Her majesty’s eyes glittering at the sudden turn of good fortune she had acquired, Oscura began forming her plan to steal Kilani so she could watch the kidnapper die slowly before her.  Using her fox informant’s intelligence data, Oscura was able to plan a way to infiltrate the tiger defenses and steal Kilani before anyone knew what happened. 

Sombrana, the disgraced member of the queen’s court, was also still a prisoner from her last capture.  Oscura’s orders were to leave her, despite being told by Shaleigh exactly where she was being kept.  Oscura had grown tired of Sombrana’s constant failures and decided that she should be left there as punishment.  Besides, she had a far more competent minion in Shaleigh. 

A week later, in the wee hours before dawn, Oscura’s strike force was ready to execute the infiltrate-and-capture plan our queen had devised.  Oscura’s finest warrior and leader of the Fire Clan – Red – was to lead the team into tiger territory.  With her were Chiara and Schaddig, two of the finest warriors our people would have the honor to know.  Rounding out the group were Xhianil and Flare, two young Fire Clan warriors recruited by Red, who were fresh to the ranks of the dragon-warrior elite.  They lacked battlefield experience, but they were well trained and had proven themselves to be the best in their combat exercises.

Satisfied with the five who had volunteered, Oscura sent them out to complete their mission.  As her confidence began to show in her smile, she turned to share her excitement with Shaleigh…

…but Shaleigh was nowhere to be found. 

Meanwhile, Oscura’s strike team had taken to flight for most of their journey towards tiger territory.  The five flew until they got about 100 yards from the village wherein Kilani was supposedly being cared for.  Landing quietly, they covered the rest of the distance on foot...