It was the custom of this household that no crime or misdeed ever went unpunished and there were no exceptions to this rule. It applied to one and all-human beings, animals, even insects. My uncle showed no mercy, hating the very word, as to him it was the mark of weakness. What happens when there is an epic battle between cruelty and humaneness and the one caught in the middle is a hapless animal? Lost in the forests of India, a man comes across a bizarre and dangerous ritual-does he flee or does he stay and rescue his fellow travellers? And in the uneven contest between a man with his gun and a panther or tiger, how does man end up winning? From jungles to battlefields to the frozen Russian countryside, adventure and danger lurk everywhere. Read the awe-inspiring adventures set in these exotic locations in this new collection compiled by Ruskin Bond.

There are all sorts of Professions in this world, from Magician to Fencer, from the lowly Beast Tamer to the mighty Hero. Every adult has their own, which they can never change as long as they live. Kanata Aldezia is an icy and mysterious beauty, a fighter, and a genius without peer. Today is her Selection Ceremony: the day when a child must decide their Profession from those chosen for them by the gods. Everyone is eager to see what Profession Kanata will choose. There is even speculation that she will be the one chosen as Saint, destined to lead the Holy Church. But Kanata has a secret. There is something she must obtain at any cost. Something more precious to her than her own life—her quest for the fluff! Kanata loves fluffy fluffy critters more than anything, and would go to any lengths to pet their soft fluffy fur. Saint? No! She’s just a passing Beast Tamer!

Locked in the dungeons underneath the High Cathedral in the Holy City Lordentia, the Spirit Wolf Fenrir cries out for his Saint. For centuries, he has waited for the rebirth of his master. But now she is close. He would recognize her scent anywhere. Can Fenrir escape his captor’s torments to warn the Saint of the danger? And what will he do when he learns that she’s not a Saint at all, but just a passing Beast Tamer? Can he possibly learn to get along with this ridiculous furball calling himself the King of Demons? Kanata threw away the title of Saint to lead the freewheeling life of a Beast Tamer in search of fluffy critters, and now that she’s saved the city a few times and broken the Goddess’s curse, she’s ready to head out on her adventure! But the wickedness of the Church and their false Goddess is greater than she knows. Not that it bothers her! The open road is ahead, and the fluff awaits! What else could possibly matter?

Elin's family has an important responsibility: caring for the fearsome water serpents that form the core of their kingdom's army. So when some of the creatures mysteriously die, Elin's mother is sentenced to death as punishment. With her last breath, she manages to send her daughter to safety. Alone and far from home, Elin soon discovers that she can communicate with both the terrifying water serpents and the majestic flying beasts that guard her queen. This skill gives her great power, but it also involves her in deadly plots that could cost her life. Can she save herself and prevent her beloved beasts from being used as tools of war? Or is there no escaping the terrible battles to come?

After emigrating to an Earth-like planet, Hosteen Storm uses his ability to communicate with animals to track down the man who has killed his father and to defeat the aliens who have destroyed his home planet.

Ten years after the fateful clash between two opposing sides of the Divine Kingdom of Lyoza, Elin lives a peaceful life with her family. She tries to stay as far away from her past as possible—the girl who communicated with creatures and befriended a Royal Beast wants no part in the power struggles of humans. But when Elin is called upon to investigate a mysterious illness that's stricken the Toda, she uncovers a startling plot—one that could threaten everything she holds dear. In this thrilling sequel to The Beast Player, Elin must confront her destiny and heed the dire warnings of history. Is a final battle between the Toda and the Royal Beasts inevitable? And will it mean destruction for all?