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This is a background story of my Lament of the Moon series, where Panja meets Hazard for the first time, and well... you gotta read to see what's it all about. Enjoy! B3

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** Lament of the Moon: Metamorphosis**

_ Year 16XX AD - Kingdom of Asadia_

A long, deep yawn escaped him, sitting on the benches and baring his brightly white sharp fangs as he did so. Dullness began to overcome him; he was barely able to see what was going on in front of him with those lazy, half-open blue eyes of his. Then without a care, he placed his brawny arms on the back of his head and leaned back on the wooden wall behind him, deciding to take a little nap. But before he could even start to doze off, he was surprised by a sword soaring right towards of his face. Eyes wide open; he ducked out of the sharp weapon's way just a few seconds before it got stuck into the wall behind him.

"Hey! What's the big idea!?" the sluggish, white-furred lion growled.

"Stop slacking off, Panja, we're still on training hours!" another lion, who had a remarkably uncanny resemblance to the white one except for the orange-like tan skin color and blond mane, snarled back. Their physical appearance was almost exactly the same, sharing the same heavy and impressively built and muscular body anatomy - Handsome Seifnine faces with lush flowing manes that go down to the chins, perfectly muscled broad chests, brawny strong arms, strapping rounded shoulders and powerful sturdy legs that made them tower up to roughly seven feet tall. They even shared the same wardrobe, which consisted of a protective brown chest plate and a pair of black pants, coupled with some protective elbow and knee pads, as well as a cup resembling a loincloth. Finally, they both wore a distinguishing medallion that had a crest made from platinum, with a marking of a crowned lion head engraved on it; apparently a treasured family crest of some sort.

The white lion, Panja, huffed in indignation, "Well, you didn't have to go that far, Seif! You could've killed me!"

"If only," Seif smirked and made Panja fume further. "Just focus with us here, will you please?" Seif gestured his hand for Panja to return the sword that he'd thrown at him. Panja shrugged, pulled the sword out of the wall and uncaringly tossed it back to his cousin far harder than he was supposed to, taking Seif by surprise. But before it reached him, a brown figure blurred in front of him and snatched the sword out of the air.

"That was uncalled for, Master Panja!" an angry-looking, brown-furred bear barked. He was also wearing the same protective gear as his two feline associates, and was well-built as well; though a little pudgy, with dark brown fur covering most of his body. A crescent-shaped insignia on his forehead was his most notable feature, giving him a unique look.

"Whatever." Panja yawned, irritating the bear even more. A hand then rested on the bear's shoulder and he looked to back, seeing Seif's smiling face, signaling for him to calm down. "Well then, I'm be going back to the castle and get me a bite to eat," Panja then said as he stood up and walked toward the training facility's exit.

"We're not done yet, Panja," Seif called out to him firmly.

The white lion stopped and turned to the tawny one. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But, it's not like I need to. You know well that no one can beat me, so why bother?" Panja replied arrogantly, and with a salute and a tail flick, took his leave. "I'll see you later, cousin."

"W-Wait...!" the bear tried to stop him, but was held back by Seif. Ardal tried to protest at Panja's careless behavior, but he was again stopped by a gentle smile from Seif.

"It's okay. Just leave him, Ardal. He's always like that. And although I hate to admit it, he's sometimes right," said Seif with a definitive smile.

"Even so," Ardal muttered worriedly, "He shouldn't... I mean, he's your cousin, a member of the royal Lowefang family. He should act like one. He should act like you, Captain."

"Just because we look exactly the same, doesn't mean we should act exactly the same. I think Panja is trying to prove that point. He does indeed need to be more considerate and responsible, but I'm sure he'll come around eventually. Let's just hope it's going to be sooner than later," Seif wishfully said. He knew Panja better than anyone else, like he was his twin, even though they were not. Panja was older than him by just a few hours, but one would think it was quite the opposite. They just happened to look exactly alike because they had twin fathers. They were also both Lowefangs, a proud royal family of strong lion warriors that had ruled the Asadia kingdom for ages.

Ardal kept silent and just nodded in acceptance, agreeing with Seif as he always did. He, Ardal, knew those two lions for as long as he could remember. His family, the Casters, always served under the Lowefang family for generations, but Seif and Panja treated him as he was one of their own, especially Seif, who he considered to be his closest friend. Ardal's relationship with Panja wasn't as close, though, since they always disagreed in their ways of thinking. However, he still cared for Panja and always hoped that he'd become as honorable as his dear friend Seif, who was now Captain of the Lowefang Army's Beast King Brigade.

The blond lion took a step away and took a battle stance. "Well, shall we go back to our training? The national fighting tournament is just a week away, so we better be in our best. Who knows? Maybe the Millennium Slasher will show up this time," he then pointed out with a hopeful smile.

"Millennium Slasher? Captain, don't tell me you believe in all that nonsense? I heard that he possessed incredible swordsmanship skills, but it's been almost fifty years since he was heard of last. He can't still exist."

"He does, Ardal. I can feel it. And I want to be ready for him," Seif replied with determined eyes.

Ardal smiled at his friend's great enthusiasm. "Well... if you say so, Captain."

Seif then shook his head grumpily at the bear's uptightness. "Will you drop the formalities? At least when we're alone. You're my right hand in the brigade already, so no need to be so reserved with me," Seif complained and gave his grizzly companion a rough but friendly pat on the shoulder.

Ardal winced a little, "Heh... Ok, Cap-... I mean, Seif." They both raised their swords and continued to train hard for hours to come.

***

At the Lowefang castle, Panja was making his way to the grand kitchen to get himself something to eat. It wasn't weird for the castle's servants to see him strolling around the castle casually like that, so the main chef wasn't surprised when the white lion showed up in the middle of cooking lunch.

"Why, good day, your highness. How may I serve you today?" with a broken horn on the end of his muzzle bridge, and wearing a cook uniform, greeted Panja as soon as he saw him.

Panja sat on a long, empty table, resting his elbows on it and his bearded chin on his palms, letting out a dull sigh. "Whatever, Roc..." Panja breathed in an apathetic manner.

"Hmm, is something the matter, prince?" Roc the chef asked in concern when he noticed Panja's dreary mood.

"No. Just bring the food," Panja answered, resting his back on the chair and placing his bare feet on top of the table, which was unlikely for a member of the royal family to do, but Panja didn't care.

"B-but, it's not done yet, your highness. If you would wait for a little, lunch would be ready for the rest of the family and you could..." the main cook stammered, but he then received a threatening scowl from the Seifnine prince that made him shut his mouth. "Y-y-yes, yes, it'll be right up, sire! You there! Bring the roasted beef!" the rhino immediately corrected himself and ordered one of the kitchen workers to hustle. A wide smirk appeared across Panja's muzzle, as a large plate of roasted beef was conveniently brought to his table. With a large knife in one hand and a fork in the other, he sliced a big chunk of the beef and consumed it up in one bite.

"I hope it gets your approval, prince..." the rhino cook timidly said, rubbing his hands together coyly. Panja didn't reply and just continued to eat, which was good enough of an answer for the chef, as he breathed out in relief. "Err... so, your highness, you are going to participate in the tournament that's going to start soon, no?" Roc then sought to start a friendly conversation with the white-furred prince.

Panja waited to swallow a large bite of the meat before he answered, "I couldn't care less." He grabbed an empty chalice in his hand and lifted it up to rhino, signaling that he wanted a drink. Roc quickly went to a nearby cupboard and came back with a bottle of red wine, pouring it down for Panja himself.

"Well, because..." the chef swallowed a bit before he continued, "I heard a rumor that the Millennium Slasher has been seen near the kingdom, and that he might join the tournament because such events attract him," Roc was saying, but he was then interrupted by loud laughter coming from Panja.

"Oh, please, that old myth again? I've been hearing about it ever since I was a cub. How a swordsman faced the demon overlord and defeated more than a thousand demons all by himself in one night, saving the world and becoming a hero. Give me a break. It's nothing more than a fairytale for children! Even Seif believes it, that poor dreamer," Panja sneered, wiping away the wine on his chin that he'd spilled after that hearty laughter.

"But it's not a myth, prince Panja! He's real! I saw him with my very own eyes!" Roc retorted excitedly.

Panja leered, "Really now? When? How does this 'legend' look like?"

"Err... um, well, it's been such a long time, I was just a small child, but he once passed by my home village! I'm certain of it! Nobody knows his real name, but he was a wolf, with golden fur! And he had a huge scar across his chest!" the aged rhino eagerly described as much as his fragile memory could remember, and Panja listened in interest.

"Golden fur and a scar, huh? Well, that'll be hard to miss... if what you claim is indeed true, and if he really does show up at the tournament, then I think I'll have to do some reconsideration," Panja rumbled, guzzling what left of the wine in the chalice he had in his hand before he raised it for the cook to fill up again. "Things should get really interesting..."

***

A week had passed, and the whole capital was quite eager and excited for the national battle tournament that was going to be held in the huge royal arena near the Lowefang castle. Citizens of all ages gathered there, waiting in anticipation for the grand show to start. The tournament was held every twenty years, and it had always been a big hit for the people of Asadia. As violent and brutal as it could get, it was one of the few kinds of entertainment the Asadians had, so it was no wonder most of them left every chore aside and went to the royal arena to witness it. It also attracted many strong warriors; ranging from mercenaries, thugs and wannabe knights, each with their own reason for wanting to win, but it was mostly for the fame and money.

One such warrior was making his way through the capital's streets to find his way to the arena. He looked to be not from around the kingdom, his different style of attire saying so. He was a mature-looking wolf, considerably tall and well-built for his size and age, which seemed to be in his late twenties. He was wearing a dark blue tunic under a black traveling vest, plain black trousers that were a few inches bellow the knees and a pair of fingerless leather gloves. Golden-yellow fur covered his whole body, starting from the tip of his pointy ears all the way to his thick, bushy long tail. By how weather-beaten his clothes were, one could easily tell this wolf had seen too many journeys. It was also easy to figure that he was a swordsman, carrying a sheathed, long sword on his back, latched on his waist area semi-horizontally; a style not seen often among swordsmen.

"This place sure didn't change much..." the lupine traveler mumbled to himself as he reached the center of the capital. His bright green eyes squinted as he lifted his sight up at the sky and the sun shined brightly down on the land after a wide cloud floated under it. His eyes then lowered down a bit and they could see a big red and blue flag with the royal symbol of the Lowefang family, flapping high among many of the same kinds of flags around the huge arena far away. Smiling, the wolf marched onward to the battle arena. There, he noticed a decent crowd gathering around the participants' entrance. They were the warriors and fighters that would take part in the brawl and they were signing their names for the tournament. As the wolf was about to join them, he got bumped from behind by a huge ox in an iron armor and was pushed aside.

"Make way for the champ, shrimp," the ox snorted and passed by the unsuspecting wolf, who almost fell from the rough bump, but was able to regain his balance. That irritated the yellow lupine, but he didn't want to bother himself by causing trouble with that big lummox and simply ignored him. "Eh? You got a problem, squirt?!" the ox turned around and snarled at the wolf, not finding his calm and relaxed reaction at all endearing.

Lifting his head up to stare back at the towering eight feet brownish ox; the wolf being rather shorter than him, around six feet tall (which was considered short by their standards), the wolf replied with a tiny grin, "Not with you, I wouldn't even dare to cross a big guy like you." The giant ox grunted; he wasn't sure if the wolf was serious or if he was trying to mock him.

"You better not. What's a puppy like you doing in a place like this anyway?" the ox sneered.

"Like everyone else here, I'm going to enter the tournament," the wolf casually answered and the ox couldn't hold back a booming laugh.

"You!?" snorted the ox, "Oh, that's a good one!" The ox's chest shook from the hard laughter, as the golden wolf frowned at that. "No offense, squirt, but this place ain't for the likes of you! So you better scurry home now before you get hurt; I'd hate to see a cute pup like you get mutilated!" the ox said mockingly and petted the wolf's head with his large hand.

The canine's head were almost invisible under that huge palm, but he still retained his coolness. "Believe me, I'm anything but cute," the wolf replied calmly and pushed the ox's hand away from his head.

The ox huffed, "You watch your back, shrimp, and better pray you don't meet me, Folgore the Demolisher, in the tournament." The giant warrior gave the canine a warning, lifting his huge axe over his shoulder and taking his leave at last.

The wolf just shook his head with a weary sigh, "They never change..."

***

It didn't take long for the arena's seats to be completely filled with hundreds of people of all ages, all eagerly waiting for the events to start and loudly voicing their excitement. And at the private royal terrace sat the noble Lowefang family, with King Rour at the center. He was an aged white lion, but he still looked fit and full of wisdom, proudly wearing his imperial crown on top of his thick, albeit a little weathered, white mane. To his left sat his nephew, Prince Seif, with his faithful right-hand Ardal standing right next to him and with some imperial guards at the back, and to his right was an empty seat.

"Seif?" the king spoke.

"Yes, your majesty?" Seif immediately responded.

"Where is Panja?" King Rour asked, and Seif paused for a few seconds, not knowing the answer.

"He... He should be here shortly, your majesty," Seif replied and the king nodded agreeably. Seif let out a relived sigh and turned to Ardal, who returned the look with a similar distressed headshake.

Shortly after, a tall black stallion in a formal imperial blue and red uniform appeared in the middle of the arena's ground and announced at the top of his lungs, "People of Asadia! We will now begin the fourteenth National Battle Tournament! Cheer for our marvelous contestants with all your hearts and souls, and may the best warrior win and be our next champion!" The whole crowd roared in excitement at the announcer's words, cheering out loud and demanding for the fights to start. "For our first battle, I give you Duran the Scale Eater!" the hyper stallion called out and one of the arena's set of gates opened, as a giant dark-grey scaled alligator in little armor that merely consisted of a loin-guard and one shoulder plate stepped out into the arena, waving around his deadly-looking chain-and-spiked-iron-ball weapon in a attempt to show off his strength. "Versus Eagor the Crimson Wings!" the announcer continued and the gates from the other side opened this time, with a red-feathered falcon in a black leather outfit coming out of it, whipping his long whip at the ground. "Let the games begin!" bellowed the announcer, and the crowd went wild.

"Hope I didn't miss anything good," Panja said as he finally arrived at the royal terrace and sat on his seat next to his father, the king.

Seif irritably eyed his belated cousin. "About time you showed up. Where were you?"

Panja shrugged and said, "Nowhere special. I made it in time, didn't I?"

"You're late, Panja. All the Lowefangs must make their attendance in such an important event. You have to take it more seriously," king Rour sternly lectured his white-furred son and gave him a whack on the head with his royal cane, getting an 'ow' from Panja.

The white lion rubbed his sore noggin and winced. "Yeah, yeah..." Panja replied without a care and Seif sighed, but he was satisfied that the rash white lion made it at least. Ardal patted his blond friend's shoulder sympathetically and smiled at him, Seif returning the smile. The thundering roar of the cheering crowd then attracted their attention back to the battle at hand. The alligator was tied up completely by Eagor's whip and he couldn't move. However, his bondage didn't last for long, as Duran struggled and used his brawny strength to break away, ripping the whip apart and freeing himself with a growl. The falcon was too stunned to recover, and Duran didn't waste time and hurled his spiked ball of iron at his opponent, hitting him square on his torso. Eagor groaned out loudly in sheer pain, blood splashing out of his beak, as he was thrown aback from the force of the deadly attack. Dropping on his back hard with his feathers fluttering around him, Eagor had the wind knocked out of him and he couldn't stand up, instantly rendering Duran the winner, the alligator lifting his arms high and yelling out in victory.

"Well, that was quick," Panja remarked sarcastically. "Wake me up when there's a real fight, will you Seif?" The white lion leaned back on his chair and lifted one leg over the other, yawning. The king frowned at his son's ignorant behavior, but he knew he couldn't do anything about it now. Seif just covered his face with his palm in shame and hope for this to end soon, while Ardal suppressed a chuckle; Panja's antics sometimes amused the grizzly bear.

"Duran the Scale Eater moves on to the next round! Now, for our next battle, I give you Folgore the Demolisher!" The announcer shouted and pointed at one end of the circled arena. The giant brownish ox entered with high confidence, carrying his battle axe over his shoulders as he waved to the excited audience. He was donning full-body iron armor, with a horned helmet with two iron horns topping his bull-like head.

"Oh, I heard about him. That Folgore is one vicious beast," Ardal stated. "He's a mercenary that only accepts big jobs with big money, and he always finishes them without leaving any of his victims alive. I pity the one who's going against him..." the bear continued with a disturbed tone as Seif listened to him in interest.

"Versus Hazard Barzard!" the announcer declared the other contestant and everyone turned their sights across the other side. The golden-furred wolf walked out of the gate with poise, not wearing any kind of protective armor besides his normal clothing. The crowd was quite surprised at the wolf's boldness and their cheer increased, hoping for a bloody fight.

"That yellow wolf is either very brave or very stupid to enter this fight without a decent piece of armor to back him up," King Rour remarked in amusement and got Panja's attention back to the battle arena, sitting up and looking for the yellow wolf the king had mentioned.

'Golden-yellow fur... can it be?' was the thought that ran through Panja's head, the same exact thought that was inside Seif's mind when he saw the lupine swordsman.

"Oh, you gotta be kidding me! I gotta fight you first!?" Folgore scoffed, pointing a cynical finger at the wolf, the latter not even bothering to reply. "You must be one unlucky dog to have to face me from the start. But not to worry, I'm gonna end this fast so you won't have to suffer too much," Folgore said confidently and lowered his huge axe down from his shoulders, dropping it to the ground with a loud thud. Hazard just stood in his place with a hand resting on his waist, staring back at the ox with intrepid eyes. "Huh? What's wrong? Draw your sword, shrimp! Or are you too scared!?"

"I don't have to. I'm going to beat you without even using my sword," the wolf replied with a confident smirk and made Folgore seethe up in anger.

"Are you making fun of me, you little worm!? I'll make you regret even thinking of entering this tournament! Have at you!" Folgore snarled and waved his axe at Hazard, smashing the ground he was standing on. "Wha-!?" the ox blinked in surprise when he realized that he totally missed the wolf, as Hazard bounced off the ground way before the axe reached him and headed straight to Folgore's face, kneeing him on the snout and then giving him a strong kick on the neck, dropping the giant ox on his back hard while he flipped backward and landed on his feet. The whole crowd gasped in shock from what just happened, not believing that a powerful warrior like Folgore could be easily knocked down like that from the start, let alone by someone much smaller than him.

"Whoa... did you see that, Captain?" Ardal spoke in astonishment. Seif didn't respond; his eyes locked on the lupine swordsman. He had a gutsy feeling about this wolf. He was almost positive; that had got to be him. He just needed one more proof to be certain for sure.

"Ugh... curses...!" Folgore groaned as he stood up again, wiping his bleeding snout.

"You're too slow for me. Why don't you scurry back home? I'd hate to see a cute cow like you get mutilated," Hazard said mockingly and aimed to agitate his opponent, succeeding fabulously, as the ox growled out madly.

"I'm gonna skin you alive!" Folgore furiously roared and charged at the wolf with a barrage of powerful swings of his axe. Hazard was dodging them all with little effort with his nimble agility, swaying and jumping away from the deadly slashes. Folgore kept on trying to slash Hazard but to no avail, only hitting the empty air and tiring himself out; which was exactly what Hazard was aiming for.

"What's the matter with you, Folgore!?"

"Are you gonna let that wolf play you around?!"

"Yeah! Rip him apart already!!"

"Booo!!!"

The wild crowd was shouting out, disappointed in Folgore's poor performance and demanding for a better fight. That did nothing but increase Folgore's rage even more and making him lose his concentration, blindingly waving his weapon around in a futile attempt to hit Hazard. He slashed his axe downward one more time to cut Hazard's head, but he only managed to smash the ground after the wolf jumped away and landed a couple of feel away. The ox dropped on one knee, panting and sweating heavily, totally exhausted.

"Had enough?" Hazard smirked, crossing his arms and waving his tail around calmly.

"Damn you..." Folgore gritted his teeth and glared back at the golden wolf in rage; he had never been this humiliated in his life. He had smashed hundreds of skulls under this mighty axe throughout all his glorious battles, but he couldn't even make a single scratch on that lupine swordsman. The constant ridicule from the crowd made it even worse for him. "It's not over yet, pup!" Folgore yelled out and threw a handful of sand to the unsuspecting Hazard, getting some of it in his eyes and slightly blinding him for a second, which was enough for the ox to lunge forward with his axe in hand. "Die!" growled Folgore and swung his axe at the wolf, who was barely able to see it coming, but with his nimble agility, he was able to jump backward at the last second before the axe could've sliced him clean in half; the sharp edge of the blade scarcely shredding his tunic in the process.

"That cheating bastard!" Panja growled, getting up on his feet abruptly to have a good look at what was happening down the arena. "He should be expelled for a nasty foul like that!"

"Anything goes at the tournament, Master Panja," Ardal replied.

"Wait... look," Seif then muttered and they all focused their attention at the wolf, who looked quite upset.

"Aw man... this is my favorite shirt! In fact, it's my only shirt!" Hazard growled irritably after he saw that his tunic was ruined due to the slash it got from the ox's axe

"Oh? Is the poor puppy getting mad?" Folgore sneered and Hazard narrowed his brows.

"Fine, you asked for it, you oversized buffoon," Hazard murmured in a serious tone, tugging off the shredded piece of cloth that was his shirt and tossing it aside, leaving only the vest on and revealing his bare chest, which had a huge burnt scar that started from his left shoulder all the way down diagonally to the right side of his waist. He reached his left hand to his back and clutched the grip of his sword, pulling it out and holding it up in front of him. "You're going to get it good..."

"Hey, look! It's the Millennium Slasher!" a person in the audience yelled out.

"It can't be! He doesn't exist!" another one followed.

"The scar! It's like what the myth said!" a female voice gasped.

"No way, it must be an imposter or something!" and the crowd began to hem and haw, while Hazard slapped his forehead and sighed in frustration.

Hazard smacked his forehead in frustration, "Jeez... I always forget about things like this... stupid wolf!" the golden wolf mumbled to himself, embarrassed by the amount of attention he was getting.

Ardal's red eyes blinked in surprise at the scene, "What the...? Captain, you don't think...? I mean, it can't be him... can it?"

"I knew it..." Seif breathed softly, a keyed up smile spreading across his muzzle. The speed, the skills, and the golden fur - he was positive it was him from the second he saw him. Ardal noticed the eagerness radiating from his superior, getting a bit anxious at what he was thinking, but he turned his attention back to the battle arena and wanted to see for himself if this so-called Millennium Slasher lived up to his reputation.

Folgore snickered, "Finally made you draw your sword, huh? Not that it'll do you any good, because I'm through playing games with you! You're dead meat!" Folgore snarled and lifted his axe up high, ready to swing it down at the wolf's head. Hazard stood his ground and didn't move; his left hand behind his back and gripping his sword firmly, waiting for just the right moment. The giant ox heaved his giant axe down with rage-fueled force, slamming it hard on the ground and causing an immense tremor that was felt throughout the whole arena. Folgore smirked, positive that he had finally nailed his opponent, eagerly waiting for the clouds of dust to vanish and see him split in half. "What!?" he gasped, only seeing a big crater on the ground left by his axe, without any trace of the golden wolf.

"Folgore! Above you!" a fan shouted out from the crowd and Folgore immediately looked up, but he was too slow, as Hazard dropped down on him from the sky with a swift sword slash that hit him right on the top of his head, bashing him hard and forcing him down with him to the ground, causing another quake that the whole bewildered crowd felt. After the view cleared from the dust, they saw Hazard standing up with his sword carried over one shoulder and his opponent lying face-down, completely knocked out with only some gurgles coming out of him; his prized iron helmet broken in two from the powerful force of that blow. He was lucky his helmet was so sturdy and absorbed most of Hazard's attack's force, or else his head would've been split open. The whole crowd was utterly speechless, not believing the unexpected outcome of this match as they watched in unnerving silence.

"Hey, you, shouldn't you be announcing the winner by now?" Hazard turned to the equally stunned announcer and called out.

The announcer took a few moments to blink and snap out of his astonishment. "Huh...? Oh! Why yes! Looks like we have a winner! Hazard Barzard moves on to the next round! Give him a big cheer!" the stallion yelled out, and the crowd followed with a pleased applause.

"What an unexpected ending to an unusual match; good show," King Rour commented as he clapped his hands with the crowd.

"Incredible... "Ardal uttered in amazement." Even with the big size difference, he was able to knock him down with only one blow. How could a small body like that wield such strength?" the bear continued, still not comprehending the reason why the wolf was able to win so easily.

"It's because he isn't 'small' at all," Seif replied, before he stood up and gestured his right hand at one of the royal guards. "Dolph, ready my sword." The lion prince ordered the rottweiler guard, referring to a special weapon of his.

"Y-yes, Captain!" The canine guard immediately complied and went to get what Seif asked for, but not even a few minutes had passed before he came back, empty handed. "Captain! Your sword! I couldn't find it!"

"What?" Seif said in stunned surprise.

"Captain Seif, I don't see Master Panja around, either..." Ardal then pointed out and Seif turned his sights to Panja's seat, finding it empty. "You don't think he...?" Ardal uneasily enquired his lion commander and Seif shared his anxiousness.

"Captain, look! It's master Panja! And he has your sword, captain!" Dolph suddenly yelped, pointing his finger down at the arena ground. Everyone at the royal terrace directed their sights to where the guard was pointing with stunned eyes.

"Son?" King Rour murmured in confusion when he saw Panja walk into the battle arena, carrying a zweihander sword (A huge, broad double-handed sword that reached up to 7 feet tall) sword on his back.

"What is that fool thinking?!" Seif growled under his breath, gritting his fangs and clutching his claws on the terrace fence furiously. Not only did Panja steal his personal weapon, but he was also stealing his chance to face the Millennium Slasher, a chance for which he had been waiting for a very long time.

"Millennium Slasher! I challenge you to a duel!" Panja shouted, facing the wolf some feet away and pointing a finger at him daringly. The crowd was equally surprised when they saw the Lowefang prince in the middle of the arena, mumbling and chattering among themselves in intrigue.

Hazard raised an eyebrow at the white lion, "And you are?" he blandly asked, and the fact that he didn't know him ticked Panja off.

"The one what will beat you and expose the fraud that you are," Panja replied, calming himself.

"Bu-But, Ma-Master Panja! This goes against the rules, your highness! You're not allowed to..." the announcer tried to persuade Panja against it, but he was then silenced by Panja grabbing the huge sword off of his back and waved it at the stallion's direction, causing a strong gust of wind that almost knocked him off of his hooves.

"You were saying?" the white lion glared at the announcer, the later gulping fretfully the later gulping fretfully and backing away as far as he could in fear of being injured during the battle. Panja smirked and turned his attention back to where Hazard was standing, but he didn't find him there. He quickly looked around the arena for the wolf and found him making his way back to the gates he came from earlier. "Hey! You! Where are you going!?" Panja yelled out.

Hazard stopped and turned around to face Panja. "Not interested," he merely said and continued on his way. That angered the Lowefang prince extremely. He couldn't believe the boldness of the wolf for walking out on him like that.

"Are you chickening out? I thought the legendary slasher feared nothing, but this proves that you're nothing but a fake!" Panja seek to provoke Hazard, but failed, as the wolf continued to walk away as if he wasn't listening. That left Panja with only once choice; to force him into the fight.

As Hazard was just a few steps away from the gates, he was surprised by his inability to take another step forward, as if his feet were frozen. A sharp, very chilling shiver ran through his spine at that exact moment, and he looked down, only to see that his feet were indeed frozen into the ground, bounded by ice, and didn't allow him to move. He quickly turned his head back to Panja and saw him crouching with one palm on the ground, realizing that he was the cause of this, a wide leer spread on Panja's face. He managed to send a wave of icy energy from where he was sitting through the ground from his hand all the way to Hazard, creating a frozen block of ice that surrounded the wolf's feet. "Hell..." Hazard cursed and tried to break away from this icy entrapment, pulling his legs up as hard as he could, but to no avail. This thing was frozen solid.

"Ready or not, slasher!" Panja said and lurched toward the trapped wolf, his sword held behind his back before he swung it with all his might vertically. Hazard hardly had any time to counter it and just managed to block the attack with his own sword, lifting it up against Panja's broad piece of metal as both weapons clashed together. Sparks flew, as well as Hazard, the sheer force of Panja's strength shattering the ice block that held him on the ground and blew Hazard away against the arena's walls, crashing into it fiercely with a painful grunt and bouncing off of it, dropping on the ground. Panja smiled victoriously and stood up straight, "Is that all?"

Hazard grunted, getting up on his feet again and dusting himself off. "Hardly..." He picked his fallen sword and held it behind his back horizontally, a battle stance that was seemingly of his own style. "If you want a fight this bad, you're gonna get it. Just don't say I didn't warn you," Hazard muttered with sharp eyes, which excited Panja even more.

"Your move," Panja said and readied himself as well, holding his sword up in front of him. They stood like that silently for about a minute, the tension rising up with each second, not even a breath coming out of the crowd as they watched intently. With a sudden sprint, Hazard dashed toward Panja and threw a fast sideway slash at the white lion. Panja was able to block it easily with his huge sword, but he was then surprised by being pushed back by the strong collision; he didn't expect that the wolf was packing this much strength in him. That caused Panja to lose his balance and stagger backward, almost falling on his back, but he managed to regain his footing. However, he didn't have time to recover, as Hazard dove in again with a side kick and hit Panja hard on the waist, sending him tumbling aside to the ground with a rough thud. "Damn... he's good..." Panja grunted as he picked up his broad sword and stood up again, rubbing the soreness off of his right side of his waist.

"That sword is too big, it'll only hold you back," Hazard said, but Panja didn't care for his lectures and dashed toward the wolf for another round, this time with more aggressiveness, surprising Hazard. The white lion was moving pretty fast for someone carrying something so large and heavy. With a loud growl, Panja swung his sword rapidly at the wolf, slashing it left and right in high speed, giving Hazard a hard time dodging and avoiding them all. Hazard was actually impressed; Panja was showing some great skills that he hadn't seen very often. Their swords kept clashing and colliding, the sparks flying off so high they almost reached the wild crowd, who never stopped cheering and hollering as the battle got more intense. Neither of them seemed to be letting up, and Panja was getting weary of not getting a single hit on the golden wolf. He then roared out and threw one mighty cleave with his sword, almost knocking Hazard out of his poise when he blocked it, giving him the opening he needed. Panja sneaked in closer to his opponent and delivered a powerful punch to Hazard's chest, a white flashing glow emitting from the lion's fist, and he sent the wolf flying to the back and falling on his back with a groan.

"Ow... that actually hurt..." Hazard groaned, getting up on one knee. When he tried to stand up, a sudden piercing pain ran through his chest and caused him to grunt and drop on his hands and knees. The wolf choked out, pressing his hand on his hurting chest; it felt like it was on fire. He was then surprised by how cold his chest felt when he touched it and steadily realized that it was freezing up, the pain cause by the sheer cold was so unbearably strong that it was actually burning, and he had difficulties even breathing. This was probably the result of Panja's last attack.

"What's the matter, slasher? Was I too cold for you?" Panja mockingly said, stepping closer to the kneeled wolf and planning to finish this battle.

"Master Panja is winning," Ardal breathed elatedly, but Seif didn't agree, or maybe he didn't want to. He didn't think the Millennium Slasher could be so easily defeated.

Stopping near Hazard, Panja lifted his sword up and was ready to lay the final blow. "This is the end of your legend, slasher," Panja muttered and swung his sword downward, right at the wolf's head. The whole crowd gasped, some even turning their sights away to avoid seeing this brutality. However, nothing happened, as Panja, completely astonished, seemed to have slashed at empty air and found the golden wolf standing on top of his broad sword.

"I think not," Hazard smirked, standing deftly on top of the white lion's large sword and pointing the sharp tip of his own sword at Panja's neck. Everyone around the arena was totally flabbergasted. Just when they thought the wolf's head had been had, they see him a second later on top of the Lowefang prince's sword. Nobody even saw him move, not even Panja. Hazard moved with such god-like speed, Panja couldn't do anything to react, as the lion stood stiffly, not even budging, sweat dropping from his brows as Hazard's sword was just an inch away from cutting his throat. "Checkmate," Hazard grinned and declared himself as the victor, much to the dismay of the king.

"Guards! Stop this absurdity and seize that wolf!" King Rour growled as he stood up from his throne and ordered his royal guards. Within seconds, the arena grounds were surrounded by armored guards, pointing their weapons at both Hazard and Panja, who were still in that same awkward position.

"This sure doesn't look good..." Hazard sighed grimly and then looked down at his feline opponent. "You're quite good, lion. It's been fun," Hazard muttered to a stunned Panja with a smile, and then jumped off of his sword, bouncing off on top of the clumsy guards' heads and making his way out of the battle arena.

"What are you idiots waiting for!? Get him!" the king snarled furiously at his guards and they frenetically chased after the fleeing wolf. As for Panja, he just stood in his place, motionless. He had been defeated. He'd lost to that wolf, in a mortifying way even, in front of the whole capital. He couldn't believe it, the realization not yet hitting him, until one of guards called out for him and snapped him out of his stunned state.

"Master Panja! Are you alright!?" a red fox in a royal army armor asked in concern.

"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm fine..." Panja replied jadedly.

"Thank goodness! You should get back to the royal terrace, your highness! We'll get that bastard!" the vulpine guard requested and joined his fellow guards to go look for the wolf.

"Yeah..." Panja murmured. After what happened this day, the last thing Panja wanted was meeting his father and his cousin Seif, knowing exactly what was in store for him. Though, he knew that was inevitable.

***

"What the hell were you thinking!?" was the first thing King Rour growled at Panja, sitting on his throne in the royal throne room that was placed some steps away from where Panja was standing. Seif was right next to the king, with Ardal not too far away as well. "Not only did you sabotage the national battle tournament, a tradition held in our kingdom for many generations, and caused its cancellation, you brought shame to the Lowefang name with your recklessness and obscene behavior! What do you have to say for yourself?!" the king sternly told his son off, waving his jeweled cane at him. Panja kept silent and didn't answer; his head turned to the side insolently, enraging his father further. "You even risked your own life! What if that barbarian actually killed you?! Don't you realize your importance to this kingdom!? You're the royal throne heir! You're going to rule this kingdom in the near future! You're going to be a Lowefang king, so start acting like one!" King Rour kept lecturing his son, but his words were falling on deaf ears, as Panja still wasn't replying and didn't seem interested. "Damn it, Panja! Why are you doing this!? Why can you not for once act like the royalty that you are!? Why can you not be more like your cousin Seif!?" Just when King Rour uttered those last words, something clicked in Panja.

"I knew it! I just knew you'd bring him up! Every single time, you just have to bring him up! Always comparing me with Seif! I'm sick and tired of it! Has it ever occurred to you that I'm different than him!? Has it ever occurred to you that I may not want to take over your stupid kingdom?! I don't regret what I did! In fact, I'd do it again if given the chance!" Panja snapped back at his father, not holding back what was in his mind.

King Rour was extremely stunned by what had Panja just said, as he clutched his chest all of the sudden and started to cough out severely. "Wha...!? Panja... you... eugh...!"

"Your majesty!" Seif gasped and rushed to his uncle's side. "Panja! You went too far! Apologize to your king and ask for his forgiveness, now!" Seif turned to his white furred cousin and demanded.

Panja shrugged. "He always fakes out a stroke whenever things don't go his way. I had enough of this, I'm out of here," Panja uncaringly expressed and took his leave, leaving his ailing father and distressed cousin behind.

"Guard, get the physician!" Ardal ordered one of the guards to fetch some medical help for the king and stood next to Seif. "Captain, I'll go after Master Panja. Will you be all alright?"

"Yes," Seif simply answered and Ardal formally saluted him before going off after the white lion prince. "Stay strong, uncle, the doctor will be here soon," Seif then said comfortingly, patting the king's back gently.

"I'm all right, Seif... don't fret too much... this old lion still has some strength in him," King Rour murmured when his coughing calmed and Seif helped him sit back on his throne. The king let out a long angst sigh, "Why did it have to be like this, Seif? Why can't my son be like you? If only your late father could see you now, he would've been very proud..." King Rour smiled weakly and held one of Seif's hands in his own, before he returned to cough out again.

"Don't speak, uncle. Just rest," Seif spoke comfortingly, although his heart was aching. He didn't approve Panja's outrageous attitude, yet he couldn't fully blame him. He knew how Panja must've felt, like he was indeed his twin. But he couldn't go after him and leave his ill uncle like this. He just hoped Ardal would be able to deal with him.

***

Panja was marching on through the castle halls, wanting to get out of this place as soon as possible. Anyone who was in his path swayed out of his way, in fear of facing his wrath, as he obviously looked extremely furious and the slightest thing could make him explode. "Master Panja! Wait!" Panja then heard Ardal's voice calling for him from behind, but he didn't stop and continued on his way. Ardal sped up his pace to catch up with his prince and when he was finally in reach, he grabbed Panja's arm to make him stop.

Panja snarled and pushed Ardal's hand away, startling the bear. "Don't touch me!"

"I-I'm sorry, Master Panja. Please forgive my rudeness," Ardal quickly apologized, bowing his head meekly.

Panja merely grimaced at the bear, "And what do you want?"

Ardal lifted his head to face Panja and stared at him. "Please, Master Panja, come back with me. The king is very upset and he will feel much better if you apologized to him, sincerely," Ardal humanely requested of the prince.

"Never," Panja stubbornly refused. "Now go back to your dear Seif and leave me the hell alone."

"What's wrong, Master Panja? Why are you so upset?" Ardal asked his feline friend in concern.

Panja narrowed his eyes at the bear. "That's none of your business," Panja harshly retorted.

"But... I'm your friend, Master Panja. You know I'm always here for you, always..." Ardal then tried to reach out to Panja as his friend, but the white lion crossed his brows scornfully at him.

"You're crossing your line, Caster. You're nothing but a servant. I only need you to serve me. For now, I just want you to get the hell out of my face," Panja cruelly said and downed Ardal, turning his back to him and walking away. With his ears drooped and his head dangled down, Ardal stood still as Panja left him behind. And as heartbreaking as Panja's words were, the bear knew he was stating a fact that he couldn't change.

"Yes, Master..." Ardal uttered obediently, yet sorrowfully.

***

Making his way out of the castle, the white Lowefang prince wanted to be in a secluded place, where no one would bother him. He just wanted to be left alone, so he went to a certain place of his that he always headed to when such cases arose - a spot within the woods outside the castle's walls. He liked to hang out in that spot alone when he wanted to be in peace, but this time, he was far off from it. He was so enraged with the events that happened today and he didn't know how to handle it.

"Damn it all!" Panja roared out and punched a tree that was near him with his fist, breaking it in half without much effort as it fell down to the ground in two pieces. That did little to vent off his anger, though, and he did the same to another tree, then another and another, until he knocked down around ten of them. Panja started to pant, his fists bruised and bloody from bashing them into all those trees, but he didn't feel any pain from them, still too angry.

"Hey, keep it down, will you?! I'm trying to sleep here!" a voice then shouted suddenly from somewhere nearby and startled Panja.

"Wh-Who goes there!?" the white lion demanded, looking around his surroundings warily but seeing nothing but the wreckage of trees his rampage left behind. He took a few steps back cautiously, before he sensed someone breathing down his neck, quickly turning around to confront whoever or whatever it was, only to be surprised to be face to face with the golden wolf; their snouts were an inch apart from each other and the wolf's face was hanged in the air upside down. Panja yelped in a start and stumbled to the back, dropping on his bottom. He winced slightly and then looked up again, getting a better look at Hazard, as he was hanging down from a tree, latching his legs on one its branches as he stared down at Panja with a toothy grin.

"Sorry about that, didn't mean to scare you," Hazard said, his arms crossed while still hanging upturned.

"Y... You...?" Panja muttered in confusion, surprised to see the Millennium Slasher in this place of all places. "How... what are you doing here?" Panja then asked timidly after he stood up again.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I was trying to get me some sleep before you came storming in here and destroyed these poor trees. I would've checked in an inn in town, but thanks to you, I'm a fugitive now," Hazard answered irritably. "Jeez, if I knew you were a prince, I would've never fought you. You royalties are nothing but a pain in the hide..." he then sighed, looking distressed.

Panja couldn't speak a word, still stunned about seeing the one who he had been blatantly beaten by in the tournament and shamed him right in front of him and was casually talking to him. Just a second ago he was so mad he was ready to kill someone, but the moment he saw the wolf and how he was in hiding here because of him, he wasn't sure of what to do. "I... I'm sorry..." Panja uttered much to his own surprise. He never apologized to anyone in his life; the words just blurted out of his mouth.

Hazard stared back at Panja with an odd look, he didn't expect that either. "Uh, well, don't worry about it much. I guess you didn't mean for things to get that complicated," Hazard muttered reassuringly. "You were quite good back there, though. It's been a long time since I had such a challenge." The wolf then complimented Panja's battling skills, and Panja found that flattering somehow.

"Uh, thank you... you're incredibly skilled, too. I've never seen anyone move so fast in my life," Panja praised him back, making Hazard flush and scratch his cheek bashfully.

"Aww, that's nothing compared to your ice power, which is impressive. How do you do that?" Hazard curiously asked, swaying left and right like a pendulum as he dangled from the tree branch in a playful manner.

"Oh, well, elemental powers run in the family," Panja answered, keeping his eyes locked on the wolf as he swayed about. Each Lowefang was born with a gifted special elemental power that can be controlled when they reach puberty, and Panja's happened to be ice.

"Hmm, interesting... I bet you're very good at it. That freezing ice trap was a neat trick." Hazard smiled as he praised the white lion again.

"Thanks..." Panja coyly replied. He didn't know why he was so timid and coy around Hazard. It was probably because he was a bit intimidated by him, being the legendary Millennium Slasher and all. He wanted to make sure he was the real deal, though, so he sought to ask him straight. "Uh, pardon me for asking this, but are you really the Millennium Slasher?"

Just as Panja asked that question, Hazard's legs slipped off of the branch he was latching to and he dropped head-first on the hard ground, bumping his head. "Ow, ow, ow... Damn me..." Hazard winced as he sat up and rubbed his sore head, Panja staring at him with a puzzled expression. Was this clumsy lupine really the renowned slasher that had struck fear among the hearts of many all these decades?

"Are you all right?" Panja asked the wolf and gave him a helping hand to get up.

"Yeah... heh, wasn't that embarrassing?" Hazard grinned shyly, and Panja couldn't help but stifle a chuckle; he did look funny falling off like that.

"So... are you really the Millennium Slasher?" Panja repeated the question, determined to know the truth.

The wolf stared at him peculiarly; he wondered why Panja was this persistent. "Well, what do you think? Do you think that I am the Millennium Slasher? In fact, do you even believe that he even exists?" Hazard questioned the lion back.

Panja blinked slightly. "I... I'm not sure. I didn't use to believe in him. I thought he was just a myth. But, you have all the signs, and the way you fight, it's abnormal," Panja replied nonchalantly.

"If I said that I am him, will you turn me in?" Hazard asked again.

"No," Panja immediately responded. "I didn't even approve of them chasing after you. You didn't do anything wrong, you won fairly."

Hazard smirked, "Believe what you want to believe then. That's my answer to you. "

Panja wasn't satisfied with that, "But, you can't be him, right? I mean, he's supposed to be over one hundred years old by now and you don't even look older than me," Panja stated a point, standing tall before the canine who barely reached the lion's chest in height.

"There are some things in life that are better left unexplained. Or else you'll get yourself involved in things that you'd be better off without." Hazard's words were raising more questions than answers for Panja, realizing that he wouldn't get straight answers from him this easily.

"Let's say that you are the Millennium Slasher. How come you didn't finish us off in the battle tournament? It was obvious that Folgore was no match for you and that you held back on him, and you even held back on me," Panja stated daringly, hoping to get some real answers this time.

"Pointless blood shedding isn't my style," Hazard merely replied.

"Then why enter the tournament?"

"Simple. I needed the money," Hazard bluntly said and stunned Panja.

"Just for the money?"

"Of course. What? You think traveling the world is cheap? I was getting short on coins and needed to win the tournament to earn me some more. But, so much for that now..." Hazard sighed in disappointment. Hearing that, Panja was certain that this wolf was indeed the Millennium Slasher. He was so poised and straightforward, his green eyes were so clear and true, all that combined with his high fighting skills and that gutsy feeling Panja had ever since he laid his eyes on him were enough to convince him that he was the legend that history spoke of. For some unexplainable reason, Panja was overwhelmed and thrilled. To have actually battled against the Millennium Slasher and even fared well against him, something his cousin Seif always dreamed about. What more was that he seemed so humble and honest, with a down-to-earth and informal attitude toward him that he found very appealing, unlike how everyone else in his life had treated him.

"Hey, you okay?" Hazard called out to the zoned out lion.

"Huh? Oh, yes, I'm fine," Panja snapped out of it and then raised a right hand to the wolf. "I'm Panja Lowefang." The while lion introduced himself and waited for Hazard to return the shake, the wolf raising an eyebrow, before a smile cracked on the corner of his muzzle and he shook Panja's hand.

"The name's Hazard Barzard. And yes, it is my real name. Don't ask," Hazard humorously said as he returned the handshake. "It was nice meeting you, Panja. Later." He then broke it shortly after and started to walk away all of the sudden, taken Panja aback.

"H-Hey! Where are you going?!" Panja stopped him and asked.

"Hmm? I need a place to hide and rest till this whole thing calms down, gotta move fast," Hazard looked over his shoulder back at Panja and replied.

"Umm, how about you come with me to my castle? I can explain to them to let you go and even give you a nice clean room with good food," Panja kindly offered, but Hazard shook his head and turned him down.

"Thanks, but no thanks. You royalties already caused me enough trouble, I don't need any more," Hazard frankly said and continued on his way.

Panja was rather disappointed; he was hoping to make it up for Hazard. "Will I see you again around here?" the lion called out again to the golden wolf.

"Maybe." Hazard waved a farewell hand to him before he disappeared in the depth of the woods. Panja stood in his place and watched Hazard vanish from his sight. He still couldn't believe that he had just met the Millennium Slasher; he felt that he was in some kind of a surreal dream. His heart was beating fast like jungle drums for reasons unknown to him and he was experiencing unfamiliar feelings. For a second there, he felt a little scared, putting his hands together as they were getting a little shaky.

"Ouch...!" Panja winced, starting to feel the pain in his bleeding fists.

***

The next day, Panja found himself waking up from a restless sleep inside his room. He sat up on the edge of his king-sized bed and yawned deeply, baring his sharp white fangs. Looking out the window, he realized it was already dusk and the sun was setting. He slept through the whole day, and how couldn't he? He couldn't sleep last night till way after sunrise. Nothing was on his mind but the golden wolf; he couldn't stop thinking about him throughout the night. He wanted to see him again and soon. He decided to sneak out of the castle without anyone knowing, right after putting some stuff in a leather bag and climbing down from his bedroom window, a route he often used when he wanted to get out of the castle unnoticed. He headed straight to the woods where he met the wolf the day before, hoping he'd be there again.

Arriving there, he took a quick search around the spot Hazard was hiding in, but couldn't find a trace of him, much to his disappointment. He was beginning to think that he might have already left. Letting out a sad sigh, Panja looked up at the sky as it began to darken as night had fallen, noticing how it was a half-moon night. And then, Panja's blue eyes glimpsed something peculiar as he stared at it. It seemed as it was emitting some kind of a glow, with bright moonlight rays falling down from it. He had never seen the moon do something like that before. Examining it further, it appeared to him that the moon was focusing its light on a certain spot, not so far away from where his position was. Without any hesitation, Panja followed the light, pressing on through green bushes, until he found a lake in front of him, located somewhere in the middle of the forest. Panja then sensed a presence nearby, a familiar one, and after taking one glance at the lake, he discovered who it was, eyes wide open. It was none other than Hazard, having a bath in the lake's waters. Panja instantly took cover behind some of the bushes, not wanting to be seen. He couldn't help but take a peek through the leaves, gazing at the wolf as he was waist deep into the water.

Hazard was cleaning himself, wetting his yellow-furred body with some handfuls of water and scrubbing it up on himself. Panja swallowed as he silently watched the wolf bathe, his eyes tracing his well-toned upper body as it got wet and loosened the fur, revealing the firm muscles beneath it. The lion couldn't take his sight away as he kept watching intently, finding himself getting hot and steamy. It was no secret to the white prince that he was especially attracted to males, ever since he was young, and seeing Hazard's attractive upper body nude like this was incredibly alluring to him, especially how the moon was shining down on him, as if it was showering him with its light, as it cascaded along his strapping frame, making him look that much more gorgeous. Even the huge scar on his chest gave him an irresistible appeal - Panja was downright captivated by his beauty. He could've watched him like this for hours without getting weary, even visualizing in his mind how his lower part looked under the water. However, just as his mind strayed off for a second, Panja's eyes blinked in surprise when they couldn't see Hazard in the lake anymore. He simply vanished into thin air, as Panja anxiously looked around, but couldn't locate him.

"And what do you think you're doing?" Panja heard Hazard's voice booming right behind him, the lion gasping as he jumped in jolt and turned around quickly to face the wolf, who was standing right in front him, wearing his pants fortunately, but was still topless, water dripping down from his upper body as he had his arms crossed and glared at Panja with stern eyes. "I didn't imagine that his highness was such a perverted peeping tom who's into voyeurism," Hazard remarked cynically, not looking quite pleased about his privacy being invaded.

"N-no! I-I wasn't...! I mean, it's not what...! I was just...!" Panja stammered nervously, blushing so hard and so red that he felt the blood boiling up in his ears. He was extremely embarrassed and didn't have any idea of how to explain what he was doing; he wished for the ground to crack up and swallow him at that moment and save him the shame.

"Save it. And so that I don't lead you any further, I'm not interested in guys," Hazard strictly told him off and went to fetch his belongings so he could leave.

"H-hold on! You got it all wrong! I didn't come to spy on you!" Panja followed him and desperately explained.

"Yeah? Then why were beating around the bushes, so to speak?"

"I... I just didn't want to disturb you. Honestly. I'm sorry," Panja replied apologetically, before he showed him the bag he was carrying. "I came because I wanted to give you these. I thought that you might be hungry." The lion opened the bag and brought out some fresh bread, cheese and meat, with a bottle of red wine stashed inside as well. Hazard stopped and looked at the food Panja had brought, tilting his head in oddness at the prince's considerate gesture.

"Sorry, but I don't accept charity," Hazard mulishly rejected the lion's kind offer; gripping his soaked tail and squeezing the water out of it, disappointing Panja as his ears dangled in sadness, thinking that he had unintentionally offended the wolf. A loud grumble then came out from within Hazard's empty stomach, obviously begging to be fed, forcing a faint blush from the wolf's yellow cheeks. "Err... come to think of it; you do owe me for ruining my chance to get the tournament's prize money, so I guess this makes us even." Hazard smirked and scratched his cheek with a finger bashfully. Panja's face brightened up joyfully and nodded, handing the golden lupine the food. "On one condition - you have to share it with me. Or would you rather watch me again?" the wolf grinned and caused Panja to blush again.

"N-No! I mean, yes, I'd like that," Panja flustered with a smile. His ears then perked up as if he remembered something and rummaged through the bag he was carrying. "Oh, I also brought you this. I figured you might need it. I hope it's in your size." Panja brought out a clean black shirt similar to the tunic Hazard was wearing before it was shredded in the battle with Folgore.

"Hey! Thanks! That's mighty generous of you, prince! It'll fit like a glove!" Hazard gratefully exclaimed, sizing the shirt on himself. That was enough to make him overlook Panja's little mishap.

"Um, please, call me Panja..." the white lion coyly requested. Hazard stared back at him and answered with a smile, placing his new shirt on one shoulder before heading back to the lake, his fluffy long tail waving invitingly for Panja to come join him as he sat on the edge of the lake. Panja followed his lead and sat next to him, both of them dipping their feet on the water. Hazard took a piece of bread and split it in two, tossing Panja one piece while he munched on his. Panja snatched the piece of bread and stared quietly at it, a little wary of how to respond. Nobody ever shared food with him like this before, and even though Hazard seemed to be hungrier and more in need, he gladly shared this simple piece of bread with him.

"What? Don't tell me you're not gonna eat it because I touched it now," Hazard muttered after gobbling a big bite when he noticed Panja's awkwardness.

"N-not at all." Panja shook his head and took a good bite of his bread, Hazard smiling at that, as the wolf grabbed a chunk of beef and greedily devoured it; he seemed as if hadn't eaten such tasty meat in a good while. Seeing the wolf enjoying the food he brought him made Panja happy, joining him in this simple, yet satisfying meal.

"Ahhh, boy that was good..." Hazard breathed out pleasantly after taking a long swig of the wine bottle, relaxing on his back and petting his full tummy. Panja had his fill too, turning to the laidback wolf. He couldn't help but notice the big burnt scar that textured Hazard's bare chest and he kept gazing at it closely. "Enjoying the view again?" Hazard smirked and Panja flushed in embarrassment when he noticed the wolf had caught him staring.

"Err, I was just... wondering about that scar of yours. How did you get it?" Panja demurely asked.

"Oh, this? It's a long story..." Hazard murmured, tracing his scar with a hand and paused with a grim expression on his face. Panja noticed that and sought not to pursue the matter further, figuring that it must have brought up dire old memories. "What about you? What's your story?" Hazard then asked Panja all of the sudden.

"My story?" the white lion's eyes blinked.

"Yeah. You're a royal prince, right? What makes you want to hang out with an outcast like me? Aren't you supposed to be in your castle, doing all that royalty stuff and living the good life?" Hazard cleared out more, and Panja's expression turned gloomy at this.

"I guess I'm supposed to... but being a prince isn't really that glamorous. You're forced to participate in all these dull formal activities, you're always told what to do about what concerns you and you're prohibited to interact with anyone outside the castle walls," Panja explained in a stingy tone.

"Ouch... sounds tough." Hazard cringed.

"It is. I can't stand it. They always expect you to accept everything that is told to you just because you're a Lowefang, like you've lost your will power. I just want... oh, what's the use?" Panja sighed in frustration, bringing his knees together and hugging them.

"What's wrong?" Hazard sat up again and asked the distressed lion.

"It's nothing... it's just an impossible dream," Panja wistfully said, turning to the wolf. "Hey, what's it like traveling the world?"

"Hmm... well, I don't know how to put it. It's been a way of life for me. I've always been on the move and don't stay in one place for too long," Hazard answered the best way he could.

"I see..." Panja mused, "Are you in a quest or something like that?"

"Heh, yeah, you can say that. Though, I'm still not sure of what. But I guess I just love to see the world. Discovering new lands and meeting new people. You can say that I get to see something new everyday, like having a nice meal in the woods with a perverted prince. I didn't see that coming," the golden wolf remarked jokingly and laughed. Panja blushed a bit by that little remark, but he joined in the laughter.

"I did say that I was sorry!" Panja said in embarrassment. "That does sound great, though. I wish I could have that kind of freedom..." Panja muttered and returned to his gloomy state. Hazard saw the sadness in the white lion's eyes and pondered for a second.

"Say, Panja, close your eyes," Hazard told the lion all of a sudden.

"Huh?" Panja blinked in confusion.

"Trust me. Just close your eyes," Hazard repeated. Panja wasn't sure what the wolf had in mind, but he somehow knew he could trust him and did as he was asked. After he closed his eyes, he sensed the wolf standing up on his feet and walking over to his back, standing right behind him. His heart skipped a beat, alarmed of what the wolf was going to do to him. He then felt one of Hazard's feet sneaking up beneath his bottom, causing him to blush again, but much to his unexpected surprise, he found himself being shoved off from behind and being pushed off into the lake, unexpectedly diving in and falling head first into the cold water. Panja gasped for air and flapped around the water frantically after being kicked into it by Hazard, the wolf beaming slyly as he watched the lion clumsily trying to regain his poise.

"Wh-wha...!? What the hell did you do that for!?" Panja growled, his face soaked wet and his white mane loosened down and dripping all over.

"I just thought you needed to cool down and lighten up," Hazard said with a chuckle, finding the look on the lion's face very amusing. Panja didn't agree though, and he knew how to get back at him, kicking up water and getting a good splash on the wolf. "Hey! I was just getting dry!" Hazard barked and received a similar grin from Panja.

"You asked for it!" Panja said and splashed the water on the wolf again, getting him all wet as well.

"Oh, two can play that game!" Hazard deviously smirked and jumped into the lake too, getting a splash on Panja. Before they knew it, they start splashing each other up and playing with the water like cubs, sharing a fun laughter. They had enough shortly after and climbed into the dry land, both laying on their backs and panting their lungs out from all the playing and laughter, letting the cold wind dry their wet fur.

"That was fun..." Panja turned his face sideways to face the wolf and smiled; he hadn't laughed this hard in a long time. Hazard simply smiled back with a nod, before he returned to look up at the black sky and stared keenly at the moon.

"Isn't it beautiful? It always helps soothe me. I can't seem to get tired of looking at it..." Hazard muttered broodingly as he stared deeply at the half-moon. Panja turned his sight up to see the moon too. He wasn't as rapt by it as the wolf was, but the way it shined that night was indeed amazing. He looked back at Hazard again and he stared at his bright-green eyes, watching how clearly they reflected the moonlight. The lion didn't know why he was so mesmerized by Hazard's striking handsomeness; it charmed him it a mysterious way and made his heart race up. He was beginning to think that maybe he was falling for the wolf.

Hazard finally got up and gave Panja a hand to help him up as well. "Feeling better?"

"Yes. Thanks, Hazard," Panja rumbled happily and squeezed Hazard's hand in a jovial shake. "Hazard... I..." the white lion wanted to utter something to him, but then, a sudden movement behind the bushes caught their attention.

"Sir! He's here!" one of the royal castle guards yelled out as he came into few and in a few moments, more of them appeared before them, led by Ardal.

"Master Panja! Are you all right!?" The grizzly bear shouted for his prince.

"Ardal? What are you doing here?" Panja enquired in confusion.

"No time to explain, your highness! Stay away from that scoundrel! Guards!" Ardal called out to his men, but none of them moved. "What are you doing standing like that!? Get him!" the bear crossly growled at his troop as they balked timidly.

"B-b-but, sir... th-that's the Millennium Slasher!" One of guards, a purple hippo, stuttered fearfully.

"Y-yeah! I heard he can take down one hundred men on his own!" another one, a hyena with a black spot on one of his eyes, followed in the same cowardly manner. Ardal grumbled petulantly at his cowardly troop.

"Gutless wimps! He's just one man!" the brown burly bear snarled and the guards flinched frightfully.

"Heh, pathetic..." Hazard shook his head insolently at that pitiful display, angering Ardal.

"Silence, you ignorant dog! Guards, get him now, or you'll be severely punished!" Ardal pointed his sword at the wolf and threatened his troop. Having no other choice, the guards marched, cautiously, toward Hazard, weapons in hands and ready to attack.

"That's enough!" Panja yelled and stood before Hazard with his arms spread protectively, stunning the guards as they looked back at Ardal in puzzlement.

"Master Panja, what are you doing?! Get out of the way, else he'll escape!" Ardal warned the white prince, but Panja didn't budge.

"I said that's enough, Ardal! You won't lay a finger on him! Just leave him be and go back to the castle!" Panja said demandingly.

"But..." Ardal tried to speak back, but a single sharp glare from Panja silenced him up.

"Withdraw, men. And not a word to captain Seif about this," Ardal grinded his fangs and commanded his troop, as they complied and pulled out. Ardal stayed last, looking back at Panja with eyes full of questions. He obeyed his master's words though and left with his men soon after.

"Hazard, I'm so sorry about this. I have no idea how they..." Panja was trying to apologize, but Hazard cut him off.

"Don't worry about it. It was bound to happen, anyway," Hazard said and put on the new shirt Panja had given him earlier. "I think we should part from here. You should go back, too."

"Yeah... you're right. When can I see you again?" Panja hopefully wondered.

"No can do," Hazard straightly answered.

"Wha...? Why?

"There's a ship sailing to the southern continent of Nervana next thing in the morning and I'm taking it," Hazard explained to a surprised Panja; he didn't expect for the wolf to leave the country so soon.

"Oh... I'll see you off then," Panja suggested if only for a chance to see Hazard again.

"I don't think you should," Hazard firmly replied and stunned Panja. "Listen, Panja. You're from a completely different world; you don't belong with the likes of me. It'll only invite trouble. You have responsibilities and duties that you need to take care of. You are a royal prince, and no matter how much you may want to overlook that, you can't. So you better wake up and accept your reality," Hazard spoke bluntly and laid the truth before Panja, who was deeply disappointed and saddened, mostly because he realized what Hazard had said was true. "Well now, I guess this is farewell. It's been nice knowing you, Panja. Thanks for your kindness." Panja's heart ached when his new friend bid him farewell, the wolf patting him gently on the arm before starting to walk away after fetching his sword and latching it on his back. "So long, prince." Hazard gestured a goodbye sign with his hand and a gentle smile to the white lion, vanishing into the woods after that.

Hazard's words echoed inside Panja's head after he watched him disappear from sight. He didn't want to accept it. He didn't want to accept the fact that this was his fate. Was he destined to live this life, full of dismal formalities and unexciting luxury? Was he destined to be the next king of this land, even though he seriously doubted he could rule it? And most of all - was he destined not to see the one he had grown so fond of ever again? No, he didn't want to accept any of that. He wanted to change his fate. And for that to happen, he had to make a critical decision. But could he?

With a distraught sigh and a heavy chest, Panja made his way back to the castle.

***

"Come in..." King Rour breathed in a gruff voice after he heard a knock on his bedroom door while he was lying on his bed. The door opened and entered Panja. "Is that you, Panja?" the king breathed again, his aged sight finding difficulty phasing out the visitor.

"Yes, father," Panja softly replied.

King Rour smiled pleasantly and sat up on his bed. "Come closer, son," the old lion said, petting the edge of the bed with a hand for Panja to sit on next to him, as the prince did as his father asked.

"How are you faring, father?" Panja asked in concern, turning to look at his father.

"Oh, don't give me that worried look. King Rour won't let a petty weak heart get the best of him. I'll be fine." The king comforted Panja and reached out for one of his hands, holding it caringly.

Panja smiled and held it back. "I'm sorry, father... for the things I said," Panja then apologetically muttered, turning his eyes down in shame.

"It's quite alright, my son. I know you didn't mean any of them. I'm sorry if I pressed you too hard. However, you got to understand, Panja, you are the Lowefang prince and my heir. You will take over after me, maybe even soon," King Rour amiably said and placed a hand under Panja's chin, lifting his face up again.

"Please, don't say such things."

"Do you understand?" King Rour questioned Panja.

"Yes, father..." Panja replied after a slight pause.

"Good. I knew you would. You are a Lowefang, always remember that." The king smiled in content and squeezed Panja's hand in his.

"I will your majesty." Panja returned the smile with a weaker one. He then leaned in and kissed his father's forehead before leaving him to rest more. Just as he walked out the door, he found himself face to face with his cousin Seif, who was about to visit his uncle as well.

"Panja? Fancy seeing you here." Seif greeted him with a pleased smile. "How is his majesty?"

"He's getting better," Panja replied.

"Ah, that's good to hear. Your visit must've lifted his spirit up." Seif praised Panja and patted his shoulder consentingly.

"I guess so..." Panja murmured wearily, his eyes not meeting Seif's.

"Is something the matter?" Seif wondered when he noticed Panja's caginess. Panja looked back at his cousin and stared at him quietly for a few moments, as if he was trying to burn his charming image into his mind. The white lion then smiled and shook his head.

"No, nothing at all. Listen, Seif... I'm sorry about stealing your sword and the way I acted before. And I'm also sorry for ruining your chance in battling the Millennium Slasher. That was uncalled for. And... about the things I said don't take it seriously, hmm? I never saw you in that light, Seif. You're too dear to me," Panja sincerely apologized, taken Seif by surprise, he never saw Panja act this earnest before.

"Uhh, that's... okay. I'm not mad at you. Honestly, Panja, are you sure you're all right?" Seif browed at his white-furred cousin with a puzzled look, making Panja chuckle, as he pulled Seif into a warm hug.

"I'm just glad that I have you, Seif. I can always count on you. I always will," Panja whispered into Seif's ear and gave him a gentle brotherly kiss on the cheek. Seif was getting quite anxious by now and didn't know how to react as Panja hugged him tightly. "Well, I'll see you later, cousin." Panja broke the nice hug and winked at Seif, walking away soon after and leaving Seif in a confused state.

"That lion never ceases to surprise me..." Seif murmured to himself, smiling, as he watched Panja walk away along the hallway.

Entering his own room and resting his back on its closed door, letting out a long deep sigh, Panja took some minutes of deep thoughts to himself, scaling the life-altering decision he had to make. 'Yes, I have to do It.' was the decisive final say in his mind. He brought out a traveling bag he had hidden under his bed and began to pack it with whatever necessities he had in hand. Just as he was finishing packing up, a knock was heard on his bedroom door.

"Master Panja?" Ardal's voice rumbled behind the door before he opened it without much warning. Eyes widened, the burly bear was horrified when he witnessed what Panja was about to do. "M-Master Panja! What are you thinking?! Don't tell me that...!" Ardal gasped ghastly and shut the door behind him.

"Why did you come here, Ardal?" Panja queried his grizzly companion, strangely in a calm manner even though he was just caught trying to sneak out and run away from the castle.

"I... I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier in the woods. I had no right following you there," Ardal muttered apologetically, lowering his head submissively to his prince like he usually did.

"How did you find me, anyway?" the white lion demanded inquiringly as Ardal steadily lifted his head up to face his prince before he answered.

"One of the guards saw you climb down from your window and then informed me. I was reluctant to let Captain Seif know, because I had a feeling you were going to meet 'him'." Ardal ground those words through his teeth.

"Is that so? Well, you've done well, Ardal. I always liked your sense of rationality. But now, we have to part." Panja turned his back to the bear and was preparing to open the window for his escape.

"Master Panja! Wait! You can't just leave!" Ardal yelled out in a desperate attempt to stop him.

"Don't try to stop me, Ardal. I already made up my mind," Panja replied in a coarse tone, back still turned to him.

"But... but why? Why are you doing this? Are you simply going to leave everything behind, just like that? What about your father, the king? Do you have the slightest idea what could this do to him? Or Master Seif? Please, be reasonable, Master Panja! You can't just leave! You just simply can't! You can't throw all your life's worth just for a simple fling!" Ardal didn't hold back and boldly stated what was in his mind. He himself couldn't believe he was able to speak to his prince in such a crude tone, but he was willing to do anything to stop this mistake Panja was committing.

"This is not a simple fling!" Panja growled out like the lion that he was, turning around to face the flinching Ardal. "You can't understand me, Ardal. Nobody can. The endless pressure I have to endure every single day of my life. I can't take it anymore..." his gruff tone gradually reduced to a mellow whisper, his sharp glare turning into sad stares as his crystal-blue eyes gazed deeply into the bear's brownish-red ones. "I always thought I was on top of the world. Anything that my heart desired was at my fingertips. I excelled in battling and was positive that nobody alive can overcome my strength. Everyone feared and respected me, just because I was the Lowefang prince. Yet, despite all that, I never felt fulfillment or satisfaction. I've never been happy with the way my life was going, you yourself know that. I treat others badly, not because it makes me feel good, but because I wanted others to suffer as well." Panja's words were coming out of his mouth almost uncontrollably, sharing some of the blackness that dwelled in his chest all this time, as Ardal listened without breathing a sound, completely astounded. "But then, when he defeated me in the battle arena in front of that entire crowd, I was faced with the harsh truth. I wasn't the strongest. In fact, I wasn't even close. He made me realize how very small I am. I was so angry; I wanted to destroy the world. How can everyone expect me to rule over the kingdom if I couldn't even control myself? I didn't want to deal with that, Ardal. Until I actually got to meet him in person," a small smile spread across the lion's muzzle as he rumbled that, remembering that moment when he ran into the golden wolf in his favorite spot in the woods. "Nobody ever treated me so informal and casual. He was so blunt, honest and sincere. The way he made me feel was... nice. He made me feel like I was a real person for once, not just an uptight royal prince. He didn't care if I was a prince or not, just for whom I really am. I actually liked that, Ardal." The small smile widened, his eyes sparkling as he continued to open up to his burly friend. "He treated me like a friend, despite the hardships I caused him. He seemed so wise and righteous, with full knowledge of how the world is really like. I want to be like that, Ardal. I want to find my own path in this world. And I'm sure he can show me. That's why... I have to leave." Panja finally finished with a firm look in his handsome Seifnine face. Ardal was left speechless, not believing how dramatically Panja had changed in such a short time. Was that wolf really that influential? He wasn't ready to easily accept that.

"Master Panja, please, you're the heir to the Lowefang throne. Can you imagine what would happen if you abandon us?" Ardal tried to reason with him again.

"I realize that, Ardal. I know you wouldn't deny that Seif will make a much better king than I. And with you by his side, I'm confident that he'll be great king."

"Be that as it may, that's not the point!"

"I'm sorry, Ardal. I made my decision and nothing will make me turn back now. I know this may sound selfish, but I need to do this, for myself. If it meant for me to abandon everything, then so be it," Panja said in a firm tone and put his foot down, as all of Ardal's attempts to make him reconsider were futile.

A hapless defeated sigh came out from the bear, "He's really affected you that much, and in such a short while. Heh... what irony...it makes me mighty jealous." Ardal let out a cynic chortle, Panja lifting a puzzled brow at him. "So that's it? You're going to leave us, your people and kingdom? You're going to leave... me?" Ardal took a deep breath before he continued "I don't want you to leave, Master Panja. But I won't stop you. Not because I can't, but because I don't want to. If this is what you really want, if you want to find yourself, then as your servant... no, as your friend, I won't stand in your way. I won't stand in the way of the one I care for the most in my life." Panja's eyes became wide in astonishment from what he was hearing, wondering what true meaning did the bear hold behind those words he just uttered. "I never wanted you to know. You shouldn't know, because it would be unthinkable of me to feel that way about you. But now, with how things coming along, I don't care. I love you, Master Panja. I always have been in love with you. You and Master Seif are the most precious things in this world to me; I'd willingly give my life to either of you without a second thought. Seif's always been so endearing and caring to me, I could never ask for a better close friend and companion. But you, Master Panja... you are different. You always were. And the way I felt about you was also different. Your rebellious and coarse demeanor, your adventurous unpredictability and impulsiveness that I found so much appealing, your irresistible gruff charm and strikingly handsome looks that make me heart throb every time I lay my eyes on you; all that made me grow incredibly fond of you, all these years." Ardal confessed his true feelings to a dumbfounded Panja, who just stood there, gawking in disbelief.

"Ardal... you... I... I had no idea..." Panja mumbled uncontrollably, trying to grasp the shocking revelation.

"I couldn't afford to let my strong feelings for you to be known, though, so I kept them to myself. It was a typical farfetched dream, for a servant to fall in love with his master..." Ardal breathed with sad eyes. "You are free to do what you wish, I just wanted you to know how I truly felt about you before you go, otherwise I'd regret it the rest of my life." Panja listened to him quietly, not sure of what to say or how to respond. Ardal seemed awfully hurt, but he couldn't do anything about it. He didn't know that Ardal was in love with him. All those past years where he sometimes treated him so badly and disrespectfully, yet Ardal stayed very faithful, loyal and humble to him. Not until now did he realize the real reason behind it.

"I'm sorry, Ardal," was the only thing the white lion could muster in that awkward moment. "Good-bye." He then turned his back to the bear and prepared to leave. He didn't have anything else to say or do. Despite what Ardal had just confessed with, Panja was determined to go through with his decision. He took one step toward the window, but was then surprised by two arms wrapping around his torso from behind, the bear hugging him from the back closely.

"Your highness... before you go, can this servant of yours ask a simple request from you?" Ardal softly spoke as he embraced his prince warmly. Panja was a bit overtaken by the sudden hug, but he didn't mind it.

"Yes?" the lion rumbled.

"Can... Can you postpone your departure till morning? Just so you can stay one last night here, with me?" Ardal didn't know where he found the boldness to ask such a thing, but he was so desperate and wanted to do anything if it meant for his prince to stay. He knew he was crossing the boundaries, but he didn't care; it was a now-or-never situation for him. "I promise I won't try to stop you. I want to serve my master, one last time..." the bear whispered huskily, resting the side of his face on Panja's warm broad shoulders, his embrace tightening as his hands caressed the lion's wide chest. Panja placed a gentle hand on the bear's arms, petting them gently and then pulling them away from himself, as he turned around to face him with an agreeable smile on his black-lipped muzzle.

"Lock the door," Panja merely rumbled to the overly ecstatic grizzly male, the bear smiling widely and nodding obediently to his master's command, walking back to the door he came from and locking it so no one could disturb them. He turned around to face the white lion again, finding him returning the look with a wide grin on that dazzling gorgeous face of his. Ardal always dreamed of this moment, to be alone with his master in his own bedroom, indulging lustful desires that he only could fantasize in the past. He watched as Panja stepped closer to him, each step he took made his heart beat faster. Stopping just as their chests met, Panja placed his brawny arms around the slightly-shorter male and pulled him in, leaning his face down to his and planting a soft kiss on his muzzle. Ardal softly gasped, a bit surprised by the lion's initiative move, but he didn't resist and found himself kissing him back, putting one hand on Panja's back and the other hand behind his neck. Panja soon broke the tender kiss and looked down at his new lover's reddish eyes as they stared dreamingly back at his mesmerizing blue ones, him licking his lips with a lusty grin, making Ardal's whole body quiver in anticipation, before he locked him in another kiss, this time much more sensual and deeper. Ardal moaned softly and his head swam as Panja muzzled him, the lion's beard stingingly tickling his chin as his hands caressed the feline's sexy back and flowing milky-white mane.

The joy of being fully kissed and mauled by his true love was almost overwhelming to Ardal, he didn't notice Panja's hands moving about his body and slowly taking off his clothes. Piece by piece they fell on the floor, rendering the burly bear naked. Ardal felt himself blushing hotly when the feel of Panja's big hands explored his exposed back, slowly moving down till one hand rested on his rump, squeezing a butt cheek. That was too arousing for the bear to endure, as he whimpered sharply and pulled away from the lustful kiss.

"Ma-Master Panja... I-I... are you... sure you want to... go through with this?" Ardal panted as he tried to keep Panja's hands from doing down any further, petty doubts beginning to invade his mind.

"Shhh... don't speak, Ardy. Just follow your instinct," Panja placed a finger on the bear's muzzle and shushed him. Ardal flushed and his ears perked up by the unexpected nickname. He hadn't heard that name for a very long time and only Panja used to call him by it when they were young. He always liked it; it made him feel closer to Panja, and special. He simply nodded back to his prince and his instinct told him that he wanted to undress his master, as his quivery paws gripped the side of Panja's top and slowly pulled it up, the lion lifting his arms up to help him take it off. Panja stood there before him, shirtless, Ardal admiring his massive well-built muscular upper body that resembled a Greek god's. He was in complete awe, the lion's rippling muscled chest standing out to attention under the short white fur that covered his body. Ardal always wondered how thick the white lion's fur was; he wanted to touch him so bad. And so he did, raising a timid paw over to the proud lion's beefy body and passing it along his chest, easily feeling the firm muscles under the soft layer of snow-white fur.

"Does it feel nice?" Panja purred, Ardal feeling the rumbling vibration from within the buff chest he was so intensely petting.

"Y-Yes... very nice. You're magnificent, Master Panja," Ardal admirably murmured, looking up at Panja with wistful eyes. He lowered his head and pressed his snout against the lion's brawny chest, taking in the manly scent of his beloved master. He opened his maw slightly and gave the hard muscles a quick lick, sending a sensual shiver down Panja's spine. Ardal kept nuzzling the broad chest of the lion avidly, adoring it immensely, his tongue licking one of the hardening nipples and then nipping it. Panja hissed and rolled his head back from the sizzling sensation that shot through his nipple, hugging the bear's head and pressing it further into his chest. Ardal stopped for a moment and looked up at that look of ecstasy on his master's face, grinning proudly that he was able to bring such pleasure to his dear prince. He wanted to do more, as he lowered his muzzle and started to kiss the impressively muscled six-pack, giving each tile tender smooches, ending by licking the sensitive bellybutton with his lavish tongue and getting a louder gasp from Panja.

Ardal's hands began to work on undoing the feline's pants, pulling them down excitedly to get a close look at his master's pride. His eyes gleamed when they saw Panja's exposed groin, the heavy fur-covered balls dangling proudly between the lion's thick-as-trunks thighs, temptingly hanging under his maleness' pouch, that had it slightly poking out semi-erect, being crowned by a white bush of pubic fur that stretched down from his belly.

Ardal licked his lips hungrily and looked up at Panja, "May my master let his servant have a taste?" he asked for permission, not able to hide an eager smirk off of his face.

"You may," Panja permitted him with an even wider leer. Ardal smiled in delight and kissed the fuzzy ball sac; taking it into his maw and suckling on it, making Panja mewl out pleasurably. His maleness was hardening quickly, freeing itself from its pouch as hot blood rushed through its veins, quickly gaining full erection as it arched up to its glorious erect form. The black throbbing hunk of meat stood before Ardal's face as he gazed at it in amazement; it looked so hard and beautiful, he couldn't resist the urge to reach out for the shaft and enclosing it with one hand. He stroked it nicely and gently, the rigid yet tender black and warm flesh felt so good on his padded palm, he could do this forever. Lustful purrs escaped Panja's throat as he was slowly pawed by the bear, Ardal hearing those purrs of approval and quickening his strokes to please his master more. He used his other free hand and placed them under those hefty balls, fondling them and occasionally giving them some playful squeezes, getting the lion to groan out and ooze a trail of pre. Taking notice of it, Ardal neared his muzzle closer to his cock and licked the gooey substance off with his ravish tongue, sending a sharp wave of pleasure through Panja's body and causing him to shudder and hiss. Ardal was pleased by that arousing reaction and took the head of the cock into his maw, suckling on it and tasting more of the lion's juice. He gradually shoved more of the cock length, inch by inch, in his watering mouth, his lips wrapped around halfway of the fleshy meat, being extra careful not to puncture the sensitive skin with his fangs, as he began to suck on the hard rod and bringing extreme pleasure to Panja, the white lion purring and moaning blissfully.

"God... Ardy..." Panja groaned out his dear companion's name, petting the top of the bear's head and between his ears. At times Ardal would take Panja's cock out of his mouth to lick at the flesh and balls, rolling his rough tongue along the underside of the aching shaft and concentrating on it, then take the full length in again. A sudden rush of intense pleasure took over Panja as Ardal suckled him fully, his teeth gently touching the delicate, sensitive meat in all the right places as his snout moved up and down the hot, hard rod, the exciting musky scent arising from the lion's pubic area igniting his arousal and urging him to swallow as much of the Panja's length as his muzzle could take, his hands feeling up the back of the lion's thighs and clamping his muscularly firm rump, giving the feline male's protruding cock a tongue bath.

"Ardy... Ardy, stop... that's enough," Panja breathed out and ordered the bear to stop his engrossing suckling, puzzling Ardal as he pulled the delicious cock out of his maw, making a clear slurping sound. Should he keep on this maddening pace one more minute; Panja would've filled his throat with his royal semen.

"Did I do something wrong, Master Panja?" Ardal coyly inquired.

The white lion smiled down at the kneeling bear and shook his head, "No, you were doing very well. I just didn't want to finish it this way," Panja softly rumbled, caressing his sweet bear's cheek with a gentle hand. Ardal's ears perked up at that, realizing what his master meant, as Panja helped him stand up on his feet and brought him close to his body again, their cocks meeting and rubbing against each other; Panja's coaxing Ardal's fresh red member with his own saliva and the lion's pre. "Would you let me take you, Ardy? Do you want me to mount you? Mate with you?" The lion's coos were like music to Ardal's ears; the moment he had always dreamed about was becoming true.

"Yes, oh, yes, Master Panja. I want to. I want you to take me. I want to feel you inside of me," Ardal excitedly replied, his lustful eagerness getting the best of him, but he couldn't be blamed. He was about to be taken by the one person that had forever occupied his mind and heart, to have that hefty, juicy, hard, throbbing black meat dig deep into him and feel every inch of it.

"Good. I was hoping you'd say that," Panja rumbled huskily with a toothy grin, giving the bear's buttocks a firm squeeze just under his fluffy short tail with his hand, making him slightly jump and whimper, and his face crimson from blushing. If his tail was long enough, he would've wagged it happily around.

Ardal willingly let Panja guide him to the bed and the lion instructed him to lie down on his belly. The bear complied without any protest, as Panja laid his Herculean body down on top of him, staying there for a good while, gently caressing the bear's body and nuzzling him while letting out deep gruff growls. Ardal panicked a little at first and felt a little anxious, having the heavier male pinning him down, but he steadily found himself calm down as he felt the soothing vibrations from Panja's chest running up and down his back every time the lion's purred and growled softly. "Do you want me to take you, Ardy?" Panja nuzzled the back of the bear's neck during his purrs, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Yes, please... please, take me, master." Ardal whimpered and pled. His body was trembling slightly and Panja felt that, seeing the nervousness and trepidation in Ardal's brownish red eyes.

"Are you a virgin, Ardal?" Panja spoke softly in intrigue.

Ardal's cheeks turned red and his ears drooped, nodding shyly. "Y-yes..." he admitted. Truth be told, Ardal had his fair share of sexual activities with some of horny female locals, even experiencing some oral sex with his male comrades in the army. But he'd yet to be taken by another male, probably for some petty pride reason, or maybe because the only one who he wished to make love to him was his precious prince. All the same, Panja was a bit stunned, albeit thrilled too. Few things excited him more than a tight, virgin ass, and being Ardal's first boosted his affection for his bear companion.

"This makes me happy, Ardy. Don't worry, I'll be gentle," Panja lovingly rumbled as he leaned down and kissed Ardal's cheek, making the bear breath calmly and relax.

"Yes... please, be gentle..." Ardal sighed and closed his eyes, immersing himself with the lion's warmth as his massive frame covered him.

Panja nodded and leaned himself up. "Bend over a bit," he ordered him and Ardal did what he said, moving his hips up so that Panja can get clear entrance to his tail hole. Panja neared his crotch up the bear's butt and aimed his pre and drool coaxed cock at Ardal's ass, the velvety head touching the ring and sending stimulating waves of new sensations to Ardal. "Here I come." Panja breathed and pushed, entering the rectum and shoving the thick head in.

"Agh!" a shocked gasp escaped Ardal's lips, his hips bucking up slightly, as his tail hole exploded with pain at the sudden invasion of his body. Panja didn't stop, and with his lubed meat, kept pushing more of his length into Ardal's ass, despite the obvious pain he was going through getting his insides spread for the first time. "M-Master Panja! P-please...! Sweet... mother...! Ungh!" Ardal grunted and bellowed as tears ran down his cheek when his anus was being spread by the fat and hot cock, his tail igniting with a mixture of intense sharp pain, yet exciting unparalleled new pleasure as his ass was being fully taken by this beast.

"Shhh... I know, Ardy, it hurts at first. But don't fight it, it'll get much better... you'll get used to it." Panja leaned to nuzzle Ardal's cheek, licking away the tears off.

"M-Master Panja..." the bear whimpered between gasps and moans "How... do I feel?"

"You feel wonderful, Ardy. Very nice and tight... the way I love it," Panja softly replied, pushing in the remaining few inches left. Ardal's body shuddered and he gasped, an overwhelming mix of thoughts of feelings trolling his mind. He felt so weak and vulnerable beneath the lion's strength, which would usually make him feel shameful, but he wasn't, not at the least. He was happy, to be found good and attractive enough to be taken by his prince. He drew a weak smile on his face and bent his shaky knees on the bed, gesturing to Panja to start on his thrusts. The lion didn't waste time, as he began to thrust slowly into him, bringing heavenly pleasure to both of them. Ardal got accustomed to the thick feeling of the cock working inside his inner walls, moaning out blissfully as his own erection was hardening and in desperate need of attention. Panja sensed Ardal's ass relax and the pressure around his black meat subside, urging him to pick up his pace and hump faster, his hefty balls slapping into Ardal's each time he rammed his length all the way in and their hips collided.

"Ungh... M-Master Panja... t-touch me... please..." Ardal moaned, and Panja didn't disappoint. He reached down with a paw and groped the bear's dangling maleness, jacking it off in tune with his thrusts. Ardal's mind exploded with unimaginable intense bliss, having his ass mounted and his hardness worked in such perfect satisfying unison. It was almost unbearable, his knees getting weak and he slumped on the bed by the sheer strength of the lion's powerful thrusts, subduing his body utterly as Panja worked on it as he saw fit. "Oh...! P-Panja... Panja...! Harder... harder!" Ardal cried out his master's name in a helpless state, completely lost in his own lust and ignoring all kind of formalities, and neither of them cared; they weren't master and servant anymore, they were two lovers sharing a deeply intimate moment. The room was echoing with a fest of sensual feral moans, growls, groans and all kind of sexual noises as the two sexy males mated, their rhythm emphasized by the loud slaps of Panja's thighs against Ardal's and the wet slurps of the lion's cock sliding inside the bear as his hand rubbed Ardal's hard cock.

Panja's purring was steadily getting louder and turning into soft growls of dominance as he continued to take the shuddering Ardal below him, the bear's insides were burning and it felt ever so good to him. The large lion was getting pleasantly close, and his soft mane swayed with his moving head. His beastly instinct was taking over, closing his jaws down and clamping them on Ardal's shoulders, fully dominating his mate as he kept pounding on his ass and pawing him off harder and faster. Ardal yowled from the surprising attack, but did nothing to stop it or ease it up; he loved every second of it and his climax was nearing, he could feel it in his twitching balls. Panja was going so deep into him and reached his sensitive prostate, hitting it once and causing the bear's body to spasm violently, then again, and then a third time and that was enough to send him over the edge. It was impossible for Ardal to hold it back any longer, no matter how much he wanted it to last. Amidst that wild lust, Ardal grabbed the closest pillow that his frantic hands could reach for and bit on it hard, screaming his heart out as his orgasm hit him like a thunderbolt; his cock jolted as it began to shoot its load, heavy ropes after ropes of pearly cum, spurting aimlessly all over the bed sheets as Ardal's cries of release were muffled by the pillow he'd crammed into his maw, not wanting to risk being heard outside the room. Pheromones filled the air, as Panja continued his mounting assault on Ardal, even after emptying the bear's balls. The lion let go of the spent cock he was jacking off and used both hands to hold down on Ardal's wrists, pinning him down on the bed and pounding his swollen ass for all its worth as the poor bear whimpered helplessly, each ram shaking the whole bed madly, Panja's growls getting louder and louder, indicating the approach of his own rushing orgasm. With one last deep thrust, the lion's ass muscles contracted, arcing his back, beads of his sweats spraying off of his muscles and brows, and he bellowed out an ear deafening roar that shook the whole room, which was obviously heard all over the castle, but the white prince couldn't care less, enjoying the exhilarating sensation of his satisfying release, milking Ardal's insides with his proud seed in unbelievably heavy portions. Ardal gasped and his body trembled under the force of the lion's strong orgasm, the rushing feeling of his ass being filled by the hot creamy liquid was so intense it forced him to shoot off one more load.

When the sexual energy subsided, Panja collapsed, laying his massive body on top of the worn out bear, both of them panting their lungs off as they lay there with their mixed sweat and cum. Panja grunted as he pulled his limp dick out of the bear's hole with a clear slurp sound, Ardal letting out a weary whimper, his rump felt so numb and grungy after being mounted in that animalistic manner, but he didn't complain, savoring the sweet afterglow as his beloved simply relaxed his heavy weight on his back, feeling his breathing slowing down through his muscular chest through his spine. Neither of them spoke a word and just enjoyed the intimate serenity.

After Panja felt that he had recovered, he wanted to get off of Ardal, but the bear then cooed "Master Panja... could we stay like this for a little while, please?" he turned around so to face the lion and held his waist, snuggling him closer to his cum-smeared torso as he nuzzled Panja's chest tenderly. Panja simply smiled at that and nodded, putting his arms around Ardal's burly body and planting a passionate kiss on his muzzle.

***

Bright sunshine lighted the room through the window, as it landed on Ardal's face, forcing him to squint and shade his eyes and awaking him from his deep sleep. He gradually came to, his head a little groggy and not clearly remembering where he was. It slowly came back to him as he realized he was still in his master's room, lying on the king-sized bed. He tried to get up hastily, but found out too late that it was mistake, feeling a stingy soreness in his buttocks. He instantly remembered why, feeling the itchy, dried cum on his chest fur, and looked to his side in high hopes. Unfortunately, he was sorely disappointed to find it empty. He had gone, along with his bag. Ardal's heart ached like it never had in his life, but he was prepared for it. He dragged his naked body out of the bed and walked toward the open window, watching over the land below him and seeing how it was just another normal day at the castle. It wouldn't be like that for long, however. He let out a deep long sigh and stared up at the clear sunny sky, a faint smile spreading across his muzzle. "Farewell, my prince..."

***

In that early morning, at the kingdom's main seaport, Hazard was ready to board a ship that would take him to the southern continent of Nervana, where another journey awaited him.

"Man... this ride sure cost me a lot. No ship meals for me," the golden wolf grumbled, holding up his empty coin bag and then tossing it aside. He spent all the money that he had in getting a ride on this ship. He had to take a little boat that was tied at a small port and row his way through the water to an anchored ship not far away. He was about to step in the boat, when a familiar voice called out for him from afar.

"Mr. Barzard! Wait!" Panja hustled over to the stunned wolf. "I'm glad... I caught you..." he panted in relief as Hazard tilted his head at him in confusion.

"Panja? What brings you here? I told you not to see me off, your guards might follow you here," Hazard sternly said.

"I... I didn't come to see you off. I came to... ask you to take me with you," Panja said to a surprised Hazard.

"What!? Are you insane!? No way!" Hazard immediately refused.

"Please, Mr. Barzard! I want to come with you! I want to accompany you on your journeys! I want to see the world for what it really is and I know you can show me! I'll do anything! Just, please, take me with you!" the once proud white lion prince desperately begged the wolf, insisting on his request, but Hazard didn't buy that.

"Out of the question! Do you have any idea what kind of life this is? To be moving from place to place aimlessly, going through days without finding food or drink, risking your life facing danger in a daily basis and simply trying to survive? You're simply not cut out for it," Hazard forwardly stated, warning him about the jeopardy he was putting himself into.

"I'm well aware of that, and I'm willing to take the risk," Panja replied firmly.

Hazard grimaced at the lion's irritating resilience. "Don't be stupid, Panja! This isn't a picnic! You can get yourself killed! You're a prince! Go back to your castle where you belong!" the wolf snarled crossly at Panja in an attempt to scare him off. Panja stared back at him with determined eyes and then held the royal Lowefang crest he had hanging from his neck. He clutched it, pulled it off and threw it mightily into the ocean, the crest dropping in the water with a satisfying splash.

"Without that family crest, I can't go back to the castle. I'm not royalty anymore. I don't belong anywhere. I'm going to accompany you, with or without your permission," Panja boldly rumbled and stood his ground. Hazard was astounded by the white lion's high determination; he had to admit that he was impressed, not that he liked it. He just scratched the back of his head and sighed crankily.

"Do whatever you like," the wolf shrugged dejectedly. "I just want you to keep three things in mind - One, I call the shots. If there's something you don't like about what I say, then tough luck. Two, don't slow me down. I don't like being held back, understood?" Hazard strictly instructed Panja as he listened keenly.

"Yes, I completely understand." Panja nodded readily, waiting for Hazard to finish his conditions.

"And three and lastly," Hazard said as he jumped into the boat, turning around to Panja with a welcoming smile. "Friends call me Haz." The golden wolf finished and extended a right hand to his new companion. Panja face gleamed in pure joy and beamed back at Hazard, taking the wolf's hand in his own with profound hopes of a new future, and an eternal friendship.

** THE END**