Chapter Nineteen
Beyond the Haze
Katani pushed her new wings to the limit. With mighty strokes she flew over the water and forest. In moments she arrived at the village. To stop herself she threw her wings forward and let herself fall. At the last moment she flapped against the ground. It created enough lift and she let her wings rest against her back, folded many ways to compact down against her back.
She stood in the middle of the village square. Unlike the previous night the village was bustling with activity. Young woman with wings ranging in color from black to even pale violets darted between vistas and shops. Size varied too, most women had the formation of the hawks but some were akin to the falcon of even the sparrow. Having never seen a true Phoenix she could not compare its wings to the warriors she had seen earlier. The men had wings with darker tones and almost always larger then the females, for their larger size required more lift. If the wings were gone it would have felt like a typical village. The citizens wore modern clothes and acted as if they resided in Tokyo or Osaka and not an island in the middle of nowhere.
Upon seeing her, the villagers stared. Her wings shone like gems in the sun. To keep the air of importance she kept them out. The citizens stared in awe. Katani ran to one of them and said,
"Sir, can you please tell me where his majesty Lord Rayson is? It is urgent that I speak to him."
"Mi'lady Mithril, I shall take you directly to him if you desire."
Katani's relief must have shown on her face. "Thank you sir, it would be most appreciated."
He directed her to a tall house in across the dirt street. After the man with brown wings explained Rayson's location she thanked him and folded her wings. Even though she had tucked them as close to her back as possible they still hindered her as she dashed up the stairs.
Without knocking or announcing herself, as was expected, she threw the screen door open. "Utlia bensis Phoenix rega! Dominthir Kurama vadar! Ark mateaf gilriols!" Her words flew through the room and Rayson leapt to his feet.
"Vate?"
She nodded. "Yes, seven of them attacked him. I arrived in time to gather information on the last before he killed himself."
Yusuke and the other were on their feet now. "What? Where's Kurama?"
Katani caught her breath. "He… should be arriving soon. Most of them were slain upon my arrival. I flew here as fast as my wings would allow. I ask for your guidance."
Rayson examined her closely. "You are rested?" After she nodded he continued. "There is no time to lose. They have made the first move by attempting to kill you. We must retaliate with haste. I have informed your comrades of the situation. Your teammate, Kurama, is he injured?"
"He was but I tended to his wounds. We are ready for battle."
Rayson turned to Yusuke. "Lord Urameshi, are the other members of your team ready to fight?"
"Why don't you ask them?" he said. One by one each agreed either by verbal consent or a nod of the head. Botan gulped nervously but nodded also.
At that moment Kurama walked through. His vibrant green eyes quickly scanned the room.
"Sir Kurama, I commend you for your bravery. Thank you for protecting Mithril."
"It was my honor."
Rayson led them all from that room to an even larger one. Shelves of weaponry and body armor lined the shelves. "We outfit our warriors here. We plan to lead a large scale attack on the city, one they cannot ignore. You and your team will infiltrate the castle while we distract the brunt of the troops. You will proceed upon my signal, once the way is clear. Before that moment do not engage yourself in combat. We will be relying on every bit of your strength in battle. If another engages you do your best to flee. My link with Mithril will be such that I can contact you all from the sky.
"I have talked with Ama, the milk white mare, and she had agreed to carry some of you into combat. Rook the stallion has also volunteered himself."
Yusuke interrupted. "Wasn't he that scrawny little horse we saw last night?"
"He received his wings this morning. Now he is a stallion of the Pegasi fleet. Each of you are free to take whatever you need from this room though I expect you each to already have weapons else you would not have made it this far."
"Any extra armor you have you be helpful." Katani said.
"Help yourself, Mithril. We leave at dawn tomorrow morning. I leave you to your own strategies. The main goal is to slay the Swift One. Yet he has a couple lords whose strength is legendry. We want to try and kill as few as possible, they are out people as well."
"That's where we come in." Yusuke cracked his knuckles. "Sounds like this will be another Maze Castle. Everyone fine with some one on ones? Been a while since I've had a good fight. I'm gettin kinda restless."
"Down boy," Katani chided.
"I don't like this." Hiei said. "We are attacking too soon and underestimating their strength. This will fail." However no one seemed to hear him and he didn't care.
Katani eagerly clapped her hands together. "So, according to my memory-" Hiei scoffed and Katani shot him a glare before continuing, "There are two wings of the castle, each leading to the throne room on the third floor. Each floor contains a room leading to the next. This is where the Swift One will place his lords. The most tactful plan would be to stay together and have us take each lord out one by one before they can alert the leader. If they regroup or retaliate with him at their side we won't stand a chance."
"I see time has not dulled your wit, Mithril. Still you must guard yourself most of all. Even if you see your comrades struggling do your best to avoid it."
"What? I'm sorry Rayson but no. I refuse to stand by and watch if they're losing."
"Only you can defeat the Swift One."
"Oh bull! Let's not go into that "chosen one" complex. He can die a number of ways be it by me or another."
"Time has dulled your common sense."
Katani growled slightly, a trait picked up from spending too much time with the boys. "Listen, Rayson, you have no authority to give me orders. I have come back to aide you and avenge my brother. I respect your opinion but if one of my friends is in danger there's no way I'm standing idly by."
"Mithril… I do not wish to discuss this in front of the others. Yet if you do not comply you will put all those around you in danger."
"How so?"
Rayson folded his slim arms across his chest. "If you are killed the Swift One will not hold back. He will kill all on this island with a curse. This island and our people will be naught but dust in the wind." Rayson continued to explain that he wished to control her body and mind. "He would take your body and use it to resurrect his wife. That is why he so desires you."
"No way!" Kuwabara yelled. "That's just sick!"
"Sounds like we're dealing with an evil scientist or something." Yusuke said.
Katani grimaced. Was he serious? How could their supposedly brilliant enemy plan on doing something so stupid? And she was supposed to stay on the sidelines like a good little chosen one and cheer? No way. "I need some air. Yusuke, contact me if you have orders."
"You got it."
Katani left through the door, her mind still swimming with the insanity of it all. With her wings she floated lightly to the ground from a gap in the wall used to lead in Pegasi. A quick whistle and Feer stood by her. She led him to the stables and gave him a thorough rub down. Before long his coat gleamed like solid gold. As she fed and watered him she talked with him, as people with animals often do.
In the Holy Speech she asked. "Feer, dear one to my heart, why did you not answer my call earlier? I needed you but my call went unheeded. Could you not understand me?"
Feer shifted uneasily. His right hind foot stomped the packed dirt of the barn. She read his body language as easily as if he had spoken. By the flick of his ears and the light in his eyes she could understand.
"If that was true then why didn't you let me know?"
Feer nipped her lightly on the shoulder.
"You're right. Forgive me. I have been out of it lately. So many things have happened but that's still no excuse. I should have been paying more attention to you." Katani checked his legs, they were hot. After applying cold wraps the swelling began to go down.
"Can you ever forgive me for not noticing?" she said, reverting back to the common tongue.
Feer flicked her ponytail.
"Thank you," she wrapped her arms around him.
Feer whinnied to her and she looked up.
"You remember? You know how I was around Kurama before losing my memory? Tell me!"
Feer snorted.
"That's no fair! Revenge will get us nowhere! How can you justify something like that after forgiving me?"
The gold stallion shoved her.
"Jerk," she muttered.
Feer tossed his head.
"Of course I'll find out on my own! You doubt me?"
The winged horse folded his wings and pawed at the ground.
"I want you to tell me so I don't have to wait."
The Pegasi snorted again. Just as Katani was about to raise her voice and command the stupid horse to tell her, another spoke.
"Some may classify talking to animals as a sign of insanity." Ty suddenly appeared behind her.
Katani jumped and whirled around. "Don't do that! You know how much I hate people surprising me!"
"Then you're going to hate this." He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. Without hesitation he caught her in a passionate kiss. Katani didn't know what to do. Was she going to continue a relationship with Ty or try and see if she had one with Kurama? Her mind ran through the options. Kurama was not one of them and Ty had recently become one. Her early years on the island forced her to choose him. For all she knew this Kurama could be messing with her. So she kissed him back. Just as she was starting to feel comfortable a wing smacked both of them upside the head.
"Feer!" Katani yelled.
Her horse whinnied with laughter. Surprisingly, Ty laughed as well.
"And it was always said the boyfriends should watch out for overprotective fathers. I have to deal with an overprotective horse."
"Yeah well horses can be locked up in a stall." She glared at Feer. The stallion danced on his toes and snorted at her. One step and he come between Ty and Katani. Large white teeth snapped near Ty, a clear threat.
"Hey, come on now Feer. We've always gotten along haven't we?" Ty reached out to pet the stallion. Feer bit him on the arm. "Holy sh-"
Katani stopped him with a look.
"Sorry."
Katani nodded and clipped a lead rope to Feer's halter. "I'll deal with him."
"Hey, Kitty?"
"What?"
"Are you alright?"
She stopped. People kept asking her that. "Why?"
"You have that look when you're upset. It's the same look you had when your mail order archery set never showed up."
"Hey, I paid fifty dollars for that thing! I had every right to be upset!"
"Point is… what's going on?"
Katani twisted the rope nervously over her fingers. Something really was bothering her but she felt reluctant to share it. Is that what couples are supposed to do? She thought. Well she would try. Maybe it would help her feel better. "I saw my own people die before my eyes," she told him after a brief pause. "They were right there and I couldn't stop it. Kurama just cut them down as if they were flies. I realize this will happen tomorrow but they were just… I felt like I knew them in a way. After being alone for so long and finally meeting others like me was incredible. But as they were bleeding in my arms I felt such a kinship to them." Feer stomped angrily. Katani glared at him, angry because he knew what she wanted to know and because he had stopped her moment with Ty. Realizing seclusion would be best for the stallion till the battle she ended the conversation. "I'm sorry. I've got to go. Can we talk more out behind the house? I can meet you there as soon as I get Feer settled."
"Sure." Ty watched as Katani led the shimmering stallion away. As soon as she was out of sight he left the barn. This Kurama guy had to be taken care of. For a while he had tolerated him since he had saved Katani's life but he had gone too far now. The look on her face as she talked with him was so heavy. It was like she was shouldering some great weight. All the time they had spent together, working with the horses and training them for the track, had been the best times of his life. His home situation wasn't the best. His father had died soon after he turned ten and since then it was his job to take care of his mother. She had been in such a wreck after her husband's death that it was all she could do to get up in the morning. Ty took on the task of looking after his two little sisters, Haley and Natalie, to the best of his abilities. But even an older brother as hard working as he was couldn't replace a mother.
At the age of fourteen he had begged for a job at Rising Crest. The manager knew of his home life and took pity on the boy. So Ty was given the task of mucking the stalls of the mares. That was when he had met Katani. She was a year younger then he and shyly asked the manager for a job. He had peeked his head over the door, curious to see what such a young girl was wanting to do picking up after horses instead of shopping at the mall.
"Sorry, young lady, but you're much too young to work here. Stay in school and one day you'll get a good job."
Katani had been on the verge of tears. Her blue eyes were rimmed with fear. She needed work. "Please, sir! I'll do whatever you need done! I need to learn how to raise horses and I need money. Please, I don't care what the work is!"
"I already said-"
"Mr. Miyoko? Sir? May I ask you something?" Ty asked boldly.
"Not right now, Ty, I'm in the middle of something."
"But sir, I have to tell you that we're swamped dealing with all the new foals. Ryuo asked if there was anyone free to help."
The manager glanced from Katani to Ty and then back again. Pity filled his heart as he saw the young girl's heart rise with hope. He sighed and rubbed his temples. "Alright, here's the deal. You're too young to work legally so let's say you volunteered. But as a condition of volunteering I will pay you out of goodwill. Can you do that?"
"Yes, sir!" Katani smiled.
"Fine, go. Ty, you're responsible for her."
"Thank you sir! I'll do my best." Katani bowed before racing over to Ty.
Ty had tried to be the best tutor he could but to his surprise she soon passed him in both riding ability and horsemanship. Though it wasn't just how great with the horses she was that attracted him to her, it was how pretty and kind she was. One day the strain of his home life had been too much for him. He stood near the very pregnant brood mare he was walking and just stared into space.
Katani, exercising on of the geldings, stopped and saw the look on his face. Reining the small gray in she dismounted and walked to him.
"Hey, Ty? You okay?" At fifteen she was just beginning to understand who he was but he had told no one anything of his home life.
He said nothing.
"Ty? You in there somewhere?" Katani waved her hand in front of his face.
"What, Katani?" Ty managed to say.
"Want to tell me what's going on?"
"No."
"Okay," Katani stood beside him and looked where he was looking. All she did was stay there.
She was there, caring for him and worried. That was more then anyone had ever been. Ty felt overwhelmed with everything. He was angry at his Dad for leaving, angry at his Mom for not moving on, angry at himself for not dealing with it, and sad that he was so angry all the time. Tears streaked down his cheek and he held tightly to Katani. She was so startled by his tears that for a moment she did nothing. When she finally did come to her senses she placed a soft hand on his back and rubbed up and down. He seemed just like Tithe had whenever he was having nightmares.
The next day he had started calling her Kitty, for she was as soft and kind as a little cat.
But now she was, and had been, dealing with more then he could have ever imagined. If the source of her pain was Kurama, then he would take it upon himself to do something about it.
Ty stormed behind the home that had been lent to them by the Hawks. Kurama and Yusuke sat on two large rocks. He caught bits of their conversation and heard Katani's name once or twice. Hearing her name from the lips of that dirty thief made his blood pulsate.
"Hey!" He always made a point to give an opponent a chance to look up before taking his head off.
Kurama and Yusuke both glanced up. In an instant Ty lashed out and stuck Kurama square in the chest. The blow accomplished very little. Kurama, far stronger then he anticipated, barely flinched. Still, as they say, it's the thought that counts. Yusuke looked ready to kill him but Kurama held up a hand. Rising off the rock to face Ty, he said, "Do not interfere, Yusuke. This does not concern you."
"Like hell it doesn't!" Yusuke shouted.
Ignoring him, Kurama faced Ty. "What do you want?"
"Back off! Katani does not belong to you!"
"She is not an item that belongs to anyone. Whether she chooses to be with me is her decision. However, if you interfere I will show you what true terror is."
Yusuke had backed up and sat on a bench to get a good view. It would be fun watching Kurama tear the boy's arms off. The Fox rarely got angry. But when he did Yusuke had seen heads fly, literally.
Katani took a seat next to Yusuke. "What's up?"
"The sky," he replied automatically. Glancing up and seeing her he jumped. "Katani! What are you doing over here? They're about to kill each other over you and you're just sitting here!"
She shrugged. "Yeah, what of it?"
"Aren't you supposed to run out between them and say, 'Please don't fight! I care about the both of you too much to see you tear each other apart!' "
Katani raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding? I've been waiting for days to see them finally go at it. Pocky?" She offered him a chocolate coated biscuit stick.
After looking from the Pocky to Katani, then back to the two fighting boys he accepted a piece.
"I swear Yusuke, you've been watching too many chick flicks."
"What was that?"
"Just shut up! I can't hear what they're saying."
"Women…"
The two sat back and munched on snacks while Ty and Kurama faced off.
"I just came back from having a conversation with her and she told me you killed her people right in front of her! How could someone claim to care about her but cause her so much pain? She looked as if she could have started crying right there."
"Was not!" Katani spat at Yusuke when he raised a brow at her.
"If you're mind was not clouded by lust you could have seen how in danger she was. I have no need to defend myself to someone of your caliber. Disappear. You never should have come in the first place." Kurama pulled a red rose from his hair.
"Oooo! Big man with a rose! Run everyone, hide the children! The man has a rose! I'm scared for my life!" Ty threw his arms in the air, waving them madly.
"He really shouldn't do that." Yusuke commented.
"Yeah, well he'll get his." Katani popped the lid off a root beer.
"Hey, got any more of those?"
Katani tossed him one of the dark glass bottles. "Go nuts."
Kurama struck at Ty with his rose whip. Had it not been for Ty's gold blood and his wings he would have died that second. He flew into the air and avoided the brunt of the whip's bite. The tip caught him on the recoil and clipped his wing. Ty fell to the ground with blood and feathers.
"Ouch," Katani took a swig of root beer.
"He doesn't stand a chance. " Yusuke stole another Pocky.
"Looks that way."
"Going to stop them yet?"
"Nope."
Ty glared at Kurama with undiluted hatred. "I'll make you pay for bringing a frown to my love!"
Yusuke covered his mouth to keep from giggling. Katani glared at him. "Hey, it was sweet!"
"And you say I watch too many chick flicks!"
Ty, not seeing or hearing them, continued. "All you've ever done has caused her pain. Her fate was sealed when she met you, filthy demon." His fingers twisted quickly before a long scythe materialized. By spinning the scythe like a razor blade he avoided Kurama's whip. The two fought as such for a couple minutes, each dodging the other. Kurama was obviously holding back but Katani couldn't be sure why. Maybe he didn't want another homicide on his record.
A few minutes later both seemed to come to an agreement and laid down their weapons. Each took their own fighting stance. They would settle this thing with raw strength.
"Awesome," Yusuke drained his root beer.
"This is what bonding is all about." Katani smiled at him.
"The most fun I've had with a girl in ages." Yusuke and Katani clasped forearms.
"Same here." It took Yusuke a moment to catch on. When he did he threw the empty box of Pocky at Katani.
Katani felt a familiar string in her mind tighten. She'd felt this feeling before, it was what Kurama was talking about. Her blood ran through him, she felt his emotions as well. Suddenly Katani was overcome with anger. The blood within her quickened as Ty continued to taunt Kurama. Now that her power was amplified she could feel his thoughts.
…cannot go on. If I let my emotions run rampant I will surely kill him. I will not soil my hands with his filthy blood. Let him taunt me. Any second the seed will activate.
"Hey, Yusuke?"
"Hm?"
"Have you ever seen Kurama use a seed on someone?"
"Yep, but I doubt he'll use one in this fight."
"Really? I have to disagree."
"Is that a bet?" Yusuke reached for his wallet.
"800 yen Kurama uses a seed." Katani smirked.
"Done." They each placed the money on a stone before them.
About two seconds later a large green plant began growing from Ty's clipped wing.
"Ha! You lose Urameshi!" Katani snatched the money.
Her yell alerted the boys to her presence. They had little time for arguing as the green plant sucked away at Ty's strength.
He swore loudly. "What is this?"
"That is the Viper Tree. It feeds on human desire and causes a sting that lasts for quite some time. Seeing as you are full of desire the sting should cause you pain for…" he made some calculations in his mind. "about six months."
Ty swore at him again. Kurama smiled and picked up his rose. "I believe the rose had won this match." He tucked the flower away.
"Ha, told ya!" Katani slapped Yusuke across the shoulders.
"You little…"
"Katani, how long have you been here?" Kurama's eyes fell on the empty food and drink containers. He folded his arms.
"Well you see…"
"I can read your thoughts."
"Well then I'll be going now."
Kurama grabbed the back of her shirt. He held out his palm.
Katani groaned and gave him the 800 yen she had won from Yusuke. As she placed the money in his hand he pulled her to him and kissed her. Though part of her mind acknowledged the act as a way to infuriate Ty, she felt fire in his kiss. Ty's had been rough and demanding while Kurama was soft and passionate. Ignoring the shouts of Ty and Yusuke's gags Kurama continued.
He searched Katani's mind for her feeling. Finding them only deepened his want. Yet he pulled back and let his hand linger on her neck.
"Get a room will you?" Yusuke separated the two.
"Take your hands off of her!" Ty yelled and summoned his scythe. Like a madman he hacked away at the plant and ran in front of Katani.
Now even Katani felt this was getting out of hand.
"Listen, Ty. After what you said about me belonging to you I'm the one who should be upset!"
Yusuke whispered to Kurama, "Did she just turn the table on him?"
"Appears so."
"How?"
"Never try to understand women, Yusuke. The only thing you will accomplish is making your brain bleed."
"Listen Kitty, I'm sorry, okay?"
"You two have been fighting ever since you met. I understand you met under trying circumstances but come on! I'll admit, it was fun at first… But save it alright! There is something bigger then ourselves going on and I can't have you killing each other before we fight. After we fight go ahead and tear each other to shreds! I'll even sell tickets if you want!"
"I'll go in with you on that, Blondie!"
"I'll never get along with that guy!" Ty shouted. "How can you after all the things he's done?"
Everyone seemed to be waiting for the answer to that question. Katani looked from Ty to Kurama. He was looking at her expectantly. Yusuke was winking at her from behind him.
After a deep sigh Katani said, "You have only heard about the bad things he has done. Granted I only remember meeting him this morning but I know I've spent time with him before hand. You want to know where I was this morning? I was on my hands and knees fighting to try and rid my mind of that Ark who was stealing my memories in the first place.
"Have you ever had someone search your mind? It hurts, it hurts like you wouldn't believe. Just when I thought I had reached my breaking point Kurama stepped in and took away some of my pain. He actually come to me and put himself through what I wanted no one else to feel. So yeah maybe he killed some of my people but he did that to save me! I'm going to have to kill tomorrow if I want to keep living. Like it or not we're a team. You know what…" Katani turned and went to Kurama. Before anyone was the wiser she reached in his pocket and pulled out a shiny pair of metal handcuffs. With quick fingers she snapped on Kurama's right wrist and the other on Ty's left. "There, now you two will have to work together whether you like it or not."
"How did you know he had those?" Yusuke asked.
"I uh… Well you see how it was it actually quite interesting…" Katani twirled the keys in her fingers.
"Spill it, Kitty!"
"Fine! Firodos hamiens defifa veilsas, mansa."
"You're sneakier then I gave you credit for." Kurama glanced at her.
"Thank you."
"Katani," Ty surprised her by using her real name for the first time in years. "Get these things off of me."
"No," she said sternly. "I'll take them off tomorrow morning but not a minute sooner and, hey!"
Katani yelled as Kurama jiggled with the lock and unsnapped it from Ty's wrist.
"You forget who you're dealing with."
Yusuke was suddenly struck with an inspiration. He grabbed Katani by the wrist and snapped her to Kurama while taking the keys.
"You two do look cute together." To himself he muttered, "I owe Botan 150 yen…"
Katani slapped him across the back of his head. "What the heck are you thinking?" She yelled.
"Don't worry, I can undo it." Kurama fiddled with the lock. After a few seconds he looked at Yusuke. "Did you activate it?"
"Now don't look at me like that Kurama, this'll be fun!"
"There's something about these handcuffs you're not telling me."
"They drain spirit energy." Yusuke smiled. "And are impossible to open unless you have the key. Thankfully it will only start draining your energy if I saw a certain phrase."
Katani reached for the keys.
"Oh no you don't," he held them high above her head. "I think I'll keep you like this for a while. Come see me tomorrow before the battle, maybe then I'll unlock them."
Katani whistled and Feer came running. "Take him down and get those keys from him." Katani commanded.
Yusuke yelped and ran for the house. Feer flew to the second floor and entered the armory to cut him off.
"So we're stuck like this until Yusuke gets the keys back?" Katani sank to the floor, pulling Kurama with her.
"Well Katani, let's go for a walk, there are some things we need to talk about." Ty lifted Katani to her feet and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I… there are some things we need to discuss but I'm a bit occupied at the moment."
"Let him hear. I want everyone to know that your mine." He leaned in to kiss her.
Katani pulled away and crashed into Kurama.
"I'm not yours. No one owns me Ty. The way you handled yourself, I don't know if I can stay with you."
"Are you saying we're through?"
"I'm saying I don't know what to think. I told you, Kurama's important to me. He was there helping when you weren't."
"How was I supposed to-"
"I get that, but he did know. Then you come in here and start telling him to back off like he walked through your territory or something. I think men protecting the ones they care for is incredible but you don't seem to trust me at all." She stood her ground against him. "When I said those things I wasn't seeing everything clearly. My decisions were being made for me and my memories distorted. Please, just give me some time to think this through."
Ty sighed. "Will you promise me you'll be careful and won't let this guy take advantage of you?'
Kurama stepped forward and shielded Katani. "It would appear that the only one taking advantage of her is you. You claim to love her but when things become difficult you are nowhere to be found. Yet by some fluke of fate you happen to be there, you are the one causing her misfortune."
Feer flew to the ground holding the spirit detective between his teeth by the back of his shirt. Yusuke looked as though he had been through a dryer. His normally slicked back hair was frazzled and tangled. The white shirt and jeans he had been wearing were covered with dirt and riddled with tears.
"Thank you God!" Katani cried and ran to Feer. Kurama was dragged along. "Key?" she asked Feer.
The gold stallion shook his head and dropped Yusuke to the ground.
"I ate it." He muttered when she had shaken him.
"YOU WHAT?" Katani threw him to the ground. The sun was beginning to fall. "Listen, it's getting late and I need to prepare so everyone just shut up. I hereby declare this petty argument on hold! So says Mithril Steward of the Hawks." I get a fancy title. She smiled. "Ty, I need you to tend to Feer, Ama, and Rook. They will be our main mounts in the conflict tomorrow." Her look was stern.
"Alright, Kitty, I trust your judgment. Will you be safe like this?" She nodded. "Then I'll come to check on you before curfew. Stay safe babe." He kissed her softly on the check. The last thing she saw was his strong figure disappearing in the stable with Feer trotting at his heels.