Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and ideas! I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you.
"Why can't we see him?" Katya demanded.
Kelmio sighed. "I told you, he still has much recovering to do. I don't want to have him become too excited by having you two go visit him."
"Well when can we see him?"
"I'll tell you when you may child, but presently you may not. Why don't you take Akio to go play with Alitea while I check on him right now?"
"Alright, fine," Katya grudgingly agreed, before half-stalking off towards the other side of the castle. Star obediently followed.
Kelmio sighed again and shook his head. Why were pre-teens so difficult? he wondered.
Contemplating this thought, he turned and walked back inside the building and up the stairs. The two Guardians plus Akio had been at Castle Shuuko for nearly a month, and all were clearly going stir-crazy.
When he reached the room that Takeru was currently occupying, he opened the door and walked in silently, expecting the boy to be asleep. He was pleasantly surprised to see him awake and sitting up. Making his way around the wolves that had refused to leave their master's side, Kelmio went over to the bed.
"Awake, I see. That's very good. Your health is improving rapidly now."
"Yeah," TK sighed, "But I still feel really weak."
"That's probably because you used what little energy you had left in that fight with the Mosque swarm. That was very stupid of you," he rebuked, while prodding Takeru's left arm.
"Well what was I supposed to do?" TK defended himself. "Katya needed the bug-things to be distracted so that her lionesses could get there in time. I couldn't just lie there and wait for us to die y'know."
"Very defensive, aren't you?" Kelmio asked, poking the boy's arm especially hard and earning a grimace. "Well, your arm's nearly healed, and the rest of your physical injuries are gone. Now you just have to wait for your life energy to build up again."
"And how long is that going to take? We have a mission, y'know. And I want to get it finished as soon as possible so I can get back to my world."
"Are you really that eager to leave? You'd be leaving Katya, Akio, your wolves, and everyone else you meet here behind."
TK sighed. "I know, but…I don't belong here. I have to go back, Kari and I can't stay. And the sooner we complete this, the less time we spend here, and the less it will hurt to go back."
Kelmio raised an eyebrow knowingly. "You say that, but you don't believe a word, do you?"
TK smiled sheepishly and shook his head. "No, but it's nice to think that way."
"You are an optimist then, just like your father."
"I suppose so, I can't really say, I didn't know what he was like."
"Would you like me to tell you what I can?"
TK nodded enthusiastically. Kelmio smiled and took a seat by the bed.
"Well, I've known BlackWolf since he was about your age. He was a very kind boy, and very brave. He understood his duty and completed it out without question. He was excellent with a sword, and no one could match him in speed and agility. That's probably because of his heredity, though."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you exactly, but I can say that he came from a very special bloodline, as do you now."
"If you say so. But, can you tell me any more about him?"
Kelmio, sat back thoughtfully. "What do you want to know?"
"How about his real name?"
"No one remembers it. He has always simply been BlackWolf to everyone."
TK frowned. "I see. Well, can you tell me anything else about his life?"
"He was selfless and very mature for his age, if you're wanting to know of his personality. He became hardened from having to fight, of course, but he retained his kind nature. The people loved him, they loved all of the Guardians. Many were saddened when they died so young."
"How young were they?"
"Nineteen. They were all nineteen when they had to die and were finally given the choice to pass on to the OtherSide."
TK sat silently for a second, wondering what Kelmio meant by 'finally given the choice to pass on.' Suddenly, an idea came to him.
"Reverend Kelmio, when you say 'finally' do you mean that they had gone to the Underworld before?"
Kelmio didn't look the least bit surprised by the question. "Yes. Like you, they had died before."
TK's eyes widened slightly. "You know I died?"
"I know all that goes on. I also know that you were given a Life Force Crystal and that's the only reason you're still alive."
"Yes," TK murmmered, placing his hand gently over his heart. "I don't understand it though."
Kelmio smiled slightly and moved TK's hand placing his own over the boy's chest. As TK watched in confusion, the Reverend's hands began to emit some kind of energy. TK could feel it pulsing through him.
Slowly, the Reverend drew back his hands. TK gasped as he felt his heart tug. He felt something inside of him being released. And he wasn't sure he liked the feeling. He was too mesmerized to move, however.
As Kelmio drew his hands farther back, something from inside TK seemed to be drawn up as well. He gasped again as a purple/black glow began to originate from his chest. Slowly, he saw the crystal being drawn out of him, suspended in the light. Kelmio held it in his hands.
"A Life Force Crystal is a very precious gift, one that should not be taken lightly. Should this frail stone be destroyed, you will die and there will be no coming back to life that time. You must protect it with all of your power. But, it will help you much more than it will hinder."
"How?" TK asked, staring at the stone. "What else can it do?"
Reverend Kelmio placed the stone in TK's cupped hands. "Focus on the stone, what do you feel?"
TK closed his eyes and focused as he was directed. He could feel the dark energy radiating from it. As he concentrated more, his mind began to spiral down within the stone. It spun deeper and deeper, getting out of control as it was engulfed. Panicked, he snapped his eyes open and nearly dropped the stone.
"What did you feel?" Kelmio asked calmly.
"It was…I was…my mind was spinning in it. I couldn't control it…it surrounded me…it was so powerful, too powerful…it was very frightening," he finished in an undertone. "How can this help me?"
Kelmio took the stone back from a reluctant TK. Even if it had shaken him up, he still felt drawn to it. And besides, it was his lifeline, literally.
After a few seconds, Kelmio spoke again. "The wonderful thing about a Life Force Stone is that it provides much easier access to one's inner power. That energy that you were engulfed in was actually your untapped potential. It's how powerful you can become. As you could plainly tell, however, you are no where near skilled enough to control it all. You see, that's what the Shadow Stone on your arm is for. It protects you from subconsciously tapping into that uncontrollable power."
"So that's what it is," TK mumbled, tracing the stone on his arm lightly.
"Yes, it's one of the things that Isan did that actually saved your life."
"One of the things?" TK shot back, angry that Kelmio would insinuate that Isan had done more to help him.
"Yes," Kelmio replied, still calm. "Had he not trained you, you would have died long before, but wouldn't have been given the Life Force Stone. You see, Isan actually saved your life."
TK hmphed and crossed his arms as best as he could. "I guess," he muttered angrily. Then his tone changed to a curious one. "How were you able to draw out the Life Force Stone without killing me?"
"I was able to because it was still, and forever will be, linked directly to your heart. As long as it is not destroyed you will live, even if it is hundreds of miles from where you are."
"I see," TK said quietly as he took the stone back and placed it against his chest. Slowly he pushed it back into himself, absorbing it into his heart once more. He noticed that it didn't hurt as much as it had before, but a dull throbbing pain did accompany it.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kelmio noticed Rage rise, sensing his master's pain and assuming that Kelmio was responsible. The other wolves were alert as well. Kelmio decided that now would be a good time to take his leave.
He reached over and patted the boy's shoulder as he rose. "I should really go back and tend to Katya, Akio, and the lionesses. They are quite anxious to see you, you know. Do you think you feel up to visitors?"
TK nodded enthusiastically, pain pretty well gone. "It's about time you let them see me. You're even more protective than my brother." He sighed and looked down at the last sentence, wishing he hadn't said it. He always got so depressed when he thought about Earth.
Kelmio looked at him in understanding. "Should I still send them up?"
TK nodded absently and Kelmio quietly left to fetch the others.
Rage sauntered over to the bed and placed his head in his master's lap, looking up at him with understanding eyes.
/Will you be alright Takeru/
TK sighed as he pet the wolf's head. /Yes, I think so./
Rage then perked his ears.
/What is it/ TK asked.
/The others are coming. They are very excited./
TK smiled slightly. Suddenly, he thought he saw something in the corner of his eye. He turned his head quickly, but there was nothing there. Just an open window. But, he could have sworn…
/Apocalypse…/ he started to ask the wolf nearest the window.
/Yes/
/Did you notice…I mean was something there by the window a second ago/
Apocalypse raised his head, confused. /No Takeru, why do you ask/
TK frowned. /I thought I saw something. Probably just my imagination./
His attention was diverted from the mysterious happening at the window by the door to his room opening. Akio ran in first, followed closely by Katya. The younger boy smiled with glee and ran to the bed. He clambered up Rage, much to the wolf's playful annoyance, and practically launched himself at TK.
"Papa! You're okay!"
TK chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Yeah, I'm fine kid. Are you alright?"
Akio nodded. "Of course. I was really worried about you though. So was Mama. She kept gettin' all mad at Reverend Kelmio when he wouldn't let us see you."
"Oh really?" TK drawled, looking over at Katya, who was blushing a little.
/Rage, why don't you take Akio to play over on the other side of the room while Katya and I talk/
/Alright. I'm sure Tempest will watch the little pup./
Rage then gently used his teeth to pick up Akio by the back of his shirt. Akio looked surprised, but didn't struggle or anything. He simply went along with it.
Once he was on the other side of the large room, Katya approached the bed slowly. TK saw her eyes begin to fill with tears. He tilted his head at her curiously. When she reached the bed, she practically collapsed on his chest, a few tears escaping her.
"You are such an idiot!" she exclaimed weakly, clutching his shirt with one of her hands. "You tried to save us and you nearly got yourself killed!"
'You don't know the half of it,' TK thought wanely.
"You'd better not scare us like that ever again!" she continued scolding. "You'd better promise me!"
TK tried to lighten the mood with a chuckle. "It's not like I planned it or anything."
She pulled back and glared at him, tear streaks on her face.
"Okay, okay," he said, holding up his one good hand, and speaking soothingly. "I promise I'll be more careful, how's that?"
Katya nodded somewhat jerkily. She stared into his eyes as he stared back. She couldn't believe he had tried to make a joke of the whole thing. He had nearly died. He, one of the most important people in her life, the one that she was fallin-. She stopped her thoughts dead right there. Kelmio had said that her mother's one mistake had been falling in love, and she wasn't going to repeat that mistake. Besides, he wasn't even really from this world. It would never work.
But none of that seemed to matter as she looked into his georgeous blue eyes. She didn't know when she had started liking him that way, but it had become crystal clear when she had almost lost him. She inwardly sighed as they kept looking at each other. Why did things have to be so difficult?
She saw Takeru sit up, bringing their faces even closer together. Their lips closer together. Oh Gods, she could feel her cheeks growing warm. She couldn't imagine what his reaction would be if he saw her blushing.
Next to her, TK didn't even notice the blush. He was too busy looking at the rest of her face. He hadn't realized until now, but she was a very beautiful girl, and would no doubt mature to be even more lovely. He mentally kicked himself, what was he thinking? For one thing, they were from different worlds, and for another, he doubted she was interested.
Then again, she had kissed him. But that was just in thanks, right? As they sat, he, very slowly, unconsciously leaned closer to her. She did the same. They stopped when they were only a few inches away from each other, both unsure of whether to continue.
"So, are you going to kiss or what?" came Akio's small sing-song voice.
Both older children whipped their heads towards him before smiling nervously and pulling away, faces red, completely embarrassed.
Akio chuckled, as did several of the wolves. TK mentally glared at them, but that only seemed to encourage their snickering.
Katya and TK turned back to each other, unsure of what to say. There was a long awkward silence. Suddenly, the doors burst open and Alitea rushed in.
"My Lord and Lady," she greeted, hastily bowing.
TK and Katya inwardly sighed. She had insisted on calling them that since they arrived.
"Yes Alitea?" Katya asked pleasantly, glad for the distraction from the extremely embarrassing situation.
"A warrior has arrived. He claims to know you personally my Lady, and he knows of you my Lord. He is in terrible shape, but refuses to be helped until he speaks to both of you."
"Send him in then," Katya replied, mentally thinking of every man she knew personally, trying to figure out who it could be. "Maybe we can talk some sense into him."
"Right away," was the reply as Alitea went back out, only to return shortly with an odd looking man. At least, he looked odd to TK.
The man was fairly young, mid-twenties or so, and had long, slightly matted black hair that framed his pale face and deep dark eyes. He was wearing brown loose leather pants that reminded TK of what an Indian might wear, and his chest was bear. Well, almost.
On his chest were several blue stripes running diagonally that looked like they circled around his back and up to his shoulders again. His face was marked as well. A small loose spiral was on the middle of each of his cheeks and they were connected by a swirling line that went up towards his eyes and over the bridge of his nose.
He was panting and looked extremely hurt.
"Maki!" Katya cried out, rushing over. "Maki, you're hurt! What has happened to you!"
The man, Maki, looked up tiredly before attempting a bow. "My Lady," he panted out.
Katya got an annoyed look on her face and held him up. "Look Maki, we've been good friends forever, so don't you dare start getting all formal on me now, understand?"
Maki let out a weak chuckle. "Alright, you win." By this time, it was clear that he was about to collapse, a fact not lost on TK.
TK threw back the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He stood up shakily, muscles weak from not being used. Rage, the closest to the bed, stood and offered his support as TK walked over the the duo, who hadn't noticed him yet.
When he reached them, he placed a hand on Katya's shoulder. "Why don't you help our guest over to the bed? He looks as though needs some rest, or at least needs to lay down."
Katya looked at him, ready to scold him for being up and moving around, but thought better of it as she realized that he was right. Nodding silently, she moved to support Maki and urged him to the bed. Maki resisted a little at first, but relented at Katya's warning glares.
Once Maki was propped up in the bed, Katya turned to TK, concerned anger in her eyes. "You. Sit. Now." she ordered, pointing to the chair by the bed.
TK flashed her a small grin before sitting cross-legged in the large chair. Katya perched on its arm.
"I'm afraid that we haven't been properly introduced," TK said to break the ice. "My name is Takeru."
"I am Maki," was the reply. "You are the fabled Shadow Mage, are you not my Lord?"
"I am the Shadow Mage, but you needn't call me 'Lord,' Maki."
"Oh, but I must my Lord," he then turned to Katya. "And I know you very well my Lady Light Mage."
"You should," Katya huffed, still irritated that one of her best friends was treating her like nobility. "We did grow up together. You were like the overly overprotective big brother that I never had."
TK inwardly winced at he statement. How often had he used the middle part of that phrase to describe Matt? Surely more times than he could count. He tried not to show any outward emotion, though, as Katya continued talking.
"So, tell me," she urged Maki, "What happened to you?"
Maki sighed. "The village was attacked."
Katya's eyes widened. "By w-who?"
"The Gryphons, we know not who their master is."
"Is everyone…alright?" she asked hesitantly.
Maki looked down. "Some were killed, but most survived. They are trapped in the village now, and will die of starvation if the Gryphons are not defeated soon. I just barely managed to escape."
Katya was speechless. She couldn't believe that the Kol village that she grew up in had been attacked and the people were dying. It was a horrible thing to imagine. She didn't know what to do. Suddenly TK spoke.
"We will defeat them then and free the village," he proclaimed.
"You're hurt," Katya accused.
TK brushed it off. "I am well enough. I can rest for the remainder of the day, and we can leave in the morning. We can leave Akio here in Alitea's care. I doubt she'll mind."
"Takeru…" she trailed off.
Maki picked up. "We do not want you in any danger my Lord. If I had known you were injured, I would have sought help elsewhere. I can leave and find someone else."
"Who? I may not know much about Hiata, but I can tell you that even if you were able to find someone willing and capable of helping, it will take a long while. Too long. No, we shall do it. It is our duty to protect all of Hiata, is it not?" he asked, glancing at Katya.
Katya sighed and slowly nodded. "It is."
"Well then, it's settled. We will rest today, and leave first thing tomorrow." TK stood up and turned towards the bed. "Maki, you can stay in here tonight. I'll find a different room, I'm sure this place has lots of them."
Maki smiled and inclined his head in a form of a bow. "Thank you my Lord."
TK sighed. "You don't have to be so formal, you know."
"Give it up Takeru," Katya said, feigning weariness. "He has too thick of a skull to change what he does. Always has."
Maki mock glared at her as TK turned to leave. "I'm sure you have a lot a catching up to do. I think I'll just go find another bed now. I'll see you both later."
The two nodded their good-byes as he left, his wolves trailing him. Then Katya sat down in the chair next to the bed and began to talk of everyday things with her old friend. Although, the conversation didn't last long as he soon fell asleep. She simply smiled and watched him lay there peacefully. She couldn't describe how happy she was at that moment. But she had a sinking feeling that the happiness wouldn't last long.
-
Early the next morning, the two and their Shadow Beasts set off as planned. TK had removed all of his bandages earlier, but had grudgingly let Alitea bind his left arm from wrist to elbow tightly so that the fracture would continue healing correctly.
However, this minor nuisance didn't stop him from acting like his old self. He tried to keep up conversation as they rode, asking Katya about exactly where they were going.
She told him that they were headed for a medium sized village to the Southwest of Castle Shuuko. It was located within an oasis type place, surrounded by trees with a pure lake in the middle. The people who lived their were called Kols.
Two of the Kols, Aleja and Kosjo, had born and raised Katya in that village. The Kols were nature loving people, and very secretive. They tended to keep to the shadows, and avoid any kind of conflict of unwanted contact when possible. They were very untrusting when it came to outsiders, but when you gained their trust, they would protect you like kin.
TK noticed that Katya spoke in a dreamy tone when she told him about the village. He figured she must be homesick. He couldn't blame her, he missed his home as well. Often, when he couldn't sleep at night he would imagine that he was on Earth with his family. These thoughts would soothe him to sleep more times than not.
"We are almost there," Katya said, breaking into his thoughts. "It is just over this next hill."
TK frowned. He could sense the Gryphon now. They were powerful, but not overly so. However, while they may have been slightly weak individually, as a pack they were probably a force to be reckoned with.
"We should be cautious now, and stick to the shadows," he advised. "We want the element of surprise on our side." He paused in thought. "Tell me, is there a way to sneak into the village and attack the Gryphon from the inside?"
Katya bit the inside of her cheek thoughtfully. "There are ridges on the north side of the village. They will be very hard for the Gryphon to guard effectively. We could, perhaps, sneak in through there."
TK nodded. "Alright. Lead the way."
Katya nodded back and urged Star and the rest of the lionesses to the north, making sure to keep in the shadows of the trees and rocks. They were about halfway to the ridges when they encountered their first obstacle.
"Katya, Gryphon," TK hissed, indicating the sky.
She looked up and her eyes widened slightly. There was indeed a Gryphon circling just above them. It hadn't seemed to notice them, but they couldn't take any chances. They decided to wait for it to leave, but it didn't. It settled on a high rock, using eagle sharp eyes to scan the landscape.
TK inwardly cursed. That Gryphon didn't look like it was going to move anytime soon, and they couldn't move another inch if it stayed. Yet, if they didn't move, they would most likely be caught. The only way to avoid being caught, that TK saw, was to kill the Gryphon swiftly and silently.
He turned to Katya, not believing what he was going to say. "We have to kill it now, but undetected," he whispered almost inaudibly.
Katya pulled back, eyes wide. She couldn't believe that he would suggest that. He had always been the nonviolent one. But, he was right, of that she was sure.
"How?" she responded, leaning closer again.
TK paused. "I think Rage and Star could do the trick. They just have to be quick and clean."
Katya nodded and placed a hand on Star. TK, in turn, placed a hand on Rage.
/Rage/
((Star?))
/Hunt./ ((Hunt.))
Hearing this simple command, the wolf and lioness took off into the shadows, eyeing their prey. It had yet to detect them, not surprising as they were the better predators. They positioned themselves behind it, crouching and inching closer. With a glance at each other and a mutual understanding, they lunged.
Rage went straight for the neck while Star tried to get at the soft underbelly. A quick snap, cruch, and squish later it was dead, not even having time to cry out.
The two predators then began to feast on the Gryphon, especially enjoying its blood. It had been a while since they had been allowed to eat something that they had hunted as Kelmio made them eat meat that he already had on hand.
Katya and TK simply let them eat for a minute or two, deciding that the two deserved it for a job well done. In the corner of his mind, TK could feel the other wolves' disappointment at not being able to eat as well.
/Don't worry/ he told the pack. /You'll all eat your fill of Gryphon soon, I'm sure./
He felt his wolves 'smile' back before he turned his attention to Rage once more. The wolf and lioness had pretty much devoured the whole beast, leaving nothing but the skeleton. Their muzzles were covered in blood.
/Good boy Rage/ TK praised. /But we need to move now./
Rage nodded and walked back over, kneeling down to allow TK onto his back. Star did the same for Katya.
((Excellent kill Star.))
((Thank you Katya)) Star purred.
As they again began to make their way to the village, a strategic idea struck TK.
"Katya, let's leave half of our Shadow Beasts to surround the village. That way, if the Gryphon try to retreat, they'll have no where to go."
"Good idea," she replied, surprised that she hadn't thought of that first.
((Alright Serenity, Purity, Bliss, Devotion, and Miracle, you heard him. Surround the village along with his wolves and if the Gryphon try to get away, hunt.))
Several purrs of contentment rang in her head.
/Tempest, Apocalypse, Midnight, Poison, and Storm; you five stay out here and watch for Gryphon. We won't take too long to drive them out, understand/
/Yes Takeru/ a medley of voices replied.
/Good. Go now/ As soon as he finished this command, the five wolves, followed by the lionesses, disappeared into the night, cautiously surrounding the oasis area.
/Okay Rage, let's continue. Follow Star./
Rage obeyed and settled in step behind the lioness in the lead. He licked his lips, savouring the lingering taste of the Gryphon blood. He hoped there would be more to come.
"This way," Katya whispered, "We're nearly there. Are any Gryphons around?"
TK concentrated. The closest one was over a hundred yards to the left, and it was moving away. He frowned. He had been sure that it would be more difficult to get into the village than this. He sighed and tried to shrug it off and turned to answer Katya's question.
"There are none that will bother us."
Katya nodded in reply. "Good. There are the ridges, right ahead of us."
TK looked ahead and saw massive cliffs and ravines, and wondered exactly how they were going to get across and into the village. Katya seemed to know exactly where they were going, though.
She urged Star towards a narrow opening between two of the cliffs. It was a tight squeeze, but all of the Shadow Beasts were able to fit. However, the ceiling was low, so the two humans had to lay down on their respective Shadow Beasts in order to fit.
TK inwardly swore as his legs scraped painfully against the sides of the cliffs yet again. "How much farther?" he asked Katya.
"Not much," she replied. "It's just up ahead."
A few minutes of painful travel later, the passageway did indeed begin to expand. The two humans could now sit up without banging their heads or scraping their legs. TK gave a sigh of relief, glad to be out of the cramped place.
As he looked around, he saw that they were inside the middle of the ravines now. He wondered how they would get out. But, yet again, Katya seemed to know exactly where to go.
She headed to the left, towards a place covered in shadow. TK tried to see through the shadows, but couldn't make out anything. He hoped Katya remembered how to get where they were going.
As they rode closer, Katya paid TK no mind. She simply kept going, assuming that he was following. She couldn't be distracted if she was to find what she was looking for. She might miss it if she wasn't completely focused.
Suddenly, she saw it, and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been so long since she had been down here, she was almost afraid that she had forgotten the way. Glad that she hadn't, she led them through a large stone archway into a long corridor. All they needed to do now was follow this, and they would end up in the center of the village.
She increased Star's pace as they got further along, excited to be so close to home. It took them only a few minutes to reach the end of the passage.
TK did a double take when he saw it. The exit was just a stone archway, like the entrance, but there was a waterfall just a couple feet beyond it.
Katya chuckled at his astounded face. "It is how we keep the tunnel secret. You are unlikely to find its beginning or its end unless you are a Kol. Come now, we are near the center of the village."
TK nodded, not able to think of anything to say. They went towards the waterfall and rode along a small rocky ledge that went around to the side of the lake. TK noted that it was very beautiful on the inside. The waterfall fell from a bluff into a large crystal clear lake. Their were several small houses made of mud bricks and thatch roofs surrounding the lake. There was also a two story building in the middle. The ruler's house, TK assumed. And surrounding all of this was a lush forest.
"Come on," Katya said, hurriedly. "You said that there were no Gryphons, correct?"
TK nodded, still concerned about that fact. If the Gryphon had taken over the village, then why were they all outside of the village lines? Wouldn't at least two or three stay to guard the people? It made him…uneasy.
Katya didn't seem to feel this uneasiness and she continued urging Star towards the village. When they reached the lake's edge, Katya dropped off of Star. TK dropped off of Rage's back as well, keeping a hand on the wolf's shoulder.
"Where to now?" he asked, glancing around. It looked deserted to him.
"We are going to see my Aleja and Kosjo."
"You mean, your mom and dad?"
"The Kols don't use such titles as 'mother,' 'father,' 'son,' or 'daughter'. We simply call each other by our given names."
"Oh, I see."
"Come on now, they live over here."
She led the way towards a house just a few yards away. She opened the door slowly, not bothering to knock.
"They'll have to stay out here," she said absently, gesturing to the Shadow Beasts.
TK nodded. /Rage, take the others and scout. Report back within an hour, alright/
/Yes Takeru/ Rage replied, turning to leave.
TK then turned back to Katya, who was entering the house slowly. He wondered what she was so apprehensive about. This was her family, after all.
"Aleja? Kosjo? Are you here?"
"Katya?" came a surprised male voice.
A man then came into the room quickly, bags under his eyes. TK noted that he had the same coloring and clothing as Maki, and the blue markings were only a little different.
"Kosjo!" Katya cried out, running over and throwing her arms around his neck. "I've missed you so!"
'So this is the man who raised Katya,' TK thought. 'He looks nice enough.'
Katya broke the hug a few moments later and gestured to TK. "Kosjo, this is Takeru. He is the Shadow Mage."
"It is a pleasure to meet you my Lord," Kosjo greeted, inclining his head.
TK said. 'Not again.' "Nice to meet you too. And please, just call me Takeru."
"Alright…Takeru."
"Kosjo, where's Aleja?" Katya asked excitedly.
Her excitement dimmed as she saw his eyes grow sad.
"She is…in the bedroom," he replied slowly. "She was hurt in the attack. The shaman doesn't think she'll…" he trailed off.
Katya stepped back, striken, before rushing into the back room. She saw Aleja lying on the bed, looking pale and flushed at the same time. Her breathing was shallow and raspy, and her eyes were half open. She turned her head as she heard the girl come in.
"Who's there?" she asked weakly.
"Aleja, it's me. It's Katya, I've come home," Katya replied shakily as she knelt by the bed and took Aleja's hand.
Aleja's eyes softened and her mouth formed a ghost of a smile. "My girl, you're safe. I was so…so worried," as she finished speaking she was overtaken by a series of coughs.
Katya worriedly stroked her hand as she waited for the fit to stop. "Yes Aleja, I am fine. It's you I'm worried about."
"Do not worry my girl," her voice was soft as she raised a hand to lightly stroke Katya's cheek. "I got to see you again, and that makes me the happiest woman in the world right now. I'm so glad that I am able to say good-bye to you." Another series of coughs.
"Don't be silly Aleja. Nobody's leaving, you don't need to say good-bye," Katya nearly choked on the words.
"Hush now, darling. Don't cry. You have to be strong. Promise me you'll be strong," Aleja's voice was a mere pained whisper now.
"I-I promise," Katya stuttered brokenly, clutching Aleja's hand even more tightly.
"Good girl. My good, strong girl," Aleja breathed as her eyes slowly closed. Her breathing hitched and her hand went limp in Katya's grasp.
"No, Aleja!" Katya cried in a whisper. "Don't leave me! Please, don't leave!"
Oh, how she wanted to break down and cry, but she had promised Aleja she would be strong. Why did she make a promise she couldn't keep? Despite her will, a few tears trickled down her cheeks.
From the doorway, TK and Kosjo looked on in sadness and anger. Sadness because of the death of Aleja; anger because it could have easily been avoided. TK glanced over at Kosjo and saw that he looked like he was about to cry as well. He then noticed more tears rolling down Katya's face.
He walked over slowly and crouched behind her, wrapping his arms around her, rocking her slightly.
"It'll be okay Katya," he soothed. "She's in a better place now. Trust me, I know." At that part, Katya twisted her head and looked at him curiously. But her curiousity was immediately replaced with anguish.
She leaned into him, letting some sobs escape her. She knew she had promised Aleja that she would be strong, but even the strongest cried sometimes.
TK saw that Kosjo had moved to the bedside, and looked very close to breaking down.
"Come on Katya," TK whispered softly. "Let's give them some time alone now."
Katya nodded shakily and allowed TK to gently pull her up and guide her to another part of the house, closing the door to the bedroom behind them. He moved her over to a couch and sat her down, letting her cry.
As she did, he ran soothing fingers through her hair, not letting his anger show. "Don't worry Katya, we'll make them pay. I swear to you that they'll pay."
-
In their anger, they decided to start their attack just a few hours later. TK found the location of every single Gryphon and relayed this information to both the wolves and the lionesses. Then, with anger controlling their minds, the two ordered the Shadow Beasts to kill every one mercilessly.
The Shadow Beasts had no problem complying. The ten on the inside of the village each stalked one of the Gryphon, getting as close as they could without being seen. When they were seen, they would run at top speed, trying to chase the Gryphon into the path of one of the Shadow Beasts surrounding the village.
The Gryphons, being not very intelligent creatures, fell for it each time. Their death cries filled the air as they were torn apart by the merciless beasts that were feeding off of their master and mistress' lust for revenge.
When every single Gryphon had been slaughtered, the Beasts began feeding. They tore the flesh apart and drank the blood, still feeling the killing frenzy.
TK and Katya watched them eat with some satisfaction. They had avenged Aleja, it would seem, and made sure that these Gryphons were not going to harm anyone else. But they still didn't know who the person controlling the Grypons was. And it bothered them immensly.
TK sighed, frustrated, as he walked among his wolves; none had seen anything that could have been the master. When he reached the edge of the oasis he sat on a rock, trying to think of who it might have been. Seeing as how he didn't know thatmuch about the people of Hiata, it was really getting him no where.
He raised his head quickly as something flashed in his mind. It felt like…another Gryphon, only…more human. But, that was impossible…right? What could possibly be part Gryphon, part human? That seemed weird, even for Hiata. He concentrated. It was coming from the east.
/Frenzy/ he called to the closest wolf.
Frenzy stopped feeding and walked over obediently. /Yes Takeru/
/What do you see over there/ he asked, pointing east. He figured that since wolves have better eyesight than humans that she might be able to see something.
Frenzy focused her eyes and looked towards where her master had indicated. /Not much. There are a few more bluffs rising up, but nothing else that I can see. Why/
/I feel something/ he replied absently.
Frenzy nodded in understanding, and waited to see if he would continue.
/Will you fetch Katya for me? Then you can finish eating./
/Of course/ she replied, trotting off.
Katya approached him several moments later. "You wanted to see me?" she asked, still getting over the shock of Aleja's death.
TK nodded. "What would happen if we went over there?" he asked, indicating to where the bluffs were.
Katya frowned slightly and focused her power to see the future. "We will end up in a fight with a strange beast and a familiar one," she said in a trance-like voice. "We will defeat one, but be defeated by the other. That is all I can see, the rest is cloudy."
TK nodded slowly, frowning. "What would happen if we didn't go?"
Katya focused again. "They would seek us out, and the fight would be here. It would be bloody…so bloody."
TK frowned more deeply. So, they were going to have to fight one way or another; either here or there. Better there than here, he figured, because less people would be hurt.
"We should go," he said quietly.
Katya said nothing, but silently agreed.
/Wolves/ TK called out.
/Yes/ a mixture of voices replied.
/Finish eating. We leave in ten minutes./
/Yes Takeru./
Next to him, Katya was giving the same message to her lionesses. She sighed heavily when she was done.
"Are you going to be alright?" TK asked quietly.
Katya nodded. "I have to be. We have many more tasks to complete. I'm going to go tell Kosjo good-bye. I'll meet you back here in ten minutes."
TK nodded as he watched her leave. He turned his attention back to the east and sighed. He really hoped that she was wrong about them being defeated. There was so much more they had to do yet.
-
Half an hour later, they were approaching the bluffs. They were fairly large, probably about ten stories high. The seemed to form a complete circle, the only way in was thorugh a narrow passage too small for the Shadow Beasts.
TK could feel that the being he had sensed was within the passage. But, he could still only feel one being, not the two that Katya had predicted. Was she wrong, or was one able to shield itself from his powers? He wasn't quite sure. What he did know was that they had to go through that passage, meaning that they had to leave their Shadow Beasts behind.
Glancing at Katya, he realized that she had reached the same conclusion. Simultaneously they dismounted and headed for the passage. Worried, their Shadow Beasts blocked the path.
((You cannot go alone Katya.)) Star pleaded.
((We will be fine. If we run into trouble, we will lure it out so that you may join in the fight. We should have enough power to do that, at least.))
((But-))
((Shhh)) Katya soothed, gently petting the great lioness. ((We will be fine.))
Star bowed her head and said nothing.
Next to them, TK was having a similar conversation with Rage.
/Please, be reasonable…/
/Don't worry about us, everything will be fine. We're just going in to scout for right now, hopefully. And while we're in there, you could look for another way in that could double as an emergency exit. Alright/
Rage growled quietly, unhappy, but respected his master's wishes. /Very well/ was the forced reply.
/Good boy/ he praised softly, patting his head.
"Let's go Katya," he called, heading for the passage once again. Katya nodded and followed.
The passage was just over two feet in width, they estimated, and was slightly twisted. It often branched off as well. TK led the way, following both the passage and instinct. Whenever the passage split, he used his power to determine which way to go. He could feel that they were getting closer.
Suddenly, he looked up sharply and spotted what they were looking for. It was a creature that, as he predicted, looked half-Gryphon/ half-human. The chest, arms, and face were mostly human, save for the bird eyes and claws on the ends of the fingers. There were great golden wings coming from its back, and its legs were that of a lion's. He looked wonderful and horrible at the same time.
He stared down at them from his perch on a high rock, narrowing his eyes. Then, he suddenly leapt off the rock and began to swoop down towards them. They both readied their energy, thinking that he meant to attack.
When he was just a foot or two above them, he changed direction suddenly and flew deeper into the passage. He perched on a rock about forty feet ahead and stared at them, daring them to follow. They took the bait.
They followed him throughout the passage for hundreds of feet, through many twists and turns and side-passages.
They called for him to stop and wait, but he never did. He always stayed about twenty or thirty feet ahead of them. They didn't think to use their powers, as he didn't seem like a threat at the moment. They didn't realize that, by following him, they had completely lost their sense of direction.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the passage began to expand rapidly and they found themsleves in the center of the circle of bluffs in a large open space. The Gryphon/human had disappeared.
"Where are you?" Katya called out. "Show yourself!"
Her voice echoed, but no sound was made in return. They began to walk cautiously more deeply into the open space. They kept their guard up, feeling very vunerable with no Shadow Beasts. TK felt it more-so because he had inexplicably lost all trace of the being; not a good thing.
Suddenly, he could sense it again. It was right behind him. Whirling, he saw the being diving at Katya, claws extended, coming in for the kill. TK barely had time to call upon his Shadow Magic to save her. He shot at the being several times, but it just kept dodging before diving again.
Next to him Katya had recovered from the near-death experience and had called upon her own Light Energy. However, no matter how much they shot at the being, it was always able to dodge in the air.
'That's it,' TK realized. 'We have to get him to land.'
"Katya, follow my lead," he called out, shooting at one of the wings rather than the body. The being was surprised at this course of action and it veered sharply to the left, only to narrowly avoid the Light aimed at his other wing. Panicked, it lost control and landed hard on the ground, scraping up one of its sides badly.
It forced itself into a crouch and watched the approaching Guardians helplessly. It knew it was going to die unless, by miracle, his master came to save him. He clenched his eyes and fists as the Guardians closed in, ready to finish what they had started. They still didn't like killing, but they knew that it was necessary in cases like this.
When they were within a few yards if the quivering being, they raised their hands, ready to give it a quick and relatively painless death. They were just about to strike when the land shook and they were knocked to the ground. Dust from falling rocks clouded their vision and they had to close their eyes and cover their mouths.
When they were finally able to look around again, they saw that something dark and scaly was infront of them, and to either side. Turning around slowly, with dread in their hearts of what they might find, they came face to face with their worst fear.
"Yes my pets," it hissed, leaning down, "I'm back."
-
Back at Castle Shuuko, Akio stood on the roof, looking towards the north. Reverend Kelmio stood next to him.
"What is it boy?" he asked softly.
"Something bad's happening over there," he said in a soft, mature tone. His eyes flashed briefly. "I can feel it."
A/N: Well, there you go. I need reviews if you want me to continue with the next chap! Remember,don't be afraid to ask questions, I know this can probablybe confusing. And ideas are still welcome, if you want to suggest them.
