Mission One: Hollows Grasp – Ark'kuis

As we step into the cave network called Frigid Jaws the ominous feeling seems to grow tenfold. All the hairs on my neck on end even under my thick coat I can feel my body hairs all on end. This cave network must be harboring the beast that has taken out not just humans but machines as well. I do not like this feeling and right now I want to turn back and leave this land, there is a reason as to why this thing causing the strange power readings is hiding here. To be quiet honest I think it should be left alone as well as the land here.

"Fuck… this aura here is unsettling…." Seifer says I can hear the strain hidden under his tone. I think Seifer is having second thoughts about being here, just as I am. As I spare a glance at Seifer I can see his body is very tense he is fighting his fight or flight response. Is it the fear that has both Seifer and I doubting ourselves or is it something else?

"Well I don't know 'bout ja kiddos but I think it is best to keep moving, I'll let ja pick which way… will ja turn and run from this feeling? Or will ja stand and face your fears?" Lan'nakke says in a purring fashion, she must of known about this already… but our choice? Is she testing us then? Seifer and I both just stare at the feline that now sits in our path, her eyes challenging us to pick pushing on. It is here that I know now that her eyes do glow, even in the dark they are clear as day. "Well…."

Something in me snaps at her tone, the very same feeling I had when Seifer and I exchanged blows to our faces. We will forever wear the scars of that encounter however for me it has a new meaning it was when this big change started and when something deep within makes me feel more alive than I am now. I am not sure what makes me react the way I do but it somehow feels right, "I am not going to let some petty fear stop me." My arms crossing upon my chest I straighten my back and posture and lift my head so my chin is slightly raised in the air. My eyes narrowed much like Lan'nakke would do. Maybe we truly are one and the same just unlike her I have not come out of my shell, so to speak.

Seifer lets out a deep laugh one I do not hear too often anymore, I know he agrees with me and my sudden attitude shift. "I must say I'm impressed you of all people reacted that way." I spare a glance at Seifer to see him watching me with such intent. I watch his cocky smile grace his lips in an irritatingly slow fashion. We both glance at Lan'nakke when her animal form does an odd sound, we see that it is her way of laughing mouth wide and open the long tongue moving back and forth in feline mouth lips pulled up showing off her many teeth. She was testing us and with this reaction I guess we both just passed… it is also now I understand what Lan'nakke said about Seifer and I bettering each other.

"Come now before ja become a human popsicle in this cave." Lan'nakke says swinging around as she stands on all fours again. This time we do not stop and think about the ominous aura in this place, we will face whatever this place is hiding bad or good. Even if it was not I who said this statement first I know Seifer would of, which would have made me clear my mind and follow him. This is what it means to be rivals only when you go through it yourself will you understand what it really means. It is not a pissing contest between men, women, or differing genders. It is not about speed, strength, cunning, or anything else. Rivals are two people that push each other to grow at faster than normal rate, countering the others flaws, showing the weakness to the other, even helping to come up with new countering combos. The real rivals are few and far in between because it is not hate which drives us, it is being on the same level as the other.

~~Point of view shift – Lan'nakke~~

Events in life happen for a reason. I know for every action that is taken an equal reaction will follow. These spirits were not sent here for no reason… they were sent here for a job. Even the one I have become one with. Life is ruled by something that isn't the way others think is possible. In time maybe these being will also be enlightened by this fact or like most of everything else they may not. It is for that reason that so much chaos can overrun young worlds so easy… but in the wake of chaos itself is where life can take root. This force should not go on without chaos for without it new life can't be born. God's of worlds come and go in the blink of an eye, but new gods are born and take the place of the fallen. Even here Hyne maybe the most powerful but in light of somewhere else he is nothing but dust. It is something that is made clear when Ice slayer is sent to the world. When an act is committed throws off balance… it is not always the god that is slain but whatever upsets the balance is. What is the slayer though even I do not know…?

I am pulled out of my thoughts when the large blond I have deemed Kiddo swears. He must have stepped on some black ice. As I turn my head I see him flat on his ass from the funny way he sits he must have landed on his tailbone. I can't help my shudder I remember hitting my tailbone on many occasions each time hurt like a freaking bitch, and when it left a bruise forget sitting.

I see Cub just sighing deeply to his self and with his face covered by his hand. Something tells me Cub warned Kiddo about it and he chose not to listen. I find this amusing it reminds me of my time on Earth. I can't help my small smile, Alexander and I didn't really seem to do well with each other. Our personalities much like Cub and Kiddo clashed. Funny thing is we never really got into bicker fights, just fistfights and even stare offs.

"Hey enough fucking 'round you two, help Kiddo get back onto his feet so we can keep moving!" I huff out now is not the time for this shit. Something is coming upon us and quickly at that. I only hope that this tome is still here even after all this time. I know we will not be able to avoid this thing that has started stalking us but I would like to be in the correct area come the encounter. Even in this network of caves it won't just be the enemy attacks we will have to worry about, the upper half of the cave walls have many icy spears hanging down that can fall and impale those below. The walls not much nicer many layers of spiked ice line the walls on either side. It is almost like being in a mouth where teeth are all the way down the throat of a monster. Much like the Wryms in my time, oh how I hated those fucking things.

"…fine." Cub says in a rather sour way. Guess he is still not too happy about this constant party with this boy. Really he shouldn't be such a sourpuss I don't think anyone else would be better than Kiddo. When you are put into a party with a person who forces you to work harder cause you don't wanna be out done by them that is where the best fights come from. Alex and I may have clashed but one thing was for sure if you were in a battle against us you were screwed in all meanings of the word. You can't train a relationship like that it must be found on its own and forged over time.

Before a fight between these two can happen I growl in a feral tone. My ears down all the way fangs bore for them to see I am clearly displeased. "I don't know how you two normally are but… GET OVER IT! This is not a GAME if you wish to live you better start working together the right way! A half assed team is NO team at all…" I see both boys openly cringe at my display but right now I don't give two fucks. I slam my paw on the icy floor below the action causing a slight tremor through the earth in this location. The sound of the ice above like crystal as they quiver above and bounce into one another. I have said many a times power is something that comes with responsibility and even a small slip up like this can have dire consequences. I might have myself in control most of the time but even I slip on occasion. Also I have this wild spirit within, what they don't know is that these things are much more wild than anything known expect one. I only have a single foggy and vague memory from this spirit of that being.

I can't wait to see the Cub when he finds out just how wild he really is inside. I only hope that my Knight Alexander has been reborn close by. That is one of the reasons I made the man a Knight in the first place.

"Yes Lan'nakke." Is all I get from both the boys I don't care if I hurt feelings right now I have to be harsh to keep the two of them safe I will have to make amends once they are on the way home. Till then I'll be kicking myself for being as harsh as I was. Though I suppose sometimes it can't be helped much as you would like to not be that way.

~~Point of View Shift – Seifer~~

That is the first time I have seen that kind of display on any beast. Sure many monsters will attack and snarl, snort, and grunt but never do the display Lan'nakke just did. We have books on very old beasts that once walked the Earth that would give a threat display before either mock charging or actually charging with the intent to do harm. After Lan'nakke's little display though I think both Squall and I should watch our footing around the cat… she caused a mild earthquake with that single paw slam. Something tells me if she really wanted to she could erase us like we delete data on a pc.

I glance up at the top of the caves and see the many sharp spears like icicles above, funny how something that sounds so beautiful can be so very deadly. If they come crashing down and hit you no way you will survive the hit. Sure the cave is dark and all but you seem to forget that Lan'nakke is a ghost and she lights the cave with that aura only ghosts have I suppose. I end up pulling out some of the meat from her kill and eat it slowly.

Funny how you think you have enough food and turns out to be wrong. We would be turning back and heading back to base camp in the small town in a short amount of time with what we had on hand. Turns out you burn, at the very least double the energy you would anywhere else. Squall has also been eating this meat as we were walking maybe four hours since Lan'nakke snapped at us.

"So you think she will bite our heads off if we ask how she knows the way." I ask Squall in a very hushed tone. Squall jumped not expecting me to whisper in his ear like that. Much as I'd love to pick on him for it right now I'd rather not piss Lan'nakke off any more than we already have. As Squall gives me his usual icy glare for startling him, I just shrug and then gesture to the front where Lan'nakke leads us through this maze.

"Been wondering that myself…" Squall speaks back in a much softer tone than normal. Shock of shocks Ice Princess answered me. Again choosing my battles I nod at him. We both stop at the same time Lan'nakke soon stops after and glances over her feline shoulder giving us a 'what is it now' expression.

"So…. How do we know you're not pretending to be helpful and dragging us to our death so to speak? You seem to know this area all too well." I state my voice low and my guard now up just in case this helpful spirit decides to become our enemy.

"What the hell are ja blabbering about?" Lan'nakke huffs out eyes narrowed in a confused fashion.

"Are you really here to help us?" I say again.

"Oie! Ja kids I swear… look if I wanted to kill ja I would of done so long ago. Ja humans have gotten much softer since my time on this world." Lan'nakke sighs out. Before I can answer her she continues "Come now do ja really think that quake after my stomp was a fluke. If ja would like I can do it again maybe chain a few in a row but that would cause the spears to rain down on ja. Did ja think maybe I know this area because I at some point or another had to hide out here?" again before I have the chance to speak someone else does, this time Squall.

"Why would you need to hide out here?" Even though he tries to cover it up I pick up that Squall is intrigued by that fact she would have to hide. In a way so am I now, but she refuses to answer us.

"Tell us Lan'nakke." I demand from the feline.

A short time and another restless silence drag out. She doesn't seem too interested in telling us the story. She is deep in thought weighing the good and bad of telling us her story that we have been kept in the dark about since the day we met this spirit.

After a while she lets out a breath she must have been holding the whole time, "Rather than try to explain it to ja two… I'll show ja but…. Not here. Trust me when I say we are almost to the safe point and the beast of this land that has cause so many deaths is hot on our heels and I'd rather fight it in that room than here."

Much as I'd love to stand and argue the point that dark aura has been getting stronger as of late. Maybe it is for the best that we follow Lan'nakke to this safe spot. After Squall and I nod to each other we both walk up to the feline's sides it is then I can see her body twitching. Maybe her animal self is well aware of how much closer it is than we are.

….

About ten minutes later we end up seeing a rather bright light. Is that the sun I don't know but it freaking hurts after being in the dark with Lan'nakke's soft glow from her aura? It takes our eyes a bit to get used to the new lighting and my breath stalls in my chest. The room is huge and wide open minus a group of very ugly humanoid like beasts gathered around a fire of some sort. They have skin as dark as jet black and ears that are stupidly long. Teeth are jagged and most likely don't line up with the rest. Hands larger than the small heads upon huge shoulders, large and thick legs and feet, and their arms are freaking long as hell at least two of our lengths together if not more. Long noses and some wild ass hair all I can say is that these things are not in our beast mastery data base.

One of the bigger beasts spots us and wails making the others turn and screech at us. Four end up heading our way then another six, slowly followed by another twelve. Great we have no fucking idea how to fight these fucking things guess we will have to learn on the fly here. Both Squall and I draw our swords thankfully the bigger one most likely the leader stays by the fire letting his lesser ones handle us.

Lan'nakke had ended up charging the group of twelve. Leaving us to handle the other ten of the beasts, guess five between me and Squall shouldn't be too bad. Squall and I give one last look at Lan'nakke to see what might be the best strategy to use on them. From what it looks like these things may look slow and stupid, but they ain't they are using the hands to block attacks and the legs to attack. Lan'nakke is using the trick attack strategy waiting for the right time to use a real attack. So randomize attacking it is use lots of fancy footwork and sword work daze them and then hit. Seems fun I suppose.

…

Much to my annoyance Lan'nakke made it look much easier to fight these things than I thought. Both Squall and I have only been able to take out three each leaving us with four still. From the looks of it Lan'nakke still is fighting some too but she changed her strategy. She has this ability to stealth. I'll tell you what wish we had that ability 'cause these things have Squall and I back to back now both of us tired.

"Really don't like these things…" I mutter to Squall who grunts in agreement with me. We are going to die to these ugly fuckers wonderful.

"I wanna hear your cries of pain as your flesh turns to ash! Ignite my Affliction!" We hear Lan'nakke shout we see an odd symbol show above each of the beast's heads. Then watch it wrap around them each one cries out in pain and blood starts to drip from the markings on the body. "Now you've gone and done it, suffer slowly by way of Curse!" Another symbol appears above them before repeating though the marking is different than the other. "What's the rush we got all the time in the world…? Chilblains." This time an odd icy chains link to the feet of each beast slowing them down by a considerable amount.

Whatever Lan'nakke just did she just gave us the advantage again. Seems like her spells Affliction and Curse are over time based damage attacks, while Chilblains is a slowing effect. We just have to out endure these guys till they drop and then finish them off.

….

Thank god for those spells but now we have a new issue we have big, bad, and ugly to deal with. I charge with the idea that maybe he will be to startled for a counter since we just killed his group. Sadly I don't get too far when I hear some odd grunting that isn't close to Lan'nakke this one sounds much bigger. I slide to a stop as I see a huge shadow in the cave behind this beast. I don't even hear the screeching of the humanoid beast as something comes charging out of the ice covered cave.

Rolling to my left I get out of the way as a massive bear comes out, chomping down on said humanoid in the process. It shakes its head in a barbaric way sending pieces of the poor beast across the room. Before dropping the dead body and glaring at me and Squall. Lan'nakke nowhere to be seen, the bear stands upon its rear legs before roaring at both of us. The force making us slid back a little. So this is the aura that has been following us then?

"Makes sense now…" Squall speaks seems he picked up that the ominous feeling was coming from this giant bear too.

"So… how do we fight this thing? I sure as fuck don't remember any pointers other than run from this thing if you run into it." I ask as I get back up and stand. The bear grunting and growling at us… though there is something about its roar that sound familiar it has the watery echo to it. Could it be another ghost then?

"Thick armor, lots of stamina, and even more health." Squall states great just as bad if not worse than a T-Rexer. Who did we piss off to have such poor luck I would really like to know?

The bear done with showing us some down time charges us. We both just dodge its leap it landing with a ground shuddering thud. I hardly have time to recover before the massive bear starts chasing me swinging its large paws at me. Thankfully Squall was able to hit it a bit causing the bear to turn and try to crush him under its large chest.

We take turn hitting the damn thing while staying away from the same side the other is on. For a while we think we will be okay till the bear freezes us in place. What the hell how did he do that!? I can only block as the huge paw hits me sending me flying into the other side of the wall. Squall soon joining me with the force of the impact we both are dazed.

….

Guess I was right about Lan'nakke after all who knew she could assume another animal form like this. I think as the bear opens it jaws guess we are both about to become like the humanoid beast.

Till I hear a high pitched yelp from the bear as I try to focus I see Lan'nakke in cat form attacked to the bear's back. It rearing up to stand on its hind legs spinning around and trying to reach back to swat Lan'nakke off its back. The bear figuring out it wouldn't be able to detach her turns so its back faces the wall and charges, right before impact Lan'nakke lets go landing in front of us.

"Ark'kuis what is the meaning of this!?" Lan'nakke roars out at the massive bear. Her tail twitching showing she is not too happy with it.

"Ah…. I'm just having a bit of sport with the cubs my dear Lan'nakke." The bear now named Ark'kuis speaks in a laughing tone. "You're teeth and claws are as sharp as ever." Ark'kuis continues as he rolls onto his belly but stays in a laying pose.

"Ja could of killed them ja moron! I swear do ja even think with the thing ja call a head that is on your shoulders!" Lan'nakke isn't in a humor mood right now… but this bear was just fucking with us, dude almost killed us both.

"Chill out young one." Ark'kuis says in a lazy sort of way shrugging off the wrath of the smaller spirit. I don't find it very wise.

"Moron…." I hear Lan'nakke say under her breath as she turns around to inspect the damage done on Squall and me. Nothing majorly wrong with either of us she sighs before placing a paw on us both, a cooling and numbing feeling soon follows and then our wounds are healed. Even some of our lost energy returns.

"Impressive so you picked up healing artes as well?" Ark'kuis asks I'm shocked when he stands before us much smaller than before… how the fuck did he do that?!

"Kind of had too…" Lan'nakke snorts out. "Seems like ja learned a new trick to shirk your size Ark'kuis." Lan'nakke states plainly as the bear spirit chuckles. The two then start to speak in a tongue neither I nor Squall have any clue to try to understand. We just blankly stare at the bear who starts laughing in an 'oh shit I'm in trouble' fashion when Lan'nakke growls. She whacks him upside the head once and then again for good measure.

…..

"So do ja still have the tome?" Lan'nakke asks after the little exchange between the two spirits. The fun and games face drops the second she says those words. Now Ark'kuis is all business and no play.

"Yes, may I ask why you want it now though?" Ark'kuis asks crazy how different his voice sounds when he is no longer joking or being playful.

"Ja can't be that slow can ja?" She sighs out her paw covering her face. Okay that was totally a Squall thing I bite my lip to prevent myself from laughing out loud at the reaction. I can see Squall giving me a dirty look for this reaction but I can't help myself.

"Oie, old man…. It cause of the Cub in all black come now, don't tell me ja can smell it." Lan'nakke states in a monotone voice while shaking her head with her paw still on her face. After getting nothing else out of the woman he walks over to Squall and then takes a long good sniff of Squall.

I can't help myself and I end up laughing out loud this time unable to contain my fit of laughter any longer. I end up falling onto my side at some point I swear I'm going to end up peeing myself if this fit doesn't die soon. After a while longer and me in tears from laughing so hard I start to regain my breath. Squall clearly embarrassed with being sniffed by the bear spirit.

…..

"So then it has begun then?" Ark'kuis speaks watching with clear interest in Squall and Lan'nakke.

"Indeed but I am missing one other key before the shift starts." Lan'nakke yawns out before stretching out and laying down. Looks like she has settled down while I was in my laughing fit at Squall's expense, I snicker to myself okay sue me I can't help myself sometimes. "Alexander's rebirth form… I have yet to locate just yet." Okay hold the phone now Lan'nakke has my complete attention again.

"And you call me blind…" Ark'kuis sighs out just shrugging his shoulders.

I watch Lan'nakke glare at him, "Whatever…" Oh shit another laughing fit I can feel it building up.

"Alex's rebirth from is right here…" Ark'kuis speaks I feel one of its claws poke me a few times. Nothing happens for a bit before I see one of the oddest expressions to cross Lan'nakke's face. The expression changes a bit and then again before out of the blue she is laughing her ass off like I was a few moments ago. Okay what is so funny? Several minutes later Lan'nakke's laughing dies to giggle fits. Both Squall and I clearly confused by events that only these two seem to know.

"Irony…. The freaking irony of it all…. Pffft." Lan'nakke says before bursting backing into full blown laughter.

"What if …that promise… happens?" Ark'kuis states causing Lan'nakke to only laugh harder she ended up rolling onto her back. Causing Ark'kuis to just sigh at the feline spirit, with that he taps the floor a few times glyphs much like Lan'nakke likes to use suddenly show on the floor before a portal appears. Seconds later a rather old looking book appears out of the portal. "As I have said I will guard the tome here for as long as it takes to right the wrongs upon this world. Now the time has come for the two of you to learn about things most will never discover, also no other human may touch let alone look upon this tome understood cubs." Both Squall and I only nod even though I don't care for the nickname I think I can deal with it being it's an animal ghost and who knows just how old this guy is.

"Now I think I will join you, I wish to see how this all plays out." Ark'kuis states in a matter of fact tone and no one dares to argue different. Though Lan'nakke is still cackling away…

~~Time Elapse: Four hours later…~~

I'm happy to be back in the hotel that is the first of a few before we make it home. Lan'nakke and Ark'kuis had chosen to take their way back to where Squall and I live, though the feline was still unable to stop laughing even when Squall was riding on her back. Worst thing is when she would glance at either me or Squall she would go right back into her laughing fit. I wonder what is making her laugh so hard…

Squall had fallen asleep the second his head hit the pillow poor guy… he seemed drained before we even started this trip. After the spirits made the tome somehow go inside Squall his energy had drained quickly. They have some odd tricks up their sleeves I swear. Let's hope that when we get back home that we can figure out what is up with this tome and some of the past shrouding Lan'nakke.

~ To be Continued ~

~Author's Notes~

Thus ends another chapter and another new character has made an appearance! To be honest I am having lots of fun with this story now the web for this one is coming together much quicker than I thought it would. I suppose the darker fiction I'm doing is a little bit harder than this one. *shrugs*

Funny thing is I did most of this in one go again… and after proof reading a few times here it is for you all. I think later on depending on the amount of readers I might play a little game of guess the 'Promise Lan'nakke and Alexander' made to the winner I will allow them a choice of my next fan-fiction story rules and details will be included if I choose to do so will be on that chapter. Also I wanted some humor so that's why we have certain characters in laughing fits… sue me. *chuckles*

That's about all I have to say at the moment! Thanks for reading my stories I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. *bows*

P.S. The name Alexander wouldn't get out of my head so I used it no other reason why I went with Alexander for Lan'nakke's knight.