Tale of Panthera Regina (Remake)

Bonus Chapter #8: Everything Happens for a Reason

Author's Note: Warning this Bonus chapter is going to be a bit more violent and gory.

POV: Leona

Time: 200,012, Ten years ago.

"You almost got it!" Aunt Spes, an African Elephant, says in an encouraging tone.

An African leopard was not even halfway up a tree before sliding down the tree. The leopard landed with a thud.

Leona mumbled a curse word.

It's been five years since the Alba Men came to the island and did experiments on the animals they kidnapped. However, she was still not used to this body.

Well, it didn't help that she look like a Leopard, but her internal body was all Bengal Tiger. This makes climbing trees more difficult as she didn't have the back legs of a Leopard.

"I don't understand why I can't shift into a Leopard!" Leona said, finally getting up and walking over to her Great-great Aunt.

Spes was from the previous line of Royals. This meant that they were family as everyone believes that all royals come from Sun and Breeze. Well, at least they had their powers.

"Little Pardus," Aunt Spes started in a mother-like tone. "You know very well that Angels shifting is complicated. Once the experiment changed you. The leopard and Tiger forms have been locked. There is no going back."

Leona knew this but still hated that she had to accept it, sooner or later.

Roseis was also experimented on, but hers were internal changes. A heart and speed of a Cheetah. Jaguar strength. And so on. Her little sisters' changes seemed to give her no limitation.

Leona took a deep breath and looked at her Aunt. She was dark gray, with large ears and clean white tusks. Just by one look, you know that Spes lived a long life and saw many changes throughout the years.

"It's been five years, Aunt Spes, and I am not any closer," Leona argued, her deep violet eyes holding anger towards the Alba Men that made her this way.

The great Elephant just sighed as a response.

Since the changes to Leona's physical appearance. She was sent away to live with her cousins. Everything changed so quickly!

However, it wasn't all bad. Angel Island was closed for about four days of travel instead of eight to eleven days of traveling. She also gets to know her cousins better than her siblings could ever imagine.

Life as an Elephant was different than what Leona was expecting. There were rules and costumes that must be followed.

The one bad thing is that Leona is considered a Great Angel of the Vesper Savanna. It's bad because that meant the past Great Angel had to step down simply because Leona had to be sent here.

*Stupid humans!* Leona growled in thought. She couldn't understand why her sister spared an Abla Man, and that caused a rift between the two sisters. *Maybe it's a good thing that I was sent to the savanna. I doubt the human would live for this long if I continued to live with my sister.*

Suddenly the winds shifted, and both animals' heads shot up.

The smell of smoke filled the air and the Leopard's nose.

It seems to come from the direction of the borders of Vesper Savanna. This could only mean one thing.

Leona glanced at her Aunt and saw that her eyes were filled with great worried.

The Village of the Snake People didn't have a good reputation as they knew the common tongue but refused to accept the Laws of the Island.

Tension only worsened as rumors of the Snake people stealing young from their mothers in a forested cove meant to be a haven for the injury.