Fear piercing through me as a carriage nearly ran over one of the boys, a boy on horseback galloped towards the gate, his brown hair glimmering in the sun as a bow and arrow rested slung across his

shoulder....He was amazing.....Swiftly leaping off the tree I rushed towards the horse, my paws pounding silently against the path I followed the boy on horseback, intrigued by his features..

"I know you're following me...No need to hide.." He spoke and I tensed knowing I was caught...Whimpering I trotted towards him, the horse jolted to a stop as he dismounted

Looking at the boy he turned his head upwards to see me staring at him, curiosity and shock sparking through his eyes he reached for his bow and arrow but stopped halfway and dropped his arms.

"Well hello.." He greeted out stretching his hand towards me and I smirked, snatching his hand gently I placed my hand on his, they looked so similar...Yet so different..

Our attenton focused on our hands I snapped my head upwards in sync with him as we gazed at each other, his huge brown eyes reading mine...The checkered hoodie he was wearing made his eyes pop...

"Can you speak bacca?" He questioned and I froze, my  shoulders tensing I stared at him, confusion slapping across my face...What in the woods was a bacca??!? And why did I understand him!!??!!

Opening my mouth to speak my fangs poked my lip and I growled under my breath earning a look from the boy, thinking twice before trying to speak my throat rumbled and I emmited a sound.

"Speak?" I blurted out earning a joyful look from the boy....So he understood me!!My tail wagging behind me he turned around, grabbing the leather thing strapped around the horses mouth before

turning back towards me grinning from ear to ear. Why was he so perky?...Taking a pawstep towards him he kneeled down, eye level with me he laughed as I reached my paw out, tapping his nose.

"OK so you talk...Sort of...My name is Mitch by the way...I came here for an archery tournament.." Mitch explained and I grinned, my nose itching my eyes widened knowing what was going to happen..

"J-J..." I tried speaking but my nose was itching to much and I sneezed, the panda sound echoing across the area. Keeping my head down I peeked upwards to see Mitch with an adorable face.

"That was adorable!! But what is your name? Please tell me..If you can of course.." Mitch pleaded and I nodded, my throat rumbling I emmited another word this time less difficult than the first.

"Jerome..." I confessed pointing at myself with my paw and Mitch smiled, his eyes beaming at me I smirked as he motioned for me to follow him.

"My mom wants me to get married, but I bet her that if I won the tournament I could choose, so that;s why I'm here..

I would really love it if you stayed with me until after the tournament, if that's ok..." Mitch wondered offering a friendship to me.

Nodding my head quickly Mitch laughed grabbing my paw gingerly and intertwined his fingers with mine. Our eyes locking he stood up and I followed.

"Wow...You're pretty tall...But average for a bacca...Oh yeah and thanks by the way!" Mitch piped and I nodded smiling.

"I wonder what you would look like in a suit...I bet you would look awesome!" Mitch joked and I tensed, what was a suit?....