Vieraslayer

Survival

Jote had been plotting and planning. She had been abused half to death, but she could still think those long nights after Taji had fallen asleep. Sleep was not easy for the elder Viera. She hoped Mjrn was leading the village well.

Atlas was key in Jote's plan to escape. He said he loved her, and if that was true she could use that to her advantage if she could just get him to listen to her. He was too afraid of Carraka though. Jote did think that she was possibly capable of taking the Reena female down, but it was risky. She needed Atlas to help her though. Carraka might make him hurt her, and she had to prevent that from happening so she had a better chance of killing the evil bitch.

Taji couldn't sleep either this night. Carraka had decided to beat on her for no reason. She was watching Jote, like usual, to make sure there were no escape attempts. Jote didn't usually try to talk to the foul young Viera, but this time… maybe she could reach her.

"Carraka did that to you, didn't she? She ripped you up like that, right?" Jote asked.

"I hate Bitchy, but it's worth it when Atlas pounds my pussy." Taji replied.

"That isn't what I asked, Tajianda. And don't talk like that. That is revolting."

"Yes, it was Bitchy. I wish somebody was strong enough to kill her. I just hate her so much! By the way, I talk the way I want to talk, so leave me alone. Talking like this is part of me. It drives Bitchy crazy too."

"I could kill her, if you'd let me go."

"How stupid do you think I am, Jote? That's the oldest trick in the book! You'll run home and I'll be stuck with Bitchy, who will kill me for letting you go!"

Atlas was sneaking out to find something for Jote without Carraka knowing and he heard the conversation between the two Viera. He was terrified of Carraka himself. She was ruthless and cruel, and she didn't care that she was going to have a pup or anything. She'd still kill anybody she felt like killing. And she didn't care if Kaila and Yiazmat hated her, she could kill them too. Something had to be done. Atlas wondered if Jote was the answer. Maybe she was right, and she was capable of killing Carraka. He'd have to find out next time he was with her. He just hoped she didn't manage to kill him too.

Ktjn was happy to see her sister. Krjn was fairly well healed now. Her stitches were out and she was back on her feet at least. She just needed to be with her sister for a while. She'd go back to hunting as soon as Ktjn and her family went back to Rabanastre. Tjla liked her Aunt Krjn a lot. Krjn often watched Tjla when Ktjn had gone to work at the shop. Major marks didn't come around as often as they used to and Krjn was free quite often.

"So what really happened to Kala, sis? I never knew exactly what happened. One of the older Viera told me she had been killed in battle, but I get the feeling that isn't true." Ktjn asked.

"You don't remember? She was injured in battle, and that may have been part of it, but from what I understand, she died of natural causes. I wasn't dead long enough to ask her. Remember, my heart did stop several times. I was with her, but I never asked. I am glad you were around. You saved my life. Several times. I'm lucky you were around to give me your blood. Who took over after our mother died?" Krjn told her younger sister.

"Janzyn's daughter with our cousin Lita, Mjra, became chief wood-warder of Tarva recently, according to the Moogles. I never thought Mjra would ever be that strong. Her half-sisters Kalj and Nova seemed to be the strong ones."

"Yeah. I know. Tjla, are you okay?" The kit was scratching the wall for no reason, slashing the wallpaper right off.

"She's been acting up. I think it has something to do with the fact that she is lonely. That's why she wants attention and the other half-Vieran kits around here are too old to want to play with her. TJLA! STOP THAT NOW!" Ktjn picked her kit up and sat down with her.

"If she needs attention, why don't you just have another kit? She needs somebody to play with."

"Trust me, that's what I tell Tomaj, but he says I can't until fall."

"Why not? They have medicine for that now, you know."

"Tomaj says that it would be wrong to use the medicine."

"Kit doesn't need to get her hormones screwed up." Tomaj remarked.

"Yes, I suppose you are right. That wouldn't be good in the least. I came here to tell you that apparently the Reena escaped into the Wood. Moogles spotted the same Reena that attacked me there, along with a female Reena. You can go back to Rabanastre if you want, but I'm going after the Reena. I'm going to kill him for what he did. And besides, he's a rank VII hunt. There aren't a lot of hunts anymore, so I have to take what I can get. And it's my job. I told Montblanc I'd do it, as this is personal!"

"Krjn, you just recovered from getting mauled by that male Reena. If you get hurt again, you're gonna die. And how can you possibly leave me alone like that? You're the only family I have left!"

"I used myself as a meat shield to save your life in that case. This is hunting. And I'm a professional hunter. I won't need to worry about that kind of thing when you're not around to save. And you're staying here."

Lena was upset at herself. First she found out she mixed up the potions she had made in the fall so Chea got the contraceptive and Kira had gotten the fertility potion, but now? She had made Chea sick off of her latest potion mix-up. It was probably because Slya had distracted her. If Lena worked undistracted, her potions worked. Her last potions worked, she just gave them to the wrong people. Slya was playing with everything and that probably was what made Lena mix the wrong ingredients.

"I'm sorry Chi. I can't blame Slya anyway. She's only a kit and there isn't much for her to do. You know, we don't have much for a kit to do here yet. Has Jnzn agreed to our plan yet?"

"He doesn't like the idea because he considers me his sister too. I don't know whether he'll reconsider. He tells me that Mjrn has been getting on his case about it. She wants him to do it, but he doesn't think it's a good idea. I don't understand how it couldn't be. I just want to have a kit. Janzyn and I aren't really related either, but he considers us related."

"I'll see if I can convince him to do it."

"Thank you Lena, but I don't know if he'll even listen to you."

"I'm his sister, and I'll see if I can find myself a bargaining chip of some sort. Maybe that will get him to help you."

"I love you even more!" Chea embraced Lena, who proceeded to pick up the younger Viera and carry her up to their room.

Mjrn was losing hope that she'd see her sister again. Alvyne was getting nothing even though she was hunting for any sign of the Viera leader or Carraka and Atlas daily. Carraka would still hunt, but she was excellent at covering her trail. They weren't finding the Viera dead anymore. Viera would just simply disappear. Carraka knew if she left a trace, Alvyne would sniff her out. She knew how to completely cover her scent. Atlas was not allowed to hunt. He would screw up again and the Reena pair would be caught. He was a good hunter, but he could not cover his trail like his mate.

"I don't mind being the leader, but if it means Jote is gone for good, I don't know what I'll do." Mjrn told Janzyn. The male Viera felt he needed to stay with his girlfriend at all times.

"Alvyne will come through. She cares about Jote, and she won't give up on trying to find a clue to where the Reena are. And Jote is strong and smart. She might just get free on her own." Janzyn assured Mjrn.

"I'm not so sure. I hope so. It's just… every day that goes by without my sister makes me more afraid I'm never going to see her again. It's been over a week without a single clue to where the Reena are holding Jote."

"Why isn't the Wood telling anybody? She should. Is it because the Reena are her children too? I know they weren't meant to eat Viera, but does the Wood still care about them? I know she favours Alvyne."

"The Reena weren't supposed to hurt Viera, let alone kill and eat us. The Mother would be angered at them. But she favours Jote. I don't get it either. Not even Kira can get anything on Jote's whereabouts. Perhaps the Reena have some kind of magick that is blocking the Wood, although I do not know what that could be. It's the only theory I can come up with."

"What it comes down to is that we have to find Jote. Her chances for survival decrease by the day."

"Janzyn, if I wasn't taking care of the village in my sister's absence, I'd be trying to help find her. Can Pheytah and Hjen help, maybe? They're our bros. I mean, they're not our brother's really, and Hjen is your cousin, but they're our best friends. Well, my best friends since Alja left. I wonder how she's doing… well; anyway, Pheytah and Hjen could probably help us."

"I could tell Pheytah the Reena have an enemy skills materia. Sure he'll be ticked off at me and beat the hell out of me repeatedly for a year and never let me use his Moogle-built machines again, but it might help you get your sister back."

"Yeah, so long as Pheytah doesn't neuter you or anything. You never know with that guy."

"Can you put all the wood-warders on the hunt?"

"That's dangerous. If the village should be attacked, we need some warriors around. I sent as many as I could with Alvyne. Rael promised to behave if it helped get Jote back. Good Wood, I really hope we get her back in one piece. And I hope she isn't traumatized. I can only imagine what those lousy mutts are subjecting her to."

"I'd make some sarcastic remark, but Jote's life is in the balance here. She doesn't like me, but nobody deserves the kind of pain the Reena are surely inflicting on her. Reena-Kaana, the same creatures that believed in humanely killing Viera instantly and probably painlessly with their lethal bite. Plus, Jote is cute. It's too bad she hates me. Oh well, Marl is a good guy for her."