Parker made his way into Melisandre and Davin's throne room. The throne room was so huge. However, the walls were broken, the windows shattered, and the wooden thrones torn to pieces. Even the floor had loose stone scattered about the room, making the place desolate and frail like a great battle had torn across this part of the castle in the worst possible way.
He looked on, spotting another pile of rubble. There was the cream-colored Oriental Cat named Jine. She was unconscious… or was she? She wasn't breathing. She wasn't moving. By the time Parker arrived on the scene, greeting Alindor, his brown Burmese cat father Tracker, who was dying next to his wife Jine, the silver-streaked, brown pawed Oriental Cat Ulmayá, their children, and their grandchildren, Parker realized what transpired here.
No. No, no, no! He didn't want Jine and Tracker to go out like this! He didn't want them to die! That was never his intention!
"Jine? Tracker?" Parker cried in horror. This was bad. This was really, really bad! Wasn't there anything he could do to help them?
"Parker…" Jine lifted her head up a little, only to collapse a moment later, "…save me. I'm sorry…" she drew another breath, sighing in aggravation. Parker knelt beside her, terrified for her health, "…please forgive me… for scratching you up… that day… please… promise me you won't let that happen… to my children… promise me…"
"I promise. I'll get them out of the castle. They'll be safe." Parker said, kindly. He looked at her, telling her sincerely, "I am sorry for threatening you earlier. And… I forgive you, Jine, for what you did to me."
Jine smiled. He loved her smile. It made the world grow lighter. "Thank you and… I forgive you, too. May you live… a long and happy… life." She sighed, her last breath drawn. Her eyes closed. She was gone. Jine was dead, too.
"Parker!" Tracker got Parker's attention. He was on the verge of death. "Take care of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. See they're out of this castle safe and sound."
"I will. Thank you, Tracker, for everything. You and your wife brought so much life into my life, even though I turned into Maranguan because to it," Parker said, wondering if he said the wrong thing. He looked up as Tracker laughed. The brown Burmese cat collapsed next to his wife. Well, at least they would find peace together.
"I forgive you, Parker. Don't worry about it. Take care of my son, Alindor. He needs you… now more than ever." Tracker drew his last breath, closed his eyes, and was gone.
Alindor only had Ulmayá, his children, and his grandchildren. The golden house cat turned to Parker, asking him, "Parker, what should we do now? Half the kingdom is dead, due to those Shadow People! We'll never survive!"
"We'll get you home safe and sound," Parker said, staring at Alindor. He hated these losses. There truly was no one left in the time Before the First Age except for him, Qua'ra, and her family. Yes! That's what he would do. He would get Qua'ra and her family off the planet Zafna! It was time for the Shadow Empire ended.
"Parker?" Alindor asked, drawing Parker's attention back to reality. "I know there's only you and a few others from Jine's time, but we need your help. How do we escape, before the kingdom falls to ruin? The Shadow People will swallow this kingdom whole. We have to leave!"
Parker looked at Jine and Tracker's dead bodies. He would miss them, but he was glad to have known them, if only for a brief time. He wanted to cry, mourn for them, as Ulmayá was doing beside Alindor. He nodded, knowing what to do.
"We flee the kingdom before dawn approaches. The Shadow People may lurk in the shadows, but I doubt they'll stay hidden forever." Parker had to admit he didn't know much about these Shadow People. Just what were they? He only had a few guesses as to who the Shadow People were and what they might do to everyone. He had no choice. He had to lead Alindor out of this kingdom!
"If you've got a sturdy set of legs, we need to flee. Now, while there is still time! I'll guard you from any danger that comes our way, but we must leave!" Parker said in angst.
"Come on. We have to hurry!" Ulmayá said, dragging her children and grandchildren away from the throne room. Alindor followed as did Parker, not knowing the dangers that lay ahead.
Parker looked at Jine and Tracker's dead bodies for the last time. He hated to leave them like this. He wanted to give them a proper farewell, but there was no time for it. He nodded, telling them with recognition and hope, "I'm sorry I couldn't have been more help to you both." He said last, "Farewell. May we meet again in another life." If Parker had another life to live! Right now, that looked bleak.
Still, he followed Alindor and his family down the corridor, hoping they wouldn't run into anything dangerous along the way.
.
"Come on! The exit's this way! I can smell it, the fresh air!" Parker said, leading Alindor and his family down the last corridor.
Yes! There was the doorway leading to Landseer Castle's marketplace! They were almost there! That's when they stopped and looked ahead. Standing before them were creatures with lantern-lit eyes and silhouette-shaped figures. A dark mist surrounded these creatures.
Parker backed up, protecting Alindor and his family. He recognized these creatures. They were the Shadow People and they were hungry. Parker took a few steps back, not knowing what to do. Just that he, Alindor, and Alindor's family were in danger, with no way out except forward.