snow wolves.

Bloodlust.

With every sense I have, I search for its source.

...I stood protectively over her but couldn't trace the source of the bloodlust yet.

...

There! To the right.

Place my hands together and fire an air bullet with both hand a powerful attack I called...

"Air Cannon!"

A black shape that was pouncing at us was sent flying backwards only a few meters. But it landed on his feet, unfazed.

A giant black cat the size of a semi-truck with two whipping black tails.

"Is nyat...?" Jules hid behind me. The smell of urine also came from the same direction.

"The dire Panther, Rollo. King of the forest." I calmly said.

... wait why am I so calm?! Goblins are one thing, but even Papa wouldn't be able to take on Rollo alone. And it's night, Rollo has an overwhelming advantage. But I'm not afraid. I also wasn't afraid of the shooters at the massacre. Maybe it's because I'm scared of people not monsters.

People are scarier than monsters? I guess I really am broken. But now I know what I have to train next. If I make it out of this alive. Shit. Think fast Me, you are not the only one in danger here.

"Jules, that big tree behind us. Hide in the large hole near the third branch, I'm going to draw his attention." I say.

"NY-you can't..." Jules stutters

"I'm going to protect you Jules, no matter what." I declare.

I bent down on all fours with my tails in the air.

Hissing, I let Rollo know that I'm not going to run away. He returns a bestial growl at me that vibrates through the air and ground.

Rollo flinches as his muscles tense and he bursts into action.

Protect.

Leaping through the air I manage a burst kick on the side of his head.

I will protect.

I don't see the claw when it tore through my side, and sent me flying.

I am not weak anymore!