The sound of shattering filled the palace hall. 
There were pieces of expensive and exquisite pottery everywhere. 
It seemed like Merindale was not going to leave even a single one intact. But none of the onlookers dared to stop her. 
She had been confined to her chamber and was prohibited from setting even a foot outside her room. 
When the rampage was going absolutely out of hand, Xie decided to confront his daughter. 
All he did was open the door and come inside, Merindale unleashed her frustration directly at himself. 
She threw one vase after another at him as he flipped them with his shock waves. 
“ Why??? Why can't I have him??? Why are you being such an insensitive old man with me ,father? I know you like him. You know he is a good person. Then why did you have to humiliate me like this and lock me up? ”
Xie did not know how to talk to his little girl who was all grown up and even questioned his decision. He wished Ruby was here and helped him handle the situation better. 
But he could not wait. 
Especially when these children were almost at the brink of crossing a forbidden threshold. 
If only he could tell Merindale that it was her cousin-brother whom she was hoping to take as her future husband. 
Xie was scared to death. 
He was scared of the Gods inhabiting the Celestial Realm. 
He was scared that his only child, his precious daughter would be ripped from his arm just like they had taken Mia from Lin. 
“ Don't you know any shame, young lady? ”
Xie asked Merindale with a scornful tone. 
Merindale was stunned. Her father had never spoken to her like that, no matter what the situation was. 
“ Don't you feel any shame when you talk about a boy like that with your father? Don't you feel any shame behaving like a hooligan when your father tries to reprimand you for your wrong actions? ”
Merindale was not an easy child. Instead of bending under his intimidation she demanded explanation.
“ Why? I need to know why? Even you saw the majestic Wolf Spirit coming to his aid. You know it doesn't happen with everyone. It means he has wolf blood of the highest purity, running in his veins. It signifies his noble origins. What more can you be asking for in my suitor? He is brave, he is caring, he is everything a man could ever offer your daughter. 
Why then do you choose to show such hostility towards your own blood? 
I hope you did not inflict any such brutality on Leo. 
He was weak. He needed a healer. 
I want to know how he is doing. ”
She demanded with arms crossed on her chest. 
Xie heaved a sigh. 
“ He has been given the best treatment. And he did recover very quickly. You can rest assured that he left safe and sound bodily. ”
Merindale’s brows constricted as her face twitched , trying to figure out what her father meant. 
“ Left? What do you mean left? He has nowhere to go? Where would he leave? Besides, he wouldn't leave without telling me. You are lying. Tell me how he is doing? Did you throw him in the dungeon? You better get him immediately out… ”
“ I banished him from my kingdom. ” Xie had to cut her short. 
“ You did what? ” Merindale asked as if she wasn't really able to digest what she was told. 
“ You heard me, clear and loud,young lady. Leo has been banished forever from Wolf Territories and he is forbidden from seeing you. ”
Merindale fell on the floor as if taking in his words that fell on her like heavy blows. 
“ You will only come out of this room, when you have learnt your lesson, ” Xie closed the door back on her with the wave of an arm, feeling guilty somewhere deep inside. 
*****
Deep inside the woods that spread between the fox and the wolf lands-
In the soft moonlight,Akata’s feet carried the weight of his heavy heart.
He trotted through the unfamiliar landscapes, his steps hesitant.
He wandered around feeling lost and sad. He didn't know where to go or what to do. Everywhere he looked seemed strange and unfamiliar.The tangled wilderness whispered ancient secrets, but to Akata, it was a chaotic chant of uncertainty.
His voice was a mere yell in the vastness
"I used to know my place with Merindale but now I feel like I don't belong anywhere," he let his frustration out.
But all that came back to him was his own echo. 
Each step was laden with the burden of solitude, the wilderness was an untamed canvas where the colors of his destiny eluded his way forward.
Lost in thoughts, he spoke to the whispering winds, seeking solace from the unforgiving night and his tormenting thoughts, “but now you are no longer with me Merindale…I don't know where I am going…where I am meant to go… I am adrift."
 His voice carried the ache of displacement, an ache that resonated with the symphony of the woods.With every heartbeat, the wilderness seemed both menacing and inviting, a paradox that mirrored his conflicting emotions.
“I may not have anybody to call my own any more, but perhaps the stars above will guide me to a new path," he whispered, a glimmer of hope illuminating his weary spirit.
Under the celestial gaze, Akata continued his solitary journey, seeking refuge in the resilience of his spirit, determined to find a place where the howls of the night welcomed him as one of their own. 
His eyes trying to find a way in the milky maze up in the heavens as he laid down for a moment on his back. 
The grass felt soft and welcoming and he had no idea when his eyes drifted into slumber. 
****
Akata woke up to a bright light, and whispered giggles. 
He sprang up on his feet and found a little translucent girl in front of him, glowing like the moon in the sky, shimmering and radiating inside out. 
He looked at her in amazement. 
It seemed like the girl wanted him to follow her somewhere. 
Akata was hesitant but curiosity got the better of him. 
He ran after the little sparkly mirage, bouncing across the terrain as if playing with him as they ran. 
Akata lost his sense of time as they kept running without any pause. 
The apparition finally stopped at what seemed like a border. A border to another tribe. 
And then it vanished into thin air as if it was nothing more than a fragment of Akata's imagination. 
Akata casually strolled forward. 
Suddenly, a chorus of squawks and chirps erupted as a group of brightly plumaged birds descended, encircling Akata with a mix of curiosity and caution.
A majestic bird with iridescent feathers, spoke in a voice that sounded like rustling leaves and wind chimes. "Trespasser!These are the Bird Lands. Who dares tread upon our lands without invitation?”
Akata was startled but trying to remain calm and composed he replied, "I apologize, noble creatures. I had no intention to intrude. I'm simply exploring these wondrous woods.”
The bird snooped in closer and sniffed him up and down. 
“ Are you a wolf or a fox? Your scent is funny. I cannot make out what you are, boy! ” He looked more curious. 
“ Just an explorer, ”Akata said, trying not draw too much attention without being sure if they were friends or foes. 
"An explorer, you say? What brings you here, beyond the borders of your kind?”
"I meant no harm,” Akata insisted,“I only wish to learn from the wisdom of your tribe."
The birds exchanged glances, their sharp eyes scrutinizing Akata. "Knowledge-seeker? Then you shall be tested.Prove your worthiness.”
They were about to pounce on him with their beaks and claws when suddenly a woman's voice yelled from beyond the woods, “ Stop! ”
It was a wolf. 
Akata ran towards her, instinctively perhaps it was because of the bias and love he felt towards the wolves ever since he woke up or perhaps it was because he shared bloodties with her. 
It was Roe, his ferocious aunt. 
“ Enough of playing around. Go back to patrolling.This is just a boy you fools. He looks scared. Let me take a proper look at you . What is your name? ”
She asked, immediately adopting him and tending to his wounds. 
He had forgotten all about it. 
Xie had given him a strict warning. But the whipping had not felt as bad as his words banishing and forbidding him from ever visiting the wolf kingdom or Merindale. 
“ What happened? Are you running from someone? I can only help you if you share the truth, ”she said. 
“ You are a wolf, ” Akata felt calmness looking at her face. It was like looking at a mother when a child was sick, “and this is the bird tribe.Why do you have so much authority over them. ” 
Roe giggled. “ It's because I am married to their chief. Come on. Let me take you back to the tribe. These wounds need some ointment and you need some food. We can talk when you feel comfortable. ”
Her smile took all his pain away. 
*****
“ Does he not look very familiar? ” Roe asked Boshu as they watched Akata sleep. 
The boy had not opened up but at least he was well fed. 
“ Hhhmmm. I have been begging you for more kids but you are busy mothering everyone else.” Boshu playfully tugged at Roe but she smacked his face. 
“ I gave you triplets. What more do you want, greedy bird? When are you building me that palace you promised decades back? ”
“ About that… ! ” Boshu scratched his head and walked back. 
****
It had been a peaceful few days. 
Akata roamed around and learnt from the birds. They taught him languages he never knew and also some martial arts. 
The triplets were much younger than Akata or Merindale. 
They were hardly ten years old and immediately took a liking towards their elder brother. 
They tackled him and played with him all day long. 
Life at the Bird Tribe wasn't as sophisticated as the wolf castle , yet Akata found a subtle sense of belonging with them. 
However, it seemed like serenity wasn't meant for him. 
*****
Once day there was an attack. 
Chaos erupted in the middle of the night when frenzied squawks filled the night air , plucked feathers, mauled bodies and blood was everywhere. 
“ What's happening? ” Akata came out of his tent , bumping right into his aunt Roe. 
“ Rogue attack! The worst of its kind. Get out of here Leo. Go to a safe ground. They are dangerous and ruthless. They are here to plunder and loot and this time it seems like they brought an army of humans. Quick now! I don't know how much longer I will be able to ward them off. ”
Roe morphed into her wolf as she sprang forward, tearing one of the Rogues that came too close. 
Akata watched with bewilderment as the battle unfolded before his very eyes. It seemed to bring back a different flashback of something similar. The fire and smoke filled his nostrils and eyes as the lamps and torches were turned over and they burnt down the tents from inside out. 
Suddenly out of nowhere Akata's sharp ears caught the sound of the triplets’ cries. All hesitation and fear vanished as Akata leaped into action. He focused on the sound that he heard and in an instant was transported where the triplets were, accompanied with lightning. 
The three of them were hurdled in a corner as a group of Rogues were approaching them with what looked like a Power-nullifying net. 
They were definitely into illegal slave trading. They were after the triplets because they would fetch an unique prize for their unique features- the most beautiful kind of wolves with decorative features and flight. 
“ Look at that… What do we have here? Another hybrid. ” They were carrying on their bodies something that looked like a crystal ring. It beeped continuously and went crazy as Akata positioned himself between the Rogues and his cousins. 
“ Hold your hands and grab on to me, as soon as I say ‘go’, ” Akata whispered in the ear of the nearest one and the rest nodded because they shared a connected memory. 
Akata and the men were measuring each other, circling and deciding on their next move. 
The air was dripping with tension. Anything could go wrong, any moment. 
“ On the count of, three… two…one… GO” Akata grabbed the hand of the one closest to him and transported straight to where his aunt Roe was. 
They fell at her feet, much to her surprise and astonishment. 
“ You are a fox as well? ” she exclaimed in the middle of that mayhem. 
“ Where is Zas? ” one of the triplets exclaimed, drawing the attention of their mother back to the present situation. 
Akata looked around. Indeed, he had missed one and was able to bring back only two of them. 
“ I am going for her. ” he immediately stood up. 
“ Wait, take me along. There must have been others around her, ” Roe placed one hand on his shoulder and said. 
Akata nodded and with a brilliant, binding pop, they were able to land right in the middle of the circle of Rogues, who were about to wrap Zas in their net. 
“ Begone, ” Roe thundered, immediately pouncing over them. But there were a lot of them and she seemed to have a hard time. 
Akata looked torn between saving his aunt or his cousin. 
“ Take her… Take her Leo. I can handle this, ” she yelled as they heckled her. 
Akata did not waste another moment bect he knew he couldn't save both at the same time. 
He grabbed Zas as vanished. 
But he came back. Even though he was exhausted with the repeated teleportation, he had to come back for Roe. She meant too much to him but he did not know how. 
“ He's back, ” as if they had been waiting for him this time, the Rogues put their Power-nullifying net over him , instantly subduing him. 
“ No, ” Roe gasped. “ Not him. Let him go. Take me, ” She begged. 
The Rogues began laughing. 
“ You? ” one of them grabbed her face and pulled up towards him, “ You are beautiful and fiesty but you are just a wolf. He… . Just look at this, ” he lowered the orb like thing in front of Roe. 
“ I bet you tribes don't have access to this baby. Not even the Wolves and Foxes. This we got from a witch. It's very handy. Look at this boy here, he is a tribred, with exceptional powers. He will give us fortune, wherever we decide to sell him. So you see, sorry, you are not giving us a good exchange offer. ”
They began laughing and joking so loud, definitely too high with the satisfaction of their unexpected catch. 
On the other hand, Roe's limbs went numb as the realization of Akata's true identity flooded her system. 
“ Akata… “ She gasped. 
“ My sweet little Aku… you came back… ” she went off as Akata too watched her, a little confused and puzzled. 
“ I knew there was something very familiar about you. I am sorry, I just couldn't recognize you. You have grown so much my sweet boy. ”
She extended her hand but one of the Rogues hit her hard. 
“ Should we try to check if this one is a virgin? Virgins fetch a lot you know. We can take her as well. The more the merrier as they say, ” They started to laugh maliciously. 
Two of them grabbed Roe's hands and pinned her on the wall as another took slow steps towards her, with an evil grin pinned on his face. 
Akata had been wondering confused all the while but as he saw his aunt in danger, he lost his cool. 
The Power-nullifying net worked fine with others. But Akata was different. Such things weren't meant for someone like him. 
“ Let her go. ” he spoke in hushed syllables looking straight at them, without any hesitation. 
“ If you go another inch closer, it will be the last step that you take. "His voice was slow, soft but bold. The Rogues immediately paused, intimidated by him but then they realized he was just another kid that they had taken captive and began laughing. 
“ What are you going to do about it little boy? ” One Rogue joked. 
“ Here, I am touching her… he he he! ” He bared his ugly teeth towards Akata. 
Out of the blue a lightning struck him as he burnt to ashes and it started raining cats and dogs inside the tent. 
“ I told you not to touch her, ” Akata roared as he shredded the net holding him to pieces. 
The rest of the Rogues immediately scattered as he walked towards his aunt and took her hand. 
Roe looked up at him with amazement, pride and a little fear. 
All Akata had to do was look at them as the Rogues scurried out of there like scattered marbles, while he picked his aunt up on his lap and teleported once more. 
He went where Boshu was fighting with his men. He dropped Roe at his feet as he jumped back in astonishment. 
For a few seconds Boshu stared at him in amazement. 
He was rightfully reminded of his dear brother and friend, Lin at the sight of the brilliant flash of light. 
But before anything else could be said or heard, Akata's head bounced on the grass as he dropped down, unconscious.