A/N: Hello, and happy Easter to everyone. I am back once again with a new chapter, so enjoy it. Also, since Dzongkha is not listed in Google Translate, Nepali is as close to the language.

Update: I'll be making a new chapter to serve as a continuation to this chapter due to the large word count.

Disclaimer: Check the sign: "I do not own Killer Instinct nor Carrie."

Sunlight peeked behind the peaks, breaking through the starry night. The sky changed from its nightdress to its morning robe. At the Tiger Shrine, Jago began his prayer. His mind was in deep reflection on his chat with Carrie. Though the monk was grateful for Carrie saving him, her abilities concerned him. When she had lifted the golem, Jago sensed her heart rate increasing. Once she drove the creature away, she became drained and fainted.

Despite the impressive feat, he was worried about Carrie. He was unsure what side effects these powers had on her mind and body. He hated to think about the possible adverse effects on her health. If Carrie abused her powers, it could kill her.

In silence, Jago mused on his next course of action. He shook his head as he arose and dusted himself off. Carrie needed to be consulted about this. After his morning prayer, he visited the lake to gather water. Upon his return, the monk entered the kitchen.He grabbed a pot, filled it with water, and ignited a fire. While the pot bubbled, he opened a storage closet and extracted two cups. As he set them on the table, he detected a presence.

"Ah, good morning," he greeted Carrie as she emerged from her quarters. "You slept okay?"

She yawned while rubbing her eyes. Her dainty figure dressed in the robes Jago had gifted her. "Not really. I keep having those horrible dreams."

"My apologies to hear."

Carrie tilted her head. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making toothpaste."

"Toothpaste?"

Jago nodded. "Grab our toothbrushes from our quarters and meet me in the courtyard. I need to show you how the mixture works."

Carrie opened her mouth to say something but paused and left.

The monk sensed her hesitation. Poor girl. She's still on the fence about the training I offered. Hearing the bubbles, Jago checked the pot. Contented, he doused the fire, allowing the water to cool. Now all I need is salt.

He rechecked the storage closet to find a salt-filled bowl with a spoon. Afterward, he scooped the first cup with water and cleared the kitchen. Jago arrived at the courtyard, still damaged from his fight with the golem.

Sitting on the floor, he set the objects in front of him. He then added a tablespoon of salt to the water-filled cup. While he let the mixture simmer, Carrie arrived with the toothbrushes.

"I didn't know it was possible to make toothpaste by hand," she remarked. "Is it like normal toothpaste?"

"Yes, though stronger. We monks must stay healthy, despite our detachment from worldly comforts." With foam covering the surface, Jago skimmed the froth with his spoon. He added the crystals to Carrie's toothbrush. "Go ahead. Try it."

Carrie stared at her toothbrush, emitting a 'Is this safe' expression.

"Don't worry. It is safe to use," the monk assured.

Despite her gloomy expression, Carrie complied. Salt wreaked havoc on her tongue, but she ignored the sensation. While brushing her teeth, Carrie gestured for a mouth rinse. Jago handed her the cup with the mixture, which she sipped. After a quick swish, Carrie spat the blend into the empty cup.

"My teeth feel weird." She moved her tongue on the front and sides of her teeth. "Is that normal?"

Jago grabbed a bowl. "The feeling won't last long once I leave."

"Where are you heading?"

"To a village called Thanza."

"Why?"

"Are you familiar with almsgiving?" Seeing the puzzled expression on Carrie's face, the Tibetan monk nodded. "I see. Almsgiving is a Buddhist tradition that dates back thousands of years. Bringing about peace and contentment is the concept."

"What does it entail?"

"At the break of dawn, Buddhist monks would visit nearby villages. People would prepare food and water and wait for them to approach with their alms bowls." Jago gestured to a bowl in his hand. "Once these items are inside, I place the lid on top of the bowl. After that, I offer a prayer as a blessing to them. You're welcome to come along but refrain from touching me. If you wish to stay here, that's fine too."

Carrie didn't plan on staying at the shrine. She'd be bored out of her mind. "Can I come?"

Jago smiled beneath his mask. "Of course."

Carrie and Jago strolled through the foothills, leaving the shrine behind them. Along the way, they spotted a woman next to a stream. Her night-black hair shone from the sun. A red chuba with yellow Dharma Wheel décor draped her slim figure. Once she lifted the shoulder yoke, the woman scaled the cliff.

"She's going to struggle," Jago said. "Let's help her."

They descended on the cliff and stopped on a ledge. Carrie stretched her hand toward her while Jago remained close. Surprised, the woman grabbed Carrie's hand, allowing the girl to pull her up.

As soon as she reached the shelf, the woman exhaled. She rubbed her left shoulder to relieve whatever pain lingered. "Dhan'yavāda. Kām̐dhamā juvā bōkēra aglō ṭhā'um̐mā pugnu pīḍā hō."

"She said thanks and that it was a pain to reach higher grounds while carrying that." Jago pointed at the shoulder yoke.

"Ask her why she does that and if her shoulder is alright," Carrie said.

Jago repeated Carrie's questions in his native tongue. As the woman replied, he listened. "She says she's training. As for her shoulder, she has chronic pain but is taking medication. She's curious about our presence. I'll handle this. Hāmī hāmrō bhikṣā rā'undakō lāgi thānjā jām̐daichauṁ."

The woman gasped. "Timī nabhana. Ma thānjāmā baschu, yadyapi bāhirī bhāgamā. Tapā'īṁ ra tapā'īṅkō sāthī bhramaṇa garnuparcha, jahām̐ ma prastāva pradāna garna sakchu. Ma pēmbā hum̐."

The monk pressed his palms together and bowed his head. "Ma lāmā jāgō hum̐. Javāna kēṭī kyārī hō, mērō vārḍa. Hāmī tapā'īṅkō ghara bhramaṇa garna sam'mānita hunēchauṁ."

"What did you tell her?" Carrie asked.

"I told her we're visiting Thanza for almsgiving. Pemba invited us to her home. She lives on the outskirts of Thanza, so that will be our first stop."

They resumed their trek once they returned to the trail. Often, Carrie and Jago helped Pemba with the shoulder yoke. The short brown grass blended within the rocks with green patches. The mountains remained tall, protecting the land from unknown threats. Glaciers fed the river with unlimited water.

While enjoying the scenery, Carrie watched Jago and Pemba conversing. Instead of English, they were chatting in that strange language. A heavy sigh escaped through her nose as her face scrunched.

Jago glanced toward her. "Is something wrong?"

"I…" Carrie drew a deep breath to calm herself. "The language you and Pemba speak makes me a third wheel."

"Do you mean Nepali? What's wrong with it?"

"Um, nothing. It's…."

"You don't understand it. I'm guessing you have never encountered such things."

Carrie shook her head. "So, could you… teach me… to speak Nepali?"

Jago scratched his chin. "I suppose it's fair. You shouldn't be frustrated over the language barrier, though."

A flush of heat spread across Carrie's cheeks as she glanced away. "I-I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize. If we have time, I'll help you with that. I should warn you, though. Learning Nepali is… difficult in some ways."

"Malā'ī viśvāsa cha usalē yō garna sakcha," Pemba said.

Carrie tilted her head. "What did she say?"

"She said she believes in you," Jago said.

Carrie smiled. "So, what were you two talking about?"

"I had asked Pemba why she was training. Her mother had fallen ill a few years ago and had cared for her. However, the medicine her mother takes is expensive to buy. While trying to find a solution, she witnessed a street fight. The winner would get bragging rights and, in rare cases, money. She entered these street fights to save money for her mother's medicine.

"Soon, rumors spread about a fighting tournament in America. Believing that prize money was involved, Pemba trained harder. If she won, her mother's medical needs would be covered for a long time."

"Sounds noble," Carrie said. "Did you ask her for the name of the tournament?"

"I did, and…." Jago sighed. "…I told her to stick with street fighting."

"How come?"

"The name was Killer Instinct."

Carrie stopped, as did Jago and Pemba. "You mean the tournament you told me about in Lhasa?"

The monk nodded. "Don't worry, though. Pemba never had the chance to enter because her mother's illness worsened."

"I see. I'm sorry you spent all the time the training for nothing, Pemba."

The woman waved her hand. "Yasakō bārēmā cintā nagarnuhōs. Arkō paṭaka ma saḍaka laḍā'im̐mā pravēśa garchu, praśikṣaṇa vyartha hunēchaina."

"She said not to worry. Her training won't be wasted for her next street fight," Jago told Carrie.

Pemba nodded. "Ē, phēri ghara."

They arrived at a wooden cabin sitting on a hill. Moss and thick grass covered the roof of any cracks. Smoke puffed from the stone chimney. An old picnic table with seats remained beside the cabin.

"Āmā, ma ghara chu!" Pemba set the shoulder yoke on the ground. "Mailē mērī āmālā'ī jām̐cna āvaśyaka cha, tara masam̐ga prastāvaharū tayāra hunēchan. Sāthai, yadi tapā'īṁ tyō kināramā jānuhuncha bhanē thānjā tyahām̐ cha." She stepped inside the house.

"Pemba will prepare the offerings after checking on her mother. Also, Thanza is visible from the ledge," Jago explained.

"Hope her mom gets better," Carrie said. "Have you been to Thanza?"

"Several times. Come, I'll show you what the village is like while we wait."

Carrie and Jago approached the ledge, where the village emerged from view. A series of watchtowers guarded the borders. Stone walls split the flat land into pieces. She imagined living in such an ideal place without fear.

Jago folded his arms. "The village doesn't appear much, but for the people here, it's home."

Despite living in Tibet for a few months, Chamberlain was still on her mind. Carrie lowered her eyes while a dull pain spread to the back of her throat. Her chin quivered as her chest tightened with a heavy heart. Destroyed… gone… all because of me. The image of the burning town was enough to make her tremble.

Pemba's voice interrupted Carrie's thoughts as she arrived with a frail woman.

Strands of grayish-white hair lingered in front of her bony face. Small black spots dotted over her cheeks. A cane hit the ground as she used the stick to support herself.

Upon seeing Carrie and Jago, the elderly woman bowed her head. "Dhan'yavāda… Mērī chōrīlā'ī ghara lyā'unubha'ēkōmā. Ma… Usakō lāgi cintita hunchu… Harēka paṭaka… Ū nadīmā jāncha."

"She's thanking us for bringing her daughter home," Jago said to Carrie. "She says she gets worried for Pemba whenever she goes to the river."

Without warning, a vision flashed in Carrie's mind. Though quick, the image was enough for her to become wide-eyed. She stepped back once, trying to process what had occurred.

"Carrie, are you alright?" The monk's brows furrowed.

Released from her trance, Carrie shared glances between the women and Jago. She forced a smile while shaking her head. "I'm okay now."

Jago's eyes narrowed. Were her powers at play?

"Malā'īṁ māpha garnuhōs?" Pemba's mother spoke, grabbing the monk's attention. "Unī ṭhika chin?"

"Unī ṭhīka hunēchin. Jasarī unalē bhanin, unīsam̐ga kēhī kṣaṇa thiyō."

"What's happening?" Carrie asked.

"The mother had asked me if you were okay," Jago whispered. "I told her you were."

Convinced of the monk's answer, the mother nodded to her daughter. Pemba reached into her chuba, extracting a cloth wrapping something. Once she unwrapped the fabric, she slid pieces of balep korkun into the bowl.

Jago offered a prayer to the women. After a few exchanges, he motioned for Carrie to follow him. He waited until they were further away from the cabin. "What happened back there?"

Carrie sighed. "Pemba mentioned that her mother is sick, right?"

"Yes. Why?" His eyes narrowed upon Carrie's concerned face. "You saw something when you met her."

She wiped her face with her hands. "Tumors… spreading around her bones. They looked… aggressive."

"Tumors, as in… cancer? How's that possible?"

"Images would flash in my mind. Some are vague; others are clear. For instance, I would detect heartbeats if I encountered a pregnant woman. Also, I would know the baby's gender ahead of time."

"How often does this occur?"

"At random. Do you think we should tell Pemba?"

Jago scratched his chin, musing until he shook his head. "Probably not. Even if we tell her, this will raise questions. How would you answer them?"

Carrie opened her mouth to answer but stopped herself. How would she explain to Pemba that her mother was on borrowed time?

"Come. We should head to Thanza."

As Jago resumed his trek, Carrie remained at her spot. After one last glimpse of the cabin, she caught up to him.

The village appeared barren when they arrived. As Carrie and Jago explored, they found villagers outside a house. A man spotted Jago with the alms bowl and stepped inside; the other two remained while conversing. Minutes later, the same man then returned with food.

Carrie and Jago stopped, allowing the man to fill the alms bowl. While they waited, Jago eyed the men talking in hushed tones. After giving alms, the man bowed. The monk returned the gesture, and he and Carrie continued their walk.

"Hmm, strange," Jago uttered.

Carrie tilted her head. "What is it?"

"The two men mentioned a fight between a demon and a shapeshifter."

Carrie swallowed. "Demon? You don't think…?"

Jago shook his head. "Omen isn't responsible. The details are sketchy, but they describe the creature as having tentacles. There is also this shapeshifter."

"Shapeshifter?"

"Beings that can change into anything they wish. Human, animal, nothing is off-limits to them. The shapeshifter mentioned changed into a stripe-less tiger."

Carrie fell silent. In her childhood, her mother considered shapeshifting evil. During their journey, more details regarding the fight emerged. Yet, the longer they listened, the less they understood. Despite this, certain aspects of the event stood out. The demon ranted about sinners burning the world. As for the shapeshifter, it received a bite on the left shoulder.

When they ventured into the western part of Thanza, Carrie and Jago froze. Stone huts were damaged or destroyed as though a storm had passed through. Along with debris, large footprints dented the ground. Signs of repair were visible from the damaged buildings.

Though brief, Carrie had flashes about her old hometown. "What happened here?"

Jago kneeled to examine a footprint resembling a tiger's paw. "The fight had taken place here."

"Should we help them?"

"Depends if they need help. Let's go. Watch out for the footprints."

Their stroll around the area revealed more extensive damage. Though frightened by the event, no casualties were present. They checked with the villagers if they needed aid. Most declined their help when asked. Some had donated for almsgiving. A few vile merchants swore at the two, sending them on their way.

As Carrie and Jago rounded a corner, a shout reached their ears. From their left, a crowd gathered in the center. Curious, the monk moved closer to the group with Carrie behind him. The crowd surrounded a platform where two hooded figures stood. Black cloaks adorned with strange patterns concealed their appearance.

"My brothers and sisters," a hooded figure addressed. His associate translated the words into Nepali. "I come to explain what happened here." He paused for a while. "The End Times are upon us!"

Confused, the crowd murmured among themselves.

"The havoc on your village is a punishment for worshipping false idols!" the cloaked man continued.

Enraged, the crowd shouted at the hooded figures, some swore. The speaker raised a placating hand, silencing the villagers. "However, all is not lost. Gargos, the One True God, offers you all protection. Join our cause, for only then will you be saved! Iä Gargos! Iä Nyarlathotep!"

Furious, the villagers clamored. Some people picked up stones and threw them. The speaker and his associate ducked from the rocks, retreating.

Jago growled as his eyes hardened. His right hand curled into a fist. His body became tense while his muscles quivered. "Carrie, let's go."

"What's wrong?" She sensed the monk's tense demeanor.

"There's no time." His voice was urgent. "Let's go."

While Carrie and Jago were leaving, the retreated hooded speaker spotted them. Though his features remained hidden in shadow, his eyes narrowed.

The two walked fast as they returned to the alms-round route. Carrie glanced between the monk's worried features and the area where they had left. "What's going on? Who are they?"

Jago placed the lid on the alms bowl, securing the offerings. "They must be a cult, but that's not what worries me. They follow Gargos."

Her eyes widened. "Why are they here?"

"I don't want to find out." He checked all directions, seeking a trusted route. "I didn't think they'd be bold enough to make their presence known. We have to return to the shrine."

Before they rounded another corner, Jago stopped beside a building. He motioned Carrie to do the same. He peeked out, spotting two more hooded figures. The cult members were hanging around a market stall, harassing the owner. Though he wanted to intervene, he couldn't risk exposing himself and Carrie.

The first cult member pinned the owner to the wall. "Enough of your lies! My sources tell me the girl with alleged powers is here. She's traveling with that traitor monk. We're not leaving until you tell us where they are."

Afraid but defiant, the owner spoke.

The second cult member listened. "He says he doesn't know what you're talking about. There is no girl with alleged powers, let alone a monk."

Scowling, the first cultist reached into his cloak, pulling out a razor-edged knife. He pressed the blade against the owner's neck.

Unable to decide between helping and observing, Jago bared his teeth. Carrie was about to ask what was happening, but he hushed her.

"You have one chance to live. If you tell me where the fugitives are, I'll spare you," the first cultist said. "Refuse, then prepare to become a tribute to Lord Gargos."

Terrified for his life, the stall owner conceded and spoke.

"He says they were doing their alms-rounds," the second cultist stated. "By the sun's trajectory, they should head to the Tiger Shrine."

The first cultist narrowed his eyes with a soft growl. After a while, his lips curved into a wicked smile. "Thank you." He glanced around to check for any spectators, but there were none. "Tell me, do you have a family?"

The stall owner shook his head, furrowing his brows.

"Good, because what I said earlier about sparing you, I lied." In one swift motion, the cultist cut the man's throat.

Jago backed away, taking a deep breath from what he had witnessed.

The stall owner gasped for breath as blood poured from his throat. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, falling limp. Contented, the cultist dropped the body on the ground. "Let our brothers and our leader know. Have them guard every road leading to the Tiger Shrine. We'll take care of disposing of this body."

"What if they slipped past us?"

"I don't think they would leave in a hurry. Still, send a small troop on the shortest route to the shrine. When those two return, we'll be waiting."

Jago muttered a curse as the cultists picked up the body and left.

Carrie's brows wrinkled. "Is everything okay?"

Jago sighed, glancing toward the sky. "No. Those bastards are after us. Not even the Tiger Shrine is safe."

With her hands covering her face, she shook her head. "What are we going to do?"

"We have to go to another town. However, we'll have to sneak out of here without alerting the cultists. Come."