Change Of Heart And A Change Of Fate

Chapter 22

"Are you gonna tell me about this training...?" Alex questioned as he hitched his pack higher.

"Sage training," Phenix responded curtly before lowering down, allowing Alex to get onto her back.

"And how long will this Sage training last?" 

Phenix sighed fondly before reverse summoning them back to the summoning realm, appearing at the bottom of the Great Tree. Alex leaned forward, gripping onto Phenix with both arms and legs.

Once he gave a nod Phenix gave a giant leap into the trees, latching onto the bark as she ran upwards towards the giant canopy of leaves. Alex grumbled as he pressed his face into the fur of Phenix's neck. 

He hated this part.

His stomach gave a sickening lurch when Phenix suddenly shot into the air with another powerful leap. They soared through the air for a few seconds before Phenix latched onto the neighboring tree, not once breaking her stride.

"It depends on how well you do, of course." She responded vaguely, not even breaking a sweat at the pace. Alex sighed and closed his eyes, hoping for the journey to end quickly so he could get back on solid ground...er...trees.

After a few minutes, they finally came to a stop. Alex grinned when he saw the familiar tree platform with all of the dens hanging nearby. A few of the passerby leopards gave then small rumbles in greeting, already acquainted with their summoner.

Alex smiled and waved, ignoring the amused huff from his ride as they continued their trek towards the boss. The meeting that took place was quick and to the point, mainly discussing Alex's future sage training. 

Alex found himself surrounded by a pile of soft fur as the day came to an end. Phenix's children surrounded him, keeping the chilly air from freezing him over in the night.

A gentle hum of a song flowed through the air, keeping him awake but relaxed. He knew the Leopards liked to hum, but he never heard the conjoined tones of all the lazy creatures in the air.

His mind kept replaying back to his farewell to his siblings a few hours before he left. Their tear-stained cheeks and watery eyes haunted his mind deep into the night.

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SMACK

"OW!!!  Phenix-sensei why?!" Alex cried, prodding gently at the tender area where Phenix slapped him with her tail.

"I told you before Alex-kun, it's to stop you from turning into stone, so stop your whining." She admonished sternly.

Alex grumbled before getting back into position, sitting with his legs crossed on the edge of overlapping branches from one of the smaller trees neighboring the main tree.

They've been at it for a week, non-stop. He was only allowed to take a break to eat before jumping right back to sitting and 'feeling'  according to Phenix. 

His body was littered with bruises from all the whooping he has received from his current sensei. He could also tell that she was getting impatient, the constant pacing and deep growling proving his point.

"Phenix?" Came the deep voice of his savior, startling him from his "deep" concentration.

"Kanto-san, please save me from your unforgiving, ruthless mate!" Alex cried out in mock fear as he hid behind said Leopard, watching Phenix's twitching form with anticipation.

She didn't disappoint at all.

"Why you little!" She growled before leaping at Alex, easily flying over Kanto's confused figure as she tackled him to the floor.