~Chapter 2- The Wolf & The Hyena~

Aero and his friends saw some of the same bandits that had caused them trouble months ago trying to rob a girl in the woods they were camping out in. They had to help her. Among the bandits was the Mecarne known as Temp. He was strong, but Aero was able to handle him this time.

As the hyena riders fled, Aero looked at the tan girl in tribal clothing that he had just protected. He couldn't help but think she was pretty.

"Are you okay?" Aero asked.

The girl smiled sweetly but nervously, "Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for helping me! I'm Oopa, by the way."

"I'm Aero!" The two looked at one another for a moment, both losing track of themselves.

The blonde-haired Jirro spoke from behind Aero. "You know, it's pretty risky to walk around alone like that. These bandits have been causing trouble for everyone."

Oopa winced. "I heard. I was just on my way back home."

Aero jumped at the opportunity to spend more time with the girl. "Would you want us to help you back home? We'd be happy to escort you!"

Jirro raised his eyebrow as Aero volunteered all of them.

"I'd appreciate that a lot. Thank you!" Oopa did a slight bow to show her gratitude. She looked at the others, and Aero felt as though he should introduce everyone.

"You've already met my cousin Jirro. That's my little sister, Corri, and those two are my friends - Ruben and Nout," he said as he pointed to each of them.

Corri had bright red hair and bore little resemblance to her older brother. Oopa's eyes lingered on the Densius Ruben and the Phantine Nout. As a Densius, Ruben's body was entirely made of stones, while Nout had the typical Phantine features such as a trunk and tusks.

"It's nice to meet you!" Oopa spoke graciously as she bowed once more.

The six youths traveled along towards Lupine Lake. All the while, Aero and Oopa talked to each other about whatever they could come up with. Neither wanted any silence between them to potentially ruin things.

Oopa spoke about her parents and tribe, and Aero tried to tell her all about his family and the tournament he just entered. Numerous times, the two accidentally talked over each other, only for both to promptly apologize. They continually found ways to prolong their conversation.

"I'm sure my tribe would love to meet you and your friends!" Oopa said with a smile, "I think my father Borjo would like you."

"I'd love that! And if your tribe needs help with anything, I'd be happy to! I am pretty strong. Not to brag or anything like that," Aero feverishly replied.

The red-haired Corri couldn't help but smirk at her brother. "Looks like Aero has a crush."

"He shouldn't have volunteered us to help like that..." An annoyed Jirro remarked.

"I don't really mind," Ruben said as his rocky body continued along.

"I don't think it's bad for us to make a few stops along the way to Titus Forest," Nout added, curling his long trunk around him like a scarf.

The six children approached a giant stone bridge that crossed over Lupine Lake - Oopa's home. As they crossed, Aero felt trembling from the ground. He looked across the landscape and saw over a dozen hyena riders coming towards them. A large, portly man with a hand-shaped scar on his face, and an axe over his back led them all. Ekor. Temp was riding alongside him. Their crew of bandits were back to exact vengeance.

"It's the big guy again," Jirro grumbled, drawing everyone's attention to the coming threat. The children stopped at the center of the bridge.

"You know, the last time we fought Ekor, it didn't turn out very well," Corri pointed out.

Aero's face turned serious, "Not this time!"

"I can help!" Oopa said, "I'm pretty strong too."

Nout trembled a little at the sight of the hyena riders, but the others were steadfast and ready. Ekor stopped at the midway point of the bridge to address the kids, his hyena growling lowly.

"What's up, Ekor?" Aero said with a grin.

"Smug kid." Ekor drew an axe from his back. "I thought you thieves would've learned your lesson last time."

Oopa muttered, "Thieves? What's he talking about?"

"These brats stole from me a while ago! But I'm willing to let things go if you hand it over this time." Ekor replied.

"We never stole it!" Jirro shouted.

Ekor shrugged and leveled his giant axe at the kids, "Oh well. Have it your way. Get them, boys!"

The bandits accompanying Ekor charged forward with weapons over their heads.

Aero deftly avoided each of the bandits' attacks, felling each one with singular, powerful blows. Oopa imitated her father's brute-force style, grappling with some of the men and tossing them to the side.

Jirro and Nout took on more defensive stances, carefully waiting for their opponents and countering. Meanwhile, Corri and Ruben were aggressive, not giving their opponents a chance to react. A bandit's sword struck Corri's body, but it shattered on impact. It hurt, but not very much.

Ekor yelled out and swung his axe down at Aero, who sidestepped it. The axe cracked the ground where it impacted.

Aero, Corri, and Jirro all saw an opening to attack and capitalized on it. Each of them jumped through the air and delivered quick strikes to Ekor's rotund body before bounding away.

The last time the three fought Ekor, they couldn't hurt him. But now, he was noticeably pained from each of their strikes. Ekor swung his axe at the kids again, each of them dodging it skillfully and striking.

Oopa sprinted towards Ekor, ducked under an axe swing, and punched him in the face, causing the portly man to stagger back.

Ekor was about to attack more furiously, but suddenly stopped. A group of wolf riders approached from the other side of the bridge.

The wolf riders were led by a man with the same tan skin Oopa had. He had long black hair tied behind him. He and Ekor were of comparable size, but the man was far more muscular and fit in appearance, with black markings across his chest.

Oopa smiled, "Father!"

The man, Oopa's father, dismounted his wolf, grabbed a thick and weighty wooden spear, and walked across the bridge. He knelt near his daughter, his eyes firmly on Ekor, "Are you okay?"

"Mhmm," Oopa nodded, "These people helped me."

The man nodded with approval to Aero and the others before facing Ekor.

"Stand aside, children," He walked past the kids and extended his spear towards Ekor, "You've invaded my lands again. Leave."

Ekor smirked, "I will, Borjo. As soon as I get what's mine."

Oopa's father, Borjo, took a combative stance with his spear, "Very well."

Ekor raised his axe. Everyone watched as the two met at the center of the stone bridge.

Borjo lunged his spear forward quickly several times, and Ekor managed to parry each thrust. Borjo managed to avoid a wild swing from Ekor, flinging his spear forward immediately after. The spear grazed Ekor's chest, and the rotund man backed away.

Borjo attacked again, but Ekor parried the thrust and followed up with a downward axe swing at the spear, cutting it clean in half. Borjo gripped the handle of Ekor's axe, and the two grappled with one another over it. Aero nearly jumped in to help, but the other wolf riders stopped him.

Borjo landed a headbutt on Ekor, nearly causing the corpulent man to lose his grip. One of the wolf riders threw Borjo a new spear, and he readied it. Ekor frowned. He must've hated fighting someone who was just as strong as he was. The rotund man slung his axe over his shoulder, "Fine! Keep the kids!"

Ekor mounted his hyena, and with a gesture, he commanded his bandit crew to turn tail and run. The group of hyena riders trailed through the grassy plains in retreat.