Chapter fifteen: "Finding Your Way"
Shelia sat up and wiped her eyes, sniffling. She looked around at her surroundings with
confusion for a moment. She was laying on a short rush-woven bedmat on top of a small bed of
hay in a small, rather plain and rugged looking straw hut. There was nothing else in the room
except for the bed, and a few large, egg-shaped baskets and bags that hung from wooden hooks
attached to the ceiling, and a very small, blackened fire, just barely burning in the middle
of the room on the soft earthen floor.
"Wh-where am I?" She said slowly to herself.
"Don't worry. You're safe here." Said a voice suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere.
Shelia blinked, and abruptly a young sliver-furred female lynx appeared standing there
in the middle of the room beside the fire. No flash or poof of smoke or anything like that, just
she wasn't there before Shelia had closed her eyes, but was when she opened them again, from a
split-second bat of her eyes.
Shelia gasped. "Who are you?" She asked softly.
The feline smiled kindly. "It's all right. Don't be afraid. My name is Theresa. What is
yours?" She asked, in a gentle voice.
Shelia just stared at her for a moment. The lynx wasn't very tall, about mid-height, and
slim. She had a short, bobbed tail that only reached her mid-thighs. She was wearing just light
colored cloth wrapped around her hips, tied in front, the knot decorated with a small opal
bauble, carved into the shape of a long-necked bird. Her hair was a reddish-blond, and reached
the small of her back, and was tied with a ribbon the same color of the cloth on her waist. Her
body looked so young, but something, something about her told Shelia that she was much older
than she seemed. Maybe it was her deep, slivery blue eyes...
"... My name is Shelia." She answered finally, and carefully. "How... How did I get here?"
"I found you asleep. In the forest." Theresa answered, still smiling.
Shelia looked down. She felt odd. She sniffled again, and wiped her eyes. Somewhere in
the back of her mind she could feel a tugging pain. An image flashed in and out of her mind.
"Knuckles..." She mumbled softly.
"What?" Theresa asked, tilting her head slightly.
Shelia looked up at her. "Oh... Oh, nothing."
Theresa sat down beside her on the bed. "Something wrong? I mean... Why were you just
out there sleeping on the wet ground? Did something happen to you?"
Shelia looked down again, and twisted the blanket in her hands. "... I just got lost...
That's all." She mumbled, unconvincingly.
"It was a boy, wasn't it?"
Shelia looked up at Theresa, and blinked. "What?"
"You've been crying. Over a boy." She said simply.
Shelia looked at her blankly for a moment, then frowned and looked away. "It doesn't
matter anymore." She said slowly, her voice tight in her throat. "He's gone."
Theresa sighed. "I thought so... What happened between you two?"
"... I don't mean to be rude, but... I don't even know you..." Shelia said, still
refusing to look at the odd silver feline.
"Well, I am just trying to help you. And what harm could it do if you told me? They say
it's always best to talk to someone... It's not like I will tell anyone. Your story is safe
with me, Amazon's honor... "
Shelia thought for a few seconds silently, then looked at her. Theresa was still smiling
her soft smile. Shelia blinked, and the feline seemed to flicker in and out of vision, like a
hologram or something. But yet she could feel her weight on the bed, her warmth, and smell her
light scent. Something odd... Her eyes... They seemed almost old. Motherly. Shelia shook her
head. She must just be seeing things. "Well..." She mumbled finally.
"You said he left...?"
Shelia sighed and began. "...Yes, he left. To go somewhere far away."
"...But that isn't all the story is it?" Theresa asked. Her voice was so gentle, yet
commanding and reassuring at the same time.
"...No." She stuttered, "... Before he left... I told him something..."
"What?"
Shelia sniffled, holding back her tears. "I... I told him that I loved him."
"Oh my..." Theresa said, looking sympathetic, "... And I suppose he didn't feel the same?"
Shelia choked, and let out a sob. "... He didn't say... Just looked at me like I was
crazy... Then he... Then he just..."
"...Left?" Theresa asked, softly.
Shelia, unable to speak any longer, just nodded, and buried her face in her hands. She
cried for several minutes before she realized that the young-bodied, wise-eyed female had taken
her into her arms, and let her cry onto her shoulder. Oddly enough, when Shelia did realize
this, she didn't seem to care. Somehow, it felt good to take comfort in this girl she never
knew. Theresa... Where had she heard that name before...? It reminded her of her mother...
"Shelia... You did love him, didn't you?" The lynx said softly.
"... Yes. Yes, I did..." Shelia sniffled. "But he..."
"I have the feeling he probably felt the same."
Shelia wiped her eyes. "What?" She asked, leaning back and looking at her.
Theresa smiled. "Sometimes, for some it is hard for them to express that kind of
emotion... In words at least... But that does not mean they do not feel them."
Shelia sniffled. "You really think so...?"
Theresa nodded. "I should know. My mate, long ago told me so many times that he loved
me... But I could never say it back." Her soft smile faded, and she looked out the window. "It
wasn't because I did not love him... I loved him with all my heart. It was just that... I had
obligations."
Shelia looked at her with intrigue. Just how old was this girl anyway? "You? Really?
But..." She began to question.
"--But we are not here to talk of me, Shelia. I have a feeling... I get them
sometimes... That things will work out for you and your love, at least. If you have faith."
Theresa said softly, her odd crystal eyes smiling. "Good things happen to those like you,
Shelia, who walk in the light. You have a strong faith, I can feel it."
Shelia blinked at her again, and Theresa flickered again. What...? Did she just see
wings...? Feathers...? She was gone, and then there again, sitting in front of her on the
bed again, as if she had been there forever. Solid. Wings...?
"Who are you?" Shelia asked again, squinting at the feline. 'What are you?' She wanted
to ask.
Theresa just smiled. "I am who I say. I am only a servant, as are you."
"...What?" Shelia asked. Her voice seemed distant now. "What are you talking about?"
"Remember what you were taught by your mother, Shelia. Remember, and always keep
your faith..."
"How... How do you know my mother...?" She said, but she could barely hear her own
voice. Fading... Fading into a soft light... She felt feathers brush her face, and watched
through a haze as Theresa stood with beautiful white wings...
And then she was gone.
* * * * * *
Helena gave a start as he touched her shoulder. She turned quickly, but with a deadly
grace. She softened immediately, seeing it was only Lysander. His hood was pulled up,
concealing most of his face, but she could always tell it was him by the thin stray quill that
always hung out of place, and fell outside the darkness of his hood.
"I need to talk to you." The tall, dark violet-furred echidna whispered.
"Now? But I'm on duty..." She said, looking around nervously. If they were caught
socializing during duty hours, they would surely be severely punished. If he was even found
in this sector at this time of day...
"It's important." He hissed.
Taking one last cautious glance down the hall, she stepped out from behind her computer
console and pulled him into a small storage room. It was a bit cramped, made only to house
spare discs, graphers, touchboards and such, not two adult echidnas. She flicked on the light
and slid the door shut behind them.
"Now..." She said, staring at him, her voice flat. "What's so important to risk your
hide to speak with me about?"
He pulled down his hood, revealing his pale-colored face and grim frown.
She grew more concerned, seeing his expression. "Ly.... You look white as a sheet," She
said touching his face gingerly, "What did... Master... Say to you?"
"Julie-Su is alive, Helena." He said breathlessly, "She's alive."
The female just stared at him a moment, then smiled slightly. "Well, that's wonderful..."
She said, then realized he wasn't sharing the happiness, and frowned. "Isn't it...?"
He shook his head. "No... Kragok knows this because he put a tracking device on her. He's
going to find her, Helena. Find her and probably kill her, and me when he does!"
Her frown deepened, but the level of her cool voice never seemed to change. "Oh no..."
She mumbled. "But why you...?"
"Because I helped her, and he knows it." He said, looking around nervously, as if he
suspected spies to be listening among the computer parts. "This is all my fault... If I would
have just never left home..."
"Quit blaming yourself. You do it too often." Helena said, smoothly.
"I don't know what to do." He mumbled, "For hours I just sat in my cabin, terrified. I
can't help her... I can't even help myself. I just had to talk to someone. That's why I came
here... To you... You're mixed up in this too, you know. Kragok saw you with me this morning...
And he remembers you..."
She shuddered, but recovered quickly. She could be strong when she wanted to be. "There
is not much he can do to me, or make me do, that I haven't all ready done." She said, although
not meeting his eyes.
"We have to do something, Helena. Something. Before he has us all killed, or you put
back into position as his... Servant..." He said, slowly.
She suppressed another shiver. "I suppose there's nothing we can do for now..." She
said softly.
"I'm sorry, Helena." Lysander mumbled.
She blinked. "For what?"
"For making you a part of this... I don't know why you even tolerate me..." He said
sadly, trying to move to leave, but bumping into the shelf behind him instead, nearly
knocking over a boxfull of chip-soderers.
She smiled weakly. "I don't know why either..." She said, softly in her cool breezy
voice, as she pressed against him. "I suppose it's because you're the only man beside Kragok
with a mind of his own here..."
"Don't say that. I do not. I'm just like everybody else. No different." He insisted,
all though it was a little unconvincing coming though his blush.
She laughed. "Don't try to hide your heart... Still after all this time, after what
we've done together... You get nervous..."
His blush deepened, feeling her breasts against his chest. "I'm not any different than
any other soldier here... Not any better..." He managed to say.
"You don't belong here, Ly... You are different. Maybe we could leave together, like
Julie... Before Kragok--"
He put his hand over her mouth quickly. "Don't say that! Don't even think it! We'll
certainly be killed then!"
She sighed again, stepping back and pushing the panel door open again. "You have courage
in you, Ly... I just wish you could show it more often..."
* * * * * *
Slowly, Antoine stood up and took his place in the center of the huge stone
platform and drew his sword with a soft metallic swish from the sheath at his side. He raised
it to press the flatside against his chest, and bowed to his opponent, as his father had taught
him so many years ago. She eyed him without fear, and did the same, her long thin saber
reaching from where it's hilt lay between her breasts, all the way to about a foot above her
head where the sharpened point rested, glinting in the mid-day sun.
Rising from the deep bow, and meeting her eye, he took his stance, legs apart, one
slightly turned outward for balance, left arm out to the side, and right arm holding the
sword delicately in his hand, wrist loose and fist tight. He watched silently as she took a
similar stance.
"Enguard, Madam." He said smoothly, and swept forward with a grace that denied his
clumsy reputation.
She darted to the side, quick on her toes, and turned to face him again. She was young,
but still several years his senior, but rather short. She was a mink, dark sepia brown in
fur, with a thin muzzle and small, but strong limbs. Her eyes were dark, almost black, and
shone with a deadly gleam, as pretty as she was. Although short, her body was long, torso
exaggerated by her ermine figure. She wore an open red coat, with a cream white cravat around
her neck, and tight-fitting breeches to match. She smiled at him, flicking her point at him
playfully. "Touché, Monsuire..." She purred.
Trying to concentrate, he restanced. This wasn't going to be as easy as he had
anticipated. He ignored her words, her face, and her alluring frame. He ignored the crowd
watching them from outside the stone circle. He formed a void within his mind. Nothing
existed except himself, his sword, and the opponent...
Lunging fiercely at her this time, he almost caught her by surprise. At the last second
before the blade met her shoulder, she parried, defending herself with a quick stroke.
He attacked again, with another strong lunge, but she was ready for him this time, and
anticipating his move, struck at him back, on his side.
Surprised, Antoine stepped backwards. She had just barely missed his rib with that one.
Frowning, he stepped forward again, and swung at her. She met his sword with fast parries,
and they fought up and down the courtyard, swinging and clashing, neither giving up an inch.
Taking a ragged breath, Antoine stepped back as she took a swing at his middle. According
to the rules their queen had set, the first one with so much as a scratch or without a sword was
out. He frowned and concentrated. She wasn't going to win. She wasn't going to win, not against
him.
Gathering the energy he had left, he plunged forward toward her, taking a swift side
swipe. She caught it just barley, pushing against his blade fiercely, but he didn't let up, and
continued pushing down on her guard until she was forced to take a jump backwards. Taking
advantage of the time it took her to restance, he dashed forward and struck her sword firmly,
flinging it from her hand and across the stone floor. Before she could dive foe it, he pinned
her against one of the pillars, his point against her neck.
"Pardon moi, madam..." He said smiling wryly, "But I believe, I win."
All the confidence had faded from her dark eyes and replaced with fear. She closed her
eyes and awaited the blow. She gasped, and clutched at her throat as his blade slashed across
it. She stood there, eyes still closed, waiting for The pain to come... But none ever did.
Slowly she opened her eyes to find her cravat lying in front of her on the ground, cut in two.
She blinked, looked down at her hands, and seeing no blood, sighed with relief.
About that time, the side of the platform reserved for the Freedom Fighters burst into
cheers. Antoine smiled triumphantly, and re-sheathed his sword. Seconds later, Bunnie plowed into
him, giving him a bone-crunching hug.
"Oh Sugah, y'all did it!!!" She giggled happily.
"Oii... Merci, cherie..." Antoine wheezed, "But you is crushing my rib cage..."
She blushed, and loosened her grip. "Sorry, Sugah... Ah'm just so excited! You won!" She
said smiling, then kissed him on the cheek.
Now it was his turn to blush.
"I have to admit it Ant," Sonic said, "You did good."
"I think that's he 'did well', Sonic." Sally corrected.
Sonic frowned at her. "Well, whatever it is, he did it."
Antoine, smiling weakly and still blushing, put one arm behind his head. "Was I, as you
say, 'way past cool', Sonique?" He asked.
Sonic frowned slightly. "Now I wouldn't go that fa-"
Sally elbowed him in the stomach.
"Okay, okay!" He grumbled, shooting her a glare, "You... You were cool Antoine, way
past." He admitted, rubbing his abdomen.
Antoine's weak smile turned into a grin. "I'll be remembering this, Sonique! Cherie,
you are a witnessed!"
Bunnie laughed, "Ah'll have'ta write it down an' get it notarized."
They all laughed, and congratulated him. They didn't even realize that the queen had
stepped down from her throne and was standing now in front of them, watching them darkly.
The tigress smiled, a hint of contempt in her voice. "Congratulations, Sally-Hime." She
said suddenly, touching Sally's shoulder. "But are you prepared for next event? Where is your
girl with the gun?"
Sally looked up at her, and the smile on her face fell. "My troops are still searching
for her..."
The tigeress' smile widened slightly. "I hope you find her." She said, "The next event
take place in half the hour."
* * * * * *