Journeys
Disclaimer: Don't own the Beyblade characters. Rest of them are mine.
"Talking"
"Thinking"
Kai walked out from the plane terminal. He was behind Ray and Jaco. He smiled mentally when he saw Ray's eyes dart from left to right, scanning for any danger. It was a habit that had both irritated and amused him. Even if Ray had been in the room a hundred times the moment he left it and came back he would do the 'Danger scan' as Kenny put it. Speaking of Kenny. Kai looked around then shook his head.
Kenny was trying to remove Tyson from his grip on a vending machine. Max was standing with his mom laughing. Their laughter caused the two neko-jins and Jaco to turn and watch. Ray smiled, Jaco laughed and Kiara just growled. Her growl was cut short when another growl was directed her way. Kai watched as Ray's eyes returned to normal. Kiara looked to the floor.
Finally, after spending four hours pulling Tyson off the vender, and a further hour looking for their Hotel not to mention another arguement between Kiara and Ray. They were all settled. They had decided to share rooms again. Judy, Kiara and Emily were sharing. Micheal, Eddy and Steve were in one. Kenny, Jaco and Max shared the one opposite them and Ray, Kai and Tyson (Much to Kai's unhapppiness) were sharing the last room. Jaco had told them all to go and get some sleep. There were no arguments. soon all slept, peacefuly unaware of the storm brewing within their ranks.
How long had it been since the first of their kind had walked. Centuries. Kiara stood now watching the sun rise. She was the only one awake. All the others were suffering from jet lag. Well almost all the others. The Tiger was gone. She knew where he went, like all his kind the forest called to him, it's mournful song luring the young one into it's comforting folds. Comforting for him anyway.
Jaco had told her much about the boy. She had known that the sacred year was upon them. She could see in his eyes that She was calling him. That one. Kiara didn't know her name, no one did. So she was reffered to as She, and other far ruder names that she hadn't the time to remember. Her own tribe were the chroniclers, they had all the information on the clans. From the Ancient ones to the recent ones. That was how she learnt more about the boy, that was how Jaco found himself pulled in.
She saw Jaco in the kitchen. All of them were filing in, she may as well join them. She gave the forest a last look then walked back to the house.
All sat in the lounge, cups of tea and coffee held in anxious hands. Jaco was about to explain this ritual that was to be performed. Kai for one wasn't going to leave till he knew all there was to know. He watched as Jaco sighed and sat down. " It is time I told you everything.. Once a Tiger comes of age they must merge with their more feline self. If not it can prove deadly for all, especially in Ray's case." Kenny frowned. " Why?" Jaco looked briefly to Kiara, she shrugged." As the last he has been given a ... power. One that if not controlled could be used to harm rather than help. As you know there is a dark side to the Tiger race. This side was feared, very few could keep the two sides in perfect balance, one of them was the leader I spoke of. But the ritual suppresses this darkness. On the next full moon we will take Ray to the forest. There he will meet Her. The feline side will be revealed. Those stripes you saw are a sign that he is ready." Kai nodded." Will they go away after?" Jaco shook his head." No, their there for good." Kai nodded.
He felt a sudden pull, a need to go outside. He left, making sure none noted his abscence. He found himself drawn to the forest. He had seen Kiara walk to it last night, it was as if she was in a trance. She had stopped at the edge and then backed away as if in fear. He was confused, this morning Ray had walked into the forest without so much as a second glance. Why did this forest have such an affect on Kiara and not Ray. With a shrug he walked in, to look for Ray and see what this forest had that none other did.
Jaco looked around, finally noticing their missing member." Where is Kai?" Tyson looked around then shrugged." He did this all the time, leave us with nothing but a note." Kiara gave a slight sigh, that sounded more like a hiss in Jaco's opinion." He went to the forest after the Tiger." Jaco thought his heart had stopped. ' Kai has gone after Ray! No, he can't. She's there. That's why Ray went there, She is calling him.'
He looked to the others. They had no idea, Kiara did so why didn't she stop Kai. ' Maybe because she doesn't like Ray, Ray is close to Kai, if Kai got hurt it would hurt Ray.' For the first time in his life he felt doubt. Was Kiara trying to stp the Ritual. Was she so afraid of him that she would go far enough to hurt another to stop him. He turned to Kiara, he needed to get rid of her. " Go to your village, learn as much as you can on this forest." She nodded and left. He looked to the others. " Follow me."
Ray sighed. He had been walking for what seemed like hours. He didn't even know where he was going or why? Just that he needed to go there. The path was familiar, vaguely. Like he had walked it before. He looked at a tree. Old and massive, it's branches seemd to be reaching for the heavens, or exulting them. Either way, it was a breathtaking sight. He walked closer to it, something about the tree called to him. He heard his own footsteps thud. He came to the realisation that there were no sounds save his own. The birds were no longer calling eachother, neither were the insects singing to the sky. Still he moved closer, his heart quickened. Excitement coursed through already heated veins, why was this so important? A voice seemed to drift to him through the silence. The language strange yet familiar, as if he had heard it before only a long time ago.
What was happening? The voice was louder, as if someone, or something was coming closer. His common sense screamed at him to run, to escape the danger. But his legs were now rooted to the ground. He looked around him, taking in the clearing he was in, the old oak tree which seemed to hide another clearing. This clearing was even beigger than the one he was in, grass ran from the tree to a line of rocks, tiny white flowers seemed to glow from their various perches on the grass, the line of rocks went all around the clearing completely surrounding the seemingly innumberable small mounds and their small, smooth rocks, just like graves. His mind backpedalled. ' Graves. A grave yard, something has lead me to a grave yard!' A gentle voice, much like the one he heard before broke his panicked and already scattered train of thoughts. " Welcome home, little one. I have waited a long time for this day. It is time you revealed yourself to the others."
Ray spun to face the voice. 'Now they decide to work, stupid...'
His mind froze. Before him stood a huge creature, white fur glistened in the moonlight broken by what seemed to be black stripes. Huge paws hid sharp claws and a massive head opened it's mouth to reveal large canines. Ray was frozen once again to his current spot. This time it wasn't from fear, it was... He didn't know.
The group found Kai. " What's wrong?" Jaco shook his head and started running to the large oak." No time. Follow us, we must get there before it's too late." Without another word they followed.
They reached the oak with pounding hearts and starving lungs. Jaco froze. Kai felt him freeze and looked up from his previously head bent position, which was how all the others were still, he too froze.
Before teams stood the biggest white tiger Kai had ever seen, and he was sure that it was the biggest he would ever see, his heart clenched in fear as he saw Ray not more than a few metres away. He was just standing with his back turned to the tiger. Before Kai could shout a warning a voice broke the silence." Welcome home, little one. I have waited a long time for this day. It is time you revealed yourself to the others." ' It spoke! The huge tiger just spoke to Ray!' Ray turned and faced the tiger, his amber eyes widening in surprise and.. Kai almost laughed. Joy. He watched as Ray opened his mouth, a sharp intake of air audible to any ears. The two looked at eachother a moment longer. Finally Ray spoke. His voice trembling and strained.
" Calypsa."
Tbc
