(11)Searching the Planes

Remus forced himself awake a few hours later & the first thing he did was check to see if Sirius was beside him. He was. Sleeping soundly. Remus didn't bother being careful as he got up. Nothing but James Potter could wake up Sirius & only if he jabbed in his sharp horns! Remus played with the gold chain & cross as he stared at the curtains & growled softly. He had some work to do before Sirius got up.

It was late in the morning by the time Sirius decided to open his eyes & at least another hour before he crawled out of bed. He noticed the little changes right away. Sirius found Remus lying outside on the grass & bounded over as Padfoot. Remus woke up to a black dog lying directly on him & a black snout shoving into his face. "Padfoot! Shove off!"

"Shove off, yourself!" Sirius retorted, sitting up so he was straddling Remus.

"Hmpf!"

"It's comfortable on you!"

"GET OFF!" Remus snapped, bucking his body in an attempt to throw Sirius off. Sirius gave up & rolled off to lay beside him.

"I like the blinds!" Sirius went on as if the little fight never happened. "I never actually thought about blinds before!"

"I hate curtains," Remus groaned. "I hate them! I never want to see you around curtains again!"

"Was it that bad?"

"Yeah!" Remus sighed, sitting up. "Thanks for the moonlight, Sirius. I haven't been in moonlight like that since I was ten!"

"I know," said Sirius. "When I found out about that type of glass 5 years ago, I had my room redone with it right away. I guess, somehow, I was hoping you'd end up here!"

"Well, here I am!" Remus nuzzled into his pack member's neck as a wolf greets another.

"I never thought I'd see you again!" said Sirius. "Now to get that fawn in here & I think we'll be OK!"

Harry! Get the subject off Harry! "Mhm!" Remus pretended to agree. "& find Merida!"

"Well, I said I'd show you around," Sirius jumped up. "Let's go find Mrs. Lupin!"

Remus laughed nervously at that! Mrs. Lupin? "I've already started on the prairie."

"She'd be gone from there by now, what with those tigers & all," said Sirius. "Unless she ended up on some other Plane."

"Plane?"

"This place is based on elements," explained Sirius. "The Wind Plane--prairies. The Fire Plane, where I first landed. The Light Plane, where really, it's a constant storm & The Earth Plane. That's a desert & a perfect place for a Marauder! Lost artifacts & stuff to dig up if you have a permit! But what's a permit?"

"Sirius!" Remus groaned.

"True, it wasn't much fun by myself," Sirius hinted. "Maybe we could sneak in ourselves & steal a little something?"

"My raids have been reduced to chocolate theft!"

Sirius deflated. "Well.....DO something about it!" He tossed a chocolate to Remus. "Let's go through Fire Plane & head towards Seaport!"

"We can go through fire?" asked Remus. "Or is fire different here?"

"No, it's the same," said Sirius. "But there's plenty of hardened trails through it. It's just a little hot!"

Sirius led Remus into Feradeck & to the opposite side of town where several Flyers were parked. Flyers were machines that floated just a few feet off the ground & moved at an alarming speed, going just about anywhere except over the ocean, in record time.

"Welcome back to Fire Plane, Lord Bris!" said a man at the entrance. Remus screwed up his face in an attempt to keep quiet! LORD? Slutty ol' Sirius? A LORD?! OH MERLIN DON'T LET ME LAUGH! Hmm, I guess he could be a 'sexlord' but that's about it!

"Hello, Jaden!" Sirius returned the greeting. "I'm just on my way to Seaport, but I'd like to check on this Plane while I'm at it."

"It's still burning, Sir!" Jaden laughed.

"I see that," Sirius agreed. "but I was wondering if you heard of Merida Lupin?"

Potter! Potter! I'll have to tell him someday! Remus groaned silently.

"No, Sir," said Jaden. "Someone through the Celestial Temple?"

"I think so," siad Sirius. "She landed on one of the Planes. We've already checked the Wind Plane."

"Oh, be careful my Lord!" Jaden warned. "The coeurls are ferocious this time of year! Here's a map of Fire Plane. The fire has shifted again, forming new trails."

"Thank you Jaden!" Sirius took the map. "Come on, Remus!"

"I'm not hearing this!" Remus stared at him, as the entered. "The trails move?"

"Of course they do!" Sirius retorted. "The fire burns it's way through. Old trails pass away while new ones rise up!"

"& just when were you planning on telling me this?" Remus demanded.

"Shortly after arriving!" Sirius snapped. "Look, it takes about a month for an old trail to burn away & a new one made. & it only takes a day to cross this Plane!"

"Only a day?!" Remus groaned. "& what if the trail we're on is near the end of it's month? It could collapse under us!"

"Oh shut up, Remus!" Sirius ordered. "This map shows all the newest trails!"

"Don't tell me to shut up!" Remus retorted. "Especialy when our lives are at risk!"

"We'll be fine!" Sirius shot back. "Now....shut up....while I read this!"

"You shut up!" Remus snatched away the map. "I'll read it!"

"Stupid wolf!" Sirius whined. "Give it back!"

"No!"

"Go bay at the moon, Moonslave!"

"Shut UP! Padfoot-rot!"

"Remus!"

"Sirius"

"That's not funny!"

"That's not funny!"

"Will you be quiet!" Sirius made to grab the map.

"Get lost!" Remus ordered. "AGAIN!"

"Fine, maybe I will!" Sirius peered over Remus's shoulder & began reading.

"You're bugging me!" Remus snapped the map shut.

"Good!"

"Ohhh!" Remus sighed & then began singing softly, "Hit the road, Black & don't you come back no more! No more! No more! No more! Hit the road, Black & don't you come back no more!"

A moment of silence passed. "Hey, isn't it Hit The Road Jack?" Sirius suddenly asked.

"No, it's Black!" Remus retorted.

"No, no, no, no! I'm sure it's Jack?"

"It's BLACK!"

"It's JACK!"

"Black!"

"Jack!"

"Black!"

"Jack!"

"Black!"

"Jack!"

"Black!"

"Jack!"

"Black!"

"Jack!"

"Black!"

"JACK!"

"BLACK!"

"FINE! It's Black!" Sirius gave up! After a minute, he muttered under his breath, "It's the Blackest Jack I've ever seen!"

Remus growled. "It doesn't matter if it's Black or Jack, Padfoot! The point is, so long as it follows the rhythm of the tune who cares what the bloody word is?!"

"Oh is THAT the point?" raged Sirius. "FINE! TWO can play that game! Oh Remus! Oh Remus! Don't you be so mean! You're the meanest old wolf I've ever seen---!"

Remus cut in, "Well if that's so! Then just pack your bags & go!"

Then they both jammed, "Hit the road, Black!"

".........Wolf!"

"& don't you come back no more! No more! No more! No more! Hit the road Wolf!"

"........Black!"

"& don't you come back no more!"

Remus stopped, thinking it was over but Sirius went on! "Now Remus, oh Remus! Don't you treat me this way! I'll be back on my feet some day-----!"

Good grief! What have I started? Remus cut in again, "I don't care if you do, I think you misunderstood! You may got lots of money but you're just no good!"

"Well if you say so," Sirius went on. "I'll just pack my things & go!"

"GOOD RIDDANCE!" Remus screamed. "Hit the road, Black!"

".......Wolf!"

"& don't you come back no more! No more! No more! No more! Hit the road Wolf!"

"........Black!"

"& don't you come back no more!"

"NO MORE!" Remus ordered as he rolled his eyes. "Now, no thanks to you, we're completly lost & I'm hot!"

"Mmmmmm mmm mm!" Sirius cooed. "You don't need to tell me you're hot!"

"Pleeeeeeaase!" Remus groaned through gritted fangs. Sirius smacked his lips, making a kissing sound. "JUST....get me out of here!" Remus handed over the map. "& take the newest trails! This place is unperdictable!" He glanced around at the gorges spitting out flames. Pouring down a cliff on the far left, was a wide firefall, spilling into a river of lava & fire at the bottom.

"About time!" Sirius snatched it back. "Snivellus was right! We do bicker like an old married couple! You know? You blushed when he said that!"

"OH! I did not!"

"You did to!

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Didn't!"

"Did!"

They continued that arguement for the next hour or so. Sirius had managed to get them back on track in the meantime & they had reached the center of the plane. It was a wide circular trail with a pit of flames in the center. The main trail heading to Seaport, was in front of them.

"Look, I didn't blush, OK?!" Remus fumed.

"Then why were you a bit red in your cheeks?" Sirius teased.

"I was frustrated!"

"Oh yeah! Sure! Frustrated! Mhm!" Sirius laughed & whispered to himself. "Sexually frustrated!"

"I was not!" Remus snapped. "I was upset that Snivellus was trying to take you away & there was Peter sitting right there in Ron's hands! Snivellus almost ruined it, you know!"

"He ruins everything!" Sirius said. "Don't take it personal! Gees, Moony! Now come here so we can kiss & make up & go!"

"Hell no!" Remus growled. "Let's just go!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"You're blushing right now!" Sirius went on. "Hmm I wonder why?"

"Maybe because I'm walking through Fire Plane & it's heating me up!" Remus retorted. "You're a little red yourself!" Sirius smiled at that which made Remus roll his eyes to the back of his head!

They made it to Seaport by evening. The cool ocean breeze was a great refreshment after wandering through Fire Plane all day. However, Merida was not with them. "Maybe she landed on Light or Earth Plane!" Sirius suggested.

"I hope so!" Remus stared out over the ocean & watched the sailing boats bobbing in the waves.

"We'll go to the Bestry Isles in the morning," said Sirius. "That's near Light Plane, just off-shore a few miles & the only place where vampires don't go!"

"That's a relief!" Remus said. "I'm not used to the idea of a war with vampires yet! Why don't they go there?"

"Because it never gets completely dark," said Sirius. "There's no storms there either & no coeurls. It's a tropical place, full of clear lakes & rivers. Plenty of tropic trees, sandy beaches & lots of----!"

"-----women!" Remus scoffed.

"Yup!"

"I know you to well!" laughed Remus. "Goodnight!"

The moment they stepped off the dock at Bestry Isles the next morning, Sirius began running across the beach towards the road. Remus hurried after him. "Why are you running?"

"Everyone runs here!" Sirius answered. "No one walks except when they're inside!"

"Let me guess," Remus groaned. "You planned on telling me this shortly after arriving?"

"Mhm!" Sirius laughed.

They hurried over the hill, through the woods & across ornate bridges over the streams, often interupted by some girl or another waving.

"Hello Sail!"

"Hey, Tiffa!"

"Sail! You've returned!"

"Hi, Gem!"

"Morning Sail!"

"Morning Jedia!"

"Good grief....SAIL!" Remus huffed behind him. "Do you know all of them?"

"I know just about every girl in this realm, Remmy!" Sirius paused atop a hill, overlooking the one & only town in the Isles.

"Yeah, in a biblical sense!" Remus muttered to himself.

Down on the right side was an in-land pool connected to the ocean. "I'll take you there, later! I've got a surprise for you!"

"Let me guess, mermaids?"

"Nope!" Sirius laughed. "Something more for you! But first, we must visit the Bestry Temple. It's to show respect for the Bestry people."

"Well, well Lord Bris," the high priestest greeted them. "You've returned! Again!"

"Again?" Remus muttered to himself.

"Yes, Lady Azrial!" Sirius bowed slightly & Remus copied him.

"& who is your friend?" Lady Azrial eyed Remus over.

"Remus Lupin," answered Sirius.

"Welcome to Bestry Isles, Master Lupin!" Lady Azrial held out her hand.

Master? Very well, then! Remus held her hand a moment. "Thank you!" He tried to pull back his own hand but she held on.

"You....are different?"

"Well yes," said Remus. "I came from the Celestial Temple!"

"No, I mean different!" Lady Azrial pressed.

"Err...I...hmm?"

"He is a Lycan if that's what you mean," said Sirius. Remus glared at him in a panic!

"Ah, I see!" Lady Azrial let Remus go. "I've heard of them but never met one before, seeing as I am not allowed out of Bestry Isles. A High Priestest must never leave her people!"

"Yes, m'Lady," Sirius went on to ask about Merida as Remus surveyed Lady Azrial & the others that were currently in the temple. The Bestry Natives were pale baby blue colored with white hair. The blue skin sheen, Remus assumed, was most likely caused by their life around water. He also felt strange in front of one who has never met a Lycan & who didn't seem to know much about them!

"HEY!" Sirius snapped Remus back to reality. "Did you hear me? Merida has been here!"

"What? Really?" Remus gasped. "Where is she?"

"She said she's going to the Light Plane," answered Lady Azrial.

"Wonderful!" Remus groaned. "Now she's looking for me & we're missing each other!"

"The next ship to Light Plane leaves at dawn," Lady Azrial went on. "I will have one of my Gaurdians set a room for you Master Lupin!"

"Thank you m'Lady!" Remus bowed with Sirius as they left, knowing full well why she didn't offer to set a room for Sirius! He will be staying with her, of course!

"Come on!" Sirius pulled Remus over hills & through glades. "I found out they've moved from the in-land pool to the other side of the Isles!"

"Who?"

"You'll see!" Sirius flopped down in the sand & pulled Remus beside him. "Just watch the waves!"

Remus stared into the waves. You have to tell him! "Sirius? I...I really need to tell you something!"

"Yes, Rem?" Sirius opened one eye lazily.

"Well...it's...it's..." Remus gazed into his friend's face. It was impossible to tell if he had ever been to Azkaban even for a moment. Remus felt as if his life had suddenly flashed before him. Harry's dead! Go on! Just say it! Say it now! Harry's dead! "Peter is dead!" DAMN!

"W-W-What?" Sirius gaped.

I said Harry is dead! "I killed Peter! He's finished!"

"Whoa!" Sirius felt light-headed. "Y-Y-You mean.....it's over? Prongs can rest in peace?"

"Yeah," Remus sighed. I really meant to say Harry.....! Remus went on to describe how Peter died. "I shredded him into so many peices, even the Threstals couldn't find them!" he finished. Sirius got up & walked a little into the waves. "I'm sorry a lost control of Moony like that! I was just so furious-------!"

"Don't apologize!" Sirius ordered. "He got what he deserved! I'm glad you let Moony have some fun!" He stared over the waves for a moment then suddenly let out a loud whoop & jumped in the air. "He's gone! He's dead! Oh, I can't beleive it!" He raced back to Remus & pounced. "You got rid of him! I'm glad he's gone! I knew I could count on you!"

Remus hugged Sirius back. "Yeah it's over!" he said. "The Marauder's Holocust is ended!"

"Thank Merlin!" Sirius agreed, lying down beside Remus for a few minutes. "Here come your friends!"

"Hmm?"

"On the waves," Sirius pointed. "They're Sea Wolves, made of water. They play on the waves around Bestry Isles!"

"Sea Wolves!" Remus watched the water form into dog-like shapes & race around over the waves.

"They're like dolphins where we come from," Sirius said. "Quite friendly! Want to go for a swim?"

"Sure!" Remus jumped up & headed into the waves.

It was late evening when the Sea Wolves left, though it never got completely dark. Remus went to sleep almost immediatly. Sirius of course, behaved like Sirius! He spent the night with Lady Azrial.

Later the next morning, found Remus glaring back & forth from into the gorge of Light Plane to Sirius & back again. "OK, let me guess!" he fumed. "You were going to tell me.....SOMETHING....shortly after arriving?"

"Fine, fine!" Sirius sighed. "Light is short for Lightening!"

"Uh......huh!" Remus crossed his arms. "& just how are we going to get through this?!" he nodded to the gorge. It was dark as night, raining beyond reason & angry flashes of lightening struck every five seconds!

"Easy!" Sirius groaned, raindrops falling off his nose. "There are lightening towers all along the main path. Don't wander & you'll only get wet! After this, the hot Earth Plane desert will dry you in no time!"

"Sounds easy enough!" Remus snapped. "So.....uh, where's the main path?"

"Through the towers!" Sirius retorted, marching forward.

"Merida would not stay here!" Remus muttered.

"So will head straight for Earth Plane!" Sirius snapped.

"Oh, DO shut up!" Remus ordered.

"Why don't you shut up?" Sirius suggested.

"Just shut up, yourself!" Remus groaned.

This conversation carried on through most of the walk through Light Plane. A few hours later, Remus & Sirius emerged from the gorge & headed out from under the few escaping storm clouds & into the desert. "There's the oasis!" Sirius pointed across a sand dune. "Hmm, usually there's always someone around here!"

"Do you have anything to tell me?" asked Remus.

"Not this time," Sirius sighed, exasperatedly.

"Hello!"

"Hello yourself, love!" Sirius smiled flirtaciously & stopped in front of a mermaid lying on a rock in the oasis. Remus rolled his eyes!

The mermaid had long black hair & a flashy neon scaled tail which she dipped in the water every so often before holding it high. "I'm Kerrel!" she smiled seductively. "I was wondering, do you have a sand shell?"

"Sand shell?" asked Remus.

"It comes from the sand snails," said Sirius. "Rather pretty things! No, Kerrel! I just got here!"

"Hmm, if you find one, can I have it?" Kerrel flipped her fins to soak them. "I can't go on land, of course but if you bring me one, I'll reward you!"

"Mmm sounds good to me, love!" Sirius purred, ignoring Remus's sigh of protest.

"It's a date!" Kerrel smiled. "I'll be waiting! I'll be around here for the next day or two so take your time!"

"How can I make a pretty girl like you wait?" Sirius laughed softly as Remus rolled his eyes skyward! Kerrel giggled & flipped off into the water. "Ah, she's a pretty thing----What?"

"Nothing!" Remus growled. "Let's go!" He began marching up the sand dune & became tangled up in something lying just under the sand. "What the------OOF!"

"Having fun, Remmy?" Sirius pulled him up.

"Sure!" Remus felt around in the sand & pulled out a dettached coeurl whisker.

Sirius, for once, became serious. "That's a blaster! One of the killing whiskers off a coeurl! Coeurls never come here! Something's wrong!"

"I'd like to know where the rest of it is!" Remus glanced around. "Over there on that sand dune!" He hurried towards the rest of the cat. It was dead.

"Rem, look at that mark," Sirius pointed to the cat's chest where a large green-colored wound was. "J-Jim & Lily had that mark on them last I saw them!"

Remus stiffened. Last time Sirius saw James & Lily was just after they were murdered. "Then that must be the Death Curse. Maybe Merida!"

"If this is Merida's doing, then you've got one dangerous woman!" Sirius half-smiled. A loud roar sounded from the bottom of the sand dune. "Look! Another coeurl! What are they DOING here?!"

Remus didn't see the cat. All he saw was Merida facing the tiger & raising her wand. "There she is! Come on! Hurry!"

The cat swatted at Merida with it's paw, knocking her wand aside. It stood & hissed once more. The blasters began sweeping forward. "Accio wand!"

"Jump Meri! Jump over them!" Remus yelled over yet another roar as a second tiger appeared behind her. "Oh Merlin! Two of them?!"

"I'll bet there's more!" Sirius gasped. "This is not normal! These cats shouldn't be here! Mrs. Lupin! Look out! Avada Kedavra!" Merida whirled around & two blasters struck her right in the chest just as the cat fell dead.

"NOOO!" Remus fell to his knees as he watched Merida fall with the cat.

Sirius killed the second cat & fell beside Remus. "I'm sorry, Moony! I just wasn't fast enough!"

"She can't be dead!" Remus growled ferally. "She has to be only knocked out or something! That cat died!"

"I doubt it died in time, Moony!" Sirius held Remus close to him for a moment. "Let's find out!"