—

Silent throughout their dainty journey. She still felt tingling and numb from the inside. Giddy was all she could feel from now on. A bright closed smile on her face, a type of happiness she hadn't possessed in many years.

But the contentment vanished when she remembered that they were returning to Mileena. The past events had been poor and it seemed that Mileena's empire wasn't going to last long. Then Kollector stopped his steps.

"Kollector...?" Kalliste called out. Then he dragged her into the jungle shade. Kalliste was confused but then she heard shuffling nearby them. An amount of Kotal's troops came passing through as they both hid in the greenery. Kollector's hand covered her mouth.

Kalliste moved his hand and shot at him with annoyed eyes.

"Don't cove—-"

"Don't move your tongue!" Kollector sharply muttered. "I wish not to be caught by Kotal's guards." He glared at her, irked as he watched the guards slowly pass by. Kalliste observed the situation as Kollector's grip slowly was removed.

"...What's happening...?" Kalliste softly spoke.

"Mileena's camp is infiltrated..." He responded. Then he begins to gradually pull Kalliste further away from the scene.

"We will go." Dragging her into the jungle air, the palms of green wafting in their faces. A sense of concern wavers in Karl's mind.

"...What about Mileena and the others?" Kalliste says. Kollector continues to stay silent as they both wither farther away from camp. She felt concerned and troubled but she gave no care to serving someone who deliberately began their way to madness and failure.

For a moment through the jungle, Kollector's grip soften as they finally slowed their pace. Separated for a while, Kalliste stared at Kollector until she began to ask her previous question once more.

"About Mileena..." She muttered. Then, Kollector abruptly turned around to her. His expression and behavior seemed uninterested in her topic.

"I never coveted to serve her." He said. Kalliste tilted her head in confusion.

"Yet, you agreed..."

"To only hope to receive profit. But Mileena is a feeble Kahn. She was never the true heir to Shao Kahn." Kalliste could almost laugh at his words. He dare disrespect the "daughter" of Shao Kahn, but he was right, she hardly was the successor of Shao Kahn.

"...If Shao Kahn were to hear you.." Kalliste muttered. She slightly joked but Kollector had no energy for it, instead he drifted further into the jungle. Kalliste slowly followed.

"What do we do now...?" She asked. Kollector seemed tired, his posture dripping and faint.

"Nothing. We are free of Mileena and the Edenians. There is no reason to pursue. Shao Kahn's lineage ends." His tone almost seemed despondent. But this now meant that they were truly free to do anything. No queens or kings to submit to. No more. Of course, they were wanted by the Outworld's emperor, they couldn't live as open as they wanted but this seemed to be a better idea. Their relationship was growing pleasantly and now, they only had each other.

Kollector was a complex character, he showed a lack of affection when it comes to intimacy. It was expected, he seemed to have grown in a terrible environment, made himself thrive in a tyrant's court. Kill or be killed. And to take what he desired. Kalliste understood normal emotions. She grew through intricate times. Brushed it off and began to fight to survive.

But love, love was something unexpected in both of them. A hasty, spider, goblin that was in the interest of an odd, self-reserved girl.

"Kalliste!" A hasty voice harshly called out to her. Her spacious mind suddenly snapped back into existence. Kollector came striding back to her where his expression of displeasure was present.

"Have you drifted off?!" Kollector questioned in bitter mockery. Kalliste quickly came to her senses and followed him. Into the vast greenery, they came upon a large cave, so near the mountains. It was eerie.

"We will reside here for a while," Kollector says. Kalliste observed the outer part of it, a face of concern.

"Is it safe..?"

Kollector turned around. "Why? Do you fear caves?" Kalliste looked at him, unamused.

"...No... It..." Then she stops for a moment. A thought came into her mind. "Why don't we go... to your people? Nakada?" Kalliste suggested. She came closer to him as she placed both of her hands against his arms. His eyes were in a void, looking directly at her.

"No. — I wish not to go back to my people... yet." He began departing from her and looked around the outer part of the cave. "Kotal's guards would inevitably invade Nakada. Best not to go."

Kalliste crossed her arms as she began entering the dark cave. It was not that deep but the opening was covered with vines and thick leaves. The inside made her uneasy, then she remembered her time in vagrancy. It was no luxury, but now was the time to be free of duties and to spend time with Kollector.

Kollector observed the medium-sized cave. "Would you perhaps gather some... wood? We will need light." Kollector suggested. Kalliste glared at him. She sighed and went outside to find some loose wood.

—-

With a sufficient amount of 'firewood', she plotted it against the stone floors and Kollector's attention arises. "Good." He said. Then he snapped his fingers where a burst of blue flame ignited from the center of the woodpile. Now the cave was brightly lit. Day was still present and they only had time to spare until their next plan.

Kalliste sat upon the stone floor and stared at the prickling fire, emitting sparks.

She looked at Kollector who began to sit on the ground as well. "Kollector," Kalliste called out. He wavered his hand at her and started to lay down. "No. I will rest now, do not disturb me." As he laid adequately upon the ground, Kalliste could only scowl in disappointment. She looked at his peaceful body, resting himself as his upper set of arms curl around him.

Kalliste made his way to him, she felt somewhat lonesome. Kollector's one eye peeked at her close contact, a face of annoyance as he only wished for some sleep. "What is it now?!" Kollector exclaimed in irritation. She placed her lips against his cheek Kollector exhaled from her kiss and proceeded to lay against his side now facing his back at her.

Kalliste sighed and looked at the seeping light from outside. She didn't wish to bother him any longer so Kalliste decided to take herself outside of the cave and took a breath of fresh air. The duration of Kollector's little nap was unknown so Kalliste began to wander further than she should.

Her curiosity peaked out in the open as she wanted to know what happened at the camp. She knew it was risky but she was always stealthy.

—

The day grew warm and dim, a couple of hours to wait until all was clear. She felt that she was nearby the camp or was she? Keeping her feet shuffle quietly along the ground, she tried peeping her eyes along the open jungle. It felt desolate and quiet. As she slowly rose from the greenery she began making her way towards the lonesome camp.

Striding her way towards the camp, a pile of tarkatan corpses decorated the jungle soil. Dried blood and the scent of stale sweat.

But the now dreadful wind came passing through and the camp felt eerie. Where the main tent was, Kalliste made her way towards it.

A certain repulsive stench grew intensely within her nostrils, taking a sharp exhale. Kalliste laid eyes upon a female body. The head had been decomposed with blood and... insects. The skull had been entirely exposed with the familiar set of gnarly teeth; Mileena. She had been executed perhaps by Kotal by not by his hand. D'vorah. Kalliste shared little sympathy but her fate had already been made. It was surprising of course, but Kotal was on the winning side and she hated to admit it.

The whereabouts of Tanya and Rain were unknown and so was their fate. At least Kalliste and Kollector weren't at the scene.

Upon looking at a table to her side, she spotted a bottle of wine. Kalliste never had an interest in alcoholic beverages but her mind was feeling better than ever and so she obtained it.

She sighed faintly and heard something outside that definitely had to have been made by a certain presence. Perhaps an animal of some sort. Kalliste kept her movement still as a statue and moved herself aside onto the less open part of the tent. She kept her ears concentrated on the surroundings, only the wind was there but another step against the soil was heard. Daring herself to take a peek - a man was in the distance and he looked like he was searching around.

Deeper and further away, Kalliste didn't want to linger any longer, and considering this stranger was lurking around, they could cause some problem. She slowly crept out of the tent, holding the bottle of wine tightly against her chest, and kept watch of the man. Her eyes were fixated on this person as they began to stand still in one certain area, perhaps they were... urinating?

Slow and steady she kept moving further into the jungle until she heard a female voice call out.

A woman with vibrant white hair came into view, coming in contact with the man. The situation was strangely interesting but Kalliste had to make a run for it and quickly vanished into the jungle.