"FATHER!" He called, "UNCLE KAPOR!! WHERE ARE YOU?"
CRASH, SNAP, BANG. RUMBLE.
Blinding smoke fill what was left of the castle office corridor. Astan ran on checking doors and rooms as he ran. He had come across a few bodies during his search. Mostly palace staff. But something was wrong. They all looked as if they were frozen in time. But that would take some major magik to do that.
The next apartment he checked was that of Hubar Munson, the palace's chief butler. Here he found the same thing. He and Miss Danzic the house head and chief maid were there frozen in each other's arms. Astan wasn't sure who, but there was some foul magik being used here.
From the office floor, Astan ran on and up to the next floor. servant quarters. Bodies littered the corridor. Maids, footmen, chamberlains, and cooks. None of them were dead but in some kind of coma. He would have to keep on searching for answers. So, on he went. Pass the linen cabinets and pass the closets were the spare uniforms were kept. He hurried around one more corner to the main hall
where he found a set of stairs to the royal quarter.
CRASH SNAP BANG. RUMBLE.
Astan ducked as a ceiling beam came crashing down missing him by inches. Smoke rumbled and roared its way up and all around sending ambers out into the wind. With a wave of power, Astan cleared flaming debris out of his way. He flushed the corridor with as much water as he could, though he knew the spell could only be used two more times.
FLASH, FLUSH, SWIRL.
Water rushed in from a portal Astan created overhead. For a few minutes, the fire went out. Astan didn't waste time. He jumped up and searched all through the hall looking for his father or his uncle. but there was no one here. With a curtain soaked with water, Astan wrapped it around his body and ran back out into the flaming hall.
CRASH SNAP BANG. RUMBLE.
One by one and room by room, Astan searched So far all he found were bloody burned and broken bodies. He found palace staff he had known since childhood, but none of his family. That, he thought was good, It meant, his father and uncle had gotten out before all the trouble started. From the second floor, Astan pushed his way on and up to the third floor, here the art was much more personal. Here the walls were painted a rich deep red. The walls were lined with paintings of past kings of the Kinyo line. There were figures dressed in amour from each period. So far the fire hadn't reached the upper floor. but smoke damaged was a different story. There were water stains and smoke damage spread through the whole build. As he made his way through the palace, Astan saw many different things from his youth. His father's robe, Tigarens royal crown, and scepter lay there deep in the mud. Obviously whoever attacked, wasn't here for loot. Then way had they attacked? We had enemies, but none so bold as to attack like this.
Astan picked up the scepter and robe and placed them in a closet he found just a bit down the hall. Just as he closed the door, he heard two people arguing as they walked down the back toward him.
Drawing circle over his head then he slammed it down. With that done, Astan disappeared from sight.
"Why?" A voice said. "That is not what my master said."
"No?" another said. "Do you want to argue with Mulu? I would like to see that. You would not last two minutes"
"I am not afraid of Hyena's." The first said in a stern voice. "If I am right, my master will be at my side. That is why I sit at his side. I may die, and we all accept that. every day. But honor is important. "Correct." said the second. "What do you plan to do?"
"I told my master." the first warrior said. "I wait for his answer."
As they talked, a black panther and a spotted panther walked pass. He almost had to pull himself closer to the wall so they could pass.
Panthrens? Astan watched their backs as they walked away. Sakura's warriors? But then he thought, They can't be here under Sakura's order. That means they are here under orders of the regent. But why would he attack?
[Because he is sick and tired of serving a land that is not his own.]
Clutching his head, Astan fell at the sudden attack. As he strained to open his eyes, a dark hooded figure stepped out of shadows to stand over him.
"This is not what I planned," he said."But it will do, just as good."
As Astan's eyes cleared, he looked up to see Regent G'ania Gazini of Panthera standing over him looking dark and deadly.up with him.
"Good evening young master." Master G'ania said as he took off his dark helmet. "May I be of some assistance?"
For a minute Astan stood there staring up at the tall dark regnant. Astan wasn't so surprised. He wasn't quite sure what to say. Was he here to help. or was he in it with Mulu? It was possible. He had been in the role of regnant For a long time. Maybe he didn't want to step down. Maybe he couldn't let go. Astan had seen that before. But that could never happen here. My family is too strong, and Zakia would be there watching.
"Yes," Astan said trembling. "Where is my father? And my uncle and Zakia? How did the Pantheren's gain entrance to our city?"
"These are good questions," G'ania said as he took off his cloak and threw to the side. "Now the question was where is your father? I believe he is trapped in some Hyenen hell. Uncle Kapor is here somewhere. I haven't caught up with him. but I will. You can bet on that. That leaves you and Zakia," G'ania smiled with a tint of red in his eyes. "And if you believe that mad old one will come to your rescue, you're sadly mistaken. I am your only hope."
"What do you mean?"Astan asked.
"Come with me," G'ania said. "I can help you find your father and put your kingdom in order. I can help you find your mate to quiet the pounding in your heart. I can answer all the questions that brought you here."
"Sakura?" Astan whispered. That was all Astan really wanted. That and to stop all the fighting and. bring Aspana some peace. So what am I to do? Could he trust this Feline? He knew this was the regent for Panthera, but that doesn't mean anything. Good men can go bad for many reasons.
"No." Astan said. "I don't trust you. I see evil in your eyes."
"Then find your family on your own!!" With a swirl of his cloak, G'ania Gazini was gone.
CRASH, SNAP, BANG. RUMBLE.
Blinding smoke fill what was left of the castle office corridor. Astan ran on checking doors and rooms as he ran. He had come across a few bodies during his search. Mostly palace staff. But something was wrong. They all looked as if they were frozen in time. But that would take some major magik to do that.
The next apartment he checked was that of Hubar Munson, the palace's chief butler. Here he found the same thing. He and Miss Danzic the house head and chief maid were there frozen in each other's arms. Astan wasn't sure who, but there was some foul magik being used here.
From the office floor, Astan ran on and up to the next floor. servant quarters. Bodies littered the corridor. Maids, footmen, chamberlains, and cooks. None of them were dead but in some kind of coma. He would have to keep on searching for answers. So, on he went. Pass the linen cabinets and pass the closets were the spare uniforms were kept. He hurried around one more corner to the main hall
where he found a set of stairs to the royal quarter.
CRASH SNAP BANG. RUMBLE.
Astan ducked as a ceiling beam came crashing down missing him by inches. Smoke rumbled and roared its way up and all around sending ambers out into the wind. With a wave of power, Astan cleared flaming debris out of his way. He flushed the corridor with as much water as he could, though he knew the spell could only be used two more times.
FLASH, FLUSH, SWIRL.
Water rushed in from a portal Astan created overhead. For a few minutes, the fire went out. Astan didn't waste time. He jumped up and searched all through the hall looking for his father or his uncle. but there was no one here. With a curtain soaked with water, Astan wrapped it around his body and ran back out into the flaming hall.
CRASH SNAP BANG. RUMBLE.
One by one and room by room, Astan searched So far all he found were bloody burned and broken bodies. He found palace staff he had known since childhood, but none of his family. That, he thought was good, It meant, his father and uncle had gotten out before all the trouble started. From the second floor, Astan pushed his way on and up to the third floor, here the art was much more personal. Here the walls were painted a rich deep red. The walls were lined with paintings of past kings of the Kinyo line. There were figures dressed in amour from each period. So far the fire hadn't reached the upper floor. but smoke damaged was a different story. There were water stains and smoke damage spread through the whole build. As he made his way through the palace, Astan saw many different things from his youth. His father's robe, Tigarens royal crown, and scepter lay there deep in the mud. Obviously whoever attacked, wasn't here for loot. Then way had they attacked? We had enemies, but none so bold as to attack like this.
Astan picked up the scepter and robe and placed them in a closet he found just a bit down the hall. Just as he closed the door, he heard two people arguing as they walked down the back toward him.
Drawing circle over his head then he slammed it down. With that done, Astan disappeared from sight.
"Why?" A voice said. "That is not what my master said."
"No?" another said. "Do you want to argue with Mulu? I would like to see that. You would not last two minutes"
"I am not afraid of Hyena's." The first said in a stern voice. "If I am right, my master will be at my side. That is why I sit at his side. I may die, and we all accept that. every day. But honor is important. "Correct." said the second. "What do you plan to do?"
"I told my master." the first warrior said. "I wait for his answer."
As they talked, a black panther and a spotted panther walked pass. He almost had to pull himself closer to the wall so they could pass.
Panthrens? Astan watched their backs as they walked away. Sakura's warriors? But then he thought, They can't be here under Sakura's order. That means they are here under orders of the regent. But why would he attack?
[Because he is sick and tired of serving a land that is not his own.]
Clutching his head, Astan fell at the sudden attack. As he strained to open his eyes, a dark hooded figure stepped out of shadows to stand over him.
"This is not what I planned," he said."But it will do, just as good."
As Astan's eyes cleared, he looked up to see Regent G'ania Gazini of Panthera standing over him looking dark and deadly.up with him.
For a minute Astan stood there staring up at the tall dark regnant. Astan wasn't so surprised. He wasn't quite sure what to say. Was he here to help. or was he in it with Mulu? It was possible. He had been in the role of regnant For a long time. Maybe he didn't want to step down. Maybe he couldn't let go. Astan had seen that before. But that could never happen here. My family is too strong, and Zakia would be there watching.
"Yes," Astan said trembling. "Where is my father? And my uncle and Zakia? How did the Pantheren's gain entrance to our city?"
"These are good questions," G'ania said as he took off his cloak and threw to the side. "Now the question was where is your father? I believe he is trapped in some Hyenen hell. Uncle Kapor is here somewhere. I haven't caught up with him. but I will. You can bet on that. That leaves you and Zakia," G'ania smiled with a tint of red in his eyes. "And if you believe that mad old one will come to your rescue, you're sadly mistaken. I am your only hope."
"What do you mean?"Astan asked.
"Come with me," G'ania said. "I can help you find your father and put your kingdom in order. I can help you find your mate to quiet the pounding in your heart. I can answer all the questions that brought you here."
"Sakura?" Astan whispered. That was all Astan really wanted. That and to stop all the fighting and. bring Aspana some peace. So what am I to do? Could he trust this Feline? He knew this was the regent for Panthera, but that doesn't mean anything. Good men can go bad for many reasons.
"No." Astan said. "I don't trust you. I see evil in your eyes."
"Then find your family on your own!!" With a swirl of his cloak, G'ania Gazini was gone.
As Astan stood there staring at a dark spot on the floor, he felt relief that he didn't follow the Panther.
But he was worried about Sakura. Whatever the regnant was up to, it wouldn't be good for the Pantherens. So he knew what he had to do. He had to hurry up and find his family, his love was in danger ad that was all that mattered.
Under dark rainy skies, Quynn Tyr shook the rain from his jacket and held out his hand to help his white-haired mate, Sky Petrus out on to the cliff overlooking the dark city. Panthera.
"This is Panthera?" Quynn said staring down at the dark city. "It looks dead."
"Its had better days." Sakura said sadly. "It should look bright and vibrant. This is our planting season. I realize it is almost midnight, but there should be men at the harbor working on nets and preparing the boats to sail at sun up. I've never seen our city so dark. Something is wrong. How could Panthera have changed so much in only five years?"
"Could this be one of Mulu's cities?" Sky asked.
Everyone stopped and turned to look at the young Phoenix. No one dared to chance an answer. No, it can't be. Sakura thought it was impossible. He just stood there with a blank look on his face like he smelled something bad. It took Quynn to break the silence.
"As impossible as you think, it can happen," Quyyn said. "At home, Winterhaven was taken twice. Once by a warlock named Polan Dressak, a wannabe conquer that thought he had the power to force his will on the world.."
"I read about him in the library." Sky said, "He also was the last to ride a shadow dragon."
"No." Quynn interrupted Sky. "Others merged with shadow dragons, but he was the last with a dark mind to ride."
"What does this mean?" Sakura asked with confusion in his eyes. "We have no dark dragons here."
"Not yet you don't." Sky said. "Just be careful with your Dragonriders."
"We will," Sakura said. "But right now we have no Dragons, but we will be careful."
Sky turned to Quynn and smiled as if they shared a secret joke.
"Let's have no more talk of phantom Dragonriders." Sakura pulled his sword from its scabbard and held it high. "This is my city. I have not been here in more than a year, but by blood right, this is my home and my lands. All I need to do is announce myself and they will honor me and fall to their feet and welcome me home"s
"You really believe that, don't? "Quynn looked over to Sakura in disbelief. He shook his head and almost laughed idea. "You may rightfully be the king here, but you're not sitting on the throne now. And that's what counts."
"Than what do we do?" Sakura asked.
"We get a little closer," Quynn answered. "That may answer a few questions".
"Yes, it might." Sky said. "I suggest we be quiet until we decide to reveal our selves."
The night was dark with only a sliver of a silver moon in the sky. Deja slept peacefully wrapped in Kifedi's strong arms. Suddenly there was a crack like thunder that woke her up. As she sat up she carefully lifted Kifedi's arm her across her chest and put it to his side. He let out a snort and rolled over and kissed her mates forehead.
"Sleep my handsome one. Soon this will be over and I can take you to a place where we can find peace. No one will hunt for us. We can live together and raise pups."
With a smile, Kifedi turned over and pulled his blanket up over his shoulders. Now that Kifedi was sleeping, she grabbed her knives and made her way out of the camp. The forest was dark and quiet. Not ever the insects made any noise. Suddenly had she had a bad feeling about this. Maybe she should have woke Kifedi up and made him come with her. Then she shook her head. What was she worried about, she was just as good a warrior as anyone here in Aspana, and that included her father.
With a boost to her confidence, Deja pulled her knives from their sheaths and started on her way into the dark. As she walked she could hear the sound of the jungle come alive. Bird called, insects chirped, something roared out grabbing her attention. She turned feeling someone's breath on her neck. Frightened, she kicked and stabbed out at the intruder. As her knife whistled out through the empty air, Deja stepped back and searched all around her. There was nothing there. How could that be? She could feel the presence of her enemy. She felt the hot breath on her back. There was something there. Wasn't there?
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Deja dived to the side then jumped up swinging. Again there was nothing there. What trick is this?
"Come out and face me." She yelled. "Where are you monster. What are you?"
"Monster?" The voice said. Its words were cold and brittle. They sent chills through her. "I am the darkness that you fear. I am the pain that runs through your body."
"No!" Deja called back. "I am not afraid of you. You are a coward. You are the one that is afraid. Come face me if you dare."
"I am here behind you."
Deja spun around and stabbed out at the dark cloaked one behind her. She felt her knives go into the cloak, but there was nothing there. But that can't be. Again she attacked. She kicked and sliced at the fiend but no blood flowed down her hand. All she felt was a burning sensation, so hot she dropped her knife.
"You can not hurt me." The voice said. "But I can hurt you."
The black thing swung out at her and knocked her off her feet. Deja tried to get up, but the shadow was fast. In seconds it was kneeling over her. Deja pushed and shoved at it trying to get it off, but it wouldn't move.
"Say myumbo Deja, for this is it for you."
As Deja lay there frozen in terror, the back thing reached out with its skeletal hand and pushed it's way through her chest to grab her heart. Deja screamed. She screamed so hard the birds sleeping in the trees woke up and took flight.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Back at the camp outside of Tinpa, Kifedi woke up with her scream in his ear. He jumped up and took off into the jungle. There was no need for him to search the camp for her or to ask the guard where she had gone. He knew where she was and how much pain she was in.
As he ran through the jungle he began to shift forms. He went from his normal scarred hyenen form to his dog warrior form, then his Scarr form with its extended sharp claws and wide monstrous mouth with needle teeth. Running so fast his feet barely touched the ground, Scarr ran a straight course through the dark jungle to the hill where his senses told him Deja had last been. There he put his nose to the ground and followed his mates smell until he came to a wide patch of wet bloody grass. With his heart torn with pain and sorrow, Scarr screamed out his challenge into the darkness. He kicked and pawed the ground then tore off into the jungle to find his enemy. When he stopped, he stood there breathing hard.
"Are you done?" A shadow said.
"Who are you?" Scarr said as he jumped back away from the shadow. "Show yourself. I will have my revenge. You took my mates life you bastard!"
"Who am I?" The shadow laughed. "I am hate. I am fear. I am the thing you run from in your dreams."
"Then you are nothing." Scarr spits out. "I don't fear the night or my dreams. They are nothing but bits and pieces of my imagination."
"Is that so?"
The voice made itself visible to Scarr. It was tall and thin dressed in a hooded old black cloak. It had skeletal hands and an icy cold voice that sent chills through the body, Its eyes were oval and as red as blood. This thing was obviously powerful, but that didn't matter, it killed Deja and Kifedi would kill it or die trying.
With a scream of rage, Kifedi pulled his swords from his back and charged at the stranger. He stabbed left, then sliced right. The stranger countered lifting his arm to block the sword slash, then swung up, and stepped back out of the way of Kifedi's swing. Kifedi raised his sword and slashed across the stranger's midsection. The stranger didn't move, he let the sword strike his making a loud clang. The vibrations went up Kifedi's arm shaking the sword free to fall in the tall grass. As numbing pain ran through his arm, Kifedi stepped back, raised his other sword and stabbed the stranger in his chest. The stranger laughed as the sword shattered on its diamond-hard chest and fell. The stranger reached out and grabbed Kifedi and raised him off the ground.
"Time to die, traitor." Icy foul breath spit in Kifedi's face. Kifedi kicked and struggled to free himself, but he had him in an iron grip.
"We will be avenged!"Kifedi shouted.
"No." It said. "I will kill all your friends and destroy your homes."
"Nooooooo!" The Demondog screamed as his head was crushed in the stranger's powerful grip. Dropping the body, the stranger wiped his hand on Kifedi's fur, He laughed and faded away as he walked off.
Moving quietly, Sakura, Sky, and Quynn started on their way down the mountain. They passed leopard hunters and Ocelots out gathering fruit for the morning meal. Sakura explained that the smaller breed of felines like Ocelots, Margays, Bobcats, and Lynx did all of the cities drudge work while the bigger cats served in their army and on the city council.
"It is hard to explain," Sakura said. "There are many exceptions."
"We understand," Quynn said. "It's the same in our city. Though mostly all of our people have a say in our important decisions."
'"That must be difficult." Sakura said.
"Very difficult." Quynn nodded.
From there, Sakura led them around the framing fields and to where the cities waste and refuse was for the Wild Boars to tend to. Sakura held his nose. He never could get used to the smell here.
"Why are we here?"Quynn asked.
"This is the only way in without being seen," Sakura explained. "With all the war on, the three gates into Panthera are watched very closely, but this is only known by the royals. It's our private way in, or our escape route out. Doesn't your city have one too?"
"No." Sky said. "We can fly."
So into the dark tunnels, they went. There were streaks of light and the chirping of insects echoing all through the tunnel. Sky could see things moving all around them. Quynn told him they only bugs or small mice and nothing to worry about but Sky wasn't sure if he believed him. The insects and mice weren't the only things he heard. There were growling and howls coming from out in the darkness. It sounds dangerous to him. He was glad Quynn was there at his side.
On they walked pass turns and tunnels that Sky could smell host things he did not want to meet down there. They walked through mud and dirt. Sometimes the water went from knee high to places where they had to swim.
As they walked, Sky thought he smelled something. It was a strange smell like nothing he had ever smelled before. Whatever it was it had the smell of iron about it. For a minute, Shy thought it was iron ore that the Pantherens were mining. Then he smelled the blood, which meant whatever it was, it was alive.
"Quynn." Sky nudged his mate. "I think we have a problem."
"Yeah." He said. "I smell it too. We better warn Sakura."
As Quynn reached over to get his attention, Sakura turn. He had his sword drawn. He put a finger to his lips to warn them to be quiet.
Suddenly the ground started it shake. Rocks and stalactites fell from the ceiling of the tunnel. Quynn thought he should shift to his Dragon form, but there wasn't much room here in the tunnel.
[Don't bother.] Sakura walked out into the tunnel with his sword in hand just as the ground opened up and a huge grey wolf shot up out of the ground. Sakura held his sword up over his head and set himself for the attack. As the wolf roared and dived down to attack, it stopped staring at Sakura's glowing sword. It whimpered and backed off away from the deadly blade. As the wolf howled, it bowed its head with its eyes down. Sakura looked up at his sword. Vengeance had belonged to his father. Msia had once told him it was a special sword with mystical powers. Sakura had seen the sword in battle it was unbreakable and very difficult to defeat, but it had never brought an enemy to its knees just from facing it.
"What's going on?" Quynn asked.
I'm not sure." Sakura let his sword drop down to is side. "I wonder why it's bowing?"
[That blade you are holding is Lion's claw?] It looked up in Sakura's eyes. [Msia Duma's blade.]
"Yes," Sakura said confused.
[You are his son?]
"Yes, I am." It looks like this wolf is on their side. Maybe we will finally get a break.
[My name is Garn. How may I be of service to the house of Duma?]
"I don't know," Sakura said. "What can you do to help?"
[I can lead you in if that is your wish.]
"No," Sakura said. "I think we can find our way in."
[Then I can alert the wild ones of your arrival. There are some that will want to know you are back on the throne.]
"Allies?"
[Yes.] Garn sent.
[Garn.] Quynn sent. [Can you bring them to the palace to meet us when we call?]
[Yes, if that is what you want.]
"Yes," Sakura said. He turned to Quynn. "What are you thinking?"
"Let's go, I'll tell you on the way."
But he was worried about Sakura. Whatever the regnant was up to, it wouldn't be good for the Pantherens. So he knew what he had to do. He had to hurry up and find his family, his love was in danger ad that was all that mattered.
Under dark rainy skies, Quynn Tyr shook the rain from his jacket and held out his hand to help his white-haired mate, Sky Petrus out on to the cliff overlooking the dark city. Panthera.
"This is Panthera?" Quynn said staring down at the dark city. "It looks dead."
"Its had better days." Sakura said sadly. "It should look bright and vibrant. This is our planting season. I realize it is almost midnight, but there should be men at the harbor working on nets and preparing the boats to sail at sun up. I've never seen our city so dark. Something is wrong. How could Panthera have changed so much in only five years?"
"Could this be one of Mulu's cities?" Sky asked.
Everyone stopped and turned to look at the young Phoenix. No one dared to chance an answer. No, it can't be. Sakura thought it was impossible. He just stood there with a blank look on his face like he smelled something bad. It took Quynn to break the silence.
"As impossible as you think, it can happen," Quyyn said. "At home, Winterhaven was taken twice. Once by a warlock named Polan Dressak, a wannabe conquer that thought he had the power to force his will on the world.."
"I read about him in the library." Sky said, "He also was the last to ride a shadow dragon."
"No." Quynn interrupted Sky. "Others merged with shadow dragons, but he was the last with a dark mind to ride."
"What does this mean?" Sakura asked with confusion in his eyes. "We have no dark dragons here."
"Not yet you don't." Sky said. "Just be careful with your Dragonriders."
"We will," Sakura said. "But right now we have no Dragons, but we will be careful."
Sky turned to Quynn and smiled as if they shared a secret joke.
"Let's have no more talk of phantom Dragonriders." Sakura pulled his sword from its scabbard and held it high. "This is my city. I have not been here in more than a year, but by blood right, this is my home and my lands. All I need to do is announce myself and they will honor me and fall to their feet and welcome me home"s
"You really believe that, don't? "Quynn looked over to Sakura in disbelief. He shook his head and almost laughed idea. "You may rightfully be the king here, but you're not sitting on the throne now. And that's what counts."
"Than what do we do?" Sakura asked.
"We get a little closer," Quynn answered. "That may answer a few questions".
"Yes, it might." Sky said. "I suggest we be quiet until we decide to reveal our selves."
The night was dark with only a sliver of a silver moon in the sky. Deja slept peacefully wrapped in Kifedi's strong arms. Suddenly there was a crack like thunder that woke her up. As she sat up she carefully lifted Kifedi's arm her across her chest and put it to his side. He let out a snort and rolled over and kissed her mates forehead.
"Sleep my handsome one. Soon this will be over and I can take you to a place where we can find peace. No one will hunt for us. We can live together and raise pups."
With a smile, Kifedi turned over and pulled his blanket up over his shoulders. Now that Kifedi was sleeping, she grabbed her knives and made her way out of the camp. The forest was dark and quiet. Not ever the insects made any noise. Suddenly had she had a bad feeling about this. Maybe she should have woke Kifedi up and made him come with her. Then she shook her head. What was she worried about, she was just as good a warrior as anyone here in Aspana, and that included her father.
With a boost to her confidence, Deja pulled her knives from their sheaths and started on her way into the dark. As she walked she could hear the sound of the jungle come alive. Bird called, insects chirped, something roared out grabbing her attention. She turned feeling someone's breath on her neck. Frightened, she kicked and stabbed out at the intruder. As her knife whistled out through the empty air, Deja stepped back and searched all around her. There was nothing there. How could that be? She could feel the presence of her enemy. She felt the hot breath on her back. There was something there. Wasn't there?
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Deja dived to the side then jumped up swinging. Again there was nothing there. What trick is this?
"Come out and face me." She yelled. "Where are you monster. What are you?"
"Monster?" The voice said. Its words were cold and brittle. They sent chills through her. "I am the darkness that you fear. I am the pain that runs through your body."
"No!" Deja called back. "I am not afraid of you. You are a coward. You are the one that is afraid. Come face me if you dare."
"I am here behind you."
Deja spun around and stabbed out at the dark cloaked one behind her. She felt her knives go into the cloak, but there was nothing there. But that can't be. Again she attacked. She kicked and sliced at the fiend but no blood flowed down her hand. All she felt was a burning sensation, so hot she dropped her knife.
"You can not hurt me." The voice said. "But I can hurt you."
The black thing swung out at her and knocked her off her feet. Deja tried to get up, but the shadow was fast. In seconds it was kneeling over her. Deja pushed and shoved at it trying to get it off, but it wouldn't move.
"Say myumbo Deja, for this is it for you."
As Deja lay there frozen in terror, the back thing reached out with its skeletal hand and pushed it's way through her chest to grab her heart. Deja screamed. She screamed so hard the birds sleeping in the trees woke up and took flight.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Back at the camp outside of Tinpa, Kifedi woke up with her scream in his ear. He jumped up and took off into the jungle. There was no need for him to search the camp for her or to ask the guard where she had gone. He knew where she was and how much pain she was in.
As he ran through the jungle he began to shift forms. He went from his normal scarred hyenen form to his dog warrior form, then his Scarr form with its extended sharp claws and wide monstrous mouth with needle teeth. Running so fast his feet barely touched the ground, Scarr ran a straight course through the dark jungle to the hill where his senses told him Deja had last been. There he put his nose to the ground and followed his mates smell until he came to a wide patch of wet bloody grass. With his heart torn with pain and sorrow, Scarr screamed out his challenge into the darkness. He kicked and pawed the ground then tore off into the jungle to find his enemy. When he stopped, he stood there breathing hard.
"Are you done?" A shadow said.
"Who are you?" Scarr said as he jumped back away from the shadow. "Show yourself. I will have my revenge. You took my mates life you bastard!"
"Who am I?" The shadow laughed. "I am hate. I am fear. I am the thing you run from in your dreams."
"Then you are nothing." Scarr spits out. "I don't fear the night or my dreams. They are nothing but bits and pieces of my imagination."
"Is that so?"
The voice made itself visible to Scarr. It was tall and thin dressed in a hooded old black cloak. It had skeletal hands and an icy cold voice that sent chills through the body, Its eyes were oval and as red as blood. This thing was obviously powerful, but that didn't matter, it killed Deja and Kifedi would kill it or die trying.
With a scream of rage, Kifedi pulled his swords from his back and charged at the stranger. He stabbed left, then sliced right. The stranger countered lifting his arm to block the sword slash, then swung up, and stepped back out of the way of Kifedi's swing. Kifedi raised his sword and slashed across the stranger's midsection. The stranger didn't move, he let the sword strike his making a loud clang. The vibrations went up Kifedi's arm shaking the sword free to fall in the tall grass. As numbing pain ran through his arm, Kifedi stepped back, raised his other sword and stabbed the stranger in his chest. The stranger laughed as the sword shattered on its diamond-hard chest and fell. The stranger reached out and grabbed Kifedi and raised him off the ground.
"Time to die, traitor." Icy foul breath spit in Kifedi's face. Kifedi kicked and struggled to free himself, but he had him in an iron grip.
"We will be avenged!"Kifedi shouted.
"No." It said. "I will kill all your friends and destroy your homes."
"Nooooooo!" The Demondog screamed as his head was crushed in the stranger's powerful grip. Dropping the body, the stranger wiped his hand on Kifedi's fur, He laughed and faded away as he walked off.
Moving quietly, Sakura, Sky, and Quynn started on their way down the mountain. They passed leopard hunters and Ocelots out gathering fruit for the morning meal. Sakura explained that the smaller breed of felines like Ocelots, Margays, Bobcats, and Lynx did all of the cities drudge work while the bigger cats served in their army and on the city council.
"It is hard to explain," Sakura said. "There are many exceptions."
"We understand," Quynn said. "It's the same in our city. Though mostly all of our people have a say in our important decisions."
'"That must be difficult." Sakura said.
"Very difficult." Quynn nodded.
From there, Sakura led them around the framing fields and to where the cities waste and refuse was for the Wild Boars to tend to. Sakura held his nose. He never could get used to the smell here.
"Why are we here?"Quynn asked.
"This is the only way in without being seen," Sakura explained. "With all the war on, the three gates into Panthera are watched very closely, but this is only known by the royals. It's our private way in, or our escape route out. Doesn't your city have one too?"
"No." Sky said. "We can fly."
So into the dark tunnels, they went. There were streaks of light and the chirping of insects echoing all through the tunnel. Sky could see things moving all around them. Quynn told him they only bugs or small mice and nothing to worry about but Sky wasn't sure if he believed him. The insects and mice weren't the only things he heard. There were growling and howls coming from out in the darkness. It sounds dangerous to him. He was glad Quynn was there at his side.
On they walked pass turns and tunnels that Sky could smell host things he did not want to meet down there. They walked through mud and dirt. Sometimes the water went from knee high to places where they had to swim.
As they walked, Sky thought he smelled something. It was a strange smell like nothing he had ever smelled before. Whatever it was it had the smell of iron about it. For a minute, Shy thought it was iron ore that the Pantherens were mining. Then he smelled the blood, which meant whatever it was, it was alive.
"Quynn." Sky nudged his mate. "I think we have a problem."
"Yeah." He said. "I smell it too. We better warn Sakura."
As Quynn reached over to get his attention, Sakura turn. He had his sword drawn. He put a finger to his lips to warn them to be quiet.
Suddenly the ground started it shake. Rocks and stalactites fell from the ceiling of the tunnel. Quynn thought he should shift to his Dragon form, but there wasn't much room here in the tunnel.
[Don't bother.] Sakura walked out into the tunnel with his sword in hand just as the ground opened up and a huge grey wolf shot up out of the ground. Sakura held his sword up over his head and set himself for the attack. As the wolf roared and dived down to attack, it stopped staring at Sakura's glowing sword. It whimpered and backed off away from the deadly blade. As the wolf howled, it bowed its head with its eyes down. Sakura looked up at his sword. Vengeance had belonged to his father. Msia had once told him it was a special sword with mystical powers. Sakura had seen the sword in battle it was unbreakable and very difficult to defeat, but it had never brought an enemy to its knees just from facing it.
"What's going on?" Quynn asked.
I'm not sure." Sakura let his sword drop down to is side. "I wonder why it's bowing?"
[That blade you are holding is Lion's claw?] It looked up in Sakura's eyes. [Msia Duma's blade.]
"Yes," Sakura said confused.
[You are his son?]
"Yes, I am." It looks like this wolf is on their side. Maybe we will finally get a break.
[My name is Garn. How may I be of service to the house of Duma?]
"I don't know," Sakura said. "What can you do to help?"
[I can lead you in if that is your wish.]
"No," Sakura said. "I think we can find our way in."
[Then I can alert the wild ones of your arrival. There are some that will want to know you are back on the throne.]
"Allies?"
[Yes.] Garn sent.
[Garn.] Quynn sent. [Can you bring them to the palace to meet us when we call?]
[Yes, if that is what you want.]
"Yes," Sakura said. He turned to Quynn. "What are you thinking?"
"Let's go, I'll tell you on the way."
Lion's Claw = Sakura's family blade.
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