[Story] Tales of the Risen (11/25/10) -- Chapter 12, one-shot: Of The Heart

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Well, it would explain why Fi got folded into a letter.

The other explanation is that Fa'Lina thinks it has a bit of class, but having seen Fa'Lina, I doubt that somehow... ;-]

[Tapewolf]

Well, it would explain why Fi got folded into a letter.

The other explanation is that Fa'Lina thinks it has a bit of class, but having seen Fa'Lina, I doubt that somehow... ;-]

Well, assuming that they can only go somewhere they've already been closes a lot of plot holes, and limits their power.  If you do have something that can teleport you anywhere at all, it makes things very, very nasty as a writer and would break a lot of things even in DMFA canon.

For instance, #678 could have consisted of Abel saying "Fi... go to Bigg's palace in the Twink Territory and bring back Alexsi."  Which would have condensed the arc down to three strips, maximum.  So it makes more sense and is simply more plot-convenient if they can only go somewhere they know about...

[Aisha deCabre]

Well, it would explain why Fi got folded into a letter.

The other explanation is that Fa'Lina thinks it has a bit of class, but having seen Fa'Lina, I doubt that somehow... ;-]

Well, assuming that they can only go somewhere they've already been closes a lot of plot holes, and limits their power.  If you do have something that can teleport you anywhere at all, it makes things very, very nasty as a writer and would break a lot of things even in DMFA canon.

For instance, #678 could have consisted of Abel saying "Fi... go to Bigg's palace in the Twink Territory and bring back Alexsi."  Which would have condensed the arc down to three strips, maximum.  So it makes more sense and is simply more plot-convenient if they can only go somewhere they know about...

Exactly why it's good to use it.     Besides, in a logical way (as logical as the concept of a Warp-Aci can be anyway...), that theory I think makes the most sense.  Just knowing where everything is without having seen it kinda borders on "too powerful without being godly".  Best to avoid those most of the time.   

[Aisha deCabre]

((*Drops the new chapter off and walks away with a grin on her face* Now where did I put the customary grass skirt...?  

Oh, and I've decided to just use a different way to specialize Tio's voice.  As cool as glowing text is, it seems to behave on its own.   ))

Part 15

   A bright flash illuminated the funeral room at the front of the catacombs, disgorging a bunch of adventurers from its lightened heart with a string of muttered curses following along.  The curses came from Icharus, whose talons stepped uneasily onto the tile floor in front of the others while his hands held the sides of his head.  "By gods, this is frustrating!" he growled.  "I can't get used to the idea of outsiders wandering my home...our kingdom...!"

   "Calm yourself," Jake sighed as he limped through the portal and bent to grab his halberd, which he had left on a table otherwise occupied by an empty coffin.  "You must be used to the fact by now that since your race is conquered..."

   "Nobody conquers the Stormclaws!" the disguised dragon whirled on the gryphon, his fingers surging with small electrical pulses and his eyes glowing just slightly a very gold hue.  But at the looks he received, he just reeled back.  "It's just...ugh," he resigned and resumed his nervous pacing, finding that he could think of nothing to say.

   Aisha was on the same level of unnerved as the dragon was; her eyes narrowed in concentration as she grabbed her cape and tied it back around her neck.  "How many did you say were out there?" she inquired of Tio, who was flying in jittery circles above Cheyenne's head.

   "Dozens," he answered back, his chiming voice almost drifting to a whine with the harried emotions cluttering the room.  His body was still glowing a soft sky azure after using a teleportation spell.  "Maybe more.  I was in a hurry; I couldn't have seen where they're coming from."

   Cheyenne gently plucked the Warp-Aci from midair and cradled him, looking around with a somewhat pained expression.  "They couldn't have come from the insectis tunnels?  I mean, we don't know if they're hunting for us..."

   Icharus sighed, regaining a portion of calm.  "No, we don't," he assented.  "Sometimes they send hunters through the barrier in their own ways to do a sort of sweep of the valley.  Intruders and the like are caught.  But, luckily, none of them know of the secret passages."  His face lightened up.  "So...can we bypass them and teleport straight to the insectis caves, can we not?"  The dragon looked to Cheyenne questioningly.

   She smiled weakly and nodded.  "That's what we were planning to do, so..."

   "Let's not waste time then," Icharus interrupted and nodded to Aisha and Jake, hoping they were ready to follow.  "Once we're safe in the caverns, we can figure out what to do from there."

   Aisha stepped up, helping the gryphon move with his injured leg by keeping hold of his arm.  "I'm right behind all of you.  The first thing I say we do is get our amigo back to the monastery."

   "Aye," Jake crooned, his glance moving to the bandaged leg as he felt the sting of the burn again.  "A better idea than most, Isha, thank you."

   With Tio perched on her fingers and awaiting her command, Chey nodded a quiet agreement, though her eyes seemed to wander elsewhere.  "Yeah..." she confirmed and nodded to the Aci.  "Do your thing."

   As the air around him started to shimmer and he started a slow path around the group with the bluish light trailing behind his papery tail, Aisha couldn't help but notice the way the young succubus had been acting since they had started with the treasures.  Her natural, upbeat mood had suddenly taken a downward spiral in favor of a look that she swore was of uncertainty; downcast.  It definitely wasn't like her.

   The panthress tilted her head.  "Cheyenne, is something bothering you?"

   Her eyes reached Aisha's in reply with a look that was swimming with an emotion that she couldn't pinpoint.  She looked like a child that had been caught doing something forbidden that was awaiting punishment for...and the hunter's instinctive concern rose.  She hoped that the girl would be open with her as she had always been, the same one who could never stop thanking the panthress for saving her life once.

   Hearing Aisha's words, the others cast glances at her as well.  But in a flash instant after that, the succubus was wearing a trademark excited grin.  "I'm fine, Aish, just a bit tired after all the dodging about.  I just wanna go home and see Jake healed."

   The panther's expression didn't change for a moment.  The look that Chey gave her was convincing enough, but her voice seemed to crack just slightly.  Aisha just gave her a satisfied smile and turned to watch as the air brightened and the last of the impressive funerary chamber disappeared from sight.  The familiar lurching feeling came back as the sensation of teleportation took over their minds and bodies.  But during that whole time, as she tried to keep it away from the 'Cubus's thought-reading range, Aisha was far from satisfied.

*     *     *     *

   The blinding lights finally stopped glaring upon their closed eyelids, dropping them into darkness and familiar senses.  The musty smell of the cavern was the first thing to come to them, as well as the feeling of mist from the waterfall on fur, feathers, and skin.  The party once again beheld the decorated chamber of the insectis, and each could breathe a collective sigh of relief at the notice of not another piece of life to be seen around, bar for themselves.

   "Thank goodness," Aisha hummed.

   Jake laughed.  "Yeah.  And you know what, I don't think I'm gonna go get healed just yet.  I want my cut of the reward for helping this quest before leaving," he grinned.

   He caught the eye of Icharus, who snorted.  "Now who said anything about a reward?" the dragon answered with a sly smirk.

   "There'd better be a reward, hombre," the panthress said in mock threat before looking around the great underground chamber.  "As soon as we find out where your treasure went to."

   The dragon rolled his eyes.  "Greedy things, you adventurers."  He stepped past her and looked around, squinting to get a better look at the shadows.  It was then his expression turned sour, as if he were looking at something he couldn't quite place.  His head turned slowly from one side to the other, the others silent and questioning, before he turned back to Cheyenne and Tio.  "In which area did you teleport the treasure, anyway?"

   They turned to the succubus, who had been the only quiet one in the room.  Her eyes darted around confusedly, and she shrugged, glancing to the Aci.  "It...should be right in here..."

   Aisha kept still, her hand on her boomerang handle, letting go of Jake as he balanced himself with his halberd.  "Maybe your insectis friends took it?" she suggested.

   At that, Icharus turned against them with a serious look.  "I don't think they would..." he started, and then stood up again, a light going on in his head.  "But then again, they're also greedy things.  Give me a moment."

   He took a few steps into the cavern until he was a good way off of the waterfall to not be encumbered by its noise.  He listened to the quiet of the place, which he found somewhat more eerie than before.  Even back then, he could have picked up minute scrabbling sounds somewhere in the rocks, characteristic of the clan's presence.  But this time, there was nothing.

   Finally, he took a deep breath.  "Chn'krn'truk!  Show yourself at once, by order of Stormclaw!"

   His voice echoed off the rocks.  But after it deteriorated, there was still no sound, no hint of reply.

   Aisha and the others had followed a little close behind, looking around carefully for any signs.  "I've a bad feeling," Jake murmured as he tried to stand up straight.

   "You too?  I don't hear anything...it's weird." the panthress replied, and then turned to Icharus.  "Try them again."

   The eagle-like avian sucked in a deep breath of air and called out once more.  "Chn'krn'truk, or anyone who wishes to represent him, it is I!  I demand you answer me!"

   This time he was answered.  Something dark and heavy dropped from the expansive ceiling, landing in front of the group and making them stagger back suddenly.

  It was an insectis body lying flat on its side, its flanks and armor bearing scratches and bloody gashes as well as electrical burns...the only thing it wore on its body was a familiar array of jewelry, all damaged.

   And finally, the compound eyes were no longer there, but looked as if they had been gouged straight out.  The group reeled away from the sight.  "That's him!  Chn'krn'truk!" Icharus exclaimed.  "He's dead!"

   Aisha had to catch a stilled breath before drawing her weapon.  "Dammit!  What's going on?"

    Jake growled and moved to wield his own blade while Tio could be seen disappearing into midair beside Cheyenne.  "Who could have...?" the griffin started, and then screeched.  "Look out!"

   Before Aisha could see what was going on, there was a sharp prick in the back of her neck, and she found herself falling to her knees, as was everyone around her.

   All but Cheyenne, whom she noticed still had this sad look on her face...which she instantly recognized as guilt.  And that was when the panthress finally blacked out, after just barely making out someone whispering to the succubus.

   "Well done, clan sister."

*     *     *     *

   Aisha hadn't been out for more than a few minutes...though her other comrades didn't have the same luck.  She kept her eyes closed as soon as she felt her mind coming back, as well as the feeling of being lifted in the air and carefully slung over someone's shoulder.  It was a bit of a difficulty to remain deathly limp, but it helped to concentrate on the conversation going on around her.

   "...What do we do with the dragon?"

   "Containment.  We need him to question.  Just put the gryphon in another cell, in anti-magic stocks just in case."

   "And this girl?" the brute who had taken the burden of carrying her asked.  Aisha tensed at the inquiry, but thankfully it didn't seem to be felt by him or noticed by the others.

   The one at the head of the group just snorted.  "Another adventurer, but she's to be spared at Cheyenne's request, for now.  Put her in a random cell and remove any weapons."  He had sturdy but low voice that reminded her of something like a serpent...or a ruler, or perhaps both...just like the demon she had fought only recently at the town near the Shadowed Depths.  He then chuckled, a seething kind of sound, and it was then she recognized him as the one who had addressed Cheyenne.  "I may...'question' her later."

   As the others around snickered at the comment, Aisha had to summon all of her will just to hide a flood of disgust that came with it, remembering the threat of 'Cubi-kind among them.  So instead she focused on the relief that she wasn't going to be killed...and none of the others would be either, although she was suddenly concerned for what they had in store for Icharus...Aisha desperately wished she could open her eyes to see what was happening, but at least they were moving away from the caves...light started to replace darkness on her eyelids after a while.

   But mainly, her focus was on trying to decipher what all she had heard, especially when the panthress kept hearing the muttered name of Cheyenne.  Chey, her friend and oftentimes follower.  The one whose face was painted with guilt and just stood as the others were captured, and with worry even beforehand...as if she knew...!

   It was hard not to dwell on what seemed so obvious while trying to keep her mind blank; the very notion that she had betrayed them...she had plenty of time to mention that some of her own clan had occupied the canyon.  Could she really have planned it?  Or was there something else...?

   I WILL have answers...Aisha quickly decided and just begrudgingly let them take her and the others to wherever they were going...if one of their party had turned on them, and the others were incapacitated and outnumbered, there was little choice otherwise. But the huntress assured herself that she could put up a full defense in the case of sudden trouble, braced her mind for the possibility of death...and finally, hoped that it wouldn't come to that.

*     *     *     *

   It wasn't too long before an impatient Aisha felt darkness encompassing her eyelids again, bar for a few small orange flickers that passed every once in a while.  The boots her captors wore pounded almost rhythmically on stone floor beneath them, and a very musty, humid scent caught her nostrils.  The panther stopped breathing when she first smelled dust, so that she couldn't sneeze.  It was all obvious without sight; they were brought to an underground substructure.  Dungeon cells awaited their eyes when they would next open.

   "In here," the leader's voice ordered after a moment, his voice echoing clearly from the walls.  "Make sure it's guarded."

   "Aye," Aisha's captor answered obediently, before it was heard that the other footfalls quieted down and sounded further away, until they faded into silence.  She heard a door open, like wood on metal hinges, and felt herself carried down through a darker hallway.  Then came the sound of another door opening, all metal this time.

   As per expectations, Aisha's seemingly-limp body fell from a shoulder to a forearm, while the free hand gripped her boomerang and pulled it away from her belt...thankfully, the only thing that was pried away.  And then she was tossed from the forearm across the air to land on a very hard floor.

   She gritted her teeth against the dull pain that resulted in her side from the impact, and lay there until she heard the door close and a lock click into place, with a chuckle from the guard.  "Sleep tight, girl, while you can," he mocked, then heard the sound of those boots fade and the far-off wooden door close again.

   A few seconds passed while her normally-trustworthy sense of hearing listened in the silence for any other presence.  Then she released all of her piled-up tension with a sigh, a loud groan, and her fist pounding continually on the hard, cold floor.  "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Aisha hissed with frustration, her eyes opening.  As she expected, darkness greeted her vision, the only points of light coming from the torch across the hall.  The front of her body faced the iron bars of a prison door.  Things were featureless on the other side, except for a small table and chair which she believed was reserved for a guard to watch the cell.

   "What am I going to do?" she sighed, a little more quietly this time, unmoving.  So far, she hadn't been found out...but how long was it before ideas ran dry?  She was weaponless, had nothing in her person that could even help her escape.  And what of Icharus, who had been found as a dragon...Jake, who was still injured...Cheyenne, the traitor...

   Aisha growled, her eyes squinting tightly shut.  It couldn't have been like that!

   After a pause, she started to lift herself up by her arms; the strength easily returned to her limbs as she moved up to the more-or-less comfortable wooden bench that was attached to the wall and sat down.  That was when a bright blue flash briefly caught the edge of her eyesight, making her drop back down on her side there in surprise.

   "How many times do I have to say you shouldn't move?" A familiar voice giggled by her ear, before its owner flitted around in front of her awestruck face.

   "Tio!" Aisha hissed in surprise.  "What...?"

   "Shhhh!" He exclaimed and flew behind her head, out of sight of the door but close enough to be able to talk.  "I'm serious, you shouldn't move or talk just yet.  There's a guard coming to watch the cell for a moment or two.  He's supposed to think you're out cold.  They used a tranquilizer that works better on Creatures than on Beings, some kind of anti-magic thing.  Needs more research, heh."

   Aisha was barely listening, still in shock from the sudden presence of the Aci.  "What are you doing here?" she demanded in a low voice.  "What's going on with Chey?"

   "Chey sent me," he answered in an equally low voice, shrinking lower behind her head until he could blend in with the back of her shirt.  "When she got a chance, she told me to stay with you and watch over you and stuff."

   The panthress was frozen now, her ears tuned to the door.  She thought she heard footsteps coming towards it, from out of the hallway.  But moreover, she was surprised with what Tio had said.  "To watch me?  Why?"

   "S'cuse me while I blend into your hood.  I can't be seen," the Aci informed.  The panthress felt an odd sensation, like something was melting onto the fabric over her head.  But she concentrated on the small creature's ethereal voice as he continued to answer questions.  "Well, chyah!  Chey's my master, I do what she says.  She trusts you, and I trust her, so she told me to stay here and probably help."  He paused.  "It's not all her fault that you all got into this mess."

   Aisha could definitely hear footsteps now.  But she still kept frozen on the bench, not even moving her eyes except to close them again.  "How is it not her fault?" she growled lowly.

   She heard a little snort.  "She was pressured.  See, Chey never laid eyes on another member of Mraisae, the clan she belongs to, other than her parents.  When we were all walking up the hill to the mine, a passerby 'Cubi happened to accidentally hear one of your thoughts and got suspicious.  So Dimitrius--that's the guy you heard talking to her--got involved and managed to catch me while I was transporting the treasures, and get me to contact her on what he said...and that was, give him the dragon, or the rest of you die.  She was afraid, and couldn't risk that.  So she tried to find a way to get out by also trying to be friendly with her brethren."

   The panthress sighed, but couldn't say anything more for fear of being heard.  The wooden door opened, and she could hear rustling armor and thudding boots on the stone coming towards her cell.  Naïve girl.  She may have just killed us anyway.  Still I guess that's a warrant for SOME forgiveness.  Now, how to get out of THIS mess?

   In the dim light, the sound of boots became louder and louder until they stopped in front of her cell and lingered there, before the sound of the chair's legs scraping against the floor was heard and a weight settling in on it.

   Aisha just kept still, glad that she wasn't alone at least.  Tio could be felt bunching up the fabric of her cape hood a little bit, moving it until her crimson eyes were hidden from view, thus allowing the panther to see without being seen.  The armored guard had started to relax on the other side with a mug in his hand.

   This...is going to take patience, she mused...but altogether, determined.

[Tapewolf]

Aw, I like the twist.  And I'm kind of glad that weird blue background on the Warp-aci dialogue is gone.

[Aisha deCabre]

That's good then, in case it wasn't noticed, I fixed every chapter with the Warp-Aci dialogue to just make it boldfaced/italics.  Though I admit the different fonts and things are fun to toy with.  I'd use the marquee tool in a story just to be funny. 

Also, this is a short post to tell peeps that a new chapter shall be coming soon, and my apologies for a bit of laziness/writer's block/whatever else excuse one might use. XD

That and if there's people who've missed a couple of chapters in the meantime, they can catch up.

Woohoo, suspense...   

[Aisha deCabre]

((Okay, so it wasn't as soon as I promised, but here the new part is, wherein the hot water starts a-boiling up.   ))

Part 16

   "You're thinking of the prisoners, Cheyenne."

   The succubus reeled around, surprised at hearing the sudden dark voice behind her.  There was an audible gulp as Chey tried to regain her composure, but it was hard to feel anything but intimidated at Dimitrius's presence.

   The incubus stood with his hands behind his back and gave her a neutrally calm expression to go along with his words, as if her reaction to the accusation only confirmed it.  He was also canine in appearance, but was quite unlike the thylacine; his fur and hair burned in a reddish-grey tone and his size gave one the impression of a coyote or a wolf; or perhaps both in one.  Both sets of Dimitrius's wings, like hers, were demon-like and leathery, and over a tall and rough body (which he must have shifted to look somewhat middle-aged just for appearance), he wore clothes of a high, noble quality.  But on his forehead lay the same light blue symbol that Chey had just below her collarbone; the symbol of clan Mraisae.

   Eyes a light tone of grey narrowed with conviction.  "You should have learned by now to keep a mental shield.  Otherwise your stray concerns will find unsavory company."

   The girl lowered her ears indignantly.  "Do you really have to treat me like a child?"

   He snorted a quick laugh.  "Compared to the rest of us, you would be but a fetus.  But you have proven yourself more useful, handing over the Dragon and your two adventurers so easily.  You know your loyalties.  Wise."

   The guilt welled in her heart again, and she turned her back again, looking out over the landscape.  They were outside on a higher hill than the rest of the large mining town, high enough which from the balcony of the incubus's palace she could see a portion of the caverns peeking out from the hills.

   But however she hid the guilt, Dimitrius still hummed.  "I never liked the taste of guilt, either.  Just what benefit do you see in those 'friends', cousin?"  The incubus strolled around to face her.  "The dragon you could be famous for revealing to us.  A gryphon is unpredictable and as bestial as their four-footed animals."  His lip was drawn in a very slight snarl.  "And lastly, an adventurer?"

   She snarled back.  "You promised you wouldn't hurt them.  Why not let them go?"

   "True, I did," he nodded his assent.  "But as for not letting them go, well, it's for safety.  This is a Creature town, and it was put in my care and I serve it as a representative of Mraisae.  Truly, you didn't bring them to betray us."

   He said it as if it were a fact, and not an accusation or a bout of sarcasm.  Cheyenne took a breath, after a moment of trying to find what to say.  "The dragon you can keep, but the adventurer and the gryphon, I am indebted to.  Both have saved my life on occasion.  If you really speak of the clan's honor, then it's honorable to acknowledge the debt to it."

   He didn't move for a second, his face dark and wings flaring outward.  But then suddenly, he drew his head back with a somewhat hearty chuckle through his closed mouth.  "Well, it's a convincing argument.  Very well, they will be spared at your discretion.  But trust me, if you are planning anything with them, I will know, eventually."

   She was silent after that, her gaze turning elsewhere.  With that, Dimitrius smirked.  His head tilted.  "By the way, I'm curious; where has your Warp-Aci gone?"

   Cheyenne tried not to tense.  She had rehearsed the line, after all.  "I sent him underground in the mine.  I felt that those insectis corpses needed to be cleaned out."

   He seemed to take it with a satisfied look, and turned around back into the palace.  The succubus kept her mind as empty as possible until he was out of sight, and then released a slow sigh and turned back to the scenery.  At least a part of that wasn't a lie.  Tio was indeed underground.

   I hope you're as resourceful as I believe you are, Aisha.

*   *   *

   The sound of footsteps faded into obscurity, and within the dark corridors, one of the prisoners hoped to keep everything quiet...until she finally heard Tio's voice.  "Okay, he's gone."

   Aisha forcefully let out the breath that she'd been holding for some of the time, while the guard had been sitting at the table across from her cell.  The watch had changed three times since she was tossed inside, once every hour or so (she had to approximate, for it is hard keeping time in a dungeon); none of them questioning as to how she had moved from the floor to the bench in the first place.  She tried to just lie there while hearing each one muttering, drinking, or tapping their foot.  Sometimes if one was bored, a rock would be thrown at the cell.  It would either hit the bar as intended or miss and hit the floor instead.  Thankfully, none of the attempts hit her.

   But with the small amount of time that was given between rotations, Tio had given her a bit more information on the situation that the group found themselves in.  The Warp-Aci was quite the informative helper, if a bit sardonic in company.  The first thing she knew was that the substance used to capture them all would wear off after some time.  Enough time for her to have thought up something before they expected anyone to wake.

   The panther felt sore, having to lay motionless on one side for a while.  As soon as Tio's voice came from somewhere in the fold of her hood, she sat up and stretched.  "Ay basura, I couldn't get used to these prison beds," she muttered, and looked around.  Things hadn't changed; the hallway was silent and clear for the time being.  No footsteps reached her ears, or voices.  "Okay," she sighed, still keeping her voice barely above a whisper.  "...Run everything by me again."

   The fold moved across the back of her neck, as if the Aci was also trying to shift comfortably. "Chey's still in good contact.  Dimitrius is always keeping her nearby, and right now they're on the surface somewhere near the head of the city.  We're all underground, even Icharus.  He's in the central part of the dungeon in a huge cage, heavily guarded and restrained with magical shackles, and was forced into his real dragon shape.  Jake is in a cellblock pretty much like ours, just a few steps down the main hall and just as well-guarded."

   "Perfect," she smiled, at least relieved that her friends were still safe for the time being.  "And Icharus's treasure?"

   "That's stored in the guardhouse somewhere.  Cheyenne said that when they went through the treasure, she spotted a few weapons that might be of use.  I can also bring you your boomerang thing back."

   Aisha nodded quickly and made another stretch.  She was waiting especially to get her prized weapon again, feeling quite helpless without it, or without anything but her tail ring.  Mental note.  I'm carrying foot-daggers next time too.

   "Okay then...weapons in teleportation range, friends okay, all I need to do is get the hell out first," she hummed with frustration.  "But how do I do that?  If the guard sees I'm awake, he might run and tell that damned Incubus.  You can't be seen or sensed, so teleporting the key right from his body is out...and I seriously would rather not try the last approach," she shuddered briefly.

   Tio could be heard laughing.  "Well I could turn into a key if stealing it might be too difficult."

   Aisha's eyebrows quirked suddenly.  "...You tell me this now?"

   She suddenly felt a tingle, like the subtle dripping and rolling of water, as the Aci shifted down from her hood and onto her left shoulder.  A shadowy black form with a blue glow to it was snaking down the very fabric of her sleeve.  Then, out poked a small head out from between the folds, much to her puzzlement, while it blinked a pair of glittering sapphire eyes. "Shape.  Shifter.  Just like the 'Cubi, silly Being.  Say it with me.  Shapeshifter.  Not that hard."

   Aisha rolled her eyes and tugged a portion of her sleeve, where his tail happened to also be laying.  "I get it, I get it...you inherited your master's cheek, surely.  Now how much time do we have before the next watch comes?"

   "Ow, don't pull!  About ten minutes, give or take.  It should be the second guy again.  The shift rotates, just three guards."

   She sighed in a bit of relief.  "Good, I think he's the one who'd rather drink than watch.  Get to it, if you would please."

   "Righto."  With a shake of the panther's sleeve, Tio easily slipped away from the fabric, his blackish consistency much like oil as it reformed quickly into a small and canine-like creature with rather impish horns between his ears.  He floated with a good amount of swiftness through the bars of the cell as Aisha stood up to watch him work with a mild portion of curiosity.  More than once that day she wondered how lucky she was to have been partnered with the servant of a 'Cubi.  Unlucky, if just for the moment, to be a friend to said 'Cubi.  Because of what the hunter had overheard of this Dimitrius beast, she wasn't exactly ready to give her trust over to one of these Creatures yet.

   He floated in front of the lock for a moment, a bulky iron thing, before he dashed straight into the mechanism with a flash.  The lock seemed to jump at the impact, and it a bluish glow surrounded its shape while she could hear bits of tinkering within.  Metal was as much as nothing to the whimsical, amorphous Tio...at least witnessing such, Aisha was impressed.

   That was when her ear perked, having caught the sound of heavy footsteps.  It was however very faint, and a little far away to tell yet if it was coming their way.  But the urgency rose in her system, just the same.  "Hurry!"

*     *     *

   "Darn him, waking me up for a watch job," the upcoming guard was muttering to himself, stifling a yawn as he tried to take his time wandering down the corridor.  His gait was rather lazy for one who should have been trained as well as he had, but this one wasn't too fond of the duty he was given.  "Girl probably won't wake up again anyway.  Heh, maybe I can see to that.  Make things easier.  Deal with the management later."

   His heavy footfalls echoed against the damp wall of the dungeon.  He made his way past several doors, several unlocked.  Down one passage that led to a flight of stairs, he could hear a heavy roar exploding from the darkness.  There was a tense pause, and then he just shook his head.  It was the dragon they had captured, trying to wreak havoc on his bonds again.  It was wondered if the barbaric thing would resort to chewing his own limbs off, one by one, to escape.

   Finally, he reached the cell block and opened the wooden termite-ridden door that led into it.  The creaky hinges made a sound, but nothing else came to his ears from the inside.  The torches lit an eerie atmosphere with the distinct smells of mildew, moisture, and sometimes blood.  In this one, the scents of prisoners past still lingered on the walls.  Only the live one stood out.  He walked across to the table, bypassing the other empty cells and wrinkling his nose.  Think a rat might have died in one of them.

   But it was then that he noticed something odd.  The lock had fallen off of the barred door, from which he stood across.  It was cracked open, and there was nothing inside.

   For a second, he scratched his head.  "Thought that was the one...did I take a wrong turn again?"

   He started to take a quick look around.  There were only four other cells in the room, and they were all open.  The girl's scent was still there, hovering...but she seemed to have disappeared though the door was locked.  The torches lit nearly every corner of the room, and it was too quiet.

   But the guard didn't have much time to try to sound an alarm.  As he turned around, there was a blur, followed by an overwhelming shock as his face was met with a very fast-moving foot.

   WHAM!

*     *     *

   "Did you really have to hit him so hard?  I could feel shockwaves in the air," Tio said, as he whizzed through the air above Aisha's head.

   "Shut up," she replied with a harsh breath.  "My heart's going fast enough without your criticism."  The feline's feet flew across the dust-strewn floor of the prison, down the long and dark corridor, her pads rendering the footfalls into a fair amount of silence.  In one hand, she carried a set of keys from the guard.  She had taken them after knocking him out...and for good measure, she also left the unconscious Furre in her old cell and locked the door.  Doubtless, they would realize soon that the adventurer had escaped...but having a body still lying in the shadows would buy enough time for what she had to do.

   In her other hand, she tightly gripped the handle of her boomerang.  Between the time that she escaped and the guard knocked out, Tio was sent for a quick retrieval.  She envied the quick powers of teleportation these interesting creatures had, if only they weren't on the right hand of 'Cubi...in moments, she had her prized weapon back, and neither Heaven nor Hell would bring her out of that place without it.

   "Yeah, well, don't be cocky.  I could've been sensed by someone, getting your pointy thing back.  I can't go teleporting too far and too much."

   "Then we'll just have to be quick, verdad?"  Aisha snorted.  "Just tell me if someone's ahead."

   The Aci darted across the hall, out of sight, and then returned a moment later, darting in front of her face with urgency to stop her.  "There's two guards coming this way!"

   The felid braked and jumped into a shadowy alcove in the wall.  "Shit, shit...uh..." she looked around in frantic thought, before setting eyes back on Tio.  "Distract them!" she hissed.

   He crossed his small arms in midair.  "How am I supposed to do that?"

   "Be creative!  I'll follow through," she retorted, waving him off while shrinking against the wall.  Tio darted out of sight with an audible sigh, just as she heard the voices of two guards conversing while they came through...she could nearly see their eyes.  In fact, both of them were reptilians possessing four eyes.  Ugh, too many mythos...

   But after a second, she thought that she could see the shadows shifting around them, followed by a roughly canine snarl and a snap towards their heels...and then by a yelp as they turned to face the threat.

   But all they would see is a metallic gleam at the corner of their eyes as Aisha took the opportunity to spring up from behind...a slash from the blade at their necks, and they collapsed without uttering anything louder than a raspy squeak.  By then, Tio was hovering above their motionless bodies.  "Killing them isn't a little far for you, is it?"

   "They won't die...immediately," Aisha said, leaping over them, eyes gleaming in her darkened face.  "I know how to paralyze and take out slowly with my blade.  We'll put them somewhere else right after we free Jake.  Now, where's his cell?"

   "Right through there," the Warp-Aci gestured down the side entrance to another cell block, the door having been left open.  She quickly dashed into it and made to close the door, slowly making the latch click and giving her a moment to pause, take a breath, and look around.

   The block wasn't too different from hers, aside from the fact that there seemed to be a few others resting in the cells...other prisoners from whom she seemed to catch attention as she passed.  There was a sad plea of freedom from one, and or two catcalls from others.  "Lissen ta me or I call th' guard!" one called out.

   Making a point to ignore them, Aisha searched through them to find the gryphon's near the far end, and peered inside.  They had confiscated his weapon and strung his hands up in chains.  For the most part he looked unharmed, and only just waking up.

   "Oh thank goodness," the panthress sighed and tested the keys on the lock of his cell, while Tio took the opportunity to hide from the other eyes in the block by blending into her cape again, looking like a dark black-bluish pattern that had been dyed or "tattooed" into the fabric.

   As the bars swung open, Jake wearily opened his eyes, and then they went wide, surprised to see her.  "...Ish?  I thought they...got you too."

   Aisha grinned while looking for the keys to work his stocks.  "There isn't a prison I've seen yet that can hold me; you ought to know that, amigo.  Ah, here we go..." she muttered and started to free his hands.

   "Chyah, give the Aci no credit for helping..." Tio muttered from somewhere in her clothing, which made Jake quirk an eyebrow.

   Aisha caught his look and rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, Cheyenne sent Tio to help me.  Long story short, we have to thank her later."

   A smile played on the gryphon's face.  "Ah, I never doubted Chey.  Her heart is good."

   "Guess so," the panthress muttered as she finally freed his wrists, allowing him to sit up.  "They didn't rough you up, did they?"

   "Not much more than they needed," he grunted, holding a side that Aisha now noticed was bruised, and one wing looking slightly crooked.  "And my leg isn't any better.  I don't think I can walk well, or else I'd be helping you in a heartbeat here.  I'm thinking they have a thing against gryphons."

   "Damn them," the panthress shook her head, pausing to think for a moment.  And then, her eyes narrowed with conviction.  "Well, I won't need your help.  Tio's going to take you back to the monastery."

   "What?!" the Aci exclaimed, nearly making everyone cringe with the noise before he took it to a whisper.  "That'll take too much energy.  They'll sense me for sure!"

   Jake nodded.  "Besides, it'll be just you here against a bunch of dragon haters and a reluctant Chey.  And they have him locked in shatterproof magic bonds, heavily guarded, no doubt."

     There was a pause as Aisha tried to calm down and think of something.  But it was then that she heard the small voice pipe up again with a sound like clearing his throat.  "Well, against magic bonds, something magic-proof might help.  I think I heard them say there was such a relic in storage among his treasure."

   Aisha paused, and then took a piece of her cape in her grip, causing Tio to grunt.  "Again, you tell me this now?"

   "It didn't come up until now!" he argued back.

   The panthress sighed and let go of the fabric, resolve evident in her face.  "Alright, I have my decision.  Since Tio transported my boomerang back to me without a problem, he can do the same with this relic.  And then, even if he is sensed, he can immediately take you back to Mistress Rynkura.  I'm not leaving you here with injuries."

   There was a look of doubt on the gryphon's face...but he was in no position to argue against the headstrong adventurer.  A quick healing, and he could probably either send the Aci back, or bring himself along to fight.  In any case, however frustrating, there was nothing else to do but agree.  He inclined his avian head.  "Alright...but are you sure you can go on yourself?"

   At this point, Aisha wasn't actually too sure...she had gone against bad odds, but being so outnumbered seemed daunting even for her.  But she could think of nothing else.  She nodded.  "I'll be alright.  If Tio wants he can return straight to Cheyenne, it would be less suspicion on her, I think.  Just find a way past the guards and free a dragon.  No problem," she said with a grin.

   Jake grinned back.  "Now that's an adventurer.  Tio better get a move-on now, then."

   "Okaaaaay...you better know what you're doing..." the Aci drew.  Once again, she felt a crawling, liquid-like sensation on her back as he slipped through the fabric of her cape.  His outline took on a quick glow as he vanished.  A moment was counted, and then it was like a thin crack materialized from the air and started to surround Jake.

   Aisha watched as the gryphon appeared to turn transparent, his body shaking a little as the teleportation took effect.  He waved, and she bade him a solemn nod until he was out of sight, and the glow faded, with a few surprised gasps from some of the prisoners who were awake to see it in opposite cells.

   Bar for them, she was now alone.

   Good luck, chica, Aisha thought to herself.  And that was when she remembered that Tio promised to bring back some sort of relic...but for a moment it seemed as if he had brought nothing.  Frustrated, the panthress looked about to call the air for him again, before she spotted something in the shadows that wasn't there before.  Her eyes widened in surprise when she came close.

   It was a sword, about as long as halfway down her leg, long and relatively thin as well as straight.  The sheath was ornate and colored black with patterns of swirling, golden stripes.  As she ran a finger over the sheath, it was slightly rough to the touch, like reptilian scales.  However it was tougher and more rigid...and she could see that on the tip of the pommel lay a shimmering gem.  The cross-guard extended on either side with black tips, mimicking the appearance of scaled talons.

   It was surprisingly light when she lifted it by the strap on the sheath.  When she gripped the handle and slid the blade out, it shimmered in silver, like the surface hadn't at all been touched...nor was the edge dull or chipped, as if it hadn't yet seen battle.  And finally, there were a set of runes etched on the base of the blade...the same writing that she had seen whenever Icharus opened a door.

   "Definitely of the dragons..." Aisha muttered, quite impressed.  Still, her ears lay back against her skull, uncertain.  "A sword, though...?"

   "'Ey, I hear som'ne comin'!" she suddenly heard one of the prisoners yell.  Aisha stood and hid within the cell, trying to bring her hearing to listen past the mutterings of those in the room.

   Two voices could be made out, just barely.  One of them was urgent.  "Guard bodies!  Someone's out!  Find them!"

   And that was when her blood ran cold, her body freezing against the wall.  Damn...I knew we forgot something.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Most entertaining.

I shall be interested to see where this goes...

[Tapewolf]

That was a pretty gripping chapter.

[Aisha deCabre]

((Thanks alot you guys. ^^  And now, a new post, but this is something a little different.  I have been working on the new part to Origin of the Sword, but my muse has been kicking me to start one of the other stories.  And so help me, I had to obey.  So here it is, something that takes place further off in the past.  Sorry, each story is not going to be in chronological order at first.  I do what inspires me.  So, while I'm writing the climax to Origin of the Sword, here's the beginning to what will be Chapter 2: Fated Birth, meantime.  Also, I'm making the sorting system a little easier to deal with.  Enjoy!))

Tales of the Risen: Fated Birth
Part 1

   "Here we are," the driver of the gryphon-drawn carriage said to his sole customer riding in the back, glancing over his shoulder at her.  He tugged gently on the reigns, the creature stopping without a hassle, although one could plainly see that the fur along its striped back was standing on end.  The driver didn't look very enthusiastic, either.  "This is the place, right?"

   The rider was a woman with a dignified air about her...and although it was the destination she sought, she too seemed to be uneasy.  She was a jaguar, a feline with a coat of golden-brown mottled with very dark, almost black rosette spots.  Her hair went down to the length between her shoulder blades.  The strands were as black as coal, with a few silvery streaks, and wrapped in a loose ponytail.  Her eyes were also dark, and though it was hard to tell what color they really were at the angle the driver was, with her face side-on.  They seemed to have a tinge of red somewhere in the iris when the light struck them.  The jaguaress wore a black dress over her form and a grey vest-jacket with a red scarf; rather casual for the reason of the visit.  The dress hung loose over her rotund stomach, taking on the visible show of pregnancy in the way she was sitting.

   She was resting her right hand over her abdomen, protective of the fragile bundle within.  Her eyes were unreadable.  "Yes, this is it.  Thank you.  I will return shortly," she assured the driver in a deep Hispanic accent she was native to and carefully lifted herself from the seat.

   "Do you need help, ma'am?  And no offense, but I'll be waiting at the gate.  I'm not going to stay in a demon-controlled town for long."

   The jaguar turned to look at the driver with a sad grin and stepped down onto the dusty ground.  "I'm fine, thank you.  And I understand.  You may leave if I have not returned in at most half an hour."

   He nodded and flicked the reins.  The gryphon was more than ready to comply, springing into a gallop towards the exit of the small town.  The felid watched him leave, before releasing a quiet sigh and turning toward the building.  She found herself in the shadow of a sizable mansion, the exterior dark and jagged in its premise with symbols plastered all over as a reminder of whom she was to deal with.  It covered the door in a blazing, blood-red arch.  An ominous wind blew at her back, as if urging her to move forward and get the meeting over with.

   She rubbed her stomach with one hand and started onto the porch.  "This may be the last, my child.  Yo espero que lo sea (I hope that it is).  Oh, it may be fortunate that you cannot yet understand what you may hear."

   The woman was escorted through the foyer and into the mansion by two servants, both feline demons.  The hallway was long and dark, lit with dim lamps reminiscent of torches.  She always knew that this particular group was quite fond of their darker powers and influence, but somehow the shadows made with the lights bore down on her harder than she anticipated.

   Finally, a pair of double-doors opened to reveal a sizeable lounge room.  On a raised platform in the front, there was a chair that looked more like a throne than anything.  She couldn't see the face of the demon at the head very well, nor many of the others that took chairs around her in a circular diameter of ten feet.  The servants stayed by the doors as they closed, leaving the room obscured in darkness...bar for a spot of light that illuminated her form in the large space.  The woman felt as if she were put to trial.

   "It is good for you to come on short notice, Mara," the demon in the throne murred in a sleek, deceptively calm voice that did little to betray the nature of ferocity within it.  "You look well."

   The jaguaress stood staunch and tall, but she respectfully inclined her head.  "As do you, my lord."

   He nodded, but there was a long pause in the air.  His head tilted, regarding her form.  "You look rather different.  Somewhat exhausted and pained.  Gained weight it seems, too.  Are you certain you are healthy?"

   She grimaced.  Though it the demon before them was from a noble standing, sometimes it was a Creature's nature to be little more than blunt, and no less toward women.  But she was all the more worried about how he would receive the answer she was to give...the first time, she had been lucky to be called after the birth of her son.  They didn't know that she had bore him a child beforehand, and she had planned to keep it that way.  But unfortunately, not this time...she just hoped that it would keep them from perhaps jumping down her throat from what she was then deciding.

   Mara answered without a beat.  "I am healthy...I am just carrying a child...sir."  She clasped her hands beneath her belly, resting them there.

   His eyes widened, but only slightly.  There was a light growl in his voice.  "His child?"

   A pause, and then she nodded slowly.  "Yes.  It is only to be expected, my lord, I am married to him."

   The eyes narrowed again, and he leaned back in the chair with an uncertain sigh.  "Understandable, I believe...you have had to in your endeavors.  My congratulations."  He said the last part only about half-sincerely.  It was as if the baby could sense the tension as well...the mother felt a slight movement behind her hands.

   He continued.  "And now that the formalities are taken care of...I dare say we have not seen you for quite a few months.  What can you update us with, regarding Luc Cabre, the adventurer...and your husband?"  He seemed to hiss.

   Mara flinched, though the motion wasn't caught by the other eyes in the room.  She couldn't find it in herself to look up at any of them.  Her gaze instead was set to the floor.  The jaguar bit her lower lip, and then answered.  "He is planning on moving.  He believes that where we are living now, is not too good a place to raise a family.  It will be somewhere remote.  And his adventuring days are thus over."

   There was a slight grin on his blackened face.  "Is he?  Where is this place, then?"

   Mara gulped.  This was where it would start.  "Begging your pardon, but...I doubt that I should release that knowledge.  I...also doubt that you have any more to fear from Luc.  He is done with adventuring, as I have said.  His only wish is to be safe and live in peace, with me.  With us."

   The room became deathly quiet.  Some of the demons were giving her blank looks, while a few began to mutter.  Only the one at the head hadn't moved.  His voice shattered the air again, cold and holding a bitter ring.  "You realize, Mara, the fact that he has retired does not mean that he has given up.  Adventurers are stubborn things among Beings...they can stop one day and start again the next.  Besides...the reason we wish to pursue him is out of principle.  He and all before him have been the spawn of ilk for our clan, and we just cannot have that.  We will ruin him, ever so slowly, and tarnish his name.

   "Not to mention that you yourself have only been saved from your mother's crimes because of how invaluable you are as a spy.  The reason also saves you from being marked a traitor, for not killing him on sight; for marrying him...and now this, his marking you with the burden of a child."  He gestured aggressively, which made her back up just a step.  His voice rose.  "Do not forget all of the protection we have offered in exchange for filling us in on the actions of the Cabre bastard.  Are you going to slip out of it, and become just like the treacherous bruja?"

   Anger flared in Mara's blood.  For all of this talk he has spilled about her mother, time and time again, she wanted to plunge her claws into his heart.  But further more, she found herself wishing to defend her husband, and the child.  The woman never expected that she would fall in love with a "target"...but it was a more powerful force even than the promise of protection from the murderous group that stood around her with eyes like hungry dogs.

   When she hadn't answered, instead meeting the demon's glare with her own, he stood up slowly.

   "It would be in your best interest to answer me."

   She was torn with indecision and finally, defeat...or at least it seemed, when her gaze lowered to the floor and her right hand fell to the side, balled into a fist.  "You want an answer?" Mara asked calmly, and quietly.

   Suddenly, her fingers flared, claws engaging and glowing fiercely.  In her hand there formed a bright plume of fire.  Under the light, her eyes became glossy pits, determination and hatred welling within them.  "Here is my answer, hijo de perra (son of a bitch)!" she roared, and flung the fireball against the Demon, several strings of surprised curses following.

   In the ensuing chaos, she turned and started to run.  But she hadn't gone far, for her speed was halted in fear of injuring the unborn child.  The swifter servants had caught up instantly, each grabbing her by the arm and forcing the limbs behind her back while she struggled and spat.

   She could hear the demon growling loudly and hissing through his teeth in pain.  "Bring her back here, now!"

   Roughly, they handled Mara back to the inside of the glowing circle, where she was met with several looks of seething malice.  Before her was the demon, now standing with his fangs bared, one hand nursing a burn that had been placed on his shoulder and had eaten through his shirt.  His eyes glimmered with venom, and his voice was rough and calloused.  "So, you are like your mother.  Well, I prepared for this."  His claws crackled with dark magic.  "Hold her down!" he commanded his servants.

   They shoved Mara to her knees and held her there, causing her to grunt as she tried to resist.  Her eyes were still burning as they watched the form of the creature approaching her.  "Basura!  Diablo!  Maldito!" she spat.  "Go ahead, kill me.  Then you will never find Luc.  I refuse to take part in this treachery!  I will not kill him, nor will you!"

   The demon snorted and knelt in front of her, his hand held in front of her face.  "Oh, I won't kill you.  But he is going to die, one way or the other.  And it will be handed to him personally, by you!"  At the last word, the hand shot across and latched onto her throat, claws digging into the sides of her neck.

   She felt the burn of the magic, and tried to breathe.  "What are you doing?" she choked, trying to get herself free.

   He grinned wickedly.  "Wouldn't you like to know?"  Then, with his eyes taking on a powerful glow, he released the stream of magic.  And she screamed, long and loud, the pain escalating straight to its peak without a single breath taken...to her it seemed like she endured it for hours, yet it was only for three quick minutes.

   She only stopped her voice when he took his hand away, and she was left to collapse on the floor with a marking on her neck; it lay just above the center of the collarbone from where the power had surged.  It shone blackish-purple in the light.

   It was a tense moment, uncertain if she had survived.  Then, Mara breathed slowly and harshly, wondering what had happened...why she wasn't dead.  Her mind turned frantic, fearing for her child's life.  The surge of adrenaline was what helped her to her feet, just as the demon ordered, "Get up."

   The servants held her shoulders as she stood.  Holding her midsection, she was near to tears.  "What'd you do to me?!" she demanded, screaming.

   He just grimaced.  "Your child hasn't been harmed, if that's what you're worried about.  But you're no longer welcome among us, vile Being.  Go with your adventurer, and your life."  His eyes narrowed.  "Eventually, we will take what we want."  With a swish of his hand, he dismissed the servants.  "Take her to the door.  Out of my sight."

   She was led in tears back through the halls, first dragged, and then walking; weakly, but upon her own will, at which point the servants wordlessly let her go.  They reached the great doors and saw her out of the mansion, closing it behind the jaguar and leaving her alone in the empty light of day.

   The mother was shaken...and alive...but the encounter had left within the pit of her stomach a very putrid feeling.  A kick against the side of her womb had brought Mara from the depths however, into a state of relief; at least the monster had spoken the truth.  The baby didn't seem affected; but somehow she could tell that the little one felt her fear.  "Shh..." she softly coaxed, running a hand over the smooth surface that lay beneath her dress, and started walking towards the exit of the town where the carriage waited to take her back.

   It seemed all too easy to be let off by the Creatures with no more than a shock to the system...but thinking over the demon lord's words, she dreaded the day when she'd find out exactly what he meant.

[Tapewolf]

I forgot to comment on this.  It was quite an interesting read, especially since I was initially convinced that it was Aisha - somehow disguising her melanism - who was with child.

[Aisha deCabre]

Thanks for the comment.    Although I'm not sure how you were convinced of that in the beginning, seeing as Aisha would pretty much have no reason, ability, or desire to hide her melanism.  However the heck that could happen. XD

This chapter is from her parents' point of view.  And it'll be short, only about three or four parts.

[Tapewolf]

Although I'm not sure how you were convinced of that in the beginning, seeing as Aisha would pretty much have no reason, ability, or desire to hide her melanism.

The reason would have been to pass off as a regular jaguar, since melanism makes her stick out more.  I assumed she was travelling incognito. It could be done with fur dye if she was so inclined.  Of course this is a moot point since about halfway through I realised it was her mother.  It will be interesting to see how it develops, and feline demons are an area which I think I shall have to explore in my own writings.

[Aisha deCabre]

((Well at least, glad to see y'all are enjoying it.  I'm going to enjoy writing the little part as well, as it will be a little more sweet and slow-going compared to all of the action in the first story.  But for now, I must return everyone to their irregularly scheduled badassery. ))

Part 17

   Not even the curses flowing through her mind were enough to quell the noises that came up in the hall suddenly.  Holding the sword to her, she gripped the sheath tightly enough that it wouldn't move or create even a single shifting noise.  She leaned flat against the wall on the inside of the cell, stilling her breathing, halting a twitching tail tip...anything to keep the evidence that she was hiding in the dark recess away from the guards as their voices raged.

   "The kill is fresh, they cannot have gone far!  Go!  I'll check this cellblock!"

   The sound of boots rushing through wet cobblestone faded.  Aisha's teeth clenched as she hunched in the shadows.  She had the urge to just close her eyes and wait for them to pass.  But if she were to be discovered, there was no choice...the huntress had to fight, and run.  Her right hand clenched the handle of the sword, as if preparing to use it...and she crouched, waiting, and listening.

   The door had been left unlocked, something that the guard seemed to notice immediately as he kicked it open.  Her grip on the sword tightened.

   Naturally, there was uproar from the other prisoners as well.  She could hear someone spitting.  "Silence!" the guard growled, his guttural voice dangerously close, just in the room.  They were more or less obedient, although she noticed that one of them felt safe enough to mutter a curse or two.  Their antagonist continued, unflinching, and unaware of the huntress hiding in a raided cell just yards away.  "This door is open.  The lot of you had better tell me if you've seen anything strange."

   This is when Aisha flinched...there was no certainty that the prisoners would keep it to themselves that she was hiding there.  Her muscles strained and bunched, ready to jump into a battle.  Her mind reeled, constantly reassuring herself that after these two, she could cleave through lines of others.  All that needed to happen was to free Icharus...

   One of the prisoners scoffed.  "Yeh, we saw som'ne.  Girl black as a shade wi' a red cape.  Came n' let ou' tha bloody gryph, smellin' o' blood."

   "Sir, that's the adventurer!" another voice called from the door.  Aisha counted down the seconds, claws digging into the rough ground.

   The guard snarled.  "Damn!  Where is she?  Is she here?" he demanded.

   The panther readied herself to spring at the next word.  But what the prisoner said next made her pause.

   "She en't," he said without hesitation.  "She dashed ou' tha' door 'fore ye came."

   "Sounded like she was going up the left hall," another prisoner added.

   A third then piped up, in a more high-pitched voice.  "The gryphon escaped with her; I think he went the other way!"

   Aisha shrunk back, surprised, keeping silent as the guard snarled.  She couldn't see anything of him from her angle except a long, snaking reptilian tail that flickered out of view.  "If you are lying to me, it will be your heads, I'm sure.  Nobody escapes, by order of lord Dimitrius."  There was a squeak on the floor as he turned.  The tail swished out of sight.  "You heard them!  Take the left corridor!  Find her!"

   "Sir!" the other acquiesced.  She heard the footfalls echoing across the roof as they raced out of the room, slamming the door to the cellblock behind them.

   Aisha waited until the sound of the slam in the room receded into a faint, ominous whisper, and then complete silence...except for the shuffling of feet from the prisoners.  The hunter hesitated to stand, mostly still dumbfounded by what had happened.  Then one of them called in a harsh whisper.  It was the one straight across from the cell she was situated in.  "Hey girl, they're gone."

   "Aye, they'll be back.  Wander out 'ere, need ta talk to ye," the first one added.

   The panther was hesitant, hardly believing what had happened.  Right on the brink of having to fight, the unfortunate imprisoned had suddenly turned her pursuers the other way...and not in the direction of where her former cell had been, although she suspected that they would soon find it.

   Just a moment of silence passed before Aisha shuffled to her feet, placing the sword inside her belt and letting it rest on her left hip next to the boomerang.  It was hidden well beneath the cape, which she found useful.  With a sigh released, she stepped out of the cell and into the dim lighting of the torches where she could see the others.  Her crimson gaze passed over each form, huddled or stretched in the darkness and staring back with different shades of glowing eyes.  Some of those eyes contained an emotion that she could barely read, though she thought it looked like fear or respect; and the others had settled with some sort of conviction or questioning.

   There were four of them in total, kept in three cells.  A loner was kept in the first, a wolverine with wild-looking gold eyes, who sat on the floor with a bare scarred arm resting on an upraised knee.  The second contained two individuals who were canines; one who looked rather like a white jackal, and the other whose long fur suggested collie...the former stood with his arms crossed and caramel eyes narrowed, and the latter lay on the bench behind him and stared off into space, eyes glazed and clouded in brownish-white as if he were blind.  An ear was cocked towards the barred door to denote that he was listening.  Inside of the third, a lanky silver black-footed ferret poked his nose through, eyes staring across to the caped feline with more curiosity than anything.

   Silence was what dominated the air between her and the four men.  She could only guess what they were thinking.  Until finally, she crossed her arms and broke the silence, quirking an eyebrow incredulously.  "Alright...what's the deal?"

   "'Deal', ey?" the wolverine chuckled, his voice turning rather lurid.  "Smart 'n.  A'tually there is somethin'."

   "You should probably let me speak, Ric," the white jackal snapped.  His voice had an accent akin to what one would find in the deeper deserts to the southeast.  He turned back to the panthress.  "We don't really know who or what you are, girl, but you somewhat shocked all of us when you came in with a Warp-Aci and freed that injured Gryphon.  The security here is usually very tight.  But if you were a prisoner too, then you must be rather trustworthy.  Who are you?"

   Aisha grimaced, tilting her head.  "I should be asking you that.  I have no time to chat, muchacho."

   He snorted.  "I figured.  We all heard you say you were going to try and free that dragon that's being held in the lower sanctum.  And, we'd like to help."

   That was when the panther's eyebrows quirked in surprise.  Now they were getting somewhere.  "How?"

   The jackal smirked.  "First of all, introductions.  I'm Seth.  The leering loudmouth over there is Ric."  The wolverine snorted before the canine continued.  "We're mostly the ones who have need of you.  The other two we somewhat made friends with."

   "Oh sure, leave us out of the big picture," the ferret said.

   Seth ignored him.  "In short, for that little service we provided, you're going to set us free."

   Aisha's arms uncrossed and settled on her hips in a defensive posture.  "And why the hell would I do that?"

   It was Ric who spoke up.  "Ay, don' look a' us as mere prisoners, milady.  Ye know this place is ruled by a rather mad incubus.  And like you, we been on 'is bad side."

   The jackal nodded.  "Dimitrius.  He calls himself the leader of Clan Mraisae, one of three supposedly dragon-hating clans.  Except, Mraisae has defected from the shallow thinking of those left from the wars.  He only leads a small faction that hasn't."

   "Forced, more like," Ric snorted.

   The huntress, originally uninterested, was now rather intrigued.  At least she knew where Cheyenne stood, thanks to Tio's help.  But what it had to do with these individuals...  "How'd you know this?" Aisha asked, a little less demanding.

   The jackal paused for a second, and then lifted a small corner of his shirt.  On his stomach just below the rib cage, rested a familiar bluish, rounded symbol.  Aisha nearly jumped back and put her hand on the sword's pommel. "A 'Cubi?"

   "A friend," he corrected, and let the tattered shirt fall from his grip, crossing his arms again.  "You were talking about a girl called Cheyenne...she's a cousin of mine.  Hard to tell if it's a second or third, it's hard to keep track of family ties.  But she's blood."  His eyes narrowed.  "Believe it or not, adventurer; I know how your kind tends to distrust shape-shifters and mind-benders.  But I'm in prison, bound at my ankles with magic-suppressing bonds, with the rest of these Beings, and that must say something.  Ah, all beings except Ric; he's of Clan Ha'ram."

   "Thank ye for 'membering," the oversized musteline laughed.

   Aisha glanced between the both of them, slowly letting her hand off of her sword.  She could at least imagine how they could not have escaped themselves.  The panther sighed.  "So then...if I let you go, you're going to try to dethrone this Dimitrius."

   "An' put 'is 'ead on a plate, hah!" Ric exclaimed.

   Seth just put on a disapproving face, then just shook his head and nodded back to the adventurer.  "And provide you some good directions for how to find your dragon friend without trouble from the guards."

   It was a tough decision for Aisha.  But in all argument, she could not afford to take the chance that perhaps they were no allies...and there was no time left, for the guards could have been coming back at any second.  She took the keys out, and her red eyes regarded Seth with conviction.  "You'll give me the directions first."

   The jackal sighed, but assented without further provocation.  "If you keep going down the right corridor from this cell you'll eventually end up at a side passage.  The guards are scattered and unfocused right now, so they'll keep patrolling the main halls for you, so keep to the shadows; hide in doorways, stay as silent as possible until you get to that passage.  It slopes downward for a few yards, and then banks up to near ground-level.  You'll reach a huge open rotunda; it used to be a torture chamber, and there should be a big cage in the center.  It's heavily-guarded, but with a bit of stealth you should be able to take them out and rush in."

   Aisha listened carefully, though she was somewhat adverse to the idea of stalking into a torture chamber.  But if it was the only way to go...

   Finally, she sighed and fitted the keys into the locks.  She freed Seth first, and as if on a second thought the jackal took his blind comrade with him by the hand.  Aisha had no more time to ask who it was.  She let out the ferret second, just out of courtesy, and finally the musteline last, out of caution...she only really trusted the one who had claimed to be a cousin to Cheyenne.  Freed of their bonds, the incubi were free to release their sets of wings from being hidden, having morphed them into their spines and scalps.  Ric spared a wink when he was let free, rather amused at the feline's sneer back, and was the first to rush out of the door.

   "Alright, let's move," Seth said, ushering the others out before turning to the panther, who had her sword drawn, cautious of betrayal.  Unintimidated, however, he bowed.  "Our thanks go out to you and soon, perhaps the thanks of the entire town.  But we haven't gotten your name."

   "Aisha," she replied.  "Just don't make me regret freeing you, incubus.  I've had enough surprises."

   He just replied with a laugh.  "From now on, the only surprises will be good, adventurer."

   "Better be," she replied, and replaced her crimson hood to obscure her face, pushing past and racing into the darkness, jumping straight over the carcasses that she had left behind before.

*   *   *

   A nervous Cheyenne paced quickly across the floor towards the balcony, the tendons in her hand flexing as she worked her claws.  The succubus was getting tired of everything.  It had been a short while since she last heard from the Aci...no idea yet how Aisha and the others were doing...time was hard to tell when things were moving rapidly.  Just a moment ago, Dimitrius had gotten some important news, and was saying nothing except for everyone to rush and prepare.

   And now, on top of the heavy burden of worry, Chey had to relinquish her adventuring armor in favor of something a little more formal.  Why the hell won't he tell me why?  She wondered with a snarl on her face, thinking of how she was simply dismissed like one of the servants instead of treated a little more like a clan member.  Is this really the family I thought I was getting myself into?

   However, the feeling disappeared as soon as she reached the edge of the balcony and leaned her arms on it, searching the air.  There was a sense, a tugging on her consciousness, which was quite familiar.

   Tio?

   Right here, Chey, the little voice replied in her mind.

   The air in front of her then seemed to just zip open, a small, glowing blue rip that materialized into her small companion.  Tio perched himself onto her shoulder, his gaze following hers to the horizon...their voices quiet, they conversed within their thoughts.  Thankfully the thylacine had a mental shield mastered just enough during her stay.

   So what's happened?

   I just returned from the monastery.  Jake's gonna be healed quickly, but not quickly enough to join us.  I set Aisha free beforehand, and with luck she's running around causing chaos in the dungeons right now.

   Not enough chaos, I think.  I haven't heard any messages to Dimitrius that things have gone haywire yet.  Nor do I see Icharus wreaking havoc, and I can see the very center of the prison; it's that wide plate on the surface, within the circle of buildings.

   Aisha's secretive.  There won't be chaos until the end of it.

   I hope you're right.

   Suddenly, a staunch voice interrupted the silence of the outside world.  "Cheyenne!"

   The two of them whirled to face Dimitrius, his normally orderly face looking grim and unnerved.  "Why haven't you changed yet?  They'll be here any minute..." his voice trailed off as his eyes met Tio's.  "He's back late."

   "He comes out of hiding when he wants to," Cheyenne retorted, gesturing for Tio to vanish from sight.  As he did, though, someone else came running up to them before Cheyenne could ask who was coming.  It was one of the servants.

  The small shrew looked red-faced and out of breath as he braked before the 'Cubi.  "Lord Dimitrius...word from the prison guard..." he panted.  "There's...a problem."

   His eyes widened, and Cheyenne's held a hidden fear.  The copper-brown coyote glared, a fierce and fiery expression that didn't belong on the face of a noble.  The kind that, when it did appear, meant dire trouble.  "What problem?"

   The rodent caught his breath and swallowed.  "An escape, sir."

   There was a pause, before Dimitrius's hand shot out and clasped the servant's neck, fingers completely encircling it and claws digging into the skin.  "You bother me for that?  Let the guards handle it."

   "That's...just it, sir..." the servant choked each word out, his breath running ragged.  "Some...of the guards...were found...dead...and they say...the escaped prisoner...is...the adventurer."

   For Dimitrius, time stopped.  For Cheyenne, it was now quickly running out...the last few shards of sand in the hourglass.  Her friend had been discovered before the dragon was freed.  Well, there's the chaos.

   "DAMMIT!" the incubus roared and angrily threw the servant like a rag doll, crashing him into the wall and sliding to the floor unconscious.  "This should not have happened!  What went..."

   As if a light went on in his head, he then swished around to confront Cheyenne.  But she had already disappeared...from the balcony, and out of view.

   The incubus glared into empty space, and then rushed back into the palace, leaving the servant lying in a thin stream of blood

   Not wise, girl.  Not wise at all.

*    *   *

   She thought that she heard voices behind her, chasing...but at the moment, her mind was in enough haste that she could jump at imaginary voices and footfalls.

   Aisha was lucky in avoiding the guards rushing through the torch-lit halls of the underground compound.  She only had to fight off one, whose blood stained her boomerang with little ease...for the guard's life, she was just left with a long gash that opened her left sleeve and caused a shallow cut along with it.  The adventurer couldn't feel the pain in her intense focus.

   That was just before the entrance to the corridor; the panther could easily identify it.  An earth-shattering roar erupted from the darkness and stopped her feet dead.

   With a gulp, the expression on her face hidden in the darkness of her cowl, Aisha wasted no time in leaping into the shadowed pit.  The sounds of frantic guards were left behind her.  The only things that came to her ears when she was far enough were the sounds of her fluttering cape and nearly-noiseless pads on the dry stone floor.  The sheath of the sword at her belt was ramming against her leg as she ran...she would have to get used to that.  But at least the blade was hidden well...and had yet to taste flesh.

   Jagged stone walls soon turned smooth, and at one point the darkness was so pitch black that she felt lost and disoriented.  But whenever the panther stopped, she didn't turn.  She just remembered the direction her feet felt they were facing, and she walked...cautiously, her hand feeling the wall.  It was smooth and cold; it felt like she was walking into a cavern.  Except...there were no sounds of dripping and flowing water, or shifting rocks.

   Instead, there were the echoes of a massive, struggling beast that was getting closer by the second.  When her eyes were of no use, Aisha followed her ears and walked against the waves of sound rushing beneath her feet.

   And then, she came across a gradual brightening, and she knew what the smooth walls were.  The dungeon had turned into a hallway that felt like the underground of a hospital or a laboratory...except it was far from either.  The walls were polished and grey under the soft orange shafts of light coming down from above her...and the shafts of light illuminated what looked from Aisha's view like the underside of a drain covering.

   What it drained, she could only imagine.  The image was made even more vivid by the strong smell of death and dark red stains on the floor beneath the shaft.  This was where the corridor also turned into a stairway leading upwards into the center of the prison.  The dragon was certainly present...another thunderous roar made the walls shake.

    I hate being underground, I hate being underground...Aisha's mind chanted.  Withholding the fear, she set foot on the steps and hastily rushed up to them, only stopping when she saw something brighter ahead...like sunlight.  She was at the top floor.  And carefully peering through the barred window of the door, glimpsed the size of the room...and the cage...and Icharus.

   The storm dragon raged against the shackles, bonds surging with magic and glowing like hot irons as they connected him to the steel floor and ceiling.  One clasped his neck...two his ankles...another had his tail...and the last, his jaw.  Around the cage, a monstrous circular thing that had to be fifty feet high, guards walked around and through other doors similar to hers.  There were only about four visible, but it was hard to tell how big the room was.

   There were none yet who were coming towards her.  But her fingers lay upon her weapons, and her eyes narrowed.

   Here goes nothing...she thought.  In like a shadow, slice all in your way, grab the keys, open the door, cut the bonds.  Icharus can clean up.  Her stomach then lurched.  It was the fear again.  This time the possibility of death was quite real.

   Taking a deep breath, the panther reached for the door handle.

   And then she paused.  Through the window, there were a few swift flashes.  The guards were dropping.  And to her greatest surprise, a voice cut into her head as a black-blue entity swept across her door.

   "Now would be a good time to help!"

   Aisha held a pause.  "Mierda santa..." she murmured.  But then, with a grin in her blood-red eyes, she grabbed the handle of her bladed boomerang and charged through the door.

[Tapewolf]

What can I say?  It's a gripping chapter, and I keep re-reading it.

[Aisha deCabre]

((Woo, the bug of epiphany has bitten me.  So close to the end of this saga and quite determined to finish it.   I might have rushed a bit through this scene, but action sequences are supposed to be rushy, yeh?   Also, new update on some of the other chapters, as in this one: the yellowy glow used to accentuate Icharus's powered dragon voice has just been shifted to a yellow font.  The glow was fun to use but just too much trouble.))

Part 18

   From the dragon's position in his cage, the thing set in the epicenter of the twilit room, it was easy to see what was going on around him.  But he was blind with rage; his strength was nearly deteriorated from the vain efforts to break out of his bonds.  Only a brief flash of metal broke the noble from his almost feral trance and brought life back to his lightning-gold eyes...following its path, the next emotion to be brought with him was surprise.

   It was like a metallic flying saw blade; a familiar weapon that flashed through the air, cleaved the bodies in its way, and swished back to its master's hand...bringing blood with it.  Then in a matter of seconds it was flying again, rage evident in the warrior's eyes.

   Aisha wasted no time in disposing of the guards, with Cheyenne not far along with her.  Blood sprayed from the captors, one by one, as they ran...it was decided that none were to escape.  Magic flew as they fought back; but the succubus lashed out left and right, and the adventurer's feet never stopped moving.  In the background, the dragon was stomping the floor in a fit of anxiety.  The ground shook from the waves of sound; all the more incentive to keep fighting.

   Cheyenne had just recovered from skewering one of the guards with a wing tentacle when she suddenly spotted a shape behind the panther.  "Aish!  Look out!" she screamed.

   Aisha turned just as a wall of flame flew towards her.  But just out of instinct, she drew the sword from its sheath and made a downward slash towards the magic fire.  There was a sort of ringing in her ears, and she could feel intense heat flowing past on either side...

   But none of it had touched her.  Instead, a line of fire had whiplashed and reflected back onto the attacker, who was now stumbling and screeching to put it out.  He was silenced instantly when a blow to the head with Cheyenne's wing knocked him into the wall.

   Silence descended.  There was no more screaming or shouting.  There was just the sight of several bodies littering the room and blood painting the floor a dark red; already flowing into some of the drains in the floor.  The warriors were covered in remains.

   Cheyenne shuddered, quickly flicking the blood from her wings and morphing them back to normal.  On her face there was a look of complete disgust.  "I took an oath to heal, not to kill.  I can't believe I did that."  She stopped muttering after a second, glancing around.  "That's the last of the..." her head tilted curiously as she looked toward her comrade.  "...Aisha?"

   The panther was crouched on the ground, gripping the handle of the sword with both hands.  Her eyes were wide as they regarded the blade.  "Damn..." she said, short of breath.  "It is magic-proof."  Her teeth gritted.  "And here I was so sure I was going to die."

   Chey chuckled, wiping her hands clean on her armor.  "You're safe now...but you're bleeding..." she paused when Aisha didn't respond.  "I just wish I had my sword back.  And you're welcome for the help."

   As the succubus said that, Aisha released a long sigh and stood up, staring at her for a moment.  The expression on her face was unreadable, eyes dark in the minimal light.  But she simply shook her head and raised her red-tainted boomerang tip.  "The bleeding's nothing.  And I'll talk to you later."  She swished around, replaced the blade onto her belt, and glanced up to Icharus's cage.  "Where's the key?"

   "Right here," answered Cheyenne without a beat and tossed the silvery object toward her.  "We have to hurry.  I think Dimitrius is going to overrun the place soon."

   Aisha nodded and grabbed the key in midair while running to the barred door.  "No time to waste then."  With the thylacine close behind, the lock clicked open under her jarring with the key and was left to drop to the floor as the cage opened.  Icharus could do nothing to speak, but his head thrashed the chains around.

   "You hold still," the panther growled.  Her fingers tightly gripped the sword's handle and she held it as if she were holding an axe.  The dragon saw this and reared his head back so that the glowing chain was stretched taut.  The blade was raised...

   SWISH!  It sliced through the magic binding nearly as easily as if it were slicing through air.  The chain and the clasp around his neck vanished.

   With a few more swings, the bonds around his limbs vanished, and he could move again.  His feet stomped with elation (or frustration, one couldn't tell) until, finally, Icharus found a moment to lower his head and let the clasp around his jaw be sliced apart.

   Freed, the two smaller adventurers had to step back as the dragon let out a thunderous roar, a bellow which echoed insanely across the chamber in races of waves.  No doubt, it could be heard on the dungeon level and anywhere below ground.  His mouth snapped shut with a cloud of electrical discharge, his eyes once again flashing gold.  "By the honor of Stormclaw, they will pay for this insolence!"

   While Chey cowered behind her, Aisha held her sword up in defense and shouted up to Icharus among the faint crackling.  "Will you calm down?  I don't think calling on your honor will get you out of this, tonto!"

   The dragon snapped back, his voice lowered to a deadly growl and the golden feathers on his wings ruffled.  "It is an outrage, is what it is.  They've massacred my family, left my kingdom to rot, and now the last of our treasure is in the hands of those filthy marauders..."

   "Hey, some of those 'marauders' are family!" Cheyenne suddenly cut in.  Aisha turned to shoot her a look of disapproval, but not before the storm dragon's fearsome head turned to face her.

   His lip curled to show the rows of fangs.  "You're going to be first, you little traitor."

   "Then I shouldn't have even bothered to help free you!" she shot back, flaring her sets of wings as if preparing to use them.

   That was when Aisha stepped between the two and raised the blade. "Silencio!" she roared, glaring between them both.  "Cheyenne, you will keep quiet.  Icharus, we just saved your monstrous ass, so can't you at least be grateful?  Chey just helped to kill the guards, against her morals, so she's still with us.  Save the animosity for after we come out of this alive."

   There was a snort emitted from the both of them, but they had at least settled.  Grateful, Aisha lowered the sword.  "Now come on, let's get out of here.  I think there's still a lot more fighting to do and not a lot of time."

   Icharus nodded, flaring his wyvernesque arm-wings and allowing his eyes to take on a fierce glow once more.  "Then I shall lead the charge."  His voice started crackling.  "Stand back."

   They watched as the great beast gathered his strength and raised his head to the shimmering ceiling, which carried onto a dome of reinforced glass spreading aboveground.  Static discharged the room as his head raised and an orb of lightning formed within his jaws...getting larger by the second until he looked as if he could stumble from a nonexistent weight.  The lightning ball was larger than his head.  Aisha felt like a wind blew through the room...she ignored the snaps of static that stung her skin and the slight ear-ringing that followed.  The magic-proof blade once again helped in that endeavor as she held it up over herself and Cheyenne like a shield.

   Then, with a roar, the dragon released the ball.  It flew into the dome, blinded the room with a white-hot flash, and a roar as powerful as the dragon's own shook the walls.  The glass resisted the lightning.  However, Aisha could suddenly see how it could have worked.  Portions of the glass had shifted...and melted.

   "The hell...?" Cheyenne whispered.  "How'd he do that?"

   Aisha smirked.  "You should pay more attention to your elemental studies, Chey.  The air around a bolt of lightning is thousands of degrees in temperature.  Impossible to catch, but it is common sense that dragons are masters of controlling heat magic."

   "Damn dragons..." the succubus retorted, but stood transfixed as he released a stream of electricity to cut the edges.

   When he was finished, he lowered his body and spread his wings, gesturing to the other two.  "Get on and brace yourselves."

   Cheyenne shook her head.  "Oh, he's not thinking..."

   "Yes, he's thinking," Aisha grinned and rushed to get up on the dragon's back, the reluctant succubus following.  As soon as they were secure, Icharus bunched the muscles in his legs and wings, preparing them for a leap.

   Then, with a lurch, the scenery all around them rushed downward.

   He made straight for the ceiling...Aisha had her eyes closed just before his stone-strong head bashed through the weakened dome.  The sound of shattering filled their hearing, and all around glass shards fell as if in slow motion.  The light of day barraged upon their eyes as finally they left a room of death for the air of the outside.

   Icharus rocketed into the air for what seemed like moments until he finally slowed enough to allow his passengers to catch their nerves and open their eyes.  Aisha was finally relieved to be out of the ground and into the open space.  The three looked down upon a circle of buildings that made up the dungeon entrances.  Somewhere nearby they could see the large roof of Dimitrius's palace.

   And straight below, a crowd of onlookers could be seen gathering around and looking up where they hovered.  The expressions on their faces ranged from bewilderment, to mystification, to downright horror.  There in their line of sight flew a storm dragon, the Creatures who were long thought driven out.  Behind the crowd, a surge of guards surrounded the grounds.

   Cheyenne trembled.  "Shouldn't we, you know, move?"

   "Sí, I don't like the look of those warriors," Aisha added as her grip tightened over the base of the dragon's wings.  A surge of men and women in armor, and many mythos who looked like they could do without it, broke up the startled crowd and brandished several silver weapons in the air after them.  Some were setting up throwing spears and two large catapults.  But the archers were already lining up against the walls of the palace.

   "Let's get out of here, now!" Chey pleaded.  "Tio can teleport us back to the..."

   "No!" Icharus roared.  "I have vowed by my family name that they will pay.  They have our legacy and I will get it back or die trying!  I may die an honorable death in battle, not a cowardly one in a filthy prison!"

   To accentuate his point, the women held on as he charged his magic, lancing a line of electricity into the crowd to scatter the warriors and hopefully destroy the catapults.  Arrows flashed into the air after them, though the dragon put up a quick barrier against the flying points and flew higher.

   "Oh I'm gonna be sick," the succubus growled in the sudden acceleration.  "Look, this is crazy!  It's just treasure!"

   Aisha glanced behind her with a snarl.  "You already heard what his 'treasure' really is.  You can go back if you want, I'm staying to fight."

   Cheyenne screamed as the dragon went into a head-long dive, casting more lightning into the crowd.  A fireball flew from one of the catapults, which Icharus deftly avoided and retaliated with a ball of lightning.  In a flash of light, the machine and the immediate area around it exploded into flying wooden splinters.

   "You're crazy!" she said.

   "Be tough!" Aisha retorted.  And as they went into a dizzying display of aerial mastery, suddenly the succubus couldn't be felt hanging on to Aisha any more.  The panthress figured that she simply teleported out of the way as intended.  Perhaps best for her, she thought.  There was no time to dwell on the matter...there was a fight to be had.

   Back and forth they went across the crowd, scattering them and sending most of them running while avoiding a barrage of spears and arrows.  Aisha felt her stomach lurch a few times...she was more comfortable if her feet could move on the ground.  But all she could do was hold on as the dragon went on his crusade of anger...she started to wonder if everything was really worth all of the trouble.  Her boomerang was a help in cutting a line through bodies, but she couldn't ride with one hand for long.

   Suddenly, Icharus took a dive that nearly shook Aisha from his back.  He had narrowly avoided a blast of fire magic rocketing past him.  After that, several magic-users in the crowd followed that example when they were out of ammo.  Blasts of ice, fire, and everything in between were launched at the dragon in fevered efforts to bring him down, and the adventurer who aided him.

   "Damn!  Look out!" he shouted to the panthress as she ducked low, avoiding another magic blast.  Their aim was becoming better too quickly.

   Aisha couldn't take much more waiting.  The claws of one hand dug into the base of Icharus's neck while her other hand reached for the sword.  "Get ready to land!" she growled over the air.

   The dragon snorted.  "No!  I have an advantage!"

   "There's too many of them!" Aisha argued.  A sword swing deflected a fireball coming at her.  "Either retreat us or get ready to land, dammit!  We have to take the fight to them directly!"  Another swing deflected a darkness-imbued arrow.  She grunted, trying to hold on.  "You keep flying and casting, you'll only exhaust yourself and probably get killed!"

   "I won't—AH!"

   The dragon suddenly turned in midair as a line of fire aimed at his side nearly took out his wing and singed his feathers.  Aisha yelped, gripping his back with only one hand...however, she wouldn't keep her grip for long.  Just after the flames, an arrow came from the other side, lodging itself near Icharus's neck, missing Aisha's arm by mere inches.

   Her grip started slipping, and it was that point that her voice turned frantic.  "Ick.  LAND.  NOW!"

   The dragon growled and swished below the crossfire, preparing to land.  The guards on the ground saw this and readied everything they could muster for firing at them.  The crowd scattered as the dragon's talons painfully met ground, and Aisha could let go and safely drop to the earth.

   However, they were immediately surrounded...facing down an entire line of weaponry.  A few of the 'Cubi had the edges of their wings morphed sharply.

   "Prepare yourself," Icharus rumbled and faced one side of the closing circle.

   "Been prepared," Aisha answered back, drawing her boomerang so that she had two weapons in her hands.  They advanced on them...

   "Hold your fire!" a voice suddenly cut through the chaos.  Several bows and blades lowered and eyes all turned in the direction of the voice.

   It was Dimitrius, flanked on either side by a 'Cubi and several mythos servants; all under and from clan Mraisae, Aisha guessed.  The crowd parted as he walked up to them.  Seeing the Creature fully for the first time, the panthress did nothing to hold back the feeling of disgust.  He had the same swagger as the demon she last fought, as well as the same air of deceit and darkness.  She hated when that kind of pride was shown.

   He stopped a good distance away, only smirking at the fact that he was being glared at by an adventurer and a dragon.  "I should have killed you when I had the chance, Being.  The dragon as well.  I see it was quite rash to even trust little Cheyenne.  But I suppose the girl has run away in fear."

   Icharus hissed, his talons gouging the earth.  "Cheyenne has done enough.  Your battle is with Stormclaw, incubus."

   "Hm," he grinned, and then nodded toward the panthress.  "And who is she?  A servant?"

   "I most certainly am not!" Aisha growled and took a step forward, eyes flashing.  "You speak to the Risen, hombre."

   At that designation, there was a slight mutter from a few, surprise evident in their eyes.  Dimitrius's eyes narrowed.  "You're the Risen?"  The incubus was silent for just a few seconds.  And then he laughed incredulously.  "I've heard of you.  One who calls herself the Risen, a rumored and somewhat feared demon hunter.  Funny, I expected someone older, and not in the company of a dragon, the last of a dead race.  Now I know I should have killed you.  A horrid influence for my little cousin, especially."

   "Speak nothing of Cheyenne!" Aisha snarled.  "She's out of your influence now.  Like Icharus has said, your battle is with us."

   "Not just them, actually."

   A new voice.  Dimitrius whirled to see who had parted the group next, and his face turned into a grimace of surprise.  Aisha too recognized the presences, and so did half the onlookers.  It was the white jackal and the wolverine that she had released from the prison.  Both showing their true appearance and colors as incubi of Mraisae and Ha'ram...both wearing more than just ragged prison clothing, clad for battle in various armor pieces.

   "Ye may wan' to count again, usurpin' fool," the wolverine piped up, spreading his feathered black wings.  "Ric of Ha'ram an' Seth of Mraisae."

   Before anyone could reply with little more than gazes of shock, a blue rip tore through the air before Aisha and Icharus.  Emerging from it was Cheyenne, carrying her own sword once more, a fierce glare on her normally cheerful countenance as Tio became himself again and swished over her head.

   "My true cousins forgot one more name," the thylacine grinned.  "Cheyenne of Mraisae, the clan who have long deflected from trying to overpower the dragons, as far as I have just been told."  Her leathery wings flared outward, the tips showing the hints of forming tentacle-blades.  "And as the lord Icharus and Aisha the Risen as my witnesses, I briefly renounce my title and oath as a student of Healing."

   She drew the crystal-bladed sword from its sheath on her back and pointed it toward him.  "Your battle, Dimitrius, is with me."

   As the crowd hushed, awaiting the incubus's response, Tio turned back to a rather shocked Aisha and Icharus with a grin formed in his azure expression.  "Didn't think she could be that tough, did you?"

   The panthress slowly grinned.  "What'd you expect?  I'm the one who taught her how to be tough."

   The eyes settled on Dimitrius, who looked more stressed than anything at all of these recent turns of events.  His prisoners had escaped and the balance of power was now in jeopardy.  The clan was now divided.

   Finally, he shook his head slowly, smirking.  "I really don't have time for this."

   He lifted his head, and the smirk disappeared in favor of a deadly grimace.  And then, his voice rang.

   "Kill them!"

   In a flash, the armies surged, and clashed.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

that yellow font is abysmal to read.

Unless, y'know, you're using a theme with a black background, of course...

[Aisha deCabre]

Ack...I keep forgetting about that. x3

I'll get that fixed.  Just that I'd like to emphasize the force that goes through Icharus's words whenever that happens.  Colors just have to be iffy...

Edit:  Fixed.  Boldfaced instead.   

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Oh, selecting it reverses the colour scheme. It's just annoying in -large- doses... ;-]

[Aisha deCabre]

((And now, while I try to write a friggin' large-scale action scene, here's something kinda light-hearted and mellow to tide y'all over.  The second part of Fated Birth.  Enjoy, peeps. ))

Part 2

   A town lay in an arid, remote part of a giant field of slightly-rolling hills and mountains seen on only one side of the horizon.  The other sides went as flat and clear as anything could be seen.  Here one would most normally find little farming communities and small towns more than big cities, and more often than not the people certainly liked it that way; quiet days and a simple lifestyle.  Despite the sanctity, there were plenty of trade routes crisscrossing the landscape, leading into the larger cities when one went far enough.  The largest had the routes coming together into one point; a diverse trade town.

   The area was tolerant to Creatures and Beings alike, and it was there where some even chose to live because of it.  But waiting somewhere in the center of the town, next to a vibrant plaza of food shops, a cart full of simple belongings was parked.  A horse was tied to it, patiently waiting for its masters to return...as patiently waiting as was the individual leaning on the cart.

   His arms were stretched back, elbows resting behind him on one of the softer bags.  Eyes of a deep brown scanned the area he was facing, which was the open plaza.  Several kinds and groups of Creatures were passing the man at the moment, paying him little mind; except a few of them had glanced his way when they noted he had the look of a warrior.  He too was a jaguar, with fur of a very light shade of golden-white under the spots dotting his pelt.  One could tell he was a fighter; he stood strong, rough, and intimidating--even when he was just relaxing--with a neutral gaze of stone at first glance.  A few scars crossed his rough arms, and a few more over his hands covering some burn marks as well.  The dagger that hung at the feline's hip from his belt was of course the most veritable clue.  He wore a simple outfit of a brown pair of trousers and vest over his otherwise shirtless torso and a patterned band around his forehead.  His hair was black and short, straight to his shoulders.

   The adventurer sighed and flicked the tip of his tail, searching the crowd.  He had been waiting for a small while for the time when he and his family could finally make their trek to the home which would be promised to them; and for the guide to take them there.  Before he could think much further, however, he heard a young voice calling from across the throngs of people.  "Papi!  Mire aqui!" (Dad, look over here!)

   Pushing through the crowd was a child of about seven years of age; his son, who had taken quite after him in appearance, except for the dark gold that his fur carried as from the side of his mother.  Wide brown eyes found the cart and his father as the cub ran towards them, carrying something under his arm.  The horse nickered and glanced up, but otherwise paid little heed as it ate the sparse grass under hoof.

   A smile lit up the jaguar's face as he regarded the little one, chuckling as he kicked away from leaning on the cart and knelt in front of the excited boy.  "Hijo, there you are," he laughed, glimpsing the package he was carrying.  "What've you got, Ayan?"

   The cub beamed and opened a portion of the seam, showing a hilt made of crafted, sculpted wood.  "A sword!  A training sword, dad...I'm gonna be an adventurer too," he grinned.

   "Oh, are you?" the father laughed and picked Ayan up, swinging him around into the cart.  "That's a hefty goal.  And a dangerous one."

   "I can do it," the child assured with a look of seriousness on his face, holding the training sword like it was a prized possession.  "I can learn how to fight."

   There was just a nod from the older jaguar, a look of amusement on his face.  "Well, we'll see about that.  Where'd you get that thing anyway?"

   Ayan tilted his head.  "I bought it.  I had a few coins with me."

   "Aha.  And where'd you get the coins?" he asked, voice neutral and eyebrow raised.

   Ayan blinked, and for a second his face caught the guilty look of a child having done something in the wrong.  But then a wide grin with several small and sharp teeth took over his face.  "Mom gave me some money."

    "Ahh, did she now," The father chuckled, surprisingly mirthfully.  "Tell you what then, you keep that for training, and when you're ready, I'll forge you a real one."  He faced his son with a steel gaze.  "But you don't steal money any more."

   "Steal...?" Ayan squeaked.  "But I didn't..."

   "You don't lie to me either.  You want to be an adventurer, you're going to be an honorable one.  Comprendes?"

   "Okay..." he replied under Luc's stern warning; though inside, he was still enthusiastic about receiving training, if his father meant it.  Suddenly, he caught sight of something over his shoulder.  He blinked for a second and then put on a wide smile.  "Mom!"

   The jaguar's eyes widened as he turned to follow his son's gaze.  Across the road from the plaza, a carriage drawn by a gryphon had settled to let its passenger out.  The woman carefully set foot upon the ground, one hand upon the rail and the other holding a bag away so that it wouldn't jostle her pregnant form.  The dark gold-colored jaguaress looked up, catching sight of her husband and son with a warm smile.

   "Mara," he smiled as she came to meet him with a warm and careful embrace...but when she did, there was an involuntary shudder that suddenly passed through her body, as if she were feeling an aftereffect of the shock she had been given; it came from the burn on her neck, hidden by the scarf, and passed downward.  Noticing the small quake, he met her dark eyes, concern hovering within his own.  "Estás bien? (Are you okay?)  How'd your visit go?"

   Her smile was a light one, an expression full of mental exhaustion; both from her condition and what had happened only about an hour ago.  Her husband had let her go when she told him that she had relatives in a nearby town to visit.  Not exactly a lie, but not exactly the truth either.  With a hum, she planted a light kiss on his lips.  "Estoy cansada, mi amor.  (I'm tired, my love.)  But I'm alright, and I bought travel food on the way.  Just ready to sit down and relax.  I'm sure you feel just as I do, Luc."

   The former adventurer nodded, kissing her back.  "I do.  But I can take being on my feet for one more day."

   "Oh can you?" she smirked playfully.  "You weren't in much of a rush to help me out of that carriage."

   Luc snorted.  "That's because you never want me to help, mujer.  You're always sure that you can do everything on your own."

   "And don't you forget it," she snorted back.  "I never needed help in my life."  She broke away from the embrace when she felt a tug on her dress, which was Ayan.  "Oh, I wouldn't forget my little niño," Mara smiled and picked him up, straining a little as she did.

   Her husband grinned and gently pulled them both up with a tug on her shoulder.  "Sometimes you do.  So how's your family?"

   "Oh, they're fine," she said in a dismissive fashion and placed the cub back in the cart.  "Wanted to congratulate me on expecting.  But I don't read much into it, they're an extended part, never kept in touch with us."

   He rolled his eyes.  "Guess that's why I never met them."  With a chuckle, he placed his arms around her midsection from behind, his hands resting gently over her belly.  "I don't care though.  You, Ayan, and the baby are family enough.  Close and there for each other always."

   A blush fell across her face.  It was true...since the death of her mother she never seemed to have a true family.  Only a clan of demons who treated her like any other Being-blooded child sired from one of them; like a burden, something to raise just for their use.  They had love for their own, and none for others.

   It was the child who piped up next, bringing her out of darker memories.  "What's the baby gonna be, mamá?" he inquired, tilting his head.  "Is it gonna be a brother or a sister?"

   She laughed and kissed his forehead.  "We'll just have to wait and see."  With a soft grin, Mara glanced back to Luc.  "So where's the señora?  I thought she was going to be with you when I came back."

   He nodded, letting her go to lean his back on the cart.  "I sent out a message from the station an hour ago.  She should be here."

   Then, right on cue, another voice came from behind them on the other side of the cart, female and jokingly incredulous.  "Such keen eyes, sir Cabre, and you haven't noticed me standing here?"

   Startled, Mara jumped and Luc instinctively went to grab the handle of his dagger.  But when they caught sight of the woman who addressed them, they settled instantly.  She was a tigress with pearlescent white fur and bold black stripes, wearing the calling-card light blue and white colors of the Healers on a loose robe that trailed to bare knees, the back extending further to her heels.  She wore sleeves on her upper arms with shimmering gems embedded in both.  The staff she carried, a long and thick wooden thing with claws that clasped a clear blue orb, had a soft glow to it; enchanted with light-oriented magic.  She looked to be in her late forties in age, but she was tall and strong with a gentle countenance behind a dominant, teacher-like appearance.

   Ayan jumped excitedly from the cart again; he hadn't been keen on staying there and keeping quiet.  "Señora Msh'taan!"

   The tigress laughed and gently laid a hand on the boy's head as his parents approached.  "See, your son seems to have better senses than you do, in your old age."

   "I'm not old yet," Luc grumbled, but respectfully bowed at the waist at any rate.  "I'm glad to see you've made it, Rynkura."

   Her head inclined in return.  "As with you, sir and madam Cabre.  The both of you are ready to leave, then?"

   "We've been ready, yes," said Mara, gesturing to the cart.  "Every last bit of our belongings that we wish to take are accounted for."

   "Almost," Luc added and grabbed his energetic son, replacing him within the soft bundles and inciting a barked laugh from him.

   Rynkura nodded.  "Then we leave at once.  And I assure you that your home is the best protection I have found, and very secluded.  You will be able to raise your children in peace as you've wished."

   "Finalmente," the warrior lamented, a solemn look in his eyes as he took his wife's hand.  "That's all I wish."

   Mara nodded, and glanced questioningly to the Healer.  "Pardon my asking, señora, but are we to stop at your monastery on the way?"

   There was a pause from the tigress.  "Yes," she confirmed with a slight smile.  "A long journey like this, there is no way that we cannot.  There is no better place for a rest, I shall tell you.  Especially for an expectant mother."

   The monastery had been discovered and used by Rynkura herself, to turn it into a place for Healers to learn their trade.  It was situated deep in a valley beyond a wall of steep hills and low mountains, near to the border of a darkened forest and a wide field, and consisted of an old cathedral and several other places built in the courtyard as sanctuary for the sick and wounded.  If Mara could find out anything about what happened to her—without Luc catching notice of it—it would be there.

   "Bueno," she chuckled and started up into the cart.  Rynkura was to sit in the front, controlling the horse's reins.  Luc was going to sit up in the front as well, but on a second thought he found room to rest in the cart's storage alongside his wife and son.  There was something inside of him, just a feeling that told him he was better off close.

*     *     *     *

   The journey took a little over half a day to complete, after departing the trade city for locations that lay further south.  As the road gradually led into smaller settlements, less people, and finally into the open wilderness, it also became harder for the wheels of the cart to tread the rough and rocky path.  The activity of the towns deafened into the solitude of the long trade roads, and by the long-coming dusk the smooth horizon had morphed into hills large enough to nearly be called mountains.

   For a time, Luc kept watch for trouble that was known to settle on least-traveled ground.  Sometimes he walked beside the cart, and sometimes he controlled it while Rynkura gauged the distance to the monastery, and the rest of the time (at the Healer's insistence) he rested within the cart with his wife and all-too-eager son.  The journey took longer than needed for pauses to rest the horse and feed themselves.  But what kept their patience from dwindling was the hope that they were reaching a place where the kin of a hunted adventurer could live without fear.

   By the time the rocky path had turned into an incline into the mountains, through a well-hidden pathway among barriers of stone, the area was shadowed into pitch-black night.

   Rynkura's staff was the only source of light that illuminated a small distance around them, the glow made stronger by the addition of an orb of magic that floated freely above the cart like a will-o-the-wisp.  She glanced back at one point, where she could see Ayan fast asleep and laying between his parents.  Mara was still awake, though on her face there was a layer of exhaustion as her voice cut through the silence.  She was singing in her native tongue, a lullaby to soothe both Ayan and the baby still kicking in her womb.  Luc, his arm around her shoulders, looked to be asleep himself; though the tip of his tail swished in rhythm to the tune.

   The tigress waited for the song to end before speaking.  "How much longer will it be?"

   Mara glanced up with a quiet chuckle.  "Sooner than I think, perhaps.  The baby seems most eager to see this life."  The last two words were spoken with an air of doubt.  Her eyes turned from a soft glow and into something troubling.  It looked rather like she was in pain...not the sudden pain that came from a child's birth coming closer, but something more sickening.

   It was an expression that Rynkura caught all too easily.  "Is something the matter, child?"

   The jaguaress paused, and then turned with pleading eyes to the Healer.  Her voice was in the lowest whisper she could manage without waking her husband.  She knew that the old tiger could still hear her.  "When we get there, I want to see you about something...alone, if you would please.  Something has happened and...and I think there may be something wrong."

   Rynkura looked solemn and doubtful, but nodded.  "We shall see soon, then.  The monastery is just ahead," she promised, and turned her gaze back into the darkness that pervaded the sights before them.

   Knowing this, Mara could finally succumb to a wistful sleep, while the burn still ached and sent chills through her body.

[Aisha deCabre]

((Whew, and finally the chapter that people actually were waiting for.  I argued with myself for quite a while on whether or not to choose what I did for the end of this. x3 ))

Part 19

   All throughout the town, word quickly spread of the growing chaos in the prison yard.  Families ducked back into their residences and hunkered behind locked doors while any guards and warriors who could be spared rushed to the scene.  Creatures and Beings of all shapes, sizes, and types rushed into a fray.  The noise escalated into screams and roars.  Even those working the mines from their lofty hillside had to stop and watch as weapons flashed and magic blasts rang through the air.

   And even there, the 'Cubi of clan Mraisae and Ha'ram were starting to distance themselves, their opinions already having been turned.

*     *     *

   It was hard to tell where the mob had begun and where it ended.  After Dimitrius had made his demand, the guards had tried to surround the small group of prisoners and adventurers who only seemed to be on their own.  Then the tide turned with a vengeance as each and every Ha'ram 'Cubi came to their aid after seeing their freed comrade.  Then the blood started to fly as about half of Mraisae's forces turned to that side and against their own brothers.  With the sudden outrage as traitors were named and their head sought after, it turned into a massacre.

   Aisha managed to get out of the fray before the bodies began jostling and crowding.  The huntress was panting as she reached a higher point near the roof of one of the buildings, her cape and some of her clothing already torn in places.  She untied the cape and tossed it onto the edge of the roof where she could fight without its hindrance...and her eyes scanned the great battle with utmost horror.  She couldn't even spot Cheyenne in the fray.  Only Icharus could be seen easily in his full dragon form, slamming through the wave of fighters with his horns like a ram until he could fly out...and even then, he couldn't unleash his electricity on the crowd without hurting any allies.  It was the dragon's fight more than anyone's, and he was pushed to the edges, spears and arrows flying in his direction.

   The battle was large enough to give the illusion of stretching to the horizon.  Watching, Aisha wondered just how anyone was to get out of it.

   "Risen!  Your head is mine!" someone suddenly shouted to her side.  It was another lizard-like mythos, his hands glowing with poisonous green magic and his voice hissing with menace.  He had probably been among those that heard her declaration and aimed to claim an infamous Being kill...plus she couldn't tell if the bright mark on his head was a closed third eye or not...but at that point, Aisha cared nothing for appearances.  She was just threatened.

   Drawing her glistening boomerang, she scoffed and stood her ground.  "I've heard that before.  Thing is, my head's still right where it is, isn't it?"

   The reptilian hissed in laughter.  His magic spread along his arms and crackled between clenched fists, turning dark and changing into shades of gray.  "Not.  For.  LONG!"  At the last word, his fists slammed into the ground and sent Aisha nearly reeling with a spiraling wave of energy.  The ring on her tail went haywire, pulsating with a glowing magic.

   She flipped back to her feet and jumped away from the remnants of the shockwave, her boomerang slicing through the air towards the mythos.  But he was quick in sending a whiplash of magic back, streaking the thing out of the air and ensnaring Aisha's leg in the process, causing a burning sensation to crawl into her skin.

   The panthress hissed.  This is why she hated fighting mythos.  Each was a basket of surprises.  But that's when she remembered she had one more weapon on her belt.     With a flash, she drew the sword and brought it down through the tentacle of darkness, scattering shadows, and her other hand called back the boomerang from its wayward flight path.  She used the sword as a shield against another whiplash attack, while the lizard's growl of frustration could be heard.

   She landed opposite him, his third "eye" now opened to reveal a red-hued iris in contrast to the pair of normal yellow ones.  His magic whipped forth again, fists continually slamming into the earth...and she continually fending the waves off with the sword.  Aisha feverishly sliced through wall after wall of magic, slowly coming closer to the target.

   Then she felt another snare around her leg, tripping her back.  Caught by surprise, all she could do was land her arm on the ground to catch herself and pivot her body.  The sword sliced upward while she flipped and, in a move that felt like slow motion, cut through the bond and caught the beast straight in the neck.  A crack was heard, and blood flew in her face.

   When Aisha found herself upright again, the mythos lay on his back...and his head lay beside him.

   The blade glistened with the crimson liquid as if it was enjoying the taste of the flesh.  The panther blinked, staring down at the sword with appreciation as she flicked it clean.  Damn, I should have had this when I was in the fight with that last demon.

   That's all she had time to think about as another two warriors headed for her.  But with the handle clenched in a tight claw-ridden grip, Aisha was quite ready to do the same thing to any other aggressor.

*   *   *

   In the backdrop of a violent clash, Cheyenne was right in the middle of it.

   She could no longer see where her cousins were, but she knew they were somewhere...sometimes the growl of a wolverine pierced the air and sometimes she could see a brilliant flash of white.  But the fight was far too dense.  The succubus was defending herself with her sword as habit dictated, even against members of her own clan.  After one of her first encounters with others of her kind, she was thoroughly confused.

   This can't be right...

   After a fight took her to the edge of the fray, two things happened at once: her opponent was knocked back into it with a crash, and Chey herself was tripped as a swish from a reddish-gray wing tentacle took her feet out from under her.

   Falling to the ground with a grunt, she got herself on her feet only to see Dimitrius sneering.  He no longer looked so regal, but instead his countenance took on that of a ragged fighter.  His energy and emotions were felt easily by the girl...all of it had the spicy tinge of rage and a heavy, sour dose of frustration.

   "You said your fight was with me, right?" he said in a rough tone, spreading his wings.  "Well, I'm here.  And you really shouldn't throw your thoughts around."

   "Dimitrius," she hissed, drawing her sword.  But before she could say anything more, she caught sight of Aisha beyond the crowd, fending off several different attackers.

   Again, the incubus caught her thoughts.  "You needn't worry about your friend; my hunters will take care of her."

   "STOP THAT!" Cheyenne growled, swishing her blade toward him.  She'd certainly grown tired of all his thought-reading on her.  "What in hell are we fighting for anyway?  Icharus only wanted his treasure back."

   She was answered with a tentacle whipping around her sword arm, causing her to drop it.  "Principle, cousin," he mocked.  Another tripped her over again and caught her leg.  "Unlike the rest of the fools going for peace, we know dragons are never to be trusted.  Give them an edge..." he grabbed her neck with one hand and lifted her up.  "They'll give you their breath.  But now, because you refuse to accept your inherited beliefs, half of your clan and all of our allies are now uprising, being led by mere prisoners.  My plans are all but ruined because of all of you."

   His grip clenched tighter as she gasped for breath...he only stood feeding off of her fear.  One of his free tentacles formed a blade, aimed to impale her straight into the midsection.  Her eyes went from carrying defiance to carrying horror.

   "By the way...if you're going to fight like a Being, you might as well have never learned anything about being a succubus."

   The appendage drew back...

   Cheyenne's eyes were closed, expecting herself to be impaled.  But instead she felt a sudden vibration, as well as a loud growl when the fingers clutching her neck were released, allowing her to fall to the ground again.  Opening her eyes, she didn't expect to see what she did next.

   Dimitrius stood to the side of a nasty burn in the ground which had charred the dirt pitch black.  The cause for that burn now stood nearby...a familiar silver and white avian, his eyes glowing fiercely and readying another electric ball in his hands.  "You might want to step away from her," he sneered.

   "Ick?!" Cheyenne exclaimed, disbelieving.

   He grinned back.  "Well, it was getting tiresome being shot at from the air.  I believe I'd rather prevent my comrades from getting killed.  And for the last time, it's Icharus."

   "Your name is mud as far as I'm concerned, dragon," Dimitrius cut in.  But before he could charge toward the eagle, he was stopped by several jaws clamping around his limbs and the base of his wings, shooting pain straight into his nerves.

   The jaws came, to the surprise of both men, from the wing tentacles of Cheyenne...the ends of which sprouted small heads akin to the appearance of earless dogs.  The thylacine succubus herself had her own wide jaws sneering with their sharp rows of teeth, glancing to Icharus as she grappled with the incubus's form.  "Don't worry, I have him.  Go help Aisha!"

   The dragon paused, unsure of these events.  But he had no time to argue.  Silently he wished Cheyenne good luck with her fight while he quickly made way for where Aisha was fighting a crowd.

   Dimitrius was growling with frustration, blood streaming from the places he had been bitten.  But still he willed his own wings to form blades and hooks to fight back.  "It's pointless!  I'm hundreds of years older than you are, you can't win!"

   The girl strained to match his strength.  "Well at least now I'm not fighting like a Being, now am I?"  One of her free tentacles, he suddenly noticed, had her sword back and was gripping it by the handle.  He countered by trying to tug it away.

   It was then fight became moreover a grappling battle of skill.  This time she was the one reading his thoughts as he lost his grip and concentration...and with each moment he was losing more blood and gaining more fury.

*   *   *

   As the blood kept flying and the bodies falling, Aisha's head was in turmoil with rushing memories.  She struggled to remember all of the sword-fighting lessons that she had gotten from Mistress Rynkura, while having to be fast enough to execute them and still be vigilant.  It was easy against one opponent.

   But now she was facing four, with more coming up to surround her within her point of view.  One tossed fire her way, another ice at the same time.  She dodged both, using the sword as a reflective shield...the magic was hitting the others coming, but by now the fighters knew the blade's power and were more than ready to dodge it.  The panther was running on pure adrenaline, and she couldn't keep up the fight for long...

   That was when the crowd broke out into screams, a few of them convulsing and dropping as electricity coursed through their bodies.  Aisha was surprised to see that the one responsible was Icharus, having noticed just before that there was no longer a large dragon flying above the battle.

   When the last of the aggressors fled, Aisha sighed, mostly with relief.  "My thanks, señor."

   "Don't thank me yet, we're all still in a war," he replied.

   Looking out over the battlefield, Aisha following his gaze, the bodies scattered around had become numerous and the battle was dwindling to an exhausted bunch left.  It seemed that everyone had forgotten about the fact that their target dragon had disappeared, and were now concentrating on each other.  The allied Mraisae and Ha'ram forces were turning the tide against the other half of the former, and any 'Cubi from other clans had long since left, leaving them to their business.  At the horizon, the sun was just thinking of setting, the light touching the peak of the mountains.  More screams and howls rose through the air, and from what she knew of the Creatures, Aisha believed that the fight would go into the death, and long into the night.

   "I can't understand," the huntress shook her head.  "I thought this whole thing was about you, but instead it's about them."

   "The clans have their own agenda," Icharus replied, shaking his head.  "You'll soon understand in your career that you can't really escape power struggles; they are the underlying forces in any and every event.  The word 'politics' is really just a nice way to put the notion, 'I'm better than you and I can prove it, with or without blood'."

   Aisha rolled her eyes.  "Always knew that."  But in her mind she felt a bit disappointed.  Was every adventure going to have to be like that, where she'd have to choose a side to fight for?

   That was when Icharus spoke up again. "By the way, Lady Aisha, I noticed you found my family's sword."

   She glanced at the blade.  "Tio found it, actually.  But it's very useful.  Hope you don't mind."

   The avian smiled.  "Not at all."  His look turned thoughtful.  "In fact..."

   A sudden flash of blue in the air interrupted him, alerting the two to the appearance of Tio.  The Warp-Aci looked frantic.  "Guys, you have to come quick!  Chey's in trouble!"

   "What?  Where is she?" Aisha demanded.

   "Dimitrius is taking her up one of the roofs, there!" he gestured.

   Aisha immediately raised her blade and rushed in that direction, muttering a string of curses.  Icharus followed with a grumble.  "I knew I shouldn't have left her to fight alone."

*   *   *

   "Look!  Lord Dimitrius!"

   It took only that one voice in the crowd to suddenly stop the mayhem and focus all eyes on one point.  The fighting halted almost in the same instant, the injured and exhausted trying to hold themselves up...a few 'Cubi had taken the time to energize on the souls of the dead lying around them.  None of them had noticed when Aisha and Icharus had entered their midst.

   But all were thinking the same thing...the battle now had the ability to turn the other way.  The incubus was holding Cheyenne roughly by the base of one normal wing, with the skin membranes in bloody tatters.  She was hanging limp, yet she was blinking wide eyes through a frozen expression of pain on her face.  It was as if the girl were paralyzed.  Dimitrius himself was enraged and covered in his own blood, much of it still leaking on the ground.  He was acting completely on his own raw emotions.  He appeared to have gone feral.

   "All of you!  Look up here!" his rough voice rang through clenched teeth.  "This is what happens when we are challenged!  This...is what happens to traitors!"

   The crowd was frozen and silent, watching what was to happen next.  Cheyenne was shoved to the ground, one of her wings taken and stretched out, ready to be sliced off.  Dimitrius's breathing was ragged as his tentacles formed blades one more time.   Not one person in the crowd made a move, although there were some who wanted to try.

   But just when he was to deal the killing blow, something metallic and silvery flew up from somewhere near the crowd and nailed the canine incubus in the small of his spine, causing him to howl in agony.  Embedded halfway into his back was Aisha's boomerang.

   He dropped Chey and looked to where she and the dragon had suddenly leaped onto the roof.  "Don't everyone help at once!" Aisha roared to the crowd as they advanced on the hunched-over incubus.

   "Jus' waitin' fer the right moment!" someone answered back.  On the other side of the roof stood Ric and Seth, the wolverine and jackal incubi readying an attack of their own.

   Dimitrius, despite his massive wounds, stood his ground.  "None of you would dare...AGH!"

   His sentence was interrupted when the boomerang was wrenched from his back and flew back into the Risen's hand.  "Get over yourself," she snarled.

   "Now!" Seth growled.  They charged, while Chey shook off her stunned state and returned to her feet.  In front of her, the once-powerful Dimitrius was now helpless, held by a dragon, an adventurer, and two of his former allies.

   "Cheyenne!  He's yours!" yelled Icharus.

   The girl paused.  She wasn't without injuries of her own, but she was more held back by her own doubt.  To kill a clan member?  Family?

   This "family" held your friends in prison and planned to kill them.  He was using you and when things got rough, was going to kill you too.  That isn't what family does.

   For the first time in a few hours, the actual hesitant and sometimes-timid version of Cheyenne was seen through tears running down her face.  But that was to vanish in an instant with a fierce glare in her eyes and fingers tightly clenching her blade.  "My pleasure."

   They held a weakly-struggling Dimitrius as she stepped forward, holding her sword so as to plunge it into his heart.

   Then something gripped her wrist, and a new voice spoke up with enough power in that calm voice to make her shiver.  "Halt."

   The new figure appeared unexpectedly, the others pausing to look up at her.

   The crest of Mraisae shone bright both in the form of a bracelet over the woman's right wrist and as the clan symbol etched on her left.  She was a canine of mixed origin with a coat of white over a black muzzle, and eyes of bright gold regarding those before her with a smidge of irritation in the expression...it was hard to tell what she was thinking.  Feathered wings of bright silver spread from her shoulders and her head.  On either side of her stood two figures that Aisha remembered from the prison: the blind collie that once shared Seth's cage, and the ferret.

   "As you can see, we've been telling the truth, Mistress," the latter said, gesturing at the scene.  The two figures were her servants, it was guessed.

   The initial shock of the crowd wore off as the Mraisae 'Cubi knelt where they stood and the Ha'ram 'Cubi froze in respect.  The rest of the crowd, consisting of mythos and Beings, all chose to file out of the scene quickly.

   Cheyenne was captivated, as the canine gently let go of her wrist.  "Let him go, all of you.  Now he has business with me."

   When they did, Dimitrius didn't move, but simply hung his head and clenched his teeth, shaking violently.  Aisha, Cheyenne and Icharus all looked to Seth and Ric for explanations, both of whom were also bowing in the woman's presence.

   The white jackal only grinned and lowered his voice.  "Finally, she got here...ah, you best do as she says.  You're in the presence of Mraisae herself."

[Tapewolf]

It takes a lot for me to engage with characters in stories like this, but you've managed it again.  To be honest this got off to a slow start, but for the last few chapters it really has been gripping.

[Aisha deCabre]

((And now, finally, I present the final chapter to the first tale, Origin of the Sword.  I hope y'all enjoyed the story, because in the annals of Aisha's life there'll most likely be some more to come. And sorry it took a while, I had some trouble putting the chapter together, but in the end I hope it fits well. x3))

Part 20

   As his wounds were mended with the swiftness and precision that the Healers of the Shadowed Depths were known for, most of Jake's time was spent thinking about his friends.  He had left Aisha in a jail cell, and who knew if she had even succeeded...whether or not she was with Cheyenne, or if Icharus had been set free...

   He did have a lot of faith in the panthress.  Even for an adventurer just a year away from her twenties, she was skilled and dedicated.  She could even imagine how cruel the world really was and could adjust to firm realities.  But that didn't stop him from worrying...much like he imagined a big brother would worry.  But if anyone could bring Cheyenne back home, to his great hope...

   The gryphon sat carefully on one of the hospital beds in one of the halls behind the giant chapel, relieved of his armor and halberd, and simply watched through the window as students and guards passed by on their usual daily trainings.  His burn and bruises were completely gone, and even though Jake would be nursing a broken left wing for a few more days, the silver and black Creature would still have been likely to go sparring in the training grounds again...if his concerns didn't take up much of his focus.

   Suddenly, a flash took up the corner of his eyesight...carrying a familiar blue tinge with it.

   Jake turned quickly and, to his great surprise, beheld Tio floating in front of him.

   The Aci had something of a grinning expression in his wide crystalline eyes.  "Scared ya?"

   He stared for a moment, and then broke into laughter.  "No, you didn't, but...what are you doing here?  Are the others with you?  How...?"

   Tio silenced him with a giggle, waving his arms in excitement.  "Calm down!  It's a bit of a long story, what happened, but everyone's okay...I was sent to come get you.  What's happening right now, Chey wanted you to see to believe.  The others agreed with her."

   The gryphon blinked, struck dumbfounded.  "I...the others?  They want me there...?  But isn't it dangerous?"

   "Not anymore.  You can even come without your armor.  But you've GOT to be there to see why."  The end of his paper-thin tail shimmered as it prepared to cut through space.  "You coming or what?"

   "I..." Jake murmured, looking around the medical ward with a look of uncertainty before settling his eyes back on the impish creature.  "I think I may be missed by Mistress Rynkura, though, I really should report to her..."

   "There's no time, they're waiting!  Come on!" Tio urged as he swished through the air over Jake's head, a trail of sparkling magic left over his outline.  Before he had much time to argue, he had vanished from the bed in a flash of light.

   The flash illuminated the corridor on the other side of the room's entrance, which caught the attention of the tigress herself just as she was coming back to check on the gryphon.  Perplexed, she stuck her head through the door to find the bed empty.

   Rynkura only stood staring for but a few moments before a grin parted her jaws and she shook her head slowly.

   Following a hunch, she called over one of the subordinate blue-and-white-robed Healers.  "Clear the grounds and spread the word to watch for the Stormclaw party."

*   *   *

   "...Okay, he's coming back," Cheyenne reassured as she turned back to the group.

   The lady Mraisae stood calmly, nodding.  "There is no hurry yet, child."

   The adventurers were still gathered upon the roof, still trying to take in what had just happened and how the fight was uniquely interrupted.  The guards of the town had all left their posts to see the outcome of this development, while many bystanders were advised to return to their homes.  Advised, but not forced; that was apparent when many had chosen to stay just out of curiosity and reverence.  The original crowd was pretty much dispersed, the wounded rushing to be taken care of while the dead still lay where they fell yet.

   Looking over it all was Aisha, standing on the side next to Icharus with her arms folded.  The huntress didn't really know what to make of the situation...and she didn't know how to react to it either.  In the midst of all these Creatures and an apparent clan leader...had they really been saved by her visit?

   By all looks it seemed that way...Cheyenne seemed less intimidated than anyone, as well as fascinated, but they could tell she was also hesitant...having been deceived by supposed family before.  The white jackal Seth stood beside the clan leader, and the strange blind collie was next to him.  The wolverine Ric was sitting on the edge of the building just looking around.  The ferret wasn't anywhere to be seen; in his place instead was another Warp-Aci sitting on Mraisae's shoulder, its shape akin to that of a small mustelid.  Whether or not their prison companion was merely an illusion or the Aci itself was kept secret.

   In fact, in just a few seconds after she had been introduced were the adventurers aware that the succubus had quite a secretive nature, never bordering on extreme emotion.  She just stood patient and still, with a serious expression akin to one carried by a baroness.  Her wing tentacles however had Dimitrius wrapped in their coils with two little heads rising up to hiss at him from time to time.  His face was neutral, emotionless, and defeated.  After he had been secured, Mraisae allowed Cheyenne to carry out her request to retrieve the last member of their party before she addressed anyone.

   On cue, the air in front of the young thylacine flashed.  She stepped back to allow Tio through...and materializing with him was the outline of the gryphon.  He was shielding his eyes, readjusting them after coming out of a dizzying and long transportation.  When he was able to see again he beheld the group; several he knew, and several were strangers, though familiar-looking.  And one was a real stranger, but there was a hunch that told him who she was.

   Greeting him with a smile was Cheyenne.  "Welcome back, Jake."

   "Glad to have you with us, amigo," Aisha waved.  "Boy do we have a story to tell you."

   "If that isn't the truth..." Icharus muttered, his presence coming as a great surprise to the gryphon.

   In silence he turned around to view their surroundings.  Bodies piled in the midst of a prison yard, guards all around like a morbid congregation, but the others safe and standing on a roof over the carnage.

   The avian shook his head, looking back to Cheyenne.  "Well, do I get to hear the story or what?  Because I feel rather nervous right now without my halberd."

   "Ye can start by payin' attention, mate," Ric snorted.  "If we wanted ta kill all'n'ya we'd 'ave done so by now.  Gryphon soul is a delicacy, too."

   "Shut it, Ric," Seth warned.  Mraisae, through the small banter, hadn't even moved.  The jackal continued.  "Now that all who are needed are present, her lady would like to speak."

   Eyes turned to the dignified clan leader, whose expression looked calm, as if nothing had happened and she was merely watching an opera drama in boredom.  While Jake was still getting used to the environment, he felt suddenly more intimidated by this woman than by anything or anyone else; the others must have felt the same way.  Even those who weren't any kind of 'Cubi could still feel the pause in the air and the still emotions that were carried with it.

   Finally, the canine jerked her wings forward to suddenly lift a battered Dimitrius to his feet.  "First of all," Mraisae began, "I would like to make sense of what has happened here and has been happening since my last arrival some time ago.  Fifty decades has passed since then, and back then we were still participating in a war with these storm dragons.  But only a small time later my clan's involvement, as well as that of our in-marriage clan of Ha'ram, had decided to shun these foolish wars...and doing so had also shunned our alliance with several other clans.  The fight with dragons was over since the conquest of this canyon, and if any Stormclaw were to return we would listen to their request and needs.  And I thought we were all in agreement on that when I gave Dimitrius reign of this settlement...nay, this town."

   Her eyes narrowed, and the captured incubus audibly gulped.  Mraisae took her time continuing...perhaps she liked the taste of his uncertainty and fear.  "Why then have I come for a visit to this place only to see a disjointed community, a fight between our own brothers, a dragon kept in anti-magic bonds in the dungeon..."

   She growled, turning to Dimitrius.  "And my most trusted servants locked in with him?"

   "Busted," Aisha couldn't help but mutter with a slight smirk, taking a bit of amusement in the incubus's plight.  What had once been a furious leader was on his knees, looking into the impatient eyes of the white and silver canine with a tentacle-head hovering over his head-wings...the feral little thing looked as if it were about to rip them right off at one word.

   Icharus was more amused, but still uneasy...what was to become of him yet?  The dragon was standing in the middle of things and probably would be until a settlement was reached.  As for Cheyenne, she was just anxious.  Mraisae's servants looked on with reverence.

   Dimitrius gulped as his mind hurried to explain things.  When he settled on an answer, his eyes narrowed.  "With all due respect..." he slowly began.  "I never agreed to the settlement.  All the more reason when the dragon came...and attacked us instantly...destroying us."

   At that, the dragon could be heard suppressing a low growl.  Aisha's hand was on her belt.  Liar.  She can't possibly believe that.

   The Lady Mraisae seemed to be in consideration for a second.  Then, an ear quirked in Aisha's direction, which made the panther flinch.  She could feel just a slight pinch, seemingly in the back of her head and a twinge in her mind.  Cheyenne was watching, and when the thylacine saw that her friend would panic, she gave her a reassuring glance, as if to say, "let her in."

   It was over in a second, before Aisha could decide.  The succubus turned to Dimitrius.  "And my servants?"

   "I..." he stuttered.  There was no pleasing answer for that.  None of the others could think of one either, they imagined, were they in his situation.

   There was a pause...then, "We shall sort that out later.  But about the dragon, well.  Your story seems to have a ring of truth to it."

   The canine incubus looked relieved for about a millisecond.  Then he adopted a wide-eyed look of pain as a tentacle blade had driven itself in and out of his neck.

   As Mraisae withdrew it and shook the blood from her feathers, she made sure that the last words he heard before collapsing were: "But not enough of a ring, I'm afraid."

   She let the body lay twitching while she turned to the others, remorseless.  "I must apologize for that...sudden...bit of a mess.  I've had so much treachery in my clan that it has become mute to my emotions after a few hundred years."

   With that, Mraisae turned to the crowd watching on.  "I hope that beckons a lesson to the rest of you," she said.  "You fought bravely, but in the end it had better be that those of you standing would be on the side of mutual peace rather than to carry out this...war nonsense."  With those words burned into the minds of her clan, she sighed.

"Treason...really, how droll.  Well, shall we get this sorted?"

   In the end, Jake knew the whole story; bit by bit as it was told by his comrades.  He had a feeling about Cheyenne's portion ever since he had heard about her betrayal of the group.  To know that she had enough courage to help the others escape her mess was a real relief to the gryphon.  When Aisha told her side, he was somewhat envious.  Were he not injured back then he would have done anything to take the adventure and do his part.  But he knew her resourcefulness (and recklessness) would prove life-saving.  And finally there was Icharus...despite the slight animosity and distrust of the dragon during the trip, Jake had come to show empathy for the last of the Stormclaw nobles.

   As the sun set and left the sky dark with stars, the adventurers were welcomed for dinner in what had once been Dimitrius's former palace; now having been entrusted to Seth, as Mraisae announced a moment before.  It was insisted that they could stay the night if they wanted, but they were more eager to make their way back home after everything was sorted out with Icharus and his treasures (he subtly hinted that he wouldn't be too comfortable sleeping where there were two populations of dream-walking Creatures, anyway).  The feast was grandiose, and for the travelers who hadn't eaten much that day, their stomachs were fast overwhelmed.  Mraisae herself and many of the other 'Cubi were simply standing around the edges of the room and at the head of the table, quietly observing...or perhaps, feeding themselves on the emotions of satisfaction, victorious elation, and relief.

   Soon to follow were preparations for the leave.  Aisha always felt this was both the greatest and the most disappointing part of an adventure; greatest because you knew that you had triumphed and that you lived...and the most disappointing because, really, who knew how long it would take before any more excitement was seen?  Of course, her comrades pointed out that it was only inevitable.

*     *     *     *

   When night fully fell, they had all gathered on the palace's courtyard, illuminated brightly by a circle of torches.  Mraisae had the treasures recovered from the catacombs brought into a pile nearby, and her musteline Warp-Aci had offered to teleport the objects anywhere that Icharus wanted, for it claimed to have been everywhere in Furrae.  A little far-fetched, perhaps, but he figured that at least one place would do for him.

   "I am afraid that you cannot take the canyon itself back, sire Stormclaw," Seth pointed out, to the dragon's disappointment.  "At least not until agreements have been made.  There are still clans who would fight to keep that piece of captured dragon territory for themselves.  The last we checked, the Cyra had been most adamant of late."

   "Perfect," Icharus sighed, who was still in his avian form and standing in the center of the circle.  He had recovered his clothing since and looked much like a royal diplomat in front of them.  The others were watching near the edge.

   "However," Seth continued.  "Lady Mraisae insists that you take your treasures, magic annals, and whatever else you may have recovered from the canyon into our protection.  Consider it well, for we offer it to compensate for your kind's troubles with us in the past.  Thus you also have the clan's full support at your back when you are in need."

   At his words, the canine clan leader also nodded her solemn agreement.  That came as a surprise to the normally stoic dragon, whose hand came to touch his head.  "Are you serious?"  For the first time in a while, his friends saw a true smile light up his face.  His gaze first fell to the ground in thought, and then back up to face the white jackal.  "You know, normally I would have never accepted help from any clan of 'Cubi.  It is my family's legacy I wish to ultimately protect, and perhaps their spirits will keep telling me that what I am doing will be a shame to them, in my dreams."

   He chuckled.  "But that is still my decision.  And from what I have seen of you, from securing the soul of a madman to saving my life, I must say..."  His arm came down in a flourish and his body into a sweeping bow at the waist.  "I would be most indebted to Mraisae to accept the offer."

   "Then it's settled," the clan leader spoke.  "Your presence and ours together will be most beneficial to both."

   What, more politics?  Aisha rolled her eyes.  It was a good turn of events for the dragon at least, for their friend had found and achieved his compensation at last.

   In the space of those thoughts, the panther recalled the trip she took back to her own homeland...back into the desolate bowl that was once her village, and the garden of souls that was the memorial garden.  The names of her family still intricately etched on that tree was also burned into her mind...and she wondered if just like Icharus, someday she too would find her retribution.

   That was when she noticed her hand resting on the pommel of the sword.  She pulled the sheathed weapon from her belt and looked at it; the swirling patterns of silver, yellow, and black that adorned the sheath's surface and felt like scales under her fingers, and the cross-guard that looked much like claws sticking from the sides and protecting the base of the blade.  Aisha had to admit, the magic-proof thing came to much use.  But it belonged to the dragon.  That she knew.

   "Amigo," she called.  As the dragon turned to look, he found Aisha coming up to him, holding the sword out in her hands.  "I almost forgot, but I think there's one piece of your treasure still missing."

   His golden eyes regarded the relic for but a moment.  Then, his head shook.  "It may have been a part of my legacy, milady Aisha.  But ever since it was forged, that is all the use it has ever seen, as covering a space on the shelves.  It saw more use in your hands than it would have ever seen, since our knights of the past have been all but decimated."

   Icharus's feathered hand then laid itself on the sheath.  "You are the one who took the virgin blade and gave it the first taste of blood in the name of justice.  Thus I declare, you are the one to whom the Dragonblade of Zireah Stormclaw belongs."

   The black jaguar's eyes widened as she regarded the weapon in her hands; as if she were holding something worth more than a treasure hunter's weight.  "I...are you sure?  It's mine?  But...isn't it a part of your annals?"

   He nodded.  "It is...the hidden runes on the blade chronicle the names of every worthy knight that has served my family...in doing so the letters design it to repel even some of the most destructive of spells.  Wear the sword and you will be well protected.  A perfect thing to have for an adventurer who seeks to defend her own legacy," he finished with a smile.

   She drew a short grin of her own, almost disbelieving what she had been told.  But after the journey, she found the blade to be a good reward for it, if not more.  And thoughts drifted back to Rynkura...the panthress couldn't wait to tell her that, finally, she had her own sword.  "Then...gracias, Ick...er, Icharus," she chuckled, putting the sword back onto her left hip.  "My thanks."

   "Psh, that's better than the treasures we got to keep," Jake muttered, which earned him a light-hearted elbow in the gut from Chey.

   Before anything else could be said, though, Mraisae had stepped forward to suddenly face Aisha.  She had in her expression something akin to curiosity.  Tilting her head slightly, the huntress was just as curious herself—if not a bit cautious—as the succubus hummed.  "Quite a reward from the dragon Stormclaw...and normally I wouldn't give heed to an adventurer, but because you were quite a help as I hear it, I must apologize myself for the rudeness of overhearing your thoughts.  But they helped me in bringing Dimitrius to justice...which brings up another curiosity."  The canine's chin rose.  Aisha felt she was being looked down upon by a powerful judge.  "Am I truly talking to the 'Risen'?"

   Aisha blinked.  Was she really well-known enough yet to have gathered attention from a clan leader?  She wondered if the last incubus she killed wasn't a part of their own...still, she answered honestly with a nod.  After the whole thing there seemed to be little point in keeping caution.  "That would be me, yes."

   Mraisae smiled.  "I thought as much.  In the time I have had to talk with her, Cheyenne has told me all about you...that would be why I know your nickname, by the way.  The adventurer who saved her life once, and then spared it when her set of head-wings appeared, and from whom she learned the basic points of defending herself.  I must say for a driven hunter with blood in their eyes, you've made a friend out of one of my kin, of whose existence I was unaware of until now, and thus have earned some respect from me."

   The white and silver canine's head inclined slightly.  "Is there anything that Mraisae can do for you, then?"

   Aisha was taken aback.  She glanced to the thylacine, who looked quite shocked herself on the offer of a practical boon.  What would have happened if Aisha had gone with her instinct back then, to kill the young succubus?

   But she was silent in thought...what could a bunch of 'Cubi do that was in their power?  Practically anything, perhaps.  She could find her brother...or deal justice to the demons that lay to waste her entire life.

   Then what would be the point?  What would be the honor?

   Aisha's answer was instant.  Her head shook.  "I can't ask anything of you that I could not do for myself, señora honorable."

   Mraisae seemed satisfied.  The clan leader nodded her head.  "That is reasonable.  Still, you are allies to Icharus Stormclaw and thus to us, nevertheless...you, the gryphon, and of course Cheyenne, who lives under the protection of your sanction.  So, I extend what I have extended to the dragon, to you as well.  When you return, you will be sure to tell Rynkura Msh'Taan of the Shadowed Depths Monastery of Healing that her establishment has the full friendship and support...of watchful eye of Mraisae."

   All three of them uttered a short gasp, exchanging surprised glances...it seemed so high a reward for their efforts.  But the clan leader had a look of finality in her eyes.  It was official...they earned the trust of an entire clan.

   There was one more thing about that which Aisha couldn't believe.  "You know Mistress Rynkura?"

   The canine only chuckled mysteriously and turned.  "I could.  But that is probably business known for another instance.  Just be sure to relay the message."

   "No problem..." Aisha muttered.  She watched as the distinguished woman made her farewell wishes to Cheyenne with a short embrace, and as everyone also received and returned their goodbyes to Seth and the rest of Mraisae's servants which they had known.  One servant in particular however still looked rather serious, despite the atmosphere; the collie, seemingly a Being.  But they simply attributed it to the fact that he was blind.  Despite that, his clouded eyes were focused on the group as they all became surrounded in Tio's flashing light...and soon the courtyard and the rest of the town dissipated from their vision altogether.

*     *     *     *

   After a slightly stomach-twisting trip, their feet finally saw soft and grassy ground.  The flickering lights of torches once again passed into their eyesight, but no longer could they see the outlines of a city.  The darkness of a familiar wilderness was at their backs.

   In front of them, the monastery stood brightly lit with their customary orbs of magic alongside the fires.  There seemed to be nobody else out there to greet them...understandable as it was still night, the workers perhaps asleep.  Rynkura would have gone to bed early as well, if Aisha and her friends knew her.

   "Home sweet home," Cheyenne murmured.  The panther certainly couldn't agree with her more; especially when she could understand that the girl had quite an enlightening experience.

   Icharus hummed.  "Sadly, my friends, this is where I must depart.  I have much business left of my own to take care of...and I cannot thank any of you enough for the help."  He took Aisha's and Cheyenne's hand, one in each of his, and kissed the back of them both.  "Especially you, ladies."

   "Don't mention it," Aisha said with a slight roll of her eyes.  "Anything else you need, you know where to find us."

   "That I do," the Icharus laughed as he backed up and started to shift forms.  In moments he had grown from his smaller avian body and into a full wyvernesque storm dragon.  With a flap of his massive wings, he started to take off.  "Say farewell to Mistress Rynkura for me," was the last thing they heard from him as he kicked his massive bulk upwards and sailed into the dark clouds.

   After a moment, Jake yawned.  "Definitely wouldn't mind going back to bed."

   "Sí," Aisha answered, rubbing her eyes.

   Cheyenne chuckled.  "You and your need for sleep..."

   "You do it too, you know," the panther argued back, the words diving into a yawn of her own.

   But as they turned around, they beheld Rynkura herself standing under the lights of the torches at the grand entrance and illuminated in a soft blue glow from her staff.  "Welcome back, all of you...I was getting a little concerned," she smiled, turning to lead them in.  "You will tell me everything."

   "Can we sleep first?" Aisha grumbled.

*     *     *     *

   A few days later, under the afternoon sun, the sound of metal striking metal could be heard echoing across the monastery's training grounds.  The courtyard was alive with a cacophony of rhythmic sounds, most of them of blade meeting blade.

   Cheyenne ran across the fields, passing several pairs of eyes as they turned their heads to one of the larger sword-fighting circles.  She hoisted herself onto the wall where Jake was also sitting, slightly out of breath.  "Am I late?"

   "No, it's getting good," the gryphon smirked.  Their eyes turned back to the battlefield where another clang of blades ripped through the air.  Aisha was indeed starting to match Rynkura's steps move for move once again.  This time, she fought with the Dragonblade, and the tiger kept her word by matching her student's sword with one of her own.

   Instructions rang in the dark feline's ears, but her focus was bound and determined to break her mentor's defenses.  She gritted her teeth and took every parry and thrust that Rynkura could toss at her and more, fleet pads working to keep her away from taking any sort of strike.

   Suddenly, an opening!  The Dragonblade moved like silver lightning in a horizontal arc through the air towards the tiger's waist.  Of course, Aisha had again underestimated Rynkura's speed and skill...she hopped to one side and narrowly missed the blade.  As the sword came again for her, the panther's hands both gripping the handle, her staff came down to block it, sending tremors into both recipient's bodies and, mentally, into the bystanders' as well.

   "That's enough for now, Aisha," the Healer nodded.  "Take a rest."

   "Right," the panther acquiesced and stood at ease, wiping the sweat from her brow and replacing her sword back into its sheath.  Even after getting the hang of practicing with it, she still couldn't believe that she could still call it "her" sword.  At the wall, Jake and Chey were clapping and shouting praises for the intense battle.

   Rynkura set her weapon aside and took a seat on the flat boulder nearby.  "I must say, child, you seem to have grown a little in speed and strength since your last venture.  But you still have more to learn before you can best a sword master equal in my skill."

   "Well, that won't be true for much longer," Aisha grinned back, taking her cape and tying it around her neck.  "One of these days..."

   "One of these days, you will learn a little more respect," Rynkura countered.  "But it is good to see you taking on the fundamentals of a new fighting style.  It will more than likely come to save your life someday."

   It has already, she thought.  But I'll always still prefer stealth.

   "Hey, give Lady Aisha a little credit," Cheyenne laughed.  "For an adventurer her age, she's already gotten a lot of good allies."

   "Yeah, an entire clan, maybe two?  Damn," Jake snickered.

   Hearing this, Aisha scoffed slightly.  She did enjoy the praise, joking or not, but also knew that more allies often meant more enemies.  The Risen was going to have to be quite vigilant during her career.  She knew that more than ever.

   She pulled the hood back over her head and started walking out of the ring, toward the monastery with the intent to gather her things.  It was a new day and a big world, and it was true she couldn't keep the wander lust away for very long.

   "And where are you going?" Rynkura called after her, suddenly noticing her demeanor.  The others followed her gaze, but they certainly knew what their friend was bound to be doing.

   The tiger was met with a smirk, the telltale kind that came from a determined glance under the folds of a cloak.  "Looking for more trouble of course, muchachos."

   At that, Rynkura only shook her head and watched her leave.  I don't know who's been more hot-blooded, Luc...you or your daughter.

[Tapewolf]

Nice.  To be honest it kind of lacks in pace after the peace deal is brokered, which makes it feel a little overlong.  On the other hand, I can't really think of a way around that without the chapter becoming too short.

One thing I would have requested in Aisha's place would be protection for the monastery (in particular while she's away from it).  Now the leader seems to have done this anyway, but it still struck me as being a bit of a slip on Aisha's part, unless such a request offends her sense of honour, of course.

[Aisha deCabre]

Well, to be honest, Aisha wouldn't have even thought about that.  She's not the only skilled warrior at the monastery, and Rynkura herself as an aged Angel with skill in sword and magic seems quite enough protection for it.   

Unless I seem to be underestimating the powers of forces that would do harm to the monastery...the place is a rather secluded one whose influence is only known for helping and healing, anyway.  If there's people after Aish's head, she knows enough to also keep the place a secret on her travels.

[Aisha deCabre]

((Well, in any case, I do appreciate the comments.  Though relieved to have finished a story, any discussion on reasonable changes will be considered, I promise.  With that, time to get on with Fated Birth.  Whether people like it or not. ))

Part 3

   "Awaken, you three," Rynkura whispered a short time later, after they felt the cart come to a stop and could hear a short flurry of activity.  "We have arrived."

   Mara was the first to open her eyes, gently nudging her husband as she tried to sit up.  What greeted their tired vision was a sight that was nothing short of beautiful.

   The cart was stopped on a field of grass that lay in front of a grand stone cathedral, the massive stained-glass window the first thing they noticed as it glimmered in the many points of magic light cutting through the darkness.  It was a giant eye of many colors and an indiscernible floral pattern, perhaps of some significance to whatever race that had built it eons ago.  All around them small lights danced and gave things form as their vision became used to the night...they couldn't tell the fireflies from the orbs of glowing magic carried both by the torches lining the structure and those carried by the Healers...who were all clad in the same blue and white robe of Rynkura's own designs.

   As they greeted the tigress and she gave them instructions on caring for their new guests, Luc was gently helping his pregnant wife to shimmy over their belongings and step down from their ride.  The horse was unhitched from the cart and tied to a post nearby.  Ayan was still fast asleep, his childish energy all but defeated by the need for rest in the late night.  He barely stirred as Luc picked him out from the pile, careful not to jostle the wrapped training sword that the cub held to him like a precious toy.

   Mara was entranced, looking above them at the cathedral and at the ruined stone walls surrounding them...the old foundations of a castle or a fortress, it was understood.  The history of the Shadowed Depths had all been lost to the void of time, or so they had been told from Rynkura's point of view.  Though there was no doubt that more mysteries lurked in the forests that bordered near the hills, there came from the monastery a sense that one couldn't shake off.  So instead they embraced it, the feeling that came from standing in the shadow of a sanctuary at the lonely hours of night.

   "I never get tired of this place..." the mother whispered, holding her hands to her belly and leaning her head on Luc's shoulder.  Even the unborn had stopped kicking to fall into reverent silence.

   The adventurer just chuckled.  "Well there are always plenty of people to challenge in the arena out back, además."

   He suddenly grunted, having been met with a light elbow to the gut in reply.  "You and your bloodthirsty bonehead macho mind," Mara teased.  "Once a fighter, always a fighter."

   "Hay verdad en este," (there's truth in this,) Luc grinned and drew her close again, after setting a groggy Ayan to stand on the ground for a moment.  "But I agree with you; I wish we could live here."

   "Only my students and guardians live here, sir Cabre," Rynkura corrected, chuckling at them as she turned.  "You know the policy.  But at any rate, you are welcome here tonight."  She raised her staff to indicate the two figures standing nearby; an ocelot in Healer's robes and a little silver-and-black gryphon child who looked to be about ten standing next to him, tilting his head in curiosity at the visitors.  "My Healer will show you up to the vacant guest room.  Just a short walk up the cathedral's north tower."

   "Bien...thank you again, señora Msh'taan, we are forever grateful for your guidance," Mara bowed her head.

   "Agreed..." Luc said, also making a bow, before his eyes curiously set down upon the gryphon child, who shyly stepped back a pace.  "I haven't seen a gryphon here before...are you sure it's safe?"

   Rynkura bowed back to Mara and looked back to Luc respectively.  "Think nothing of it.  And the little gryphon is Jake...full name of Jakoba Talothir.  And there is no need to worry about any large kin looking for him, sir Cabre.  His family lives deep in the woods and they rarely venture out on the fear of hunters and wing-haters...and they are also rather poor.  They've entrusted him to me and I intend to train him as one of the monastery's guardians.  He never says much anyway, so don't mind if he tags along."  As she said that, their eyes followed her gaze as the small avian stood straight, having heard his name mentioned.

   "He's a handsome little thing," Mara chuckled, and then nodded her head to the ocelot.  "Lead on, if you please.  I'm eager to get some rest."

   The mottled feline nodded respectfully and turned to lead them into the large doors of the cathedral, already having been opened to reveal the softly-lit interior.

   As expected, the feeling of protection only increased as they crossed the threshold.  The doors were pulled shut with a mighty thud that echoed throughout the chapel.  On the inside it was mostly just a giant room, with a soft velvet carpet over the polished wood floors leading up to the altar, which had no podium...just as there were no benches that lined the carpet as they walked.  The only things left were the giant stairs, built on either side and leading up to a second floor, making the room look more like a great foyer rather than the interior of a chapel.  It wasn't known whether that existed or if Rynkura had it built like that, but they figured that she had renovated the abandoned holy spot into her sanctuary without heavenly wrath as a result.

   It was by those stairs, the ones that were on their left-hand side as they walked in, that would lead them to the entrance of the north tower.

   The jaguar family had just started on the stairs behind the ocelot and gryphon when the tigress cleared her throat.  "Mara."

   Luc paused as he heard his wife's name called, looking at her curiously.  She sent a gentle smile back.  "I'll be up, mi amor.  I ought to speak with the Mistress."

   For the tired adventurer, that seemed enough for him.  "Don't be long, I'd miss you," he relayed with a smile back and took Ayan in his arms again to catch up with the subordinate Healer.

   Mara watched them go for a moment before turning to Rynkura, whose unwavering and un-wizened face held a stare of solemnity.  "Now...tell me what is so important that you wouldn't speak of it in front of Luc."

*   *   *

   The adventurer and his son soon reached the tower room, though to them it seemed like forever.  In the torch-lit darkness it felt to him like he'd have gotten lost if their guide weren't patiently and silently leading them through.  Luc attributed the slight loss of his senses to being sleepy, but there was something nagging at his mind that he just couldn't put; which was about his wife.  Why had she shuddered so when he held her?

   He came up with all sorts of reasons...she was cold, or her nerves were on edge because of the pregnancy, or something had happened when she was away.  Whatever it was, it set him on edge as well.

   "Here is your room, sir," the ocelot finally said as he opened the door into the wide and beautifully-decorated circular chamber.  As it was with the family guest room, it had a large bed for he and his wife and a smaller one set just ninety degrees off to lay a child on, as well as two smaller sofas and a chair next to the wardrobe.  The curtains to the window stood partially open to reveal the dark night sky.

   Luc nodded.  "My thanks..."  But just before he stepped in, another glance to the gryphon child made him remember something.  "I'm curious.  Just how protected are the rooms in this place?"

   "We ensure the utmost safety for the injured and weak here," the ocelot answered without a pause, like he had been asked the question several times before.  "The rooms are all warded and we have silent alarms to go off if the slightest bit of ominous magic enters the premises.  No demons, 'Cubi, or other forces of malevolence may make one step into the territory unless they are seeking sanctuary, and even then we keep them under strict watch.  The penalty for hurting the sick is..." he paused.  The ocelot always hated mentioning what a sect dedicated to healing was otherwise capable of.  "...Very severe," he finished.

   With that said, the jaguar felt much better about their accommodations.  He never doubted Rynkura's methods of keeping the place a true haven, but he wanted to make sure that he wasn't bringing his wife and children into danger.  Such was the nature of his caution in recent days.

   "Thanks again," he assented and walked towards the smaller bed, placing Ayan in the covers.

   The feline Healer replied with a polite bow and turned to leave.  Jake however stayed behind for a second and watched.  When the youngster finally spoke up, his voice was none too shy.  "Can he play tomorrow?  Your son?"

   That caught Luc slightly off-guard and turned to him with a quirked eyebrow for a moment or two...the small avian certainly seemed the sociable one for an otherwise shy race of Creatures.  Nevertheless his hopeful eyes elicited a chuckle from the father.  "We'll see."

   "Come along, Jakoba," the ocelot chided and pulled lightly on the back of his small feathered scruff.  "Do not bother the guests."

   "It's Jake," he grumbled back as he followed, leaving Luc to shake his head humorously.

   I think raising children will kick me into old age sooner than I think.

*   *   *

   "Well, my word..." Rynkura sighed as she placed her staff on the end of the cushioned bench lining the center of the wall behind the altar.  "I can honestly say that you seem to have your mother's bravery.  The audacity of those demons...they can't accept anything."

   Mara was sitting up on the bench lengthwise, looking somewhat downcast as she had just confessed to the tigress where she really had been on her excursion; as well as what happened as a result.  She had removed the scarf to reveal the horrid burn on the front of her collarbone.

   Feeling meek under the dark and ethereal recess of the chapel, like the gods would kick her out any minute for her sin, the jaguaress just tried to make herself more comfortable.  "I worry for us, señora.  I never wanted this for Luc."

   "I worry for you as well," Rynkura replied.  Her emerald eyes were taking on a faint glow as she prepared her magic sight.  A faint and soothing blue outline encompassed her hands.  "But it cannot be helped.  All you have done is what you believed was right, and depending on who you ask, that can either be sin or salvation.  Now...just lean back and hold as still as you can while I try to see just what they've done to you."

   "Of course," Mara quietly acquiesced and leaned her weight back onto her arms.  She watched the glowing white tiger through half-lidded eyes before she closed them and simply let herself go into the examination.  When Rynkura's glowing palms hovered over her stomach, she could feel the rippling energy already taking its time panning over the jaguar like sonar.  A small shock took her nerves, followed by a complete warm feeling...somewhere in the back of her mind, she felt like falling asleep.  All she could do then was to pray.

   "This will feel slightly uncomfortable.  I normally only do this to the unconscious.  Just stay calm," the tiger said, her quiet words easily reaching the woman's ears.  She spared a nod...certainly if there was anything the healer could do, it couldn't be worse than what she had endured at the hands of the demon.  Mara stayed focused as the warmth continued to wash over her, like she was slowly being lowered into a temperate pool.

   Then the shock took over.  The suddenness of it made Mara grunt, but her teeth clenched as she willed herself to take the magic.

   Meanwhile, Rynkura had begun to see every detail within the mother while the magic moved beneath her skin.  It wasn't just like seeing an x-ray picture; it was like seeing into her being and spirit in the essence that kept her alive, which was seen as soft swirls and waves of colors.  Rynkura could even tell that her blood had dark magic essence in it naturally, as part of her demonic heritage.  Only subtle bands of color and how it was textured could tell the Healer the difference between what was inherited and what was intrusive.  As the magic swept and searched for the intrusive portion, she was careful not to accidentally strike the baby, which was lying pretty much fully-formed and restful in its slowly confining space.

   But then, something caught her eye.  The search magic was halted as Rynkura caught sight of what seemed like a seething pool of darkness surrounding the child.  The sight horrified her...it was like it was becoming connected to it.  The colors told her it was an invader, and it also told her something else...

   "By the gods," she murmured.  Mara tensed, but didn't say anything.  She couldn't, because all of a sudden the sickening feeling came again.  The jaguar swallowed, trying not to give into the urge to vomit as Rynkura continued to assess the mass.

   As was thought, it had left a trail from Mara's collarbone, the point of entry, and down through her blood to settle about the womb.  It was anchored with what looked like roots feeding from her essence and senses.  When the tigress's own magic tried to touch it, there was a brief shudder and it shrank back.

   Rynkura brought her hands back and withdrew from the sight, the glow in her eyes disappearing and returning them to their original emerald hue.  "I do not believe this..." she nearly growled.  "Those heathen..."

   "What is it?" Mara asked as she nervously held her hand over her belly.

   The Healer looked up at her.  "It is somewhat difficult to describe.  I found the invading magic...it is put as a curse, and it is feeding off of your nerves much like a parasite.  It has a sort of...tracking essence.  Whatever you touch, it senses too.  It is a sophisticated type that has to be practiced extensively or the host could be killed.  And..." the tiger sighed.  "Because there is a large life force there...it found an easy anchor, on your child."

   There was a pause, the mother shaking her head slowly.  "No..."

   "Don't worry, the little one will live," the Healer reassured.  "But, my best guess is that it was put there for the demon's benefit, to find someone or something.  If you came in contact with what they seek, then it could gather sensory information on them and they could...at some point...come back for you.  And it."

   Mara was quiet as she tried to ascertain what that meant.  Then the memory came back of the shuddering feeling...it always happened whenever she touched Luc...

   "Luc!" she exclaimed, the light coming on in her head.  "No...the demon told me...they were after..."

   She gulped to keep herself from stuttering, but the pain of stress returned.  She looked at the tiger with tears in her eyes and her voice anxious.  "Señora, they're trying to find Luc.  They're using me to..."

   The tigress held her hand up.  "I guessed as much.  We can't let that happen, I agree."  She sighed.  "You were wise to ask for my help.  It might be hard to separate you from the curse, so under these circumstances I will allow you and your family to stay a while longer."

   That brought a tiny smile to the jaguar's countenance.  It was reassuring to know that they were allowed to stay at the best haven for miles around...whatever it took to rid herself of the demon's influence, she would do.  Anything to protect Luc, and Ayan...and the baby...

   "I thank you from the depths of my soul, señora...but can you not do anything about it tonight?"

   As the white tiger retrieved her staff, she shook her head sadly.  "It will take some time to find a way to banish the curse without damage.  Perhaps the entire day tomorrow.  So, I advise you to get some sleep tonight, as we will all need it.  In the meantime the curse is stable; it will not hurt you or the little one if it stays a few hours longer."

   Mara smiled as she tried to stand up.  "That is a great relief.  And I could do with as much sleep as I could, more than likely.  Quiero dormir... (I want to sleep...)"

   As Rynkura came to help her up, she chuckled.  "Indeed, though I may just have to put you to sleep anyway for the procedure.  By the way, I have a bit of light news for you.  From that search, I now know the gender of the baby."  She lightly grinned.  "If you wish to know it."

   The jaguaress's eyes widened.  "Verdad?  Oh...please, tell me."  She smiled.  "Luc wants to be surprised.  Doesn't mean that I want to be."

   "You would keep such important information from your husband?" Rynkura's eyebrow quirked.

   "Yes," Mara smirked.

   The Healer hummed.  "Alright.  I will tell you if you promise me something."  Her eyes met the mother's with seriousness.  "Luc has the right to know what has happened to you.  I care not how you manage to circle the truth, as I understand how he would feel about your first intentions for him.  But you must warn him of the curse.  Because in all truth I can not guarantee success; and it may well depend on your life."

   The thought struck Mara with intensity, even more so in the sacred atmosphere, while being stared down by someone whom she knew was an angel.  The consequences were inconceivable, and the thought that perhaps it would be the last night she would spend with Luc...

   She bit her lower lip and bowed her head.  "I promise to tell him, Mistress.  One way or the other, I will."

*    *    *

   Upstairs, Luc was already nearly fast asleep, after observing Ayan peacefully succumbing to his exhaustion as well.  For the night, the retired adventurer put all worries about his wife aside.  After all, if she was with Rynkura, then she was quite safe.

   It didn't seem like more than a few minutes before he caught a sound.  His ear swiveled towards the door opening with a slight creak and a familiar voice whispering, "There they are, ma'am."  It was one of the Healers, the ocelot who had led him up to the room.

   His wife muttered a small thanks and allowed the door to be closed.  With a yawn she first checked upon Ayan where he slept.  Then, she left the boy with a kiss on his forehead and then walked to the bed where her husband was only just stirring.

   "There you are," he smiled, his voice groggy.  "What took so long?"

   "Rynkura tends to ramble," Mara chuckled as she sat next to him and ran her fingers through his hair.  "But I'm here, so, go back to sleep, mi amor."

   "Do I have to?" he teased, but a yawn soon overtook his words and he closed his eyes again.  "What did you talk about, anyway?" he asked, already half asleep.

   As Mara lay in the warmth of the bed, wrapped in one of his arms, she paused to think of her words.  "I'll tell you tomorrow," she just whispered, hiding her nervousness.

   Her husband had no more comments, thankfully.  But it wasn't easy to find sleep herself, trying to imagine all that she had to face sometime in the coming hours.  But eventually her waking mind joined the rest of her family in silent peace.  Her hand was resting against her stomach, against the small life force that had followed suit...unaware of its own danger.

   Buenas noches then, my daughter.

[Tapewolf]

That made good reading.  I don't really have any in-depth comments unfortunately, but I am eager to see how it develops

[Aisha deCabre]

((Thanks again for the comments.  New chapter!  I think I tend to lose myself a bit when I go into the magic. xP))

Part 4

    Breakfast was silent for the most part the next morning, the only exception being Ayan, who couldn't easily sit down.  His parents could understand the excitement and interest he was feeling; for now that he was awake in a new place, there was so much to do.

   But between them things were rather difficult.  The almost-sullen look on his wife's face while she ate across from him; it unnerved Luc.  It was even more apparent to him when he realized that perhaps his worries from the day before may have had a foundation on something.

   The silence was broken when he finally swallowed the last of his breakfast with a gulp, and caught her attention with a clatter of the fork on his plate.  "Mara."

   She looked up with a slight jolt, before a quiet smile appeared on her face.  Her head tilted at the tone of voice he had used though.  "Yes, Luc?  Something wrong?"

   "Ah, well..." he sighed, wanting to make sure that he didn't come across as angry.  He certainly remembered having to work on that before Ayan was born.  "I was about to ask you the same thing, actually.  You've been looking downcast all day.  And you did say you'd tell me what you and Mistress Rynkura were talking about."  His arms crossed.  "Something about that, mi esposa?"

   Mara blinked.  "Ohh," she said with a nod, as if she only just remembered.  She bit her lip...she couldn't find it in her yet to tell him about the curse.  "I'm pretty sure it's nothing big.  The señora wanted to check on the health of our child.  And...frankly, I've been feeling rather under the weather since we left."

   "Oh," the adventurer said after a moment, his face softening.  He laid his arms back on the table.  "Why didn't you let me know something was amiss?"

   She chuckled and laid a hand on his arm.  "That's easy.  I didn't want to make you worry; seems I failed at that though."

   The statement caused him to bark out a laugh.  "Hey, I don't worry that much.  I just wanted to make sure you weren't in trouble."  He smiled.  "You can tell me anything, you know."

   I wouldn't mind being sure too, the jaguaress thought silently behind her smile.  She assuredly squeezed his hand.  "I know.  And I'm certain Mistress Rynkura will make sure that I'm alright...it's just an examination.  I may be inside the rest of the day...but I'm sure you and Ayan can find something to do."

   "Ooh!" the cub piped up suddenly.  "I wanna go try out my sword!"

   His parents turned to him with quirked eyebrows.  "Oh you do?" Luc smirked.  "And here I was hoping you'd forgotten about that thing you bought."

   "With stolen coins..." Mara added.

   The cub groaned and walked around between his parents, looking up at them with a pleading expression.  "Come oooon!  I promised I wouldn't do that again!  I just wanna go play.  Por favor?"

   Mara made a show of resistance, and then breaking down.  "Oh, can those eyes get any bigger..." the mother laughed and playfully ruffled his hair.  "You and your father go on, then."

   "We'd better," Luc nodded with agreement and winked.  "The boy needs to learn a few things.  S'up to me to do it."  He took his wife's hand and kissed it.  "Good luck with the check-up then, my love.  You and the baby."

   "We'll be fine," she smiled, believing it herself.  "Have fun."

   With that, Mara watched her husband gather Ayan onto his shoulders and stroll out of the door, their words the last to disappear of them.  As the Healers working in the eatery started to graciously gather the plates, she stood up and took a look out of the large window, where she could see a portion of the courtyard.  Perhaps she could watch them coming, while she waited for Rynkura.

   No sooner than when the name crossed her mind though, did that recognizable voice of strength enter the threshold alongside a click from her staff on the floor.  "Did you have a good breakfast, child?"

   She perked her ears and turned to face the tigress.  "I have, yes.  Thank you..." she was interrupted by a small kick from within her abdomen.  "Heh, I think mi hija did as well."

   Rynkura made a small nod, and stepped through the door while the other Healers respectfully went out behind her.  "I'm glad to hear it.  I doubt you are telling me the whole truth, though.  You didn't tell him, as promised."

   The mother blinked.  "I...how did..."

   "I'm an angel, Mara.  My ears are as good as your ancestors', if not better," she pointed out calmly.  "I only hope that if this goes well, you do plan on telling him someday.  It will weigh more and more heavily upon your heart if you do not."

   The jaguar lowered her head, downcast.  The stress of things was probably going to take its toll on her heart more than anything would.  Her only hope for it to resolve now lay with the Healer before her; but more, with herself.

   "My apologies, señora.  But I didn't feel at all ready...I just want to get on with this."

   The tigress hummed with understanding.  "Very well.  Come, I've reserved one of the quarantine towers and a few of my best alchemical healers and those knowledgeable in curse removal.  Surely no demon's craft can withstand our combined efforts."

*   *   *

   "Whoa."

   Luc heard his son's exclamation as soon as they had the whole of the courtyard out in front of their sights.  To be honest, the father certainly shared the boy's sentiments.

The sight of the guardsmen testing their strengths against those of their comrades stood out on every piece of land that could be used; from the circular sandy pits that they used for sword fighting and physical prowess to the long ranges used for archery.  As far as the jaguar could recall, he hadn't had a good blood-rushing fight ever since he went up against a swamp mythos who bragged he was the strongest in his clan.  Twice as tall as he was, four arms, and yet he ended up whimpering with one punch to the gut (or so he always told everyone).

   Perhaps, he thought, a good challenge could take his mind off of the worries he had felt.  He took Ayan from his shoulders and set him on the ground.  "Okay, mi hijo, you wait here.  I'm going to see if I can't find something bigger than my dagger."

   The cub groaned.  "Aw, why do I have to stay?"

   "Because sharp things are flying around and it can be rather dangerous," the other replied in a matter-of-fact fashion and turned to leave.  "I won't be long."

   "Right," the kid grumbled.  Then with a sigh, he started to look around.  At least the place was still a beautiful sight for the eyes.  He was standing in a clear green field with carefully tended and soft grass growing underfoot...being no tender-footed boy, he was surprised to feel the plants as springy as the atmosphere under his pads; devoid of hard soil and rocks.  He could have run and rolled in the grass as much as he wanted.

   He broke out of his thoughts however, upon hearing a voice go "hah!"

   An ear quirked over to his left.  A small distance away was another kid about his age, wearing the colors of the healers; yet they were cut more into the clothing that the guardsmen wore instead of a trailing robe.  A simple pair of black trousers and sash around his body allowed him movement as he practiced a few parries with a staff on a lone training dummy in flashes of black, silver, and blue.

   The clothing also allowed the fact that his wings could move freely and comfortably along with him.

   Wings...a Creature?  Ayan's head tilted.  He looks familiar.  Still...better than nothing right now.  With a small smirk, as an idea came to mind, the cub unwrapped the training sword from its cocoon of silk and held it up, watching the young gryphon.  At least he hadn't been seen yet.

   Ayan rushed forward, sword raised.  "Halt, Creature!" he growled as he charged.

   As soon as he heard the rushing feet, Jake swiveled and raised his staff for defense immediately.  "Hey!" he almost screeched in protest.  "What're you doing that for?"

   His sword met the staff in a downward slice, with a loud clack!  There was a small sneer on the jaguar's face as he put on the most "brave" voice possible.  "I'm here to save that poor soul!" he gestured to the training dummy, and then made a quick wink so that his quarry knew that he was only jesting.  "So stand up and fight, vile beast!"

   The gryphon took the hint instantly and grinned.  "Oh yeah, adventurer?  You think you're strong enough?"  Ayan was pushed away with a heave of the staff.  "Let's see you try!"

   "With pleasure!" the feline hissed back and rushed forward again, the hilt of the sword held in both hands as he took a hard swing to the right.

   Of course he instantly found out that wouldn't be useful, for his adversary quickly brought the staff up and blocked it, and then made a counterattack of his own.  With three moves: a push, a duck, and a swish, Ayan found himself on his back and staring the point of the weapon to his face.

   "You're dead," the gryphon concluded, then with a laugh, pulled it away.  "You know, you're supposed to know a person's name before you attack them."

   "I do?"  Ayan blinked and lifted himself up, brushing his clothes off.  "Papi never told me that.  And he's an adventurer."

   "I know, I met you guys last night," the other nodded.  "I thought I'd see you out here today; I asked your dad if you could play.  I'm Jake."

   "Ayan," he answered back, blinking.  "And you did?"

   "Yeah.  There aren't many kids around here that have time to play around.  So I'm by myself, trying to be a knight."  Jake's feathers ruffled in slight annoyance as he ground the tip of his training staff into the soil.  "But I'm used to it."

   "Psh, I know how that is..." Ayan began, and then suddenly he turned to the gryphon with quirked eyebrows.  "Knight?  You wanna be a knight?  But you're a..."

   "Future guardian of the monastery" Jake interrupted, looking rather proud.  "Probably the first gryphon to be, too.  So I've been learning how to fight a lot.  That's probably how I was able to knock you on your butt.  And you say you're an adventurer's kid?"

   His ears flattened.  "Well, yeah...I'm actually a beginner.  You caught me."

   "Heh, well come on," Jake laughed and raised the staff again.  "I'll show you a couple things before your dad comes back.  For one thing, you aren't supposed to go running in either.  I could've been much more dangerous.  Could've known magic and stuff."

   "Aw man..." Ayan groaned and raised the sword.  "I should've known.  That's easy stuff."

   "You get used to it," Jake smirked.  "No...oh."  He suddenly straightened up again and bowed slightly.  "Greetings sir."

   The cub turned around to see where the gryphon was looking past him.  To his surprise his father had already come back, with a sheathed longsword attached to his belt.  He smiled back.  "Hello to you again, Jakoba.  Having fun, Ayan?  Come on, I'm going to find a ring.  You can watch."

   "It's Jake..." the gryphon snorted beneath his breath.  The cub nodded.  He asked his father if the gryphon could accompany them to the ring, which he permitted, and they started off across the wide green field.

   As they did, Ayan snickered.  "Jakoba?  Your name's short for that?"

   "Yeah...I don't know why I don't like it much; 'Jake' is what my mother always called me, so I just like that better," he explained.

   The other grinned.  "I know that too.  My name's short for Ayanhai...it's a really long story as how I got it, my mom says."

   "I like stories.  Wanna tell me while your dad's trying choose?"

   "Sure, you see..."

*   *   *

   Meanwhile, just some short yards away from the rim of the courtyard itself, the process of ridding Mara of the curse was underway.  The door to the north-east quarantine tower was closed and closely guarded while the figures inside were preparing.

   There were about five people in the room other than Mara, who was just trying to relax as she lay on the bed in the center of the clear, circular room.  But that was hard to do, for one couldn't help but listen to Rynkura brief the healers on her condition.  And for that, she had to give a rough summary of how it was given.  Though none of them looked at the mother, she felt that she knew what must have gone through their minds.  What a wicked woman, dealing with demons in her condition.  Brave, yes, but at a cost.

   Or maybe that was just her fear talking; trying to take over her mind and bring out the worst in her feelings.  She learned long ago how to banish fear.  So what was it that was trying to grip her mind?

   Sleepiness, that's what it was.  It was easy to forget that while her mind tried instinctively to stay awake, and slowly being laced with the combination of effects from the medicines and Rynkura's own calming spells.

   I'll be alright...it'll be alright...she just chanted mentally, relinquishing to the sedatives.  In minutes all that Mara could see was black; and all she could hear was silence.

*     *     *

   The tigress glanced over to the bed and noticed this change in events, to which she nodded to the four in front of her.  Two were the alchemical healers who were there to supply medicines for whatever purpose they were gleaned.  The other two took positions at either side of the jaguaress, their hands starting to glow as they concentrated.

   "Remember," the tiger started as she laid her staff at the foot of the mattress.  At once, the whole bed filled with a soothing blue glow while she crossed to the head of the bed.  "She is pregnant; while she may be unconscious, the one inside will still be fully aware in her own way and could fall into distress if there is little activity for too long.  You will not just use the utmost care; you will use that twice fold."  Her eyes took on their glow, an emerald hue that covered her pupils entirely.  "My sight will be there to guide you on every detail.  The rest is up to you."

   The two nodded once, their eyes kept on the subject at hand.  A quiet breath and a prayer came from the white tiger, whose illuminated hands reached to clasp Mara's head gently between them.

   To the eyes of the Healers, it was as if the real world all around them disappeared into a black void with barely visible shapes in the shadow-scope.  Instead their attention was on the things before them so completely vibrant to the magic sight...just like what Rynkura had seen the first time.  A bright outline of a body lying inert.  Heart and blood surging with shifting colors of her life force, with another strong point lying in the small heart of the baby.  Its life force primarily fed upon the mother's, but parasitic it was not; for that way it was nature's choice, not its own.

   But there was a parasite, an intruder as was described so richly by the Mistress, which stood out like a sickening mass of darkness.  Tendrils and roots passing, growing in the life force, so adamant to keep to its host, sedentary and laying so close to the unborn while it had no idea of the trouble.

   One of the healers trembled and almost lost focus.  "Stay," Rynkura was heard commanding, the only thing that managed to keep him there.

   "It looks rather strong," the other one pointed out as she saw it.  "It may have gathered many sensory things already, if what you've said about it being an information hoard is true."

   "Especially on Luc, yes," the tigress confirmed.  "I don't know what time we have left either.  So we had better hope that it isn't as hard to get rid of as it looks."

   They were soon at the point where the magic was as settled as they were.  They tried to search through the life energy of the sleeping patient, looking into every niche and carefully picking through the bits of magic so that they could tell between it all.  It took concentration of the greatest intensity; but these spell-breakers were the best that Rynkura knew, surely...

   "Okay then.  Start the severing process," the tiger said.

   The dark parasite seemed to flinch.

*     *     *

   In the recesses of her withdrawn consciousness, Mara seemed to flinch as well.  Normally when one was sedated they were looking toward a very quick, peaceful sleep.  Not her.  It was perhaps an effect of the magic, something within her; whatever the reason, she felt caged within, staring out and feeling like she was but a hair's touch away from feeling things again.  All just long dreams.

   There was also another consciousness that she could feel.  That of her daughters, developing and preparing for the outside world.  There were feelings that she didn't know where they had come from; like they weren't hers; just being projected.  Feelings that couldn't be put into words unless she came up with them.  Is it time?  No, it's not time.  Almost.  So dark...so crowded.  So warm.

   The mother knew by instinct that the baby was bonded to her in all ways.  This was the first time that she could feel it mentally.  Mara felt such a welling of joy, and yet anticipation, and yet further protectiveness...and hoped that she could send comfort back to it...and that seemed the case.

   There's also cold.  What's cold?

   The cold will go away.  I promise.

   And then Mara could also feel only minimal glimpses of the outside.  The Healers were working fervently.  She could feel how her nerves would be handling the shedding of the darkness that fed on it.

   Movement...energy...pain...

   Those will go away too.  Stay strong.

*     *     *
   
   "The child's moving, Mistress."
   "Don't go near it," Rynkura advised.  "Not yet.  Keep going."

*   *   *

   And outside of the monastery, outside of the view of any of the guards or the notice of the healers, the shadowy boughs of the trees that made the woods were occupied.  Several pairs of eyes were trying to get as close as they could to the training grounds without being seen.

   Luc Cabre was certain to be there, the demons thought...hopefully within striking distance.

[Gareeku]

Gah, what a cliffhanger. So much suspense in both scenes. X3 Awesome writing as usual, can't wait to see the next chapter ^^

[Tapewolf]

Excellent.  As with Gareeku, I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

One query: this line doesn't really make sense to me:
"So we had better hope that it doesn't look as hard to get rid of as it does."

Should this be:

"So we had better hope that it isn't as hard to get rid of as it looks." ?