I freed the Leopard Woman, but the Khan captured my mother and I had to hand her over

The wind howled through the jagged peaks of the mountains, carrying with it the scent of danger and desperation. For more than ten grueling days, I had been fleeing, traversing treacherous terrains that seemed to stretch endlessly before me. Each step was a reminder of my promise to Fena, the Leopard Woman, that I would return her to her homeland, no matter the cost. She had placed her trust in me, and I could not—would not—fail her.

As we navigated the craggy cliffs and desolate gorges, a sense of urgency gnawed at my insides. The Khan, a tyrant whose cruelty knew no bounds, was hot on our trail. I knew that if he discovered our escape, he would unleash his wrath not just on me, but on my mother, who remained vulnerable back in our village. I vowed that once Fena was safe, I would return to rescue her, even if it meant facing the Khan’s entire army alone..

Our journey took us through forgotten paths, where neither travelers nor beasts dared to tread. The wind whispered ancient laments as we pressed on, fueled by the hope that we could outpace the horrors that pursued us. Fena, with her fierce green eyes, guided me northward, her silent determination a beacon in the dark.

Three days into our flight, news of our escape reached the Khan. A guard from the Blackstone Tower had discovered the empty cell and the broken chains. In a frenzy, he galloped to the capital, igniting the Khan’s fury. The tyrant ordered two groups: one to my village to capture my mother as bait, and another composed of the Empire’s finest trackers to hunt us down. Unbeknownst to us, they were already closing in.

The days blurred into nights as we hunted for food and rest, each moment tinged with the dread of being discovered. I could not shake the feeling that soon, the Khan would learn of our flight. My heart sank as I imagined what he might do to my mother if he caught her alone.

On the third day, the Khan’s soldiers arrived in my village. They demanded to know my whereabouts, but the villagers, loyal and fearful, claimed ignorance. They stormed my mother’s house, finding her frail and sick. Without a fight, she was taken, chained, and dragged to the capital, where the Khan awaited her.

In the palace dungeons, she was imprisoned, a pawn in the Khan’s cruel game. Meanwhile, the best trackers in the empire were dispatched to find us, each step bringing them closer. They followed our trail, piecing together our journey through the remnants of our campfires and the signs we left behind. We were the hunted, and they were relentless.

That night, we sought refuge in a damp cave, the rain drumming against the rocks outside. I lit a small fire, its flickering light casting shadows on Fena’s face. I could no longer contain my curiosity about her origins. “Who are you?” I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Fena hesitated, her gaze distant, as if recalling a painful past. “My people walked this land long before humans,” she began, her voice steady yet tinged with sorrow. “We were the guardians of the mountains and forests. But when humans arrived, everything changed. They feared us, hunted us, and called us demons. We retreated into the shadows, finding refuge in a hidden valley where the mist never lifts.”

“Why did you leave your kingdom?” I pressed, desperate for answers.

“One of our elders fell ill. Only the moonflower, which grows on these mountains, could save him. As a warrior and protector, it was my duty to find it. But I crossed paths with an obsessed explorer who had studied our legends. He captured me and brought me before the Khan as a trophy.” Her voice trembled as she recounted her ordeal. “They tortured me, trying to extract the location of my kingdom. I never spoke.”

As dawn approached, I felt the weight of our circumstances pressing down on me. “We need to get you to safety,” I said, determination fueling my resolve. “Then I will return for my mother.”

But fate had other plans. As we emerged from the cave, the forest was eerily silent. Then, from the shadows, emerged the silhouettes of the Khan’s trackers. Fena instinctively positioned herself behind me, ready to defend. Just as one of the men raised a wooden tube to his lips, I shouted, “Fena, look out!”

In a flash, she was gone from my side, a blur of motion. The sound of flesh tearing filled the air as she took down the first tracker with deadly precision. The second man, realizing the danger, raised his hands in surrender. “Marco,” he said, his voice cold. “We have a message from the Khan. Your mother is alive for now. Hand over the beast, or we will hang her in the square for all to see.”

Panic surged through me. “I have to go,” I said, desperation creeping into my voice.

“Now?” Fena grabbed my arm. “It’s suicide! You’ll never make it to the palace alone.”

“I don’t care! She’s my mother!” I shouted, my heart racing.

“Listen to me. My father is the king of my people. He can help us,” she urged.

“Your father? Are you a princess?” I asked, bewildered.

“Yes,” she replied, urgency in her tone. “But we don’t have time to waste. We must hurry.”

With no other options, I nodded. “Alright, let’s go.” Together, we sprinted north towards her kingdom, crossing the treacherous gorge of a thousand winds. The air grew thin, and I could barely breathe. Fena, sensing my struggle, carried me on her back until I lost consciousness.

When I awoke, I was in a breathtaking valley, surrounded by towering cliffs and ancient trees. “Welcome to my home,” Fena said, her voice filled with pride and sadness. Guards clad in golden armor approached, kneeling before her. “Queen Fena,” they greeted. I stood in shock, realizing that the woman I had fought to save was not just a warrior, but a queen.

As we entered the colossal city carved into the rock, I marveled at the hidden civilization bustling around us. Fena led me through markets filled with artisans and children playing, all of them feline humanoids. But as the guards eyed me with suspicion, I felt exposed, a mere intruder in this majestic realm.

“Do not worry,” Fena reassured me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “They have never seen a human here. It will take time for them to accept you.”

We hurried to the palace, where Fena’s father awaited us. The moment he saw her, he froze, tears filling his eyes. “Fena!” he cried, rushing forward to embrace her. The king’s joy quickly turned to concern as he noticed my presence. “Who is this human?” he asked, his voice heavy with scrutiny.

“This human saved my life, Father,” Fena explained. “He freed me from the Khan’s clutches, and now we must save his mother.”

The king’s expression hardened as he processed the threat posed by the Khan. “We will rescue her,” he vowed. “Summon the best warriors; we leave at dawn.”

As we gathered in the dining hall, a feast of unfamiliar foods lay before us. Fena, adorned in ceremonial dress, looked regal. But amidst the celebration, a plan began to form. “I will turn myself in,” Fena declared, her voice resolute. “A fake surrender. Marco will take me to the Khan as if he has captured me.”

The king’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s too dangerous!”

“It’s the only way,” Fena insisted. “The Khan wants me. He won’t harm my mother until he sees me chained before him. This will buy us the time we need.”

“Do you trust my daughter with your life?” the king asked me, his gaze piercing.

“Yes,” I replied without hesitation. “I trust her.”

As night fell, I was given a room in the palace, filled with soft furs and candles. Fena joined me, her presence calming my racing heart. “Everything will be fine,” she whispered, her green eyes glowing in the dim light. “We will rescue your mother, but I need you to trust me and to rest.”

I closed my eyes, finally allowing myself to sleep. At dawn, a guard knocked on my door. “It’s time,” he said. I found Fena waiting for me in the courtyard, her fake chains hanging heavily from her wrists.

“Ready?” I asked, determination flooding my veins.

“Always,” she replied, her spirit unyielding.

The king arrived, flanked by his elite warriors. “You will reach the Khan’s palace in two days,” he instructed. “My warriors will scale the rear wall and infiltrate the palace through the drainage tunnels. You, Marco, will take Fena through the main gate as a prisoner.”

With the plan set, we set off. A warrior carried me on his back, moving swiftly through the rugged terrain. After two days, we arrived at a hill overlooking the Khan’s capital. The palace loomed ahead, a fortress of black stone with guards patrolling the walls.

As we descended the hill, the guards spotted us. “I bring the beast!” I shouted, brandishing my sword. “I want to see the Khan!”

The guards surrounded us, spears at the ready. “You’re the one who escaped!” one of them exclaimed, recognition dawning on his face.

“Yes,” I affirmed. “And now I’m returning her.”

They escorted us through the grand halls of the palace until we reached the throne room. The Khan, larger than life, descended from his throne, his gaze fixated on Fena. “I thought I would never see you again,” he hissed, his voice dripping with malice.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, but Fena stood her ground, unafraid.

“Where is my mother?” I demanded, my heart racing.

“Ah, yes, the old sick woman,” the Khan replied with a cruel smile. “She is alive for now.”

Before I could react, a guard stepped forward to check Fena’s chains. “Prepare the darts with the poison,” the Khan ordered, his eyes glinting with malice.

At that moment, Fena’s father’s elite warriors began their ascent up the palace wall. They moved like shadows, silent and deadly, reaching the entrance to the dungeons. Inside, they crept through the dark, taking down guards with lethal efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Khan’s guards were preparing to subdue Fena and me. Just as the Khan turned to me with a sinister grin, Fena tensed. “Now!” she shouted, and with a surge of strength, she broke free from her chains, the metal snapping like twigs.

Chaos erupted. The Khan roared in fury as the guards scrambled to regain control. “Intruders!” they shouted, but it was too late. Fena and I sprang into action, fighting our way through the palace.

In the dungeons, the warriors found my mother, weak but alive. They lifted her and began to flee just as the alarm sounded. “We have to go!” one of them shouted, urgency lacing his voice.

As we raced through the palace, the Khan’s voice echoed behind us. “Mobilize the army! I want that beast dead!”

We burst through the palace gates, Fena leading the way. The Khan’s soldiers poured out, thousands strong, but we had the advantage of surprise. We dashed into the forest, the sounds of pursuit echoing behind us.

“Keep moving!” I urged, my heart pounding as we navigated through the trees. The Khan’s army was relentless, but we were fueled by desperation and hope.

After three days of forced marches, we reached the hidden kingdom. The king welcomed us with open arms, and my mother was taken to the healing rooms. Fena and I exchanged relieved glances, knowing we had triumphed against all odds.

But the Khan was not done. He had mobilized his army, determined to destroy our sanctuary. As the catapults fired, raining destruction upon the mountains, the king gathered the shamans to invoke the spirits of the peaks.

In a moment of pure magic, the mountain trembled as the shamans chanted, awakening the very earth beneath us. The Khan’s forces were swallowed by the wrath of nature, buried beneath the weight of their own arrogance.

With the Khan defeated, the kingdom erupted in celebration. My mother was healed, and we stood together, no longer in fear. “We will live here,” I said, looking at Fena with gratitude. “I can’t go back to that life.”

Fena smiled, her eyes shining. “Neither can I. This is our home now.”

As we embraced, I understood that our bond had forged a new beginning. We had faced the darkness together and emerged victorious, united by courage, sacrifice, and an unbreakable friendship.

In the days that followed, we rebuilt our lives in the hidden kingdom. Fena, once a captive, now stood as a queen among her people. I had found my place in this world, no longer just a human, but a protector alongside her.

The journey had been fraught with peril, but it had led us to a destiny we could never have imagined. Together, we would ensure that the legacy of our struggle would never be forgotten, and that the spirit of freedom would always prevail.