Disclaimer: look, I'm a poor peasant. I have nothing but my self…

Sorry for the long wait but I had to deal with a couple of mates who have found my secret… if you are reading this, charley, Jessie. You know what's to come… prepare yourself…

Anyway, I'm back and I hope I can keep on writing without disturbances…

Night Rain

Chapter 5: Hurak and an excited Naida

It was a clear morning, the swallows were singing and the water in the garden can be softly heard lapping. There was nothing but peace and a song. A clear song that rang through the air. Everyone who woke up didn't recognise it, no words just a voice. Bright and happy, full of joy.

Kumiko woke up and ran to the living room. The garden door was open fully and cold air drifted in, Amaya was standing in the garden feeding the birds. Kumiko smiled to herself, it was good to see Amaya so lively,. She stood there enjoying the peace and tranquillity, then sighed, knowing she would have to spoil it soon. Amaya didn't seem to notice that Kumiko was sneaking up on her.

''Boo!!!'' Kumiko's voice echoed round the house and Amaya jumped a foot into the air.

''Never do that again, Kumi!!'' the young girl scolded, her bright sapphire eyes shining with happiness. She wasn't angry. Just shocked.

They stood on the steps giggling while the weak sun shone on their backs.

Gradually, the rest of the house hold got up. Breakfast was served peacefully and no one argued with each other. It was close to perfect. Around nine, the door bell rang, loud and clear.

''I'll answer it!'' Tyson yelled but Kumiko got there first.

''You won't know if they are dangerous or not! What if something got in and Amaya was killed?'' Kumiko yelled back, anger welling up, 'how could he be so careless?' she thought, 'they could have got hurt.'

''Hey anyone in? I'm like so hungry!'' a girl voice could be heard through the other side off the door.

Kumiko softened up and her face broke into a smile, ''Naida?'' then she quickly fumbled with the locks, hands slipping in excitement. As she broke open the last lock, Amaya came running down the doorway yelling ''NO!!!''

Too late. What stared back at Kumiko wasn't her friend but a giant blue panther. The Hurak breathed poison, lulling Kumi into a deep sleep. It roared, no longer disguising its voice.

Amaya whistled, a sweet ringing note which flew round the house quickly, wrapping every one into a sleep only one can wake them from. Amaya's eyes glazed over then came back sharp, no longer sapphires but striking blue. She smiled, not a sweet smile but a pure wicked one. A little voice, insignificant was heard, ''Your turn Ayama, em, be careful!''

''Aren't I always?'' was the reply.

The Hurak glared back, seeing a being not succumbing to it's poison, the deep blue fur glistened with sweat. This animal knew it was no longer the hunter.

''what business have you got? Hurak?'' Ayama said icily.

The big cat found a voice, ''I-I'' in the great beasts fear, it had forgotten a language. Instead it roared and pounced.

Ayama placed her fingers to her lips and blew. A thin mist in a light purple shade came out, enveloping the Hurak in mid-pounce. The last wisps of mist vanished and all that could be seen in the doorway was a skin of the Hurak. No flesh or bones but a furry skin and hollow eyes.

Ayama shut her eyes and they came back as a girl with kindness. She whistled again, a true note and fainted.

The blade breakers and Kumiko woke up.

Kumiko screamed when she saw the skin at the foot of Amaya's feet, staring back at her with hollow eyes.

Ray followed with the others came rushing up, almost tripping over the sleeping form of Amaya.

''What happened? One minute I was asleep and the next minute I wake up!'' he said confused.

''To be exact, the time we fell asleep was the same as the time we woke up. So to make it simpler, time must have stopped.'' Kenny spoke up.

''Stopped?! What do you mean?'' Tyson yelled.

''It's quite simple, Tyson. Something came in and killed the beast while time stopped an-'' Kai stopped mid sentence as a loud ''Yuck!!!'' could be heard down the lane.

Everyone rushed out, leaving Max to look after the fainted Amaya.

A girl with pink candy coloured hair tied up and in curls, squealed. She hopped up and down, and pointed to a thing on the floor. The Thing was actually the rest of the Hurak, a whole skeleton with masses of rotting meat stuck on either side, blood dripping from the fresh carcass. It's stench and sight was enough to make one's bile come up. Steam rose from the bloodied mess, as if it was acidified not too long ago.

''Naida!'' Kumiko cried.

The girl stopped her hopping and skipped over to Kumiko, her ruby eyes smiling.

''What is that dead Hurak doing there? Of all places, Kumi? Hmm… I see visitors!'' she ran towards the others, her curly hair bobbing up and down.

''hi, I'm Naida and I look after Amaya today, we have so much fun!!!'' she laughed and ran inside the house, not stopping to look at the girl on the floor.

Kumi shook her head, Naida equals havoc but without Naida means no fun.

She made her way back in and hoped something would soon rid the remains of the Hurak's flesh. She had to tell the boys about the forest.

*

Everyone sat in the garden, enjoying the weather. Amaya had woken up, looking really confused as to how a Hurak ever got in to her house.

''So, like what is a Hurak?'' Max asked.

''They are so sweet! Like adorable cats!'' Naida's eyes turned into gigantic hearts.

''Right, Naida… Huraks are blue panthers which hunt in the forest. They breath a special poison which can lull anyone nearby into deep sleep. Powerful and sly, they can mimic people's voice and highly intelligent. I'll say that one had known Naida's voice and when she would come.'' Kumiko said.

''Yeah, and some one blamed me for trying to answer the door.'' Tyson mumbled.

''Well, why did it die so sudden and weirdly?'' Kai asked.

''I don't know…these creatures rarely venture out of the forest. It's pretty dangerous in there, with all these inhuman creatures.'' Amaya said. She looked down, and then shot back up.

''Hey!'' she yelled.

''What?'' Ray asked, his head wheeled in confusion. No one old him it was so complex in Tibet.

''Kumi!!! You promised that once Naida arrived you would take me to see the Grave yard. I want to pray to priest Sybil. Her death was mysterious and I also want to pay respect to my dead family…'' she quieted at that point.

''Yes, I remember. If you really want to, then lets go!'' Kumiko said, eager to get Amaya smiling again.

She succeeded, the girl hopped to her feet and danced around happily…

Okay, I'm tired! That's it for now. short but who cares? The next one will be about the grave yard. Ray finds something important and needs to consult Kenny but where is he when ya need him?