Disclaimer: If any of you lamebrains happened to look at my last hundred or so disclaimers, you'd know the answer. I don't own them, sadly enough, and don't get any profit from writing this stuff (hey, that rhymed! I'm a poet and I didn't even know it!).

A/N: Well, good news, people. I have officially caught two more plot bunnies for the series, both of which are itching for a written story. However, I won't be releasing them until after this tome is finished. Okay? Good. Now that we've got that established, please pray or cross your fingers for my mom. She is trying to start a floral design company for extra money to deal with our rising school tuition.

12.

"Hey, lady! Wake up!" I jerked my head up from the counter in groggy surprise, blinking owlishly. In front of me stood a weary-looking, yet rather brutish auburn rukit who looked ready to drop where he stood. I yawned and stretched my arms, making satisfied noises as the joints cracked. "I said I wanted a room, whore," he growled irritably, adjusting his pack. I eyed him as sluggishly as I could, just to make him a bit angrier. Men like him never made good customers, but as far as my father was concerned, they did. Their gold put food on the table, at least.

"Yeah, so what type?" I asked, scratching my ear in an attempt to show him that I was bored with his company. His hand went to his sword. "I just asked you a question, don't go getting a stick up your butt," I muttered, leaning on the counter.

"No adjoining rooms, a door that locks, and I'd like a bath ready when I get in there."

I shrugged, though inwardly I was seething. I hate people who automatically think they have superiority over you. Being as this was a town where women were considered low as dirt, it happened quite often to me. "I can't guarantee a bath, sir. We're rather short-staffed at the moment." No lie there. The only workers here were myself, father, my lower-than dung brother, and my wolfena pup, Eyru. He glared at me, his gaze lowering to my chest. Not that I'd really mind, after all, it's all covered in thick fur, but still… "Alright, here's your key!" I growled, shoving the dull piece of bronze at him. "Just look at my eyes when you want a room and not my cleavage!" Just as he turned to go down the hall, I reminded him of my dues. He let out an animalistic snarl and slammed two banged-up silver coins on the counter.

"You're welcome," I mumbled, turning around to go into the back room. I nearly tripped over my dress on the way there, ripping the edge neatly for the seventh time or so. Dresses are right up there with the things I loathe, along with Xetyphaes, because I can't move my tail worth beans and it feels like I've got poop stuck up my rear when it's flat against my butt. I entered the hot, stuffy back room where I slept and slipped through another door into my father's room, where Eyru sat tied to his bed post, whimpering. "Hey little guy," I whispered soothingly, kneeling on the wood floor to pet him. "How was your day?"

He coughed and licked his pink nose. "Mine was awful. This moron with no manners just came in and demanded a room while staring at my…" Eyru yipped and pawed my foot. "Oh, okay, you're too young for that sort of graphic stuff. I see." He started panting. I stood up and brushed off my dress, scowling. "Alright, I'll get you water. Just hang on a minute."

I pushed open the door and trotted swiftly down the hall into the dim room where I had dealt with that mannerless mutt, going around the counter and grabbing a pan from the bar. I shivered as a cool breeze blew through my blond fur. It was dark outside and I took great care to act submissive in front of the Empire guards stationed around the inn. When I reached the stables out back and dipped the bowl into the water trough, I heard a soft noise behind me. Couldn't have been a teela or quiffer, but just to make sure, I craned my head around. Nobody in sight except for a confused quiffer's head.

It began to squeak in a most annoying way, and quite airily too. I put down my bowl with a quiet curse and went to shush it, stroking its scaly head and petting its spiny ridge. Once it had settled down and stopped grunting, I let it be and went back to fetch my water bowl. But when I arrived at the trough, I found it had disappeared. "Hmph. That's odd…" I muttered under my breath, scratching an ear. Normally rukits have extremely acute hearing but I don't even know what happened to that pan.

Thinking it must have been buried in the straw, I knelt and rummaged around in it, finding nothing once more. "Okay, Aeki, you're seeing things. You probably just forgot it inside and imagined you had filled it with water…" I was on my feet in seconds and dashed as fast as one can in a dress out of that stable, slowing down when I was meters behind the Empire guards. One of them snickered suggestively and I pulled the ugliest grimace I could muster at him before slipping inside. I was in the process of muttering dark oaths when I tripped over something on the floor and fell flat on my face.

"Ow, who put a log here…" I grumbled, getting up. When I saw what I had fallen over, I gasped. My father lay out cold on the floor, a nicely sized bump on the back of his head. My look of shock quickly morphed into an evil grin. If my dad was unconscious, that meant I could tie him up and put him in the broom closet to rot while I escaped this dirty town. I ran back into his room and untied Eyru, bringing back the long rope that had bound him to the bed. "Okay, dear ol' dad," I chuckled, pulling his arms behind his back and tying a strong knot around his hands. "I'd like to see you get out of this." Then I brought his legs up, using the same piece of rope to bind his feet to his hands. Satisfied with my hog tie job, I grabbed his arms and hefted him over the counter. He landed with a hard thump behind it, and an audible groan, much to my pleasure. I hopped over, opening a cellar door and rolling him into it. With a smirk, I slammed the board down and pushed a barrel full of biey onto it. He'd be stuck in there for a long time.

Then it hit me: I had no clue who knocked out my father. That complicated things. It meant that whoever did was still in here, and probably watching me. Okay, what to do. The adventurous side of me nudged toward the 'find them and thank them for putting a lump on my father's noggin' option while my more cautious side said 'get help'. Naturally, I agreed with my dangerous side and started down the hallway. A few times I could have sworn I saw the very shadows move, but my eyes were most likely playing tricks on me, so I kept going. About halfway to the end of the hallway, I spotted a cracked open door and pressed my ear against it as silently as I could.

However, a few seconds into my eaves dropping, I felt the cold touch of steel against my throat and something scaly wrapping around my ankles to prevent my escape. "What do you want?" the owner of both hissed. He had a strange accent, almost as though he had a chip on his shoulder and was daring me to try and knock it off. The door opened abruptly, showing the occupant in candlelight.

The green guy in the doorframe looked me over with astonishingly bright purple eyes. "Don't hurt her, Raph, just bring her inside," he mumbled in a tenor voice. My captor growled in a menacing tone and removed his weapon from my neck, nudging me forward. I rubbed my arm, feeling very intimidated as I shuffled inside. Purple shut the door and locked it with a faint click. "Now, can you tell me what you're doing at this time of night?" he asked me, staring as I leaned against the wall.

"I live here," I retorted cheekily, immediately regretting it. Red eyes glared at me from beside Purple.

"I shoulda just knocked her out cold like that other guy," he grumbled, rubbing an eye. He also grunted something to Purple, who hemmed and hawed thoughtfully.

Purple elbowed him hard in the ribs. "You don't hit a lady, Raph."

"She was being nosy," Raph insisted, throwing his arms up in exasperation. "Can't you admit you were a little afraid of her seeing me, Don?"

Don yanked him out of the darkness and gently shoved him toward the beds. "Raph, just quit it. I'll deal with this. You can help Saesha with Dakari." Raph grouched irritably and passed me with a venomous glare. I gulped when Don returned his piercing gaze to me. "What's your name?"

"Aekishala. It's a bit of a mouthful, so everybody calls me Aeki," I answered, feeling slightly uncomfortable under his unmoving stare.

He perked his lavender ears forward. "I see…" he said thoughtfully. "By the way, Aeki, Raph mentioned seeing you bind that other rukit he whacked and stuffing him in a cellar. Would you care to explain that too?"

"Well, he's my father," I began. "I hate him with a bloody passion. He and my brother treat me like dirt. Every female in this town is treated like dirt." I scowled. "And I'm getting darned tired of all of it. So I'm going to run away."

Don rubbed his chin. "Where were you planning on going?" he asked.

"South. As far away from this filthy rut as I can get. Why?"

The green fellow shook his head. "No reason. We just have two children traveling with us who don't seem to be up to the task of surviving monsters and that sort of creature. I was kind of hoping to have somebody take them back to their home but we can't spare anybody to do it."

Curiosity won me over. "By the way…where are you going, exactly?"

Don frowned. "I'd rather you not know; there are people around who'd kill us for what we're doing. We're harboring two fugitives."

"Oh, don't worry, I hate the Empire. Like to see it torn down by its ears and kicked in the nuts for all the crimes that Xetyphaes has done," I growled promptly, balling my hands into fists. He shut his eyes for a while, breathing deeply. I'd begun to think he'd dropped off to sleep, but he returned his gaze to me within seconds.

At my questioning glance, he pointed a finger to his head with a lopsided smile and replied, "Mind reading. Just to see if you're trustworthy or not."

I swear, if I could've fallen dead at a comment, that would've been the one to keel over on. "You can read my mind?" I asked incredulously, feeling a bit exposed.

"Well, yes, in a manner of speaking. Although I can see your motives and current thoughts clearly, I can't invade on your memories. Nor would I if I could."

"And…am I trustworthy?"

He nodded an affirmative, relaxing against the wall. "Yep. You're clear," Don said, yawning. I thought of something devious and grinned. Tell me what undergarments I'm wearing. His eyes widened in surprise and he blushed crimson with embarrassment. "Oh, now that wasn't fair at all."

I sniggered. "It was pretty funny though." He snorted, apparently thinking otherwise.

A sudden crash rang out from where Raph had stomped to, along with a curse. "Dang it, calm down, ya crazy rabbit!" he yelled. I rushed around the corner to see what the commotion was all about and nearly fell onto the floor, saved by Don's perfect reflexes.

"Thanks," I murmured, straightening. My eyes were locked on the struggling, somewhat delirious rabbit on the bed, whose dark gray fur was wet with sweat. Clinging to his tunic with silver claws was a purple ball of scale and odd obstructions.

A head appeared out of the ball. "Don! Washcloth!" she grunted, pinning the rabbit's ears to the pillow in an attempt to immobilize his head. Don shot for the water-filled pan on the nightstand, snatching a wet, tattered square of blanket from the edge. Belatedly I realized that it was the object I had 'lost' in the stables. With finality, he gently clapped his hand over the rabbit's forehead, rag and all. He calmed down immediately, still muttering feverishly in his sleep. "Phew, why didn't any of us take medical classes?" the purple thing panted, collapsing on the pillow.

Raph got up from the floor, wincing and rubbing his head. "Try the fact that two of us would instantly be strapped to a table for examination and dissection," he retorted, sitting on the corner of the bed and massaging his temples.

I blinked. "That reminds me, what exactly are you?"

The red-eyed guy heaved a grating sigh. "I get so tired of telling these people our species, name, and planet!" he grumbled. "Why not a driver's license or credit card number while you're at it?"

Don supplied the info rather readily. "We're turtles, or chelonians if you prefer. Either one works." As he shifted, I caught sight of a long staff about six feet long strapped to his shell. And a purple bandanna tied around his head.

"Okay, I've got a vague idea of what turtles are," I said. "But, um, never one of your…size."

"Have you ever heard of mutation, Aeki?"

"What, you mean like mutation magic?"

Don scratched his ear. "In a…way. We came about as a chemical accident of sorts." He then proceeded to tell me of how he and his brothers became what they were today.

"Wow. And who's, um, this guy?" I pointed to the still muttering rabbit on the bed. I had heard the mention of a name that I faintly knew when Don shoved Raph to help this…Saesha.

"Dakari Yojimbo."

"So he's one of the two fugitives, I take it?"

"You've heard of him, have you?"

"Oh, sure, the news papers they put up in the Town Square make him out to be a heartless murderer, but I never believe that crap." There was still one question unanswered, however. "Who's the other fugitive?"

"Me!" a purring voice called out. I turned but found nothing to look at except for a slate-gray covey that was staring at me with eerie yellow eyes from atop the dresser. "Yes, me, you're looking at the right person, ding bat."

"Behave, Lharom," Don commanded, sounding a bit amused.

I sat there, bug-eyed. "You're the shape-shifter!"

"Yeah, I am. I would've expected Xetyphaes to keep the news hush-hush, but apparently you know of it." The covey grinned as only a cat can and shifted in his position.

Raph looked up. "Hey, where's Rijinn?"

The purple ball yawned and spread her toes. "Trying to find a suitable spot to hide until we're done here. Orcaine would be all too noticeable if she tried walking into town. So would a riderless teela, so Watishi's outside too. And before you ask, yes, the kids are with them. So, everything's taken care of." It occurred to me that she had wings, which wasn't normal for a lizard. So, the only reasonable explanation would be 'dragon'.

"Are Orcaine and Rijinn dragons?" I ventured.

She puffed a cloud of black smoke and settled her head on her forepaws. "Took you long enough."

Suddenly, Raph got up and crept toward the door. "Oh, shell, some moron went and ratted on us…the cops are right outside the door…" he hissed, whipping out his Sais and backing slowly away from the door. "Get ready, Don…" Lharom shape-shifted into a – griffin? I had totally expected him to take the shape of a dragon or something a bit more majestic and big, but sheesh. Okay, I take the comment about the griffin not being big back. He's six feet tall and as long as a six-person dining table. I figure he can take them out in five seconds tops.

"Aeki, Saesha, get Dakari out of here," Don whispered, pulling out his staff as the guards on the other side started pounding on the door with their fists. Lharom hissed and crouched like a feline ready to pounce. Just as I had slung the rabbit's arm over my shoulder, the hinges broke after a particularly hard blow and the door fell down onto the floor with a bang.

A mechanical voice rattled off, "Dakari Yojimbo and Lharom Kahaza, you are under arrest!"

His scent was getting stronger. I sniffed at the dampened dirt and snorted an invading bug out my nose. There was another smell around him, though…something odd. I know when I saw him last, he had a companion, but his scent was very faint. I coughed out a serulaf's chuckle. And he was unconscious, for reasons my grandfather Shahkar hadn't told me. He seemed embarrassed. To my eyes, he looked absolutely ridiculous, head lolling off his teela. Should I ever find him, I'll mock him for it.

I pawed the ground and sniffed again. But back to that strange smell. It was nearly birdy, if you could call it that. I padded forward, my snout still flat on the ground. A glint of copper on the path in front of me drew my attention. "Shoot, if that's what I think it is…" I muttered under my breath. I padded toward it, looking around suspiciously. Wherever one of these was, there was bound to be trouble. I sniffed the thing and straightened. "Cripes, he's got a phoenix tailing him and he doesn't know it!"

I ran away from the feather, following the heavy footprints of a teela bearing a passenger. Phoenixes were known for their hermit-like behavior, and as a result, got bad reputations because of it. From puppyhood I'd heard stories from my lying brother of them coming down from the sky and snatching one of the serulaf cubs from the pack, taking it up to its mountain nest to eat it. As much as I denied it, it was still imprinted into my instincts. I skirted a scrubby bush, scaring some rodents out of it. My stomach growled as a reminder of my hunger. I ignored it. Having left my pack and tracked this foreigner for a day and a half, there wasn't any way I was stopping now.

Then a revelation hit me. Phoenixes were rather noisy in nature, as their birdcalls could pierce the very soul. So how could he not know unless…I cursed and ran further forward. "As luck would have it…" I growled, peering around a shrub and immediately derailing my train of thought. There had been a recent scuffle here, as telltale signs of rolling bodies and footprints said. I cautiously stepped out from behind the bush and snuffled an imprint. Teela. By the looks of it, there had been an ambush. A pack of wild wolfena, for specifics. But…no, this wasn't right. The teela had galloped forward and…disappeared off the face of the earth? So it seemed. And if I lie, then I'm a buzzard.

The pawprints stopped right before a ravine, rocky and treacherous in descent. No living animal could survive that fall unless they sprouted wings. From the looks of it, he has. The scent of fear that drenched the prints mixed with wolfena blood. I grinned uneasily. So, he woke up and used his swords. Terrific. I followed the bloody trail into the tall grass and ran smack dab into a corpse. "Whoa, buddy, you should've crawled into the ravine and died, not decompose here," I grunted, kicking dry dirt over the dead wolfena with my paws. Alright, so the foreigner had killed a few. One, if you want it technical.

But where in the hells did that teela go? Or if my suspicions were correct, a phoenix? Shahkar said he'd heard of phoenixes being able to take the form of an animal that had recently died near their nest if they needed to protect or disguise themselves. "So he may actually be riding the liar." I muttered a curse and went back to the scuffle. Looked like either the phoenix had shown itself and bore him up into the sky, or tumbled down into the ravine. I sniffed the ground near the crevice and wagged my long-haired tail gently. So he had gone down there. That phoenix must've been a pretty darn sure-footed teela. I know of less-coordinated relatives who would've broken a leg going down into that thing.

I took a deep breath and stepped out onto the first rock, carefully avoiding all cracks and loose pebbles as I went. "This is slow going. Might as well do it the faster, harder way." I crouched and leapt at the wall, bouncing off it and landing on the other side. I kept using them as springboards until I finally arrived at the bottom of the slope. Satisfied, I landed lightly on the floor of the ravine. The waning light of the moon could barely be seen down here, as many spires of rock split the moonbeams into thin strands that barely lit anything. I, however, could care less. A serulaf's eyes are as good as any covey's when it comes to night vision.

Deftly, I slipped around a jagged boulder and padded further into the death trap. Yes, a death trap, now I find out. The air in here was dank and smelly, for lack of wind going through to remove the stench. And as such there probably is a dead end. So finding the foreigner and that phoenix would be easy, if he didn't already know of his tagalong and attempted to slice it with his swords. I came to a part of the ravine where a crevice opened up in the ground and the only way around it was a precarious ledge on the left side. No problem, I had a good sense of balance. I smirked, thinking of my mother. She, however, claims that one day when I'm with puppy, the males will go tip me over for fun and I wouldn't be able to get up. Yeah, right. When ruris fly. I make a point not to get in any relationships with males. They're morons without brains, that's what I think. Always trying so hard to impress and woo the other ladies. Pah. They're all gonna go in the loony bin.

I trotted along the ledge easily, scenting the air for my target. My gray fur bristled slightly. The phoenix wasn't rank with teela stench now! "Crap, I'm gonna eat it for this…or maybe he'll eat the foreigner, I dunno…" The reason I kept referring to the rider as foreigner was because I hadn't a clue what he was christened with. Oh well. I cursed again and loped down a gentle slope, veering around a sharp corner. I halted in shock.

Laying on the ground was the green fellow, asleep and not showing any signs of waking. Beside him was the phoenix! He looked up innocently enough, and blinked his amber eyes. Please don't make too much noise, he's quite tired, the bird told me in mind speech.

"Oh really, I was under the impression that you were planning on eating him," I growled back, advancing slowly.

You're no more trustworthy than myself, he pointed out, shifting on black talons. It'd appear to me that you are the hungry one.

I snorted. "Why are you deceiving him like this?"

The phoenix stared at me and ruffled his copper colored tail feathers. To protect him. Do you think he'd see me the same way if I were in this form? Preposterous. I'm only watching over him, as is my companion to the rabbit.

"What?" I whispered, dangerously low.

He settled down next to the green fellow's head. She's an icunix from my clan, and one of my best allies. She and I noticed that these two were like chicks without parents, wandering around without protection. She consented to keep watch over the samurai while I did him. Then he stared at me. And why're you here?

"I was tracking him. I'm growing bored of the constant saving of the captives in that rukit village and decided to run after this one. I needed adventure, phoenix."

I understand. But you may find too much danger here.

"Oh, yeah, like I can't take care of myself," I sneered.

He sighed. You're only a juvenile of your kind, precious and few in the serulaf clan from which you hail.

"Where's your family, and why are you out here?" I growled venomously.

I believe I've already answered the second question. As for the first…if you must know, my wife and chicks died from famine. He was so blunt, it hurt. My throat tightened as I sat down.

"…Sorry…"

It's alright. Kadi's a friend you can only dream for. Loyal as a wolfena to the wounded pup, and fierce as Aireilei of the First Age.

"Excuse me? Aireilei?"

He lifted his head a bit higher. How old are you…

"Tahkar. And I'm almost nineteen. Why?"

Ah. I wouldn't expect you to know of Aireilei, then.

"Humor me."

Aireilei was a dragon, but not one that walked on four limbs, mind you. Early on in her life, she was mutated by a rukit mage near the Wompag forest. Taken under King Fridarus' wing at a young age, she flourished into the best archer and elemental mage this world has ever known.

"So she died, then?"

The phoenix chittered, amused. No, no, dragons are immortal if left alone. They cannot be killed except through magical means or by the sword.

I wrinkled my snout. "So, what happened to her, then?"

She left Haradris for a millenium. Her mother wished to protect her from Xetyphaes' evil and so sent her to a watery planet in the galaxy called The Milky Way.

"What a ridiculous name."

Ah, but there's more. This Milky Way was so far from here, our galaxy of Andromeda, that Xetyphaes never found her until quite recently. I believe she has returned.

"Wait, she's a dragon!" I said, lashing my tail. "Didn't the inhabitants want to kill her?"

The phoenix smiled, as if he had just been told a joke. Of course not, they could never kill one of their own kind! You see, many races of creatures called humans inhabit Earth. They wear strange garments and sometimes wear armor, but that was back in darker days. Their machinery is far more advanced than our own. Rainbou had the foresight to ask Niracan to transform her daughter into one of them. Aireilei endured the years as a fifteen year-old girl under many names, living in many countries of that planet. When she had stayed too long in one place, she would be transported to another. Her life went on like this until by chance, she came across one of Rainbou's five last children.

My head was spinning. Why hadn't grandpa Shahkar told me this? Perhaps shame of some other event? "Who was it?" I asked, entranced.

Icusi of the water element. Her siblings were soon gathered by new companions, four chelonian mutants who would've been experimented on had they revealed themselves. For they were different, and their world doesn't like different unless it can kill it, stuff it, and put it on display for the world to see. And that is where her story on Earth ended, and this one began.

"How do you know all this?"

He closed his eyes. A friend informed me of their progress. Have you heard of the shape-shifter named Lharom Kahaza?

"Nope. Just another bum to me."

He looked disapprovingly at me. Does your pack tell you nothing? Ah well, he was by chance in the Dream Realms of the Earth when he encountered three dragon children: Icusi, Eyayedi, and Tiiney. To their companions, however, they are known as Bima, Iwansi, and Saesha. He helped them along to the care of Lord Simultaneous where they communicated with the man who captured them for a thousand years. They were concerned for Aireilei, because as a human, she had begun reverting to her old form and hadn't a clue what was going on. Her memory had been erased, you see, so she would be further protected from harm. She was frightened, Tahkar.

I sighed and rested my head on my paws. "Yeah, well I'm still a bit suspicious of you guarding that green guy."

You haven't a need. Now, Lharom informed my brood of this development soon after they left the Dream Realms, and also of her life as a wanderer. He kept her safe all those years, taking the forms of animals she would trust. He kept her warm in the coolness of night in the desert realm of Egypt as a cat. He was a lemur in the rainforest called the Amazon. He guarded her tent as a camel in the nomadic land of the Sahara. He defended her from wolves in the dangerous but beautiful land of Alaska as a grizzly bear. He kept her company in the cold region of Siberia as a wolf. He transported her across the plains as an Indian paint horse. He hid her from those who would enslave her as a lion in Africa. He amused her as a squirrel in the American colonies when she was sad. He fought off those who would hurt her as a malamute dog by her school. He protected her from wild dogs as a Shetland pony in England. So you see, Lharom has had a large part in her life.

"So, Aireilei's back to kick Pastey's butt?" I asked, excitedly. "And this green dude is one of the guys who helped her?"

Correct. Haven't you noticed the dragons' effect on him?

"No, should I have?"

The phoenix got up and waddled around to the creature's rear. Come here, quietly, so you don't wake him. He's had a very trying day. I crawled to where he was and saw a coiled green tail on the ground, twitching every now and then.

"Wow, that's a weird tail." I was referring to the fan tipping it.

No more strange than your own, Tahkar. And he also bears the ears and mark of the wind dragon, Seiney, or to his friends who haven't encountered the elvish language, Kiyo.

"And that was the history lesson for the day," I grunted. "When he wakes up, I'm coming with you, got it?"

"When I wake up?" somebody mumbled sleepily.

Jhadie, I was hoping for him to slumber a bit more.

The green man sat up and immediately noticed me by his tail. "How'd you get here?" he asked, still a bit groggy from sleep.

"I walked." The phoenix snickered softly, drawing his attention from me to him.

He blinked. "And who are you?" he asked, looking around.

My own clan calls me Hytis, but you know me by another name.

"I do?"

Yes. Tunali.

I could've laughed at the look of disbelief on his face. "You're Tunali?"

I think you ought to sleep a bit more. Your thoughts are clouded with weariness.

"Weariness my foot," I grunted, snorting. "I saw that wolfena, he beheaded it. You think somebody dead tired could've slashed right through that neck? For the love of my non-existent mane, you'd have to have a mighty strong arm for that. Believe me, I've eaten those buggers before. You're considered something of a legend if you can bite through that in one snap and not break your teeth."

Hytis smiled and uttered a pure cry that sounded like a flute. Sleep, Leonardo. I and Tahkar shall keep watch.

"Hm, no, we have to keep moving," Leo muttered, getting up. "We have to find Dakari."

He isn't dead, if that's what you're thinking.

Leo looked up and stared at the phoenix, clearly disbelieving the statement. "I don't believe you. That night was the worst I've ever seen. I'm surprised even I lived."

You live because I dove in after you, as did Kadi after Dakari. However, during the rescue, we were separated, which is why they aren't here with us. I do know where they are, though. Leo raised his eye ridge. They're with two of your brothers. Lharom also resides with them, along with three dragons.

"That's good news," Leo said, obviously feeling relief. "But why are there three dragons? I know for a fact that Saesha and Rijinn wouldn't abandon Raph and Don for any reason. And I'm pretty sure Kiyo got snatched by Aireilei and Mikey, so…"

Her name is Orcaine, and she has only recently just come out of a deep sleep inside an elven crystal. Her mate travels with Aireilei at the moment.

I sat there for a minute and then got on my feet. "Well, I for one, am tired of sitting here. Can we go now?" Hytis also stood. At his full height, he was as tall as Leo.

Hm, yes, we might as well. I'll take teela form again so as not to unnerve other travelers. There was a soft flash of red light and Tunali stood before us once again. This time, however, he couldn't mind-speak.

I smirked. "Silent, just the way I like you." At that moment, a clatter of rock on rock echoed down the ravine. "Am I the only one who heard that?" I muttered, perking my bear-like ears forward.

Leo took out a sword. "No, I did too. It's hard not to with these things," he said, pointing at a green ear. I grinned and let forth a warning growl. Something a bit more sinister returned it and Tunali shifted nervously.

"What're you scared of, you're probably bigger than whatever's coming around the corner!" The teela-phoenix shook his head and stamped. "Chicken," I egged. Leo smiled and unsheathed another sword.

"Get ready, we're going to jump it in five…four…three…two…one…"

"Daddy, can I go outside and play now?" I asked, hopping up and down. "Please, daddy, I've been helping mommy all morning!"

He smiled fondly at me and put his hand on my head, ruffling my brown hair. "Alright, little girl, but don't go too far from the house."

"Yay!" I squealed, dashing for the door. Once I was outside, I ran for the flower field. The little plants glowed at me with their bright colors as I fell into them, giggling. "Hello, Mr. Bug, how are you?" I asked a little beetle. He looked at me strangely before skittering off into the grass. "Okay, bye, we'll talk later!" I stood up and waded further into the flowers, carefully folding my arms so my wings wouldn't flatten them.

I played like that for hours, slowly going toward the forest without my knowledge. Soon, I was in deep. "Daddy?" I whimpered, trudging around in the roots and dirt. "Daddy, I'm scared…" A rustle behind me made me scream and I ran. I tripped over a root and fell flat on my face. "Owie, that hurt, Mr. Root!" I scolded, temporarily forgetting my fear. Then I saw them. Huge paws with black pointy things on them. I looked up and froze. It was a big doggy! And he looked hungry…"Daddy!" I screamed, hopping up and running to who knows where.

The big doggy growled and sprinted after me, stopping me in my tracks before a big tree. It licked its lips with a big pink tongue and slowly opened its mouth. "Daddy…" I sheltered my head with my wings. I could feel its hot breath on my skin. "Help me!"

Mikey looked up. "Hey, did you just hear a scream, Kiara?" he whispered.

She perked her ears forward and frowned. "Yeah, sounded like a little kid."

Another high-pitched scream reached them. "Help me, daddy!" Mikey pulled out his nunchucks and darted off into the black trees, followed by his companion.

I first felt the doggy bite my arm and it hurt a lot! Really hot red water dripped from my wing as I cried. "That hurts, doggy, let go!" I tried to get my arm out of its pointy white mouth but I couldn't. Then the doggy let go, and somebody else yelled.

"Back off, dude, leave the kid alone!" The doggy growled at him as he picked me up.

"Daddy?" I whimpered, burying my head in his hard chest. The next thing I saw was a really strong lady cut the doggy in the neck with her big long knifes.

"It's alright, kiddo, we gotcha," the man said.

"I want my daddy…"

"What do you think, Kiara? Where'd she come from?"

The lady wiped her knifes on the doggy's fur. "Aireilei said she saw signs of a village nearby. Maybe from there," She muttered, sticking her knifes in two long things.

The man sighed and petted my head. "We wouldn't have time to bring her back, Kiara."

"Well, what else do you suggest we do? Take her along? Hah. We've got a merry enough band as it is. A traitor, a vengeful gunghir, and dragons. No, I don't think we should take her along. Besides, her parents would get worried."

"Aw, but I love kids!" the man pouted, bouncing me up and down.

"Mike, you're just going to have to take her back. I'll tell Bima that you'll be back soon."

"Phooey," Mike grunted. The lady left. "So, kiddo, which way is your house?"

I thought. "I don't know, mister. I got lost."

"Well, we'll just have to fix that, won't we?" somebody else growled.

Mike looked around. "Oh shell…" A whole bunch of guys had surrounded us and were pointing arrows at Mike!

Yep, I know Mikey's was short, and I know I'm not good at writing little kids, so sue me. Anyway, I hope this chapter turned out good, I've been working on it for two weeks...yes, kill me for the slow update...Please review if you're not! Reviews make the world go 'round!

Ashite Imasu,
LN