Hello my dear readers!
Due of having my finals that I had from last year until the beginning of my summer holidays I was unable to continue this story.
I'm deeply sorry for this and can understand if by now you're annoyed by my constant apologizing.
At least, as a small redemption I want to give you dear readers an quite longer chapter that I hope you can enjoy.
We'll see each other again at the end of the story :-)
„It seems they are...more capable in defending themselves than I first expected. "Re-watching repeatedly the footage his failed scout robot delivered him, brought him to such a conclusion. Somehow the room felt colder than normally, was it because this was proof that his Scout Units needed some more Improvements? At least he was sure now that the self-destruction mode worked just fine. There was always the possibility to send more of his creations but that would lead to nowhere. Right now he couldn't say exactly to which place and or direction they were heading, he unfortunately overestimated those two and so headed for other tasks that had to be accomplished and now he had to pay the price for his foolishness.
The normally neutral looking expression changed to be a bit disgruntled, followed by a medium heavy hit on the older ones of the computers, this room was full of them, older or newer devices and of course monitors, he had to keep his eyes on all of them, the Egg-Bosses and the bases, that was his job, his top-secret task, an order from the doctor himself.
He once again twisted the metal button that was covered in dark brown plastic; a short-exhausted breath got released and he stood up from his dusty seating. Going around in circles, touching the plain metal walls. For now it was decided that it wouldn't make much sense to dwell in this room with those sometimes more sometimes less outdate machines any longer, perhaps later he would find out where they were heading, but now, it was just a waste of time.
„The request for obtaining subject, Egg Boss of Northamer, Clove, Pronghorn got, denied. "
It was not surprising at all, why did he even make that inquiry if the response was clearly expected? The response didn't make him in any way more furious or angrier than his thoughts already where, he wasn't Eggman after all. It wouldn't be a big setback for his plans, his work and master plan.
Yes, his work, his own little experiment, no one was aware of, sometimes the word magnum opus whirred in his mind, but the title was too early for now. „A shame, but it won't change much of my work, after all, there are, right now three other candidates I have in my mind. And perhaps, they're more capable for what I seek to optain."
There was always some work to do, his newer movements brought him closer to the workshop. Testing and working on his newest prototypes and solving the few issues they still had. Slowly he touched his face, getting a chilly feeling due of the metal on the limps, he tried to rub out the rest of the sleep that slowly began to creep trough his body. The thought of going to the coffee machine for a cup became as strong as the brew he needed any second now. „Computer, prepare some new bots, perhaps the "pack" and "limber" prototypes."
He imagined that his newest and own creations would come later in handy for a 'field test' the thought alone filled him with something, even he allowed himself to call joy and a bit of excitement too.
Going down deeper and deeper the hallway, he could hear behind himself an off and static „Understood„ from his computer, the only 'companion' if you could call it like that, he had here in the hub. For a moment he stood still, suddenly, didn't move a centimetre or inch to the goal he intended, just standing silently in the with weak white neon light illuminated hallway. A slight smile was formed by his lips, which was unusual, but because of the new thought that overcame his always working mind. "After all, there are other things to make their lives, difficult."
…
White, everything in this room was white and sterile. Not surprising for a room that got furnished specific for medical staff. Despite Cassias condition (which allowed them to have more staff than other bases), they were still, clearly, understaffed. This was not surprising too since believed that every injured part could be easily being treated with replacing the injured or sick limp with a mechanical replacement. The racoon doctor and for now temporary supervisor of the Northamer Egg-Base could feel her body heath rising and allowed it to be shook for a few seconds, it was exactly these metal parts that brought them into this complicated situation. However, being angry and sour would not help anyone right now, especially not in the presence of their immobile Egg-Boss. The female pronghorn just laid there in the hospital bed, the eyes wide open, her mouth cramped, there rest of her body looked being in pain too. It was a horrible condition. Maybe it was just her imagination, her own worry, the stress or lack of sleep, but she could have sworn to see in the paralysed face anxiety and worry.
For a moment the doctor hold her breath, brushing nervous her grey-white soft, brushy tail before letting out the air bland.
"Do not worry Lady Clove, she is strong" despite the words being outspoken only in her mind, they sounded more unsure than confident.
Her former colleague unfortunately didn't turn out to be himself helpful, but Cassia told her on the mobile phone that he had some information about someone else. The pronghorn said something about being them a green coat. Biting on her lip with some pressure she had to admit that it was partly her fault, she should have known that Hatzinger would not have had the knowledge they would need for the Fails Safes, some years ago no one would have trusted him with such top-secret information, especially since he was from a rather infamous country back then.
The racoon could not help herself and let out a slight frustrated sigh, a capybara nurse looked at the doctor for a short time with a hint of worry before continuing feeding Clove with soup, which was not an easy task. At first, they had no plan how to give the Egg-Boss nutrients, and when they figured a way out, it wasn't a really "nice looking" way.
The racoon shook her head, she could not allow it to let herself down, at least she had to pretend it for now, the whole situation brought tension all over the base, some soldiers feared that now rebels would have an easy way to attack and could take over the base, others got scared about Lady Cloves state, thinking that any second they could be the next victims of this effect, to say the moral was currently not high was clearly an exaggeration, it was obviously down in the dumps.
More distressed than intended she put her left hand in one of the pockets of her coat, fishing out another mobile phone she owned, even older than the one she gave Cassia, at least that made sure Eggman wasn't listening to them, hopefully. She pressed one of the buttons and to her surprise; it was displayed on the screen that there was one new massage spoken in the mailbox.
Looking at the screen the racoon noticed how the expression on her own expression lifted a bit up. Even if the doctor was aware that it wouldn't help much with the Egg-Boss physical condition, maybe it would make the older one of the pronghorns feel better, if she heard the voice of her sister again."
"Maybe we shall hear what your sister has to say Lady Clove."
"You have one new message from-"
The doctor automatically rolled her eyes; she didn't like that old thing of a phone and didn't miss the slow talking voice at all.
After turning the speaker on she laid it to a white metal bedside cabinet, but the awaited voice of Cassia, or Jesse didn't appear.
Instead it sounded like someone was fumbling with it around and there where muffled not quite understandable voices.
Suddenly there was a louder expression; the doctor could've sworn it was a groan of frustration before the sound became clearer.
"So, I'm holding it right now do I?"
"For the last time yes!"
"Just don't drop it, or cover the Microphone again!"
"Ok, I understand that, also, so...when do I speak in it?"
"NOW!" The words outspoken were annoyed followed by two simultaneously tired groans
"T-To my defence, I don't use such devices often. "
Even after so many years ago, the racoon doctor recognised Hatzingers voice, despite the quality of the speakers and or the recorded massage not the best.
"Anyway, due of uhm, wie sage ich die- ah recent and unexpected events I've decided to take those two semi-annoying teenagers in temporary…Obhut, custody yeah that's the word I'm sea- HE!"
"Who do you call annoying here, give me back my phone!"
There was a short rustling tone before it went calm again, it sounded as if they would drive with a car, or by the bus, the doctor couldn't tell.
"Anyway, the snotty lame informant here got knocked out, it was some kind, looked like a Badnik, and it exploded, yeah, and also burnt down Hierzers home a-"
"L- Cassia I eh don't think we have to tell all the…details here…"
"What are you talking about? I'm just telling the outline."
"No I mean-"
"Danke, the snotty lame informant reclaims that for a while now ja? Due of these circumstances I decided to bring them to their new Ziel eh destination and AHHH-"
For a moment there was a clear screeching sound, then a short rumble.
"Chaos don't talk and dri-"
"We're fine don't worry will call soon bye!"
Then nothing, with eyes wide open the racoon in a white coat stared at Clove.
"I-Im confident that they will be fine my Lady"
There was, for now at least nothing she could do, there place was now unknown, something attacked them, and sending soldiers was too risky, who said that they were still in neutral territory or if the perpetrator wasn't in the base?
Words or motions were not necessary, the doctor knew, Clove was judging her together with the decision she made.
…
Smoke, old, cold smelling smoke
The more Cassia sat in the co-driver's seat, the more she inhaled the stench, and it annoyed her, the whole car had the odour of charcoal, or rather, they had it on them.
Taking another breath, the young pronghorn let out a grunt before she looked out of the window, they left the village behind some time ago and after that one weird phone call that brought them a near death experience in crashing what Milenko called a "Litfaßsäule" the whole car was silent. There were only trees and a rocky road, which Cassia was sure was actually a hiking path due of the poor condition it had.
Despite the black car looking in both hers and Jesses taste archaic it was for its appearance kind of fast, something that surprised both, due of the speed, the trees looked as if they were merged together.
"I still think we should've called the firefighters ."
"And I think you shouldn't drive anyway, especially with your hair style."
The driver looked for a split second at Cassia, before giving again all his attention to the road.
"I can see through my hair style with my covered eye very fine thank you very much. "
"Because crashing in that concrete pillar wa- "
"You can say "you" to me Jesse, calling the Fire..wehr wouldn't have been much of use. In the time they had been there, well, let's say my house would be so or so only a pile of smoking ash."
The human took a deep breath and hold it before he exhaled the air with a frustrated sound, his face looking a bit sad.
"Well, everyone has to take their bitter pill."
"Hm, bitter pill…chaos! I nearly forgot, Cas-"
Suddenly the deer was shoving one of his hands in the dark grey backpack; the sleeve of his green hoodie got pulled up a bit when he reached for something.
"-the Doc said you have to take one pill of each package every day."
Jesse bended forwards, dropping the three packages of the for Cassia well known medicine right into her lap.
Looking down at her inevitable fate the attention was soon shifted to Jesse, then to Milenko.
"I don't think we can come up here with a solution everyone likes?"
Neither human nor deer answered her plea, Milenko was fully concentrated on the street whilst her deer friend occupied both back seats by trying to take a nap, or at least he pretended to do so to avoid her stare, which was obvious.
Muttering a fast "traitors" Cassia decided that it was no use to fight the imperative. Taking out one pill from each packet she also grabbed for a mineral water bottle in the backpack, hoping the bitter and sour taste would leave fast.
It stung, rather strong, not only her tongue but her whole body, whatever the stuff did to her it also made her always a bit sleepy and the pronghorns vision slightly blurry.
The designated driver of the black car allowed himself to clear his throat before raising his voice.
"So are there any more questions about why and wieso bec-"
"Yeah-" half awake and pulling together Cassia was able to force the words she wanted to say out of her body.
"-where are we driving?"
The next action was truly unforeseen from all involved parties.
A loud screech of wheels rubbing against stone and earth plus followed by an after movement of the car due of the abrupt halt.
It was thanks to the seatbelt that neither Cassia nor the other passengers happened something serious.
"Hey what gives?!" Jesse who laid on the back-seats rolled rather against his will on the floor of the car, rubbing his nose he gave Hatzinger an annoyed, but rather fretted look.
"That is actually...a good question." the fingers of the watchmaker cramped around the steering wheel, slowly his head shifted to his co-driver who with big static eyes looked at the street and then at him, all three sat now in silence.
"Handschufach."
"The what?"
"Ah...the glovebox, there's a map in there."
"Oh."
The drawer, made of pretty cheap taupe-brown coloured plastic was filled with nearly anything, some small gears, tissues, cough candies, the drivers and car license and two small records having each the size of a CD and of course the map.
Looking at the date of it Cassia wasn't sure if she should laugh or cry, the thing was already a bit more than a decade old, speaking of old, the question, who, in times of techno logic advance uses a map any more sprung in her head immediately.
Cassia and Jesse looked at each other, confused and amused at the same time, Milenko still focused on the street slowly brought the car on hold, then without hesitate opened the door and stepped out quickly followed by Cassia, whilst her companion closed the door she decided to let it open, it wouldn't hurt if some fresh air blew in the car no wouldn't it?
Tighten her pink t-shirt and rubbing her hands on the black trousers she wore she looked at her deer friend who managed to climb at the back seats and laid down again, first inspecting his gun aka peashooter before being noticed.
"Hmm-" Both members of the Egg-Army looked at the human who took out of his many belt pockets a simple red marker.
"-Jesse would you please bring me my suitcase?"
Without hesitation the tan coloured deer left his gun on the seat and took the called battered object, that in his eyes was heavy. With a groan he gave it to Milenko, who immediate laid it on the engine cover and opened it with two simple clicks on the suitcases buttons. Due of the sway the watchmaker got nearly hit by the upper side of his bag. Taking a look inside Jesse and Cassia got greeted by a poster, it was made in a vintage style, displaying a singing Mobian who stood next to a microphone where music notes came out. One hand hold it whilst the other reached for the glittering drawn stars. How they exactly looked like could neither Jesse nor Cassia tell, there figure was only a dark silhouette. Except for the dress they wore, it was a short green dancing dress with white stripes. On both shoulder holders there were also on each two red roses attached. Background was dark bluish, except for the yellow whitish stars and a full moon and of course the stage the genet stood on. Under the singing figure stood a text in bright lilac tone.
"Give the moonshine lounge a visit, enchant yourself by Zaynah the Genets voice!"
"And how exactly is a poster going to help Lady Clove?" without noticing the deers eyes more and more became slits.
"She's the green coat I was talking about earlier."
"She?! But she's a singer in some shady lounge? How is that going to help us?"
"Before my dear Zay became a singer she was responsible for the inner work of the cybernetics. Although she always had a soft spot for humming some tunes here and there, if I remember right she sang once when we reached that mayor breakthrough on the work of the robot-"
"Boooring, where's that moonshine bar?"
"If I remember correctly it should be-"
Looking over the map his index finger circled around the it, with his right hand he made a small dot on some place, looking over it Cassia noticed that it must be the place of their current stay.
Milenkos finger moved again, but instead of some place close to the red dot the finger went down to a small framed part in the left corner of the map where there was a small illustration of Mobius, showing all the continents, between the continent Eurish and Efrica the finger ended its journey and hold still.
"-there"
For a minor, unimportant split-second it was calm, but as fast as it began, it soon was over.
"What?! No! You're kidding"
"No chance!"
The duo of pronghorn and deer nearly screamed their disapproval simultaneously, that couldn't be true, under no circumstances was this the reality.
Hatzinger, who closed his eyes due of how loud their voices suddenly became, tapping with the red marker on the front window, he gritted his teeth.
"I'm sorry, it's the only solution I have, of course, this is up to you, if you want I can drive you back to your Base-"
For a short moment no one said anything. it appeared as if Cassia was ready to smash one of her tonfa directly into the cars engine cover altogether with the map, but the strong grip on her weapon began to loose. In that moment the deer tried to raise his voice, he wanted to speak out his mind, how it probably would be better to go back, but before he could have said anything Cassia interrupted his further move.
"No. Keep moving." the pronghorns head was lowered, her eyes only staring at the map.
"A-are you sure Cass, I me-"
"Yes I am! Just, lets drive already."
"Natürlich, of course, but I should remark-"
He didn't say it out loud but Jesse knew that Cassia got stressed because of their new revelation, but he couldn't understand why she didn't want to turn back to their station, was it due of the fear that whoever send that Badnick like machine could wait for them there? If Hatzinger told the truth, then the way he showed was plausible, at least the deer thought when he made a quick gimps at the map because now the human stood between him and Cassia, covering it. Still, it felt fishy, for a second the thought that maybe Milenko was trying to manipulate his friend was in mind, but that wasn't possible. The human was a simple, friendly but somehow naive looking watchmaker who barely understood modern technology, that was at least what Jesse thought of him, there was something about this man of gears and clockwork, but he couldn't tell whenever it was just Hatzingers nature, or if he, the human had an ill meaning against them which he tried to cover up.
"Jesse. Hey Jesse!"
"Yes what?"
"I said are you coming or what? You kinda zoomed out."
Milenko sat again in his drivers seat and Cassia on the other side sat, no laid on the co-drivers seat having adjusted the backrest to her liking. Only now the deer noticed that she looked exhausted, probably caused by the medicine she took a while ago, her cybernetic yellow eyes appeared already half closed.
"Phew all of that talking while driving made me thirsty" using the map as a makeshift fan it was clear that having a car without a proper air conditioner wouldn't be an option ever again.
Fumbling behind his seat he finally got a hold of one of the grey coloured handles, picking it up and placing it on his knees, for a moment Jesse thought why the clock worker didn't just took the one of Cassia, but It became clear that, since she fell only seconds ago to sleep and clenched on the backpack Milenko didn't dare to wake her up.
The deers eyes shifted again to his friend, he was worried, not only about Cassia, about everything, this whole situation was a mess and worst of all it wasn't obvious, it just happened from one minute to another, Lady Clove collapsing, their involuntary extended journey, Hatzingers house and workshop being set ablaze, despite his, in the eyes of the deer suspicious acting, he felt ins-
"Hmm, was haben wir denn hier?"
Having the stirring wheel only in one hand the designated driver looked more on the small carton which he slightly shook, giving the sound of the rattling it was apparently neither an object smaller than the box nor very light.
Seeing Milenko handling the box in such a careless manner brought back Jesses attention, the eyes snapped open and his teeth gritted in fear that something might happen to the box and its content that was hold within. in the speed the wink of an eye the Egg-Solder took the box for himself.
"Careful with that!" like a precious ring he hold the box tight to himself, it was only now that the human noticed the lack of an item in his hand.
"Huh? What's in there?"
"It's, it's…it's private got it? And watch the street!"
"If you say so Hirsch."
"What was that last word?"
"Oh I don't know, it's private."
Despite his face not moving an inch Jesse knew that Hatzinger was smug, his intuition told him, that and the driving mirror on the that was attached on the car ceiling mirroring the mens face.
Letting out a sigh the mobian rubbed his eyes out, he already regretted that, maybe he should've stayed In the base, but then Cassia would've went on her own and if then something would happen, he couldn't forgive himself for that for sure.
"Say, what's the destination actually?
"Hmm I recall having said it some minutes ago."
"Right, maybe you could repeat that again if you don't mind."
"Hmm"
Letting out a groan the deer already could guess more than once what he had to say.
"Please?"
With the lips formed to a slit he inhaled a bit of air, before letting it out again.
"Empire City."
"E...Empire City? But that's at least half a day away and it's already getting dark. You would drive the whole night?!"
"I know, that's why I decided to make a stop at a local monastery that's not even one hour away from here. If that's ok?"
Thinking trough it he simply nodded, he was never at a monastery, thinking about it, it was until now that Jesse realized he had never seen a monk, only saw them in one of the fantasy films he watched.
"Do you think the monks will just let us in like that?"
"Oh I think they wouldn't mind even if still the Clerics of Chaos inhabited it, but it got taken over by Gaias Pagans after the rest left due of...uhm, how do you call it if you..like...uhm how do I explain this..."
Releasing one of his hands again from the stirring wheel Hatzinger scratched his beard while thinking, it only lasted a few seconds before he continued to drive with both again.
"-like there is a factory but you can't start production because you have to few employees."
"Shortage of manpower?"
"Exactly! Wunderbar. Because of shortage of monk-power the rest of the clerics left and now the followers of Gaia are inhabiting the monastery. You know who the pagans are don't you?"
Jesse could only shook his head in a simple manner, whilst he knew the Clerics of Chaos back then when he still lived in a rater rural area he never heard from those other guys.
Milenko smiled, and the deer could only guess what he brought on himself now.
"Since we're still driving for some time let me explain a bit about them ja? Whilst I don't know everything I think I remember the outlines. It all started in the year 126 before-"
...
Cassia opened her eyes but once she what was on it got her full attention.
Everything was different instead of the car, the road, Jesse and Milenko there was black, darkness, a void, everything she saw only seconds ago was gone and she just stood there, directly in the cold darkness, but it wasn't cold, she couldn't say how she really felt, except, worried.
„Jesse?"
Taking a step it felt like as if she was in water, every move went slower than intended, the voice of herself sounded a bit blurred, same applied to her sight, if not all of her senses.
„Milenko?"
No answer, nothing, there was only her breath and nothing else she felt, there was no wind, no car engine, not even the pulse of her own hearths beating was there.
The more she was in this weird realm, the more she became worried.
„Anyone?!"
Needless to say, Cassia had to accept that she was about to freak out.
„Is this a joke, did you put me under a blanket, Jesse, this isn't funny, seriously!"
Again, no one was there to answer the pronghorn, Cassia was on her own, whenever she liked it, or not.
„Clove?"
She knew that her older sister wasn't reachable, couldn't be there, but the wish that her older sister was there to help was strong, to tell her that everything would be fine as long as they are together, to comfort her and with every second sliding it grew stronger.
The young pronghorns breathing became heavier, as if not only air was around her, there was also a certain smell she couldn't point out right.
Wherever she was, waiting was apparently the only option, hoping that anyone she knew would come and tell her if this was some kind of joke. Of course there where the thoughts of that she might have dozen off and this was a dream, but something was unusual, a dream like this? It was the first time for her to witness something like that.
There was this dream where she and Clove would go on an adventure seeking to retrieve a great treasure in a jungle, becoming famous adventures and saving some archaeologist during it, making them both additional heroes and popular too.
Being in one of her video games, playing the protagonist was also something that happened occasionally in her dreams, it was fun to be the hero who saved someone or defeated the prime evil who was behind everything.
Of course she also had one of those where she was suddenly falling down from a mountain, down into a deep blue ocean, only to wake up when she was about to hit the water.
And then, then there was this dream she rarely had, of something from the past, the pronghorn would look into a mirror, seeing herself, but also not herself. She would see someone that could've been her, a someone without cybernetics, needless to say she was grateful for them and the action her sister took, but sometimes, yes, sometimes it was there.
Her thoughts about that meant nothing any more once she saw a weak, orange glimmer far away, sparking hope in the hearth of the pronghorn.
„Hello? Who's there?"
Despite the exhausting walk, she was sure to be able to move forward, with each step she took, it felt more and more as if it was getting warmer, like as if she was in an old steam train.
The more she moved to the source of the glimmer, the more it got clear for Cassia that it was a small orange flame. Nothing else, only this flame, it appearance was kind of, unusual. It was clearly a flame but the appearance was stiff, didn't move an inch, as if it was more like a flame shaped lightbulb.
Reaching her goal the young pronghorn tried slowly but steady to feel the warmth of the flame, to move closer with one of her hands, maybe even touch it.
In a sudden, blinding flash the flame went bigger, at least three feet higher than the pronghorn next to it, who stared in surprise, but more in shock, the room where she was in felt now hot, dangerously hot as if she got cooked alive in here. The unusual smell, now it was clear, it was smoke that spread everywhere. Needless to say, the girl was in panic trying to run away from it, as fast as she could.
„Toc...toc...toc"
Turning to the left she noticed immediately the silhouette, not as big as the flame but at least taller than her, she couldn't say who it was, what it was, but on thing was clear, it held something in one open hand. The limb suddenly moved the hand a bit, letting something fall out, but instead of hitting the pitch black ground, it was saved from its demised by a small chain, revealing the device to be actually a pocket watch, at least that's what she imagined, how it moved from left to right and apparently was the source of the ticking and clicking that suddenly filled wherever the young pronghorn was.
The more she looked at it, the being with the pocket watch, the more it was not a simple gesture, it became more and more clearly that the ticking was not a simple sound, more an action, as if it was mocking her, together with the movement of the silhouette, who's shoulder went up and down, as if it was laughing at her, no as if it was laughing ABOUT her.
„Yeah, yeah just laugh about me you JERK! Show yourself!"
They only continued their mute mocking.
Nothing tried to force her to go slower, despite moving closer to the being with the watch, it was still unrecognisable who or what it was
„Who are you?! Tell me and stop laughing?!"
As if her wish got granted, the ticking stopped, the clock got taken by the beings hands and closed. Despite no face, for some reason Cassia felt as if it had a mischievous smile on the non existing lips-
„You mission-"
Surprised by the sudden voice she shrieked up, it was deep, like all out of place, as if it didn't belong to the silhouette, but it had something from herself, as if the voice from her got taken away and used, abused by the being, it sounded distorted and as if not one but at least three people spoke them out at the same time.
„-is tainted in failure. You' ll fail, only sadness and despair is what you get. Turn around, give up or die alone."
It mocked her once again.
„You're meant to fail Cassia, I make sure of that, a promise I'm willed to make."
It mocked her, it taunted and made fun of her in this dark room and once it finished its sentence it howled out a deep laugh that sounded more like a deep croaking toad. This jerk face thought it could make fun of her, whoever they where, they had it wrong. With a scream of anger the pronghorn ran to the being to punch it in the face, or if not reachable in the chest or at least the shin. But instead of greeted with defence or even something solid, there was only orange, heath and flames.
What was first the silhouette got consumed by a spiral of flames, more and more they went around it, before it was all consumed, and began to spread over to the pronghorn.
There was no pain or injury, but it scared the living out of Cassia, she felt as if she went to hell in a handbasket. The scream she let out was both mixed with surprise, but mostly sheer horror. She wished, her sister would be there, to help her, to aid her or even to save her.
The fames grew bigger, more violent, they formed a flaming ring, then a ball, and suddenly there was a head, the more she looked at the head made of burning orange and red, the more it looked like a lion.
A mighty, scary burning mane, but the face, the face looked too different to be the king of the savanna yes, like another being, more like a sheep made out of flames that stared at her.
The room suddenly erupted, her own scream drowned, by a bigger, louder response, she couldn't hear anything any more, neither her voice nor her thoughts.
And then, the head was coming for her, this big head of a sheep was whilst it screamed, or rather bleated flew in her direction, as if Cassia was going to be consumed by the flames of the burning sheep. It was about to hit her, with such a speed she couldn't outran it at all. The clash was about to happen and she would burn. The only thing she was could to cover her eyes whilst she screamed in fear.
...
The scream Cassia let out was short lived, but didn't loose any of its power because of that. Whilst Jesse already slept like a log, Milenko got the double charge of surprise and shock, fortunately for all occupants his right hand was steady fixed on the stirring wheel, but to his dismay the object he held in one of his hands got squashed and torn. Letting out a slight frustrated noise of tiredness he threw it out of the half open car window next to the drivers seat.
It was only now that the Pronghorn noticed the smell of smoke, but different, it wasn't cold and also had a different taste, then it hit her.
„You smoke in here?!"the tone she spoke out those words sounded in-between annoyed and surprised.
Hastily the human looked around, once at her, then at the sleeping Jesse and at the end into the driving mirror.
„N-Nur wenn ich-"
Cassia wasn't sure if she should be worried or amused how she apparently brought Milenko out of tact.
„Only if I'm stressed, or moody! But I think due of recent events I'm allowed to calm myself down!"
The sudden and unusual change of Hatzingers voice would've made Cassia jumped in surprise if she wasn't wearing the safety belt. Her eyes were fixed and looked with a tone of worry at the driver who noticed how uneasy his companion felt. Gulping down what felt like a dry dumpling filled with pepper and chilly powder, Milenko let out some air trough his nose.
„I'm sorry, It's just, my house, my clocks, my whole existence, all turned up into smoke, literally, and the worst of all, it's not as if it's the first time."
The clockmakers appearance changed again to his tired, exhausted style, with the only difference that he now looked more frustrated than before. For a brief time he looked out of the cars window before he pulled the safety break and turned the key around, shutting down the motor in the process.
Closing his eyes and letting out another breath Milenko opened the door with a sway
„We're there."
Having said those last two words he stepped out speechless, leaving Cassia and Jesse behind, the latter waking up from the sudden stop of the car.
„That's the monastery? It looks kinda down to me."
„A bit mysterious."
„Rather creepy and ramshackle "
They approached the stone wall, which they where only able to see because it got illuminated by green and bright blue light. To both surprise it wasn't spend by electricity or candles, rather white mushrooms who had the size of a palm. The cobble stone itself, that just a few metres appeared to be green by itself was actually covered rich in moss
„It reminds me of that Point n Click game."
Cassias voice was nearly the only thing audible, somewhere must've been a pond because no too far away some frogs croaked, and from the grass resonated the chirps of crickets. The sky was pitch black and no star was to be seen only the half half-moon shined.
„Which one?"it was merely a whisper Jesse let out.
„You know, that one, with the demons where you go further down into that monastery to solve the decade old mystery."
„Tainted Sacrality XVI?"
„Exactly! It sucks that they discontinued it."
„Yeah. But may-"
Whatever the deer wanted to say, his voice together with the quaint noises got swallowed by loud bangs that nearly scared them to death.
Looking for the source of the sudden loud sound they found Milenko, not two hundreds meter away from them hitting on a wooden gate, that of course was closed, after his knocking he also shouted something out loud, then remained calm before apparently talking to the gate before nearly magic like it opened. Turning around he saw his both companions on spot and signalized them with one of his arms to approach him.
Looking at each other both Mobians decided to head to him without questioning his whereabouts.
„The good news is they have allowed us shelter for this night, they even said we could stay longer if we want."
„Aaand the bad news are?"
„Obviously this is not a four star hotel...not even a motel, which means we only have the minimum here ergo, no chance in taking a shower or a bathtub being available. "
„What?! Then how are those peasants are getting clean?"
„Well they really don't…..ah achso well they bath in the lake behind the trees."pointing somewhere at the from darkness nearly non visible threes, Cassia knew now clearly the source of the croaking.
„I think, we can wait until Empire City."
Each of her companions gave her quickly a nod of approval.
„And secondly, if I don't get a rest immediately and on of those herb worshippers keeps me up I' m going to crash like a car in a Litfassäule."
„Like what you nearly managed hours ago, -a-lot"
„Jahaaa."groaning it out it was clear that Milenko was way over his limits.
Moving further and trough the mossy wooden gate the group of three finally arrived at the mentioned monastery. Like the walls before mushrooms covered the inner walls too, illuminating a poison green or plasma blue light
But not only mushrooms emitted light, before the monastery was a small park with a tree avenue, and these trees, together with others placed around the part also gave light.
It was a magical place, like in a fantasy novel or perhaps science fiction, as if the group stepped into an undiscovered place of an ancient civilization. But instead of forgotten ruins, this place was full with live, whenever because of the threes, the insects like the light bugs that flew around in the grass and air or of the inhabitants that walked on the paths that got created by the time the grass was trampled on. Already awaited by a person, standing only two metres away from them.
„Greetings young travellers, I'm Mimiteh, second healer of this housing Gaias"
It was thanks to the light that came inside of the monastery that Cassia could identify their greeter as a female hare who, whilst her fur was mostly earth brown with some wooden brown spots here and there her hair colour was also plasma blue. But more weird was that they fluorescent like the threes and mushrooms, so did her iris, their colour was a neon orange like colour. The pronghorn was sure that even the verges of her ears glowed a bit. Whilst this looked a bit freakish, Cassia didn't felt any fear, for some reason the woman emitted a warm and friendly aura that also felt her companions.
„Please, feel free to come in and take the rest you've well deserved. I shall guide you to your place for the night."
Making a light bow the friendly hare with the calm voice pointed into the inside of the building, without hesitation they went inside.
Cassias eyes bounced open once she saw the halls, the rooms was either way lighted by torches hanging near the wall or from the already known mushrooms or bushes. The hall was mostly either way covered in the familiar moss or vines so was the floor, sometimes there where even some tree branches or roots. Only the windows remained free, some had cracks in them, but not one that she saw was broken, the wooden doors that got enhanced with iron nails and hinges didn't look in any way frail, only the metal had here and there some specks of rust. Thanks to the light Cassia was also able what their guide, or rather all inhabitants of this monastery wore.
At first sight it looked like as if someone cut three holes in a jute sack and put a simply cincture made of big string around the waist. But by looking closer she realized that what the hair wore made out of linen or some other fibre that had a slight grey tone. Other inhabitants that either way talked with each other or went into another room had rather similar clothings, but some looked more as if they got made out of wool, cotton, hair or even sometimes shaved fur. Despite not wearing it she could feel how itchy it must be to wearing such clothes.
Looking to their left and right, the pronghorn noticed she was not the only who watched and examined.
The inhabitants of the monastery where also eager to look at her, Jesse and Milenko, and whisperd about them, once they noticed the Pagans soon continued to either talk with their colleague or acted as if they weren't observing them. Again it wasn't treating for Cassia, more amusing how they tried to hide the oblivious and couldn't keep their curiosity.
„Please, apologize our members, I hope you can understand them, we don't have visitors often in our plain home. Mostly hikers who come to the woods from time to time."
„No big deal, we keep an eye on them."
Their guide let out a small chuckle before they turned around a corner, the hall became a bit thinner what made Milenko instead of walking next to Jesse to shift behind the deer.
„So tell me young pronghorn, do you know us good, the pagans that worship and praise the earths maker, protector? Gaia."
„Hmm-"
Deep down somewhere Cassia knew something she once or twice heard from some Egg-Soldiers or other personnel or was it from some sort of science magazine the doctor of their base had lying around, she couldn't remember, only that the info she had was barely nothing.
-your famous for doing those weird experiments with berries and herbs?"
For a moment Cassia feared to have said something wrong but the Hare just let out a deep, even a slight mighty sounding laugh. Way friendlier than the one in her nightmare.
„Well, that's one of our doings, but still so much more we do to connect with Gaia."
The somehow deep grumble of Milenko was for Jesse and Cassia, and she was sure that Mimiteh know too, obvious acted to display his discontent.
„What seems to be the problem, creator of who displays time?" again they turned around a corner, this time coming to a rather medium room with two doors on the front side.
„Moment mal, ah egal, I'm too tired for games. Lets just say that I know that some of the stuff you do involve que-"
„We're here far travellers, the door right to you hosts three beds, and a washing bowl for you, our restrooms are at the end of the corridor. If there is something else I can do for you please let me know."
It was Milenko that shoved himself trough Jesse to reach the door of the rooms, his body moved nearly mechanical mumbling something about „finally" and „Ruhe" he without noticing closed the door.
On the one side Cassia thought her companions behaviour was rude, on the other she could relate to him given that he drove the car for a while now plus having escaped a near death experience that costed him his wooden bungalow.
The remaining two turned to the hare who was about to leave.
"Thank you for showing us the way Ms. Mimiteh."
"And thanks for the room, you guys are alright."
Their escort gave them a slight but warm smile.
"I appreciate your words young ones. May Gaia guide you trough nights and days."
Having spoken out those last words the woman turned around and began to leave, in less than a few seconds she vanished around the corner.
The female hare didn't understate the room, with a bunk bed, a single bed that got already occupied by the humans vest, a washing bowl with three towels, a slim wardrobe, and a simple wooden stool the room was complete. There was also a wooden bucket next to the washing bowl filled with water that Milenko used to fill the pan.
"Ah finally, that'll help against the wound. I've left enough water for both of you, I, think."
Looking how Milenko washed his hair and face it was like in slow motion when the clear water got tainted in dried blood, ashes and dirt.
"Juck."
"Don't worry it'll be clean in no time."
Moving to a small window the human did a simple grip, opened the window and emptied the bowl, before turning around to his fellow room-mates and cleaning the bowl with one of the towels.
"Good as new."
But Cassia nor Jesse looked at the cleaned washing bowl in interest, it was rather Hatzinger, no, it was ON Hatzinger.
"Uh Mikenko?"
"Yes"
"What's that H for?"
On the Humans white shirt there was a big red H on his left side, it looked somehow threatening as if it was calling out some danger that was going out from Milenko.
"Oh that...well that's the brands name of course."
For both Mobians it was audible how the human spoke those words out with a tint of nervousness and being unsure.
"That big? You can see that a hundreds miles wide!"
"Eh, must be some designers choice, it doesn't bother me much."
With that said changing for the night happened fast, Jesse and Cassia went into their pyjamas from their backpacks in the bathrooms and Milenko slept in the gear he wore right now. Understandable given that every other clothing was probably turned to ash by now.
Blowing out the source of Light, a medium sized brown candle that stood on the stool in a simple white-blue glacéed candle stick the room got as dark as outdoors, only a faint blue light from one of the trees shined trough the window mixed with the glimmer illuminating from the half half-moon.
"And tomorrow-" letting out a yawn signalizing that he couldn't keep up his power much longer.
"-we, come to...city."
Fortunately for both remaining parties the question who got to sleep where was easily solved since Cassia decided to sleep in the upper bed and Jesse didn't mind wherever he would rest.
It went silent, Jesse was the next to fall asleep soon and so Cassia was the last stand of being awake, her thoughts dedicated to only one person.
"I promised you sis, I find a way, just a little longer, I, we will find something out to help you..."
For now our group of three might get their well deserved rest but who knows how it will look on the next day ;-.)
And now for the review(s):
DragoonSensei: Glad to hear that the chapter came out a bit intense, I feared that I would blew it with that moment and it would sound NOT intense ;-.)
Lets just say that I have planned quite something for the future, and hope to continue soon with the next chapter, really, really hopefully.
Until the next chapter I wish you dear readers goodbye.
With friendly greetings
The Bowlerhatwearer
