Me: Sorry for the late update! I wasn't able to use the internet last weekend. I was at the prom. That's a first for me

Icefire: You are seriously crazy.

Me: Yes I am. On to the chapter! And when Atsui is in human form she talks with her mouth not her telepathy.

Key

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

//Dragon's telepathy//

/Phoenix telepathy/

End Key

Chapter 16: Tear of the Phoenix

The phoenix blinked and looked down to the small human that stood before her. The child looked at the bird fearlessly. 'This girl… Could she be…?'

Jen bowed politely. "Please, Atsui, I need one of your tears." She looked up into the face of the giant bird. "My friend is sick. If I don't get on of your tears he'll die."

Tears filled Jen's eyes and slid down her cheeks and dripped off her chin. The thought that her friend was getting closer and closer to death saddened her. He was almost to the point where he couldn't escape death's grip.

Jen closed her eyes, too overwhelmed with sorrow to do anything else. Atsui looked over at the two monkeys. The black one's eyes were down cast and tear flowed freely from them. The orange one had his eyes closed as tears fell from his eyes.

Atsui looked at Krystal. The girl's cat-like ears were drooped at the tips, reflecting her sorrow. Her gaze focused on the two monkeys.

Atsui looked to Kaze. His head was bowed. His eyes were half lidded and shimmered with unshed tears.

Atsui looked back to the human. She changed her shape to that of a human. She approached Jen and placed a hand on the child's cheek. She brushed away Jen's tears with her thumb.

"It's alright, child. I'll give you the tear you seek." Atsui soothed in a motherly tone. Her voice was as calming and beautiful as her song-like cry.

Jen opened her eyes. There stood a beautiful young woman. She was a little shorter than Kaze. Her hair was flaming red and was tied back with a golden ribbon. Her eyes were the same emerald green and resembled the stone itself. Upon her fore head was the Japanese symbol for hot. Her name.

She wore an orange kimono for females. The sleeve ends and the bottom of the kimono were decorated with flames. It was tied about her waist with a scarlet ribbon.

The collar was gold. Her flesh itself was pale, like Kaze.

"Atsui? How did-" Jen began, but Atsui placed a finger on the child's lips.

"I remembered a time when you were 3. Do you have something to catch the tear in?"

Jen nodded and took a vial out of her hip bag. She removed the cork before handing it to the woman. The woman held it under her eye and forced a tear to fall into it. She handed the vial back to Jen.

Jen corked it and placed it into her hip bag. "Thank you. My friend can get better now."

Atsui smiled and nodded. She froze up suddenly. "Someone has entered my cave."

They all turned to the tunnel they had originally came into the room from. Jen's heart began to pound fiercely against her rib cage. Was the intruder a friend or a foe?

Shortly after the someone, or should it be said some ones, were in the cave a troop of people came into view. There were a hundred or more dog people and more coming.

They looked similar to felinadons only a bit different. They had dog-ears and tails instead of cat ones. Krystal took an immediate step back, tail fluffed up.

"Caninadons." She snarled. "The mortal enemies of felinadons."

Jen took another vial and a dagger from her hip bag. She cut the side of her hand and caught the blood in the vial. She corked the vial and put it in the hip bag. Hurriedly Jen removed the hip bag and shoved it into Antauri's arms.

"Is there another way out of here?" She asked Atsui.

"Yes."

"All of you go. I'll hold them off."

"But Jen-" Mandarin began, but Jen cut him off.

"There's a vial with my blood on the bag. You need to get it to Chiro. It's about time I pay the Hyper Force back for being there for me those few months ago.

"Kaze, they still need your feather and your wings. Atsui they need your protection. Now go! I've made up my mind and no one is going to change it for me. Go!" Jen cried.

The others looked at each other before looking back at Jen. "Come back safe, Little Sister." Mandarin whispered.

"I will Nii-San. Now Go!" She repeated. Everyone climbed upon Kaze's back. He spread his wings and leapt into the air. He flew off into a tunnel that lead out.

Antauri took one last fleeting look over is shoulder. Jen's back was to them as she faced the dog people. She was position between her friends and the enemy. She had given Chiro his life back. 'Thank you…'

Jen stood calmly, her eyes fierce. She wasn't sure if she'd survive, but she felt as though she had done the right thing. She had to do this. She was going to fight to the death! Antauri's voice flittered across her mind like a butterfly. 'Thank you…'

Me: My hands, THEY BURN!!!

Icefire: Duh, you just typed 3 DAMN CHAPTERS!