"Silvana. Wake up!" I wake up suddenly to the sound of a cheerful voice, to cheerful for this time of day. "Come on sleepy head we're heading for town." cried the annoying cheerful voice.

"Bow can't we choose a more appropriate time of day. Like say maybe Saturday." I whined and through the covers over my head.

"Hey that rhymed, and if you want to get all the good accessories you have to come very early." She said. I have to say she is very merry for a boa constrictor, her bright red hair hung loosely. It went very well with her plain red dress. She tore the covers off me and dragged out of bed.

"Hey come on I don't want to!" Sadly my whining didn't stop her so I went along with it. Half an hour later we out and heading our way to town on foot.

* * *

The town was full of charming little two story shops and houses, each one full of bright vibrant colors yellow, pink, blue and more. It's a very joyous community a little too merry for my taste. But Bow was just as cheerful as everyone else; I don't like to show too much emotion.

"Silvana look! Portal travelers." She whispered loudly in my ear. The portal travelers are people or some mystical beings that venture to different worlds and dimensions, and collect goods to sell. They all wear modern clothing from the mundane world I believe they call their planet Earth; I must say it's not a very creative name. "Come on lets see what they have got."

"Bow it's against the law to have human technology in this kingdom. As soon as King Leon finds out about there being here they'll be in prisoned."

"Who’s going to tell? Everyone finds there human objects and technology fascinating, plus I just want to look at the jewels." We both headed for the travelers tents and caravans. What I first noticed was that their belts held either a dagger or sword, hidden by their coats and leather jackets. Even the little children had a small knife to protect them. We walked to one stall that had an array of Jewels and gems each a spectacular color. Bow eyed each one her eyes looking greedy, I was more intrigued by the wizards’ goods. Griffin eggs to magic sweets, they literally had it all. A tall built man in a long black coat walked towards me.

"See anything you like?" He asked.

"I’m just looking" I stated, he nodded but he didn't move away. So I ignored him and went inside a tent. It was full of potions and dead things in jars; I looked at the range of potions a little bottle full of black marbles. I picked it up about to unscrew the lid.

"Can I help you?" I was caught by surprise by a middle aged man. He had bits of grey in his black, his eyes were a bright green and he wore a black cape hiding a lot of what he was wearing underneath. "I see you’re interested in the smoke bombs." I looked at the bottle then back at the man.

"What do they do?" I asked he took the jar out my hands and picked one out.

"You throw just one on the ground and it explodes in a puff of smoke, perfect for when you’re trying to make a quick escape. Got these from Australia by a very good blacksmith he works at the Were academy. Lovely place that is hidden from any human who seeks it." He went on; I reached into my purse and pulled out some silver coins.

"How much for the bombs and perhaps to hear more about this were academy?" I held my hand out he smiled at me but shook his head.

"The smoke bombs 50 shillings but I'm afraid I swore not to tell just anyone, but an innocent girl who buys smoke bombs which is for escaping a crime... I think I could tell you few things." He gave me the jar I gave him my money and he took me to a set of cushions on the floor and sat me down. A woman in her early thirties came in with from what I could smell was some tea. 

"So..." He said pouring the tea in my cup. "The were academy is a school for were creatures such as your self." He looked at my face to see what my reaction was. I was pretty startled when he called me that. How does he know? "Your scent gave yourself away to a were bird of mine he told me. And you can tell by your actions the way you walk the way you observe things, almost gives you away." He smiled comfortingly but I wasn't that amused acutely a little worried.

"Is it a boarding school? What do you learn?" I asked still quite interested.

" It's a place where you go if there is no other place to go, but to live there you must train and learn ways to get better in society or perhaps to defend yourself. It is owned by a were cat not those silly ones that change into ordinary cats but one who can change into a big cat. A were panther, she made it for all the were creatures that are all alone in the world." He responded. He explained how she built the school herself it was first made for a pack of were wolves to live and train but later in the next few months more rejected were creatures came she accepted them and gave them a home.

"Wait wolves? Impossible king Leon died them out years ago." I exclaimed, he stared at his cup and didn't say a word.

"Yes well I think I've said enough." He said trying to fake a smile, he took my hand and lifted me up off the floor. I nodded my thanks and walked out of the tent still very curious about this academy. I would love to leave this place and see this school of were lings. I bet they did what they wanted there. My thoughts were interrupted by Bows hand pulling my arm.

"Where were you? I saw the cutest little pair of shoes with laces. They were bright green your color, I believe they called sneakers in the human world they look strange but are so comfy." She pulled her dress up slightly and looked around fearfully. Then looked down at her feet she was wearing ankle high red shoes with plain white shoelaces. "Remind me later before I head home to change them into my other shoes. My father will kill me if he sees me in human shoes." She looked at me with a cheeky expression. I gave her a little smile and squeezed her hand. And she dragged me to another stand that had many gowns and very short sparkerly dresses. I soon got bored and dragged Bow away.

Bow started whinnying.

"I really wanted to see all the jewels they had!" She started giggling again. I rolled my eyes and noticed 3 men running on the road with bags and jewels falling out of them. I looked behind them and saw guards in shiny, glistening armor with red capes charging after them. One of them leading the other had very white shiny teeth and dark eyes, his hair was black and curly, and through his puffy white shirt and blue vest I could see that he was pretty big and buff. He turned his head and looked my way and gave mischievous grin and winked at me. I looked away and rolled my eyes, Bow nudged my arm.

"Did you see that? He winked at you! I must say even if he is a thief he is quite handsome." I glared at her and then saw the thieves climb up on the roof of one the most popular taverns. One of the guards climbed up the other side of the building, took his sword out and attacked the head thief. It turns out the thief had his own sword and there swords met. The thief kept ducking the guard’s blows and was being pushed close to the edge. I don't know what got over me but I picked a pebble up from the stone street pushed up my sleeves and threw at the guard’s eye. What am I doing?! I hid in the crowed and Bow came down with me.

"What in heavens is wrong with you what did you do that for?" She whispered harshly at me. I ignored her and looked up at the building the thief jumped off; I held my breath for a second. Then I saw him land on his feet. I almost smiled but thankfully I can hide my emotions, I saw the thieves run into an alleyway but the guards were right behind them. I was so tempted to follow; luckily Bow brought me back to the real world.

"I cannot believe it, why did you do that?" She exclaimed I calmed her down before I said word. Then she started giggling again. "Silvana... your taste in men is very interesting..." She gave me a devilish grin.

I glared at her and popped out my fangs to show her I was not amused. She started laughing and told me to relax and linked her arm with mine.