Mulu's Revenge. 9

Mulu Amin sat at his desk in his private chamber brooding and stared into the crystal mound on the table at his side. He watched as King Yonas Kinya gathered his troops and got ready to march. Regent G'ania Gazini had already prepared Atrua, the Pantheran capital for the Hyenan invasion, and Ayad Naadu of Rhinon was already on his way to join the Felines with his warriors. It seems all of Aspana had finally decided to organize against him.
"Let them come." He said with a smile. "My Canin's are not done yet and neither am I! Aspana will rue the day it denied me what should be mine!"
He got up from his desk and walked from his study and out of his house to a hut he had built for his conjurations. There, he had fashioned a pentagram etched in blood on the floor. With a snap of his fingers, the torches in the hut blazed to life and the black candles at each point of the star sparked into a black flame. Mulu stepped into the center of the pentagram and sat down and crossed his legs. In front of him on the floor sat a small bowl filled with ashes and bone fragments. Mulu pulled a dagger from his belt and held it to his hand and cut a slit down the center of the palm of his hand. Blood soon pooled in the palm of his hand. He tilted it and let it pour down into the bowl. The second the blood touched the ashes, gray smoke started billowing up from the bowl to fill the air above his head. Mulu then started his summoning.

ASHES TO ASHES.
BONE TO BONE.
MUSCLES AND MAGIC.
FIRE AND STONE.
FROM SHADOW TO LIGHT.
I CALL YOU HERE.
BOUND AND ALONE.
YOU WILL APPEAR.
DRAIDOR MORAM.
COME AND FACE ME!!

"AYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!" Draidor screamed as he appeared in the air over Mulu's head. "IT BURNS, MAKE IT STOP, MAKE IT STOP. THE SUN BURNS ME!!"
"Calm yourself Demon!" Mulu shouted. "There is no sun here, only nice cool darkness and shadow."
"He hurt me!" Draidor materialized a huge fist and pounded the ground in a rage. "That cursed bastard of a feline hurt me!!"
"Did you kill him?" Mulu asked calmly.
"I had him and his Jackal cornered and he called the sun on me!!"
"IS HE DEAD OR NOT!!" Mulu yelled.
"No, he still lives." Draidor said as he refocused his energy and shrank down to face Mulu. "He lives, but he is hurt very badly. His lackey took him away somewhere to die."
"Where?"
"I don't know." The Demon said. "But I can find him."
"Don't bother." Mule reached into the bag at his side and pulled out a small brown piece of bone. He held it up so Draidor could see it. "Do you know what this is?"
Draidor looked at Mulu with red burning eyes. He looked down at his hand and scoffed at the strange thing the mortal held.
"What do I care about you mortals."
"You should care." Mulu smiled. "You should care very much. I will show you why."
Mulu picked up the dagger off the floor and put it to the bone and dug a deep scratch into it.
Draidor screamed a blood curdling scream and clutched his chest and fell rolling on the ground. Mulu walked around him holding the dagger to the bone.
"This is a bone from what was once your body. With this, I can do things to you, you could not imagine. I can cause you pain or even take your Demon body as my own."
"No!!" Draidor screamed. "This is not possible! Yros would not allow this to happen!"
"I do not answer to any gods on Fortis, the Underworld or any dark dimension." Mulu grabbed the long braid of hair from the top of Draidor's head. "I told you not to fail me.  I warned you that the consequences of failure would be dire. Now, I will take your body and your powers and I will find Msia and kill him myself!!"
Nooooooo!!!!!" Draidor screamed as he struggled against the spell Mulu had cast on him. "This can not be!!!"
"It can." Mulu laughed. "And it will! Enjoy your time in the Abyss!"
As Draidor screamed, Mulu cast his spell and pushed Draidor out of his body. With his soul banished Mulu stepped in and took control. Bolts of black lightning shot out from his body and rained down all over the hut tearing it to pieces. Mulu's laughter echoed all through Mancoro scaring the Hyenans down to their knees. Wrapped in gray smoke, Mulu walked out of the smoke to stand at the edge of the pit laughing. Where once he was a thin Hyenan of about 5' 7" with brown fur streaked with black stripes. Now he was 6' 7" and all black with red eyes sharp teeth with a split demon tongue that hung from his mouth.
Laughing, Mulu walked though Mancoro back to his house and called out to the Hyenan's he had on guard around the house.
"I want every Hyenan in Aspana here at this house to receive my blessing. Leave no one out. I want the young and the old here in front of me in 24 hours."
"Yes master!" The guards ran to send out his call.
"They think they can come and attack me. I will have something special ready just for them. Now Aspana and all of Keanna will bow to my call and be mine!!"
With a deep row of laughter, Mulu disappeared in a flash of darkness.

It was dark when Astan opened his eyes. He had seen many things in his meditation. He watched scared as Yas led Sakura and Sky down to the caves to face the Bear creatures. They battled fiercely sending Sky's ice and Sakura's sword blast at their enemies as they attacked. Yas Twospears found himself trapped in the caves with the hungry Bears. They heard his screams as he was ripped apart and eaten alive. Once out of the cave, Sakura and Sky faced the Twospear tribe and gave them the chance to either fight him, or join them in the battle for Aspana. The Chimp's agreed accepting Sakura's offer and apologizing for the deception their king had played on them. They promised they would be there when Sakura called for them day or night to fight at his side for him and Aspana.
As the vision faded, Astan's consciousness moved on to Atrua where he watched as Regent G'ania Gazini met and greeted Ayad Naadu as he entered the city gates. Traveling in three rows behind the Rhinon king were his armored warriors all ready for war with their catapults and siege hammers. The Rhinon were a gentle people made up of artists, builders and statesmen. But when threatened with war and aggression, they were one of the Pantherans most fierce allies. Regent Gazini would always be proud to have them at his side.
Astan listened carefully as Regent Gazini greeted his old friend and explained why they were on the march. He heard his and his fathers name mentioned. Gazini told him how the two princes were missing and about Mulu's attack on Tinpa and the other cities. He told him of Mulu's attempt to make himself the king of Aspana and his attacks on the Canin tribes all through middle Aspana.
"There is one more thing." Regent Gazini said. "Though I can not prove it, I know Mulu is behind King Msia's disappearance. It was one of our people that led us out that night. But I have no doubt that Mulu was behind it."
"That treacherous dog!" Ayad slammed his fist down on the table. "I have had my problems with him too. Two Rhinon tribes have fallen to his Canin warriors. They lured the adult warriors away, then went in and killed all the females and children. When the warriors returned, he was waiting there for them. Him and his damned dark magic. By the time that I could arrive with my troops, there was nothing left to do but bury the dead. One hundred and thirty Rhinon dead. All for his damned ambition. I will march with G'ania. I will help you put down the Hyenan no matter what it takes."
As they shook hands, Astan pulled his probe back. He had someone else he thought he should check on. His father. He wanted to know what had happened in Tinpa. How had his people been after the Hyenan attack. Astan had warned Sakura that Kinya would need help with the Hyenans. Here was his chance to see how the city fared.
From Panthera, Astan sent his consciousness out to find his home. He soared out over the savanna and through the jungle. He passed the Chimps tree city and a few Lycaon villages. All the people he passed seemed agitated. Even from high above he could feel their fear and concern at all the strange things happening in Aspana. He saw Elephant tribes that once roamed through out the land alone now all band together for protection. Elk, antelope, eland, water buffalo and even the great Hippons were on the run to find somewhere safe to wait out the conflict they all felt coming.  They all knew there was a battle coming and their way was to hide until it was all over. But Astan knew the Tigarens and the Pantheran would not hide. They would fight to keep Aspana free no matter what it took.
Soon, Astan found himself flying out of the jungle and right to Tinpa. The land around the city looked as if a great war had been fought. There were huge pits blasted out of the ground and all the land looked scorched. The city walls had strange blast marks and there were piles of burning bodies set out towards the eastern end. But from what Astan could see, there were no holes in the walls. The Hyenans had failed to enter the city. Astan smiled. That meant the people were safe for now. But what about Father? Had he survived the battle? Astan just had to know. He zoomed in heading for the city wall and suddenly ran into a great barrier. There was something there preventing him from getting any closer. He tried several other places, but it was no use. Tinpa had some kind of magical barrier set up around it. It had to be the doings of Zakia Manzi trying to keep Mulu away from the city.
Feeling sad, Astan backed away from the city. He had to trust that Sakura had done what he promised and saved his father. Now it was time for him to find some way of getting himself free from his prison cell before Igoro could turn him over to Mulu. Pulling himself back to his cell, he stood up and walked up the the cell door. He listened carefully. He knew he wasn't the only prisoner in the dungeon. He had heard cry's and the sound of others moving around in the cells beyond his. At the door, he looked out and down the long dimly lit corridor then across into the cell opposite his. As he gazed into the cell, he saw something move. There was someone in there lying on the cot. Astan wondered who it could be. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers causing a small flickering light to appear. With a wave of his hand he sent it on across and into he the cell. In the cell laying on the cot was a tall thin man dressed in a feathered row of black gray and white.
"Myumbo." Astan called. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you."
"Good. I am Astan Kinyo of Tigaress. Who are you?"
"I am no one anymore." Came the answer. "Just another prisoner waiting in the dark to die."
"Yes." Astan said. "You may die here, but you are not dead yet. Only your body is a prisoner. Igoro Baba my have trapped you, but he does not have your soul. Don't give in to him. There is a way out."
"I have been here without light for a long time." The voice said. "Trapped in the darkness. I see no way out."
"If it is light that you want, then that is what you will have."
Astan whispered something the other couldn't hear and suddenly the spark of light grew to a globe that illuminated the whole cell. The feathered man squawked then stood up as the light filled the room and sent energy surging through his body.
"Praise Alee the light feels good!!"
He lifted his arms, which turned out to be wings and let the light revitalize his muscles and clear out some of the depression in his mind. As the globe illuminated the cell, Astan got a better look the rooms occupant. He was tall and thin and covered from his head down his back with blue, gray and white spotted feathers. He had bright intelligent eyes and an almost beak like nose. Astan guessed he had to be from one of Aspana's many avian tribes. Most likely a predator from deep in the jungle. The light burned for about three minutes, then went out.
"Asante rafiki mgeni." He said. "My name is Palas Astraeus. I am from a place called Starspeak. It is in the high mountains of Ayss in the south."
"Myumbo Palas Astraeus." Astan bowed. "I'm sorry I can't do more. Igoro's magic hinders my spells. What brings you here to Domina?"
"It is a long story." Palas said as he moved back to the cot and sat down. "A story of innocence and treachery and evil magic.."
"I think I may have heard stories like that before. Tell me, what happened."
"Very well." Palas said. "Weeks ago back in my home in the mountains of Ayss. I was a hunter and one of the elders of my aerie. We are a peaceful people. We hunt and live by the message and teachings of Tyree the god of the jungle and wildlife. We try very hard to keep away from the lower jungles. There, madness and chaos run wild through the jungles and savanna's. There are creatures there who can not be trusted. They smile and promise peace, only to steal the young away in the night."
"I assume you mean Igoro Baba and his Gorilla's?"
"Yes." Palas said. Astan could hear pain in his voice. The Gorillas must have done something really horrible to the Avians. Astan closed his eyes and listened while Palas told his story.
"The day had been long. I was out flying over the northern part of our mountains hunting goat when I heard a call echoing on the winds from home. The call was sent out from Argestes, he is the leader of my tribe. He wanted me to come home immediately. I called back to the others in my hunting group and told them where to find my day's catch and turned back towards our Aerie. When I arrived back to the Aerie, Argestes stood down at the entrance to our city with a strange looking man. He had short round ears like a human and a snout with that looked like teeth that could tear meat with with ease. He wore a strange green robe with what looked like pieces of inch sized ivory sewn in creating strange symbols. He wore gold and silver on his fingers and in his ear. I didn't like him the minute I laid eyes on him. There was something in his eyes that chilled me to the bone. As I approached, Argestes waved at me. He wanted me to land there with him and the stranger. From high over their heads, I could see a look on Argestes. It confused me the way he was looking and talking to the stranger. Argestes usually was the cautious one while I was always curious. It was usually him holding me back from putting my beak where it should not be. Folding my wings, I dropped down for a soft landing a few feet out from where they stood. As soon as I touched down, a strange smell caught my attention. It was a sickly smell, like that of death. And it was coming from the stranger. Now, I really didn't like the stranger.
"May your hunting always succeed." Argestes said with a smile. "Palas, we have a guest in our city. An important Gorilla from the lower lands. He is king in his country."
Palas stood and listen as Argestes went on about the gorilla and his accomplishments. Palas really didn't care who he was. What he wanted to know was why he was here. And why Argestes had let him in the city.
"He is here to ask for our help."
Palas looked at the Gorilla. He had a strange look on his face. Palas couldn't tell what it was. It could be fear, or genuine concern. Palas wasn't use to trying to read the faces of people from outside of their mountain city. But something in him said not to trust the Gorilla.
"What is it they want?" Palas asked.
"We, the people of Domina have been watching your mountain for a long time." Igoro explained. "We admire your city, its law and the way you conduct yourselves. We think there are many things we can learn from you in exchange for a few special lessons we can teach you."
"Like what?" Palas asked. He shook out his wings and folded his arms. "What do you think you can teach that we don't already now?"
"Magic!!" Argestes said with bright eyes. "Igoro is a master mage and he promises to teach me, I mean our people the ways of the Mystics."
Palas looked at Argestes. He knew how eager he was for any use of magic. He had for years wondered about the magical ways of the northern mages. Starspeak had been isolated from the others of Aspana, but they weren't blind. They had seen some of the magical battles of the northern mages from their mountain. The lights and flashes of power bolt as two mages faced each other in battle. They were horrible and at the same time, amazing to watch.
"Magic?" Palas said with a frown. "You opened our gates for magic? Tyree has decided that we do not need magic, that is why we do not have magic here."
"But you can." Igoro said. "It will not be easy, but I can teach you the basic theory of magic. How to cast and control spells of different degrees. I see that spark in Argestes eyes that he can use magic. I can teach him, then he can come back and teach others. Soon there will be a mystical spire in your Aerie. One strong enough to make you proud."
"And what do you get?"
"You can help my people hunt." Igoro said with a smile. "I'm sick of banana's and pineapples. You can help with that."
Palas was unconvinced, He didn't believe the gorilla. He thought there was something else he really wanted. And he didn't care about magic. As far as he was concerned, if their city never used the abomination, he would be happy. But he wasn't the only one who had to make the decision. The elder council would have to decide.
"My answer is no." Palas said. "I think our people should stay here where they belong. But I will abide by the vote of the council. Igoro Baba, we will discuss this tonight in chamber. You come back tomorrow and there will be an answer for you."
"Then good hunting my friends. "Igoro bowed. "I will be back for your answer."
With that, he spun around and disappeared in a flash of smoke. Argestes stared at the spot where he vanished from in awe.
"This is a mistake." Palas said. "That gorilla is not to be trusted. I am warning you. Do not let this happen. We have done fine for thousands of years without magic, trust Tyree. He has always cared for us. Do not go against his teachings or you will be sorry."
The arguing that night in the council chamber was intense. We argued on into the early hours of the morning. Most were intent to deny the gorilla and keep our warriors at home. But Argestes argued that magic was becoming to powerful in the outside lands. He said we needed it to defend ourselves from all the others that could soon be knocking at our door. He reminded us that there are bad men out there. Gorillas, Lions, Tigars, Rhinon or the Lycaons, He said it may not be today, but someone will come. And we won't be able to defend ourselves. Not unless we take this opportunity that the Gorilla offers and try and empower ourselves.
Now I admit he is right. Aspana is changing. We see it everyday. New things are invented, different species are found and some turn out to be aggressive, some even have magic. I believe that if we don't be careful and adapt, there is a real danger in our future. But I do not trust the Gorilla and nothing Argestes can say will change that.
For hours we argued back and forth until at last we took one final vote. Do we accept or do we refuse the offer. At eight to four the decision was made that we should accept Igoro Baba's offer. I couldn't believe what I heard when the decision was read. I looked over to Argestes. There was a huge smile on his face. He had won. He stood up and walked round the table heading for the speakers place when I called out and stopped him.
"Argestes." Palas said clearing his throat. "The council has decided and agreed to accept the help of the Gorilla. Even over my objections. What will happen next will be all your responsibility. The future of Starspeak is now in you and the gorillas hands and by Tyree's scepter, you better not fail.
From there, everything started to move fast. Igoro came back and Argestes told him the councils decision. Igoro was pleased and wanted Argestes to start sending Starspeak warriors back to Domina immediately. Argestes agreed but he said only if Igoro would accept him as the first of the Avian apprentices. With a smile the gorilla agreed and Argestes started setting up the warriors and hunters he thought could teach Domina the most. Initially, Argestes picked out five warriors and hunters, but Palas insisted that he be added to the count. He didn't trust the Gorillas and he wanted to be there just in case something went wrong.
After a day of packing and saying their good bye's, Argestes and his first group was ready to go. With a quick spell, Igoro transported all their packs and supply's out of Starspeak. Now he was ready to send the Avians on to Domina. With five hunters lined up, Igoro lifted his hands and cast his spell. In a flash of smoke and light, the hunters disappeared. All the Avian's that had gathered to watch, gasped in awe and started chatting loudly.
"Bring your warriors forward." Igoro commanded.
Palas tucked an extra dagger into his belt, then waved the gathered warriors around him. Once set in a circle with Palas in the center, Igoro spoke to them.
"You will feel a moment of disorientation when you re appear. Have no fear. There will be a few of my people there waiting to steady you. Just relax and let them guide you to a place where you can rest and reorient. Are you ready?"
"Yes." Argestes said anxiously. "I am ready to learn magic."
"Then prepare yourself." Igoro raised his glowing hands. "Domination awaits you!"
Palas watched as Igoro raised his hands and whispered something in a strange language. Then there was a loud scream in his ears and everything went black.
Slowly as the scream faded from Palas's ears, he open his eyes and looked up. The skies were different. There was no mountain here. The smells and the sound were complete different. He looked down and around to find him and his warriors were surrounded by Gorillas with spears and nets. Igoro had betrayed them. He never planned to teach them magic. This was all to make prisoners of the Avian people.
"Avians, to the skies!!
With a mighty leap, Palas launched himself into the sky. His warriors tried to follow him, but the Gorillas had nets and all his warriors were captured before they could even open their wings. Palas beat his wings taking him higher and higher over the jungle city. Leveling himself off, he looked back just as Argestes was being slammed down into the mud by five of Igoro's Gorilla guards. They held him down as Igoro came over to stand over him. He reached down and grabbed the long pinion feathers of Argestes wings and tore one out. Argestes screamed in pain.
"Palas!" The Gorilla shouted as he held the feathers up."You will land and submit to my warriors or I will rip out all his pinions one by one so he never takes flight again. Then I will move on to the next warrior. I will cripple every Avian here, then send for the next bunch and do the same."
"No Palas!" Argestes shouted. "Get away! Go tell the others. Warn them of Igoro's treachery!"
Igoro grabbed another hand full of feathers from Argestes wing, then looked up to Palas.
"You have five seconds." He said. "Land now or they will all suffer. All of your proud warriors will be crippled to never feel flight again!"
Palas circled the courtyard where they had appeared watching as his friends were chained and put into leg irons. If he attacked, Igoro would complete his threat. All ten Avians would be tortured and crippled, then he would go back to Starspeak and gather another group and bring them back and cripple them too. He had to find a way to warn the others. Only then could he give himself up to save Argestes and the others.
As he circled the courtyard, a lone gray hawk flew down out of the jungle. Palas squawked calling out to it.the hawk.
[Brother, go to Starspeak and tell them it was a trap. Do not trust the Gorillas.]
The hawk squawked back an acknowledgement then turned towards Starspeak and hurried off to deliver its message. Palas flew down to hover over Igoro, then dropped down to land. He pulled his sword and dagger and threw them at Igoro's feet.
"I am here." Palas said with distaste. "Now let them go."
Igoro stepped back away from Argestes laughing.
"The proud Palas Astraeus. You are the one Avian I thought might be able to have stopped me. But Argestes and his greed for magic, I guess was stronger than your warnings. But you were right. They should have never trusted me. Now your whole, I'm not even sure what to call it. A flock? A murder?"
"We are Avians." Palas said proudly. "We are the children of Tyree and he will provide for us even if that means revenge."
"Then he better open his eyes." Igoro said "Because in a few weeks, all your people will either be sold into slavery, or in my slave pens waiting for auction."
"You may have me now Gorilla. But by the scepter of Tyree, I will be free one day and I will have the pleasure of tearing you apart with my own talons."
"Not today you won't." Igoro laughed. "Take them to the dungeons. I know someone from Maramar that will pay me a lot of gold for you."
When Palas finished his story, he sat back then turned to Astan.
"That is how I got here." He said. "I have been here for weeks I think. It is hard to tell without the blessed sun. I miss the light of Alee on my face."
"You will feel it again my friend." Astan said. "Our day of freedom is near. I will get us out of here, that is my promise."

It was a cool night as Beno, dressed all in black slipped from house to house hiding from Domina's city guards. He had to make his way to an old boarded up bath house in the northern part of the city without being seen by anyone. He passed the palace and turned north up the lane. He stopped when he saw two guards standing beside a high torch outside of the healers building. They were talking about tomorrows auction and someone one of them planned to bid on. The thought disgusted Beno. His father had been sold into slavery for opposing Igoro two years ago. His mother cried for two weeks from remorse and stopped eating. Within a month she was dead from starvation. Beno had lost both his parents in a months time, all because of Igoro and his impossible wish to rule Aspana.
When the two guards moved on, Beno hurried on up the lane and turned east toward the bath house. The bath house was once a beautiful two story marble building with two aqueducts that run in to provide pure clean water. The pipes and channels had been spelled to provide hot water for the many deep bathing and swimming pools. There were two shower rooms, a hot pool and a private sauna made special for the king.
But all this was condemned now. The building was in sad shape and very poor condition with crumbling roofs and caved in floors. But there was one thing that very few knew about. There was a tunnel beneath the bath house that fed water to Igoro's slave pens and dungeons. Goren had found it only recently. It was his only way in and the way he planned to get Astan out of his fathers dungeon.
Once Beno reached the bath house, he moved around to the back and slipped in through the left aqueduct. Now he had to make his way under the city and into the dungeon to get to Prince Astan. With a small torch to light his way, Beno made his way through the twists and turns of the city sewer system.
Once there at the barred gate, Beno put out his torch and listened at the gate for any guards. All he heard was snoring and the cries of the tortured. With a gentle shove, he pushed the gate open and went in. As he stepped in a wave of heat heat him and pushed him back for a second. It wasn't that he hated the heat, it was just the surprise in the sudden change in temperature.
Pushing on, Beno slowly crept on down the corridor to the next intersection. Holding himself to the side, he looked left and right before he moved on. He passed cells with prisoners in them. He wished he could help but right now he didn't have time. He had to keep to his objective and find Prince Astan and get him out.
Keeping low, Beno moved on down the corridor to the next intersection. He stopped and listened again for the guards. He heard talking coming from around the corner. Quickly he took a peek and found he was right around from a guard station.
"You, go east and relieve the guard there." A Gorilla with two stars on his chest said. "Tell him he is to be back to relieve you in six hours. Geston, take the main corridor down to the west where that Tigaren is. Keep a watch on him. I don't trust him. I will get you a snack and send it to you. Keep alert or I will have your head."
"Yes Sir!"
Beno jumped and hurried back the way he came before the guard could turn the corner. He ducked into an empty cell and pulled the door so it looked almost closed. He stepped in and laid himself on the cot and pulled the blanket over himself and waited. In less than a minute, the guard started on his way pass the cell. Beno moaned loudly attracting the guards attention. He stopped and looked into the cell and noticed the open door. This part of the dungeon was supposed to be kept empty. Who could possibly be in there? He thought.
Beno moaned again and fidgeted in the cot moving around and making noise. Geston went into the cell. He moved over to the cot and reached down to pull away the blanket. Beno leaped up and grabbed Geston by the neck and twisted violently snapping his neck. Quickly Beno stripped him of his uniform, than put him on the cot and covered him with the blanket. He donned the Gorillas armor and helmet and headed down the western corridor to find Prince Astan.

Inferno is Born. 8

With his arms loaded with wood, Quynn made his way back towards the camp. He was tired and hungry. He hoped Dar'yl was having a good hunt, because Quynn thought he could eat a horse all by himself. It had been that hard these last few days with all the flying and the fight in Tinpa, then the long walk here. When this was all over, he planned to take Sky somewhere quiet where they could make love and sleep for a week.
As he stumbled into camp, he dropped the wood and started to build the fire. It wasn't until after he blew the wood into a blaze that he realized that he was all alone. Neither Sky nor Sakura was there at the campsite. Maybe they had gone out to help Dar'yl with his catch. Quynn decided to wait for a while. There was no point in getting worried though something deep down told him Sky would have sent word to him to tell him what they were doing.
Ten minutes passed and Aggar and Deja came back with the full water skins. Aggar looked around and noticed Sky was missing. Then he realized Sakura wasn't there either.
"Where's Sky and Sakura?" He asked.
"With Dar'yl I think." Quynn said unconvincingly. "I think they went to help carry his catch."
"Are you sure?" Deja asked. "Dar'yl never seemed like the type of hunter that would need help."
"He didn't tell you they were going?"Aggar asked him. "That doesn't sound like Sky."
"No." Quynn said. "When I came back to camp, they were gone."
"Call him. I think you should check. Just to make sure."
[Sky, Where are you?]
[Don't be mad at me.] Came his answer. [Yas Twospears came in and he said he knew where Astan is. Sakura insisted that we go.]
[You know better than to leave like that without letting me know. This could be a trap. You should have waited for us all to get back!]
"What did he say?" Aggar asked worried. He knew from the look on Quynn's face they were talking.
"They're following a lead to Astan." Quynn told them. "Someone came in while we were out and Sakura wants to check it out."
"It could be a trap." Deja said. She grabbed her pack and put it back on. "Where are they now?"
"What's going on?" Dar'yl said as he came in with a string of white backed ducks around his neck. "Where is Sakura?"
"Someone named Yas Twospears came into camp and said he knew where Astan is." Aggar told him. "Who is he?"
"A lying weasel of a Chimp." Dar'yl snarled. "Sakura is in trouble.
"Sky is with him." Deja said. "Quynn's talking to him now."
[Where are you? We'll come get you.]
[No.] Sky said, [Don't. Sakura needs to do this himself. He's feeling down on himself. If we get in real trouble we can't handle, I'll call you]
[You're sure about this?]
[Yes Love. He needs a shot of confidence. This should do the thing.]
[What should we do while you're gone?]
[Go to Basolos.] Sky suggested. [If this is a ruse, and I think it is. We still need to know where the Gorilla city is.]
[OK.] Quynn sent. [I love you Little Bird.]
[I love you to Dragonwolf.]
"So where are they?" Dar'yl asked. "I'm ready to go."
"We're staying here." Quynn said as he picked up the string of ducks and started to de feather one. "They don't need our help. Sakura needs to do this himself."
"Are you crazy?" Dar'yl shouted. "Those damned Monkey's could kill him?"
"I don't think so." Aggar shook his head. "Sakura is a born warrior, he can take care of himself against a few Chimps."
"And if there's more than a few? What if the whole tribe is there?"
"Dar'yl." Quynn said. "Calm down, Sky is with him. He won't let anyone hurt him."
"It is not Sky's job to protect him. It's my job and if he gets hurt, I have failed. I have to go find him."
Quynn stopped and put down the duck, He knew a little about responsibility. His cousin Ranjer use to feel exactly the same about him. He would never let Quynn do anything by himself. He was always there to protect him and make sure he didn't fail at anything, until the day he had to face Per Lhoris and Janx Develos alone. After beating the spider and defeating the Witch hunter, Ranjer finally accepted that Quynn didn't need him for protection, but he would always need him as his cousin. It was time Dar'yl learned that lesson.
"Dar'yl." Quynn took him to the side. "Sakura is in a place in his life where he has to stand on his own. He has faith in you, but he also needs to have faith in himself. He has to fight his own battles. His battles and Astan's. King Yonas described him as a pampered little princeling. He has to prove to himself that that's not him anymore. He can't do that if you keep running to his aid. Let him do this. If he needs us, Sky will call and I promise you I'll get us to him in a matter of minutes."
Dar'yl thought about what Quynn had said and deep in his heart, he knew he was right. It was time for Sakura to be the king Dar'yl knew he was meant to be. He had to trust him this time to fight his own battle.
"I know you're right." Dar'yl said as he relaxed and sat down. "Sakura can take care of himself and it's time I let him do it. But it's not easy stand aside while he's in danger. I've been at his side for so long. But it has to be done. So what are we doing?"
"You're getting some well deserved rest." Quynn picked up the duck to finish what he started. "After dinner, Aggar and Deja are going into Basolos to find out where the Gorilla's are. I'll keep watch."

After a dinner of wild duck and vegetables, Dar'yl shifted to his lion form and found a comfortable place and fell asleep. Quynn had a short conversation with Aggar to explain what he thought they needed, then shifted to Dragon and took his place on watch. Nothing would enter the camp while he was there. Aggar and Deja left their weapons in camp with their packs and headed down for the village of Basolos.
As they approached, they saw a re-enforced wall of bamboo surrounded the village with tall torch towers arranged every 20 to 25 feet around the perimeter. At the gate stood two Pumen warriors armed with long spears. Aggar and Deja walked down to meet them. As they approached, the two warriors raised their weapons to stop them.
"Halt! Identify yourself!"
"I am General Aggar Fen of Tir Na." They raised their hands to show they were unarmed. "This is my daughter Deja. We are here to talk with your chief about a very important matter."
"Unal Metana is very busy." The younger warrior shouted. "He doesn't have time to talk with a Human. Go away!"
"I am not a Human." Aggar shifted to his Man-wolf form and howled. Then Deja shifted. "You shouldn't judge people by their looks. Human's are just as trustworthy as Pumens or Pantherens. You have to give all people a chance before you judge them."
"You speak wisely." The second older Pumen said. "And you should listen before you speak. Go inform my father he has visitors."
"Yes sir." The warrior opened the gate and hurried into the village.
"My apologies." The older guard said. "You must forgive the impetuousness of the young. He is eager to please and he hasn't had any experience with the other races of Aspana and the world. Unal will be here shortly."
"Maybe it's time to allow some of the young to visit other places." Deja suggested. "I know I enjoyed my days in Eventide and Dree, and I learned a lot about acceptance."
"Perhaps you are right." Una said. "I will suggest it to the council. I think father will agree."
Just then the door opened and Unal Metana stepped out to greet his visitors. Una introduced himself then his father to Aggar and Deja then stepped aside to let them talk.
"What can we do for you strangers?" Unal asked.
"I am General Aggar Ren of Tir Na." Aggar bowed. "My daughter and I are here representing Prince Sakura of Panthera on a very important matter. I'm not sure if you know, but Prince Astan of Tigaress is missing. We think he's been kidnapped by slavers and they are holding him hostage. But we don't know where. We come to you because Sakura remembers a story about his father helping the Pumens. We thought you might have some idea where the Gorillas might be."
"The city you are looking for is called Domina." Unal explained. "It's about a day as the crow fly's west of here buried deep in the jungle. The Gorilla you are looking for is Igoro Baba, master of that city. Beware, he is very dangerous. I have been fighting him and his warriors for years."
"Thank you Unal." Aggar as he reached out to shake his hand. "Prince Sakura will be happy to hear this."
"There is something else." Unal said. "Prince Sakura is not the only one looking for Prince Astan."
"Yes." Deja nodded. "We know. Mulu Amin wants him too. We have to get there first. That's why we should hurry."
"There is another." He said. "He was here a few days ago on his way to the Gorilla city."
"Who?" Aggar asked him.
"King Msia." Una said with a smile. "Prince Sakura's father."
Aggar stood there staring with his mouth open. He couldn't believe what Una had just said. Sakura had said his father had died defending the city from a massive Hyenen attack many years ago. How could it be possible for him to have been here a few days ago?
"Are you sure it was King Msia?"
"I am without a doubt." Unal said. "He spoke to my people of the attack when we first met years ago. It was him, I am sure."
"And he went to Domina after Astan?"
"Yes he did." Unal said. "He wishes to bring Yonas his son home safely."
"Thank you Unal." Aggar said eagerly shaking his hand. "We have to get back with this news. Sakura will be pleased."
"Tell Msia I will be prepared if he needs my warriors. All he has to do is send a signal and we will come.
"We will tell him." Aggar bowed. "Forgive us, we must hurry back. Myumbo."
With that said, Aggar and Deja shifted to wolf and ran off back to find Quynn and the others.
[Father!] Deja sent. [Msia is alive!]
[Yes Princess. We have to hurry!]
[Why, what's the hurry?]
[Because when he mentioned Msia, the Star started to vibrate. I think I know who gets it now. Don't mention Msia to the others, but we have to find him quick.]

Sky was tired as he followed Sakura and Yas Twospears through the dark jungle. He had been walking all day and half the night when they stopped to make camp. He had thought he was going to get time to rest when Yas dropped down out of the trees and convinced Sakura that he knew where Astan was being kept. Sky thought he was lying. He suspected Yas was leading them into a trap, but Sakura didn't want to take the chance that he was telling the truth. He couldn't take the chance and pass on what Yas was saying. This was Astan's life, and that was way to important to gamble on.
With Yas in the lead, they followed close behind moving as fast as the could. It was a two hour run when Yas took them to a set of caves near the border of Mancoro. Sakura could smell the scent of Hyenen all over the area. The smell was making him nervous and jumpy. He almost expected Hyenens to come charging out of the caves at any second.
[I don't like this.] Sky sent to Sakura. [I'm getting a very bad feeling.]
[I can't turn away.] Sakura sent. [Astan might be in one of these caves. If he is, we have to save him.]
"The one you want." Yas pointed to the caves. "He is in one of these caves."
"Which one?" Sakura asked as he raised his eyebrow. Sky stepped out to look into the three caves. He didn't see anything except some drag marks in the ground in front of two of the caves. Sakura looked closely at Yas to see if there was any deception in his eyes. He couldn't tell what was on the Chimp's mind, he just looked at him with his big brown eyes.
"They were hiding here." Yas said. "That is all I know. See the drag marks? There is your evidence."
Sakura sniffed the air trying to locate Astan's scent or the scent of the Gorillas. But all he smelled was musk of the Hyenen. The only way he would know for sure would be to go in and search each cave.
[What do you think?] Sakura asked Sky.
[I think this is some kind of trap.] He answered. [I think there's someone or something in there waiting for us.]
[We stay together.] Sakura reached back and pulled his sword free. [It better be Astan or Yas will pay for his deception. Yas goes first.]
"Show us." Sakura said to the Chimp. "You lead us in."
"Me? This is not my responsibility. This a task for the prince of Panthera. I wait here."
"Oh no!" Sky poked him in the back with his frosty touch. "You bought us here, you go first or I'll freeze you right here and smash you to bits!"
Sakura grabbed the spear off the Chimp's back and pushed him toward the cave.
"Get moving."
Yas stumbled forward then looked back at them. Sakura was growling deep in his throat and holding Oblivion out at Yas as it glowed with power.
"Without my weapon?"
"I said move!" He shot a small burst of energy at Yas's backside. The Chimp jumped with a yelp and
stumbled into the cave shaking. Sakura and Sky followed him in letting their eyes adjust to the darkness of the cave. Yas shook as he slowly moved in. Sakura wasn't sure if it was the Gorilla's he was scared of, or something else. Suddenly Sky heard something move behind him. He turned just as a great brown and white striped Bear jumped out of the darkness and swung a paw at his head. Sky ducked and sent a stream of freezing cold at the floor beneath the Bears feet. It slipped when it took it's next step towards Sky and fell heavily. Sky formed a long spike of ice and as the bear fell, he drove it down into the back of its neck. Its howled in pain then rolled over and tried to get up, but the spike had broken its neck. All it could do was lay there and whimper. That's when the rest of the clan attacked.
Brown and white striped warriors came running out of tunnels to attack them. Some in bear form and some in Human warrior form. Yas screamed for them to attack. Sakura kicked him in the back and sent him sailing right into the rush of oncoming bears. He was trampled to death as Sakura pointed Oblivion at them and blasted them.
"Astan's not here. Let's get out of here!"
"Right behind you!" Sky shouted. Together they ran on through the cave sending blast of cold and energy behind them. The Bears threw spears and rocks charging on after them. As they reached the cave entrance, Sakura turned and blasted the roof of the entrance caving in the entire cave and burying the savage bears. Sky stepped forward with his hands raised looking to see if anything survived the cave in. Sakura reached out to Sky scaring him for a second.
"Its over." Sakura said as he tried to sooth Sky's mind. "You can relax. None of them got out."
Sky turned to look at Sakura with panic in his eyes. "You're wrong. It's not over. Look!"
Sakura turned behind him. The trees were full of Chimpanzee's with glowing eyes. Sakura walked out to the tree line to confront the Chimps.
"Your king is dead." He shouted. "He betrayed my trust in him and led me into a trap. I have no quarrel with the rest of your tribe. You can fight me and die, or you can leave us in peace and regain my friendship. The choice is yours. Make a decision now."
Wikur, a gray furred Chimp in dark shorts and vest jumped down and walked over to them. He bowed to them before saying anything.
"My apologies Prince Sakura. Yas Twospears over stepped his place in the tribe. He was our leader, but we were all against this attack. That is why no brothers were here involved in the attack. We will not attack you, we are your allies and we will be there when you need us."
"Thank you Wikur." Sakura bowed. "I accept your apology and I will remember. Now I have to go find Astan and bring him home.
"Maybe we can help with that." Wikur waved down another Chimp warrior.
"How?" Sakura asked.
"This is Mustasi." Wilkur introduced the young Chimp. "He was in the jungles far south taking his rite of the warrior trials when he saw Gorilla's escorting a Tigaren. I think that was Prince Astan. He can tell you where they were."
"I am in your doubt." Sakura grabbed his hand and shook in vigorously. "I thank you for your help."
"Mustasi will tell you all he knows. Myumbo my friend, and bahati nzuri."

The trip south to Domina was quiet. No one said very much, they all kept to themselves. Quynn talked to Sky while they walked. They told him all about the trap and that only Yas and a clan of savage bears had been responsible. But Sakura didn't believe that. He knew someone had to have put Yas up to it. Yas didn't have the intelligence or a reason to attack Sakura. There had to be someone much more powerful behind him. It had to be Mulu Amin. Only he could scare the Chimp into betraying them. Then Quynn told him what the Pumen had told Aggar about Domina and the Gorillas. How they had been raiding their village and stealing the Pumen young for years. How they had built a wall around their village to protect themselves from any further Gorilla raid. Unal gave them directions to find Domina and promised to answer Sakura's call if he needed their help. Sky said he and Sakura would meet them on the journey south. He sent his love to Quynn and broke their contact.
From Basolos, they traveled south out of the Tigaress jungle and through a small part of the Pantheren savanna and into the dark jungle of Mancoro. With Dar'yl in the lead, he kept his senses open for any sign of Hyenans on their trail. After the night of walking, they dodged two Hyenan hunting parties and one group of Gorilla's escorting a string of slaves to the city. Quynn pointed to them then signaled Dar'yl to stay on their trail. He had to go find Sakura and Sky and bring them back. With luck, Dar'yl should have followed the Gorillas to their city by then.
As Aggar watched Quynn slide away into the jungle, Deja stopped to message him.
[What should we do?]
[Msia should be close.] He said. [I think this star will hatch soon. We should try and find Msia.]
[How?] She asked. [How are we supposed to find a king that has been lost for almost 10 years? He could be anywhere.]
[We don't. We let the star find him. It knows who it wants and where to find them. We follow the star, this way.]
[Wait Father.] Deja grabbed his arm to stop him. [That means leaving Dar'yl alone out here with no back up, I can't do that.]
[I understand Princess.] He smiled and touched her face. [You're so much like your mother, I see it more everyday.]
[Then you know why I'm staying?]
[Yes.] He said as he kissed her cheek. [Keep him safe. I'll be right back.]
With his knives on his back and the egg in his coat, Aggar Ren ran off on his own to search out and find the King of Panthera.

Astan sat quiet in his cell meditating. He could feel Sakura was near and he wasn't alone. He had friends with him. Good friends that he could count on. Astan knew Dar'yl was out there somewhere close. He was almost never to far away from the Lion prince. But that wasn't it. There were others, strangers. Four people from a far off land and Sakura trusted them all.
One was hot and fiery. He was quick, hot temper and fast on his feet. He was the leader of the men from New Keanna, the land of the Dragons. Sakura called him Quynn and his mate was Sky. Sky was very different from Quynn. Sky had a more easy relaxed attitude. He loved nature and anything that grew from the planet. He love cold weather, snowball fights and making love by a fire to his mate Quynn. Astan just knew he was going to love these new friends.
Standing off in the distance, Dar'yl watched as a lovely young warrior maiden came walking over to him and started to talk to him. This young lady was the daughter of Tir Na's highest ranked military officer. This was Deja Shyael Ren, the daughter of Aggar and Sharone Ren. The princess of the Dark wolf clan of Tir Na. With his eyes closed he could see her in some of her pass battles beating back the enemies of the clan. Her sword clashing as she engaged her enemy. She was a formidable warrior. But there was someone missing from this group. The elder and most experienced of them all. Deja's father Aggar the General. Where was he, Astan wondered as he settled back to wait and see who got to him first. Goren, Igoro, Sakura or Mulu Amin. He prayed for Aspana's sake that it would be Sakura or Goren, or the world was going to be in real trouble.

Running at full speed, Aggar charged in through the jungle. A Hyenan jumped out to block his path. Aggar pulled his knives, growled and leaped at the Dogman. The Hyenan pulled his club and raised it at the Man-wolf. Aggar slammed into and stabbed down slicing through his arm cutting the tendons and muscle. As the Hyenan fell, Aggar grabbed him by his neck and with a quick jerk, he snapped it silencing the Dog man. As he dragged the Hyenan to a heavy row of growth, Aggar hid the body and looked around to see if there was any more Hyenan out there spying on him. He could hear the sound of shuffling footsteps somewhere out there close to him. Aggar kept low with his knives ready for the attack. As he looked out, three Hyenan came stalking out through the bush. They stopped and listened, then one pointed to the north urging a companion to go search there while he sent the other to the left and he kept on coming straight in. Aggar kept low as the Hyenan silently moved in towards him. Picking up a small rock from next to him, Aggar tossed it causing the Hyenan to jump and turn his attention back the way he had just come from. With the Hyenan turned, Aggar reached out and grabbed him by his muzzle and pulled him back. He slipped his knife in through his back piercing his heart. The Hyenan moaned and fell dead in Aggar's arms. Quietly, Aggar let him slide down to the ground and he pushed him deep into the mud and leaves. As he stood to get up, someone hit him from behind. Aggar fell and rolled to the side as a Hyenan attacked. He slammed his club down at Aggar missing by inches. Aggar kicked out hitting him in the leg. He fell and Aggar slammed his heel into the Hyenans stomach. Jumping back to his feet, Aggar raised his knife to finish off the Dogman when suddenly another came growling out to attack. This one was armed with a short spear. Growling, it stabbed the spear in at Aggar aiming for his chest. Aggar managed to leap out of the way almost in time. The spear grazed his side just as he jumped out of the way. Landing to the side, Aggar slashed out with his blade hoping to slice the Hyenans throat, but he missed as it stepped back and swung the end of the spear around at Aggar's head. Aggar ducked and went down spinning with his leg out to trip the Dogmen. He went down hard but rolled away before Aggar could get to him.
As Aggar stabbed down at the enemy on the ground, the second Hyenan had regained consciousness behind him. He looked up too see his companion battling the newcomer. He reached out and grabbed his club and quietly started toward the two fighting warriors. With the club raised over his head, the Hyenan snarled then fell as something slammed into his head from behind him.
Hearing the commotion behind him, Aggar knew he had to move and do it fast. He grabbed the head of the spear and spun himself around slashing out at the Dogman. The spear stabbed straight into his chest and sliced deep into his heart. Aggar kicked him away and turned to be ready for whatever was about attack his back. Behind him stood a Jackal armed with one of the Hyenan's clubs. There at his feet lay a Hyenan all bloody and broken. Aggar looked down at the Dogman then back at the Jackal standing there with the club.
"You did that?"
"Yes." The Jackal said. "Hyenan are the enemy. They have been chasing my lord all through Aspana. I will not let them hurt him again. I will protect him with my life!"
"Your lord?" Aggar slipped his knives back into their sheaves and relaxed a bit. Maybe this Jackal isn't an enemy. "My name is Aggar Ren. I'm here with friends searching for someone. Who is this lord your talking about?"
The Jackal bowed to Aggar then put down the club. He had never seen anything like Aggar before. Wolves were very rare in Aspana, there were a few in the northern temples but none down here in the southern parts of the continent. He wasn't sure if he could be trusted, but Akani was desperate for help. He had done all he could for Msia and he was still getting weaker and fading away.
"My name is Akani Azima." The Jackal said. "I am the aide and protector to the one true king of Aspana and he is hurt and needs your help. Will you help us or are we going to be fighting?"
"I will do what I can to help," Aggar said. "Where is he?"
"This way."
Akani turned and ran off into the jungle. Holding the Star in place, Aggar ran in after him. They dashed and ran through the jungle shifting as they ran into their animal forms for speed. In minutes, Akani led Aggar to the side of a mountain were he saw a set of caves. As they shifted back to their normal forms, Akani pointed to the cave on the right.
"My lord rest in here."
With Aggar behind him, Akani went in. As they moved through the cave, their eyes adjusted to the darkness. Akani led him deep into the cave. They twisted and turned until Aggar was completely lost with no hope of finding his own way out. Then there was a light from a torch burning ahead of them.
"He is here." Akani hurried on to kneel at the side of a body that lay across from the torch. Aggar went in and knelt down for a closer look. Just as he thought, it was a Pantheran Lion man. Aggar pushed the hair from his face and looked down on his face. It looked familiar. He looked just like Sakura only much older. Could this be some lost relative?
"Who is he?" Aggar asked as he looked him over.
"This is King Msia Duma. We were attacked by a Demon." Akani said. "Can you help him?"
"Give me a minute to check his wounds." Aggar said as he took off the dirty blanket that covered the king. He could hardly believe this was Sakura's father. He wondered where he had been all these years since he disappeared. "But I doubt there's much I can do. He needs a healers attention."
Aggar inspected Msia from head to toe and found there were no cuts or wounds on his body. He bent down and listened to his chest for a heart beat. It was very slow, hardly beating at all. King Msia Duma was dying and there was nothing Aggar could do about it. He looked sadly up to Akani to give him the bad news when he heard a voice in his head.
[I am for him. Put me on his chest.]
Aggar jumped when he heard the voice. He thought someone had snuck into the cave for a second, then he felt the Star crack in his shirt. He reached in and pulled the egg out as a small beak protruded out from the crack.
[Put me with Msia.]
Aggar pulled the egg from his shirt, then laid it down on his chest then got up and pulled Akani away from the king. Akani fought trying to get back to Msia's side until he saw the egg cracking on the kings chest.
"What in Rimnar's name is that?"
"The only thing that can save him." Aggar said. "Now stand back!"
As they watched, a small red lizard broke out of the shell and looked up at them. It's eyes sparkled with an amazing blaze, then it tore into Msia's chest and buried itself deep in his heart. Msia jerked, then jumped up and screamed. Akani tried again to break free and run to him, but Aggar held him tight. Suddenly Msia's body burst into flames. He burned so hot Aggar and Akani had to back away from him.
"You did this!" Akani screamed at Aggar. He grabbed Msia's sword off the ground.  "You killed him! Now you will pay for your treachery!!"
Akani raised the sword and took a step towards Aggar to attack him when suddenly something roared behind him. Quickly he turned to see what was coming at them.
[Hold your sword my friend.] He heard in his head. [I'm am not dead!]
That's when the leg of a Red Dragon stepped of the flames and into the cave.
[I, Msia Duma have been reborn. I am now the Red Dragon Inferno!]
Inferno was red and over fifteen feet long with huge wings wrapped around his back. His tail was spiked from its tip all the way up along his back. He had a long dragon snort with three short horns. One on each side of his head over his eyes and a third short one just over his nose. His legs looked sturdy and powerful and his claws looked sharp.
As he stepped in closer to Aggar and Akani, the Jackal fell to his knees shaking and bowed. Aggar bowed his head in respect,
"Welcome Inferno."Aggar said. "Your Sire Terra sends his apologies for not being here to greet you. His days were long and his time had run out. But he hopes you can be a new beginning for Dragons in Aspana."
Inferno stepped out to Aggar and shifted back to Msia now dressed in red leathers and looking all  healed.
"Thank you." He said as he reached out to shake Aggar's hand. "So this is what Mulu's been looking for. I think we should go thank him."

The Hidden. 7

The dungeon was dark and cold as Shauri led Goren through the maze like catacombs. She had sweet talked the guard on duty with promises and an amazing perfume she had made special for this dangerous journey to see the Tigaren prisoner. Domina's dungeons were a lot more crowded these days since Igoro had taken over the city. Many had opposed him in the beginning of his reign, but they had all disappeared, lost in the jungles or buried somewhere deep down in these dark halls.
Goren always knew of his fathers evil schemes. In fact Igoro didn't hide anything from his son. He always dared him to move against him. He thought Goren weak and unable to do anything to stop him. But this time time he was wrong and Goren would prove it.
With a simple firefly spell cast before them, Shauri led Goren down pass the political prisoners and into the deeper sections that lead to a place made for special prisoners. Here they found Astan Kinya sitting with his legs crossed in the lotus position deep in meditation. When Goren and Shauri came into view, Astan opened his eyes and looked up at them.
"Aiya Goren son of Igoro." Astan nodded his head. "To what do I owe this visit?"
"You know who I am?" Goren was surprised.
"Yes." Astan said. "I know the son of my captor."
"Then you know why I have come to see you." Goren took a chair from the small guard post and pulled it over and sat in front of the Tigaren Prince.
"No." Astan said. "From your aura, I know you to be Igoro's son. But I can't read your mind. I have not mastered that technique yet. Perhaps in time I will if I survive."
"I don't mean you any harm." Goren said. "In fact, I want to help you escape. I plan to get you out of here, but to do that I will need something from you."
"And what might that be?" Astan asked him as he stood and got up on his feet. "You want to take over this city from your father, is that not right?"
"Yes." Goren said. Again he was surprised the Tigaren had read him so right. "I do."
"Then I would be trading one Gorilla master for another." Astan turned and walked back to his pile of hay and sat back down. "What makes you a better ruler then your father?"
"I." Goren said. "Don't plan on joining Mulu Amin in his mad war to rule Aspana. I don't plan to send out our ships to capture more innocent people to enlarge the slave trade. In fact, I plan to tear the slave market down and free every slave there is in Domina. I would hunt down and free every slave we ever sold if I could. I want to end all the fighting and bring my people to a peaceful life. I hate what my father and the others have done to our people. This has to stop. My brother and sister died fighting my father's wars. I've had enough of war destroying my people. It's time we learn to live and stop dying."
"Well said Prince Goren."
"No." Goren shook his head. "I am no prince. I'm just a Gorilla that cares about the fate and welfare of my people. With your help, I can turn Domina into a safe place, a place that can have trade and relations with the rest of the people of Aspana."
"What if I can't help you?" Astan asked. "What if the Tigaren's refuse to help you?"
"Then I will do it on my own." Goren said. "I will still help you escape, but it will make my fight that much harder. But I promise you. I will free my people or die trying."
Astan stood up and walked to the bars and stuck out his hand.
"You will have my help." He said as he shook the Gorilla's hand. "Sakura and I will both help you."
"I thank you Prince Astan." Goren bowed to the Tigaren prince. "We will have to be very careful. Shauri or my cousin Beno will come back and lead you out of here tonight after I find a way to distract my father."
"If you can get me out of the dungeon, my magic can help."
""Be ready at midnight." Goren said. "Someone will come."
 "I will be waiting." Astan said. "Bahati nzuri."

It was dark in the Domina jungle as Msia and Akani pushed their way through the thick growth of trees and bushes. They were on their way to the jungle city to free Prince Astan from the hands of the Gorillas that had captured him. Akani walked in front with  his blade out slicing his way through the thick bushes and vines that blocked their path while Msia followed close behind him his every sense alert for any sign of the Gorilla's attack. The jungle was quiet, no birds sang, and there was no sounds of predators on the hunt. Msia stopped and put a hand to Akani's shoulder. He turned to see what bothered his lord.
"It's to quiet." Msia said. "Something stalks us."
"How do you know?" Akani asked.
"An old lion's instinct. We are being followed."
"There's a clearing ahead." Akani pointed. "We should wait there for whoever is behind us."
Hurrying on, Akani chopped quickly through to the clearing in the jungle. Once there, Msia sniffed at the air and found a foul smell coming from all around them.
"A Demon!" Msia growled. Akani threw down his pack to be ready for the attack. He looked everywhere turning quickly trying to protect his lord. Suddenly there was a loud burst of laughter echoing through the jungle.
"Stand back my lord!" Akani said. "I will protect you!"
"No." Msia said. "This fight is mine!"
Suddenly in a burst of smoke and brimstone, Draidor Moram appeared hovering high over their heads laughing. In a sudden move, he sent a bolt of energy down at them. Msia grabbed Akani and threw him to the side and leaped up into the air to confront his enemy.
"I know you foul beast!" Msia said as he hovered there high in the air across from the Demon. "You and your kind tortured me for years while I was Mulu's prisoner."
"All those sweet days of pain." Draidor laughed. "We had such fun, didn't we."
"Only a Demon would call pain and misery fun!"
"Of course!" Draidor said. "We live on pain and misery. The only thing better is the feeling I'll get when I strip you and your servant of your lives. But first, you have something Mulu wants. Where  is it?"
"Now it is my turn to laugh." Msia said. "I know what he wants, and I don't have it. I never did. He held me all those years for nothing. I don't have the Star of Hekima!!"
"Then I guess you die for nothing." Draidor blasted Msia with his hellish bolt. Msia raised his hands and cast a shield in front of him that held strong reflecting the blast away.
"I am not the weak and tired Lion I was back in Mulu's pit." Msia raised himself up into the sunlight where he could absorb it's power. He began to glow with the energy of the sun. "Your dark god is nothing compared to Alee, the sun!"
Msia sent two blasts of pure concentrated sunlight at Draidor. The Demon shrieked and dodged out of the way then dived down towards the ground and the darkness of the jungle. If he couldn't take Msia, he would take Akani.
"NOO!!" Msia screamed. He shot down and put himself between Akani and the Demon. Draidor shot at them unable to stop before he hit the Lion king. As Draidor hit and made contact, he exploded in a great burst of shadows and a scream that tore through the jungle sending fear into every creature for miles. When the shadows faded, Msia lay still at Akani's feet and Draidor was gone.
Quickly, Akani knelt down to check Msia to see if he still lived. His breathing was shallow, but his heart was still beating. Akani lifted him and and carried him off. He knew the Gorillas had to have heard Draidor's scream and they would be coming to see what it was. He had to find somewhere safe to hide the Lion king where he could protect him until he woke up.

As the last of the Canin warriors were being swept up, King Yonas called for Sakura, Dar'yl, Quynn and Sky to attend him in his private office. A tall Tigaren officer named Hati had been sent to bring them in. He found them outside the wall helping Aggar aand Deja round up the last of the Canins. They didn't know how, but soon after Aggar and the Lycaon's arrived, the Canin's started to fall and stay down. Whatever magic that was keeping them fighting had stopped and they started to fall from there wounds.
Tired and spattered with Canin blood, Hati stepped out of Tinpa's gate to look for Sakura. He found him with Dar'yl, Aggar and Quynn separating the mortally wounded and putting them out of their misery. Sad and exhausting work he thought as he approached.
"You are Sakura Duma?"
"Yes I am." Sakura said as he put Oblivion back in its sheath on his back. "What can I do for you?"
"My king has ordered me to bring you to see him." Hati said. He looked from Sakura to Quynn and Aggar. "Will you please follow me."
"We'll wait here." Quynn said as him and Sky sat down to rest.
"No." Hati said. "The king wishes to see all of you. Please can everyone follow me."
Aggar and Deja stepped back towards Dain thinking the king was asking for Dar'yl, Quynn and Sky.
"Begging your pardon Sir." Hati stopped them. "But King Yonas asked for all our new friends. That includes you and the young lady there."
Aggar shrugged and called for his daughter to follow them into the city.
As they walked through Tinpa, the citizens were busy cleaning up after the battle. Huge boulders had been set on catapults and launched into the city. Many buildings had been hit and destroyed. Only the magic of the city's mage's kept the walls from coming down. Tigaren females swept and helped to clean up the small stuff while the stronger males did the heavy work moving the large stones and pieces of fallen masonry. The city was damaged but thanks to everyone working together, it had survived.
From the market place it was a short walk to the palace. As they entered, the courtyard was busy with warriors and palace staff hurrying around setting up tents to treat the wounded citizens and warriors of the city's army. Hati guided them through the makeshift healer units and into the palace. King Yonas was in his office going over arrangements for feeding the city and getting the repairs started to get Tinpa back int order.
As Hati approached the doors to the kings office, there was a dark furred Pantheren warrior standing guard. He snapped to attention the second he saw Hati coming. Hati whispered something to him and he quickly went in leaving Hati waiting with Sakura and his friends. Sakura whispered to Dar'yl that he didn't know any of his people were serving the Tigaren king.
"You might be surprised." Dar'yl said. "I heard he pays well. There are a few of us on his payroll."
"Not enough." Hati said. "Your people fight so bravely we are happy to hire any Pantheren we can get. The warriors we have, your father and the Regent sent to us."
In a few seconds the warrior returned.
"The king will see you now." He opened the door and waved them in. With Hati in the lead, they entered the kings office. It was a large room painted red with golden curtains, a huge liibrary that cover three of the for wall. There were racks of parchments and maps set to the side and a great oaken desk where the king sat going over different plans with one of his advisers. As they entered he looked up  and smiled.
King Yonas was a big Tigaren with massive muscles, green eyes and grey hair tied back with a leather cord just like Astan wore his. He was dressed in a leather harness with the golden tiger head on the buckle in the center of his chest. Leather pants with a hold in the back for his tail and a sword strapped to his back.
"Come in." He said as he dismissed his adviser so they could talk alone. "Sakura Duma, the last time I saw you, you were a smart mouthed, over active, over confident young cub that had a habit of talking and acting before you considered what you were saying."
Sakura looked down at the floor. He knew the king was right. In his youth, he was an over indulged, pampered young fool who didn't care about anything but himself. Then he met Astan and everything in his life changed. He was like a fire that came into his life a taught him responsibility and respect. No longer did Sakura think about himself, he taught him that he was a prince and the next in line for the kingdom of Panthera and it was time he started to pay attention and think about others before himself.
"Your majesty.."
"I am talking." King Yonas said sternly. "I didn't think you could ever earn my respect. I thought you would be a lazy lay about for the rest of your life. But today you proved to me, I was wrong. You and your friends came in answer to my call when I thought all hope was lost. Your father would be so proud of the warrior you have become. You faced the enemy with your father's sword and beat them down when I thought all was lost. Astan was right about you, and he couldn't have picked a better warrior to be his mate."
Sakura 's mouth dropped open. He had no idea that the king knew about them and he sure didn't expect him to be ok with the idea.
"Yes." King Yonas smiled. "I knew all about how the two of you felt about each other."
"And your not mad?" Sakura sounded like a ten year old club who had done something wrong and expected to be punished.
"How can I be mad?" King Yonas asked. "Do you love him?"
"Yes, with all my soul." Sakura had tears of joy in his eyes.
"And I'm sure he loves you." He walked out and around the desk to stand in front of them. "Now all you have to do is go find him and bring him home. Then we'll talk about what comes next. If you want to be together, we'll find a way."
Then he turned to Quynn, Sky, Aggar and Deja.
"I want to thank you all for your help." He said. "But this is not over yet. Mulu Amin is still out there and he means to either rule us or destroy us. I don't think he cares which. Sakura will need your help to bring him down and to save Astan. Will you help us?"
"That's why we came here Sir." Sky said. "To help save Aspana."
"You know."  King Yonas said. "We use to have, what are you called? Dragons? There was once Dragon's here. Maybe one day there will be again."
"That's possible." Aggar said as he patted the Star of Hekima nestled in his jacket. "I really think that's a possibility."
King Yonas looked at Aggar strangely not understanding what he was saying, then he turned back to Sakura.
"The question is." King Yonas folded his arms and scratch his chin. "Where is Astan?"
"I'm not sure where." Sakura said. But I knew who has him."
"Who?" Zakia Manzi asked as he entered the office."
"Someone named Igoro Baba. Do you know who that is?"
"No." Said King Yonas. "I never heard of him."
"I know who he is." Zakia looked at them with a grim face. "Igoro Baba is the master of the Gorilla city Domina. He is a slave trader and a dark wizard. If he has Astan, then he plans to sell him."
"To Mulu Amin." King Yonas slammed his fist down on the desk. He turned and went and pulled a rope that signaled his guards to come answer his call. "This means war!"
Seconds later, the door opened and another of his Generals call in to answer his call.
"Yes your Majesty?"
"Send out a message to Regent G'ania Gazina of Panthra and Ayad Naadu of Rhinon. The Gorillas have gone to far. I will tear their city down if I have to to get my son back!"
"Wait Majesty." Sakura pleaded. "If you charge into the city, Astan might get hurt. Let us go first. I will bring him out. I swear I'll get him out."
"You have four day." King Yonas said to them. "Then, I'm coming in and I will kill every single Gorilla in the city. Four days, not a minute more."
"We won't fail." Sakura said as everyone started to leave the office. "I'll bring him home safe and sound."
"I hope so." King Yonas looked at Sakura with sad eyes. "Astan is my heart and soul. If something happens to him, I don't know if I can survive. You have to bring him home. You and Astan are our future."
"We'll get him back." Sakura said as he opened the door to leave. "We have to."

Outside the city walls, Quynn, Sky and their friends waited for Sakura to join them. Dar'yl, Aggar and Deja sat quietly and oiled and did repairs on their on their armor and weapons. They had a feeling the next few days would be very trying and busy. Deja put down her sharping stone and turned to her father.
"So what are you going to do with it?"
"I don't know yet." He answered. "If I remember correctly, Jandar said that a Dragon picks the person it wants to merge with."
"What does that mean?"
"It means the egg will tell me who it wants." Aggar whispered as Sakura came out of the gate and headed over to join them. "I'll explain later."
"Is he really going to attack the Gorillas?" Sky asked as Sakura joined them. Dar'yl and the others came over to stand with them. "It'll only make things worse."
"If the Gorillas sell Astan to Mulu, nothing will matter anymore. I'll have lost him and so will his father. Can you imagine if someone took Quynn away from you and sold him to your worst enemy? Will anything matter to you at all except getting him back? And how would his family feel?""
Sky thought about it. What he would do if Janx Develos was still alive and Aster Telor found a way to hand Quynn over to him. Sky would go to the Underworld and back. He would even defy the Gods to find him and bring him home. Then he thought about Jandar and Rage. They would tear up the world to get him back.
"Yes." Sky agreed. He reached out and took Quynn's hand and squeezed it. Just the thought of losing Quynn sent chills through him. "You're right. What do you want to do?"
"We have to find his city and get Astan out."
"How?" Dar'yl asked. "Do you know where it is?"
"No." Sakura said. "I have no idea how to find him."
"I might." Quynn raised his hand. "Well, he's in the slave trade right? Why don't we find someone who owns a slave. I know it's legal here in Tinpa, but what about the other Aspana cities? Someone has to know right?"
"There are cities all along the coast that have a heavy slave population." Sakura said. "But we don't have time to go searching for someone on the coast. We need someone closer. Someone that knows a thing or two about slavery."
"Pardon me." Hati spoke up. Everyone turned to him. "There is the village of Basolos. Many years ago, your father saved them from slavers. They fought at his side to end the slavery in Panthera and Tigaress. They might know something."
"I remember G'ania telling my that story when I was a cub." He smiled as he remembered the stories about his father. Msia Duma was a brave king and he would never stand for someone stealing his people and selling them into slavery. He had caught the slavers and brought all the people home safely.  "If I remember the stories right. Basolos is a village of Puma's He had a close friend who was their chief. I think him and his mate had been captured and my father went and got him and the rest of the Pantherens, Tigeren and Pumens free."
"Do you know where the village is?" Dar'yl asked.
"Yes." Hati said. "I know where it is. It's not far off our south border about a day and a nights travel. But it is down near the Hyenen lands. I can take you there."
"No." Sakura stopped him. "You're staying here with the king. I need you here to protect him and keep him from attacking the Gorilla's before my four days are up. Slow him down if you have to, just don't let him attack."
"You sound like you don't think we can defeat the Gorilla's I assure you, we can."
"I know you can." Sakura put a hand to his shoulder. "I just don't think that is what Astan would want. He would want us to find a peaceful way to solve this."
"What if peace is not possible?" Hati asked him. "What if we have to fight?"
"Then we fight." Sakura growled. "And by Rimnar we will win!"
"Here." Quynn took something out his pocket and handed it to Hati. "This is a message stone. We use these back home to contact people over long distances. Just hold it in your hand and concentrate on me and I will hear you. We will contact you when we have Astan back safely."
"You contact us if there is an emergency." Sakura reached out and shook Hati's hand. "I'm counting on you Hati. Keep the king safe. Myumbo."

From Tinpa, they traveled south through the Tigaren jungle all day and into the night. Dar'yl took the lead with Sakura following right behind him. Quynn and Sky were next with Deja and Aggar bringing up the rear. Dar'yl kept himself alert for anything that might be a threat to them. The Tigaress jungle was not known for its safety. Though King Yonas tried to keep it patrolled, sometimes pirates and poachers slipped in to hunt some of the exotic animals and raid the ancient ruins for the treasure in the hidden burial sites.
As they walked, Deja questioned her father about what he had told her back in Tinpa.
[Father, what did you mean about the Star?]
[Jandar once told me I would make a good candidate for a Dragon.] Aggar told her. [But he said, the egg would have to choose me. Dragons choose who they merge with.]
[Even if your the one holding the egg?]
[That's right.] He sent. [Rage explained that the Dragonet knows who it wants. I will wait until it finds the right person. Then it will call them and if they accept, it will hatch.]
[What if they don't accept?] She asked worried about the young Dragon in the Star.
[Then it will die.] He said. [But that's not for us to worry about. The Dragon knows what its doing.]
[But what about that Shadow Dragon that caused that war? It picked and evil man. Was it destined for him?]
[No.] He sent. [That was a Shadow Dragon. They are different. They have darkness in them. It takes a very strong person to merge with one and keep it from becoming evil. Don't worry, this isn't a Shadow Dragon.]
[I hope not.]
The trip had been long. They were traveling all day and far into the night and they were getting close but there were all tired. Sakura called a halt to the march and ordered them to set up camp for six hours of rest two at a time. While Quynn went out to gather wood for a fire, Dar'yl went out to do some hunting for dinner. Deja and Aggar had found a clear blue river and went to fetch them all fresh water to drink while Sakura and Sky kept watch.
"After we eat." Sakura turned to Sky. "You and Quynn should get some rest. I want you both fresh and ready to go early."
"Is something wrong?" Sky asked. "You look worried."
"I am worried." He said. "I can feel Astan. He's trying to hide it from me, but he's scared. I know what Mulu will do if he can get his hands on him."
"We're not going to let that happen Sakura." Sky said with confidence. "We'll get to him in time."
"How do you know that? Did you have another of those dreams of yours?"
"No." Sky said. "But I have to trust in us. The Regent called me here for a reason. I trust that."
Just then, Sakura heard something in the trees. A rustling of the branches and a familiar scent.
"We're being watched." Sakura reached back and pulled Oblivion free of its scabbard. "Whoever's up there better come down now."
"Peace my friend." Yas Twospears said as he swung down of of the tree. "It's only me, an old friend."
"Are you following us Yas?" Sakura put his sword away. "I smelled your scent hours ago."
"I must be slipping." The Chimp laughed. "I remember not to long ago when I could hide from you."
"That was then. This is now. Is there a reason your being evasive?"
"You have the smell of war on you Sakura." Yas said. "That's not like you. Where have you been?"
"I was in Tinpa when Mulu attacked." He said. "The fighting was fierce. We almost lost the city."
"But Tinpa still stands. That is good."
"Why are you here Yas?" Sakura was beginning too get a bad feeling. Yas Twospears was acting strange, not at all like his old friendly self. "Is there something you want?"
"More something I can do for you." The Chimpanzee smiled. "I know where Astan Kinya is."
"Where!?" Sakura almost jumped and grabbed him in excitement. "Where is he?"
"Not far from here. A Gorilla has him hold up in a cave. I can take you to him if you want."
"Show me." Sakura said eagerly. "Take me to him."
"Wait Sakura." Sky stepped in front of the Chimp. "Wait for the others to get back, then we'll all go."
"It's really not far." Yas said. "We'll be back in an hours time. We should go now, I don't know how long they'll be staying there."
"I think this is a mistake!" Sk.y said. "We shouldn't go alone!"
"Then stay here! I have to go. Tell the others where I went and I'll be back shortly"
"I'm not letting you go alone!" Sky said adamantly. "Someone has to watch your back."
"Yas will be with me. Don't worry."
[I don't trust him. This could be a trap. I'm coming with you!"
"Then lets go."

The Grand Illusion. 6

It was late in the afternoon when Igoro Baba called a halt to their trek through the forest. He ordered four of his warriors to keep a constant watch on Astan. He was to remain gagged with his hands tied behind his back and only freed to feed or to relieve himself. Igoro had left strict orders that Astan was to be watched constantly and carefully. He warned his warriors of Astan's magic and to always call him when Astan was to bed  fed allowed to relieve himself. Igoro was taking no chances with the Prince of Tigaress when it came to escape. Astan was to important to his plans for the future.
From the hidden hut, Igoro, his warriors and his captive traveled west all morning. By late in the afternoon they had reached Mirror lake where they stopped for the first short break. Everyone was fed and watered with Astan fed last by Igoro himself. He untied Astan and gave him a water skin and a dish of fruit to eat while Igoro watched his every move for any sign of him casting a spell. When he was finished, Igoro re tied his hands and put his gag back in place then pulled him to his feet and ordered them all up and back on the trail.
Astan tried his best to remember the trail, but after a few hours, it all looked the same. Even a seasoned forester would have trouble following a trail through this dense jungle. Igoro must have had some magical help to lead him to his destination.
By  early evening, Astan was exhausted and so were many of Igoro's warriors, but something had changed. All the warriors seemed at ease. Like they knew they were close to the end of the trek. Then Astan saw torch light from out in the distance and he could smell the heavy scent and musk of a large number of Gorillas. They had reached they're destination. With his head held high, Astan walked the the trail to the gates to Igoro's city. From a hill outside the city, Igoro bellowed out his announcement of his arrival. Hoots and howls could be heard coming out of the excited city as Igoro approached. Astan looked out to see  the walls lined with excited Gorillas throwing flowers down to line the walkway into the city in tribute to their returning leader. Some might even think he was some kind of hero to them. Then Astan saw them standing there looking grim and resentful. Three Gorillas, two males and a female and they weren't cheering at all. As Astan watched, the taller male turn to the other male at his side and whispered something. He nodded and ran off. Astan smiled as he wonder who they were. Whoever they were, he could tell they didn't seem to like Igoro or want to welcome him home. he had to find out who they were. They could be his one chance at escape before Igoro could put him into the hands of Mulu and his Hyenans.
As they entered the gate, the warriors there snapped to attention to salute. Igoro waved them off as he pushed his way through the crowd of brightly dressed gorillas. With a loud bark the crowd separated giving him a clear path into the city of Domina.
Domina was a fair sizeed city filled mostly with one and two story buildings except for those in the areas around the palace. These were the homes of Igoro and his circle of chief advisers and the Generals of his small but powerful army. Domina existed on hunting and the profits of its diamond mines and the slave trade. Yes, not many in Aspana knew it, but Igoro and Domina traded and sold slaves. His city had the largest slave market in Aspana. Every year during the summer and fall seasons, Domina's warrior's would go out in their ships and raid small villages up and down the eastern coast of Aspana and the islands of Shapelendor and down to the horn of Melvor. There they would capture slaves of all races and species and bring them back to Domina where they would be broken and put on the slave blocks for sale. Human, Elephant, Taurus, Apen, Rhinon and the occasional Tigaress and Pantheren, all trained to serve whoever the buyer might be.
With his head held high, Igoro led his band down the avenue to a modest three story building made of marble where the three grim Gorilla's waited along with four gray furred older Gorilla's. Igoro walked up the stairs as they all bowed to him in greeting.
"Myumbo Igoro." Said an elder in red robes. "I see your mission was almost a success. I see the Tigaress, but I don't see a Pantheren. You promised Mulu you would bring him both princes. He will not like this turn of events."
"I will deal with the Hyenan in my way." Igoro waved him out of his way and stepped pass him to face one of the grim younger Gorilla's. Dressed in the same green and gold that Igoro wore, Goren Baba nodded a greeting to his father.
"Myumbo Father." Looked down on his shorter father. "Still out making war I see."
"I don't make war." Igoro said sternly as he pushed pass. "I win them. Just as I will turn this war into something we can profit from."
"More blood and slaves on our hands." Goren yelled after him. "How much more will we be responsible for? When does it stop? How many more have to have their lives destroyed for you or Mulu's damned ambition? Wasn't Mara and Hodari enough?"
Igoro stopped and turned back to his son. His eyes blazed red with anger. He stomped his way back to face Goren with his staff glowing with power.
"Hodari's death wasn't my fault." He shouted. "Neither was Mara's. They died because they weren't strong enough to overcome their enemies. None of that was my fault!!"
"You are the one that put them in that battle Father." Goren shouted at his father. "That war and battle was all you. They didn't have to be out there fighting, you put them there to die. You killed your own children with your war mongering and you never quit!!"
Igoro was so furious he raised his staff and started a spell that would strike Goren down. Goren stood his ground growling and daring his father to strike. Next to him, Shauri jumped between them and screamed.
"STOP," She forced them apart. "Both of you!!!"
"This isn't over Father." Goren said as Shauri pulled him away. "You will pay for what you've done. There's to much blood on your hands, karma will come back for you."
"I am karma!!" Igoro shouted after them. "I control my destiny and the destiny of all of Domina. I am the future of the Apen nation, and I don't care what you or the elders think!"
At the bottom of the stairs, Astan smiled as a warrior pulled his chain and dragged him up and into the building after Igoro. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Goren hated his father. If Astan could find a way to talk with Goren, he could probably talk him into helping him get away from Domina. Maybe there was even a chance he could help Goren get Domina out of the war and the slavery trade.
By Rimnar, he wished so hard that Sakura was there with him. He missed his strength and wisdom so much.
[I'm coming.]
Astan jumped when he heard the voice in his head. He knew that voice, the feeling of love that suddenly flared all through his body. It was Sakura. His Lion king.
[Sakura?]
[I'm here my love.] He said. [I'm heading to Tinpa to help your father. We're coming for you as soon as Tinpa is safe.]
[Hurry love.] Astan pleaded. [This is a slave market and Igoro Baba is its master. You must be careful. He has me, and he plans to capture you and sell us to Mulu Amin.]
[Hold on little tiger. I will be there soon to save you.]
As their connection broke, Astan looked up to see Goren and his two grim faced companions standing on the side watching him. When they passed, Goren stared at him strangely. He watched as Astan was led through the building and down to a holding cell where he would wait until Igoro was ready to question him. He had heard bits and pieces of Astan and Sakura's private conversation and he knew what his father had planned for both princes. Astan was right. Igoro did plan to sell the two princes to Mulu once he had them both. But if the Tigaren could somehow communicate with the Pantheren, there was still a chance for them to escape. He had to get down to the dungeon and see the Tigaren in private.
"Follow me." Goren said to Shauri and Beno, his mate and his cousin. They walked out of the council building and down through Domina pass the slave market where lines of Chimps were chained to the auction block being auctioned off. Goren looked away as his stomach turned. He hated this place and usually did what he could to avoid it.
Domina was once a peaceful place existing on trade with the other races of Aspana until his father took control and changed everything. His first move had been to have Sefu Jata the current chief labeled a coward and a disgrace by framing him for doing unspeakable things to a group of the village children. Igoro's spell had been so powerful that Sefu confessed. He believing himself so guilty he went quietly to the stake to be burned. But Goren knew the truth that even the innocent victim didn't know. This was another reason he despised his father. Those poor children and the horrible memories his father had planted in their heads. Two of them had even killed themselves not wanting to live with such memories in their heads
Then, being the most powerful member of the city, it was easy for him to bully the elder's into make him the new chief. Once he was in power, Igoro ordered a large area cleared and a huge set of barn like buildings constructed and fenced off right outside of Domina's market place. It wasn't until construction was almost done and the chains and cuffs were installed that Goren and the rest of the citizens of Domina realized what Igoro had been building. A slave market. Many of the warriors and citizens of Domina objected fiercely, that was when things changed and Gorillas started to disappear. Anyone with any power that fought against Igoro's plans, disappeared in the night to never be seen again. After the first five or six went missing, no one except Goren dared to question Igoro. But Goren didn't fear his father. Yes indeed, Igoro Baba was a very powerful Gorilla and mage with abilities that almost rivaled Mulu Amin. But long ago Goren had learned the secret to his father's power and that made him completely immune to his magics. He alone still talked and fought against his father and his evil ambitions. But he had to be careful. If he pushed Igoro to far, there were others in Domina that Igoro could hurt to punish his son, and Goren knew it.
From the slave market, Goren, Shauri and Beno turned left and made their way onto a short lane and went into a small building in the west corner of the city. It was a bare little house with no decorations except the possessions needed by a warrior. In the corner there was a rack that held an assortment of spears long and short. Next to that there was a table with a warriors armor laid out and ready to be put on. Only this armor would never be worn again. This was the house of Goren's late younger brother Hodari.
As they gathered at the table, Goren first lit a candle and said a greeting to his dead brother and sister, then he turned to Shauri and Beno.
"Well, he's finally home and you saw who he had with him in chains."
"Yes." Beno said. "It's a Tigaren. He caught another cat. So what's that mean?"
"That is not just another cat." Goren said. "The cat my father brought back in chains is Astan Kinyo, crown prince of Tigaress and my father means to sell him and the prince of Panthera to Mulu Amin, do you know what that means?"
"It means we're about to do something that could get us all killed." Shauri frowned. "Again"
"No." Goren shook his head. "Not if you don't want to. We could just go on with our lives and let Igoro do whatever he wants. I'm sure eventually he'll settle down and get tired of trying to be the master of the world. He'll close the slave markets and send all the slaves home, everything will be fine. He won't invade anymore villages and the ships he's building, it's a fishing fleet not an invasion armada. Aspana will have peace for years to come."
"That is not funny." Beno slammed his fist down on the table. "I know what he did to my father. He sent him to the slave pen with orders for them to hang him in the town square and beat him to death. His body laid there for three days before he let us bury him. I know how cruel your father can be."
"Then help me to stop him." Goren pleaded. "Help me stop him and Mulu from turning Aspana into a warzone."
"We'll help." Shauri said. "We'll do whatever we have too."
"Then we have to find a way to get to the Tigaren." Goren told them. "He may be the key to our freedom. Shauri, you can get into the dungeon area without raising an alarm. Find a way to get me in to talk with the Tigaren. Beno, I need you to have one of the others watch the guards. If I'm right, a Pantheren will be coming here. I have to get to him before my father does."
"What will you be doing?" Beno asked.
"For now." Goren stood up and went to the door. "I have to distract my father. You both know how to call me when you're ready. Be careful."

The sun had just slipped down beyond the mountains as Akani and Msia made their way through the thick jungle north of Domina. It had be a hard and dangerous trek from the Pumen village of Basolos north through the Elephant lands and down through the Peresis desert to the Apen rain forest. All the while fighting off stray bands of Hyenan and Jackal warriors.
Tired, they stopped at a small oasis so Msia could get his bearings and Akani could build a fire and go find them something to eat. He sat down and folded his legs and cast out with his probe to search the desert and rain forest off in the distance. The desert was barren, there was nothing there except nomadic Camels traveling the trade routes from Calaphor in the south to Torunda the capital city of Panthera in the north west. Msia had known Astan and his captor had passed that way, but he wasn't sure which way they had gone. With his recent probe, he know they didn't go down into the desert. If they had, he would have found them by now. That meant they had turned south and gone into the rain forest. Turning his probe south, Msia moved down into the thick rain forest. He spotted a few small Pygmy villages and many different colonies of Monkeys. Chimps, Spider monkeys, Howlers and Tamarins all fighting each other for their place in the trees. He found Vampire bats hiding high in the trees, a few small Tigarens and Jaguars hunting for their daily meals. All small colonies or clans hidden in secret places in the forest. Msia didn't understand why they were all hiding. These were all strong hunters and warriors able to hunt, defend and live in large communities yet they hid like scared hunted prey. He wondered, could there be something here dangerous enough to scare the Jags or the Chimps?
Widening his search, Msia moved on deeper into the forest. It wasn't long until he spotted a young Gorilla hurrying through the jungle. He looked as if he was being chased, but Msia couldn't find anything threatening behind him. Then he noticed the carrier bag around his chest. He must be a message runner for one of the Gorilla clans that lived in this forest. Msia decided to probe further ahead to see if he could locate the Gorilla's destination. He pushed ahead, climbing high over the trees past the multiple colored birds, snakes and tree frogs and spotted what looked like a city buried amongst the tallest trees. Centering his probe, Msia zoomed his attention down and found a great city with marble walls lined with tall statues of Gorilla warriors and scholars.
As Msia watched, the runner came out of the forest and run up to the city gate. He took a deep breath, beat his chest and howled announcing his presence. At the top of the wall, a Gorilla in leather armor called down for the runner to identify himself.
"I have a message for Igoro Baba from Baja Mora of Endiz." He held up the messenger bag. "My master has a bid Igoro will be very interested in."
"I hope the bid is very generous." The wall guard called. Then he turned to the gate keeper. "Open the gate."
As the messenger went in, Msia's probe hovered just over the guard as he watched the messenger enter. Once he was in, he signaled the gate keeper to close the gate and he turned to the guard next to him.
"Send word that the messenger should be watched. Baja Mora is a crafty one, he might be looking to steal the Tigaren captive. The prince is worth a lot to Igoro."
With those words echoing through his mind, Msia snapped his probe back and opened his eyes. The guard had mentioned a Tigarn prince. That meant Astan Kinya is here in the Gorilla city and it had been Igoro Baba that kidnapped him. Msia had no idea who this Gorilla was, but if he had taken the young prince, it could only have been for one reason. Igoro must have either bade a deal with Mulu, or he had plans to. Somehow, they were going to have to find some way to sneak into the city and find Astan, then get him out and back to Tinpa and safety. But how?
As Msia stood up and stretched his legs, Akani came back into the camp carrying a brace rabbits. He dropped them by the fire, then went and got himself a drink of fresh water from the little spring. As he turned back, he saw Msia staring at him with a strange look in his eyes.
"Is something wrong my lord?"
"No." Msia said. "Tell me what you know about Gorillas."

The moon was high and glowing with a strange red glare as Quynn and Sky dropped down out of the clouds over Tinpa. From out over the mountains, Tinpa looked different then the last time they had been there. It was no longer a quiet and sleepy tropical city, right now it was alive with activity. Fires flared all through the city and lightning blazed from its walls. From where Sakura sat on Quynn's back, he could see the city was in chaos as Canin warriors came down out of the hills to attack. As he looked down he saw hundreds of dog warriors charging. They were everywhere like locust swarming in bashing at the gates and climbing the walls. Tinpa's warriors fought with arrows and swords to take down their enemy only to see them back up seconds later. On the wall, King Yonas fought with a sword in each hand slashing and stabbing at his enemies. At his side fought his Pantheren shaman  Zakia Manzi, his hands were glowing as lightning and fire blasted out at the Canin's climbing over the wall. All hell had broken loose around the Tigaren city and from where they sat, it looked like the Tigarens were losing.
"Can you get me to the gate?" Sakura asked as he pulled Oblivion from his back.
"Are you mad?" Dar'yl yelled. "Their are hundreds of Canin's down there. You can't fight them all!"
"Not by myself I can't." Sakura placed his hand on Dar'yl shoulder. "I'll need a strong hand at my side watching my back. Are you up for the challenge my friend?"
"I would face the dogs of hell at your side." Dar'yl gave him a sly eager smile. "I would be honored."
"Let's hope these dogs aren't quite that bad. Quynn, Sky, you can help King Yonas at the wall. Dar'yl and I will tend to the gate."
[I'll clear a spot so you can drop them off then head east.] Sky sent. [I'll go west and we'll help the king.]
With his wings spread, Sky dived down heading for the gate. He dropped down until he was about twenty feet above it, then let out a blast of cold that covered the gate and sent the Canin's running. Behind him, Quynn set down just long enough for Sakura and Dar'yl to jump off then he leaped back up into the sky. With Dar'yl at his side and Oblivion ready for battle, Sakura roared out his challenge.
"Face me Dog warriors!" He raised his glowing sword over his head. "You have invaded our homes and raped our lands. People hide in fear from the bark of your warriors but I say no more! You will not enter this city or any other Tigaren or Pantheran cities. Tonight we put you Dogs in your place!"
Howling like mad, the Canin's charged in to attack. They were armed with hammers, and knives and anything else they could pick up and fight with. Sakura and Dar'yl's weapons flashed and cut them down one by one. Oblivion blazed with power as Sakura sliced and cut at his enemies. With a swipe of power, Oblivion struck down a line of Mastiff's burning their legs right out from under them. As three Hyenans rushed in at Sakura, Dar'yl swung out slicing through one, then stabbed another in its throat just as the third slammed a spear down at his head. Spinning to his left, Dar'yl leaped up and kicked out then with two hands sliced down splitting the Canin's skull.
Stepping back to stand beside Sakura, Dar'yl kicked the dead Hyenan away from them. When he looked up, they were surrounded by Jackals and Hyenans ready to charge. Raising Oblivion, Sakura summoned another charge of power and sent it out. The Canin's screamed as they fell crushed and broken to the ground. Then slowly they started to get back up on their feet. Sakura and Dar'yl dived in and started hacking at them to keep them down.

On a hill to the east, Mulu stood with his staff raised as he continually chanted his spell. He was getting tired and his magic was weakening. If his warriors didn't get into the city in the next ten minutes, he would have to abandon the attack and flee before they found him. With a last burst of power, Mulu cast out sending strength to his Canin warriors then he fell exhausted to the ground.
This was their last chance at Tinpa. If this didn't work, his only chance would be the Prince and the Star of Hekima.

As the gates open and Tigaren warriors rushed out to help Sakura and Dar'yl, Quynn and Sky circled the city sending fire and ice down at the Canin's. Together they dropped down to land beside King Yonas and Zakia Manzi to defend the wall. With the king and his shaman between them, Quynn and Sky fought on. Fire, ice and lightning blazed anything that breached the walls, King Yonas leaped from one spot to the next cutting down Canin's as they climbed over the wall. At one point, it looked like the fight was turning in their favor. Then suddenly the Canin's seemed to have a sudden burst of strength and they were again back up and coming on stronger than ever. Sakura and Dar'yl doubled their efforts once the Tigaren's joined them, but it wasn't looking good. Tigaren's were dying and the Canin's were coming on strong when suddenly they heard the sound of a horn blaring from the north. As everyone turned to look, Aggar, Deja and Dain Gwedi came running over the hills with their Lycaon army. Roaring out their battle cry, the Lycaon's joined the battle and the siege on Tinpa was broken

As Mulu cursed the Tigaren’s and their allies, he swore this was not the end. There was still the Star and Prince Astan, and one of them could be the answer he was looking for. He raised his bone staff and cast a spell that took him back to Mancoro. As he appeared at the gates to his city, the guard on duty leaned over the wall and ordered him to identify himself. Mulu looked up at him and sneered then reached up with his power and grabbed him by his throat and pulled him down to face him.
"I am Mulu Amin." He screamed in his face. "Master of this city you fool!"
Then his smashed him into the wall and dropped him and walked over his dead body.
"Open the gate now!" He shouted up to the other guards on the wall. In seconds the gate opened and Mulu stormed in passed the cowering guards.
As they saw him coming, everyone moved out of his way. No one dared to interrupt him as he made his way to his house. As he approach his house, there was someone there waiting with his house guards. It was a Gorilla.
As Mulu walked up the path to his house. the gorilla stepped out to intercept him. The guards raised their spears and forced him back to let Mulu pass.
"Mulu Amin." The Gorilla called. "I have come a long way with an important message from my master, Igoro Baba."
"I am very busy." Mulu said as he passed. "I do not care what your master wants, and you can tell him that."
"We have a prisoner you might be interested in."
Mulu stopped and slowly turned around. He looked at the Gorilla with his sly yellow eyes sending a creepy feeling through the simian's body and walked back to him. Mulu knew Igoro Baba was a master wizard and a slave trading hunter. He had agents all over Aspana from his Gorillas to his Chimpanzees and slick monkeys. He had more eyes than Mulu.
"Come with me."
Mulu turned and headed to his house. At the door, a Hyenan guard bowed and opened the door for them. The Gorilla followed him through his small house into his audience room where took his place on his throne.
"Tell me." He said. "Who is the prisoner?"
"Beg your pardon." The Gorilla said. "But my master did not share that information with me. He only said that you would be extremely interested in this one and for the right price, it can be yours."
Mulu sat back and thought about the arrangement they had before him. This could be his opening. With Astan or Msia in his hands, Aspana would be his to rule.
"I will meet with your master." Mulu said as he leaned forward to face the Gorilla. "But I am warning you. Do not think to try and fool me, or cheat me. . If your prisoner is of use to me, I will deal with your master very handsomely. But If this is a waste of my time, you will all pay!"