Dynamic Equilibrium
a Bones/Felarya crossover
Chapter 25: Out of Time in the Giant Tree
6-6-2014
by Greyman
Disclaimer: Bones and all related characters are the property of 20th Century Fox. Felarya is the creation and property of Karbo, and all associated characters are the property of their respective creators.
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Those who knew Kai well…Kai suspected that if fellow predators were asked about the first thing that came to mind about her, it was refusal to be stopped. Ever. One could call it stubbornness, or having an iron will, but everyone knew Kai was essentially an unstoppable force. Kai wasn't exactly prideful about it. It was just the way she was. A few deep lacerations and icy brambles hadn't exactly stopped her moments ago. And over the last few days…it took a while to come to terms with being duped through a Zom-TB infection, but Kai got over it and focused on the tasks ahead.
But now, for a first time in decades, Kai was frozen from shock and grief. Losing a couple rounds to Exona? Kai could live with that. Even the toughest warriors falter once in a while. Seeing a naga who respected her, thought her a friend despite how she'd been conned into attacking her in a rage…run through right before her eyes, by her OWN BLADE!?
Crisis gaped at the sword that ripped through her abdomen in dumb shock, then looked back up to Exona. Her lips quivered under that mouth guard as tears rolled down her cheeks, as if to silently plead and ask, "WHY!?" But Exona only answered with a cold, silent gaze, unmoved, with no trace of remorse in her eyes.
Kai could also see a hint of exhaustion in those icy, golden eyes. Thus, it was no surprise when her sword's handle slid out of Exona's hands. Its mass immediately dragged Crisis to the floor. The blood already spilt now splattered over Crisis's arms and face. Exona, meanwhile, staggered back a little, watching coldly as life ebbed away from the notorious naga. But she spared Kai and Aurora a few anxious glances, certain they were planning something. Yet Kai was frozen in place. A few lacerations were one thing, but makeshift bandages made from kimonos couldn't help with THIS.
"T-T-T-This makes no sense," Kai heard Brennan mutter, from a few dozen feet behind them. "Kai and Relina posed much greater threats than Crisis. What's the logic behind not going in for the kill when she fought them, but attempting to kill Crisis instead?"
"Because Crisis represents everything that's beautiful and so very very wrong about Felarya at the same time," Angela replied. "It's law of the jungle taken to the logical extreme."
Seething rage pierced through the shock and the sorrow. Angela was right. Exona did this not to avenge anyone eaten by Crisis, or because she posed a particular threat. No, it was done for twisted political reasons! The will to fight was slowly returning, but Exona clearly had some energy left as well. Exona could deep freeze both her and Aurora before they reached her, and…
A furious, sorrowful cry rent the air. As Exona turned in its direction, she was blasted backwards by a powerful stream of a dark, fluid something. The writhing mass pinned Exona to the side of a thick, voluminous outcropping, and for the moment, she lacked the strength to break free. When Kai pulled her eyes away from the imprisoned frost sprite, she saw Vivian hovering over Crisis's still form. Then she levied a glare full of venom at Exona. Kai was taken aback all over again, yet she never thought she'd be so glad to see the insufferable naga temptress.
Finally finding the will to move, Kai slithered over to them, Aurora following close behind. Glancing back at the struggling frost sprite, Kai saw her opportunity. She reached down to retrieve her sword, but Vivian slapped her hand away. "Not yet! There may be a chance, but…" Vivian looked over to Exona, her face twisted into a snarl. "I can't concentrate on this and focus on keeping Exona pinned down at the same time, and that spell isn't meant to be lethal. So go patch up Relina, and take Exona on en masse when she breaks free."
Kai looked back over to the struggling frost sprite, rage welling up like never before. She wanted Exona for herself, for using her sword for such butchery. Vivian seemed to sense this. "Something tells me all of you tried going one-on-one with Exona. Where did that get you?" Vivian chided. "As for yours truly, she tried to put me out of commission by triple-teaming me, and Alvar too. As humans say, that shoe's on the other foot, or something like that."
A sound like shattering ice made the three nagas look up. Exona had blasted her way out of Vivian's dark, watery restraints, and now stood on wobbly legs. But the fact that Exona could still stand told Kai she could easily regain her strength if given half a chance. And she intended to deny her that. "Sorry, Vivian, but Exona is MINE," Kai snarled. With a whimper, Aurora tried to hold her back, but Kai shrugged her off and charged.
Fighting back some lingering dizziness, Kai sprang at Exona. Exona's left fist suddenly became an icy mace. She landed a hard blow on Kai's jaw, but the swordsnaga's mass and momentum still ensured that the frost sprite went down with her. Exona recovered before Kai did. While pinned under the swordsnaga, Exona summoned an icy vortex to swallow them up.
With every bit of strength and willpower she had left, Kai blocked out the pain and the cold. With one swift, fluid motion, Kai smashed her forehead down against Exona's, breaking her concentration. Kai used that lapse to wrap the frost sprite up in her armored coils. Even that couldn't crack that metal coating and crush Exona's wings. Failing that, though, Kai slammed her around repeatedly, relishing each and every bone-crushing impact she delivered.
Eventually, Exona summoned enough cold to seep through her armored scales, making Kai reflexively loosen her hold. Exona slipped out and came at Kai, backhanding her face with her mace-fist, following up with a kick to her gut. "Hate me all you want for the Zom-TB infection, Kai," Exona snarled as she staggered back a few dozen feet. "But unlike the strain spread among the harpies, your strain can't make predators do anything completely against their will, their nature. That means, on some subconscious level you're unaware of, you also thought about running Crisis through at some point."
Kai refused to take the bait. She was through mulling over nearly being made a puppet. All there was now was eliminating the would-be puppeteers. It was time to make Exona play into HER hands instead.
Feigning losing it, she pretended to charge, just as Exona was charging up a blast. She cut loose, thinking Kai built up too much momentum to duck aside. But Kai did just that, then swept Exona off her feet with a tail swipe.
Exona sprang back up faster than Kai expected, and started to flutter away while still facing her. She tried to force Kai back with a torrent of icy wind that sliced into the marrow of Kai's bones, but she had used up quite a bit of energy with that last charged burst. It still slowed Kai down, but crippling blood loss or no, frostbite-inducing cold or no, Exona WAS going to pay! It was only a few dozen meters now, now about twenty…
Another tail swipe, which Exona deflected with her mace-fist. But Exona was too slow to recover, and that let Kai deliver a vicious straight jab up to the frost sprite's jaw. After Exona's feet touched down, Kai followed up with more cranium-rocking punches, and finally a tail swipe that smashed Exona into a blackened, wooden wall. Exona quickly pried herself off and glared back at Kai, no more willing to give up than she. She drew on more raw power, prepping another ice attack, while Kai, despite being chilled to the core, readied herself to spring again…
Before either could strike, an imperious cry cut across the tree. "Dr. Brennan never made it official, Exona, but I think you're FIRED!" As Exona turned in its direction, an enormous surge of magical flame swallowed up Exona before she could summon icy wind to douse it. The frost sprite was blasted back against that wall of charred bark. Her lab coat looked melted in several places, on top of being tattered and bloody. And this time, as she slid down it, Exona's eyes were glassy, unfocused…
Kai glanced over her shoulder. Several hundred feet away, Relina stood on wobbly legs, her shoulder bandaged up and her arm done up in a sling. In what looked like what remained of her kimono. Aurora stood beside Relina, helping to support her, while looking back to Kai with a conciliatory, embarrassed look. In stark contrast, despite what a Valka Fae would see as the indignity of needing such a field dressing, Relina looked composed and proud, nodding to the swordsnaga. Kai just scowled at her.
Vivian's voice once again shrilled in everyone's ears. "This time, Exona's staying down! Alvar…DO IT!"
Kai didn't immediately see the swordsfairy, but as she glanced around, she spotted a fairy at human size, speeding right towards where Exona had gone down. Verdant Fury was drawn, and reared back. No doubt once Alvar got within striking distance, he would enlarge, and repay Exona for what she did to Crisis in kind.
As Alvar closed in, however, Exona's eyes suddenly slid back into focus, and fixed on him. For a brief moment, her face contorted in pure terror, realizing what was in store.
Right before Alvar enlarged, a plume of wispy, icy mist exploded around Exona, obscuring the both of them. However, everyone could still hear the THUNK of Verdant Fury's sinking into the charred bark. Kai could hear Alvar furiously beat his wings to dispel the icy mist. But once it cleared, they saw the only thing pinned was Exona's ruined lab coat, Verdant Fury having gone through the Jeffersonian insignia.
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More blasts of dazzling, dangerous light lanced out from the upper branch, down upon the unfathomably massive dridder below. The dridder known at Noxcia…she hadn't shut her four eyes in time, and was blinded all over again by Antonin's power. Or at least, the general hoped. Every time he thought he had robbed Noxcia of her sight, more of those poison needles came at him with disturbing accuracy. Being a small target was all that saved him, Antonin was certain.
Still, as he glimpsed the blond, green-scaled naga that Noxcia carried on her opisthosoma, Antonin was reminded of the necessity of taking down this dridder. After meeting up with some of his troops, they chanced upon these two predators trying to flee. It was then that Antonin saw something all his intelligence gathering failed to elucidate: this dridder's venom, it could heal as well as incapacitate and kill! It had healed up the worst of Fiona's lacerations and burns in minutes! It was bad enough that Ajab had slipped away, but Noxcia gave the fleeing predators access to a skilled healer far too soon for Antonin's liking.
Thus, Noxcia became another priority target. By gambling with using Brennan to expose Malhor for him, Antonin allowed the exposure of the Coalition. That was of no concern, but only if he could ensure these predators formed no counter-resistance. Allowing Noxcia to live made that likelihood greater. It was regrettable, since that would leave Fiona with no one to evacuate her, but that couldn't be helped. The Coalition triumphing was paramount. For the masses back in Delurah, for his kind here in Felarya, he HAD to succeed. He WOULD succeed.
Four more mammoth poison needles embedded themselves into the branch, disturbingly close to where Antonin stood. Another came right at him. Antonin ducked, but felt his armor and the branch vibrate as it sailed over him. Antonin sprang back up and sprinted along the branch, firing off more bursts of intense light. They disoriented Noxcia, making her roar as she staggered back, and even succeeded in leaving some small but painful burns on her face and shoulders. A more focused attack could do more. At any rate, Antonin knew he had to keep her distracted, keep her from healing her own wounds, or all was lost.
As painful as his light attacks were, Antonin knew Noxcia found them more annoying than dangerous. With another roar, she charged forward, braving Antonin's worst. She practically shrugged his magic off as she grabbed the branch. Failing to land one of her spikes, Noxcia was content with shaking him off!
Before she could, however, backup swooped in again. Adapted from the technology behind jetbikes, the Coalition had crafted mobile platforms that could transport eight to ten troops, and had significant firepower built in. One, however, was leaving smoke trails and looked quite wobbly. Antonin wondered just who had damaged it…
Rockets and spells rained down as two such jet-platforms swooped over Noxcia, forcing her back. Antonin joined in and rained down more blasts of searing light, determined not to give Noxcia a moment's breath. Noxcia was perhaps the most massive predator he had ever fought personally, but she had to go down. The risk of making the Coalition's aims known, especially after Brennan all but spurned their offers, had to be minimized.
But then, everything changed. As Antonin and his troops kept bombarding the dridder, something caught his attention. High above all of them, something was flying toward the jet-platforms, something human-sized. And it left a sparkling trail, almost like icy mist…
Antonin's eyes widened, realizing who it was as she crash-landed onto one of the jet-platforms. He ran back up the branch, sending out a light signal that his troops knew meant was an order to retrieve him. At once, the damaged, smoking jet-platform swerved around Noxcia and toward the branch. Antonin jumped off just as it passed underneath the branch.
Having lost all interest in Noxcia, he ran to the rear, where a girl from Nekomura and an Isolon Fist soldier were looking over Exona; she was now coatless, and sat slumped in the back, battered, bloody and listless. Neither was Deluran, or intimately familiar with the ballad of Elotono. Yet they understood the significance of what his people called an 'Ordenzli' and were pained to see her like this. She was a beacon of hope, brighter than even him…
"Give me a moment. Return your attention to the dridder," Antonin ordered, understanding but firm. They nodded and snatched their rocket launchers back up. The sound of their firepower and the roar of fires were drowned out by Noxcia's furious screams and the whizzing of her spikes, but Antonin tuned ALL of that out. For the moment, Exona, the one who gave him the confidence to stand against an aristocracy that coddled and lied to him, needed his attention. "Exona, what happened just now?" he asked softly as he knelt beside her. "All this blood, how you're quivering… What did…"
"Mission somewhat accomplished," Exona replied croakily, showing no concern over her injuries. "Hit Crisis where it hurts, and she isn't long for this world. Didn't get away unscathed though." Slowly, a trembling hand slid up her chest, and she suddenly winced. "Multiple fractured ribs, thank you Kai. And plenty of second and maybe third-degree burns, thank you Relina. Guess I have to eat my words about the Valka Fae not posing an interesting challenge, and…" Exona stopped suddenly, coughing up blood. This went on for several moments, ending when she spat out a couple of teeth. "Again, thank you Kai," she added darkly.
As much as it pained him to see Exona brought down like this, there was some solace in one of their primary objectives being achieved. "Then today is not a total loss. We've shown the damage the Coalition can do, I'm in charge again, and you personally eliminated Felarya's most infamous predator. But we must also deal with this dridder. Even if it's too late for Crisis, Noxcia could heal up some of the others, and…"
"Now for the bad news," Exona interrupted. "The whole reason I had to back off was, well…our efforts to nix Vivian and Alvar went less swimmingly than hoped." There was a faint hint of irritation in her voice, but it was masked by a flippant tone and an air of confidence that belied how horribly she'd been beaten down. Or how dire that news was.
Antonin looked back out, just as the jet-platform swooped past Noxcia. The dridder was sporting more burns and deep lacerations than ever, but was still a long way from being felled. "This isn't good. Even if we succeed in eliminating Noxcia, Vivian could rally the scattered predators later," Antonin said tersely. "With her savvy and her sorcery, Vivian could prove a worrisome roadblock in the coming days…"
Some poison needles soared past, forcing the jet-platform to make a sharp turn. Antonin lost his footing and tumbled onto Exona. Exona caught him, a sharp sucking in of air the only indication that the collision hurt. She wrapped her arms around him, a burned, bloody hand brushing across his buzzcut. "Try to be a glass-half-full type for once, Antonin," Exona pleaded. "Vivian might be the heart of a future resistance against us, but Crisis was the heart of their everything. And I just ripped it out." A chuckle burbled through her bloodied lips. "We'll have succeeded in not only demoralizing the predators here, but ANYONE who'd rise against us and is looking at the Giant Tree right now. This part of the tree was a sanctuary for anyone Crisis called friend, and soon it'll be a charred ruin."
"Still, Exona, letting Vivian get away would be a huge tactical blunder," Antonin protested. "It was bad enough when Kai solicited her help and she left her easily-targeted waterfall, but now she…" The jet-platform lurched again as more spikes soared past. Perhaps I should return my attention to Noxcia in the meantime, he thought dourly.
"It's not just a question of whether or not we stamp out a potential threat, Antonin. It's whether we CAN at this juncture," said Exona. This time, an acid bite overshadowed her usual cheeriness and confidence. "I confess, I committed too little resources to the tree assault, out of concern of having enough forces in place for our next operation. There's a lot of injuries on our side, some critical. And this isn't the only jet-thingie that's in need of serious repairs. With me out of the picture, we're not in the best shape for a massive, final push, especially against Vivian. It'd be more prudent to pull back for now, and have fresh troops and jetbikes scour the area around the Giant Tree in a few hours."
Exona always has a way of getting people to do what she wants, Antonin realized. Antonin still remembered the vehemence in her voice that snapped him out of his torpor, back when they first met. Concern over the well-being of those under his command and having enough resources for his campaign…the things foremost on any good leader's mind. Still, Vivian was too dangerous to take chances with. "I cannot take the risk of Vivian slipping away, Exona, even if we can counter her illusions. How many other predators are with her? Are they in any shape to back her up?"
"Kai and Relina…let's just say this is a nice case of 'You should see the other preds,'" Exona replied with a sardonic sneer. "But it's not just a question of what resistance we'll face, Antonin. It's a question of timing for everything else. Let's face it, you getting captured and Brennan exposing me forced us to move up our timetable."
"The Giant Tree attack…it wasn't moved up by more than a couple of days," Antonin pointed out.
"But me killing Crisis was moved up big-time," Exona shot back sternly. "Our plan was for our forces to drive out this ragtag band of predators, see where they'd try to regroup, make my overtures to Brennan…and THEN kill Crisis. Brennan blowing my cover screwed up everything. On top of that, the plan was to have Crisis dead and Brennan with us just as we achieved our next big objective. Now, we must move fast, as Crisis's death will make the fairies like a bloodclaw ape swarm. ESPECIALLY the Valka Fae, who we now realize are probably MORE dangerous than the Crimson Maidens. And don't forget, THEY'VE been sniffing around too!"
Antonin sighed, finally seeing Exona's point. "So keep going while we have momentum on our side, at least until we're entrenched. And then, your little deterrent can keep any and all hostile fairies off our backs."
Exona ran her hand over his buzzcut again. "That's my Antonin. All I've ever had to was point you toward the surest path to victory, and you always storm down it."
Antonin smiled back. It was true. Ever since they first met, Exona proved to be the very reincarnation of the Ordenzli legend. From leading what remained of his unit through the jungle, to coaxing Paquxa into working with them, to bringing him Shandra and Imkza, and then building an intricate web of contacts and agents. Every step of the way, Exona complemented him, made him realize how far he could go…and made him see it was his destiny to make Delurah truly free.
Still, as he stood up and looked back out to Noxcia, it was hard to give the order. Thanks to weapon design pilfered right from the Isolon Fist, Noxcia had gotten in even worse shape over the last few minutes. Noxcia had a hand on one shoulder, burned and bloody, with smaller burns and lacerations covering a good part of her human half. Unsurprising, since she was probably more worried about shielding Fiona, now that he wasn't confronting her directly. On top of that, Noxcia moved more sluggishly than before, and sent out far fewer poison spikes. A few more minutes could bring that dridder down. But Exona made a lot of sense. They had committed too few resources, and timing was now far more critical.
After a reluctant sigh, Antonin walked up to the platform's cockpit. "Order all units to retreat and regroup from our launch point," he ordered, ignoring the confused looks. "And have teams on standby to relieve us and sweep the Giant Tree's perimeter in a few hours. Vivian is still a priority target."
They hesitated only a moment before relaying his orders to everyone else. A moment later, the platform's pilot, a young neko girl, veered hard to right, sailing right over Noxcia. The dridder clumsily reached up for the platform, but the pilot deftly swerved around her massive hand. A few more sharp swerves to avoid the spikes sent after them, and they were in the clear.
Antonin looked around as they made their way out of the tree. Even on the outskirts of where the conflict raged, blazes still roared, and charred bark stretched out as far as the eye could see. Antonin didn't exactly relish bringing such destruction, but to strike an emotional blow, there was no avoiding it. He needed any and all potential enemies demoralized, if only for another few weeks.
More jetbikes and jet-platforms, along with friendly fairies at human size, were converging as they made their exodus. As they all shot out from the burning branches and leaves and away from the tree, what remained of their infected harpies joined them. Belletia was even carrying Jade, and another was helping Imkza carry off Paquxa. A few had fallen, but like Exona said, far more had been held in reserve. Now freed from that cell, he could already sense the rest of his predator armada. Garnet and scores of harpies, many many miles to the southwest. All the personnel he would need for the final phases of their plan, he now had ready to strike. Except for…
Antonin walked back to the jet-platform's rear. "Exona, did you run into Dr. Brennan again?" Antonin asked without preamble. "Is there any indication she may change her mind?"
Exona's face fell a little, then she wiped away some blood that had pooled around her mouth. "She was there when I had that survival round. She saw me skewer Crisis. Considering she was always wary around Crisis, but…that either convinced her we're serious about making a better future for your kind, or drive her away permanently. I'm not sure. I was too busy fighting for my life to see the look on a single human's face."
"I see…" murmured Antonin. For all their plotting, they seemed no closer to getting the most desirable outcome. "And what of Anna?"
"Same story. She happened to see me fulfilling our debt to Velvet," Exona said, her voice full of regret. "But when I told her it was time to come home, that Delurah was to be hers to reshape…THAT seemed to spark something. We'll have to wait and see. With any luck, Aya and I not being with Brennan anymore won't be an issue. Anna may come to us with information instead."
Not much better of an answer, but it rekindled some hope. "Yes, you're right. Indeed, with some luck, at least one of the two will join us. Of course, BOTH would be preferable, as that would ease Imkza's workload…"
"Imkza will do whatever it takes, Antonin, you know that. She doesn't really care what job she gets at the end, so long as she gets to cause trouble." Exona gagged a little on her own blood again, but kept smiling. "Speaking of other people's workloads, General, I regret to inform you I won't be able to fulfill my combat duties for a few days. It's all on the rest of the Coalition."
Antonin smiled back. "So long as you can stand triumphantly with me after we secure our next target, all will be well."
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Vivian couldn't remember the last time she had to concentrate so hard. Her detractors…oh sure, they'd claim she was a layabout, no ambition, utterly incapable of putting forth needed effort. At times like that…who needed illusions, when people were so willing to believe what they wanted to?
Paquxa may have thought that, but there was no fooling Exona, Vivian thought darkly as she continued to trace patterns over Crisis's stab wound with her staff, weaving intricate wards. She clearly feared that I would be a thorn in her side later. Hopefully, Exona won't realize that though I'm not exactly a healer, there's more than one way to keep someone from dying after being run through.
It took intense concentration, more than she'd ever had to exert in recent memory. Vivian desperately tried not to look at Crisis's face, its pallor already hinting at the worst, lest such a horrific sight break her focus. They way Crisis was already so still…that didn't help matters either. With a will that Vivian was sure would impress even Kai, she forced herself to focus on nothing but getting these wards in place, securing them tightly enough until Crisis could be handed to Ajab or Noxcia. Her efforts had been so intense, she had barely noticed Relina flash-frying Exona. Moments later, after Exona had, unfortunately, slipped away, Vivian's focus returned to Crisis's wounds, and at first, was nearly oblivious to the other predators approaching her.
How long they all stood in circle around her, Vivian wasn't sure. It was Jora who found her voice first. "C-C-C-Crisis, is she really… Did Exona r-r-really?"
With a sigh, Vivian slung her staff over her shoulder. "No, she didn't succeed. Not if I wove my wards right…and I always weave my wards right." That was more to bolster her own confidence than anyone else's.
Vivian took a moment to look around. Jora, her face still betraying the shock they all felt, had most of those left behind in the alcove clinging to her shoulders, including Brennan and Booth, while Lily fluttered around her head. The rest were carefully cradled in her hands, held up to her stomach as she hobbled over with a hunch. Relina and Aurora were there too, the former leaning holding down on the small naga's shoulder for support. Alvar seemed to be taking Exona's sneaky escape well, but Kai was a slithering thundercloud as she slowly made her way over.
"I didn't need any help!" roared the swordsnaga. "I would've worn her down in a few more minutes, and she wouldn't've had a hope of escaping!"
"This isn't about you or Exona anymore," Alvar said sternly, unfazed by Kai's bellicosity. "We must worry about escaping ourselves. Assuming, of course, Crisis can even be moved."
Vivian felt rather than saw all eyes fall upon her and Crisis. "I…will have to carry Crisis myself. But, yes, we can move her. And Kai, you can retrieve your sword now."
Kai looked as dubious as she did thunderous. Still, after hesitating a good long moment, Kai knelt down. Vivian had to look away as Kai pulled her sword out from Crisis's abdomen, but the hideous schlurping sound alone almost made Vivian sick. Forcing herself to look back down, Vivian saw that, to her relief, barely a trickle of blood seeped from that gaping wound.
Lily voiced what Vivian knew everyone was thinking. "H-H-How in…how come Crisis isn't losing more blood!?"
"I was able to weave wards that essentially put a time-lock around Crisis. Just in time, too," Vivian said. Vivian's voice sounded shaky to her, the effort already draining her, but she hoped no one took notice. "Time w ill pass a whole lot slower in the aura I cast just around Crisis. This is only a stopgap measure, since I'm not quite good enough at healing for a wound like this. She'll need Noxcia or Ajab to have a chance. And soon."
"Sooner than you think." It took some time for Vivian to make out that voice. Looking over to Jora, she saw Temi trembling on her shoulder, beside herself with dread. Aya's betrayal was bad enough, but how it left her powerless when Crisis needed her most… "Exona didn't just single Crisis out, she knew how to make sure she would die…"
"Temi, I don't understand," said Brennan. "With the accelerating healing induced by Felarya's soil, and a healer's magic… In time, wouldn't Crisis be…"
"You're right, Dr. Brennan. You DON'T understand!" snapped Temi. "When Crisis was much younger, a tonorion stabbed her through the intestines, and she barely pulled through."
"Hang on…THAT'S the reason Crisis is phobic around those tonorion things?" asked Booth.
Temi nodded. "And the wound… It NEVER healed properly, despite the soil's healing ambience and my best efforts. Exona knew EXACTLY where to strike."
"Gotta hand it to Exona. She doesn't make her move until she's sure she'll cause the most damage," spat Relina, but there was still a faint hint of admiration for such a ruthless enemy. No doubt because the Valka Fae wanted another shot at her.
Kai snorted as she looked down at her sword. The sight of Crisis's blood on it nauseated her to no end. "So what now? All of you will do what you can for Crisis, but it'll be the same story with the Coalition and Exona. And I have a nasty feeling that frost sprite will have a speedier recovery."
Talking as if she stood apart from the rest of them, and sounding even more eager than Relina for a rematch. Vivian knew she was also a priority target for Exona because she feared not only her magic savvy and her brains, but the off-chance she could organize a true resistance among the predators. I guess I just have a way with people, Vivian thought to herself, trying to bolster her own confidence, a faint smile forming on her face. But already, their own shaky coalition was falling apart. She couldn't have Kai going solo just yet, for their sake as well as her own. "Let's not dwell on when we'll cross paths with Exona again, and let me worry about keeping Crisis time-locked. You've got a few nicks and bruises of your own that need to be looked at, Kai dear," she said teasingly. Kai snorted again as she sheathed her sword. Good. It never took much effort for me to get Kai riled and forget whatever she's fixated on. And because Kai knows full-well she'll need time to heal up herself, she won't argue. For now.
"But…where do we go?" asked Aurora. "I can sense fire creeping back in around here. My burrow's not quite big enough for everyone, and Chordoni Falls is probably the first place these guys will look for us."
"Knowing Exona and Garrardo, my waterfall hone is already burned to a cinder as well," Vivian said with a shaky laugh. "Milly's decision to evacuate the Alsumi is looking smarter by the minute. And Subeta's little underground dungeon, Kai's abandoned temple… Every place that one of the predators here is known to stay, the Coalition is either watching it or has already demolished it."
"That leaves us few options for a fallback spot, I take it?" Atreus shouted up from Jora's hands.
Vivian smiled down at the cute Iracal Islander. "Please, Atreus. You, me and Helia spent a good deal of time together before Kai slithered up. Unlike Kai here, I'm not shy about all the years I've been around. Years during which I've stumbled upon many places I can move, should Chordoni Falls ever prove uninhabitable." Ignoring Kai's scathing glare, Vivian glanced around at everyone else. A faint glimmer of hope was returning in their eyes, predator and prey alike. Encouraged, Vivian went on, beaming at them. "It's where I already told Ajab to meet us if the worst happened here. Noxcia, Malika, Yemic and some other fairies I knew I could trust…anyone I could inform in the scant time we had before the attack knows where to go."
"So…is it a place big enough for everyone to lie low? Give us a chance to figure out what Exona plans to do next?" asked Remus.
"Oh most definitely, Remus dear. It'll be the coziest place for a get-together you can imagine," said Vivian silkily. Vivian saw Remus shudder a little. Maybe now wasn't the best time to allude to their very…intimate first meeting. "Anyways, since both Noxcia and Ajab should be en route by now, we'll have a chance to get everyone healed up, and…"
"Vivian!? Oh, never thought I'd be so glad to see you!" Everyone turned to the sound of Anna's frosty, booming voice, but it didn't match the terrified look on her face. Vivian's insides clenched when she saw that Anna was carrying Katrika in her arms. The young naga's face, little more than mince… Vivian suspected she and the predators gathered around her weren't the only ones Exona went after personally.
"Oh great, don't tell me Exona had another victim," grumbled Jora, sharing Vivian's suspicions.
"H-H-How'd you know that, Jora? A-A-A-And what did you mean by 'another victim'?" Anna took a moment to look them all over. What surliness had remained in her expression swiftly melted away. Then her eyes fell on Crisis's tail, which wound its way around Jora and Alvar's feet. Eyes widening, Anna bolted toward them, shoving Alvar aside. Anna's gaze as she looked down at Crisis's still form…it wasn't quite rage, wasn't quite sorrow, but it DEFINITELY wasn't elation. Vivian could settle for that. "Exona did this?" It wasn't really a question. "And Vivian…you cast some spell to keep her from bleeding out, I take it?"
"Indeed. And I must get her to our fallback spot, and hope that one or both of our healers make it there before us." Vivian willed her staff to vanish, then hoisted Crisis up as Anna had with Katrika, needing both arms. Vivian could sense that the other predators were waiting on her, to see where she'd lead them. It was an encouraging thought.
Still, as much as Exona and Garrardo might dread her savvy, Vivian knew her guidance would only get them so far. Giving advice to good friends once in a while, sharing her vast knowledge… That was one thing, but this was a war. Vivian didn't have quite so much experience with that, especially one with political entanglements that spread from Negav to Kortiki Town. She doubted even seasoned warriors like Kai and Alvar did. No, she would need help herself, if she was truly going to make Exona and Garrardo pay. She needed people who could better understand this sort of thing. Perhaps people her friends had already come to when they were in over their heads….
Turning to Jora, Vivian glanced down at her shoulder. "Dr. Brennan, after what's just happened here, I can't ask you and your team to help more than you already have. But…this is something even I'm not really prepared for. Whatever help you six are still willing to give, we'll graciously accept."
Vivian wasn't quite sure what kind of answer to expect from the forensic anthropologist. None of her friends seemed quite sure what the horribly blunt human would do next, come to think of it. But Vivian certainly hadn't expected the answer she got. "What we're willing to do at this juncture is irrelevant, Vivian. If Exona and Garrardo's forces are watching the homes of every predator that came to the Giant Tree, they're probably keeping watch over the Ur-Sagol Dimensional Gate as well. In the event you try to whisk us back to Earth, Exona would have an ambush set."
Vivian knew Brennan hadn't meant it, but that assessment cut deep. "I…hadn't even considered that," she said meekly. Her face fell a little, but then Vivian realized something. Brennan believed that only by crushing Exona and Garrardo's army could they safely be returned home. The partnership between her predator friends and Brennan's team had been a shaky one, and this new predicament was hardly an improvement. But it would have to do.
The acrid smell of burning wood wafted up into Vivian's nostrils. A quick glance around showed that, indeed, without Exona blowing her cold air everywhere, the blaze was creeping back. "Come on everyone. The fires consuming these parts of the tree will burn themselves out. Let's leave before that happens." And with that, Vivian pushed past Relina and Aurora, waiting for everyone to follow. For a fleeting moment, Vivian feared that some, especially Kai, might go their own way.
Hope swelled in Vivian's heart again when she glanced over her shoulder, and saw all the predators were following. And the prey being carried by Jora…not a hint of reluctance on any of their faces.
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With the murder epidemic now behind them, the other Magiocrats could have been forgiven for thinking things would improve in Negav. Wishful thinking. DANGEROUS wishful thinking, Alastazia Lesona fumed inwardly, embarrassed for her fellow Magiocrats. Lesona had held little such hope. Though it came as no surprise to her that things had actually WORSENED, it was no less galling.
It was bad enough that the killer was connected to the Magiocrats. That sort of thing always reflected poorly on those in power. But one of her Saidakin being outed was a double-whammy: Saidakin were supposed to be undyingly loyal, and no Magiocrat was supposed to even acknowledge they EXISTED. Combine that with the rumors of collaboration with predators, not helped by that twit Exona parading around the University of Magic, and the Magiocrats had a perfect storm. A storm in which rumors and whispered fears swept around with destructive force.
Lesona's informants had already let her know of what they overheard in the Middle and Lower Tiers. People asking each other how far this new connection to predators went. If they could even trust the Isolon Fist and Vishmitals anymore, and whether they still wouldn't come to blows. And what one ordinary citizen dared say aloud, dozens more contemplated in private. And so, it came as no surprise when this boiled over, and anxiety spurred misguided action…
Worst of all was the knowledge that this was what General Garrardo wanted. One of his favorite fairies was also killed during infighting. It wouldn't have surprised her in the least if Garrardo had somehow manipulated events to not only get that traitor Malhor exposed, but ensure the fallout worked to his advantage. After all, faced with such a scenario, such opportunity…it's what I would do, Lesona reminded herself.
The ironic thing was that, perhaps under different circumstances, Lesona could actually respect Garrardo as an equal. A worthy adversary with cunning to rival her own. But any such thoughts always went out the window when reminded of the untold damage he was doing to Negav. Lesona knew she was cold-blooded and ruthless, but she eschewed causing widespread panic and destabilization. Such things had a way of catching up with you. Subtler methods that avoided such chaos were usually a safer bet.
But Garrardo was causing one catastrophe after another here in Negav alone, and who knew what he was doing out in the rest of Felarya. It sickened Lesona to no end, how this Deluran upstart seemed to cause one calamity after another with wild abandon, and STILL get closer to his goals!
Of course, destabilizing my city will certainly work in his favor, Lesona noted. The more divided and conflicted we are, the easier it is for Garrardo to make his move, whatever it is. Not hearing anything else from Booth and Brennan about being handed Garrardo was also vexing, but as Lesona looked down at the desk in her private study, she was reminded of her more immediate concerns.
Several scrolls on which incident reports were written were spread out, and more kept pouring in as the day went on. Constant, bloody clashes between the denizens of the Pit and Skyless City and the Lower Tier's police forces.Vandalizations everywhere, from the Hydromancers' Guld to the hall of the University of Magic itself. The Street of Red Flowers torched by arsonists… The list just grew and grew. The Magiocrats had long assumed that control of the Isolon Eye would ensure unchallenged dominance, that any discontent could never spill over into open revolt. Another foolish hope, one that Lesona once actually did entertain. And now, Garrardo had crushed that hope underfoot.
What's your endgame, Garrardo!? Lesona wondered silently. According to Dr. Brennan, 'liberating' your own country is your primary concern. What does helping some malcontents in mine achieve some petty revenge get YOU!? What's in Negav that you REALLY want!? There were puzzle pieces here that she was missing, things even Brennan failed to elucidate. Oh, this Garrardo may indeed sympathize with the downtrodden and disillusioned here and over in Nekomura. But Lesona grudgingly admitted she and Garrardo were a lot alike. And schemers like them…they didn't plot against a city-state as powerful as Negav out of the goodness of their hearts. No, there's some bigger payoff that comes with taking down my city. You can't trick a trickster, Garrardo. All I have to do is figure out what it is you're after, and then maybe…
Lesona's train of thought was interrupted when the door to her study slammed open. Lesona looked up from her scrolls, glaring at Baltazhar and Lady Seluvine. "Lady Lesona, please pardon the interruption, but…we've received field reports from Isolon Fists units on long-range reconnaissance missions," Baltazhar breathlessly blurted out without preamble. "Basically, every unit we have that's north of the Ascarlin Mountains is sending us the same message."
As if she didn't have enough to worry about here in Negav. Now Garrardo's forces were causing havoc again in the rest of Felarya. "What've the Deluran's predator lackeys instigated this time?" Lesona demanded, her voice ice.
"We're…not sure it has any connection to Garrardo yet," said Seluvine. "But…the Giant Tree, it's giving off, well…"
"Spit. It. Out." Lesona's patience had already been worn dangerously thin.
"Smoke, Lady Lesona. A b-b-billowing plume of smoke from one section of the Giant Tree. It can be seen for hundreds of miles," said Seluvine, making a visible effort to keep a regal air.
It vanished the instant Lesona shot up from her chair. "And you DOUBT that the Deluran is behind that!? The general's predator friends clearly went to rescue him, and weren't shy about repaying Crisis and her friends for their hospitality while they were at it!" Lesona didn't know which steamed her up more. The loss of any chance of figuring out what Garrardo wanted in Negav anytime soon, or the naïveté of her fellow Magiocrats.
"W-W-We can still play this to our advantage, Lady Lesona," Baltazhar said quickly. "Learning that Crisis and several of her close friends are possibly dead may bolster morale. And then…"
Lesona shot up from her chair, fighting the urge to knock Baltazhar to the floor. "You FOOL, Baltazhar! Our biggest problems right now are right here, not out there! And I'd sooner see a hundred more like Crisis loosed upon the jungle than have Garrardo get one step closer to his goal! Any hope of interrogating Garrardo ourselves just went down a dridder's gullet, and also, perhaps any hope of further help from Dr. Brennan!"
Baltazhar gazed back at Lesona in shock. She immediately regretted her outburst. Losing control like this was a sign of weakness, something she dare not show now. Slowly manipulating events among her peers via curses was her preferred method anyway.
After a long, painful silence, Seluvine spoke up again. "What…should we do in response, Lady Lesona?"
"See to it that every available unit within a few hundred miles is sent to investigate the Giant Tree's perimeter. Assess what went down," said Lesona coolly, her self-control quickly returning. "If they happen upon known friends of Crisis that may be open to reason, they are to approach them and offer assistance."
"Open a dialogue, with PREDATORS!? Out in the middle of Felarya!?" scoffed Baltazhar.
"These are strange times, Baltazhar. And our citizens already suspect widespread collaboration with predators, and will cling to such beliefs no matter what we do," said Lesona. "So we might as well just throw off all pretense. We have a common enemy now. Better we hold our noses and help predators out there, before Garrardo comes for US. Relay the orders, Baltazhar. In the meantime, I'll have the Saidakin mobilized."
"Is that a good idea, so soon after Malhor's betrayal?" asked Seluvine delicately.
"If you know of any force that can cover enough ground to give us a speedier sit-rep, I'm listening," Lesona bit back. "You two have your instructions. Now carry them out."
Seluvine and Baltazhar quickly bowed and clambered out of her study, leaving the leader of the Magiocrats in uncomfortable silence again. She was about to summon her magic to relay messages to all the recalled Saidakin, but suddenly recalled something else. Reaching into the pockets of her dress, Lesona pulled out Booth's phone. Glancing at the screen, it flashed the words NO SERVICE back at Lesona. Growling, Lesona shoved it back in her pocket. Quickly getting back in contact with Brennan's team…another hope cruelly dashed. As much as I loathed her bluntness and arrogance, Brennan is still probably my best bet of coming out of this fiasco on top, Lesona silently admitted. Here's hoping she somehow survives whatever Felarya throws at her next.
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Felarya character credits:
Crisis, Anna Demorah, Vivian, Temi, Léa, Lily, Belletia, Melany, Subeta, Aya, Frerik Mezzus, Alastazia Lesona, Zil, Gramon Baltazhar, Alvar, Anko, Thas Voidfingers, Myreli Seluvine, Ramtov Telekline and Queen Nemyra belong to Karbo
Milly, Isham, Elia, Calina, Lucilya, Yemic, Jissy, Roshan, Ajab, Tina, Joanna, Tan, Pal Sebrit, Palaye, Rajan Dyab and Chol belong to FrenchSnack
Remus vir Patstriker, Xanthe, Ciel, Meringue, Nicholai Vardamis and Batten belong to NickInAmerica
Jora Fenderen, Jade and Tanny belong to Ravana3K
Noxcia, Malika and Relina belong to turboman500
Nikita, Aniya and Yuri Nikalavich belong to Tora044
Katrika and Velvet belong to Zoekin3
Milia Moonleith and Zycra Zordford belong to vaderaz
Seliky Serela and Aurora belong to kikijonson
Helia and Atreus Karminari belong to Heavenless-Star/TheLightLost
Fiona belongs to rcs169
Kai Roga Mayin belongs to JiroKatsu
Garnet belongs to Petite-Emi
Zarynia belongs to AndurilWielder
Exona, Antonin Garrardo, Imkza, Paquxa and Shandra belong to yours truly, Grey-X