"I am Sireah. Queen of Meera." Kaori remained silent for a moment, staring up at the being. She was a Queen! Royalty. Kaori had to stop and think for a moment; she wasn't sure what to do around royalty. However, one question glared in her mind.

"Um… Miss Sirea… if you're the Queen… then why did you attack the other meera…?" The meeran queen didn't even hesitate.

"Difficult matters," she said. "You travel with Arbiter. One who wields the Ragnarok, yes?"

Kaori nodded. Sireah must have seen the sword…

"Then time is short." Sireah looked to the floor, one of her hands on her chin as if in deep thought. "You can fight?" she asked, after a while. It caught Kaori a little off guard.

"F-fight? Um… yes…" She held up her bow – the one entrusted to her by Kaela – and nodded.

"Good. Then you help. Merra have your friends prisoner-"

"Hold up. I thought you were their Queen?" Sireah sighed.

"They under control of Malacath. Not my own anymore." She met Kaori's eyes with hers, and that seemed to quell any other argument. "It was like this since he came. I was shunted out, betrayed. Now, revenge. We will free your friends, and I will have my revenge." Silence ensued once more, before Kaori dipped her head, and nodded.

"First, we plan. Scout. Foolish to attack now. Soon, though, we will. You must be ready to kill, girl." Sireah glanced up to Kaori now, to confirm that she'd be able to support her.

"Kaori Aida."

"Hm?" Sireah cocked her head to the side.

"My name is Kaori Aida, not 'girl'."

--

"God damnit, we're prisoners again!" It was Tomo's annoyed outburst that brought Sakaki back to the conscious world. She quickly realized that Tomo was right, and that the presence she had come to recognize as that of the sword Ragnarok, was gone. "I can't believe this! Some heroes you guys are..."

"Shut it, Tomo, you're in here too you know!"

"So? There's eight of you and one of me. Figure it out!"

"What does that even mean?!" Looking around, Sakaki found that she was in a small cage, much like a birdcage, suspended several feet above the ground. The others were all in the same predicament, their cages hung by thick rope in a semi-circle around the forest clearing. Chiyo, Yomi, Tomo, Yukari, Ayumu, Minamo, and Kagura; all had been stripped of their weapons and armor, all of which was in a large pile in the center of the clearing. But one thing was missing...

"Where's Kaori...?" Sakaki asked, speaking up for the first time.

"I didn't see her when I came to," Kagura replied. "And I was the first to awake. So, either she woke up before all of us and escaped before the cat-creatures captured us... or she's buried beneath the rubble..." Sakaki nodded grimly. None of them wished that fate upon their friend, but there wasn't much they could do at the moment.

"Hey guys... they're coming back..." Chiyo announced, almost at a whisper. Sure enough, six cat-people warriors entered the clearing, and took up defensive positions near the cages. This was, of course, the first time Sakaki had seen them. Had they not been carrying weapons and sneering, they might have been cute.

After all six had taken their positions, one more entered. This one was female (the others were very obviously male), and wore a red headband and arm bands, signifying her as some sort of leader. She was also different from the others, in that her fur was all one color, solid black, whereas theirs all had patterns.

The black-furred catwoman circled the clearing once, eyeing each of the captives with her yellow eyes. She stopped finally at Sakaki, and grinned. At least, that's what Sakaki figured it was.

"You are Arbiter, yes?" She spoke with a thick native accent, in a partly raspy voice, almost like she was half-hissing at the same time. Sakaki simply met her stare with one of equal malice, though she did not answer. The catwoman smirked, and headed to the pile of weapons. A small smile came to Sakaki's face. She knew what the cat was looking for, and what would happen when she found it...

However, to everyone's surprise, the catwoman pulled Ragnarok from it's sheath with ease, and walked back to face Sakaki. She appeared to be unaffected by the same shock Kaori – rather, everyone but Sakaki – received when they tried to wield the weapon.

"It is a mighty sword," she said, holding the blade vertical before her. "Powerful... the bane of all evil, yes?" She let out a light chuckle. "Pity it is useless while you are captive, Arbiter." The catwoman inspected the sword a moment longer, before returning it to it's sheath, and then to the pile. Then, she gave each girl one last look, before starting out of the clearing. However, that was when she seemed to pick up on something.

The catwoman did a double take, and scanned the prisoners again. Then, with an angry yell, she addressed the nearest warrior. She spoke quickly, in her native tongue. The unfortunate victim seemed visibly terrified as he answered in a somewhat shaky voice. After hearing whatever it was he had to say, the catwoman sneered again, and started heading back towards Sakaki.

Before she could get halfway, however, another warrior burst into the clearing and spoke with what seemed like great urgency. The catwoman was very surprised at whatever his announcement, and when it was done, she fired off a series of quick commands. Then, all at once, the cat woman left the clearing, leaving the girls guarded by six warriors.

--

"Only small amount is needed, and only small cut," Sireah instructed. "We do not want to kill, only incapacitate. If possible." The catwoman crouched on a high branch of a large tree beside Kaori, near the edge of the central Meeran village. Sireah had spent most of the day mixing a powerful sedative, almost strong enough to be called a poison, and that is what the two of them were to use. As it turned out, Sireah was also skilled with a bow of her own, which she now pulled off her back. The forsaken queen also took out one of her arrows – much shorter than Kaori's, as was her bow – and quickly dipped it in the small pouch that contained the viscous concoction.

Sireah then notched the arrow, took aim at the first Meeran warrior that passed by, and let the arrow fly. From her vantage point, Kaori couldn't even tell if it was a hit or not; it didn't even seem to have scratched the warrior. However, a moment after the arrow stuck into the ground behind him, the warrior let out a sharp his and stumbled forward a few steps, clutching the back of his right thigh. He seemed about ready to shout an alarm when he spotted the arrow, but before he could, he simply collapsed forward, completely unconscious. Kaori cast a glance down to the pouch secured to her belt.

"Whoa… pretty potent stuff…" She made sure that it was fastened tightly. "Plan?"

"You go right. Your friends will be a short distance from the village in a clearing. That is where we – they – keep prisoners. I draw the guards away with distraction. Once they free, you flee the forest."

"But what about you?" Kaori replied.

"You. Flee." Kaori was about to plead for the queen to come with her, but she saw the look in her eyes. Determination, resolve… regret? Either way, Kaori realized there would be no convincing her otherwise. Kaori let out a short sigh and looked away for a moment.

"Good luck. And thank you, Sireah." The two locked eyes again, before Kaori slid down a nearby vine to the forest floor, and headed off in the indicated direction.

--

A thought ran through Sakaki's mind – why didn't Ayumu, Minamo, or Yukari use their magic to escape. Then she remembered, that question had been answered earlier. Some form of enchantment had been placed on the cages, which nullified any magic from both the inside or outside. A clever trick, though Sakaki couldn't remember seeing a sorcerer, or sorceress around.

The group did not have to wait long for the action to come to them, however. Just as Tomo was about to speak up again, a single arrow whistled out of the undergrowth of the forest, and skimmed one of the guard's arms. The creature only had time to sneer before he crumpled to the ground. The other five were instantly alert, scanning the edges of the clearing for their assailant. A second arrow flew from a different direction, dropping a second guard. Two more fell to the same fate, leaving only two remaining. They grouped together near the pile of weapons and armor in the center of the clearing.

At this point, Sakaki believed the Resistance must have sent out a team to help them. Everyone else had a similar thought in mind. So, when Kaori emerged from the tree-line, and dispatched the remaining two Meeran warriors with glancing blows – the same that had dropped all the others – everyone was caught completely off guard.

"Kaori! You're alright!" Sakaki exclaimed, as shte shorter girl scanned the clearing with an arrow drawn. Once she was sure it was safe, Kaori spoke her answer.

"Yeah… I'm fine." Kaori quickly made her way over to Sakaki's cage. She used her knife to cut the rope that held it up. As a result, the cage, and Sakaki, came crashing down. The cage was unable to withstand the force of the drop, which caused it to break open enough for it's occupant to climb out.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" Kaori exclaimed, as she wrapped her arms around Sakaki tightly. Sakaki was taken aback, and even blushed a little, but her eyes wandered back to what still needed to be done.

"K-Kaori… the others…"

"Oh… Right, sorry…" Kaori, blushing furiously, released the taller girl and headed to the next cage to release Kagura. Sakaki quickly retrieved Ragnarok from the pile of weaponry, and strapped the scabbard to her back, and felt the familiar presence return to the back of her mind as she pulled the blade from its sheath. After taking a moment to inspect the bare blade, Sakaki started at the other end of the ring of cages.

Once the two girls realized the ropes could just be untied, releasing their friends became a whole lot less traumatizing. So, a few minutes later, everyone was free, and rearmed with their preferred weapons.

"So tell us, Kaorin, how'd you do it?" Tomo demanded, tightening the belt that held her swords.

"Well, I had some help… Sireah, a catwoman like them," she said, gesturing at the fallen warriors. "She's apparently their queen or something."

"Wait… while we were captice, we got interrogated by the Queen…" Yomi scratched her head. "One of them's lying."

"In any case, Sireah went to the main village to hold them off, and cause a distraction so I could get here. Those I shot aren't dead, only unconscious." It was then that Kaori turned and started off in the direction the 'Queen' had taken a while earlier.

"Wait, where are you going?" Tomo asked. "We gotta get going before those creatures come back for us!"

"I'm not leaving her there to die!" Kaori replied, desperation in her voice. "She saved my life. I owe her that much." Without leaving any room for more argument, she ran off down the small path, leaving the others to make their decision. Sakaki was first to come to a conclusion.

"I'm going," she announced, and a moment later, all eight were heading down the path as well.

--

"Sorya."

"Sireah…"

Two catwomen, clothed only in matching red armbands and headbands circled each other in the center of the village. A ring of Meeran warriors surrounded them, unsure of what to do. The black furred on, Sorya, was the current reigning Queen, while Sireah was the previous one, ousted, apparently, by Sorya.

"Don't expect to live through this," Sorya said, holding her spear at the ready.

"I don't. I only plan to kill you first," Sireah countered, sneering. The leopard-furred Meera held her own spear in a much more aggressive stance, displaying more obvious skill than her opponent. She then launched herself at Sorya, closing the distance nigh instantly just as Kaori burst through the tree line with the others close behind. They were immediately surrounded by the Meeran warriors, but Yukari and Minamo covered that. They put on a brief display of their powers, causing the Meera to keep their distance.

"Sireah!" Kaori called out. The two Queens separated from each other, both breathing heavily. They both had wounds as well, though Sorya's were more numerous.

"I told you not to come back!" Sireah replied, keeping her eyes on Sorya.

"Stay out of this!" Sorya hissed. She then turned towards the girls and, in a blur of motion, hurled the spear at Kaori, catching everyone off guard. Everyone except Yukari, however, who stepped in between Kaori and the missile with a raised hand. Instead of hitting her, the weapon instead burst into flames, and all that hit her was a small cloud of ash. In retaliation, she formed a fireball in the other hand, and threw it at the black furred Meera.

Again catching everyone off guard, Sorya raised her own hand into the path of the new projectile. The moment it connected with the palm of her hand, it disappeared with a slight hissing sound, and she closed her hand afterwards.

"Meera cannot use magic…" Sireah said, slowly, as she studied the other in a new light. "Nor can we dispel it." The Meeran warriors who, a moment ago, had been focusing on Sireah and the girls as their enemy, turned to face Sorya.

"What? Sireah, what does this mean?" Kaori asked from the sidelines.

"She is not Meera," Sireah replied, calmly, as if she had always known. "I knew this from the start, but I had no way to prove it. Her scent is strange, not Meeran, but that can be masked or altered; not enough proof."

At this point, everyone was confused. It made sense what Sireah was saying, since Sorya dispelled the fireball, and was able to wield Ragnarok without receiving a shock, through some sort of spell most likely. The only issue was that she looked Meeran. It didn't add up.

"You lie!" Sorya hissed, though it seemed even she knew it was futile. She briefly looked around the ring of warriors, leaving a tiny opening that Sireah pounced on, literally. She lunged forward, quickly pinning the black furred imposter.

"What are you?" she demanded. Sorya looked her in the eye, and all of a sudden, her expression changed. She grinned. Then, before anyone could react, Sireah was blasted backwards by a powerful pulse of purple energy, emanating from the space between her and Sorya. She landed a good 15 feet back, her fur lightly smoking. She writhed on the ground for a moment, clearly in great pain, before she was able to at least roll onto her side.

"Well, it seems I've overstayed my welcome…" The voice came from Sorya, yet the heavy Meeran accent was absent. She sounded normal, human, though a little sarcastic. All eyes went back to her as she stood, dusting herself off. She no longer even acted Meeran, ignoring all of the mannerisms everyone had come to recognize as a staple of the race. "Too bad. It was kinda fun while it lasted."

"I'm confused… who the hell is she?" Yukari demanded, scratching her head.

Sorya smirked. "I don't see why I should answer that, Yukari. You weren't very cooperative earlier, after all.

"How did she know my name…?"

"She can use magic." The voice was Sireah's. She had struggled to her feet, clutching her burnt side.

"The cat is correct, though, my power is limited in this form…" Sorya cleared her throat. She then pressed the palms of her hands together, and a bright purple light engulfed her, so bright that it forced everyone to look away or be blinded. Once the light dimmed, there was no longer a black furred Meera standing there, but instead a woman with shoulder length black hair, golden eyes, and a face that Kaori recognized instantly. The woman wore a black form-fitting suit of light armor, made of leather most likely, and a blood red cloak over top.

"Kaela…?" Kaori whispered. The woman let out a short laugh, apparently having heard her. Everyone could see the resemblance; Sorya looked exactly like their departed friend and ally, Kaela Kotone.

"Ah, so you have met my sister. Pity that… she met her end fighting for a lost cause."

"You mean…?"

"My full name is Sorya Kotone, child. Kaela was my twin sister, in blood only. The only thing I regret about her death is that I was not the one to cause it." She was serious, and the look on her face was testament to that.

"You hate your sister that much? Why? You're family!" Chiyo cried out.

"As I said, in blood only. She and I were completely different. The good twin, and the evil twin, if you will. She, and her parents were too soft, and that is why they are dead. So, I left. I wiped their memories before I did, many years before Kaela left. As far as any of them knew, Kaela was an only child."

"That's horrible."

"I don't have the time nor patience to be lectured by you brats. So, if you please, go ahead and die." Sorya raised her right hand, aiming it at the group. A fist sized ball of purple energy shot forward like a bullet – magic, in its purest form. The pulse was aimed at Chiyo, in the center of the group. However, before it could have its desired effect, the pulse was intercepted by the gleaming blade of Ragnarok. The sword sliced through the energy, causing it to break apart like shattered glass. Sakaki then lunged at the sorceress, swinging Ragnarok high over her right shoulder.

Sorya was seemingly not surprised by the turn of events; she seemed to have expected it. Another orb formed in her left hand, and she raised it to meet Sakaki's powerful vertical chop. Sword met energy with a loud crackle and flash of light, and when it dimmed, the two women were in a deadlock. Unlike the previous ball of energy, this one had not shattered, but instead stalled Ragnarok. Purple energy crackled around the spot where both met.

"You are indeed an interesting specimen, Sakaki Reiko," Sorya said. She leaned forward, so her face was mere inches from Sakaki's, as she held the mythical sword at bay to her left. "You will provide an entertaining hunt. Beware the next time we meet, Arbiter."

Then, Sorya shoved Sakaki back, and vanished in a bright flash of violet light, leaving behind nothing to mark her presence…

--

Author's Notes: Yes, I haven't completely given up writing, though it did seem like it for a while. Call it a slump or whatever, but coming up with good chapters that I like has taken forever. Now, at least, I'm getting stuff I like. You should see updates to my other stories soon as well.

Now, for the story related stuff:

OH NOES! Kaela has a sister! WHO SAW THAT COMING? Not me!