Chapter Twenty Two: Common Enemy

(Rayden's Private Domain)

"Damn it, Rayden! I need to train, "yelled Althea as she tried to get her arm freed from the thundergod's grasp.

"You have trained enough for today, its time for a break, "replied Rayden as he pulled the woman to the hot spring, "You are suppose to be resting, not drilling yourself into the ground."

Althea's eyes flashed dangerously as she dug her heals into the ground and said, "You are so lucky you are my only ride out of here."

"With that in mind,"he said as he picked her up and dumped her into the spring, clothes and all. "Now I want you to soak for at least an hour, "he ordered, "I'll be back by then with something to eat." He then vanished with a flash.

"Rayden!" Althea screamed into the empty air.

(Quan Chi's Laboratory)

Quan Chi studied the artifact closely. So far his attempts to control the blasted thing have failed. The sorcerer angrily threw the medallion onto his work desk as he fumed.

"Lupena! Jola! "he yelled as he sat on his throne. His anger increased when only Jola appeared at his summons. The former crime lord remained silent and bowed slightly to her master.

"Where is Lupena? "Quan Chi demanded.

Jola replied with a slight smile, "I don't know, would you have me find her?"

Growling slightly, Quan Chi wondered at the woman's apparent calm but decided to ignore it for now. "Yes, I do want you to look for her, "he said, "but first I want you to deliver a small message to an old friend of yours." Seeing Jola's smile turn cruel, he added with a small laugh, "Not that type of message, but perhaps next time." He then handed her a scroll.

(Woods)

A dark wolf loped through the woods with no destination in mind. The one it sought would find her, rather than the other way around. The wolf stopped and took a deep drink from a cold stream.

"Nice night for a walk, "said Fuijin from the other side of the stream. The wolf's head went up with a start and a growl in surprise, hackles up high.

"Let's not start that again, "Fuijin said with a smile, "You're the one that wanted to see me, remember. Let me guess why; you can't stand you new partner."

The wolf stopped growling and sat on it haunches. As if he heard the wolf talking to him Fuijin said, "He what!"

The wolf nodded and then whimpered slightly.

"Damn! "said Fuijin, "You're right to be worried. That thing is way too dangerous." He looked away briefly as he thought. As useful as she was, it was just too dangerous to ask her to keep spying on Quan Chi. "Ok, I'll see what I can do, "he said, "Just don't go back there. Get yourself and your pack out of here or at least stay away from that pasty face idiot." With a gust of wind, Fuijin was gone.

The she-wolf turned to head back to her pack when a sudden blast of smoke darkened flame headed straight at her. She jumped and dodged just in time, but still felt the heat of the fire as it went past her.

"I knew you were a bitch, but a filthy spy as well, "said Jola coming out from behind some trees, "Quan Chi is going to love hearing about this."

The wolf changed and shifted into a large, two-legged monster. With a roar, the werewolf ran to the dragon shadowed woman. Jola just grinned as she easily dodged the first swipe of the wolf's claws and then caught the second one. Tightening her grip with the strength of a dragon, she brought the werewolf to its knees

"You're lucky that he will want you back alive, "then Jola smile grew larger and meaner, "Or perhaps not. After all we know what he does to those who fail him, wonder what he'll do to one who betrays him?"

The sound of an arrow and then Jola fell forward, releasing her captive. Jola fell to the ground, with a crossbow bolt in her back. "Run! "came Drevane's voice. The creature didn't need to be told twice as it shifted back into a wolf and ran in the direction of the voice.

Seconds later, the shadow of the black dragon appeared and seemed more solid than before. The bolt that was imbedded in Jola's back flew out as if pulled and thrown. The dragon's shadow faded, but Jola's eyes flashed with fire as she got off the ground. With a roar she looked around, but saw that both her targets were long gone. Quan Chi was not going to be happy.

(Elsewhere in the Woods)

The wolf silently followed the trail of the man that saved her from the dragon woman's wraith. After a few minutes, the she-wolf caught up with the Red Dragon leader. She followed him for a ways as he quietly and quickly made his way through the woods. Where he was going, she had no idea but she had to know why he saved her.

Drevane hide the smile that threatened to crack his face. If his tail saw it, it would have been a dead give away. He couldn't believe his luck coming across Jola and Lupena at each other's throats. The werewolf and her pack would be powerful allies against the Black Dragon…If he could convince them to work with him.

Drevane eventually reached his hidden camp. A small enclosed area surrounded by the stone wall of a mountain on three sides and a thick brush of the fourth. After restarting the fire, he placed a kettle of water to boil.

Lupena, now in human form, watched from the brush. She knew she should be warning her pack but instead she was watching this human make tea! Mentally kicking herself, she turned to leave.

"Would you care to join me? "asked Drevane not bothering to look up from the fire.

Lupena turned to glare at the man as her eyes glowed red.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, "said Drevane, "After all we do have a common enemy."

The woman took a calming breath and entered the clearing.

"Tell your pack that I wish to make a deal, "said Drevane as he checked the water.

Lupena growled, "You have nothing to bargain with."

"Just tell your pack leader what I said, "he said as he looked directly at her, "You owe me that much."

(Rayden's Private Domain)

Rayden sighed, breaking the deafening silence. Althea glared at him briefly and then returned to reading some scrolls he got for her. The thundergod didn't need the link between them to know she was still mad at him for dumping her into the hot spring. He wisely kept the chuckle that threatened to break free under control until he left the room. 'Damn it, 'he thought, 'She knows that her chi energy is connected to both her physical and spiritual well-being. The bleach job alone should be proof of that.'

Rayden left the house and headed to the hot spring. He sat down on the soft moss and leaned back onto a large boulder shaped just for that. Taking in the silence of the night, he closed his eyes to think. The memory of the first sign of Althea's improving health flickered in his mind. She was sitting on the bed, brushing her drying hair. "You know I'm right, "Rayden remembered saying. Althea turned to tell him something, but he didn't hear it as he noticed that her eyes were no longer crystal blue. They had returned to their original blue-green. With shock, he cupped her chin and made her look up so to get a better look at her eyes.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? "she demanded as she pulled back from his hand.

"Your eyes…"he said as he led her to a mirror. Althea gasped as she saw her old eyes staring back at her.

Rayden opened his own eyes as he felt a summons. Frowning he stood up and looked in the direction of the house. 'She needs time to cool off anyway, 'he thought as he vanished with a flash.

Althea sighed with relief as she saw Rayden leave. Through their link, she also felt the summons and that was part of the problem. She wasn't sure if it was their bond growing stronger or perhaps just this domain, but in spite of both of them having their shields up, she was still sensing some of what Rayden was feeling. She loved the son of a storm cloud, but it was getting irritating to constantly have his feelings overlapping hers. Sometimes she didn't know which emotions were hers. Even their dreams were starting to merge. It was only when she was concentrating on something, training or studies, that she didn't notice it. It didn't seem to affect Rayden the same, but perhaps he was use to it. After all, he did have that weak one-way link with Kung Lao to keep track of the Champion of Mortal Kombat. Althea tested her link and shields. Yes! With Rayden outside of this domain she could not sense him with her shields up. Now she could get some real sleep.

The End…

Next time on Mortal Kombat: Konquest….

Jola smiled and said (to the tavern crowd), "I recommend you all leave. " She then looked directly at Kung Lao, "Unless you want to play the hero and get in my way."

Kung Lao stood up and said, "What war you have with the Red Dragon is none of my concern unless you make it so. "