Moving quietly and watching to make sure they weren't seen, they crept through the twists and turns of Naraya. Dar'yl had told them that Sakura's friend lived not to far from the west entrance to the city. That entrance wasn't very well guarded so both Sakura and Astan would have no trouble getting in or out without being seen.
As Dar'yl stepped around a building corner, he saw two Tigaren guards standing in front of an alley that led to Juma's house. He stepped back holding out his hand to stop Sky and Quynn, then put his finger to his lips to quiet them. The two were talking about a report that a Pantheren had been stopped in the area last and that he could still be here hiding somewhere. They had just searched the houses on this block, and they were moving on to the houses on the east side. Dar'yl ducked back as the two guards left heading east.
"Quick." Dar'yl waved them in. "In here."
Hurrying down the alley, they stopped and knocked at a door shrouded in shadows. The saw a light come on in a window and there was someone on the other side of the door.
"You may enter Dar'yl Radal." A voice said. "And bring your friends."
Dar'yl reached to his side and pulled a sword, then he opened the door and they went in. After he shut the door, Sky and Quynn stepped up to his side. There in front of them sitting at a table was an elder grey bearded Pantheran in gold and green. He waved them into chairs he had set out for them.
"Sky Petrus." He said. "And Quynn Tyr. I am Zakia Manzi. I have been expecting you. I am here to help you get Sakura Duma to Astan Kinya."
"How can you help?" Quynn asked. "We aren't even sure where they are?"
"I know where to find Sakura." Sky said. "I had a dream he was with Elephants."
"That is right." Zakia shook his head and smiled. "You have ever powerful dreams. One day, they will save all of Keanna."
"Another prophecy?" Quynn asked frowning. He hated prophecies. They were always so unpredictable. "Just what we need."
"Forgive him." Sky hugged Quynn. "He's been through a lot in the last year. We were asked to come here and help and that's what we're going to do. But you have to tell the king not to interfere. I saw that in a dream too.
"I will do as you ask," Zakia promised. "Just get Sakura to Astan. And find the Star."
"Star? What Star?" Quynn asked confused. "What's he talking about?"
"You will find out." Zakia stood up and lifted his feathered staff and started to fade away. "Just bring them home safe and Aspana will forever thank you."
Once Zakia Manzi was gone, Dar'yl had time to speak with Sky more about their destination and plans.
"Do you know where to find Sakura?" Dar'yl asked. "If you do, please take me to him."
"Don't worry Dar'yl." Sky patted him on the shoulder. "We'll be with him soon. He will be with the Safiri tribe in the morning. Do you know how to find them?
"Yes." Dar'yl said. "I know their migration route. I can show you."
"Then let's get going." Quynn checked the window to make sure it was clear outside then opened to door. "By the way, what's this Star he was talking about?"
It had been a hard night for Sakura trying to care for Kantu and getting him to the Safiri tribe and his father. Kantu being an Elephant couldn't move on his own very fast. The only way they could travel at all was if Kantu was in his human form. Then Sakura could carry him on his back and still run. But the little boy was heavy and Sakura knew the Hyenans and Jackals were still out there looking for him. He could feel eyes watching him from a distance, they were out there just waiting for the perfect chance to attack and as long as Kantu was with him, he would be in danger.
The dawn was coming and Sakura and Kantu had traveled more than thirty miles. They had stopped so Sakura could rest and Kantu could feed. He had shifted to his Elephant form and was grazing in a patch of tall grass while Sakura rested. He was tired and it was getting hard to keep his eyes open. His body needed sleep to re-energize him to keep on with his search and the battle to save Astan before it was to late.
As Sakura watched Kantu graze, he heard a howling echo out from the distant hills. Sakura jumped up and ran down to Kantu who stopped eating and stood shaking and staring up into the hills. He pulled the little Elephant back behind him as he heard the second then the third howl. It was time they got moving. The Hyenans were closing in. Sakura bent over and whispered in the Elephants ear and he shifted and held his arms out for Sakura to pick him up. With the little gray-skinned boy back on his back, Sakura took off running across the savanna. It wasn't long before he looked back and saw the Hyenans and Jackals in the chase behind him. He needed more speed and the only way he could run faster would be in his Lion form.
[Hold on Kantu.] He sent to the scared little boy. [Time to go really fast.]
In a flash, Sakura shifted and the race was in. His speed became incredible. It almost doubled from his two-legged form. Kantu started to giggle, he was enjoying the ride so much. With a look back, Sakura realized he had put more distance between him and his pursuers. But it wasn't enough, he would get tired and eventually they would catch up with him. If he kept running at this pace, he would be too exhausted to fight and that would be the end of both of them. So he looked to his right and saw a small cave in the side of Mount Omaz. It would be the perfect place to hide Kantu and easy to defend.
Shifting directions, Sakura headed straight for the cave. When he got there, he shifted and lifted Kantu off his back and set him down in a nook, a safe place in the cave. Kantu looked up at him and smiled. Sakura felt a tear run down his face. The boy was so precious and beautiful. He wouldn't allow anything to hurt him. It was time to fight.
"Stay here Kantu." Sakura took a ring off his ring and gave it to the boy. "Watch this for me. I'll be back when it's safe."
Reaching behind his back, Sakura pulled Oblivion free then turned and went back to the entrance of the cave. As he looked out, he saw the horde of Dogmen descending on him and the cave. Sakura took a deep breath and roared out his challenge.
As the pack of wild beast they were, the Hyenans and Jackals attacked. Some with clubs, some had weapons. Sakura fought them one, two or three at a time. He fought like the master swordsman he was with Oblivion and another he had taken from one of his fallen enemies. Sweat ran like rivers from his muscles as he beat them back as hard as he could. But there were to many of them. He couldn't defend against every blow and they were beginning to wear him down. With another roar, Sakura swung his swords creating a space in front of him that they couldn't get through without being sliced or stabbed. His arms were beginning to feel like lead, then something slammed into his head and he saw stars. As the blows started to rain down on him, Sakura fell. He thought this was the end. In his mind, he screamed out in his mind to tell Astan he wouldn't be coming to rescue him. He begged for his forgiveness.
As Sakura tried to fight his way back to his feet, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something white streak down and into the Dogmen. Whatever it was, it pushed the Dogmen back away from him giving him a second to clear his head. Sakura shook his head then opened his eyes, but he couldn't believe what he saw. To his surprise, standing in front of him there was Dar'yl Radal the white lion warrior, and another young man with a sword dressed all in brown, and they were fighting the Dogmen. Then something white swept down from the sky and sent a blast of freezing cold into the ranks of the scattering Dogmen. As he watched, he knew what it was that he was seeing. It was a huge white bird, a Phoenix. A Snow Phoenix to be exact. Exactly what Zakia Manzi had told him to look for. But where was the Dragon?.
[You have fought well young hero!]
Sakura turned to see Mulu Amin standing on a hill clapping his hands as his warriors ran off. Dar'yl and the young man in brown came over to stand with Sakura.
[You have won today my young Prince.] Mulu sneered at Sakura. [But in the end, I will be the one still standing in rule over all of Aspana and there is nothing any of you can do about it.]
"You are wrong Dogman," Sakura shouted. "Freedom rules Aspana now and it always will. You may have the upper hand right now, but we will fight to keep our freedom, every single one of us."
"And we'll be here to help," Quynn said. "My people fought tyrants like you before, and unfortunately we'll fight them again. Tyrants never win!"
[We shall see about that Stranger.] Mulu spread his arms and lifted into the sky and zoomed away. His voice echoed behind him. [We shall see.]
As Mulu flew off, the white bird came down and in a great flash, he shifted to a handsome white-haired teen as he touched down. He smiled at his brown-haired friend then he came over and joined them. Dar'yl introduced his two new friends.
"Prince Sakura, these are friends that came here by the Regents request to help us. This is Prince Quynn Tyr of Taggitia and his mate Sky Petrus."
"Myumbo." Sakura bowed. "I was told by Zakia Manzi to watch for you. He said you could help me find Astan. Is that true?"
"We're sure going to try." Quynn reached out and took Sakura's hand and shook it. "We can't let the bad guys win."
"No, we can't." Sakura shook vigorously. He finally felt like he had a chance at rescuing Astan. Now all he had to do was find him. "So what do we do now?"
"We dream." Sky said with a smile. "We go to sleep and dream."
It had taken all night but by daybreak, Astan had unraveled everything but the last strand on the spell on the hut. As he stood at the door, a last blue strand of magic waved in front of him. All he had to do was wrap it around his finger and send the last command and the spell would be broken. He would be free. But he still had no idea where he was. For all he knew, he could be in a hut in the middle of Mancoro surrounded by Hyenans and Jackals. Mulu Amin could be right outside the hut watching to see what he did. Astan wasn't sure what to do but sitting here and waiting wasn't the answer, Sakura would expect him to fight with all his magic and knowledge to get back to him. So that was what he would do.
Astan stood up and face the door. He cast out for the blue strand and wrapped it around his hand. Then he said a quick pray to Arlena the goddess of wisdom and he pulled the strand. With a flash of blue sparks, the last spell on the hut fell. Astan listened for a minute, then opened the door and stepped out. As he left the hut, he expected he would find himself in the grasslands facing a line of Hyenan warriors charging down at him. He was surprised to see that he was actually in the jungle. The hut had been the alone structure in a small clearing surrounded by deep jungle. it had been silent in her hut, but now the sound of the jungle was loud and clear. Astan walked out on a path that led into the jungle. He had no idea where he was going, but anywhere was better than here.
The jungle was thick with plants, bamboos, and orchids, tree ferns and vines that climbed to amazing heights. There were huge great trees with wide trunks and roots thicker than entire trees of the savanna. There wasn't much light here, only stray beams could make it through the heavy canopy of leaves. but there was something moving through the branches of the trees that Astan couldn't see. The air was dense and humid and it smelled of rotting vegetation and decay. Astan readied a spell and slowly made his way through the jungle. Ever since he had told him there was danger here, but he couldn't stop. He had to get out and find Sakura.
As he walked, he thought of his nights with Sakura. The feel of his body lying on top of his. His touch, his love, the security he felt when they were together. Sakura was the only one for him no matter what his father or the rest of the Tigaren people thought. He had to find a way to contact him. Maybe if he reached into his heart and touched the place where he kept his feelings for Sakura, he could connect with the bond they had between them. But he would need to be somewhere safe before he could try it.
With Sakura in his mind, Astan quickened his pace, He had passed through a clear spot in the trees and spotted the sun. From its position, the figure he knew it had raisin from the east. That meant if he turned to his left, he would be heading north and that should take him out of the forest eventually. Getting down on all fours he shifted to his Tiger form and started going north. He traveled for about fifteen minutes before he heard a rattling in the trees and stopped to look around. Again he had the feeling there was something out there watching him. He closed his eyes and sent out a small invisible probe then started walking again, His probe stayed in place high in the trees as he walked on. He didn't go far before he found himself standing on the edge of a small clearing. Just then something dark moved to pass his probe and Astan stopped, shifted and turned back.
"You can show yourself," Astan called out to the trees. "I know you're there."
As a wild roar echoed through the trees, Igoro Baba dropped down into the clearing to face Astan. He shifted from his full Gorilla form to something more human-like and bowed to him. His Human form was less muscled but just as furry. He stood straight as he confronted Astan smiling slyly.
"I see I underestimated you, young prince." Igoro took a step in towards Astan pushing his robe sleeves back. "I will not do that again."
"What do you want?" Astan kept his eyes on the Gorilla. He knew any sudden move could be the start of a spell. "I have no quarrel with you or the Gorillas. Why have you kidnapped me?"
"I would think you would know the answer to that question," Igoro said. "You are a means to an end. Just a way for me to gain more power. You see Mulu Amin wants to rule you Cats and Dogs. I want everything else. Humans, Gorillas, Elephants, Zebran, everything."
"And you think Mulu will help you with that?" Astan laughed. "You're crazier than I thought. Do you really think for a minute that you can trust a Hyenan to keep his word? He'll use you until he has no use for you, then he'll turn on you. You'll end up in an even worse place then we Cats are, only you will have no one to blame but yourself."
"I can handle Mulu. "Igoro smiled and raised his hands to start his first spell. "But my kingdom is not your problem. Right now, I am your problem."
Igoro Drew a circle in the air then pushed up with his spell. A blazing ring of magic formed and flew at Astan, Astan waved one hand out to deflect the ring, then sent his own spell at Igoro. Blue streaks of power formed into arrows and shot at the Gorilla. One, two, three, four, five, sped at Igoro. With great precision, Igor deflected each one then put his hands together to form a cup and shot a blast at Astan. Forming a shield, Astan blocked the blast and was forced back by its power. As he poured power into his shield, Astan held on. He was getting weaker with every spell he used. Having been up all night working on breaking the spell on the hut, he was exhausted. He knew he wasn't going to win this battle, but for Sakura, he had to keep trying. His handsome Lion loves face appeared in his mind. He thought this could be his last chance to call out to him. As he poured more power into his cracking shield, Astan called out to Sakura for help.
[SAKURA! HELP MEEEE!!!!]
Then his shields fell and Igoro's blast hit Astan full on. It hit him in his chest and sent him flying back to land in a patch of ferns where he lay bloody and bruised. Igoro walked out to where Astan lay passed out.
"And so falls the mighty Tigaren prince. "Igoro smiled to himself as he picked Astan up and tossed him over his shoulder. "You better be worth it."
It had been a long night in the diamond mines of Zamani, and Tysia Gwedi was exhausted. She stopped and put down her pick ax as an elder Lycaon woman came up and passed her a cup of water. She took it and drink deeply even though the water was brown with mud. Though dirty, the water was cool and felt good going down her parched throat. The elder took the cup back from her and refilled it and passed it back. As Tysia reached for it, a Hyenan guard smacked it out of her hand.
"Don't be greedy." He barked in her face. "You had enough. Move on and you get back to work."
Tysia thank the eldar and picked up her pick and work on a wide layer of diamonds they had found the week before. One by one the diamonds and other gems were pried out of the wall and collected to be taken back to Mulu Amin for his inspection. But no one understood why. They were pretty and Humans and a few others used them for jewelry and trade, but they were just pretty rocks for the Lycaons. Tysia wondered why Mulu wanted them so bad.
As she worked, an older Lycaon further down the line dug out a fist-sized blue gem. He called out his discovery and a Hyenan hurried down a took it from him.. He looked at it closely then put it in the case to be sent to Mulu. Tysia took a deep breath and wiped her face as she looked around. There were many other Lycaon's working here in the mine with three armed Hyenans watching over them. As she took a short rest, she saw three dark figures come hunched and limping into the cavern. Tysia looked closer. There was something familiar about the one on the left. His colors looked familiar. He almost looked just like... It can't be! Mulu's warriors dragged him off three nights ago just before they brought her here to the mines. She had been worried sick about him, but somehow here he is.
"Get back to work!!" A Hyenan reached out and smacked Tysia knocking her over. She fell and banged her head against the wall then rolled over and tried to sit up but she had hurt her back. "Get up and get back to work Bitch!"
The Hyenan reached back to hit her again. Tysia cowered down from the blow. Suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed the Hyenans arm and stopped him. He turned to see a tall silver and white Man wolf snarling and holding his arm.
"You shouldn't do that."
With his left hand, he punched the Hyenan in his maw smashing his nose and knocking him out. As Tysia looked up, Dain Gwedi reached down and pulled her to her feet and into his arms. Two Hyenans came running over with their swords drawn to attack. Aggar and Deja made quick work of them, then dragged them into a shadowy spot and dropped them.
"Dain." She cried. "I've been so worried, where have you been? What happened?"
"They happened." He said hugging his wife. "They saved me and now we're here to save all of you."
The Lycaon's all dropped their picks and shovels and stared at Dain and the two strangers.
"Gather around, all of you." Dain waved the Lycaon's over to them. "These Hyenans have come and raided our homes. They take our young to Mulu's battles and they force us into slavery and we stand by and do nothing. Well, I say no more. These two strangers here are from a people that lived the same lives as we do once upon a time. But they stood up and fought for they're freedom and won. I know it will be hard, but we, the Lycaon's and other Canin people of Aspana can do the same thing. Are we warriors or sheep for the Hyenans to pick and feed on. I say we stand up and show them the Lycaon's are no one's dogs or slaves. Are you with me or do we have to do this by ourselves?"
Hushed words passed from one Lycaon to the next. A tan spotted female cried out for the husband and sons the Hynens had taken away. Dain went to her a gave her his apologies because he knew her husband had been killed by Mulu trying to escape with one of his sons. She fell to her knees and cried while Tysia held her and tried to comfort her.
"And this will happen again and again," Aggar said. "Until you decide you've had enough."
"No!" The woman cried as she stood and wiped away her tears. "They can't have any more of my cubs. This must end now. I will fight with you."
"So will I." Said another dark furred male as he stepped forward holding his pickax. "They took my mate last season and I know she's dead now. I want to avenge her death. I want Mulu to pay for what they did to her."
Dain stepped forward and shook hands with him, then turned to the crowd to see if anyone else would join them. Both Lycaon males and females were stepped up to join in. Dain looked proudly at his people gathered there. It was time they took their lives into their own hands. After all these years and all the lives lost. It was time for their independence and freedom.
From hut to hut and family to family word was past of the coming of Dain and his two friends and their plan. Weapons were smuggled in and hid all around the village. Warriors young and old were prepared. Armor was fashioned from sturdy Baio trees and passed all around without the Hyenans noticing anything. At the agreed-upon moment, Dain made his way to the big hut of Durkha Dega Mulu's head Hyenan for the Zamani village. He waited at the door having replaced one of the Lycaon males that had been assigned to carry a huge wooden box filled with gems in to be inspected by Durkha.
"Bring it in!" A Hyenan stepped out and held the curtain open as Dain and his companion lifted the box and carried it into the hut. Durkha had been sitting on a high chair chewing on the leg bone of a goat. He waved the two Lycaon's and pointed to the ground in front of him.
"Put it there." He said. He spits out a small sliver of bone then got up and put the leg down on his chair. As he wiped the blood from the raw meat on his kilt he lumbered down rubbing his hands in triumph. If Mulu knew Durkha had access to the gems before him, his anger would be unbelievable. But Durkha didn't care. He knew what Mulu was looking for in the mines and caves of Aspana. He had heard the rumors of the Star of Hekima and the power it possessed. He thought if he could get it before Mulu, he could take his place as the most powerful Canin in Aspana. It could be him sitting on the high throne in Mancoro. All he had to do was find the Star first, then figure out how to control its secrets. With the help of one of Mulu's young apprentice shaman's, Durkha had worked hard and fought his way up to a high position in Mulu's pack. Through guile and assassination, he managed to get himself assigned to an area where they thought there was a high possibility that the Star might be located. Ever since then, every gem found in the area for almost one hundred miles came to his hands for inspection before it was passed on to Mulu.
Now here he was standing in Zamani with a huge box of possibilities in front of him. This could be the day he became a mfalme. Durkha knelt down to the crate sized box and flexed his fingers in anticipation.
"The Star is here." He said to himself. "I know it is. I am about to take my first step to greatness!"
He reached down and turned the key in the latch and flipped open the lock, then lifted the top of the box open.
"I'm afraid it's not in here," Aggar said as he kicked out into Durkha's chest. Durkha went flying back to crash into his high chair. He scrambled to get back on his feet as Aggar climbed out of the box. Behind him, Dain and his companion reached into the box and grabbed two Ikawa's they had hidden beneath Aggar. An Ikawa is a short two-foot spear with a broad blade at its head for close personal combat. When Durkha saw the three facing him, he called out for his guards. Five Hyenan warriors rushed in to stand at his stand,
"What is this?" Durrkha shouted as he bent over and picked up his knobkierie. "Who are you?"
Durkha had never seen anyone like Aggar or Deja. Aggar's gray, black and silver wolf form was very rare on the continent of Aspana. There were other Wolves on Aspana, in certain far-off regions, but not here on the savanna.
"My name is Aggar Ren." Aggar's blue eyes flashed at the Hyenan. "We're here to free Zamani and the other Canin people from you and Mulu's control. If you leave now, I promise no one will be hurt."
"Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!" Durkha laughed. "You threaten me? With what? You think they will fight us? Don't make me laugh!"
"Laugh at this!" Dain ran forward and stabbed his Ikawa into one of Durkha's warriors. He slashed out and sliced into the arm of the warrior standing next to him, then brought the butt of his spear around and jammed it into the warrior's stomach. As the fighting started Aggar pulled his sickle and long knife and charged into battle. He hooked into one warrior and threw him bleeding into the next one then charged at Durkha. Durkha brought his knobkierie down with two hands aiming for Aggar's head. Aggar spun himself around and reached out to slice across Durkha's chest. As blood poured from his wound, Durkha stepped back and pulled a dagger from his belt to face Aggar.
"This is not your fight Stranger," Durkha said. "You should go and leave these curs to us. They are nothing to you."
"I'm here to help these people out of bondage," Aggar said as they circled each other. "As long as they need my help, I'll be here to fight for them."
"Then you will die for them too!!" Durkha lunged at Aggar. He swung his club at Aggar hammering him in the chest. He knocked the air from Aggar's lungs making him gasp for breath. As Aggar struggled to breathe, Durkha stabbed forward with his dagger. Aggar sliced up with his knife, cutting Durkha open from chest up to his shoulder, then stabbed into Durkha's neck. Dropping his weapons, Durkha staggered back away from Aggar. He gasped for air as he fell against him knocked over his chair and choked on his own blood.
As Aggar looked around, he saw Dain knelling over the body of his tormentor. All the Hyenans in the hut were dead. But this wasn't over yet, Deja and the others were still out in the village fighting. He went to Dain and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's finish this." Dain nodded and they headed out to finished the fight for Zamani.
As Dar'yl stepped around a building corner, he saw two Tigaren guards standing in front of an alley that led to Juma's house. He stepped back holding out his hand to stop Sky and Quynn, then put his finger to his lips to quiet them. The two were talking about a report that a Pantheren had been stopped in the area last and that he could still be here hiding somewhere. They had just searched the houses on this block, and they were moving on to the houses on the east side. Dar'yl ducked back as the two guards left heading east.
"Quick." Dar'yl waved them in. "In here."
Hurrying down the alley, they stopped and knocked at a door shrouded in shadows. The saw a light come on in a window and there was someone on the other side of the door.
"You may enter Dar'yl Radal." A voice said. "And bring your friends."
Dar'yl reached to his side and pulled a sword, then he opened the door and they went in. After he shut the door, Sky and Quynn stepped up to his side. There in front of them sitting at a table was an elder grey bearded Pantheran in gold and green. He waved them into chairs he had set out for them.
"Sky Petrus." He said. "And Quynn Tyr. I am Zakia Manzi. I have been expecting you. I am here to help you get Sakura Duma to Astan Kinya."
"How can you help?" Quynn asked. "We aren't even sure where they are?"
"I know where to find Sakura." Sky said. "I had a dream he was with Elephants."
"That is right." Zakia shook his head and smiled. "You have ever powerful dreams. One day, they will save all of Keanna."
"Another prophecy?" Quynn asked frowning. He hated prophecies. They were always so unpredictable. "Just what we need."
"Forgive him." Sky hugged Quynn. "He's been through a lot in the last year. We were asked to come here and help and that's what we're going to do. But you have to tell the king not to interfere. I saw that in a dream too.
"I will do as you ask," Zakia promised. "Just get Sakura to Astan. And find the Star."
"Star? What Star?" Quynn asked confused. "What's he talking about?"
"You will find out." Zakia stood up and lifted his feathered staff and started to fade away. "Just bring them home safe and Aspana will forever thank you."
Once Zakia Manzi was gone, Dar'yl had time to speak with Sky more about their destination and plans.
"Do you know where to find Sakura?" Dar'yl asked. "If you do, please take me to him."
"Don't worry Dar'yl." Sky patted him on the shoulder. "We'll be with him soon. He will be with the Safiri tribe in the morning. Do you know how to find them?
"Yes." Dar'yl said. "I know their migration route. I can show you."
"Then let's get going." Quynn checked the window to make sure it was clear outside then opened to door. "By the way, what's this Star he was talking about?"
It had been a hard night for Sakura trying to care for Kantu and getting him to the Safiri tribe and his father. Kantu being an Elephant couldn't move on his own very fast. The only way they could travel at all was if Kantu was in his human form. Then Sakura could carry him on his back and still run. But the little boy was heavy and Sakura knew the Hyenans and Jackals were still out there looking for him. He could feel eyes watching him from a distance, they were out there just waiting for the perfect chance to attack and as long as Kantu was with him, he would be in danger.
The dawn was coming and Sakura and Kantu had traveled more than thirty miles. They had stopped so Sakura could rest and Kantu could feed. He had shifted to his Elephant form and was grazing in a patch of tall grass while Sakura rested. He was tired and it was getting hard to keep his eyes open. His body needed sleep to re-energize him to keep on with his search and the battle to save Astan before it was to late.
As Sakura watched Kantu graze, he heard a howling echo out from the distant hills. Sakura jumped up and ran down to Kantu who stopped eating and stood shaking and staring up into the hills. He pulled the little Elephant back behind him as he heard the second then the third howl. It was time they got moving. The Hyenans were closing in. Sakura bent over and whispered in the Elephants ear and he shifted and held his arms out for Sakura to pick him up. With the little gray-skinned boy back on his back, Sakura took off running across the savanna. It wasn't long before he looked back and saw the Hyenans and Jackals in the chase behind him. He needed more speed and the only way he could run faster would be in his Lion form.
[Hold on Kantu.] He sent to the scared little boy. [Time to go really fast.]
In a flash, Sakura shifted and the race was in. His speed became incredible. It almost doubled from his two-legged form. Kantu started to giggle, he was enjoying the ride so much. With a look back, Sakura realized he had put more distance between him and his pursuers. But it wasn't enough, he would get tired and eventually they would catch up with him. If he kept running at this pace, he would be too exhausted to fight and that would be the end of both of them. So he looked to his right and saw a small cave in the side of Mount Omaz. It would be the perfect place to hide Kantu and easy to defend.
Shifting directions, Sakura headed straight for the cave. When he got there, he shifted and lifted Kantu off his back and set him down in a nook, a safe place in the cave. Kantu looked up at him and smiled. Sakura felt a tear run down his face. The boy was so precious and beautiful. He wouldn't allow anything to hurt him. It was time to fight.
"Stay here Kantu." Sakura took a ring off his ring and gave it to the boy. "Watch this for me. I'll be back when it's safe."
Reaching behind his back, Sakura pulled Oblivion free then turned and went back to the entrance of the cave. As he looked out, he saw the horde of Dogmen descending on him and the cave. Sakura took a deep breath and roared out his challenge.
As the pack of wild beast they were, the Hyenans and Jackals attacked. Some with clubs, some had weapons. Sakura fought them one, two or three at a time. He fought like the master swordsman he was with Oblivion and another he had taken from one of his fallen enemies. Sweat ran like rivers from his muscles as he beat them back as hard as he could. But there were to many of them. He couldn't defend against every blow and they were beginning to wear him down. With another roar, Sakura swung his swords creating a space in front of him that they couldn't get through without being sliced or stabbed. His arms were beginning to feel like lead, then something slammed into his head and he saw stars. As the blows started to rain down on him, Sakura fell. He thought this was the end. In his mind, he screamed out in his mind to tell Astan he wouldn't be coming to rescue him. He begged for his forgiveness.
As Sakura tried to fight his way back to his feet, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something white streak down and into the Dogmen. Whatever it was, it pushed the Dogmen back away from him giving him a second to clear his head. Sakura shook his head then opened his eyes, but he couldn't believe what he saw. To his surprise, standing in front of him there was Dar'yl Radal the white lion warrior, and another young man with a sword dressed all in brown, and they were fighting the Dogmen. Then something white swept down from the sky and sent a blast of freezing cold into the ranks of the scattering Dogmen. As he watched, he knew what it was that he was seeing. It was a huge white bird, a Phoenix. A Snow Phoenix to be exact. Exactly what Zakia Manzi had told him to look for. But where was the Dragon?.
[You have fought well young hero!]
Sakura turned to see Mulu Amin standing on a hill clapping his hands as his warriors ran off. Dar'yl and the young man in brown came over to stand with Sakura.
[You have won today my young Prince.] Mulu sneered at Sakura. [But in the end, I will be the one still standing in rule over all of Aspana and there is nothing any of you can do about it.]
"You are wrong Dogman," Sakura shouted. "Freedom rules Aspana now and it always will. You may have the upper hand right now, but we will fight to keep our freedom, every single one of us."
"And we'll be here to help," Quynn said. "My people fought tyrants like you before, and unfortunately we'll fight them again. Tyrants never win!"
[We shall see about that Stranger.] Mulu spread his arms and lifted into the sky and zoomed away. His voice echoed behind him. [We shall see.]
As Mulu flew off, the white bird came down and in a great flash, he shifted to a handsome white-haired teen as he touched down. He smiled at his brown-haired friend then he came over and joined them. Dar'yl introduced his two new friends.
"Prince Sakura, these are friends that came here by the Regents request to help us. This is Prince Quynn Tyr of Taggitia and his mate Sky Petrus."
"Myumbo." Sakura bowed. "I was told by Zakia Manzi to watch for you. He said you could help me find Astan. Is that true?"
"We're sure going to try." Quynn reached out and took Sakura's hand and shook it. "We can't let the bad guys win."
"No, we can't." Sakura shook vigorously. He finally felt like he had a chance at rescuing Astan. Now all he had to do was find him. "So what do we do now?"
"We dream." Sky said with a smile. "We go to sleep and dream."
It had taken all night but by daybreak, Astan had unraveled everything but the last strand on the spell on the hut. As he stood at the door, a last blue strand of magic waved in front of him. All he had to do was wrap it around his finger and send the last command and the spell would be broken. He would be free. But he still had no idea where he was. For all he knew, he could be in a hut in the middle of Mancoro surrounded by Hyenans and Jackals. Mulu Amin could be right outside the hut watching to see what he did. Astan wasn't sure what to do but sitting here and waiting wasn't the answer, Sakura would expect him to fight with all his magic and knowledge to get back to him. So that was what he would do.
Astan stood up and face the door. He cast out for the blue strand and wrapped it around his hand. Then he said a quick pray to Arlena the goddess of wisdom and he pulled the strand. With a flash of blue sparks, the last spell on the hut fell. Astan listened for a minute, then opened the door and stepped out. As he left the hut, he expected he would find himself in the grasslands facing a line of Hyenan warriors charging down at him. He was surprised to see that he was actually in the jungle. The hut had been the alone structure in a small clearing surrounded by deep jungle. it had been silent in her hut, but now the sound of the jungle was loud and clear. Astan walked out on a path that led into the jungle. He had no idea where he was going, but anywhere was better than here.
The jungle was thick with plants, bamboos, and orchids, tree ferns and vines that climbed to amazing heights. There were huge great trees with wide trunks and roots thicker than entire trees of the savanna. There wasn't much light here, only stray beams could make it through the heavy canopy of leaves. but there was something moving through the branches of the trees that Astan couldn't see. The air was dense and humid and it smelled of rotting vegetation and decay. Astan readied a spell and slowly made his way through the jungle. Ever since he had told him there was danger here, but he couldn't stop. He had to get out and find Sakura.
As he walked, he thought of his nights with Sakura. The feel of his body lying on top of his. His touch, his love, the security he felt when they were together. Sakura was the only one for him no matter what his father or the rest of the Tigaren people thought. He had to find a way to contact him. Maybe if he reached into his heart and touched the place where he kept his feelings for Sakura, he could connect with the bond they had between them. But he would need to be somewhere safe before he could try it.
With Sakura in his mind, Astan quickened his pace, He had passed through a clear spot in the trees and spotted the sun. From its position, the figure he knew it had raisin from the east. That meant if he turned to his left, he would be heading north and that should take him out of the forest eventually. Getting down on all fours he shifted to his Tiger form and started going north. He traveled for about fifteen minutes before he heard a rattling in the trees and stopped to look around. Again he had the feeling there was something out there watching him. He closed his eyes and sent out a small invisible probe then started walking again, His probe stayed in place high in the trees as he walked on. He didn't go far before he found himself standing on the edge of a small clearing. Just then something dark moved to pass his probe and Astan stopped, shifted and turned back.
"You can show yourself," Astan called out to the trees. "I know you're there."
As a wild roar echoed through the trees, Igoro Baba dropped down into the clearing to face Astan. He shifted from his full Gorilla form to something more human-like and bowed to him. His Human form was less muscled but just as furry. He stood straight as he confronted Astan smiling slyly.
"I see I underestimated you, young prince." Igoro took a step in towards Astan pushing his robe sleeves back. "I will not do that again."
"What do you want?" Astan kept his eyes on the Gorilla. He knew any sudden move could be the start of a spell. "I have no quarrel with you or the Gorillas. Why have you kidnapped me?"
"I would think you would know the answer to that question," Igoro said. "You are a means to an end. Just a way for me to gain more power. You see Mulu Amin wants to rule you Cats and Dogs. I want everything else. Humans, Gorillas, Elephants, Zebran, everything."
"And you think Mulu will help you with that?" Astan laughed. "You're crazier than I thought. Do you really think for a minute that you can trust a Hyenan to keep his word? He'll use you until he has no use for you, then he'll turn on you. You'll end up in an even worse place then we Cats are, only you will have no one to blame but yourself."
"I can handle Mulu. "Igoro smiled and raised his hands to start his first spell. "But my kingdom is not your problem. Right now, I am your problem."
Igoro Drew a circle in the air then pushed up with his spell. A blazing ring of magic formed and flew at Astan, Astan waved one hand out to deflect the ring, then sent his own spell at Igoro. Blue streaks of power formed into arrows and shot at the Gorilla. One, two, three, four, five, sped at Igoro. With great precision, Igor deflected each one then put his hands together to form a cup and shot a blast at Astan. Forming a shield, Astan blocked the blast and was forced back by its power. As he poured power into his shield, Astan held on. He was getting weaker with every spell he used. Having been up all night working on breaking the spell on the hut, he was exhausted. He knew he wasn't going to win this battle, but for Sakura, he had to keep trying. His handsome Lion loves face appeared in his mind. He thought this could be his last chance to call out to him. As he poured more power into his cracking shield, Astan called out to Sakura for help.
[SAKURA! HELP MEEEE!!!!]
Then his shields fell and Igoro's blast hit Astan full on. It hit him in his chest and sent him flying back to land in a patch of ferns where he lay bloody and bruised. Igoro walked out to where Astan lay passed out.
"And so falls the mighty Tigaren prince. "Igoro smiled to himself as he picked Astan up and tossed him over his shoulder. "You better be worth it."
It had been a long night in the diamond mines of Zamani, and Tysia Gwedi was exhausted. She stopped and put down her pick ax as an elder Lycaon woman came up and passed her a cup of water. She took it and drink deeply even though the water was brown with mud. Though dirty, the water was cool and felt good going down her parched throat. The elder took the cup back from her and refilled it and passed it back. As Tysia reached for it, a Hyenan guard smacked it out of her hand.
"Don't be greedy." He barked in her face. "You had enough. Move on and you get back to work."
Tysia thank the eldar and picked up her pick and work on a wide layer of diamonds they had found the week before. One by one the diamonds and other gems were pried out of the wall and collected to be taken back to Mulu Amin for his inspection. But no one understood why. They were pretty and Humans and a few others used them for jewelry and trade, but they were just pretty rocks for the Lycaons. Tysia wondered why Mulu wanted them so bad.
As she worked, an older Lycaon further down the line dug out a fist-sized blue gem. He called out his discovery and a Hyenan hurried down a took it from him.. He looked at it closely then put it in the case to be sent to Mulu. Tysia took a deep breath and wiped her face as she looked around. There were many other Lycaon's working here in the mine with three armed Hyenans watching over them. As she took a short rest, she saw three dark figures come hunched and limping into the cavern. Tysia looked closer. There was something familiar about the one on the left. His colors looked familiar. He almost looked just like... It can't be! Mulu's warriors dragged him off three nights ago just before they brought her here to the mines. She had been worried sick about him, but somehow here he is.
"Get back to work!!" A Hyenan reached out and smacked Tysia knocking her over. She fell and banged her head against the wall then rolled over and tried to sit up but she had hurt her back. "Get up and get back to work Bitch!"
The Hyenan reached back to hit her again. Tysia cowered down from the blow. Suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed the Hyenans arm and stopped him. He turned to see a tall silver and white Man wolf snarling and holding his arm.
"You shouldn't do that."
With his left hand, he punched the Hyenan in his maw smashing his nose and knocking him out. As Tysia looked up, Dain Gwedi reached down and pulled her to her feet and into his arms. Two Hyenans came running over with their swords drawn to attack. Aggar and Deja made quick work of them, then dragged them into a shadowy spot and dropped them.
"Dain." She cried. "I've been so worried, where have you been? What happened?"
"They happened." He said hugging his wife. "They saved me and now we're here to save all of you."
The Lycaon's all dropped their picks and shovels and stared at Dain and the two strangers.
"Gather around, all of you." Dain waved the Lycaon's over to them. "These Hyenans have come and raided our homes. They take our young to Mulu's battles and they force us into slavery and we stand by and do nothing. Well, I say no more. These two strangers here are from a people that lived the same lives as we do once upon a time. But they stood up and fought for they're freedom and won. I know it will be hard, but we, the Lycaon's and other Canin people of Aspana can do the same thing. Are we warriors or sheep for the Hyenans to pick and feed on. I say we stand up and show them the Lycaon's are no one's dogs or slaves. Are you with me or do we have to do this by ourselves?"
Hushed words passed from one Lycaon to the next. A tan spotted female cried out for the husband and sons the Hynens had taken away. Dain went to her a gave her his apologies because he knew her husband had been killed by Mulu trying to escape with one of his sons. She fell to her knees and cried while Tysia held her and tried to comfort her.
"And this will happen again and again," Aggar said. "Until you decide you've had enough."
"No!" The woman cried as she stood and wiped away her tears. "They can't have any more of my cubs. This must end now. I will fight with you."
"So will I." Said another dark furred male as he stepped forward holding his pickax. "They took my mate last season and I know she's dead now. I want to avenge her death. I want Mulu to pay for what they did to her."
Dain stepped forward and shook hands with him, then turned to the crowd to see if anyone else would join them. Both Lycaon males and females were stepped up to join in. Dain looked proudly at his people gathered there. It was time they took their lives into their own hands. After all these years and all the lives lost. It was time for their independence and freedom.
From hut to hut and family to family word was past of the coming of Dain and his two friends and their plan. Weapons were smuggled in and hid all around the village. Warriors young and old were prepared. Armor was fashioned from sturdy Baio trees and passed all around without the Hyenans noticing anything. At the agreed-upon moment, Dain made his way to the big hut of Durkha Dega Mulu's head Hyenan for the Zamani village. He waited at the door having replaced one of the Lycaon males that had been assigned to carry a huge wooden box filled with gems in to be inspected by Durkha.
"Bring it in!" A Hyenan stepped out and held the curtain open as Dain and his companion lifted the box and carried it into the hut. Durkha had been sitting on a high chair chewing on the leg bone of a goat. He waved the two Lycaon's and pointed to the ground in front of him.
"Put it there." He said. He spits out a small sliver of bone then got up and put the leg down on his chair. As he wiped the blood from the raw meat on his kilt he lumbered down rubbing his hands in triumph. If Mulu knew Durkha had access to the gems before him, his anger would be unbelievable. But Durkha didn't care. He knew what Mulu was looking for in the mines and caves of Aspana. He had heard the rumors of the Star of Hekima and the power it possessed. He thought if he could get it before Mulu, he could take his place as the most powerful Canin in Aspana. It could be him sitting on the high throne in Mancoro. All he had to do was find the Star first, then figure out how to control its secrets. With the help of one of Mulu's young apprentice shaman's, Durkha had worked hard and fought his way up to a high position in Mulu's pack. Through guile and assassination, he managed to get himself assigned to an area where they thought there was a high possibility that the Star might be located. Ever since then, every gem found in the area for almost one hundred miles came to his hands for inspection before it was passed on to Mulu.
Now here he was standing in Zamani with a huge box of possibilities in front of him. This could be the day he became a mfalme. Durkha knelt down to the crate sized box and flexed his fingers in anticipation.
"The Star is here." He said to himself. "I know it is. I am about to take my first step to greatness!"
He reached down and turned the key in the latch and flipped open the lock, then lifted the top of the box open.
"I'm afraid it's not in here," Aggar said as he kicked out into Durkha's chest. Durkha went flying back to crash into his high chair. He scrambled to get back on his feet as Aggar climbed out of the box. Behind him, Dain and his companion reached into the box and grabbed two Ikawa's they had hidden beneath Aggar. An Ikawa is a short two-foot spear with a broad blade at its head for close personal combat. When Durkha saw the three facing him, he called out for his guards. Five Hyenan warriors rushed in to stand at his stand,
"What is this?" Durrkha shouted as he bent over and picked up his knobkierie. "Who are you?"
Durkha had never seen anyone like Aggar or Deja. Aggar's gray, black and silver wolf form was very rare on the continent of Aspana. There were other Wolves on Aspana, in certain far-off regions, but not here on the savanna.
"My name is Aggar Ren." Aggar's blue eyes flashed at the Hyenan. "We're here to free Zamani and the other Canin people from you and Mulu's control. If you leave now, I promise no one will be hurt."
"Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!" Durkha laughed. "You threaten me? With what? You think they will fight us? Don't make me laugh!"
"Laugh at this!" Dain ran forward and stabbed his Ikawa into one of Durkha's warriors. He slashed out and sliced into the arm of the warrior standing next to him, then brought the butt of his spear around and jammed it into the warrior's stomach. As the fighting started Aggar pulled his sickle and long knife and charged into battle. He hooked into one warrior and threw him bleeding into the next one then charged at Durkha. Durkha brought his knobkierie down with two hands aiming for Aggar's head. Aggar spun himself around and reached out to slice across Durkha's chest. As blood poured from his wound, Durkha stepped back and pulled a dagger from his belt to face Aggar.
"This is not your fight Stranger," Durkha said. "You should go and leave these curs to us. They are nothing to you."
"I'm here to help these people out of bondage," Aggar said as they circled each other. "As long as they need my help, I'll be here to fight for them."
"Then you will die for them too!!" Durkha lunged at Aggar. He swung his club at Aggar hammering him in the chest. He knocked the air from Aggar's lungs making him gasp for breath. As Aggar struggled to breathe, Durkha stabbed forward with his dagger. Aggar sliced up with his knife, cutting Durkha open from chest up to his shoulder, then stabbed into Durkha's neck. Dropping his weapons, Durkha staggered back away from Aggar. He gasped for air as he fell against him knocked over his chair and choked on his own blood.
As Aggar looked around, he saw Dain knelling over the body of his tormentor. All the Hyenans in the hut were dead. But this wasn't over yet, Deja and the others were still out in the village fighting. He went to Dain and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's finish this." Dain nodded and they headed out to finished the fight for Zamani.
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