Oh no, not here again. I'm in the jungle but at least there's no rat
monster trying to eat me. What's strange is how real it feels. The air
I'm breathing, the leaves against my fur, all of it feels so very real I
can reach out and pluck one of those leaves and rub it between my fingers
and feel the smooth top and veined bottom.
"Come to the light young one.come to the light." A soothing female voice says.
As always I look around for the owner of the voice or even this so-called light. For the first time in all my dreams I actually see this light high above the trees in a temple that seems miles and miles away. A great compulsion wells up in me. I have to get to the light. Every part of my being wants me to get to that light.
"Beware the shadows." The woman's voice says
Only a second later a figure looms in front of me. It's shrouded in darkness and at least seven feet tall. Slowly it starts walking toward me and the only thing I can think to do is port down the path as far as I can. That's about two miles, but when I turn around there's another shadowy figure behind me. This one is shorter, but still about 6'6 and it looks like it's been pumping weights for years. Just when it doesn't look like things could get any worse a third shadowy figure appears behind the second. At least this one is about my height, but definitely more built.
"Oh this is great." I mutter.
The smaller one tenses like he's going to lunge at me but I react faster. I port into the branches above and begin running and leaping through them toward the temple. Below me I hear the shadowy figures following me and then there's a whistling sound that I don't understand until I see a round disk fly inches from my face. It looks like a CD but is obviously very sharp by the way it lodges deep in bark of the tree in front of me fly inches from my face.
"Things just get better and better."
A disk whistles by my ear just before I port to the furthest branch I can see. Of course, there was no way to tell that the branch isn't strong enough to hold me and the next thing I know I'm falling toward the ground below. I port just in time to miss becoming a fuzzy blue elf pancake on the ground but when I materialize I don't notice the shadowy figure behind me until a foot connects roughly with my back. I fly forward but manage to roll to my feet just in time to duck what I'm guessing is a mace. That would have taken my head right off.
My instincts tell me to get away and I do several back flips seconds before one of the shadowy figures shoots flames at the spot where I just was. My back is still throbbing from that kick, but I haven't got the time to let it affect me. I have to duck and dodge those disks the one is still shooting at me.
Well, it's obvious I'm not going to escape them so I might as well try to fight them. Maybe if I port behind one of them I can take it out before they realize what's going on. I have to do something before they kill me.
I port behind one of my attackers and almost laugh triumphantly as the one shooting the disks nails his partner instead of me. As the one in front of me goes down I quickly port out of the way of more sharp disks. I materialize behind the disk shooter and kick it with all my strength in the back of its head. Holding in a grunt of pain as my foot connects with hard metal, I port as far away as I can as the one with the flamethrower charges me.
"Quickly, come to the light." The female voice speaks again.
I look up and see the temple isn't actually as far away as I thought. Too far to port, but if I use the trees I should be able to avoid the flamethower and get to the temple quicker. So, I guess I'll just swing through the trees like a monkey and hope I don't get fried. Or cut in two for that matter, as I didn't exactly hurt the disk shooter with that kick.
The temple is so close now I can feel myself getting stronger from the glow of the light ahead. At the same time my shadowy attackers are starting to fall back more as the light becomes brighter and brighter. A disk whistles past my ear and then there's a roar not unlike a lion. A creature launches out of the temple ahead of me and I almost miss the next tree branch as I see it.
"Back you evil wretches or by Zoraas I will tear you limb from limb!" The creature roars at my pursuers.
"This isn't the end of this Light Warrior!" One of my attackers yells.
I stop on the next branch I land on and look back at the shadow guys, but find them gone. Light Warrior, huh? Were they talking to me or to that creature up there? Speaking of creature.what the hell is that thing?
"Fear me not Light Warrior." The creature calls. "Come down here so I can get a good look at you."
To comply or not to comply, that is the question. It did just save my life, but how do I know it didn't save me just so it can kill me?
"If I wanted to kill you I would have done it by now."
"Are you reading my mind?" I ask angrily.
"No, just your expressions." The creature replies. "Look, I am Koaji, the Sentinel of Light. I guard this temple and all those of the Light."
With a little hesitation I finally port to the ground a few feet in front of Koaji and inspect him a little better. Closer up I can see he is a mix of all sorts of animals. His head is that of a pure white lion with bright purple eyes glowing at me. His torso and arms are like a human's, which I can tell because he's not wearing a shirt of any kind. He's got a lower body of a horse, with two strong legs that look capable of running quick and kicking hard. Along with that he has a set of silvery blue bird wings that are pressed against his back and a snake like pure white tail. The only clothing he's wearing is a pair of tattered black shorts that look like they've been through all kinds of hell.
"What is this place? Why have I been called here?" I ask as I look past him to the large temple.
"That is not my place in telling. The sorceress will tell you that." Koaji answers. "She has been waiting for you for a long time."
"She has?"
"Yes, which is why I should stop talking and take you to her." The Sentinel tells me, his cat face breaking into a grin. "I suspect she is very eager to meet you."
The temple is big and gold, really gold. I think this building is actually made of gold. There are three large circular windows high up on the wall. Rising out of the middle of the roof is a tall tower on top of which is the source of the light. On either side of the large door into the temple there are statues of creatures that look just as strange as Koaji. The two closest to the door are identical half snake half bird creatures that look quite fierce.
"Each of these statues is a former Sentinel of Light. The two before me were the twins Jalli and Narris." Koaji explains. "When I die I will become a statue and whoever takes my place will get all my memories and the memories of those before me."
"So, no matter what there will always be a Sentinel?" I ask.
"As long as the Temple of Light stands."
I follow Koaji inside and find the inside is just as amazing as the outside. Statues of past Sentinels line the walls, which are gold just like the outside. The floor is wood except for a large amount of the very center where instead it looks like the kind of mats karate students practice on. Across the room is a winding staircase that actually goes over the top of the mats and through the ceiling up into the tower I would imagine. The large windows allow in an amazing amount of light that makes the whole place simply glow.
"Hello Light Warrior." A by now familiar female voice says.
I look up to see a beautiful woman coming down the staircase. She has shimmering silver hair that's long and wavy. Expressive blue eyes watch me intently as she elegantly makes her way down the stairs. She's wearing immaculately clean white robes that drape loosely around her, yet follow her movements beautifully. She's probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
"I am the sorceress Akela Kalli." The woman introduces herself. "I am sure Koaji has already introduced himself, yes?"
"Yes Sorceress Kalli." Koaji says with a bow.
"Then I believe you have only to tell us your name." Akela says as she steps off the last stair.
"I'm Kurt Wagner." I tell them politely. Then my curiosity gets the best of me. "Why do you keep calling me Light Warrior?"
Koaji looks sharply at Akela, his purple eyes glazed with confusion. "He does not know?"
"No, he thinks this is all a dream." Akela replies calmly.
I look at her and then at the Sentinel standing beside me. "This isn't a dream?"
"Come with me. We have a lot to talk about." The sorceress ignores my question.
"This is a dream . I'm sleeping right now, well, out cold from physical pain." I argue as Akela starts back up the stairs.
"Are you thirsty, Kurt? Or hungry maybe?"
She's avoiding my question. She's ignoring what I'm saying. This all seems so real, but it can't be. I'm only dreaming. There's no way I've somehow been transported someplace else in my sleep. That just can't happen. Can it?
"Are you just going to stand there?" Koaji's smooth voice breaks through my thoughts.
"I don't understand any of this. What--?"
"There will be a time for questions after I have explained things. I think the truth is easier to swallow with a nice hot mug of Nazzari juice and a couple sweetcakes." Akela calls to me as she disappears up the stairs.
This is all too weird, but at the moment I haven't really got a choice but to follow her and find out what is going on. I follow her up the staircase and to the next floor that turns out to be a rather nice looking living type area. There's a kitchen space at one side of the room, but it's lacking electrical appliances. The rest of the room has an assortment of chairs and a low to the floor table surrounded by soft looking cream colored pillows. At the far end is a fireplace, but the strange thing is the fire burning there is a lavender color and it's putting off no smoke.
"It is a magic fire. It uses nothing to burn, puts off no smoke, and never goes out unless I put it out." Akela explains after seeing my awed expression. "Now, if you will take a seat at the table I will retrieve some drinks and food."
With only minor hesitation I head for the table and carefully sit on one of the cream colored pillows. I wrap my tail around my waist before folding my hands in my lap. These pillows are in fact really soft and very comfortable.
"I must admit you do not look as I had expected you and your natural ability is a pleasant surprise." Akela says as she sits across from me. She hands me a mug full of something that smells sweet and then scoots a plate with a very tasty looking cake on it towards me.
I frown. "As in you weren't expecting a fuzzy blue mutant with the ability to port?"
"Mutant? Is that what you are called in the other world?" She asks, confusion crossing her face.
"Other world?"
"I hope we do not continue answering each other's questions with more questions." She says with a small smile.
"All you have to do is answer my questions. What is going on?"
"Eat and drink and do not interrupt." Akela says firmly. "There is a lot to explain."
I open my mouth to say something but one look from her blue eyes steals the words from my mouth Instead I pick up the mug of sweet smelling liquid and cautiously sip it. Instantly my mouth is assailed with the best tasting juice I have ever had. I can't help but give a little mmm of enjoyment which brings a beautiful grin to the sorceress's face. Thinking that the sweetcake probably tastes as good I carefully lift the little pink, soft cake and take a hesitant bite. Again this has to be the best cake I have ever tasted. Not too sweet and just right. This is sufficient to keep me quiet so she can explain.
"It all started six hundred and fifty years ago.."
+++++++++
Nyxe-- I'm sorry, I have a bad habit of cruel cliffhangers. I hope I don't disappoint you with my Kurt slash.
"Come to the light young one.come to the light." A soothing female voice says.
As always I look around for the owner of the voice or even this so-called light. For the first time in all my dreams I actually see this light high above the trees in a temple that seems miles and miles away. A great compulsion wells up in me. I have to get to the light. Every part of my being wants me to get to that light.
"Beware the shadows." The woman's voice says
Only a second later a figure looms in front of me. It's shrouded in darkness and at least seven feet tall. Slowly it starts walking toward me and the only thing I can think to do is port down the path as far as I can. That's about two miles, but when I turn around there's another shadowy figure behind me. This one is shorter, but still about 6'6 and it looks like it's been pumping weights for years. Just when it doesn't look like things could get any worse a third shadowy figure appears behind the second. At least this one is about my height, but definitely more built.
"Oh this is great." I mutter.
The smaller one tenses like he's going to lunge at me but I react faster. I port into the branches above and begin running and leaping through them toward the temple. Below me I hear the shadowy figures following me and then there's a whistling sound that I don't understand until I see a round disk fly inches from my face. It looks like a CD but is obviously very sharp by the way it lodges deep in bark of the tree in front of me fly inches from my face.
"Things just get better and better."
A disk whistles by my ear just before I port to the furthest branch I can see. Of course, there was no way to tell that the branch isn't strong enough to hold me and the next thing I know I'm falling toward the ground below. I port just in time to miss becoming a fuzzy blue elf pancake on the ground but when I materialize I don't notice the shadowy figure behind me until a foot connects roughly with my back. I fly forward but manage to roll to my feet just in time to duck what I'm guessing is a mace. That would have taken my head right off.
My instincts tell me to get away and I do several back flips seconds before one of the shadowy figures shoots flames at the spot where I just was. My back is still throbbing from that kick, but I haven't got the time to let it affect me. I have to duck and dodge those disks the one is still shooting at me.
Well, it's obvious I'm not going to escape them so I might as well try to fight them. Maybe if I port behind one of them I can take it out before they realize what's going on. I have to do something before they kill me.
I port behind one of my attackers and almost laugh triumphantly as the one shooting the disks nails his partner instead of me. As the one in front of me goes down I quickly port out of the way of more sharp disks. I materialize behind the disk shooter and kick it with all my strength in the back of its head. Holding in a grunt of pain as my foot connects with hard metal, I port as far away as I can as the one with the flamethrower charges me.
"Quickly, come to the light." The female voice speaks again.
I look up and see the temple isn't actually as far away as I thought. Too far to port, but if I use the trees I should be able to avoid the flamethower and get to the temple quicker. So, I guess I'll just swing through the trees like a monkey and hope I don't get fried. Or cut in two for that matter, as I didn't exactly hurt the disk shooter with that kick.
The temple is so close now I can feel myself getting stronger from the glow of the light ahead. At the same time my shadowy attackers are starting to fall back more as the light becomes brighter and brighter. A disk whistles past my ear and then there's a roar not unlike a lion. A creature launches out of the temple ahead of me and I almost miss the next tree branch as I see it.
"Back you evil wretches or by Zoraas I will tear you limb from limb!" The creature roars at my pursuers.
"This isn't the end of this Light Warrior!" One of my attackers yells.
I stop on the next branch I land on and look back at the shadow guys, but find them gone. Light Warrior, huh? Were they talking to me or to that creature up there? Speaking of creature.what the hell is that thing?
"Fear me not Light Warrior." The creature calls. "Come down here so I can get a good look at you."
To comply or not to comply, that is the question. It did just save my life, but how do I know it didn't save me just so it can kill me?
"If I wanted to kill you I would have done it by now."
"Are you reading my mind?" I ask angrily.
"No, just your expressions." The creature replies. "Look, I am Koaji, the Sentinel of Light. I guard this temple and all those of the Light."
With a little hesitation I finally port to the ground a few feet in front of Koaji and inspect him a little better. Closer up I can see he is a mix of all sorts of animals. His head is that of a pure white lion with bright purple eyes glowing at me. His torso and arms are like a human's, which I can tell because he's not wearing a shirt of any kind. He's got a lower body of a horse, with two strong legs that look capable of running quick and kicking hard. Along with that he has a set of silvery blue bird wings that are pressed against his back and a snake like pure white tail. The only clothing he's wearing is a pair of tattered black shorts that look like they've been through all kinds of hell.
"What is this place? Why have I been called here?" I ask as I look past him to the large temple.
"That is not my place in telling. The sorceress will tell you that." Koaji answers. "She has been waiting for you for a long time."
"She has?"
"Yes, which is why I should stop talking and take you to her." The Sentinel tells me, his cat face breaking into a grin. "I suspect she is very eager to meet you."
The temple is big and gold, really gold. I think this building is actually made of gold. There are three large circular windows high up on the wall. Rising out of the middle of the roof is a tall tower on top of which is the source of the light. On either side of the large door into the temple there are statues of creatures that look just as strange as Koaji. The two closest to the door are identical half snake half bird creatures that look quite fierce.
"Each of these statues is a former Sentinel of Light. The two before me were the twins Jalli and Narris." Koaji explains. "When I die I will become a statue and whoever takes my place will get all my memories and the memories of those before me."
"So, no matter what there will always be a Sentinel?" I ask.
"As long as the Temple of Light stands."
I follow Koaji inside and find the inside is just as amazing as the outside. Statues of past Sentinels line the walls, which are gold just like the outside. The floor is wood except for a large amount of the very center where instead it looks like the kind of mats karate students practice on. Across the room is a winding staircase that actually goes over the top of the mats and through the ceiling up into the tower I would imagine. The large windows allow in an amazing amount of light that makes the whole place simply glow.
"Hello Light Warrior." A by now familiar female voice says.
I look up to see a beautiful woman coming down the staircase. She has shimmering silver hair that's long and wavy. Expressive blue eyes watch me intently as she elegantly makes her way down the stairs. She's wearing immaculately clean white robes that drape loosely around her, yet follow her movements beautifully. She's probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
"I am the sorceress Akela Kalli." The woman introduces herself. "I am sure Koaji has already introduced himself, yes?"
"Yes Sorceress Kalli." Koaji says with a bow.
"Then I believe you have only to tell us your name." Akela says as she steps off the last stair.
"I'm Kurt Wagner." I tell them politely. Then my curiosity gets the best of me. "Why do you keep calling me Light Warrior?"
Koaji looks sharply at Akela, his purple eyes glazed with confusion. "He does not know?"
"No, he thinks this is all a dream." Akela replies calmly.
I look at her and then at the Sentinel standing beside me. "This isn't a dream?"
"Come with me. We have a lot to talk about." The sorceress ignores my question.
"This is a dream . I'm sleeping right now, well, out cold from physical pain." I argue as Akela starts back up the stairs.
"Are you thirsty, Kurt? Or hungry maybe?"
She's avoiding my question. She's ignoring what I'm saying. This all seems so real, but it can't be. I'm only dreaming. There's no way I've somehow been transported someplace else in my sleep. That just can't happen. Can it?
"Are you just going to stand there?" Koaji's smooth voice breaks through my thoughts.
"I don't understand any of this. What--?"
"There will be a time for questions after I have explained things. I think the truth is easier to swallow with a nice hot mug of Nazzari juice and a couple sweetcakes." Akela calls to me as she disappears up the stairs.
This is all too weird, but at the moment I haven't really got a choice but to follow her and find out what is going on. I follow her up the staircase and to the next floor that turns out to be a rather nice looking living type area. There's a kitchen space at one side of the room, but it's lacking electrical appliances. The rest of the room has an assortment of chairs and a low to the floor table surrounded by soft looking cream colored pillows. At the far end is a fireplace, but the strange thing is the fire burning there is a lavender color and it's putting off no smoke.
"It is a magic fire. It uses nothing to burn, puts off no smoke, and never goes out unless I put it out." Akela explains after seeing my awed expression. "Now, if you will take a seat at the table I will retrieve some drinks and food."
With only minor hesitation I head for the table and carefully sit on one of the cream colored pillows. I wrap my tail around my waist before folding my hands in my lap. These pillows are in fact really soft and very comfortable.
"I must admit you do not look as I had expected you and your natural ability is a pleasant surprise." Akela says as she sits across from me. She hands me a mug full of something that smells sweet and then scoots a plate with a very tasty looking cake on it towards me.
I frown. "As in you weren't expecting a fuzzy blue mutant with the ability to port?"
"Mutant? Is that what you are called in the other world?" She asks, confusion crossing her face.
"Other world?"
"I hope we do not continue answering each other's questions with more questions." She says with a small smile.
"All you have to do is answer my questions. What is going on?"
"Eat and drink and do not interrupt." Akela says firmly. "There is a lot to explain."
I open my mouth to say something but one look from her blue eyes steals the words from my mouth Instead I pick up the mug of sweet smelling liquid and cautiously sip it. Instantly my mouth is assailed with the best tasting juice I have ever had. I can't help but give a little mmm of enjoyment which brings a beautiful grin to the sorceress's face. Thinking that the sweetcake probably tastes as good I carefully lift the little pink, soft cake and take a hesitant bite. Again this has to be the best cake I have ever tasted. Not too sweet and just right. This is sufficient to keep me quiet so she can explain.
"It all started six hundred and fifty years ago.."
+++++++++
Nyxe-- I'm sorry, I have a bad habit of cruel cliffhangers. I hope I don't disappoint you with my Kurt slash.