(several hours earlier:)

When Sarita returned to the salvage yard, she found that the guys still were not back yet. It was sometime in the early morning, the sun still several hours from rising, and she was tired from the long day and night, but it was more the fatigue from worry about her friend and from what she had learned over the past 20 hours that wore her down so much. Going upstairs to the apartment, the jaguar shifted up to her sokto form as she entered the bedroom that she currently shared with her mate.

She immediately walked over to crib beside the bed to check on her two kittens. The small cubs were thankfully still asleep, curled up against each other. Sarita sighed with relief as she wearily sat down on the bed. The warrior werecat had been in difficult situations many times before, but it had been a long time since her own family was threatened, and the news that she had received today from both the werejackal and that snake-kat had her greatly concerned for the safety of her pride. Though Jake and Chance were quite capable of handling the many difficult situations that their 'job' as the Swat Kats put them in, as was Felina for being in the Enforcers, Sarita knew that they were still only mortals and stood little real chance against the building power of the evil supernaturals.

She lay down on the bed, resting on her stomach with her arms folded beneath the pillow under her head. She closed her eyes, but was unable to get to sleep as her mind refused to let go of everything that she had seen and heard recently. A large group of six Fallen Killi were now in Megakat City working with the vampires, Nakela had been forced into the Black Spiral labyrinth and was most likely fully turned now, if she was even still alive, and that bitch blood-sucker Moira had even somehow gotten a hold of her own blood and tried to get Dr. Viper to make a virus capable of affecting her and her kits. Worse, the snake-kat had even attempted to make the virus, only contacting her about it after he had realized that it was an impossibility.

About a half hour later, her ears flicked as she heard the door to the bedroom slowly open. Her body reflexively tensed for sudden action, but she relaxed again almost instantly as she caught the familiar comforting scent of her mate. Just as she had done, the first thing that Chance did when he entered was walk over to the crib to check on Kayin and Mateo. The attack on the Den Realm and the kitnapping of their kittens had devastated and enraged the kat as much as it did her. Chance was a bit calmer now that Kayin was back, but he was still greatly hurting, as was Sarita, that they still knew nothing of their daughter, Neema.

Chance smiled softly as he looked down at his sleeping sons, then over at the bed to where his lover rested. He knew that she wasn't asleep because her body was still too tense. Quietly, not wanting to wake the kits, he stripped down and slowly moved onto the bed, laying beside the spotted female. The tabby gently put an arm over her back as he leaned in closely to her, whispering softly.

"Hey beautiful... You alright?"

"I'm just worried... about everything... I... I fear we may have lost Nakela."

"We'll get her back. And Neema. No matter how long it takes, we'll find a way to get them back, and make that damned leech pay for everything she's done."

"I know that. But that's not what concerns me. The other Fallen I told you about... they're making her into one of them."

"Nakela would never serve that damned vampire..."

"Not as she is, no. But when a Killi falls to the Unmaker... She's already been possessed by an Asura, and it's corrupting her. Even in the short amount of time I had the mental link open with her, I could feel it. I was hoping that if we could somehow get her out of there quickly enough, the spirit could be exorcised and she could be cleansed... but now it's too late..."

"What do you mean? We can't give up on her now..."

"I'm not simply giving up, Chance. I'm telling you it's too late. The Fallen ones, they've forced her into the jaws of the Unmaker himself. I didn't learn about it until it was too late to stop it. If she even survived, she's now one of them..."

Chance gave a deep sigh, closing his eyes. Nakela and Sarita had been lovers for many years, and he had even been with her himself. He cared for the dragon, but he knew that this news would be the most devastating to Jake. Jake and Nakela had been lovers for quite a while now, and Chance knew that they both greatly cared for each other, even if Nakela claimed that she wasn't capable of actual love.

"You're sure there's nothing we can do?"

"Nothing that I know of. As I said, if it were just the Asura, then there was still a possibility, however small. But now..."

"I'm sorry, Love. I really am..."

He rubbed his strong hand gently but firmly across her shoulders and upper back, trying to relax his tense mate. Sarita's muscles were nearly always so tight that it seemed as if she would explode into action at any moment, which was partially the case in the Hellcat who was so used to life-threatening danger nearly every single moment of her life. Sar rarely relaxed, and it's been even worse the past few days since the attack on her Den Realm.

Chance felt her shiver ever so slightly beneath his hand. He propped himself up on his elbows so that he could now use both hands to firmly massage her shoulders, neck, arms, and back. At first she almost seemed to tense up even more, if that was even possible, but then she relaxed somewhat as she titled her head down to arch her back and shoulders up into his touch. Sarita gave a soft groan as she began to allow the tenseness of her muscles to dissipate, and her own rapid thoughts finally began to quiet as she focused only on the pleasure of her lover's firm hands.

The tabby ran his hands down her sides to her waist as he leaned over her, pressing his bare chest lightly against her back and leaning in to gently kiss across her neck and shoulders. His life was normally very hectic and dangerous simply from being a Swat Kat, but since the appearance of the vampires and werebeasts more than a year ago, things had become even more stressful. Lately it seemed that the only times he was able to fully relax and put aside the stress of his life was when he was with his mate. It had been a while since he had made love to her, since the second trimester of her pregnancy, and he greatly missed the feel of his lover's passionate embrace. Sar apparently felt the same way as she slowly rolled over onto her back and ran her own hands up Chance's sides and across his strong shoulders.

Chance kissed his mate deeply and passionately, which she hungrily returned. He could feel the warmth of her firm body beneath him as she arched her back, pressing herself up against him. He began to slowly kiss and lick his way down her chin and neck to her chest. Sar tilted her head back and moaned softly in pleasure. Her small red top had a golden hoop clasp in the front of it rather than the back, and Chance gently released it, letting the crimson cloth fall away to her sides. The spotted female shivered with pleasure as he began to lick and caress her breasts. She groaned softly as he continued to lick and nip, but then Sar clenched her eyes shut as felt her chest tightening

"Love... I'm still..."

Chance opened his eyes in surprise at the sudden taste of the warm fluid in his mouth. He gently licked it away from her skin then wiped the remaining droplets off of his chin with the back of one arm.

"Oh... Lactating... Uh, sorry..."

She laughed lightly as he moved back up her body to kiss her lips again, his hands caressing her sides and waist. He then again began to kiss passionately back down her body, moving now further down as he gently pushed her skirt down off her hips and down her legs. Once the garment fell to the floor, Sar spread her legs, lifting her knees to brace herself more firmly. Another shudder wracked her body as she then felt his tounge within her. Sar felt her entire body flush warmly at the sensation and she moaned out even more loudly, her entire spine arched up in pure pleasure. Her heart was pounding within her chest and she was breathing hard and deep.

After nearly a minute, Chance made his way back up her body once again, and as he did so she then wrapped her legs around his hips as he pressed his own body firmly against hers. Sarita could feel her mate's large maleness, now completely hard, rubbing against her, and she tightened her thighs around him, pulling him even closer to her. Chance then gently slid into her and began to move within her, slowly but firmly. Sarita's heart was pounding even faster as she moved with her lover, gasping and moaning in pure ecstasy from the feeling that she had missed these past several months just as much as he had.

Chance groaned as he continued to push harder and deeper into his mate, and he could feel the tightening. Sarita could feel it too and she hissed at the feeling, clenching her teeth. They both reflexively yelled out in pleasure as Chance finally climaxed into his lover. Both were breathing hard and they could feel each other's heartbeats strong and fast. Unfortunately though, their yells of pleasure frightened the two tiny kittens awake, and the recent trauma still fresh in their young minds. Both kits began calling out in surprise and fear, not know what had just happened. Sar groaned and Chance winced, looking over at the crib at the noise.

"Oops..."

As the spotted werecat gave a soft laugh, her mate gently pulled away from her, and then got up and walked over to the crib. Reaching down, Chance carefully lifted up the two crying kittens, holding them gently in his strong arms.

"Easy... it's okay boys... There's nothing to be afraid of... Daddy's here. You're safe."

The two cubs calmed down a bit at their father's soothing voice, curling up against him as he carried them back over to the bed. Sarita smiled gently as she moved over, turning over onto her side. Chance gently set the kits down then laid down on his side as well, facing his mate and sons. The two kittens curled up tightly in between their parents for comfort as Chance gently rested an arm over them and across Sarita's side and shoulder. The werejaguar's gentle voice began to calm and sooth her two young sons as she began to sing softly. Chance smiled as he watched her, her own deep blue eyes watching the kittens as she sang. Even though the tabby didn't understand the language in which his mate sang, the song itself was very soft and gentle, as was her voice. It wasn't long before Kayin and Mateo soon fell asleep again, and their parents soon fell asleep as well, finally calmed and relaxed as they curled up together with their sons.

.

Sarita slowly opened her eyes as a ray of morning light found it's way through the ragged curtains to shine against her face. Looking around, she could see that she was now alone in the bedroom. Chance had obviously awoke before she did, and had apparently taken the kits as well, careful not to wake her. Sarita sat up slowly and looked over at the clock. It was late morning, and she knew that Chance and Jake would have already opened the garage over an hour ago.

The werejaguar put her clothes back on, smiling to herself at remembering the night before, then stood and stretched her entire body as far as her lean muscles would go. Moving quietly, she made her way back out of the bedroom and into the main living area of the apartment. In the kitchen were the obvious signs of the guys' quick breakfast and morning coffee, plus the obvious feeding of the kits. Sarita was glad that they were now on a weaning diet of raw meat mixed with formula, since their tiny teeth were getting quiet sharp.

Her ears flicked at the sound of grinding metal coming from down the stairs in the garage. Moving over toward the stairs, she slowly made her way down them, stopping about half-way once she was able to see fully into the large garage. Chance and Jake were in their work clothes, covered in oil and grease already, working on the car that they had started on yesterday. The engine on the rust-red car was in poor shape and they had to get a few replacement parts before they could do any real repairs. She of course knew absolutely nothing about vehicles, or machinery of any kind.

Continuing down, she walked over to where the playpen had been set at the back wall of the break room, well away from all the heavy equipment. Kayin and Mateo were now fully awake, rough-housing with each other in the soft-sided confines of the covered playpen. Sarita smiled as she watched her boys for a moment, then turned and walked back toward the two male kats. About half-way across the garage, she suddenly froze, her entire body rigid with a surprised look in her face. Chance glanced up and smiled at his lover, but the smile instantly faded as he saw her expression.

"Sar? What's wrong?"

Jake looked up as well, concern obvious on his ginger-furred face.

"Sarita?"

"Oh Great Gaia..."

She closed her eyes sadly as her body relaxed. She almost seemed as if she were about to black out and fall over. Chance and Jake both got up quickly and ran over to her.

"Sarita? What is it?"

"Nak... Nakela... She's..."

She took a stumbling step backward and Chance had to quickly put his arms around her shoulders and back to steady her. He and Jake helped her back over into the small break room and onto the couch there. Sar slumped down, her eyes downcast with a sad expression. Chance sat on her left side, one arm around her shoulders and the other gently gripping her left hand. Jake stood a few feet away, watching worriedly.

"What is it? What happened to Nak?"

The smaller kat did his best to keep himself calm, though he greatly feared for his lover, and Sarita's sudden reaction concerned him greatly. Since the were-dragon had been first approached by the vampires, he worried for her safety, knowing that somehow that leech, Moira, would find a way to use her against them, just as Ange had used him. After Nakela's sudden disappearance the other night, he couldn't even keep himself focused on his work, both in the garage and on patrol in the Turbokat, for worrying for the petite female. Sarita shook her head slowly, her voice little more than a whisper.

"She's... she's turned... She's one of them now... She's a Fallen."

"No... No that's... that's not possible!"

"It's more than possible. It's the truth. "

The two kats jumped in surprise at the new voice, both of them turning to look toward it's source. Sarita didn't even look up, though her ears pinned back at hearing the familiar voice, and it's cold indifferent tone. Standing in the doorway of the break room was a woman clad in a black cloak that covered her entire lean body, the hood pulled up to hide her face. There was something different, and eerie, about the female. Chance's own ears pinned back and he glared coldly at the cloaked woman.

"What do you mean, 'the truth'? And who are you...?"

The woman reached up her five-fingered hands, and slowly pulled the hood back away from her face. Chance and Jake both stared in shock at seeing that the female was in fact a human. She had long jet-black hair that was pulled back away from her face and fell flat down her back, disappearing into the cloak. Her skin was somewhat dark, though not as much so as Sarita's or Nakela's human forms, and her eyes were an eerie golden color. She had golden hoop earrings in her ears, and around her eyes was gold and black paint forming the 'Eye of Ra' pattern. Sarita finally looked up slowly, her deep blue eyes glaring at the woman.

"What now, Ghost...?"

The kats both looked at her in surprise.

"You know her?"

She nodded slowly, and the human woman gave a very faint, somewhat dark smirk.

"Briefly. We met only a day ago. I've not been in this world very long. And before you begin asking questions, let me go ahead and explain now. I came here with the Fallen Graces through a tear in the far depths of the Umbra: the Spirit World. The same one through which Sarita's older kits arrived in this world, and then left it again, save for Akin of course."

Their jaws dropped in surprise, though Sarita continued to glare coldly. After barely a moment though, their looks of shock turned to looks of hate toward the shifter. Here was an obvious werebeast who claimed to be one of the Fallen, one of those responsible for taking Nakela and turning her against them, and she had the audacity to walk right into their own home! Chance stood up quickly, now fully facing the female, and even Jake's fists were clenched in hatred.

"You're one of the Fallen? You're responsible to taking Nakela, and for the evil spirit that's now possessing her?"

"No..."

They both turned and looked down at Sarita in surprise when she spoke. She slowly stood up and took a few steps forward, walking past them and toward the other female.

"She came here with the Fallen Graces, but she's not actually one of them... are you, Ghost-Shadows? The taint of the Unmaker is upon you, no doubt, and yet it's not..."

"It's not as strong as it should be for one who serves the Wyrm? Correct. I still serve Gaia. But given how I tend to gain so much of my power and knowledge, the taint of those I... 'learn' from, often tends to rub off. An unfortunate side-effect, and being a loner means that I don't have someone to conveniently perform a Cleansing Rite whenever I need it."

"Wait, what do you mean, 'learn from'? You... You're an Eater...?"

Now it was the Hellcat who looked on in surprise. She had once learned of a semi-secret group of werejackals called the Eaters of the Dead. They literally would eat the brains of others in a dark ritual that allowed them to learn what the dead ones had known. This was even possible with vampires, though they had to be torpored rather than fully killed. And it would certainly stand to reason that devouring such corrupted monstrosities would certainly leave a taint of the Unmaker upon the shifter who did so. Among the other wolves, this was considered a horrible taboo, but some of the other Killi, particularly the Bastet and Corax, weren't so repulsed, though it was still quite a shock to actually meet one of these exceedingly rare cultists in the flesh.