The Return

Chapter 5

He missed the running. He hadn't allowed himself to indulge since the cubs had come but now he was free to run through the woods for hours on end. One of the cubs was already dead, or as good as, another was injured, and the third would be easy to defeat without his comrades. It was only a matter of time, then he could move on to fight his old enemies. They were separated and would be easy prey. Though, he vaguely remembered sending the girl in search of one of them. No matter, the sooner he killed them, the better.

Stop it!

He stumbled, falling to his knees on the leaf strewn path. What was that? He'd never felt anything like that voice, not even when he'd been just a spirit possessing another's body. It wasn't his, he knew that, but it was familiar. He waited, wondering if it would come again.

"What are you doing?" Camille asked, appearing before him.

He looked up, wincing at the way the sun shone down around her, and stood. He growled and passed her by.

"Hold it," she said, giving a fairly good impression of bravery. "Did you forget about this?"

He whirled to see the collar hanging delicately from her hand.

"I want you to destroy the rangers."

He huffed and turned away. "Of course I'm going to destroy the rangers."

"With me," she said, emphasizing the words.

He froze. "No."

"Do you want me to put this back on you?"

In an instant he was standing over her, one hand around her waist to keep her from running and the other dangerously close to her neck. "As if you could," he growled. He breathed deep, taking in her scent. "Your kind may taste disgusting, but I will eat you like I did the Tiger if you push me." He shoved her back into a tree and she fought to control her breathing.

"What about Dai Shi?" she called as he walked away.

He let out a harsh laugh. "His kind do taste good."

Camille glared after him. Dai Shi didn't want to fight him and Carnisoar would probably be happy with the rangers' deaths. If she was going to protect her master she was going to have to do something desperate.

"Is it over yet?" Lily asked, her eyes firmly shut.

"No," Taylor laughed, "but I thought you might like to see this."

Lily peeked one eye open and gasped, quickly focusing all her ocular faculties on the sight before her. A giant eagle was flying beside them and far in the distance was an island, floating on the clouds.

"Welcome to the Animarium," Taylor said as she began landing procedures.

"It's beautiful. But why are we here?"

"This is where Shayla lives."

"Of course it is."

Taylor chuckled. "The Yellow Eagle is my zord. Instead of having animal spirits like you do, we're bound to the animals as their guardians."

"What do you mean by 'bound'?"

"You're a human with the spirit of a cheetah, I'm a human with a spiritual connection to an eagle. It's like -- we're really good friends or even sisters. I really can't describe it better than that. It drives Eric crazy though."

"Why?"

"When he's late getting home I send eagles to look for him."

Lily braced herself as the plane landed and breathed a sigh of relief when Taylor switched off the engine. Taylor helped her out and led her through the thick foliage. Walking here reminded Lily of off campus training exercises at the academy, especially when they'd teamed up with students from the elemental ninja academies.

"Taylor!" a woman cried and Lily's eyes widened as a woman in a white dress rushed through the trees. She and Taylor embraced.

"This," Taylor said, stepping aside, "is Lily. Lily, this is Princess Shayla."

"Princess?" Lily asked in surprise. She attempted to curtsey but Shayla laughed lightly and stopped her.

"Please don't." Lily couldn't help but like the woman who smiled at her so warmly. "I can sense the cheetah within you."

Lily nodded and her expression fell. "My friend sent me."

"RJ," Taylor provided, "he's been turned evil."

"Turned?" Shayla echoed. "As in forced?"

Taylor nodded.

"Then we still have a chance." She smiled thinly at Lily. "I promise you, we will do everything in our power to help RJ. Where is he now?"

"Ocean Bluff. We took him home after he was injured."

Shayla nodded and smiled at Taylor. "Do you think the Eagle would mind taking us there?"

There was a loud cry of assent from above as the Eagle flew overhead.

"Let's go," Lily said.

Eric pulled up to Jungle Karma Pizza, smiling at how much the place had improved since the first time he'd seen it. It used to be a run down vacant building with crumbling walls and a serious rat problem. RJ had really turned it around. Eric just hoped RJ would get to see it thriving again. He stepped inside and stepped behind the counter before the waitress could notice him.

"Whoa!" a young boy said when he entered the kitchen. "Who are you?"

Eric flashed his badge. "Silver Guardian. I'm here to see RJ."

"Um, RJ's not feeling too well."

"That's why I'm here." Eric pushed past him and headed up the stairs. The boy jumped up, barring his path. "Listen, kid, I don't want to beat your ass, but I will."

The boy smirked. "Bring it."

Eric started with a punch, just to get the boy moving. When the boy tried to counter with a kick, Eric grabbed his leg and the front of his shirt and pushed him back over the railing. He held him upside-down, one arm around his leg to keep him steady, the other still clutching his JKP shirt. He smiled. "Like I said." The boy stared up at him with wide eyes. Eric shook his head and lifted him back over, setting him behind him on the steps. The boy shook himself, catching up with Eric just as he entered the loft.

"Where is he?" Eric asked.

"I told you," the boy said through gritted teeth.

"Theo!" Lily yelled, rushing up the stairs, Taylor and Shayla close behind her. She gave Theo a quick hug while looking eagerly around. "Where's RJ?" she asked.

"Lily!" Theo cried. "Who are these people?"

Introductions were quickly made and Theo sighed. "RJ's not here," he said sadly.

"What?" all four of them yelled.

"He disappeared in the middle of the night."

Lily sat down hard on the floor. "Wait," she said after a minute, "where's Casey?"

Theo's eyes grew dark and he nodded towards Lily's room. Lily jumped up and, ignoring her arm, raced across the room in a yellow blur. The others followed close behind. Lily stood beside the bed, staring down into Casey's lifeless eyes.

"What happened to him?" she asked quietly when she heard the others come in behind her.

"I don't know," Theo said, his voice breaking. "I woke up and he was screaming. By the time I got out of my sleeping bag RJ was gone and Casey was on the floor -- like this."

Shayla laid a hand on Casey's forehead. "He is not dead," she said quietly.

"Then why does he look like --?" Lily's voice cracked and she couldn't say anymore. His eyes were staring up at nothing the way a dead body's did and it was terrifying her.

"He's breathing and his heart still beats. His soul is gone."

"How is that possible?" Theo asked.

Before anyone could answer an alarm went off in the main room.

Lily and Theo exchanged haggard looks.

"We'll come with you," Eric said, putting a hand on Theo's shoulder. Theo nodded and the four of them hurried out, leaving Shayla to watch over Casey's body.