Sorry everyone, about what happened in the last chapter...(Ok I'm not that sorry). Anyway here's chapter ten. I'm adding some OCs in that are going to make the story more interesting and explain some things. I hope ya'll enjoy!

Nyla knew she was in trouble. Her people depended on her ever since her parents, the former leaders, were lost to the darkness of the underworld. They weren't the only ones to be lost though. Raven, one of the greatest warriors they had ever known and a once close friend of hers had been lost to Kahmunrah.

It was out of her control though. Nothing could bring them back from the cold clutches of death. Or a deal sealed with Kahmunrah himself.

Why were her people living in an abandoned building in New York City? Why had they become outcasts from society? Well that can be explained with two words. Merenkahre and Shepseheret.

Over three thousand years ago, the former king and queen of Egypt and pharaohs had seen the rise of different cultures living in their kingdom. For fear of revolt, many had been put into slavery. But not her people, the shape shifters.

Once her people had been revered and almost worshiped. And some were. And they took what they wanted and they never gave anything back in return. They were parasites and over time, the Egyptian people saw their families, land, and possessions disappearing to a stronger species. The whole country was on the brink of war and destruction.

Then a law was passed. All shape shifters were to be rounded up and executed. Most of the shape shifters were peaceful and they saw their own lives and families being destroyed by the actions of the other greedy shape shifters. They cried out for mercy and were ignored by all in the hysteria and fear of the time.

So along came what was remembered as 'The Hunting Season'. Many were massacred, but a few were sent through Kahmunrah's doorway to the underworld as test subjects. Some would call them lucky for surviving, but they had literally lived through hell and nothing compared to the mental scars they were left with when they were finally released.

If it weren't for Raven's deal with Kahmunrah, they would never have been able to escape the underworld. But had it been worth it? Raven's heart and soul were lost and all that was left was her ambition and rage. Her friend was never coming home. Along with Sebatak, the brownish-reddish haired boy who'd been in love with Raven for a long time and refused to part from her. Also, several others had traded their lives with Kahmunrah for the protection of their families.

Their sacrifices had not been forgotten, nor ever would be. Nyla devoted her own life to finding a new home for her people, so they could be safe. She wondered often if it were possible to find a place like that. She fought her doubts by telling herself that they all counted on her and she would never let them. She would walk the whole damn world before she would see her people suffer again.

That's why they captured prisoners before Kahmunrah could. He could not touch her or her people or the deal was broken and Raven, Sebatak, and the others were given back their freedom. Secretly, she almost wished he would break it so they would be free, but she knew her people would die.

Anyway, if they had the prisoners they had the upper hand. And one of the prisoners was Ahkmenrah, the pharaoh's beloved youngest son. Nyla didn't how he was alive, but rumor had it he had an magic artifact that gave life and healed. And they could really use that right now.

Walking amongst her people she saw many were sick and not just physically. Many had developed mind sickness from the time in the underworld. They sat in corners rocking themselves silently or sometimes mumbling inaudibly things that poured from their lost minds.

They stared off into the distance, remembering the horrors of their past. Others had gone rapid and wild and far enough over the edge to kill even their own families. Whenever Nyla saw bloodstains on the dirty floors and walls, she was reminded of what they had done. Of what the pharaohs had done to them. And how they would pay for it.

Sometimes she felt the mind sickness creeping into her mind. It was little primal thoughts and actions. She fought it every moment she was awake. Sleep was once a release from it all, but then the nightmares began and now she couldn't remember the last time she had gotten a good night's sleep.

"Nyla!"

The voice of another one of her close friends, startled her out of her thoughts.

"What is it, Zephyr?" She smiled at her friend. Zephyr, or Zephy as they sometimes called her, was Nyla's closest friend and one of the best flyers when she shape shifted into a winged creature. She had violet hair that was pulled into a long braid at the back and it swung wildly when she ran.

The pair of them had decided to change their hair different colors then the black hair they had been born with. They didn't need to dye it, since they were shape shifters, they could change it on a whim. They had chosen to change it as a way of letting go of their past and hoping to had some color to their bleak lives. Nyla had chosen blue and Zephyr purple.

"You've gotta come see what the boys found!" Her voice brimmed with excitement, a thing that had become foreign to them.

"Ok?" Nyla agreed, not sure of what to expect. She followed Zephyr through the halls filled with rags and silent people. Zephyr stopped at one of the rooms where a gang of boys, the Nuisances as they had been dubbed by an elder, were circled around holding some of the prisoner's belongings.

"Alright, what's going on?" Nyla asked them.

"See for yourself," Rashidi, the tall, brown-eyed, short-haired brunet held out his hand. In it were two tiny people in odd-dress that looked like children's toys.

"So what-"

"Are you the leader of this 'ere posse?"

Nyla gasped. "What the hell? It speaks?"

"This it has a name. It's Jedediah. My friends call me Jed."

Nyla looked closer. They were really just tiny people. The one called Jed had a blue shirt and funny looking brown hat. "Is this a trick?"

"I can assure you this is no trick," the other with shiny armor spoke this time. "I'm Octavius."

"Have you always been this tiny? Or is this some other mischief?"

"Actually, I've grown half an inch since everything started happening," Octavius said.

"What!? No you haven't," Jed puffed. "Otherwise you'd be taller than me and everyone knows I'm taller."

"Are not!"
"Are too!"

"You are minuscule," Nyla said fascinated. "And what do you mean 'since everything started happening'? Do you know about Kahmunrah?"

"Kahmunrah? Hell yeah, we do," Jed replied. "That son of a gun has tried to kill us so many times."

"He's a real pain in the rear," Octavius added. "But we defeated him once."

"Really!? Can you tell me more?" Nyla asked excitedly.

Octavius and Jedediah looked at each other as though they were having a conversation.

"Ok," Jedediah said. "But only if you tell us yours as well."

"Fine," Nyla agreed. She was curious to know how they had defeated Kahmunrah before. Hell, maybe they could help them do it again. But for good.

"Oh and one other thing," Jedediah said. "You let our friends go."

Nyla studied them for a moment. "Deal."

I'll update soon. Thank you for all the follow/favs/comments etc! It keeps me inspired. :D