As I'haach ran, all out through the dark passages of the massive mountain, he dove deep into his own subconscious and began reorganizing his readied spells so that they included his most powerful shields and barriers. He didn't dare use any teleportation spells, even though they might solve the problem faster than getting into actual conflict. Any kind of movement spell was a bad idea in the Old Downside, as things changed shape and element almost constantly. No, once he got to his team, he'd need to fight his way back out with them.

And what if they're already gone? What if you're too late? a dark voice in his head asked. I'haach knew whose voice that was.

"Sa'raah," he said straight out, breathing heavily as he ran. "You won't stop me."

We'll see.

He pelted along, giving no care to tripping, slipping, or hurting himself as he went. He just hoped that by the time he got there, he'd still have enough energy to cast a spell.

It was at just that moment that he got to the still open gate. With a quick glance, he surveyed the situation. Dauhieh and Zach had dragged themselves out of the gate. Zach was up, and standing over Dauhieh, apparently deep in casting a spell. As I'haach approached, he finished, and a large gash on Dauhieh's left flank began sealing up. He looked up at I'haach's approach.

"I'haach! How did you…"

"Dauhieh called me. I got here as fast as I could. Where's Sihm?"

"She's still in there," Zach gasped. "I'haach, don't go in there, please. You can't do anything…"

"I will because I must," I'haach told him, and then took a running jump through the gate.

Landing on the other side, I'haach saw the full horror of what they faced. Before him, the passage was rather narrow and about eight metres long. It was just high enough so that I'haach could stand straight. Before him, he could see that Ressa was standing straight over Sihm's form. I'haach couldn't see whether not she was endured, or just preparing a spell, or was exhausted from casting several spells already. Beyond Ressa, I'haach could see what had caused them their problems.

Bugs. Giant, monstrous, powerful bugs. They had thick protective shells, guarding their soft underbellies. However, even underneath them, with a direct shot for their stomach, they were well protected by several sets of giant claw ended mandibles. They were the most horrible thing I'haach felt he had ever seen in this life or any other in memory. I'haach was afraid, and he would have openly admitted it to anyone. He would rather do anything other than take another step closer to them.

And the hell-spawned creatures were attacking a member of his team.

I'haach, a roar ripping free from his throat, launched himself forward.

"Ressa, get Sihm and get out of here; I'll cover your exit."

Having said those words, I'haach ran out in front of the lizard and yowled the last syllable of a spell he had been preparing. Instantly, to those who could see words in the speech, there was a soft glow all around him. The large bug which stood before him stopped for a moment, and regarded him curiously.

"Come on…"

The beast came, and brought his claws down on I'haach's impermeable shield…

…and they went right through the extremely powerful shield which I'haach had erected. I'haach was so surprised that he forgot to dodge, and so one of the claws came down and slashed right through the powerful muscles in his right shoulder.

I'haach doubled over in agony, whimpering as he looked over at the horrible slash. That was my most powerful shield! he thought, but didn't let it stop him. He was too busy dodging another slash. As he jumped to the side, landing heavily on his shoulder, he squealed again. Working mainly on instinct more than actual thought, he called up another shield, equally powerful, but different in its properties. The other one made a physical barrier, this one made a strong force which made the blow fall one foot to the side of it's original target.

This time, as the claw came down, I'haach prepared to dodge at the same time as he was preparing his current spell. The claw hit his shield…

…and kept on coming. I'haach leapt to the side, wincing as more blood spurted from the wound in his shoulder. He couldn't keep this up.

"I'haach!"

He turned slightly, and saw Ressa waiting on the other side of the gate.

"Get through, quickly!"

I'haach needed no more bidding. He rushed for the gate all out, limping on his right leg as he went. He just hoped that they weren't faster than him, otherwise he was finished for sure. He cast a quick glance behind him, just to make sure. Much to his dismay, he saw that his original foe was directly behind him, preparing to slash.

I can't get out of the way! he thought, panicked. A quick look at the situation, however, changed his opinion. I don't have to.

Ressa called out his name as he saw the claw coming upwards and to the left, aimed directly at I'haach's face. It was for certain that the evil thing would tear I'haach apart, and…

I'haach jumped back, closer to the creature. A more dangerous position, to be sure, but one which would keep the claw from removing his face. And also one in which the arm would hit him.

I'haach felt the incredible strength and power in the blow. It was so hard, and so well placed, that it sent him flying backwards, directly towards the gate. He saw Ressa hurriedly closing the gate as he flew through it, and then his head smacked against the stone of the floor, and all went dark.

"I'haach."

Someone was licking his ear. It's quite a nice sensation, having someone lick your ear just after you've been slashed and smashed by a giant bug, and given a crash course in flying. In truth, I'haach had figured as he was falling that he would die, but that didn't matter, seeing as his team would have survived. But surviving, hey, that was okay too.

"I'haach," the voice said again, more insistently. "I'haach, I know that you're awake you little monster, so stop pretending and get up."

I'haach groaned even as his whiskers went forward. "That's no way to talk to your team leader."

He opened his eyes and looked around. Dauhieh was standing over him, licking his ear. Well, that wasn't usual. He must have really gotten hurt. Even when he'd gotten slashed on his forehead just above his eye, she hadn't shown any affection.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Oh, well," she said, "we walked in there, and there were a bunch of giant insects attacking Sihm and Zach, so me and Ressa attacked, and I got beaten up a bit, and Zach got me out, and then you showed up, and then Ressa dragged Sihm out, and then you went flying by, and then I was up, and then me and Zach dragged you and Sihm here."

I'haach blinked. "Well, thanks for the short version. Wait, you said Sihm, too?"

"Er, yes," she said, suddenly becoming very distracted.

"What happened to her?"

"Well, she was almost dead when we got her out of the gate, and, well, by the time she got here, she wasn't breathing, so…"

Instantly, I'haach was up on his feet. "Where is she?"

"Don't worry, she's alright. Jakub is taking good care of her."

"Jakub?"

"Jakub," Jakub answered, walking in from the other room.

I'haach, quickly turning to Jakub and inclining his head, said quietly, "Advisory."

"I'haach," Jakub said, shaking his head. "I've told you not to be so formal."

"I'm sorry, Jakub," I'haach said. "My first advisory was all about the special titles and respect. I haven't really gotten out of the habit."

"That's alright, I guess," Jakub said. "But if you could work on…"

"Er, sorry to interrupt," I'haach said quietly, "but right now I'm slightly more concerned with the status of my young partner than I am with the way we speak to each other."

"Oh, right," Jakub said, blushing slightly. "Well, her body's almost completely healed up, and I couldn't detect any mental damage. However, she just underwent a massive amount of physical stress from both the injuries and the healing of them."

I'haach waited. "…meaning?"

"Meaning that she'll be out of commission for at least two days."

"That's, that's…" I'haach took a deep breath. "That's amazing. Thank you for your help."

"You're welcome," she said, leaning forward on his hands. He winced, and quickly sat back up.

"Are you alright?" I'haach asked, alarmed.

"Kitten, you're forgetting the rules of healing," Zach said, jumping up onto the table. "When enough blood is lost from the victim, the blood of the healer is needed as physical materials." He turned to look at Jakub, and smirked, "Though really, I would have thought that you'd gotten used to the pain by now."

"I'm used to giving myself a little cut from a magical, heated knife so that it doesn't hurt. This time, I was less prepared, and my blades were a bit more crude."

"Hey," Zach said, sounding slightly insulted. "A cat's claws are not crude."

Dauhieh gave I'haach a look. "It's not like Zach to pass up an opportunity to slash an Advisory."

"Apparently so," I'haach muttered, noticing for the first time the bandage wrapped tightly around Jakub's arm.

"So," Jakub said, walking over to a large chair in the corner and plopping himself down. "Let's see what you guys are up against here."

"Please," I'haach muttered. "Any kind of help would be well appreciated right now."

"Well, Zach and Dauhieh have informed me of what happened to them today. I, personally, know nothing of these creatures. However, there was a team of Earth wizards who had a nasty run-in with them while we were battling the darkness. I believe the best member to speak to would be a young man named Ronan. He lives in Ireland."

"Thank you," I'haach said. "Anything else?"

"Well, as a point of curiosity, tell me about this strange letter in your name you went hunting for today."

I'haach rolled his eyes. "There's not much to tell. Nobody has ever seen it before, aside from Nita Callahan in New York, and she can barely remember the figure itself. I've got Dairine Callahan's wizard's manual doing a search for it, which should take about three… Wait a minute, what time is it?"

Jakub checked his watch. "I've got four-thirty AM, Kiev time."

"So that's nine-thirty in New York…" I'haach muttered. "She should have finished her search by now." With that, he jumped down from the table he was seated on, landing on the ground not quite as lightly as he normally would. After wincing, he said, "Thank you, Jakub, for your help. Unfortunately, I must go to New York now and collect some information, so…"

"Oh no you don't," Dauhieh interrupted him. "I don't care if you're my team leader; you just underwent a massive magical healing, and you had hardly any energy left when you got there and started fighting the bugs. You're not going tonight."

"What are you talking about?" I'haach asked, fighting to keep a conveniently timed yawn down.

"She's right, I'haach," Jakub told him. "As your Advisory and healer, I forbid you to use magic until you've rested for a while."

"Nonsense," I'haach said, or tried to, as the yawn finally fought its way out of his throat.

"This is pathetic," Zach said, rolling his eyes. "Kitten, you're not doing magic. If we have to, we'll restrain you physically. Now, just let me and Dauhieh teleport you home, and then we'll see about this figure in the morning."

"Fine, but only because you two are offering me a free ride."

"Whatever will protect your pride, kitten. Thanks for the help, Jakub."

"Anytime, and I'll just keep Sihm here until she's gotten her energy back. Zach, Dauhieh, make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. I'haach, good luck on your search."

I'haach just sat down as Dauhieh summoned up her spell weave for teleportation to the butcher's shop on Banhofstrasse. Zach jumped into the circle, and the two of them began reciting the words to the air. The pressure leaned in around them, and with a bang, they were just outside the small establishment.

"I guess I'll meet you two tomorrow," Zach said. "The usual place?"

"The usual time," I'haach replied evenly.

"Are you kidding? After what we just went through, we're supposed to be up in three hours?"

I'haach hissed slightly in annoyance. "You're right, of course. I'm sorry, I guess I'm more tired than I thought. You guys can sleep as long as you want, but I'll probably be gone when you're up. Dauhieh, you can message me when you're both ready."

"Why, what are we going to do?"

"Meet this ehif, Ronan, and find out as much as we can. After that, we can run on any leads we can find."

"Alright," Zach said, and then a huge yawn gripped him. "Goodnight, then."

"'night, Zach," Dauhieh said, and then both she and I'haach stepped through the door.

They quietly made their way up the stairs, and into the tiny bedroom. Both Mano and Chraih were asleep, Chraih beneath the blankets, and Mano curled up at his feet.

"He doesn't really look so big and strong when he's asleep, does he?"

"Nope. That's the only reason I managed to stay here for so long before you turned up."

I'haach's whiskers went forward the tiniest bit. "I can have that effect on people."

"Yeah, we've all noticed," she said. Curling up next to Mano's still form, she gave I'haach a strangely kind and judgemental look. "Don't leave on us. I know that I originally said that you could stay here until you managed to find a den of your own, but I really don't want you to go now."

"I'll try," I'haach promised. "Goodnight, Dauhieh."

"Goodnight."

I'haach curled up on the bed, next to Dauhieh. He allowed his breathing to slow, and he felt the warmth of the three bodies around him. As the calm of sleep began to overcome him, he thought to himself, No, I won't leave. I won't disappear, and I won't… I-I won't… I'll grow old this time. I'll linger. I'll let myself feel the constant buzz of youth die away. It would seem like a horribly depressing image to some, but for him, it was the greatest luxury he could dream of.

With his whiskers forward, he drifted off into sleep.