This is when The Felinus were targetting Ralem's family in Redfield. 

Namas took a shuttering breath, feeling the tingling sensation slowly recede. She rolled her recently formed shoulders, feeling the muscles respond to her call. Beside her, her kinsman had also changed. Wook was a young man with dark brown hair just like his coat, with calculating green eyes to fit in with most of the people in the area. Aris was a house cat, lean and almost unnoticeable. And the best shape-shifter of the group, Blue, had taken on the shape of their victim. He smiled coldly and nodded his head. They were ready.

Her clan had been traveling at top speeds since she arrived back bearing news that their mission had failed. She hardly escaped that dreadful wyvern. It took everything she had to evade him, and even then it added half a day of delay to their departure. She had arrived back disappointed until Blue had informed her that they had managed to break into the dragon’s subconscious. Which meant they knew exactly where they were.

In Redfield.

She should have known. Redfield was the first place the fool would have been. Humans could be so stupid. Didn’t he learn the first time? But, alas, there would be no third time to make that mistake. If Frederick had done his job, the wind dragon will be more harmless than that stupid fire dragon. And the Rider… he wasn’t even a remote threat. Once his head was off, they would have a feast to fill them for a lifetime.

For once, their bottomless stomachs were satisfied with the taste of fresh dragon blood. But she knew soon enough she would feel the pang of merciless hunger every Felinus was plagued with, one she had yearned to vanquish all her life. And now it was in her claws reach. There was nothing to stop her.

She gave the signal. Move out.

Tess looked down at her corn doll sadly. They had been gone for two hours and she already missed them. Shortly after they had left, she had hidden in the little hollow in the bushes that she always hid in when she wanted to be alone or away from her two brothers. Wide, bowl-shaped leaves prevented anyone from spying and let in only a little bit of filtered sunlight. It was the perfect hide-out. “Why did they have to go?” she thought sadly, running her hands through the corn doll’s stringy hair. Even in the short time that they had been there, she had grown attached to the young dragon. He was the best at playing dollies and promised her lots of fun things like porcelain dolls and shiny gems, just like the one he had given her months before. She hugged the doll to her chest, feeling tears build up in her eyes.

“Hello Tessie,” a smooth voice said.

Tess jumped. Nobody knew where her hiding spot was! She pretended not to listen.

“Tess, come on. Be polite. I know you’re there,” came the voice again, sweet as silk.

Tess curled up in a ball, trying to peer through the leaves to identify the talker. “Who are you?” she asked in a tiny voice.

“I’m a friend of your Uncle Ralem,” came the reply and she heard the crunch of leaves as someone crouched down beside her. “I’ve just come to check up on him. Is he inside?”

Tess decided she didn’t like this man who had the creepy, smooth voice. “No,” she said, carefully starting to pick her way through the twigs to creep out on the other side.

The man shuffled impatiently, “Then where is he?”

Tess scrambled out of the bush, “Not telling!”

SWOOSH. A man landed smack in front of her. She skidded on her heels, almost tripping over herself, before dashing for the door.

SWOOSH. Another man jumped from out of nowhere and blocked her exit. He smiled toothily and her heart chilled at the sight of his intense, evil eyes.

The first one stepped closer to her. He had long, blonde hair and a huge hat that lay low on his head, almost concealing the fact that he was missing one eye. Half of his face was missing, revealing those gleaming white teeth, pulsing red gums, and audacious snarl. He leaned  in so close to her that she could smell his warm breath. “I said, where is he!?” he snarled like a tiger.

She jerked away from him, falling into the grass with a wild cry. “Stop! STOP!” she screamed, crawling away.  Tears streamed down her cheeks as she crawled away, her fingers clawing at the grass.

“That’s it,” the blonde man said, claws shooting out of his palms. “We kill this girl… slowly. Her screams will surely be a beacon for the Rider.”

The other cats snickered and their claws flashed out too. On the ground, Tess caught sight of this and screamed, dashing to her feet and running for the forest as fast as her little legs could take her.

It was not fast enough.

Cats always like playing with their meal first; hearing the prey scream as it slowly dies, watches its eyes dilate in pure terror, feel the rush of adrenaline from the hunt. This girl was no exception.

Two loped easily beside her, feinting at grabbing for her with their claws, their bodies half human and half… not. Another one waited in ambush at the base of the hill. Tess screamed harder, tripping over herself in terror, her knees banged up and her legs pounding the earth. This should be fun.

Chief Namas bent over picked up the corn doll the girl had dropped. “What a cute little toy,” she purred maliciously, “So fragile…” Her claws constricted around the doll, crushing it to tiny, yellow pieces. She threw it into the bushes with a snarl.

Tess stumbled one last time. Exhausted, she curled up in a shaking ball in the grass, her eyes firmly shut and hugging her knees. The cats all gathered around her, tails flicking and eyes hungry. Chief Namas smiled and gave the signal. REOWR! All four pounced at once, claws extended.

And all four were blown backwards by a massive wind.

Chief Namas spat out the dark mud in her mouth and jumped to her feet. “What the-“

On Tess’s forehead, a silver sign shone bright as the sun, nearly blinding the cats with its ferocious glare. And from it, a silver creature was emerging, spreading its wings to the noontide sun. A dragons head appeared, clear as day, staring at the cats with cool indifference. Those massive rippling wings lowered and encircled the girl like a shimmering shield. “She is under the blessing of the Ventus Magnus Rex,” the thing said in Jaydon’s voice, “You shall not hurt her.”

Chief Namas spat. “You try and stop me!” She lunged forwards again, but was met with another crushing blow.

The silver dragon seemed to be laughing at her.

“Oh yeah?” she growled, “I’ll kill you and eat you and we’ll see who’s laughing then! Come to my side, Aris, Wook, Blue! We shall finish this one off!” They pounced in a fury of claws and teeth. Their groping limbs and gnashing jaws only came up with pure air as they were swept away by another violent wind.

On the inside of the protection enclosure, Tess stopped sniffling as she felt Jaydon’s presence surround her, his human form appearing like a ghost, his gentle arms wrapping around her body. “Don’t you worry my little Tess,” he said, his voice like a whisper of the wind, “I’ll protect you. Nothing can harm you when I’m here. Don’t cry, my little emerald. I’m right here.”

And somehow, in all that fray and nightmarish madness, his hypnotizing dragon voice made her feel way deep in her heart that she the safest girl in the world. She sank into his cool, wind-borne side and dug her head in his chest.

The cats tried and tried, but absolutely nothing came out of it. Finally, Namas had had enough. Wiping her fur free of mud, she glared at the wind dragon. “You may have kept safe the girl, but the rest of the family is fair game.”

“They are also under my protection,” the dragon growled, his presence swelling. “So BE GONE!”

He had roared the latter part, and with that the cats made a shaky retreat and Tess’s parents were released from their spell, making them conscious that Tess was missing.

Before they could start looking for her, Jaydon spoke. “Hey, Tess. I have to go now,” he wiped some matted hair from her face and looked into her huge, watery eyes. “Are you going to be okay?”

She nodded, but didn’t let go of his hand. “Please don’t go,” she whispered.

Jaydon smiled sadly. “I’m sorry but I have to.” He helped Tess to her feet and crouched in front of her, his silver eyes twinkling. “I love you,” he said, and then he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

Blinding light.

Tess latched her arms around his neck. “No! Please don’t go! Uncle Jaydon! No!” Her eyes were shut tight to the glare, and even then it burned into her vision. After a couple seconds, the light receded and she opened her flashing eyes. She was hugging the air. In the middle of her backyard.

The back door flew open and Sarah rushed out, looking flustered. “Tess? Tess?” her eyes searched the backyard before landing on Tess and she immediately calmed down. “Oh Tess, you scared us. Why did you scream, honey?”

“Mum!” Tess cried, running to her with scratched knees and a muddy skirt. “Mum, Uncle Jaydon saved my life!”

Sarah gathered her up in her arms, “Really?”

“Yeah! He beat up all these bad kitties who were trying to eat me!” Tess said, excited.

Sarah laughed lightly, although she could hardly hide the sadness in her voice. “Is that right?” She let her eyes wander at the tree-line, hoping to see that tall figure. No one. She turned back inside, hardly listening to Tess’s battle stories.