Chapter Three: Priestess and Witch and Shifter, Oh My

"A'Kuna, are you sure this is such a good idea? I mean she is our superior in many ways and knows this area!" Tabitha asked as she quickened her pace to match that of the ex-priestess from Egypt. The Egyptian snorted at the idea but knew that Tabitha was right. T'Kai had existed in the wilds for almost 5,000 years now. She knew what all of her forms were capable of and was not only stronger but faster then her fellow spirits. The shape shifter's mind had not faded like that of the others over 5,000 years or only a few centuries in Tabitha's case.

"That may be true but you saw what she did to the man. What's to stop her from going after the girl as well? Trust me, I know T'Kai. She isn't one to leave loose ends untied." A'Kuna reasoned shortly. Unknown to the two was that T'Kai had no intention of going after the girl. She preferred leaving the girl alone, out of sight and out of mind. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with her.

"But what about Beth? You may be putting her in danger by just charging up to her and demanding that she not kill anyone else!" Tabitha pointed out. "If T'Kai is as violent as you say she is what's to stop her from killing you?"

A'Kuna paused for a moment; Tabitha was right. She didn't want to put Beth in danger! In fact she would never do anything to put the girl in harm's way if she could help it. She admitted to herself that her plan was rather dangerous and ill thought. If it failed there was no back-up plan to fall back on.

"I'm beginning to see why you were killed during the Salem witch hunts!" The older spirited spat before heading on towards the wooded area behind the house. Tabitha sighed and rolled her eyes before following. She knew this wasn't a very good idea but she would do what she had to do to prove herself worthy of the yami title. She paused as a black cat chased after her and waited patiently for the creature to catch up.

"About time you showed up! Where were you!?" the young witch hissed at the cat.

"Sorry there old pal, but I was slightly busy trying to catch lunch. What's our friend over there up to?" the cat asked in his British accent.

"Going to get herself killed." Tabitha mumbled as she silently forgave Saryon for being late. The cat looked over at what A'Kuna was doing and shook his head sadly.

"It was nice knowing the old girl. Now what do you say to going to the local ice cream store and getting us a nice vanilla cone?" he asked, turning quizzical emerald eyes on her. Tabitha shook her head and stepped over him, following A'Kuna. Saryon's jaw dropped for a long moment and then, as if realizing how ridiculous he looked, shut it and scrambled off after the two spirits.

A'Kuna motioned for the two late arrivals to be quiet as she pointed to the small woods. It wasn't even really a wood, just a simple area with a few scruffy bushes and briar patches with a few old trees that had survived the deforestation of the area half a century ago. Dead leaves and old candy wrappers and beer cans as well as a few bottles littered the ground. Half buried rocks rose from the forest floor like steps, leading to a single large bolder protected by the briar patch and blackberry trees. During the day the sun light hit the bolder directly, making it pleasantly warm all year except during rain or snow.

A startled bird darted out of the bushes as the three made their way into what seemed like part of another world. Small rodents fled before them as a garter snake slithered off one of the smaller rocks, grumbling in his language about humans invading his privacy. Saryon eyed the birds and mice but a warning glance from Tabitha made him quickly forget his bottomless pit of a belly for the moment.

In the dim light of dusk T'Kai watched them from her tree branch, her half closed eyes giving her a bored look. With a yawn she got to her feet and dropped lightly onto the bolder beneath the tree, stretching as the three spun around to look at her. Tabitha took a step back while Saryon seemed to faint at the sight of the giant leopard appearing out of seemingly thin air. Even A'Kuna seemed startled at the shape shifter's sudden appearance.

/Did I startle you? Oh please do forgive me. Come, make yourselves at home. I'll gladly have you as my dinner guests.\ T'Kai purred her tone close to pure malice. She lay down on the stone without skipping a beat, her tail lashing from side to side as if to swat away invisible pests.

"I see that you have gone back to your old ways T'Kai." A'Kuna stated, ignoring the silent threat. T'Kai turned her white hot void-like eyes on the other Egyptian, studying her for a moment before answering.

/My dear friend. Where ever did you get that idea? And what do you mean by 'going back to my old ways?'\ she asked innocently while sneaking a glance at Saryon. The little black cat meeped softly and hide in Tabitha's cloak, his emerald eyes glinting like jewels from within the ebony fabric that hid him from view. T'Kai snorted softly, as if to say that he wouldn't make a decent meal anyway then looked back to A'Kuna.

"You know what I mean T'Kai, and don't call me your friend" A'Kuna spat acidly.

/Oh this must be about that man I killed the other day. I assure you that it was all with good reason.\ T'Kai said blandly, tiring of the conversation.

"You killed him in cold blood! What is this so called 'good reason' of yours!?" The other hissed.

/Why don't you ask Audrey? She will tell you everything.\ the leopard retorted, her claws making their way into sight. The wicked ebony meat hooks still had red tips, dyed for the time being with blood. Whether it was human or not was a mystery that Tabitha didn't want to uncover.

"Audrey wont even speak to the therapist much less us!" A'Kuna cried, her temper hitting a boiling point.

/I have nothing else to tell you. Now leave before the lot of you becomes my next victims.\

"Is that a threat!?" A'Kuna growled.

/No.\ T'Kai purred pleasantly. /That my dear priestess is a promise.\

With that said the leopard disappeared, replaced by a raven that took to the air and vanished into the horizon. A'Kuna clenched her hands into fists, hand enough for her nails to pierce her skin and draw blood. Before Tabitha could ask if she was alright she turned on her heels and stormed off again, muttering Egyptian curses to herself. Saryon slinked out from hiding and watched her leave then turned back to Tabitha.

"That went well." He muttered. Tabitha sighed and followed the Egyptian out, heading for the opposite end of town and towards Emily's house before the girl's parents became worried. Saryon looked over his shoulder at where the leopard had been moments before and shuddered, then darted after Tabitha.

"TABITHA! WAIT UP! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE BY MYSELF!"

A/N: Well, another chapter done like I promised. This chapter didn't really have much of a point except to introduce A'Kuna and Tabitha, characters that belong to my friends that I have gotten permission to use. A'Kuna is from Egypt same as T'Kai and Bakura and Yami. She was once a priestess living in Japan that came to Egypt and met T'Kai but only briefly. More about her in later chapters. Tabitha was a witch that was executed in the Salem Witch Trials in Salem during the...I think it was 1600s. If not then its some time in that era. Saryon is Tabitha's companion, a talking black cat that is supposedly a wizard that is being punished for abusing his power. Anyway, hopefully I'll have another chapter up by the end of next week. As always, R&R.