Kishi: Wah! Something's wrong with Cadell… :'(

Aria: He'll be ok, just you wait and see.

Drake: Aria-sama's right, just let me do my job.

Kishi: Ok….

Aria: Anyways Kishi here hits her 27th week mark near the end of this chapter. So, lets get on with the show, nya~!

::Chapter 20::
The Hydra Medallion's Mistress

~.~.~.~

To say I'm scared is an understatement right now. What woman in their sanity wouldn't be if the very man they loved and cared about so much suddenly collapses before her eyes! I haven't been so scared in so long. Like come on, I've got a child coming in about a month, a crazy warhawk is after my head and my medallion, my home has been ravaged by the after effects of battles, and now being stuck in the middle of enemy territory on another planet, and now this!

"Cadell! Please wake up!"I pleaded, ignoring the fact his suffering was echoing through her body and mind. "Zakuro, why won't he wake up?"

Zakuro nervously bit her lower lip as she morphed into her wolf form and cautiously, with ears pressed back she moved over to where I sat by Cadell. With a whimper she sniffed at him nudged him. Her violet wolf eyes drew wide as her own whines grew louder with desperation. She grabbed me by the white silk cloth of my ancient Greek styled white robe. I was worried as to why Zakuro was so desperate to get me away from him. But realization hit me: Cadell caught an illness from this planet that hit as unexpectedly as Earth's own flu.

"Ok, I get it. You're worried that if I catch it too it'll harm Lupina-chan, right?"I asked.

"Woof!"whined Zakuro.

The sound of footsteps soon caught our attention and Zakuro raced out of the kitchen and soon returned with one protesting Soarian Prince being dragged over by his arm-wings. With one Cyniclon medic close behind. But the instant they see my husband passed out on the ground, face flushed, pale as a ghost, and breathing heavily the two raced over. With care Pai took his arms and propped his head against his shoulder. Drake's expression was unreadable as stone as he looked him over.

"He contracted Synle fever."spoke up Drake, locking his eyes with my own hotpink ones.

"Syn what's it?"

"Synle fever. It's an illness my people contract a lot this time of year when the seasons shift from winter to spring. I caught it when I was but a fledgling."

"Can it be treated?"asked Pai.

Drake nodded. "Yes, but we don't have the medicine I need to treat this. People have died from not getting the treatment in time. To put it plainly it's like, in nature to Earth's more potent of flues."

"Y-you mean…oh Deep Ember's Fire!"I groaned, taking a seat in the chair.

The room went silent.

Zakuro and I knew just which kind of flu Drake meant by potent. Drake had read up on the history of my mother's planet, the Blue Planet; Earth. One thing he read about was the Spanish Flu that ravaged the world like a plague during one of the world wars. So many had lost their lives to it and now Drake had told her that his world had their own version of that blasted thing! If it was anything like that then we feared for Cadell's life. I watched as Pai teleported out with my beloved warrior and Drake snatched his cloak and raced out the door and took off to who knows where to get the medical ingrediants needed.

I could feel everything he was feeling: his fear, his worry, and his suffering. "That's it, no more sitting around! He was there for me when I was sick, it's my turn for him now."I thought, my mind made up. Next thing I knew I was standing on all fores and racing across the halls; my sea of emotions had triggered my failsafe on my Red Data DNA. Once more I was in this Fire Cat form, not that I cared. Cadell could turn be back once he recovered.

So, following his ailing scent I scrambled carefully up the stairs and into the first room on the right. Sure enough, there was Pai and placing a damp cloth on his forehead. With care I prawled into the room and jumped onto the bed, catching Pai's attention.

"I see your failsafe activated again, Lady Kishi. It is for the better until he receives treatment. Drake told me before he left that animals aren't affected by it."said Pai.

"Nya?"

"Yes, you can stay. I know you feel stressed because the phoenix link alerts you to his pain. And stress is the last thing you and your unborn child needs."sighed Pai, giving a reassuring smile. "Besides, I could use the company."

"Mew mrew…"I mewed, nuzzling Cadell's hand.

Pai then gently picked me up into his arms and held me close. "I can't understand you but, this might help." Pai then placed in his ear what looked like to be some kind of Bluetooth headphone or darn close to it, placing me back down by Cadell's sleeping form.

"Can you understand me now?"I asked.

"Yes Kishi, I can. So, why we're waiting why don't I check up on your own condition as well?"I simply nodded my head.

Pai checked me over as promised and during that time Drake had returned with the herbs and was making some kind of elixir. All while we had relocated to the Nayeda Forest on near the lake. During that time Zakuro and I remained in our beast forms, and we still are. I've gotten better at this walking on all fores thing. I head down the ship's decks and jumps up to press the button, opening the door. Once open I race out into the clear and over to the cave where we had set up camp and over to the cot Cadell was on.

"K-Kishi?"rasped Cadell, he was awake.

"Nya nyu!"I squealed in delight, jumping up to his side.

"Hello, Empress."greeted Drake as he cleaned up his handy work.

I mewed in greeting to Drake as I nuzzled up against his now caressing hand. "I scared you, Neko-chan and I'm sorry."

"It's ok, Cade-kun. There was always a risk it would happen, but we came anyways. You're a Cyncilon General, I'm an Aura Mew and Deep Ember's Snow Maiden. I don't blame you."I answered through my link with Cadell.

Cadell smiled tiredly and propped himself up onto his elbows, flashing a thankful glance at Drake who nodded in return.

"Cadell's gonna be fine now, I gave him the Dusk Elixir. It's working but it'll be a few days until he recovers. Until then, he needs his rest."explained Drake.

"Nya~!"I purred in glee.

Cadell then carefully pulled me close and kissed me on the head, turning back into my regular self. Happily, I embraced him with my heart full of relief. "You have no idea how much I feared for you."I whimpered. Cadell looked at me with a dumbfounded expression before it softened into fondness as he held me close. His strong hands stroking through my snow-kissed hair.

"Today's your 27th week isn't it, Kishi?"asked Zakuro from outside the cave.

"Oh yeah! It's May 23 today."I noted.

"Yes, you're almost seven months now. Which is why I sent Pai to locate the local healer in Springrain Town. She's a childhood friend of mine and is the one who has the last medallion. She'll check out your child for you since Pai can't."said Drake.

"When do we leave?" I asked.

"Tomorrow, that's why Pai sent me back here."said Zakuro. "Ella of the Heron Clan has agreed to meet with us."

"What about Cadell?"I asked.

"He'll be up and about by tomorrow if he gets his rest."I got the message right then and there.

I got off and went out of the cave to let him get some more sleep and with Drake I joined Zakuro outside.

~.~.~.~.~

{Springrain Town, May 24; Dawn}

"This way."

I keep my head low and hidden in my cloak, as did Cadell as we followed Pai and Drake. Zakuro was staying in the shadows in the form of the Wohawk, Soarilia's winged wolf. Carefully we snuck through the streets towards our destination. It didn't take long to reach the clinic of the town healer.

"Ella? Ella Bluewing of the Heron Clan?"called out Drake softly.

"Drake Hikari of the Owl Clan?"came a strong, defiant voice of a young Soarian woman.

"Yes, it's me. Can you come out already, none of Steele's lackies followed me. It's just me and the Cyniclons and the Cyniclon Empress and Emperor with me."replied Drake.

Cautiously, a young pretty blue, black streaked hair woman with sapphire eyes came out from the room next to us. Her Soarian robes were white, trimmed with blue. Her wings were like that of a blue heron, beautiful and delicate like her petite frame. A pearl headdress with a ruby graced her head and on her arms were they breeze-like blue ribbons tattoos. Her feet bared the same ancient Roman styled sandals and on her ankle was two gold anklets. She smelt strongly of herbs and satin. She smiled and quickly ushered us into the basement and into this secret room.

"Forgive my haste, M'Lady and M'Lord. But Steele's men prawl those very streets daily. I can't even get the privacy to treat my patients anymore."huffed Ella, being quick to light the candles.

"Please, call me Kishi and this is my husband, Cadell and -to-read over there is my cousin, Pai. And you must be Ella, that girl Drake told us about."I simply stated.

"Yes, I am. Pai came to me yesterday and told me everything. You beat Steele to the medallions of our goddess's temple, good work. I guess you just need my Hydra Medallion now, yes?"smirked Ella.

"Yes, then I can fetch my ancestor's sacred sword and take back my birthright from that traitor."growled Drake as he watched Ella move over to my side.

"I don't like him anymore than you my old friend, he killed my father to gain the rank of General. He's always been power hungry that brat. But let me do my work here first!"snapped Ella.

Drake instantly flinched, hands up in surrender at the bluette. Ella huffed and turned her attention back to me as her hands started to glow. With care she placed it on my current large stomach and closed her eyes for but a few minutes. A smile spread on Ella's face as she removed her hand and looked at each of our curious faces.

"This child, she's a strong one and a real energetic one already. Healthy too, the goddess has truly blessed this new life inside you Lady Kishi."purred Ella.

"D-did you just…?"

"Did she just say…?"

I soon got this smug look on my face at all but Ella and Cadell. Even Cadell was tickled pink as he started laughing. I had been right all along; my child's a girl. Sure, only a quarter human, but still. But Pai and the others had been doubtful. The Fire Cat queen in me had not, and was screaming at me for some where safe and full with torches. The Fire Cat wanted the lower regions of the Cyncian temples. I remember my grandmother telling me about this. That the Fire Cats would nest outside the temples if their litter was dominantly male, and inside the heart of the temples if it was dominantly female.

"You heard her, it's a girl! I told you so Pai, nya nya~!"I hissed, my cat ears and tail popping out.

Ella glanced at me in curiousity at my two new features as Pai held up his hands in surrender. "What curious features. You have a bushy tail and ears."

"That is because she was part of a project called Aura Mew, and Deep Ember touched that part of her DNA. She is also Deep Ember's sacred Snow Maiden."said Pai.

"Ah, I see. Your goddess touched your empress and blessed her with great powers and saved you. We too have an ancient prophecy from the Sky Goddess. I believe it is happening right now as we speak."said Ella.

"What kind of prophecy?"asked Pai.

"Simply that a band of warriors would seek out the medallions and unlock the Fangs of Heaven, awakening our goddess from her slumber of her mortal form. And she'd smite the one who brings ruin."explained Ella, eyes locked on me for some reason. "And that she will once more bring about a time of great peace."

Ella ten went over to a simple stone table with a jade jewellery box and took out a simple necklace from its hiding place. Holding it by the silver chain she let a crystal medallion with a Hydra drop into full view. At long last we had the final key.

"I believe this is what you wanted Drake? Then I want a trade."smirked Ella.

Drake scowled at this, "What kind of trade Ella?"

"I give you the medallion but you must first count me in on kicking Steele's buzzard butt off of your father's throne, I get named the new royal medic, and my clan gets rights to the council."purred Ella.

Drake sneered at the idea she just offered. "You drive a hard bargan, Daughter of Emily Bluewing of the Heron Clan. But it isn't unreasonable either."

"Is that really wise, Drake?"I asked.

"The Heron Clan have been healers, trackers, and advisors to my family for centuries until my father's murder by Steele's bloody wings. Ella is my childhood friend and the current head of the Heron Clan."informed Drake. "So, I accept her terms and in return she must give the medallion and sanctuary and aid."

"I agree to your terms Prince Drake Hikari of the Owl Clan, the one and true ruler of our world."smirked Ella, fluffing her wings.

Just then though I heard Zakuro's howl of warning. "Oh shit…"

The soldiers of General Steele had found out where we were…