Loonatics: United

The Wrath of Tenebrous

Episode 126: Neva

Kufai, the Maniacs and the Loonatics entered the house, it was cozy, the walls were of a reddish brown, as well as the floor. The furniture and ornaments were old, but well maintained. "I'm gonna get you something to eat." Ely smirked and walked into the small kitchen. There was only a small couch in the living room, Lexi and Akinyi sat down. "There's room for one more, Ace."

"I'm fine." Ace replied coldly.

"Oh, well." Duck sat down next to Lexi while exhaling with relief.

Kufai glared at Ace with an intrigued stare. "How you feeling?"

"Huh?" Ace raised an eyebrow while looking at him.

"You're wounded, aren't you?" Kufai said.

"Oh, yes." Ace said. "I'm okay." He looked away with a straight face.

Kufai kept looking at him for a moment, then looked away. "Ely is a good woman, she'll take care well of you."

"We don't want to cause much trouble." Tech said.

"Why would you cause trouble?" Kufai inquired.

"Uhm, well, we only have to wait until our ship gets repaired and all." Tech replied.

"And we'll look after you while you wait." Kufai crossed his arms. "We take care of our guests."

Ely arrived holding a large tray with baguettes. "So sorry, it's all I could make quickly. I could heat them up for you if you want." Ely approached each one of them to hand them a baguette.

"Oh, thanks a lot, ma'am." Lexi said while taking hers. "They look so tasty."

Duck took a bite of his baguette. "They're tasty indeed." He spoke with his mouth full.

Ely chuckled. "I'm glad to hear that."

Vale began to eat his, savoring the meat, lettuce and cheese inside that crusty bread. "Oh my…so good." He glared at Ely with thankfulness and approval.

Ely smirked at him. "Thanks, sweetheart."

Kufai looked at Ely and nodded at her. "Thanks, Ely. I know they're in good hands. I'll come back later, gonna make some calls."

"For sure, my king. It's my duty." Ely responded then glared at them. "I'm gonna get the heater going, a good shower shall make you feel better." Ely walked away.

"Welcome to Neva." He smirked at them and left.

Lexi took a bite of her baguette. "I needed this."

"We all did." Randy ate a bit of his.

"I'll shower first." Akinyi said.

"Well, better do it fast cuz I'm next." Lexi replied.

After they all finished eating their baguettes, Ely arrived. "Hey. The shower is ready." She said amicably.

"Nice." Akinyi got onto her feet. "Uhm, I only got this." She pointed at her bodysuit.

"Yeah, all of us, actually." Tech said.

"Oh, no problem. I'll clean them while you shower, if that's okay." Ely proposed.

"Cool, yeah." Akinyi said.

"Okay, this way, dear." Ely walked away from them, followed by Akinyi.

They showered one by one, the hot, steamy water comforted their tired bodies, the water running on their fur was reassuring, washing off the anxiety and the uncertainty. The shower was in a small bathroom, with brown walls as the rest of the house, a dim yellow led on the ceiling, rustic designs painted on the walls. The floor was rugous, yet gentle with their feet. The soap smelled like roses, it cleansed their hair and fur completely, perfuming it. Ely washed their clothes, delivering them to their respective wearer as soon as they finished showering, dry and clean.

After they all finished, Ely sat them down at the living room, Lexi and Akinyi sitting on the couch and the rest over the floor. Ely handed them hot chocolate, on white, shiny mugs. She sat down between Slam and Edison. "You better?" Ely took a sip from her beverage.

Akinyi exhaled with relief. "Much better."

Tech began to drink his hot chocolate. "Yeah, I…I don't have enough words to thank you, uhm…"

"Ely." She smiled at him. "And don't worry, I live to serve."

"Do you help people like us often?" Lexi inquired.

"Well, not exactly like you, but in general, about three or four people get stranded here every year. The king then brings them to me." Ely replied.

"I think being stranded here is the best thing that has happened to us since we started the…crusade we're in now." Vale took a sip from his chocolate.

"A crusade, huh?" Ely inquired.

"Yeah, it's a way to call it." Tech sighed. "It's been so exhausting and…it just makes me feel very impotent. This guy has all this power, a complete army at his will, and we are just, well, ten guys."

"Oh, so…you're warriors." Ely said. "You defend the weak and the forsaken."

"We try to." Tech replied.

"Well, I know you can do this." Ely expressed with optimism. "You're not alone." She winked at him then glanced up for a moment.

"Maybe we are." Ace said, getting everyone's attention.

"Hm." Ely took a sip from her beverage. "Why do you think that, son?"

"I…" Ace sighed and cleaned a tear off his face, fighting the lump in his throat. He shook his head and got onto his feet, heading to the door. Ace opened the door and exited the house.

Tech began to stand up in order to go with his boss. "Don't." Ely expressed while gesturing down, glaring at Tech. "It's fine, let him."

Tech sighed while rubbing his face. "He's been through a lot lately."

"As all of us, big deal." Edison said.

Lexi grunted. "You shut up! You don't know Ace as we do, y…"

"Hey!" Ely looked at them both with a scolding stare. "Enough."

Tech shook his head. "I guess, we all just need some good rest. It's been a long day."

"For sure, dear." Ely smirked at him then took a sip from her chocolate. "I only have two rooms left here, sorry about that. Some of you could sleep here, in the living room."

"Of course, ma'am, and that's more than enough for us." Tech smiled at Ely.

Ace walked over the grassy and rocky ground, feeling the cold air of the night refreshing him. He breathed in and out deeply and slowly, listening to the crickets, looking into the countless stars of the night. He walked towards the edge of a cliff and stood there, glaring at the horizon. "Careful, bunny." Kufai arrived all of a sudden. "One wrong move, and you will grant yourself a certain death.

"I needed some…air." Ace said.

"I see." Kufai sat down over the ground, exhaling with relief. "Come."

Ace sighed and walked away from the edge, then sat down next to him with his legs crossed. "What?" He asked coldly.

"You've been very quiet." Kufai said, looking into his eyes, Ace was glaring at the stars. "Something is troubling you, what is it?"

Ace delayed to answer. "I lost all hope…" A tear ran down his face, he cleaned it off. "…again." He grunted, fighting the lump in his throat.

"Again, huh?" Kufai said.

"Yes." Ace shook his head while frowning. "I'm like…" His voice started to break. "…in a loop." He looked down, a pair of tears fell to the ground. "I always get up, start to feel better, confident and…" He sobbed. "…then I fall again, everything gets…" Ace cleaned a couple of tears off his face. "…screwed up." He sighed while shaking his head. "I'm done, I…I mean, why should I continue? I'm gonna return to the same…" Ace sobbed. "…the same place, misery and pain."

Kufai thought for a moment. "A loop." He scratched his chin. "And…how did you think this was gonna be?"

"Wh…what do you mean?" Ace looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

Kufai let out a sigh. "You have a lot to learn." He shook his head. "Walk through the fire, face the tests." Kufai looked away with conviction. "The things a man has to live, every single day." He looked at Ace, who was glaring down with hopelessness. Kufai put a hand on his shoulder, making Ace look into his eyes. "Go get some good rest. Tomorrow will be a long day." Kufai got onto his feet and began to walk away from him.

Ace watched him leave with intrigue. He glared back into the night sky, getting lost in its vast darkness and luminous celestial bodies, feeling the air caressing his face and listening to the singing crickets.