The tarkatan embassies seemed to perish one by one - quite quickly than expected. They were dying out, the lack of triumph was soon isolating them in a whole borough of Kotal's troops. Kano failed his task, the tarkatans died expeditiously, and Rain was being defeated by Kotal.
Kalliste and Kollector fought incoming onslaughts from Kotal's guards; dropping them quite efficiently like files.
Kollector tore their throats, their heads ripped from their necks, their stomachs sliced open. But more and more began to appear from the shadows.
Suddenly a buzzing sound emerged just in front of Kalliste. An insectoid familiarizing itself in a female form. D'vorah. Its blackened gnat eyes stared deeply in Kalliste with haste. A smile with sharp ends just unnervingly grinning at her.
A set of ovipositors hovered from its back.
"You are D'vorah," Kalliste stated.
"This one will gladly remove your inners." D'vorah's head cocked like a staggering snake. The insectoid looks into the distance just past Kalliste.
"Your queen is surrounded, so is your feeble companions." D'vorah spat. She moves closer in on Kalliste. Kalliste glances at the current situation, witnessing Mileena finally arises to interrupt Rain's near execution by Erron Black. Kalliste could only take one quick look before concentrating on D'vorah who continued to draw nearer.
"Your fear is unmasked. This one will have the pleasure of incubating you." D'vorah creepingly stamped her way closer and closer till Kalliste had to throw an attack. Her hit failed - its feeble attack caused D'vorah to immediately take a stab at her arm. The penetrating stab grazed a bloodied hole in Kal's arm; causing her to wince harshly, and while she was somewhat vulnerable from the blow - D'vorah began to pounce onto Kalliste - pushing her roughly against the floor.
And all she could hear was the departing sounds of war, distant murmuring of conflict.
Kalliste glared at D'vorah with anguish as she struggled to escape her bonds. Every ovipositor surrounded Kal's body. Kalliste could only pulverize D'vorah'ss armored chest with every strength of her good arm. But she continued to smile at her effortless aggression.
She arose, extending out like a vicious spider.
And before that sharp ovipositor could take a stab into Kal's flesh. It disembarked through air and mist. D'vorah grew utterly perplexed.
"Looking for me?"
A husky and deep voice intruded the insectoid's mind. D'vorah quickly turned behind her as Kalliste roughly hooked her fist onto D'vorah's ovipositor; digging her claws into the thickening flesh; ripping it out of her back. D'vorah hisses in pain. Kalliste held out the shredded ovipositor in disgust as D'vorah quickly digs into the ground, crawling back into the dirt.
Kalliste breaths heavily, her lungs taking sharp exhales. Then the tension in her arm flinches.
"Kalliste!" That sinewy voice drew her out from the void. Her heart feeling calm once more from the familiar call.
She cocked her head, gazing at Kollector who paced his way closer to Kalliste.
He arrived closer to her until he glimpses at her bleeding arm that she held on. Then he looks at her serene expression. But he hisses, fiercely concerned for her now.
"Have you no care for yourself? - Who done this?" Kollector says. His expression is filled with extreme wretchedness. He seemed angry with Kalliste and the perpetrator who made this wound. Kalliste scoffs.
"D'vorah. -But it's fine. It's but a bruise on my arm." Kalliste remains stern but cringes once more.
Then Kollector begins to search in his satchel. Pulling out whatever he had - displaying it into his view until he found a vessel wrapped in some fabric. How interesting. Stripping the elongated fabric off the thing, he begins to settle it onto Kal's bleeding arm.
His actions were so benevolent and just out of the ordinary for him. Kalliste couldn't help but beam in delight. With her free hand, she begins to touch his jawline in appreciation. He does nothing but continue on his task.
"...This is so unlike you. Who knew a creature of greed would show such care." Kal's voice is heavenly, her tone becoming faint. She continued to smile as her cheeks radiated. Kollector's face seemed so stiff and goaded by her comments.
"Enough of your prattle. It is done" He tightens the bandages so coarsely that it causes Kalliste to wince intensely. She scowls.
Kollector gingerly observes the field and catches Mileena faltering before Kotal. His guards surround her as she appears to be completely vulnerable.
Kotal's body begins to glow with fiery sunlight, a power he channels is about to take on Mileena but she won't have it. With that amulet she had kept for a while now, she counters Kotal's blazing energy - managing to deflect it off of her. The power she possessed seem so powerful that the energy it withheld. Its impact grew heavier and heavier as it burst its power causing a few of Kotal's troops to disappear into thin air. An ethereal force causing tremors.
Its impact affected Mileena quite heavily causing her to lay unconscious. Suddenly Kollector faced Kalliste who was unexpectedly beside her.
"The empress is troubled, we shall depart." Kalliste was about to say something regarding Mileena's vulnerability but she soon spotted Rain appeared just beside Mileena, quickly leaving with her unconscious body elsewhere.
Kalliste nodded and rushed with Kollector as they began to flee from the tremendous uproar.
The journey was long and tiring as they soon discovered themselves in the scorched Kuatan Jungle. The heat seemed to be too much for Kalliste but Kollector remained futile to it. The blood from her arm continued to seep through the thin layers of fabric that had wrapped by Kollector. Seems as though, she was becoming pale and it was not good for her to stay in such a torrid situation. Kalliste remained strong in their journey through the jungle air.
Until she stopped and leaned herself against a tree. Kollector took notice of her halt and slowly came by her side.
"Are you not able to heal yourself?" He questioned with gentle concern.
Her eyes hazily gawks at him.
"I am not too sure with my state of power anymore..." She says weakly.
Her exhausted tone pesters Kollector quite a bit, he pulls her off the tree she leaned on and makes her move on her feet.
"Learn to move on your own even when weary. Mileena's camp is not too far."
"I was almost killed by D'vorah." She says. Kollector glances at her.
"Yet you still live. You have gone out of death on your own." Kollector addresses. Kalliste did thank herself for getting out of the heinous situation but she couldn't help but remember the moment where Erron had subdued her as Kollector managed to save her from being blasted in the head. These were dreadful situations that almost led her to near death.
She wanted to say something else but soon noticed that they arrived upon a now small camp. There are still many tarkatans alive and well roaming the grounds.
Tanya rushed out in the open by their return, merely checking on the sudden intrusion.
"It's just you two."
Tanya looks at Kal's injury and scoffs.
"The empress is hurt. - Seems that our ambush has failed. " Tanya said in disappointment. She crosses her arms and glares at the two then makes her way closer to the pair.
"What is it about you two, mhm?" Her expression becomes domineering, she peers closer to the two.
"What...?" Kalliste says in dismay.
"You two always seem so close... so bound to each other." Her tone seemed so jeering that it wholly irritated Kalliste.
"Why should anything concern you?" Kalliste replied dimly. Kal's eyes intensely glared at Tanya who kept brooding. She smiled back at her response. Then her eyes peeked at Kal's arm abruptly pressing her hands upon her aching arm.
"-Argh!" Kalliste yelps, immediately glaring at her with darkened.
Suddenly Kollector grabbed Tanya's forearm as tightly as he did before she released herself from his harsh grip. He grimaced at her with pure provocation by her unnecessary actions.
Tanya pulled herself away as she continued to smirk at the two.
"Tanya!" Rain's sudden voice called out for her, she took one last glance and parted her ways.
Kalliste couldn't help feel blank at the situation. Of course, she was angered since Tanya just squeezed her injured arm for no reason.
"Thank you," Kalliste said. Her tone was monotone as her eyes dilated into the distance. She noticed Kollector shuffling away and gradually followed him in concern to his departure. He went over to a small tent that had been draped in leaves. The outer fabric was red, decorated with skulls. Perhaps this was all settled from the tarkatans.
Kalliste could notice his dense behavior from the previous encounter with Tanya. He seated himself in a low, bamboo lounge. The look in his eyes has such a repellent nature to it, a hasty spider he became once more. Kalliste leisurely made her way closer to him, a soft expression placed on her face, trying to feel content.
"Tanya is a bothersome," Kalliste commented. Understanding his annoyance to the situation.
"It is not only that..." Kollector faintly replied. Kal's head shot up to his response, puzzled and intrigued by his statement. She titled her head.
"What do you mean...?"
He lowered his gaze.
"This bond of ours... it is ridiculous." Kalliste parted her lips in sheer complexity. Her brows clenching. She faintly laughed right after.
"Are you abashed that Tanya noticed our close relationship...? It should not matter what she thinks, you idiot." Kalliste said blatantly. She crossed her arms in resentment.
"I have always remained on my own. Kept myself to my treasures and never fretted to bond with one another." He spat. His overbearing tone struck a hole in her heart. She furiously exhaled.
"...And even throughout all this time, you still never approved our... friendship?" She continued to look at him with excruciating antipathy from his words. He seem so dull-minded. Never giving into their fascinating and peculiar relationship. Kollector began to pull his satchel from his back putting it in front of him and began on his idle examination of riches; ignoring her frivolous whining.
Kal's face quivered at his mindless temper, rushing out of the tent.
:(