---
As the trio reach the old tree and the dark crow nest, which Fowad made his home for past few months.
Fowad pulled out the map he had taken from Helena's group.
The parchment felt fragile in his hands, its edges worn and creased, but the markings it held were invaluable.
The map detailed much of the Sapling Forest, including areas Fowad hadn't dared to venture into before.
It also showed paths leading out of the forest routes that would take him to nearby villages and even to the city beyond.
For a moment, he considered leaving. The thought of returning to civilization, of walking streets filled with people, was both tempting and daunting.
But as his eyes drifted to the center of the map, to the area marked with warnings and danger symbols, he knew he couldn't leave. Not yet.
"That's where it lives," Fowad muttered, his gaze fixed on the spot where the lightning cheetah's territory was marked.
The memory of the beast sent a shiver down his spine. The way it had moved swift as a streak of light, deadly and precise was etched into his mind.
It was the creature that had forced him and foxy to flee, the creature that had almost killed him.
He remembers the oath that he made, he wouldn't leave until he defeat the beast lighting cheetah.
Fowad's jaw tightened. The lightning cheetah wasn't just another beast; it was a symbol of power a advance level beast and everything he needed to overcome.
"We are not leaving until I defeat it," he said to Foxy and Fattey, his voice steady.
We need to get stronger, far more stronger if we want to defeat the lighting cheetah beast.
---
With his goal set, Fowad turned his attention to training.
If he was going to face the lightning cheetah, he needed to be faster, smarter, and stronger than ever before.
He and Foxy began practicing daily, starting with agility drills.
The lightning cheetah was a creature of incredible speed, and Fowad knew he couldn't match it directly.
Instead, he focused on evasion and counterattacks, teaching Foxy to anticipate and react to sudden movements.
They used the forest itself as their training ground, weaving through trees and leaping over obstacles as they honed their reflexes.
Fowad set up traps and mock scenarios, forcing Foxy to think quickly and adapt to unpredictable situations.
"Faster, Foxy!" Fowad called as his companion darted between two trees, her two tails flicking behind her like ribbons of light.
Foxy growled in determination, her paws kicking up snow as she pushed herself harder.
She leaped over a fallen branch and slid under a low-hanging vine, her movements fluid and precise.
"Good girl," Fowad praised, offering her a piece of dried meat as a reward.
---
Fattey, meanwhile, was proving to be both a help and a hindrance.
The fiery red bird had a knack for creating chaos, often interrupting their training sessions with his antics.
One afternoon, as Fowad and Foxy were practicing coordinated attacks, Fattey swooped down and landed squarely on Fowad's head.
"Fattey, not now!" Fowad exclaimed, swiping at the bird, who chirped indignantly and flapped his wings.
"Chip chip chip!"
( Mommy I want to train too.)
Fattey responded, hopping onto Fowad's shoulder with a defiant puff of feathers.
Despite his mischief, Fattey proved useful in his own way.
The little bird had a sharp eye for spotting danger, often alerting Fowad to approaching beasts before they were visible.
His erratic flight patterns also served as a distraction during battles, drawing the attention of opponents and giving Foxy openings to strike.
"Maybe you're not entirely useless," Fowad muttered one evening as Fattey landed on his shoulder, preening his feathers.
"Chip chip!" Fattey chirped,
(Of course I'm not. I will play less and train with you mommy.)
---
When they weren't training, Fowad spent hours studying the lightning cheetah.
He recalled every detail he could about its movements, its attacks, and its weaknesses.
The beast was an advanced rank predator, its speed unmatched and its lightning based abilities devastating.
Fowad knew he couldn't face it head on; he needed to exploit its weaknesses and outthink it.
He began sketching out strategies, using the map to plan potential ambush points and escape routes.
He considered the cheetah's reliance on speed and wondered if he could use the terrain to slow it down.
"Foxy, we'll need traps," he said one evening, his eyes scanning the forest floor.
"Something to limit its movement. And you'll need to be faster fast enough to keep up with it, at least for a while."
Foxy barked in agreement, her ears twitching as she listened intently.
Fattey, meanwhile, hopped onto the map and pecked at the cheetah's territory.
"Chip chip chip!"
(Mommy we can't fight here.)
"I know," Fowad said with a sigh, brushing the bird aside. "It's risky. But we don't have a choice."
---
The days turned into weeks, and Fowad's training became more intense.
Each morning, he and his companions would venture deeper into the forest, hunting beasts and gathering resources.
The battles were challenging, but they served as valuable practice, helping Fowad refine his techniques and build his strength.
In the evenings, they returned to their nest, where Fowad reviewed his plans and tended to their injuries.
Foxy, now stronger and more agile than ever, seemed to thrive under the rigorous routine.
Fattey, despite his mischief, continued to grow in mentally.
His feathers had taken on a brighter hue, and his flight had become more controlled, though he still preferred using Fowad's head as his perch.
"Someday," Fowad muttered as he tried to untangle a strand of his hair from Fattey's claws, "you're going to have to learn how to sit somewhere else."
Fattey chirped in response, clearly unconcerned.
Chip! chip! chip!
(Mommy I like too sit here )
Fowad thinks he needs too reach at least peck of second taming circle to defeat the lighting cheetah.
He needs to work hard. It might take a years of two to reach the second taming circle. If he work hard he might able to reach the third circle...
---